ASHER
Two hours later, I stood at the edge of Blackwood Forest with twenty other first-year students. Coach Maddox stood in front of us, holding a stack of maps and supply packs.
"Listen up!" he barked. "The rules are simple. You've got until sunset to find three checkpoints marked on your maps and make it back here. Each checkpoint has a token you need to collect as proof. Miss even one checkpoint or come back after sunset, and you fail."
He started handing out maps and packs. When he got to me, he paused.
"Graham. I heard you're going solo, right?"
I glanced around and saw Scott nearby, looking worried. Reed stood off to the side with his arms crossed, watching me.
"Yeah," I said. "Solo."
Coach Maddox raised an eyebrow. "Your funeral, kid. The forest is dangerous enough in groups. Going alone is suicide."
"I'll manage." I told him even though I knew I was bluffing, he nodded before handing me a map and a small pack containing water, a knife, and some basic first aid supplies.
"Good luck," he said, though his tone suggested I'd need more than luck.
I studied the map. Three checkpoints were marked in red, one to the north, one to the east, and one deep in the center of the forest. The most efficient route would be to hit the northern checkpoint first, swing east, then cut through the center on the way back.
Simple enough.
Except for the fact that Blackwood Forest was notorious for being home to rogues, wild animals, and other dangers that made even experienced Alphas nervous.
"Move out!" Coach Maddox shouted, snapping me out of my thoughts.
The students scattered, most moving in pairs or small groups. I watched Scott team up with two other Alphas, then turned and headed into the forest alone.
The moment I stepped under the canopy of trees, the temperature dropped. The sunlight filtered through the leaves in patches, creating an eerie, and dappled effect. The sounds of the Academy faded behind me, replaced by the rustling of leaves and distant bird calls.
I followed the map north, moving quickly but carefully. My ribs were still sore, but the healing ointment Ms. Chen had given me was working. I could move without too much pain.
The first checkpoint was easier than expected, I found it marked by a red flag tied to a tree, with a small metal token hanging from a branch. I grabbed the token and tucked it into my pack.
One down. Two to go.
I headed east, using the sun to navigate. The forest grew denser here, the underbrush thicker. I had to push through thorny bushes that scratched at my arms and face. That's when I caught the scent.
Rogue.
My entire body went on alert. Rogues were werewolves who'd been cast out of their Packs, they were dangerous, unstable, and often violent. They roamed places like Blackwood Forest, preying on anyone unlucky enough to cross their path.
I slowed my pace, moving as quietly as possible. The scent was faint, which meant the rogue wasn't close, but it was fresh enough to be a threat.
I reached the eastern checkpoint without incident and grabbed the second token.
Two down. One to go.
The final checkpoint was in the center of the forest, the most dangerous area. I checked the time. Three hours until sunset. Plenty of time if I moved fast.
I started making my way toward the center, following a narrow game trail, and that's when I heard it.
A snap, like a branch breaking, and I froze, every sense on high alert.
Another sound, closer this time. I wasn't alone. My hand quickly went to the knife in my pack, gripping the handle. It wasn't much of a weapon, but it was better than nothing.
"Well, well, well," a voice drawled from the shadows. "What do we have here?"
Three figures stepped out from behind the trees.
Rogues.
They were all Alphas, I could tell by their size and the dominant pheromones rolling off them, but there was something wrong about them. Their eyes were wild, their movements jerky and unpredictable.
The leader, a tall Alpha with matted brown hair and scars covering his face smiled at me. It wasn't a friendly smile.
"A Stone Claw student," he said. "Alone. How... unfortunate for you."
I backed up slowly, keeping the knife ready. "I don't want any trouble."
"Too bad." The leader stepped closer. "Because we do."
The other two rogues fanned out, circling me like wolves.
My heart pounded. Three against one, and these weren't Academy students playing at dominance. These were real threats, and most importantly I was so screwed.
"Whatever Reed Jackson paid you," I said, a sudden realization hitting me, "it's not worth it."
The leader's smile widened. "Smart boy. Yeah, the big bad Alpha gave us a nice incentive to make sure you don't make it back to the Academy. Nothing permanent, he said. Just... rough you up a bit, scare you, and maybe break a few bones."
Fury exploded in my chest. Reed had set me up. He'd sent me out here alone knowing there would be rogues, and knowing fully that I'd be vulnerable.
"Fuck Reed Jackson," I spat.
"Oh, we intend to fuck you up good for him," the leader said. "Now, you can make this easy and just lay down, or—"
I didn't let him finish. I lunged, driving my knife toward his throat. He barely dodged, the blade sliced across his shoulder instead, and blood sprayed out.
The leader roared in pain and fury.
"Get him!" he shouted.
The other two rogues rushed me.
I fought like my life depended on it, because it did, but I was outmatched, outnumbered, and without my drugs at full strength, my Omega instincts kept trying to surface, screaming at me to submit, to yield, and to run.
A fist connected with my jaw, my head snapped back, and stars exploded across my vision. Another blow hit my stomach, this time the air left my lungs in a rush, and I went down hard, the knife flying from my hand.
The rogues were on me immediately, kicking, punching, and laughing like some sick maniac people.
Pain bloomed everywhere. My ribs, which were barely healed from Reed's beating, screamed in agony.
"Not so tough now, are you?" the leader sneered, grabbing my hair and yanking my head back.
I tasted blood, I felt it running down my face. This was it, I was going to die in Blackwood Forest because Reed Jackson couldn't leave well enough alone not to watch me suffer because he derived some sick pleasure in watching me in pain.
Suddenly, through the haze of pain, I heard something.
A roar, not from the rogues, but from somewhere in the forest, and the rogues heard it too. They froze, looking around warily.
"What the hell was that?" one of them muttered.
The roar came again, this time closer, furious, and then a massive black wolf burst through the trees.
Reed.
Even in wolf form, he was unmistakable. Huge, powerful, and with those same gray eyes blazing with rage. The rogues didn't wait to see what would become of them, immediately scattered j to various directions.
Reed didn't chase them. Instead, he shifted back to human form, naked, covered in dirt and leaves, and dropped to his knees beside me.
"Asher," he said, his voice rough with something that sounded like... fear? "Asher, fuck, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't intend for it to go this fucking far. I am so sorry, please forgive me."
I tried to speak, but blood filled my mouth.
"Don't talk," Reed said. He scooped me up in his arms like I weighed nothing. "I've got you. I've got you, I will make sure you are okay, I promise."
The world started to fade around the edges.
The last thing I remembered before everything went black was Reed's voice, desperate and broken:
"Don't you fucking die on me, Asher Graham. Don't you dare."