Chapter#03

Selene POV

It had been a long, grueling journey, and by the time we reached the Alpha King Training Camp, I felt like a stranger in my own skin. My identity as Selene was gone, buried under the name “Kaelen.” Every step closer to the camp hammered home the weight of what I was about to face. I wasn’t sure if I was ready.

The camp loomed ahead which was an imposing fortress of stone and steel. The air was thick with heat and the metallic tang of blood. Dust swirled in the wind, kicked up by the relentless stomping of boots and the crash of bodies training in the sparring ring. The noise was unrelenting—growls, roars, and the sharp bark of commands. It was chaos incarnate, a far cry from the quiet, disciplined training I had known at home.

As we stood at the edge of the training grounds, my stomach churned. I glanced at Rowan and Caden, who looked calm, even grim, but I could see the tension in their postures. I was the only girl here—if anyone discovered the truth, they wouldn’t just mock me; they’d rip me apart.

The boys around us were terrifying. There must have been at least two hundred of them, each more intimidating than the last. Bare-chested and sweating, their muscles rippled as they sparred with feral intensity. Some were already bleeding.

My gaze darted to a pair of trainees grappling in the center of the ring. The taller boy slammed his opponent into the ground. My chest tightened. I couldn’t look away, even as the brutal display made me want to run.

That is when a beautiful memory crossed through my brain.

Kaelen’s laughter echoed through the training hall as he sparred with Rowan.

“Come on, Rowan, don’t go easy on me!” Kaelen teased, ducking under Rowan’s swing.

“I’m not!” Rowan grunted, managing to grab Kaelen and pin him down.

“Sure you aren’t,” Kaelen laughed. He glanced over at me, where I sat watching from the sidelines. “You’ll join us someday, Sally. And I can’t wait for the day when you defeat me.”

I smiled then, shook my head. “Defeat you? I might never be able to do that big brother.”

The memory struck me like a blow to the chest. I clenched my fists, forcing my mind back to the present.

“Stick close to me and Caden,” Rowan murmured, “Don’t wander off alone. You can’t afford to be on your own here.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. He was right. This place wasn’t for the faint of heart. It wasn’t for someone like me.

As we walked further into the camp, I focused on keeping my steps steady and my head down. Caden leaned in whispering, “Don’t let it get to you. Remember, we’re here to survive. Your brothers are here for you, okay?”

I nodded again, though his words did little to calm the storm in my chest.

The camp’s instructor called for everyone to gather. He was a towering figure, his scarred chest was bare and his eyes were as sharp as daggers. He radiated authority, and his presence silenced the trainees in an instant.

“Gather up!” he barked. “Today begins your trials. Only the strongest will survive. If you’re not ready to bleed, then leave now. The rest of you? Prepare to prove you deserve to be here.”

His words made my stomach lurch. Rowan nudged me gently, bringing me back to the moment. “Don’t back down,” he whispered. “Don’t let them see you flinch.”

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to breathe. I couldn’t flinch. Not now.

The instructor wasted no time. He paired us off, ordering us into the sparring ring. My heart sank as I was matched against a boy who was at least a foot taller than me and was built with muscles and strength.

“Let’s see what you’ve got, Kaelen,” the instructor said, narrowing his eyes as if testing me already.

I hesitated for a fraction of a second, and the boy lunged. His fist came toward me like a hammer, and I barely ducked in time. My breath caught as I scrambled to dodge his next swing.

“Stop dancing and fight!” the instructor roared.

I braced myself, remembering the drills Kaelen had taught me. I faked left and swung my elbow into the boy’s ribs. He grunted, but it barely fazed him. His retaliation was swift, and in no time his arm wrapped around my torso and slammed me to the ground.

The impact knocked the air from my lungs, but I didn’t let go. Gritting my teeth, I twisted, using my smaller size to wriggle free. The boy stumbled, caught off guard, and I swept his legs out from under him.

The instructor’s whistle blew, signaling the end of the match.

“Well, you didn’t die,” he muttered.

I staggered to my feet. My heart pounded as I glanced at Rowan and Caden. Rowan gave me a small proud nod. Caden’s lips showed no expression but his eyes spoke otherwise.

As we lined up to wait for the next test, one of the trainees sidled up to me. His eyes scanned me with suspension.

“You’re awfully quiet, Kaelen,” he said, “You sure you’re cut out for this?”

I forced a laugh, deepening my voice as much as I could. “Quiet wins battles, doesn’t it?”

He smirked, stepping closer. “We’ll see.”

That night, I sat by the fire with Rowan and Caden. My body ached from the day’s trials. As I stared into the flames, I thought of Kaelen again. Of his smile, his confidence, his courage. I had to find that courage in myself. I wasn’t just Selene anymore. I was Kaelen. And I had to survive.

For him. For Father. For all of them.