ENDURING {Sequel to Everlasting} ❗️EDITING ❗️

Chapter 33 - Part B

My breathing is even, my heart rate steady despite the sweat pouring off of me. I could hear the voices echoing, the exciting whispers of the wolves that wish to see me dead. I'd be lying if I said it doesn't piss me off.

Breathe.
We have our target.

The moment that everything becomes silent, is the moment I know Markus has arrived. The Elders tend to get challenges out of the way, there's no waiting around or polite conversations first.

"Markus is the target." I whisper to her, shaking off the tension and snatching my jacket off the floor.

Exiting the training room, I head quickly down the familiar hallways. Passing wolves of all ages, ignoring the stares and whispers, the sniggers behind my back. Reacting will only make it worse.

Just breathe.

Despite the darkening sky, the field is well lit to better suite my eyesight, only adding pressure to the whole 'human' thing. If only they knew. Even though there's many wolves crowded around the Elders and Alphas, many of them are inside the mansion, some choose not to watch.

Hardin turns around to look at me before anyone notices me arriving, his silver eyes firm, despite the fear buried within. The fact that he's trying to save face right now means that he'll do whatever it takes to keep the united front, even if he disagrees with this.

Shifting my eyes from Hardin, I glance at the large male glaring me down. Markus still looks the same, five years hasn't aged him a day, got to love those wolf genes.

Hardin grabs my forearm gentle, bringing me to a brief pause as he leans in. The tingles send goosebumps across my entire body, and my eyes snap to meet his.

'Mate.' It whispers.

"Markus may be a sexist beast, but he is well known for his strength. If he grabs you, he'll kill you...don't give him that chance." Hardin murmurs to me quietly, ensuring only I hear him.

Having fought Markus before, Hardin knows first hand what it's like to go head to head with him. Difference is, I'm not an Alpha Male that began training at three years old.

I raise my hand to his face, my fingers lightly dancing over his cheek and down to his mouth. Full lips that part slightly as he inhales sharply in surprise at my touch.

Beautiful.
Mine.

"If his head rolls, be the first thing I turn to." I whisper, my voice vibrating quietly.

"Your scent...what have you done?" Hardin murmurs, his eyes darkening and yet filling with alarm.

He senses me now, he feels it within his wolf. Giving him a lasting look, I pull away and swiftly head into the circle.

"Pride comes before the fall." Are the first words Markus says to me, gazing down at me with eyes of pure disgust.

He's repulsed that a female is challenging him. Considering we've only met once before and I humiliated him for being an asshole, he holds no hospitality towards me.

I ignore his words and enter the circle without a word to the Elders. Markus is quick to follow, and the moment he steps into the circle with me all Hardin's warning leave my head. I felt the shift in the air, the turn of man becoming more beast.

"Spill the blood." Luther orders, stepping up to us and offering out his knife.

I let Marcus go first, breathing calmly, deeply. When his blood drips into the dirt below us, I take the knife, slicing it across my palm and letting the blood flow.