Alpha Nox

Chapter 1

Four Years Later

"Worm! Get your ass over here!" The one voice I hated more than anyone else's screeched.

It was much raspier than I'd ever heard from another she-wolf, if one could even call Harriet a she-wolf. I liked to think of her as a toad. A fat, wart-riddled toad that couldn't stop itself from croaking every single chance it got. Unfortunately, she was a poisonous toad, and I had no choice but to bow to her every whim or risk becoming her next victim.

I'd made that mistake four months in and learned the hard way when she punched me so hard I took an involuntary three-day nap. Wolves with the ability of enhanced strength had a knack at hitting you where it hurt most.

It wasn't the worst I've endured, but it certainly made an impression.

I entered the Trainer's compound where all of the higher-up's gathered for circuit week. Harriet stood with her back to me, hunched over the table as she reviewed this year's circuit map. Her muddy brown hair looked exactly the same as when I'd first met her four years ago, pulled into a bun so tight that I just knew she had chronic headaches.

"Yes, Ma'am." I announced myself, standing erect and holding my breath until my lungs burned with need.

"Have you filled the snake pit yet?" She called over her shoulder, her voice crackling like she'd just smoked a pack of cigarettes.

I gritted my teeth. "No, Ma'am. I was ensuring the spikes along the climbing walls were operating correctly."

Her fear was ripe and salty as it stained the air.

Snakes—that's what she feared most. The irony of it was sweet on my tongue, like the chocolate chip pancakes my father would make every single morning. Someday, when revenge was no longer a concept but a reality, I'd use her fear against her.

The phantom pain of silver thorns digging into my flesh speared my mind. Their little circular scars were added to my collection. As though I could still feel the heavy shackles on my wrists, my eyes trailed down to stare at the slightly darkened skin.

"Get on with it then!" Harriet snapped, smacking her meaty hand down on the table. The mess of maps, battle arrangements, and little figurines shuddered upon impact. If she had used her full strength, the table would've likely shattered. "We can't have the second and third Division's arrive until everything is prepared. Do you understand how poorly that would make us look?"

I rolled my eyes at the back of her head, silently wishing she'd come up with a vicious migraine.

The Circuit is the biggest event, apart from Graduation, that the Lycan's held. It's occurred once a year, its location switching between the three divisions. When I first arrived at camp, the event had just come to an end. The next year it was held at the second Division, all the way in Northern Russia, and last year it was held at the third Division in Africa.

Both times I was left behind, forced to stay here in Juneau Alaska while most of the camp left for the other Divisions. As incredible as it would be to visit both the Taiga Forest and Congo's Rainforest, this was the one time of the year where I was left the hell alone. There were no beatings, no public humiliation, no looking over my shoulder any time I dared to eat, sleep, or shower.

It was the worlds greatest injustice that this year the Circuit would be hosted here, at the first Division.

Lucky me.

Harriet spun around; her spine stiff from the stick she kept lodged up her ass. Her thin, puckered lips were flattened, vanishing since she didn't have that much to begin with.

"The last thing we need is Phineas Striker on our asses, worm. So help me, if you don't get this shit done, I'll tell him exactly who's at fault. You hear me?" She sneered, barring her yellowed teeth, sending a wave of garlic and curdled milk scented breath my way.