Chapter 8: THE CHALLENGE

ASHER

I spent the next two days trying to avoid Reed Jackson as best as I could.

It wasn’t easy. Stone Claw Academy wasn’t that big, and Reed seemed to be everywhere I turned. In the cafeteria, in the training yard, and in the hallways between classes.

He was always watching me with those intense gray eyes that made my skin prickle with awareness.

We hadn’t spoken since the kiss, but the tension between us was suffocating.

Every time our eyes met, I remembered the feel of his mouth on mine, the way his hands had gripped my hair. The desperate, hungry way he’d kissed me like he couldn’t get enough, and every time I remembered, I hated myself a little more.

“You okay?” Scott asked during lunch on the third day. “You’ve barely touched your food.”

I glanced down at my tray. He was right, I’d been pushing the same piece of chicken around for ten minutes while getting buried in my thoughts about Reed fucking Jackson.

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just tired.”

“Ribs still bothering you?” He asked and I bobbed my head.

“Yeah, a little.” Actually, they were healing faster than expected, thanks to the drugs still in my system, but I wasn’t about to tell Scott that.

Scott leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Have you noticed Reed staring at you?”

“Hard not to.”

“It’s weird, right? Like… different than before. Before the fight, he looked at you like he wanted to kill you. Now he looks at you like—” Scott stopped, shaking his head. “I don’t know. It’s intense.”

Like he wants to devour me, I thought but didn’t say.

“Reed Jackson is a psychopath,” I said instead. “Who knows what goes on in his head?”

“Fair point.” Scott took a bite of his sandwich, then hesitated. “Hey, did you hear about the training mission this afternoon?”

I looked up. “What training mission?”

“The wilderness survival exercise. It’s mandatory for all first-year students. We’re supposed to navigate through the Blackwood Forest, find checkpoints, and make it back before sunset.”

My stomach sank. I’d seen the notice posted on the bulletin board but hadn’t paid much attention to it.

“When?”

“Two hours. You didn’t prepare?”

“I’ve been a little distracted,” I said dryly.

Scott winced. “Right. Well, it’s supposed to be dangerous. The forest is full of rogues and wild animals. They give us basic supplies and a map, but we’re on our own after that.”

“Wonderful,” I muttered.

“The good news is we can work in pairs or small groups. Want to partner up?”

I was about to say yes when a shadow fell over our table.

Reed Jackson stood there, flanked by two of his friends, Alphas I recognized from the fight crowd. One was massive with a shaved head. The other was leaner but no less dangerous-looking.

“Graham,” Reed said, his voice neutral. “We need to talk.”

Scott tensed beside me. “He’s eating lunch, Reed. Leave him alone.”

Reed’s eyes flicked to Scott, and the smaller Alpha immediately shrank back. The power dynamics were crystal clear.

“It wasn’t a request,” Reed said, his gaze returning to me. “Now.”

I should have told him to fuck off, should have stood my ground, but something in Reed’s expression made me hesitate. This wasn’t the predatory, hungry look from the other night. This was… business.

“Fine,” I said, standing up. “But make it quick.”

I followed Reed and his friends out of the cafeteria, ignoring the curious stares from other students. He led me to an empty classroom and shut the door behind us.

The two Alphas with him positioned themselves by the door, blocking any escape.

“What do you want?” I asked, keeping my voice steady despite my racing heart.

Reed crossed his arms over his chest, studying me. “The training mission this afternoon. You’re going solo.”

I blinked. “What?”

“No partners, and no groups. You go alone.”

“That’s no… Scott said we could work in pairs.”

“Scott doesn’t make the rules,” Reed said coldly. “I do, and I’m telling you: you go alone.”

Anger flared in my chest. “Why? So you can watch me fail? So you can humiliate me again?”

“Consider it a test,” Reed said. “You want to survive at Stone Claw? Prove you can handle yourself without hiding behind anyone else.”

“I’m not hiding behind—”

“Yes, you are.” Reed stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “You’ve been clinging to Scott like a lifeline since day one. You think I haven’t noticed? You think I don’t see the way you use him as a shield?”

“That’s not—”

“Then prove me wrong,” Reed interrupted, his voice dropping to that dark, commanding tone. “Go out there alone. Complete the mission, and show me you’re not just another weak Alpha playing pretend.”

The words hit like a slap.

Weak Alpha playing pretend. If he only knew how close to the truth he was.

“And if I refuse?” I asked.

Reed’s smile was cold. “Then everyone will know you’re a coward. Is that what you want? To be known as the Alpha who talks big but can’t back it up?”

I wanted to punch him, to wipe that stupid smug expression off his face, but he had me cornered and he knew it, I was helpless in this case. So, I gave in.

“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’ll go alone.”

“Good.” Reed’s smile widened. “I’ll be watching. Don’t disappoint me, princess.”

He turned and walked out, his friends following.

I stood there, fists clenched, fury and fear warring inside me. Reed Jackson was playing a game, testing me, and pushing me to see how far I’d break.

The question was: what would he do when he discovered the truth?

That I was not really who I claimed I was. What would then become of me?

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