Chapter 64
๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ก
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Konstantin, Sylvanna, and Dmitri.
“This tests character. How you train reveals who you are. Be strategic. Be precise.” His eyes lingered on each of them. “Or be brutal. The choice is yours. I will judge accordingly p>
The words hung in the air, deliberately vague. Deliberately dangerous.
Because he wasnโt telling them to be kind. He was giving them permission to interpret however they wanted.
And we both knew how Konstantin would interpret it.
My stomach dropped.
“And the throwers?” Konstantin asked, eyes never leaving me. “Do we aim for specific targets, or p>
“Anywhere but the head or throat,” Vladimir said flatly. “Everywhere else is fair game p>
Konstantinโs smile widened.
Everywhere else.
Ribs. Stomach. Legs. Arms. Back.
“The test measures reflexes, pain tolerance, resilience under duress,” Vladimir continued, finally looking at me. “You will endure. You will adapt. Or you will yield p>
“How long does it last?” I heard myself ask.
Vladimirโs eyes met mine. “Until you yield. Or until you can no longer stand p>
Or until you can no longer stand.
Translation: until they break me.
Sylvanna rose from her seat, expression unreadable as she approached Arlo and selected several balls, testing their weight. Dmitri followed, moving with that same quiet intensity, dark eyes flicking once to me before focusing on the equipment.
And Konstantinโ
Konstantin walked straight to the crate and grabbed a handful. He didnโt test them. Didnโt weigh them.
He just stared at me while he gripped them, knuckles white, that vicious smile never faltering.
“I have been waiting for this,” he said quietly. Just loud enough for me to hear.
My legs started shaking.
Arlo approached me with the rope, his expression carefully blank.
“Arms,” he said gruffly.
I stared at him. At the rope. At the arena behind him where they were marking positions for the throwers.
This was actually happening.
“Lilith.” Vladimirโs voice cut through my spiraling panic.
I turned to look at him.
His expression was cold. Controlled. Exactly the same as always.
Through the bondโnothing. Just that same steady, immovable presence. No reassurance. No apology.
Heโd given me to them.
“Arms,” Arlo repeated, more firmly this time.
My hands trembled as I held them out.
The rope was rough against my wrists, binding them together with practiced efficiency. Then Arlo crouched, tying my ankles with just enough slack that I could stand and shuffle, but not run.
Not that there was anywhere to run.
Konstantin was already rolling one of the balls between his palms.
Dmitri stood at his marker, silent and still, six balls held loosely in one hand.
Sylvanna positioned herself at her marker, expression sharp and focused.
And I stood in the center of the arena, wrists bound, ankles bound, completely exposed.
A target.
“Begin,” Vladimir said.
The first ball hit before I could even process the word.
Pain exploded in my shoulderโwhite-hot, bone-deep, radiating down my entire arm. I screamed. The sound tore from my throat before I could stop it.
A second ball slammed into my ribs before Iโd even caught my breath.
The air left my lungs. I doubled over, gasping, vision swimming.
>Iโm here, my wolfโs voice came through, sharp and focused. Feel it coming. Move with me.
A third ball whistled toward my stomach. I tried to twist, stumbled on bound ankles, barely avoided a direct hit. It grazed my hip insteadโstill hurt like hell.
“Come on, hybrid!” Konstantinโs voice rang out, dripping with false encouragement. “Move faster! Or is this too much for you already p>
Another ball from Sylvanna this time. Precise. Fast. Aimed at my thigh.
>Left! Kaiaโs instinct merged with mine.
I shifted. The ball hit my outer leg instead of knee. Still painful, but not crippling.
“Thatโs it,” Sylvanna called, her tone was playful. Like this was just a game. “Anticipate. React. Donโt be slow p>
At least she was not too bad. She was not being cruel. Just teasing.
But Konstantinโ
“Aw, look at her trying,” he laughed. “Like a puppy learning to fetch. Except the puppyโs about to get put down p>
Another ball from him. Harder. Faster. Aimed at my ribs again.
I dove right. Hit the ground hard on my shoulderโthe same one already screaming from the first impact. Pain flared bright and vicious.
Up! Now!
I scrambled to my feet just as another ball sailed past where my head had been.
“Move, hybrid!” Konstantin taunted. “Dance for us p>
My breath came in ragged gasps. Sweat stung my eyes. Every muscle trembled.
>Breathe, Kaia said. Feel the rhythm. Weโve done this beforeโon the parapet. Same dance. Trust me.
I tried. I really tried.
The next few throws came in wavesโSylvannaโs precise and measured, Dmitriโs oddly… gentle?
Konstantin threw like he wanted to shatter me.
“Thatโs pathetic!” he shouted. “Is this really the best the hybrid can do? No wonder youโre just a p>
Vladimirโs phone buzzed.
The sound cut through the arena, sharp and jarring.
He pulled it from his pocket, glanced at the screen, and his expression shifted fractionally. Not much. But enough.
“Continue,” he said simply, then turned and walked toward the ruinsโ entrance, phone to his ear. Arlo followed without a word.
And just like thatโhe was gone.
The air changed immediately.
Konstantinโs grin turned feral.
“Well, well,” he said slowly. “Looks like High Alpha has more important things to do than watch a hybrid get what she deserves p>
My blood went cold.
“Konstantin,” Sylvanna warned, lowering her throwing arm. “The test continues. The rules donโt change because p>
“The rules,” Konstantin interrupted, “say weโre testing her. Iโm just being thorough p>
He grabbed another ball. Then another. Then anotherโloading both hands.
“Letโs see how much the mouthy little bitch can really take p>
The first ball came so fast I barely registered it.
It slammed into my stomachโhardโdriving the air from my lungs. I doubled over, choking, vision blurring.
The second hit my back while I was bent over. The third my thigh.
“Not so clever now, are you?” Konstantin snarled. “Not so fucking brave without your Alpha to protect you p>
>”Kaia p>
>”Iโm trying!” My wolfโs voice was strained. “But youโre panicking. I canโtโweโre not in sync p>
Another ball. My side. Then my shoulder againโthe same spot, fresh agony on top of bruising pain.