Alpha Temptations

16 | First Day

I couldn’t help but gulp as I feel the attention of the whole class centering towards me. I can feel them watching me walk behind Miss Petra as we head out of the classroom. The sun is almost rising yet I can still feel the cold biting my skin as my heart begins to pound like hell. I don’t know what I did in my past life to always experience trouble.

“You can do it, Maya, show her what you’ve got!” Kaia tried to cheer me up but it was already useless. My heart is already thumping like a pounding drum, my hands and feet are sweating like hell, and my knees are starting to weaken.

It’s not like I am afraid of Miss Petra and the things she would do to me, but I am more scared of disappointing my classmates. I am afraid they might hate me like how I was hated back in our pack. I came to Alpha Camp to change the course of my life or at least know what freedom taste like and how good it is to breathe a different air. Now that I knew someone, I started to wonder what would it feels like to have more than one friend. What would it feels like to be in a group; to have people in your circle.

“Don’t hesitate to show me everything you’ve got, Maya,” Miss Petra spoke as soon as we approached the center of the field in front of our classroom. “Think of me as someone you need to take down,” she added, stretching her arms. “The rest of the class, you find a good spot to watch.”

“Go, Maya!” Kaia cheered before walking a few steps away from me.

I took a deep breath and slowly nodded my head before I started stretching my muscles. I started recalling everything Alpha Lancer taught me. More than my classmates, I don’t want to disappoint him. Even if he is not around, not being able to execute all the things he taught me would surely be an insult to him and his efforts. Above all, I don’t want to disappoint myself. I have been through a lot. This is my last shot to change how people see me.

I have this little idea that Miss Petra particularly chose me to prove something. I don’t know, my guts are telling me that it was no coincidence that she chose me. Probably, Miss Petra has heard of the rumors that I was able to pass the entrance exam without shifting to my wolf and she’s probably gonna find out what made me pass the test.

“Give me your all, Maya. Everything,” she said as a small, playful smile formed on her lips. Then her eyes started to narrow while looking at me. “Convince me,” she ambiguously added, slightly bending her knees and raising her fists to her face’s level.

I felt a lump in my throat. I just felt the pressure and tension. I can feel her piercing gaze boring into my skin.

“Okay,” I murmured, balling my hands into fists. I focused my weight on my legs and mg force on my hands.

“Let’s start…” she announced in a whispering tone before she quickly dashed towards me, swinging her fist.

Everything was so quick that I almost didn’t see her every movement. Good thing Alpha Lancer put me through hells during the past years just to properly train me. I followed her movements with my eyes while getting myself ready to dodge her attack. And right before her fist could reach me, I took a quick leap backwards. And as my feet touched the grassy ground, I quickly dropped myself and made a swirl, kicking her legs. I made sure to kick her as hard as I could. I thought she would see through my attack, but I was surprised to have successfully knock her off the ground.

There was this pause and silence for a second before my classmates started cheering for me.

Seeing Miss Petra slowly getting up from the ground somehow made me feel a little sense of accomplishment. I couldn’t help but be proud of myself for successfully knocking her down. I know it isn’t something to brag about, but it really made me happy.

“That was good,” she said, grinning. “But you should have completely knocked me instead!” she added before she charged towards me again. This time, she’s quicker. I can feel her intent to get even with me. But I can’t just let her do it without me giving a fight.

I braced myself and decided to charge at her, too. And right before we clash, I jumped as high as I could and swirl my body midair to give myself the right momentum to release a powerful kick. I was hoping I could land a hit again, but it seems like Miss Petra has raised her guards better than before. She was able to easily block me with her hands. I even saw how she grinned at me before pushing me back and attacking me again.

I quickly got into a defensive stance and ready myself. I saw how she stretched her legs as she aimed for my waist. I then put my strength on my arms and tried to block her, but all I could do was groan when I felt how powerful her kick was. She was able to break my defense and successfully hit me on my waist.

I bit my lower lip as I quickly pick myself up. Clenching both of my hands, I charged to her and decided to get really serious. I don’t care what happens anymore. I just want to punch ang kick her as many times as possible. And it seems like she feels the same way, too.

We exchanged punches and kicks. Every time she hits me with her attacks, my desire to take her down just grows bigger and bigger. And with that, my mind started to get blank. My vision started to get clouded, making me unable to predict her movements.

And just a few minutes in the battlefield, she was able to totally dominate against me and knock me down. She pinned me on the ground and put my arms on my back.

“And that’s it…” she whispered. I could even imagine her grinning while saying those words.

“N-No…” I protested, groaning as I struggle to break free. I don’t want it to end just yet. I haven’t proven myself. I haven’t shown them what I can really do. I haven’t given my best just yet. “I…I can still fight!”

“Calm down, Maya…” Miss Petra said, slowly letting me go. “I know you can still fight, but we have to end it here. Reserve that will for the following days,” she added, getting up and talking to the others.

I bit my lower lip in frustration as I get up and fixed myself. I had my eyes fixed on the ground because I don’t want to look at my co-aspiring warriors. I don’t want to see the disappointments in their eyes. I don’t want to see the same belittled gazes I had back when I was in the pack.

“Maya, you can join the others,” Miss Petra told me.

I just nodded and took a quick peak to where Kaia is. Then I looked down again as I go to where she is.

“Oh my gosh, Maya!” Kaia welcomed me with an overwhelmed expression. “That was great! You were awesome!” she added and even clapped her hands.

And that really shocked me. Slowly, my eyes widened as I lift my gaze to look at her. She was grinning from ear to ear when our eyes met. Her proud expression is written all over her face. I didn’t know what to react. It wasn’t the reaction I was expecting to see from her.

“You were amazing!” she exclaimed, reaching both of my hands. “I didn’t expect you to be so good in combat,” she added, smiling sweetly at me. “To be honest, I didn’t expect you to go give Miss Petra a hard time.”

“Well, I still lost,” I told her and gave her a weak smile. “I couldn’t take her down.”

“What are you even talking about?!” She gently squeezed my palms, creasing her forehead. “You were able to knock her once and that’s already amazing! You don’t know how surprised we all were after seeing you do that!” She shook her head while smiling. “Everyone was surprised and proud of you at that moment. Not everyone can par with a trainer you know,” she added, hitting me on my shoulder with her forearm.

“Now that you’ve seen what she can do, I hope that cleared the doubts in your heads.” I looked at Miss Petra when I heard her said those words. I saw her gradually turning around to look at me everyone one-by-one. I didn’t know what she was talking about not until she uttered the following words, “You see, everyone who managed to enter this camp is worthy of their slots. No one has ever entered this place in pure luck. So never doubt anyone. Because every trainee in this camp has the potential to become the strongest werewolf.”

There was this moment of silence after she said those words. I can feel some of my classmates staring at me and some are slowly nodding their heads, probably agreeing with Miss Petra’s words.

“Now, to begin our lesson…” she said, catching everyone’s attention.

She probably hit two birds with one stone with that strength demonstration earlier. First, she was able to show us the difference in our strength and why she is a trainer. Second, well, this isn’t sure, but she probably wants to prove to the others that I passed the test with my own skills.

I have this little idea in my mind that the news of having someone who couldn’t shift to her wolf, pass the test, has already spread all throughout the camp and has raised doubts about the credibility of the camp. So in order to clear those doubts, she purposely ask me to have a mock battle with her.

“That was tiring…” Kaia pouted as she took a bite on her meat. We are currently at the cafeteria to have our lunch. “I didn’t know Miss Petra would be that strict,” she added, puffing some air.

“Well, it’s what she’s supposed to do,” I told her, sipping on my juice. “She needs to be strict to make sure we will learn everything she wants us to know,” I added, justifying her. “The person who used to train me was even more strict than her,” I inserted and couldn’t stop smiling as I reminisce the first few days of training with Alpha Lancer.

“Really?” Kaia responded, raising both of her brows. “That probably explains why you were so good then,” she added, smiling. “No wonder why everything seems to be so easy for you during lecture. You’re like the top in our class.”

“W-Well, yeah, you can say that.” I slightly smiled at her because I don’t really know if I should believe her.

“You just inspired me to train harder,” she said, grinning at me. “I want to be as strong and capable as you.”

“You’ll be better and stronger than me, Kaia,” I assured her. “Everyone can surpass me—even I can outgrown my current self.”

“Well, let’s grow stronger together,” she said, offering her hand.

“Okay. Together.” I smiled at her before grabbing her hand for a shake.

My first day went smoother than expected. I couldn’t hide the smile on my face as I walk back to our dormitory.

Hunter hasn’t come home yet, which is a good thing. I can work in peace. I can do the chores without getting my blood boil.

I started doing the chores, humming. I prepared the food for dinner and while waiting for it to cook, I started cleaning the dorm to make sure everything is clean and tidy when that good-for-nothing future alpha of our pack comes home.

I was just about to finish doing everything I need to do when the door opened and Hunter stormed it without even taking off his muddy boots. He went straight to the couch and aggressively dropped himself, taking off his boots.

I couldn’t help but stare at the muddy tracks he left. I can feel my blood aggressively rushing all over my body. I want to hit him with the broom I am holding. I want to beat him until the broom breaks into pieces!

“You could have just leave your dirty boots outside,” I told him as I went to get the mop.

“Well, that’s the reason why you’re here,” he replied and I could even imagine him smirking while saying those words. And when I looked at him, he was really smirking. “To clean up every mess in this dorm,” he added, leaning against the couch.

I just secretly rolled my eyes at him before I started mopping the floor for the second time around. I could feel him looking at me but I chose to ignore him or else I’ll break his face with my fist.

“So, how’s your first day?” he asked.

I stopped mopping just to give him a look. “As fas as I could remember, our relationship is only limited to me being your errand girl or should I say, slave. It is way too far from being casual like talk about how our days went by,” I told him, rolling my eyes before taking his boots and putting it outside the dorm to dry out.

And as I got back inside, I told him dinner is ready and he can eat whenever he wants to. Then I went to my room and grabbed my bath robe and towel before heading to the bathroom. My body feels so sticky after all the activities I did today.

After an almost half an hour bath, I went out with just my robe and my towel wrapped in my hair. I feel renewed. I feel fresh. Nothinh really beats the feeling after a good bath.

I was just about to enter my room when I noticed Hunter looking at me from while he was sitting on the couch.

I raised a brow, “What?”

He just looked away as if he didn’t hear me.

“Weirdo,” I murmured, shaking my head while entering my room to get dressed.