Chapter Sixty-Nine
The second half of the course was nothing like the first.
This was Wulph’s territory — designed to strip away comfort zones and force adaptability at every turn. Obstacles shifted underfoot, targets appeared and vanished without warning, and the terrain itself seemed to conspire against anyone who thought they could muscle their way through.
And because Avery had asked for it, Wulph wasn’t pulling a single punch.
Auron walked alongside the perimeter, phone pressed to his ear as he confirmed the private room at the pub for later. His voice was calm, almost casual — a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding on the field.
Mark, on the other hand, was in full volume mode.
“Move it, Kael! You’re not here to admire the scenery!”
“Lucien, if you saw that coming, why didn’t you avoid it?”
“Riven, stop smiling like this is a date and run!”
The heckles came between bursts of encouragement, keeping the boys off balance and just a little irritated — exactly as intended.
The assessment team watched from the sidelines, murmuring among themselves.
“Riven’s scores are holding steady,” one noted. “Even under fatigue, his reaction time is sharp. He’s reading the field well.”
Another pointed toward Lucien. “He’s anticipating the moving targets before they appear. That’s not just reflex — that’s foresight. Could be a tactical edge in group combat.”
The third assessor nodded toward Kael, who was moving with a fluid, almost animal grace. “His wolf is close to the surface. He’s letting instinct guide him, and it’s paying off. That connection is rare — and dangerous in the right hands.”
Still, the course was brutal. Riven’s grin had faded into a determined set of his jaw. Lucien’s breathing was heavier now, his focus narrowing to the next obstacle. Kael’s shirt clung to him, sweat dripping down his temple, but his eyes were bright — his wolf pushing him forward.
Wulph paced them like a shadow, calling out adjustments, forcing them to adapt mid-stride. “Change your angle, Lucien! Kael, trust the landing! Riven, eyes up — next target’s high!”
Every time they thought they’d found a rhythm, the course shifted again.
By the time they cleared the last stretch, all three were breathing hard, muscles burning. Wulph gave a short nod — not praise, but acknowledgment.
“Better,” he said simply. “But you’ve got a long way to go.”
Auron ended his call, slipping the phone into his pocket. “Pub’s ready for us after this. We’ll talk about what you did right… and what you did wrong.”
Mark smirked. “And maybe how to keep yourselves out of Avery’s bad graces.”
Wulph just shook his head, the faintest smile tugging at his mouth. “That lesson might be harder than this course.”
The private room at the pub was warm and dimly lit, the scent of wood polish and grilled food hanging in the air. The boys sat nursing drinks, muscles aching from the course, while Auron, Mark, and Wulph settled in across from them.
For a moment, no one spoke. Then Mark leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table.
“You three need to understand something about Avery,” he began, his voice steady but carrying weight. “When she was growing up, Auron and I thought she was going to be human. So we made sure she could take care of herself. Advanced self-defense classes, weapons training — the works. She was strong-willed from the start, independent to the bone.”
He smiled faintly, remembering. “She’s always had one of the most generous hearts I’ve ever seen. If someone needed help, she was there. That’s why people gravitated to her — she’s always been well liked. And yes, she had boyfriends. But if anyone crossed her…” He chuckled. “The punishments were epic. Her friends learned fast — you don’t piss Avery off. And when she chooses you, her loyalty is unmatched.”
Auron picked up the thread. “Even without a mark or a wolf, fidelity mattered to her. A lot. A few of the boys — and girls — she dated learned the hard way what happens when you cheat on her. She doesn’t tolerate it. And she’s never tolerated being held too tight, either. Jealousy? Possessiveness? She’ll push back hard. Some people she cut out of her life completely.”
Mark nodded. “Elena and I had to step in a couple of times when things got… heated.”
Wulph leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady on the three of them. “I was one of the ones assigned to watch her growing up. I saw her in situations most people wouldn’t have handled half as well. She reads people — and situations — faster than anyone I’ve ever met. Growing up in the human realm gave her instincts you can’t teach. She’s not just reacting — she’s calculating, even when it looks like she’s just smiling.”
The boys were quiet now, the weight of the words settling in.
Lucien finally exhaled. “We didn’t think.”
Kael grimaced. “We reacted. And we deserved her irritation.”
Riven nodded slowly. “We won’t make that mistake again.”
The rest of the evening was easier — stories traded, laughter shared, the tension easing into something more like camaraderie. By the time they left, the three of them were sore, humbled, and carrying a new understanding of the woman they’d chosen — and who had chosen them.
Outside, Auron pulled out his phone and called Remy. “How are Avery and Molly doing? Coast clear for us to bring the boys home yet?”
There was a pause, then Remy’s amused voice came through. “Clear enough. But I’d still tread lightly if I were you.”
Auron smirked. “Noted.”