Alpha Temptations

06 | The Camp

I couldn’t take my eyes off him, Prince Blake. His silvery eyes are the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen in my entire life. His eyes mirror the thick gray clouds with a few streaks of light seeping through.

My eyes secretly followed his every movement as he rode the wagon. The others even paved a way for him and vacated their seats so that he could have a comfortable space. Without saying and doing anything, he still managed to demonstrate his regality, exuding some type of force that would trigger your instincts to lower your head and submit.

I didn’t notice I was staring too much not until he looked at me, eyes narrowing to a piercing look. I quickly looked down to avoid his gaze. It was so intimidating and dangerous. The pressure I felt after meeting his gaze was overwhelming.

I took a deep breath to recompose myself. I still feel the urge to look at him, but I am trying my best not to. I don’t want to make eye contact with him again. I don’t know what will happen to me if I try it one more time because even now, when my eyes are still on the floor, I can still feel his piercing gaze penetrating my skin.

I decided to look at Hunter, only to find him sleeping with his mouth slightly open. And before anyone sees him in that degrading state, I decided to move closer to him to cover him from others. I also let him rest his head on my shoulder as my way of thanking me for letting me ride on his back all throughout our way here.

I also wanted to take a short nap, but I couldn’t close my eyes because I could feel the prince’s eyes on me. I just pretended I didn’t notice him looking at me and just distracted myself by directing my focus on the path we were heading to. I did that for almost half an hour ‘til we finally reached the towering, bricked gates of the camp.

As soon as the coachman announced that we had arrived, everyone started to leave the wagon until all that was left was me, the still-sleeping-Hunter, the prince, and his company.

I gently shrug my shoulder to wake Hunter up. And I’m glad it didn’t take him long to open his eyes. “Where are we?” he asked, wiping the side of his mouth.

“The Camp,” I replied, wiping my shoulder. “It seems like you enjoyed sleeping on my shoulder, future Alpha,” I told him, rolling my eyes in disgust after feeling my shoulder wet.

“As if I have a choice. Your shoulder is the only one I can lean on,” he replied, getting up. “Carry the bags,” he added, jumping off the wagon.

“Yeah,” I lazily replied, rolling my eyes one more time before carrying his bags and mine. I grunted when I felt my shoulder hurt. It must have been because of that good-for-nothing jèrk! If only he didn’t sleep on my shoulder for almost half an hour!

I aggressively dropped his bag and heard someone gasp, so I looked back to check on it, and my eyes just widened in shock when I saw the prince glaring at me. “I…I am sorry, your highness!” I immediately bowed down my head and even went on my knees just to express my apologies.

“P-Please be careful with your bag, miss,” the girl beside him said with eyes filled with worry and panic. “Y-Your Highness, please forgive her. She didn’t mean to d—“

“Shut up, Kaia,” he said in his deep and dangerous voice. “Who are you to tell me what to do?”

“I…I am sorry, your highness!”

“Please don’t take on her, your highness! I…It was my fault.” I bowed even lower just to show him how sorry I am. I can feel the others already looking at us.

I heard the prince hiss. “You’re making a scene, woman,” he uttered in his low voice. “Lift your head and take your bags with you before I throw it myself,” he added.

“O-Okay,” I replied, getting up and carrying the bags. And probably because of adrenaline, I was able to take the bags with ease. My heart was pounding really hard after I jumped out of the wagon.

“Just what the hell are you doing, huh, Maya?” Hunter narrowed his eyes to me. “Are you planning to ruin my life?”

“I didn’t mean to do that,” I told him, cursing him in my head. “Do you think I am that stupid to hit the prince?” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at him. “As if I would do something that could mess my life even more,” I murmured, passing through him.

Carrying the bags, I joined the others who were waiting for someone to open the gates. Hunter stood beside me and looked around just like what the others did.

“So, what are we supposed to do here?” he asked.

“Are you seriously asking me?” I replied, looking at him in disbelief. “You should know it better than I do, right?”

“I don’t. My father didn’t tell me anything about it.”

“Greetings, future alphas and warriors!” All attention shifted to a particular direction when a thundering voice echoed. And there, walking out of the gate is a towering man with a powerful and intimidating aura. His towering height and the scar on his left eye made him look more terrifying. His eyes were naturally sharp-looking, as if he’s boring holes deep in your soul. “I am Linton Waltz, the head of this camp,” he introduced, gazing at us one by one.

He then walked closer, and I instinctively took a step backward. No, it wasn’t just me but almost every one of us. “There have been quite a number of aspiring trainees in this camp for the past few years. Due to that, we have devised a way to select only the best among the best; those with the greatest potentials to become this region’s most powerful and capable werewolves.”

“What is he talking about?” I asked Hunter, who has been silent for a while now.

“I don’t know,” he calmly replied, “And I don’t like the sound of it. It seems like they’re about to make us do something unexpected.”

“What do you mean?”

And as if Linton heard me, “Before you get into this camp, you have to prove to us that you have what it takes to be trained and honed to become this camp’s pride and honor. Show us what you’ve got—your strengths, skills, and capability.” He threw us one last look before turning around. “Pass through the gate if you’re willing to go through the test. But let me warn you, there’s no guarantee than you can make it out unscathed.” Those were his last words before he went back inside the camp.

And as soon as we lost sight of him, a deafening silence reigned over us. And even without hearing anything from them, I can tell that everyone is tensed and confused. When I looked at Hunter, I saw him stare at the gate with a pair of blank eyes.

“Don’t tell me you’re not going?” I told him when I sensed the doubt and uncertainty radiating from him. I can’t let him back out now. There’s no way I will just let him go and return to our pack because that also means I will have to go back and live miserably again.

“My father didn’t tell me anything about this,” he responded, looking at me.

I met his gaze and replied, “Are you scared, future alpha?” I tried to make my voice sound as teasing and belittling as it possibly could. I need to rile him up before he completely chickens out. “Are you scared that you might get your àss gets beaten up?” I added, grinning at him. “Well, you can return to your mum and cry on her shoulder.”

“What?” His brows furrowed before he flashed an insulted look. “Are you underestimating me?”

“Is that how it sounded to you?”

“You…”

I glared at him before turning around. “I don’t care if you back out now, but there’s no way I’m gonna go back to that pack after going through all the troubles just to get here,” I told him, carrying the bags and taking a step forward.

“What do you think you’re doing, Maya?”

I turned to him and grinned. “Escaping from my messed up life,” I replied before looking at the gate.

I took a deep breath before I started to take a few more steps forward. I just have to pass through this gate. I don’t care what’s waiting for me on the other side of this wall. I will make sure to trample them with everything I have so that I can finally attain the freedom I have been longing for from my pack. If I have to be on my knees or even crawl my way in, then I would. I will never let this chance slip!