And the winner is

Returning to the training ground, my heart pounded erratically as I caught sight of Alexander in the midst of our pack member. Instinctively, my gaze drifted toward his, and I found myself staring at his bare torso. his side had a deep gash mark, almost exposing the third layer of his skin. 

The cut on his side appeared jagged as if inflicted by something sharp and uneven. Crimson blood oozed slowly from the wound, tracing a meandering path down his rugged abdomen.

With each breath he took, a wince crossed his face, betraying the pain he was undoubtedly enduring. The muscles around the wound tensed and relaxed, as if in a futile attempt to mitigate the discomfort.

Despite the severity of the injury, his demeanor remained remarkably stoic. His jaw clenched, his gaze unwavering as he stared into mine.

Swallowing hard, I tore my gaze away from him when our eyes locked, a mixture of emotions swirling within me suppressing the tension between us.

As I moved back toward the judge's table, my mind raced with thoughts of what Alexander had revealed to me. His determination to win the competition, to claim his one wish, sent a chill down my spine. 

Lost in my thoughts, I barely registered the cheers and applause as the competition continued. The intensity of the moment seemed to fade into the background as my focus shifted inward, grappling with the weight of the choices that lay before me.

Then, as if sensing my inner turmoil, Alpha Daniel's voice broke through the haze. "Are you alright, Cleo?"

Startled, I looked up to see him watching me with concern etched on his features."I'm fine," I replied with a forced smile, pushing aside my doubts. "Just lost in thought."

Alpha Daniel nodded, though the worry didn't leave his eyes. "If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here," he offered, his tone genuine.

Grateful for his offer, I nodded in acknowledgment before turning my attention back to the competition and taking my seat.

Just then, I saw Cole's wolf merging out of the forest with nothing, and my breath caught in my throat as tears well up behind my eyelids, knowing what that meant. But I blinked it back,  refusing to cry in front of everyone else.

When I looked over at Mother Luna, I saw a small smirk on her lip and so did Alpha Ashur as they stared at him, and he kept his gaze on them, not staring my way.

"Did he just forfeit being in the lead?" Alpha Michael asked, looking at the others questioningly.

Alpha Thomas shook his head, sighing in disbelief as his eyes flickered to mine, but he said nothing.

Alpha Gabriel spoke up, addressing Cole with a hint of disapproval in his voice. "Why are you back empty-handed when every other competitor has a kill?!"

Suddenly, shifting back to his human form, Cole grabbed his robe and wore it, responding as he tied its belt, "I could not find any kill for this last round."

"In a forest filled with all beasts big and small, the was none to kill?" Alpha Hale suddenly interjected. I noticed a slight twitch of agitation around his lips like a frustrated father would look at his son.

"No,"

"Mmh, I didn't know the general was a yellow-belly."

With a scowl, Alpha Ashur looked at Hale and let out, "What are you implying, Hale?"

Alpha Hale's expression remained firm as he met Ashur's gaze. "I'm implying nothing, Ashur. Merely stating the obvious."

A tense silence settled over the training ground, the weight of the exchange hanging in the air. Cole stood before the judges, his posture rigid as he faced the scrutiny of the alphas.

It now made sense why Alexander was so sure that he was going to win. He knew Cole would forfeit, and the fact that after all this time, Cole so easily let go of me bothered me more than I'd care to admit.

"Since all the competitors are here, it's time for us to return to the kill hall, get the statistics from the gatherer leader, and announce our winner." Alpha Ashur clapped his hands, signaling an end to the challenge.

Once again, a murmur of pleasure traveled throughout the crowd as everyone made their way back to the hall, and as I was about to leave, Cole locked eyes with me, and I froze.

Blinking back my emotions, I clutched my chest, squeezing my blouse to stop myself from breaking down. My heart felt heavy with a mixture of disappointment, hurt, and betrayal. Cole's gaze bore into mine, but it held no hint of remorse or regret, only a cold detachment that chilled me to the bone.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I tore my gaze away from his and followed the others back to the kill hall. The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with anticipation as we awaited the final results of the competition.

Inside the hall, the mood was somber as the alphas gathered around the judge's table, discussing the outcome of the challenge. I found a spot among them, trying to blend into the background as much as possible, hoping to avoid any further confrontations.

A while later, Alpha Ashur cleared his throat, commanding everyone's attention as he prepared to announce the winner. "After careful consideration and evaluation of the gathered statistics, we have reached a decision."

My heart raced in anticipation, my palms growing clammy as I awaited the verdict. A part of me hoped against hope that somehow, despite everything, someone other than Alex would emerge victorious.

"Without further ado, the winner of this year's competition and the one who shall claim their one wish is..." Alpha Ashur paused for dramatic effect, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before landing on Alexander. "Cole!"