My head was killing me when I woke up. Every one of my muscles felt tense and exhausted, there was something more than just the tiredness of having exercised, it was as if part of the darkness of the forest had stayed with me.

I wasn't at all surprised to see the infirmary when I opened my eyes. To be honest, I didn't remember much of what had happened after running away from the forest. At that moment I let my instincts take over, and by disconnecting my brain I also separated myself from reality.

A sharp pain went through my lower back when I sat up, it must have been the wound the spirit left me with. I carefully turned my head and lifted my shirt. From that position, I could only see part of a bandage that was already beginning to be stained with blood.

"You shouldn't be moving too much." Xara's voice startled me, making me drop my shirt. "Wounds inflicted by spirits take longer to heal and your second trial is tomorrow so try to rest as much as possible."

"Did I pass the first test?" Asked.

Despite having hunted the deer, I was not sure I had overcome the challenge.

"Yes, Artec can't stop bragging about all the money he made thanks to you." Xara smiled and stood next to me, taking a look at the wound. "It's time I changed the bandage.”

I could imagine Artec shouting down the hallway about his great coaching skills. The point wasn't bragging about my new abilities but about himself. It's not that that bothered me either, I had already understood that Artec enjoyed being the center of attention, and at a certain point, I found it funny.

I shook my head to cast away the image of Artec. Then I nodded to the doctor, lifting my shirt once again to make Xara's task easier. She worked silently, from her expression I could tell that she was too focused on cleaning my wound. I winced a little during the process, the contact of the antiseptic with the cut made my entire back burn, judging by the pain it must have been a big wound.

"How big is it?" I asked her after she finished.

"It's a deep and long cut, that spirit must have been very angry, I'd say it must have been fond of the deer you hunted," she explained to me, taking off her gloves and throwing them in the trash. "I had to sew it up to help it heal faster. At least this time your wolf is in a position to speed up the healing."

"Do you think it'll be ready for tomorrow?"

"To be honest, I don't think it will heal completely before the fight, but it will heal enough to not bother you too much. I would have made you rest a little more but once the trials start the candidate can only rest one day between the tests, more time means you are disqualified.”

“Don't worry about it, I’m used to moving and working with worse wounds,” I told her. 

A single cut on my back, independently of the size, has no comparison to the pain my body used to be when I lived with my uncle.  At least I got something good from that torture, that monster liked to say that he was making me stronger, in a wicked way he wasn't wrong. 

“Are you nervous about the second test?” Xara asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. 

“A little but it's not as bad as what I felt during the first one, it is easier to imagine what I can expect during combat than getting inside an unknown and dangerous forest. At least that's a twist in the challenge that no one is telling me.” 

Xara laughed and patted my leg. “Don't worry, it's only a fight. I can't say anything about the details of the fight but it's nothing strange, I promise you that.” She took a piece of wood from her pockets. “I found this in your mouth yesterday.” 

“Thanks.” I took the wood. “I thought it was pretty when I saw it and I wanted a memory of the Spirits’ Forest.” 

“What are you going to do with it?” 

“I’ll probably carve some figures with it if I can find where my knife is,” I answered, looking around for my belongings. 

Xara stood up, kneeled, and took a box from under the bed. “I put everything here,” she said, giving me the box. “I have other patients to attend to, if you need anything else just call.”

Without wasting time I started working on the wooden figures. I cut the piece of log into two parts and then began to carve a wolf from each one using the knife Zaziel gave me.

It was good to be able to clear my mind for a while from the tests, I had barely made it out of the first one alive and I didn't want to make the mistake of paralyzing myself by creating the worst possible scenarios in my head. I would see what to do when the time came, first I had to rest.

I felt proud of the result of my work, the little wolves entered my palm, and I couldn't help but think that it reminded me of someone.

"What do you have there?" Zaziel's voice brought me back to reality. He pulled a chair next to me and sat down, waiting for my response.

"Wooden figures, I made them with a piece of trunk that I found in the forest." I offered him the wolves so he could see them better.

"They look like us," he said after analyzing them for a few seconds. "I mean, like our wolves."

That's why they looked familiar to me. What was happening with my mind? Why would I make our wolves?

The mate bond was damaging my neurons, that must be the explanation.

"You can have one," I offered, looking down at my hands. "As a thank you for helping me pass the trial."

"In that case, I want this one," Zaziel said, keeping the one that looked like my wolf.

"Why not the other one?"

"Can't I just want to have something that reminds me of my pup?”

His pup. 

My wolf began howling inside me, she was probably thinking that Zaziel accepted us. I felt bad for her, she was so excited when he was probably playing. I would have thought that she would be more careful after everything we had been through, it was time for my wolf to understand that people were by our side only when we were useful to them.

“Don't get so worked up, I was just asking.” I took back the other figure. “I’ll keep this one, then. Maybe it will bring me good luck in the fight.” 

“If you manage to escape from a nature spirit you can beat one of the members. And don't worry I won't make you fight against me or any of the ranked members, that wouldn't be fair to anyone. Still, I can't assure you that it will be easy.” 

Zaziel hid the wolf inside his jacket pocket and took out a small bag. “This is yours.” 

I took the bag and opened it, inside there was a lot of money. “What is this?” 

“Your money.” He grabbed my wrist and started caressing it. "I thought you could use some money so I bet for you. You won it so it's yours."

"It's a lot of money, how much did you bet?"

"That's not the important thing, it's a lot because the majority bet against you." He brought my wrist to his mouth and kissed it. "So, how does it feel to have passed the first test?"

"I feel powerful," I confessed. "At least more powerful than I used to be. Every day I spend here makes me feel stronger, like I can finally let the real me out."

I didn't know why I told him that. I wasn't supposed to trust anyone until I turned into an official member of the rogues, however, one look into his blue eyes was enough to break my resolve.

Zaziel had a power over me that scared me. I had to get away before I ended up falling for his charms.

"You are powerful, little mouse, even in your weakest state you did not give in to the group most feared by the rest of the wolves," he said, caressing my cheek. "When someone is brought here they usually beg, cry, and panic, you decided to challenge me. It wasn't your smartest idea but it takes courage to do it.”

“Should I challenge you more?” I joked, winking at him. 

“Only if you are ready to face the punishment.” He smirked and squeezed my neck. “I wouldn't mind punishing you, we can even have some fun.” 

“I’ll pass for now, I have two more challenges to face and I would like to be in my best shape.” 

“What a shame,” he said, moving his hand away. “I was starting to get excited.” 

“Do you have any advice for tomorrow?” I asked, trying to get as much information as possible.

“Be smart and don't try to rely much on your physical strength, you have one of the smallest bodies here, don't forget that. Look for an opening in your opponent and use your agility to beat them." Zaziel stood up and returned the chair to its original place. "You got this, pup, show them that my mate is a winner.”

×

The atmosphere of the second test was very different from the first one. Instead of being a solitary expedition, it was a show, an entertainment for the rest of the members that were waiting around the ring. The public was already screaming for us, they acted like the fight was the most entertaining thing they saw that week. 

My opponent was already standing next to me. She was taller and more muscular than me, and from the calmness she conveyed I was sure she had much more experience than mine in combat. 

My concentration on my opponent prevented me from listening to Artec's introduction of us, not that I was interested in knowing her name or hearing the repetition of the rules of combat that Lion had already explained to me before I entered the training room.

Artec gave the start signal and my opponent attacked immediately, sending a fist in the direction of my face. I dodged it, keeping my distance, and not leaving my defensive position until I could find the opportunity to counterattack.

Zaziel was right, I couldn't depend on my strength or my fighting technique. If I wanted to survive I had to be the smartest.

I received a knee in the stomach that pushed me against the ropes. My opponent used that moment to punch me in the jaw which left me stunned.

My body fell to the ground, at that moment I looked up at Zaziel. He seemed angry but when our eyes met he winked at me and motioned for me to get up.

A kick came in my direction but I rolled to avoid it. Ignoring the pain coming from my back injury, I stood up and got into a defensive position.

The young woman sent another fist towards my head. There it was again, the opening she left every time she attacked. Using my speed to my advantage, I hit her in the chest with my fist and before she could recover I grabbed her head and kneed her in the face with all my strength.

She fell to the ground and I sat on her abdomen, trapping her arms with my legs. Without wasting time I landed several punches on her face, one after another until she fell unconscious.

The screams of excitement and applause from the audience felt like a gift to my heart. I couldn't contain my smile as I got up from the ground. 

I did it, even if my body felt like shit I felt invincible. What stemmed like an impossible taste was almost done, with one more effort I’ll be part of the rogues and then my family will suffer what they deserve. 

Artec announced my victory at the same time that Zaziel entered the ring. He helped me stand, hugging my waist and putting my arm around his neck.

He guided me to the infirmary, stopping now and then to let me take a break. The biggest pain came from my back which had already been injured in the previous challenge. It was difficult for me to stand, and if it weren't for Zaziel I wouldn't have been able to walk.

I winced several times before reaching the infirmary, Zaziel even offered to carry me in his arms, but my pride prevented me from taking the opportunity.

"Wait a little longer, Xara's going to be here right away," he said after helping me onto the bed. "Where does it hurt the most?"

"The back, I think the wound I had reopened."

"Let me see." He stood behind me and lifted my shirt. "It's bleeding but she doesn't seem anything too serious, you'll be more than fine for the last test."

"It's good to know I'm not going to die," I joked, paying attention to Zaziel who sat across from me.

"I'm not going to let you leave so soon."

"What wounds do you have for me today?" Xara asked me, standing next to Zaziel.

He got up from his seat and the collar of his shirt moved a little, revealing a necklace made with a cord and the figure of the wolf that I had given him.

"I’ll let you too in peace," he said. Then he leaned towards me and whispered in my ear. "Just one more test, pup. One more and you'll be able to stay with me forever.”