False Expectations - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Adelina's pov:
-"Follow me," Demetrio said, motioning toward the training field. The field stretched out before us, the size of a football stadium. At the center, there was a large area marked with painted circles on the ground where the man-to-man battles were held. To the side, a long table was covered with a wide array of weapons, ranging from medieval to modern. There were knives, swords, shields, axes, bats, guns loaded with silver bullets, machine guns, revolvers, rifles, and more—everything a warrior might need for combat.
Around the edges of the field, several warriors were training. Demetrio walked over to them and ordered them to stop, his commanding voice making them fall into line immediately. He turned to one of them, a man I recognized as Gregory—a very tall, muscular figure who stepped forward when his name was called.
Demetrio gave a brief nod in greeting. "This is Gregory," he said, then turned to us. "You will fight him."
The atmosphere shifted instantly, and the warriors stood still, watching as Demetrio began to explain the rules of the training exercise.
-"You will fight in three rounds," Demetrio continued, his tone firm. "The total time will be thirty seconds. The first twenty seconds, you will fight in your human form, using only your body for the first ten seconds. In the next ten, you may use any weapon you choose from that table. After that, you will shift to your wolf form for the last ten seconds. But—you are not allowed to shift until I give the command."
I nodded, feeling a rush of adrenaline. I had trained in various forms before, but this would be different. Demetrio's rules were clear and straightforward. My heart raced as he turned to me, waiting for the signal.
-"Begin!" he barked, and the command made my muscles tense with readiness.
I faced Gregory, my gaze steady as I prepared myself to engage in the first round of this test.
We began to move around the perimeter of the battle circle, each of us carefully sizing up the other. I wasn't going to be the first to strike; I needed to get a feel for Gregory's moves. My canines began to elongate, and my nails sharpened, ready for whatever he would throw at me. We circled each other for a few seconds, neither making a move until he attacked first, throwing punches from all directions.
I blocked and dodged his strikes, my body fluid and focused, repelling his blows with ease. For a while, it seemed like we were evenly matched, but then I saw my opportunity. He threw a wide punch, leaving his left leg exposed. I took advantage of it, landing a strong punch that swept him off balance, sending him crashing to the ground.
He scrambled to his feet, clearly caught off guard and angry. The intensity in his eyes was evident as he launched himself at me once more. This time, his strikes came faster and harder. His blows were relentless, and though I dodged some, one punch hit me in the side, knocking the wind out of me and throwing me to the ground. Before I could recover, he aimed a kick at me. I quickly rolled away and pushed myself back to my feet.
We locked eyes again as he charged at me, throwing more punches. I blocked, dodged, and waited for my opening. When I saw it, I countered—letting my strength surge through me. I kicked him in the stomach and followed up with punches to his chest and face. The force of my blows seemed to catch him off guard, and with one powerful kick, I landed a strike that knocked the wind out of him—right where it hurts most.
He crumpled to the floor, but I wasn't done. I took the chance to kick and punch him some more, pushing him back as he struggled to defend himself. His attempts to block became slower, more desperate. Finally, he managed to stand up again, and the fight resumed. He threw another series of punches, but I dodged most of them and landed a few solid blows in return.
We locked arms, each trying to overpower the other. Just as I was about to land another blow, Demetrio's voice rang out, commanding us to stop.
-"Enough!" he shouted, pulling us apart. The intense focus and adrenaline melted away, leaving me breathless and with a feeling of satisfaction. Gregory and I both stood there, panting, as Demetrio sized us up with a critical eye.
-"Second round, choose your weapons," Demetrio announced, his voice firm.
I followed him to the table, where a variety of weapons were laid out. Without hesitation, I picked up a sword, its weight feeling comfortable in my grip. Gregory chose an axe, a bulky weapon that would require considerable strength to wield effectively. The tension between us was palpable as we squared off, both of us waiting for the other to make the first move.
Gregory didn't wait long. With a swift motion, he swung the axe toward me. I blocked most of his strikes, though a few hit and left cuts on my arms and torso. The pain was sharp but nothing I couldn't handle. I knew my wolf would take care of the healing once the fight was over.
As the battle raged on, I focused on staying one step ahead of him. Using my sword, I carved a deep gash across his face, drawing a pained roar from him. I followed up with strikes to his sides and abdomen, leaving him staggering and trying to regain his balance. This was my opening. With a burst of speed, I pressed my advantage, landing blow after blow. Finally, his knees buckled, and he conceded, holding up his hands in surrender.
Before I could catch my breath, Demetrio's commanding voice echoed through the field:
-"Third round, shift!"
I didn't hesitate an instance. I put down my sword and shifted into my white wolf, my fur gleaming in the fading light. Gregory quickly followed suit, shifting into a massive brown wolf with grey spots. His wolf was much larger than mine, but I had speed and agility on my side. The moment the shift was complete, he lunged at me with powerful jaws, trying to sink his teeth into my sides. I dodged, twisting my body just in time to avoid his bite.
His strength was undeniable, but I used my speed to wear him down. He lunged again, this time trying to catch my legs, but I was too quick. I weaved around him, my movements fluid and calculated. We danced around each other for nearly ten minutes, each of us trying to land the decisive blow. Finally, he made a mistake. In a desperate move, he jumped toward me, but I was ready. I dodged, rolling under his body and coming up behind him. With all the strength I had, I launched myself forward, sinking my teeth into his already wounded abdomen.
Gregory howled in pain, but I didn't stop. I bit and clawed at his sides, forcing him onto the ground. As he tried to recover, I quickly maneuvered around and latched onto his neck, my teeth piercing his fur. It wasn't long before he finally gave up, submitting to me.
Demetrio called the fight.
The warriors around us erupted into applause, cheering for me. I stood tall, bowing my head in acknowledgment, my chest swelling with pride. But then, something unexpected happened. The cheering warriors suddenly stopped, their heads all bowing at once. I froze, confusion washing over me. Wolves usually bowed in the presence of high-ranking members or Alphas, but I hadn't expected them to show such respect to me.
I wondered why they were doing this, and then I felt it—the unmistakable scent of my mate. It hit me like a wave, rich and intoxicating: cinnamon, pine, and lemon. My heart skipped a beat as I turned, and there he was.
Maximus.
He stood across the field, arms crossed, a look of arrogance and dominance on his face. His aura was undeniable, a presence that commanded attention and respect. His eyes locked onto mine, and a growl rumbled from his chest, loud and unmistakable.
-"Enough!" he roared, his voice full of authority, shaking the air around us.
I stood frozen, my heart racing. The warriors, who had just been cheering for me, instantly stopped and lowered their heads in submission, a clear sign of Maximus's power and influence.
He stepped forward, his eyes never leaving mine, the weight of his presence almost overwhelming.
-"What the hell is going on here?" Maximus's voice boomed, making every inch of the training field feel suffocating. His anger was palpable, and the warriors who had just bowed to me seemed to shrink back, understanding what was about to unfold.
Demetrio bowed low to Maximus, his posture showing respect, though there was an undertone of unease. "Good evening, Alpha! Just ordinary training as always, sir. We're glad you came to watch us. Would you like us to make a demonstration for you?"
Maximus's glare intensified, his gaze burning with fury. He didn't say anything for a moment, the silence hanging heavy between us. Then, without warning, he turned to the gathered warriors.
-"You are all dismissed. Go get some rest," he ordered, his voice cold and commanding.
The warriors quickly scattered, heading to the exits without a second glance at him or Demetrio. Maximus's gaze never wavered from me as he spoke, his voice low and commanding. "Stay." The word lingered in the air, heavy and unyielding. I wanted to protest, to walk away, but I couldn't bring myself to move. His presence was suffocating, like an invisible force keeping me rooted to the spot.
The last of the warriors filtered out of the training field, leaving only the three of us. Maximus's aura seemed to fill the space, making everything feel too close, too tight. My heart raced as I stood there, waiting for what would come next. Demetrio, ever the professional, kept his expression neutral, though I could sense the tension between him and Maximus growing.
Maximus finally turned his attention to Demetrio, his expression dark, eyes narrowed. "What is she doing here, Gamma?" His voice was clipped, each word dripping with authority and something darker that I couldn't quite place.
Demetrio hesitated for only a second, but I could see the subtle shift in his demeanor as he prepared to answer. "She's my new trainee, Alpha. She's very good. I was planning to make her my second in command of the warriors. Her skills and techniques are exceptional. She even bested Gregory in the last round." Demetrio's voice was steady, but there was a hint of tension in his words, a sense that he knew how this conversation was about to go.
Maximus didn't respond immediately, his gaze still fixed on Demetrio. The silence between them was thick with unspoken thoughts. Then, with a barely audible growl, he finally spoke.
-"She's not a warrior. She's not meant to be part of that team."
His words hit me like a slap, and I felt a wave of frustration and anger rush through me. But I said nothing, keeping my eyes on the ground. I could feel Demetrio's discomfort but also his determination to stand his ground.
-"With all due respect, Alpha, this is where you're wrong," Demetrio replied, his tone firm and unwavering. "She is a warrior. She's already proven herself."
-"This is something you should have discussed with me first, don't you think, Gamma?" Maximus said, his tone commanding.
-"With all due respect, Alpha, it didn't cross my mind," Demetrio replied firmly. "Promoting trainees to higher levels is one of my responsibilities, one I've always done without seeking your permission. For years, you've never challenged my decisions. So what's changed now? Do you doubt my abilities?"
-"No, I don't. But I also do not want this woman in the warriors' team," Maximus responded, his voice calm but strict.
-"Honestly, I don't see why not. According to pack law, she's free to participate. It's her right to learn how to defend herself or fight, Alpha." Demetrio turned to me and asked, "Do you still want to train with us, Adelina?"
-"Of course, I want to. In fact, I'm thrilled with the idea," I answered eagerly.
-"Dimetrio, you're dismissed," Maximus said, his expression blank.
-"Alpha," Demetrio bowed, his tone respectful, but his eyes gleaming with something that bordered on amusement. He looked at me and added, "I'll wait for you tomorrow, same time, same place. Don't be late," he winked, and with a final "Good night," he left us alone.
Maximus's eyes locked onto me, his gaze fiery and penetrating. He took a deliberate step forward, his presence suffocating. "You think you can just walk in here and prove yourself with a few punches, Adelina?" His voice dripped with mockery and irritation. "You're not one of them. You don't belong in the arena."
Each word felt like a weight pressing down on me, a dismissal of everything I had worked so hard for. My fists tightened at my sides, but I kept my expression neutral, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing my anger. I wasn't going to back down.
-"I belong wherever I choose to be," I said, my voice unwavering, though my pulse quickened.
Maximus smirked, amusement flickering in his cold gaze. He didn't respond immediately, but the tension between us was palpable, a storm just waiting to break.
-"Follow me to the office now," Maximus ordered, his voice harsh, the frustration radiating from him. He was practically seething with anger.
I trailed behind him as we headed to his office, feeling the weight of his fury in the air. For the first time since arriving here, I wasn't intimidated by his reaction. Maybe it was the adrenaline from the fight still rushing through me, or maybe I had finally trained myself not to let his presence unsettle me.
We reached the office, and Maximus opened the door, stepping inside and waiting for me to follow. As I entered, he locked the door behind us and took the key. The sound of the lock clicking echoed in the quiet room, and suddenly, the confidence I had felt moments ago started to waver. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so sure of myself after all...