Champ's POV

The sun hung high over the wide-open field behind the university, casting long shadows over the training grounds. I stood at the center, surrounded by Marsh, Gem, Martin, and Daryl—four Beta males eager to sharpen their combat skills (Well, except for that damn Jiggs!) This is their fist-fighting training session, and as their leader and mentor, I am responsible for refining their techniques, honing their punches, and preparing them for real battle.

But, of course, not everyone was taking this seriously.

Sitting comfortably on the grass, phone in hand, was Jiggs. His fingers tapped rapidly on the screen, completely absorbed in whatever game he was playing.

"Enjoying yourself over there, Jiggs?" I called out sarcastically, folding my arms.

"Oh yeah, don't mind me!" he replied, not even looking up. "You guys go ahead and break a sweat. I'm good right here."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Maybe you'd like to contribute instead? I don't know... fetch us some cold water? Maybe a snack?"

"Just let me finish this round!" he protested.

I smirked. "Oh? You're finishing something? Funny, because we're in need of a punching bag for today's session. Now, I wonder who would make a good one..."

Jiggs bolted upright. "Ah! You know what? I'll get the water! Snacks, too! No problem! Be right back!" His voice was nearly frantic as he sprinted away, disappearing over the hill.

I let out a chuckle, half amused, half exasperated.

"Apologies for my lazy friend," I said, turning back to the Betas. "I hope you don't think I'm playing favorites by letting him off easy while you all work your asses off."

Martin shook his head. "Not at all, Master Champ! Jiggs helps us a lot during lessons. When we don't understand something, he shares his notes with us and explains everything clearly."

I raised an eyebrow. "Well, at least he's useful in some way." That was a relief. "Alright! Let's get back to it!"

I resumed the training, demonstrating different techniques, giving pointers, and ensuring they executed their punches correctly. But as I worked with them, a nagging thought kept crawling into my mind—Deux.

I really hoped he wasn't anywhere near here.

All I wanted was a peaceful training session. If Deux showed up, he'd definitely stir up trouble. Worse, if he made it obvious that he was watching over me, the Beta males and Jiggs would start getting suspicious.

Please, Deux. Just this once—stay away.

(Swish!)

(Woosh!)

I threw a quick set of punches into the air, my movements swift and precise. The Betas stood in awe, their eyes glued to my form.

"Whoa! You're amazing, Master Champ!" they cheered, clapping in excitement.

Of course, I am amazing.

"Make sure to keep training, even when we're not in session," I advised. Then, flashing a grin, I added, "Now, who wants to spar with me?"

"I'd like to do it!"

"Me!"

"No, me first!"

"Please, Master Champ! It would be an honor!"

The four Betas practically scrambled over each other, eager for the chance to test their skills against me. Their enthusiasm made me chuckle.

"Hmm..." I tapped my chin, pretending to consider. Then, a playful smirk spread across my face. "Since you're all so eager, why not take me on together? All four of you—against me."

The excitement flickered into hesitation.

"Wait... all of us?" Gem asked cautiously.

"Yep!" I grinned. "Think of it as an opportunity to push yourselves further. Besides, if we all train together, we'll all get hungry at the same time, right?"

Gem hesitated, but Martin beamed. "That actually sounds fun!"

"Alright! Positions!" I commanded.

The four of them took their stances, surrounding me in a tight square—north, east, south, and west. I stood in the center, relaxed, completely at ease.

But then, to add an extra challenge, I pulled out a handkerchief from my pocket.

Without another word, I tied it over my eyes.

Gasps erupted around me.

"Master Champ, how are you supposed to see us?" Marsh asked, incredulous.

I smirked. "This will be part of your future training. Fighting without sight. The key is relying on your hearing, your instincts." I straightened, feeling the shift in the air around me. "I'm going to prove to you that I can take all four of you down... even blindfolded."

Silence.

I waited.

Ten seconds passed, and none of them attacked.

I furrowed my brows under the blindfold.

I pulled it up slightly—just enough to peek—and, sure enough, they were all just standing there, nervous and hesitant.

I laughed. "What's wrong? What happened to all that confidence?"

"Master Champ..." Martin hesitated. "We just—"

"No excuses!" I pulled the blindfold back down. "Since you won't attack first, I guess I will!"

I inhaled deeply, focusing on my surroundings.

Then—

"One... two... three!"

I heightened my senses, focusing entirely on my hearing.

To my right, I caught the sound of Marsh's quickening footsteps as he charged toward me. The moment he got close, I ducked low and countered with a sharp punch to his gut.

At the same time, Gem launched a kick from the left.

I twisted my body just in time, grabbed his leg mid-air, and yanked him downward. He hit the ground hard with a grunt.

Then, from straight ahead, Martin came rushing in. I sidestepped swiftly, leaving him with no time to stop himself—he crashed face-first into Daryl, who had been positioned behind me.

And just like that... silence.

I pulled off my blindfold, expecting them to regroup quickly. But what I saw made me freeze.

All four of them were on the ground, groaning, completely knocked out of formation.

"You guys okay?" I asked, half-worried.

"A-a-all good, Master Champ!" Daryl wheezed.

"I-it's an honor to be taken down by Master Champ," Marsh groaned, rubbing his ribs.

I sighed. "Get up. That was only the beginning. You have a lot more to learn."

Just as they struggled to their feet, a slow, deliberate clap echoed through the open field.

The sound was soft, unhurried.

But something about it sent a chill crawling down my spine.

I stiffened. I couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from.

Then—

A scent.

It slithered into my senses, something foreign yet oddly familiar.

Vanilla? No...

Cinnamon? Yes...

A bold, intoxicating, dangerous scent.

An Alpha.

And not just any Alpha—I could feel it in my bones. This one was different.

The scent grew stronger. He was getting closer.

And then—

Behind me, that same slow clap.

"Impressive. That was quite a show..."

The deep, almost amused voice made my skin prickle. I turned sharply.

There he was.

A towering figure with long, ink-black hair, tied loosely at the back. A tribal tattoo stretched along his neck, curling like a predator's mark.

And his eyes—a striking mix of blue and green.

Almost like Deux's... but not quite.

Deux's gaze was sharp, cold, unreadable. But this man's?

His eyes hid something twisted beneath them. Something dark. Something unhinged.

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly. Then, he shook his head as if something about me confused him.

"Strange..." he murmured, his voice laced with intrigue.

The Beta males scrambled to stand in front of me, instinctively forming a weak barrier between us.

But the Alpha wasn't looking at them.

He was looking at me.

From head to toe.

Like he was studying me.

"So it's you..." he muttered, his gaze unwavering. "Even from your scent alone, I can already tell."

My scent?

No.

No, no, no—

A smirk curled at his lips, his expression amused yet unsettling. His eyes bore into me, calculating.

"Lavender... interesting."

My breath caught.

He could smell me.

That meant only one thing—

He wasn't just any average Alpha.

He was like Deux.

And from the way my instincts were screaming at me, he was just as dangerous.

Or worse.

"Why don't we play a little game?" he proposed, his smirk deepening. "Alpha versus Alpha... wouldn't that be fun?"

His words sent a wave of unease through me.

This pressure... this suffocating aura...

It wasn't like Deux's at all.

Deux's presence was commanding, powerful—but controlled. Even in our most intense moments, I never felt like he would lose himself.

But this Alpha?

His aura was unpredictable.

Unstable.

I glanced down at my hands.

They were shaking.

What is happening to me?

Who is this Alpha?

End of Chapter 10