Page 38

Cassandra’s POV

The real trial had begun.

The checkpoint was behind us, but the hardest part of the Leadership Challenge was still ahead.

Mud-covered trenches, rolling logs over deep pits, a balance beam dangling over open water, and the worst part? A timed climb up a collapsing rope bridge.

I turned to my team. They were still catching their breath from the sprint, but there was something different now.

Soren wasn’t arguing anymore.

The Blackwood warriors had stopped looking at me like I was an outsider.

I had their attention. Now, I had to keep it.

I squared my shoulders. “Listen up. We’re not here to just finish this course—we’re here to win. And the only way we do that is together. No one moves ahead alone, no one gets left behind. Got it?”

They nodded. Good.

I glanced at the other teams.

Two groups had already hit the mud trenches, struggling to crawl under the barbed wire while avoiding the swinging clubs that hung above them. A few warriors had already taken hits to the face.

Jack, watching from the crowd, cupped his hands and called out, “Cassie, if you get knocked out, can I have your room?”

I shot him a glare. “Not happening.”

Elias laughed from the sidelines, arms crossed. “Try not to get too dirty, Luna.”

I ignored him and turned back to my team. “We go in fast and low. Keep your heads down. Move together.”

And then I dove forward.

The second I hit the mud, the stench hit me—wet earth, sweat, and something that definitely wasn’t just dirt.

Soren grunted beside me, crawling fast. “This is disgusting.”

I smirked. “You giving up?”

He scowled. “Not a chance.”

Good.

A wooden club swung down, nearly taking out one of my packmates. I grabbed their arm, pulling them back just in time.

“Eyes up! Watch the swings!” I called.

We weaved through, bodies low to the ground, moving like a single unit.

Behind us, another team was struggling. One of their warriors got hit in the chest and was dragged back to the start.

I turned to my team. “Move faster.”

We pushed through, making it out in under a minute.

Two teams were still behind us. Only one was ahead.

A thin wooden beam stretched over a ten-foot drop into ice-cold water. It swayed slightly, unstable.

One misstep, and you were done.

I turned to my team. “One at a time. No rushing. If you fall, grab the side ropes and pull yourself back up.”

One by one, we moved across.

Two made it.

Soren was next. Halfway across—

CRACK.

The beam shifted violently.

Soren lost his balance.

I lunged, grabbing his arm before he could fall. “I got you!”

He gritted his teeth, gripping my wrist. “Don’t—”

“Shut up and hold on,” I snapped.

Using every ounce of strength, I hauled him back onto the beam.

Soren stared at me, breathing hard. Then, after a beat—

He nodded. “Thanks.”

That was the moment he truly accepted me as his leader.

We finished crossing together.

Only one challenge left.

A massive rope bridge, frayed and unstable, stretched toward the finish line.

Every thirty seconds, the ropes would loosen—making the climb harder. If we didn’t move fast enough, we’d fall.

The team ahead of us?

They were already struggling.

One of their warriors slipped, grabbing onto the net just in time. But it slowed them down.

I turned to my team. “We don’t stop. No hesitation. If someone falls—help them. But no matter what, we finish this.”

They nodded.

We climbed.

Hands gripped rope. Feet found footing. Every movement mattered.

Halfway up, the ropes shifted.

One of my warriors lost her balance—

I reached down, gripping her wrist. “I’ve got you!”

She held on, breathing hard.

Soren climbed down to help me. Together, we pulled her back up.

Below us, another team wasn’t so lucky—two warriors tumbled off, disqualified.

But we?

We kept moving.

The finish line was right there.

I pushed myself harder, ignoring the burning in my arms, the ache in my muscles.

And then—

I reached the top.

I turned, grabbing Soren’s hand.

Then the others.

One by one, we all made it.

Together.

The announcer’s voice boomed over the arena.

“Team Luna completes the course!”

The crowd roared.

I exhaled, heart pounding.

We won.

I turned to my team, breathless but grinning. “Nice work.”

Soren, still catching his breath, smirked. “You too… Luna.”

That was it.

That was the moment I knew—I had earned their respect.

I turned toward the crowd, locking eyes with Alec.

His silver gaze was burning.

With absolute pride.