This time Roger comes up to the group.

"For the next event you'll have to stand right where you are but use all your senses to guess five things. We have hidden five objects around the perimeter and you'll have to tell us what they are. Each of you will be given a piece of paper and a pen to write it down." He says in a small voice, still his instructions are clear. He hands us the materials and the clearing quiets down.

I close my eyes to let my wolf take control of my sense without them noticing my red pupils.

What ? That's not cheating, there are already three completely turned werewolves around me, using all their animal abilities, so I can at least do that. I frown and open my eyes. I wave at Roger for him to come join me since I can't move from my spot.

"I don't know what's supposed to be there or not." I murmur. "I can't distinguish something that's supposed to be there from something that is not."

"Right..." He glances over his shoulder and Nate walks to us.

"Sorry. I didn't think about that." He apologizes.

"It's fine. Can I just write down what I notice seems out of place ? I might not find the five objects though."

"Alright, give it a try." He nods.

I concentrate back on my environment, take a big whiff at the air, listen to the sounds. I write down my answers on the sheet of paper and wait for the others to finish.

'Don't forget to write you name.' My wolf scolds.

Right !

'That's why you were never good in school. This big head of yours is full of air.'

I wasn't that bad. I defend myself but do as she said and add my name.

Roger collects the papers and the judges go back to their seats to study them.

"Congratulations. Most of you recognized the alarm clock in the woods, the knife under one of the mats on the left side of the clearing and the bottle of perfume in Rogers pocket." Nate starts. "However, only three people were able to identify all five objects. Leah, Jared and Hope. Please come forth."

The three of us march up to him and wait for the rest.

"You correctly guessed about the tray of food in the parking lot and the piece of concrete obstructing the river."

Jared can't help the smile on his face, his entire body showing his pride.

"Usually I would reward all three of you but there are some things that I would like to know first."

The smile is quickly wiped from Jareds face as Nate turns around towards the spectators.

"Is there someone on the first steps on the right side of the benches with a bacon, tomato, salad, butter and egg sandwich ?" He reads off the paper.

"Here." A man stands up to answer.

"Is there anything else in it ?"

"No sir."

"Did you take it out ?"

"No sir, I kept it in my bag the entire time."

"Alright. Thank you." He nods. "Next, is there someone with a child's wooden toy ?

"Yes." A mother replies.

"Is it a truck with four moving wheels ?"

"Yes alpha."

"Jasmine, did your son play with it today or did you get it out of you bag ?"

"No." She shakes her head.

"Thank you."

"Finally, Cory, does you watch work ?" He inquires.

The young woman looks at her watch and starts to shake it.

"No babe. It seems it's broken."

My jaw tightens at the nickname.

"Thank you."

He concentrates back on us and speaks loudly so that everyone can hear him.

"I asked these questions because the three objects are written on one of the papers I have in my hands."

"So what, I could have guessed it." Jared grumbles evidently unhappy.

"You are right. You could have. But you didn't. Why did you chose the five answers you did and not another one ? These are legitimate guesses too. Yet that's not the only thing. I placed a sixth object in the forest and only one person noticed it. Hope ?"

"There is a fake owl. I think it's a recording."

Jared frowns and concentrates on the sounds of the forest.

"I don't hear anything." He denies.

"But it's still there."

"Then she saw it when we ran."

Here he goes again accusing me of cheating.

"I made sure to place it out of the path of the tracks. Kenny ?" He demands and a boy sprints into the woods before coming back with a phone playing the hoots of a owl.

"It's a ten seconds recording playing in repeat." He demonstrates playing it for everyone to hear.

"Knowing all that the judges decided unanimously to declare Hope the winner of this test."

Some start to applaud but a vast majority stays silent.

"That's already the third event she wins." Someone declares.

I show three fingers to Jared to rub it in his face.

So, maybe I love to win. But who doesn't ?

Before the next event we are given a fifteen minutes break. I use that time to eat a sandwich Sydney made for me. All this talk about food made me hungry. The little girl stays close to me every chance she gets. As if falling back into our old habits Sydney, the other kids and I find a place in the shadows of the trees, cozily sitting crossed-legs, apart from the rest. I tell them another of my stories about a mammoth. It was actually a man transforming into one that wrecked havoc in the villages. He was humongous with two very pointy, very long tusks. He had really thick fur and skin which allowed him to live comfortably in the north of Norway. He had been a strong opponent, running straight at me, his sharp tusks like blades aiming at my skin. But eventually he succumbed to my wolf, swallowed by the darkness.

The contestants are called back into the clearing.

"For this contest you will be divided into groups of five, and you'll have to resolve a riddle in three parts." Nate informs us.

The fighters start to gather into groups.

"I want to be in Hopes group !" Jordan shouts beside me.

"Me too." Sydney continues.

People in the crowd start to laugh but I'm seriously considering it. I mean, these kids are smart and we might make a good team. Also it doesnt seem like others want me in their team.

"We have sorted all of you out into groups randomly earlier." The alpha stops them in their tracks. "Sorry kids, only the adults can participate. Here's the list. Group one : Greyson, Steven, Lily, Scott and Sam." He starts to enunciate.

The people named gather.

"Group two : Leah, Anthony, Jared, Leo and Hope."

"No way !" The beta and I both exclaim at the same time.

"Is there a problem ?" Nate inquires.

"If I'm in his team I'll lose."

"If she's in my team I'll lose !"

He looks at us amused.

"I think this will go just fine. You already think the same."

His smirk is irritating. I want to wipe it off his face.

"No, you know what I'm fine with the pups." I assure him and he rolls his eyes exasperated.

"When will the two of you grow up ?" He grumbles. "This decision is final. Now go with the others so that I can finish." He orders.

I roll my eyes and march angrily to the others. Leo is desperately trying to hold his laughter and the young man I assume is Anthony is shyly looking at his feet. I suddenly recognize him, he's the one that defended me earlier.

Damn now we have to win because I owe him.

Otherwise I think I might have lost on purpose just so Jared wouldn't win.

'Now that's more like you. Spiteful woman.'

Spiteful wolf.

I nod at Anthony when he looks up.

"So, we'll have to divide the work." Jared starts to give instructions as soon as he arrives to our level.

"Dude, who made you the leader of this group ?" I demand crossing my arms over my chest.

"I'm the beta, obviously I'm in charge." He answers irritated.

"You lost to me in every challenge today. I don't want to listen to you."

He growls and I know I'll finally have my fight.

"And you think you'd be better ?"

"I know I would." I taunt him.

"Yeah ? Why is that ?"

"For one, you wouldn't have passed the first challenge without me."

"What are you talking about ? You went last."

"Actually, she's the one who came up with the idea and told my group." Leo informs his friend and I smirk when I see his surprise.

"Look, I think we can all bring something to the team, if we work together we'll win. Leah tries to pacify the situation.

"Alright. I'll try." I mumble never believing my own words.

"We'll see." Jared answers.

Roger comes to our group and hands us a piece of paper.

Without me you aren't you.

You'll have to turn every shiny rock to find the next clue.

I roll my eyes.

Typical wolves.

"What does it mean, you aren't you ?" Jared wonders.

"Is it someone we know ?" Leo adds.

"The alpha maybe ? Because he leads us ?" Leah offers.

Smart girl.

"No. I don't think so. Anthony, you'll go look around in the forest. Leo you search the clearing, Leah the pack house." Jared enumerates making a point to forgive my name.

"Excuse me a minute." I say as I walk to Nate. "Remind me to help you write the lines next time. What do I do once I got it ?"

"You mean you know where the clue is ?"

"No. I mean I got the riddle."

"Right." He laughs.

"Do you want me to give you the answer ?" I ask as I raise my brow.

"No." He frowns. "Even if you guessed it you go back there and help them find out the right way."

"Why ?" I whine.

"Because it's how it's suppose to go."

"Alright but I'm taking the kids with me, at least with them we might finish before sun down."

I bring my fingers to my lips to whistle loudly and rally the troops.

"What do you think you're doing ? This isn't a game." Jared complains.

"But that's exactly what it is" I counter.

The kids are more than happy to participate. Some other groups start to laugh. I don't think they'll keep laughing when we crush them. I pass the paper around and let them think a little.

I sit down in the middle of the kids and Anthony awkwardly does the same. At least he's not prejudiced against them.

"Do you guys know a place with rocks ?" I ask around.

"There's the rocks of the secret place." Jordan counts on his fingers.

"The rocks in the river." Anthony continues.

"Is there a rock that's precious ?"

They think for a while.

"When I first got here, they told me about a piece of the moon, like a meteor." Leah intervenes.

"I heard about it too but I don't know where it is." Anthony says.

"It's in the living room." Jordan informs us.

"I'll go get it." Jared interjects.

He goes and comes back in seconds and starts to read the next clues without sharing.

Off course. It's not as if we were the ones to find the answer.

I roll my eyes and clear my throat. He finally gives us the paper.

I was, I am and I will be.

You will take the last step thanks to the bee.

"I don't get it." Leah mumbles. "Are you keeping a hive somewhere ?"

"Not that I know of." Anthony thinks for a second scratching his head.

I wait for Jared to figure it out but apparently the bees talk a different language.

Silly me I'm a translator !

The kids are listening attentively even though the adults make a point to ignore them.

"Man, I'm hungry like a bear !" I exclaim loudly.

"Oh ! I know !" A little pup named Samuel interjects.

"Take one of the others and go get it." I wink at him.

The two children run quickly out of the clearing and we wait for them to come back with a jar of honey and a third piece of paper. We gather around them and read it in great secrecy.

"How did you know ? Leo asks impressed.

"I didn't do anything. Samuel did." I evoid the question.

You can't see me right now but I'm always here.

"I know the answer !" Jordan shouts.

"Me too." Sydney and the other kids add.

Took them five seconds...

"Alright guys come here and tell me what you think." I instruct bending down to get closer to them so the other groups don't hear the answer. I have realized in the past few hours that they are the ones who cheat.

"It's about the third rule." Marthy, one of the pups, answers cryptically.

"Smart boy !" I ruffle his hair.

"What are they talking about ?" Jared demands aggravated by his own idiocy I'm sure.

Alright so he might not think that but I sure do.

Without me they would still be stuck at the first clue.

"Excuse me !" I say loudly to get everyones attention. "We know the answer."

"It's the alpha !" Someone shouts from another group.

"Hey ! We were first !" Leah complains.

Nate comes to the middle of the clearing.

"Sorry Mike that's not the answer."

Marthy is about to give his own answer when another fighter calls out "The pack."

"That's not it either Clarence."

"Anyone else ?" Nate inquires.

Yet again someone interrupts Sydney, this time with the proposition "The fighter."

Obnoxious men !

I step in the middle of the area out of patience.

"Did your mothers teach you no manners at all ?" I demand. "I mean we clearly said we had the answer first and yet we can't utter a single word without one of you disrespectfully cutting us in our tracks."

"Shut up rogue. Nobody cares." Gabe shouts from the benches.

Apparently he regained consciousness.

"The next person that interrupts me is losing his head." I hiss as a warning.

I take the hand of Sydney gently in mine and bring her closer to Nate.

"Sydney, do you know the answer ?" He asks and she nods. "Then what do you think it is ?"

"The truth." Sydney announces proudly.

"Correct." Nate smiles brightly.

"Rule number three : Always tell the truth !" All the kids chant together.

Nate looks at me, a mixed expression on his face.

"I'll want to know the other rules." He affirms in a small voice so that I'm the only one to hear it.

I shrug. I don't know what he's talking about.

"Alright everyone. Jared's team wins this event !"

I frown.

When did it become Jared's team ? I mean I'm the one who did all the work ! And the kids of course. But the beta didn't do anything. Except wait for the answer to fall in hi lap. I glare at him and he mirrors my expression.

"Now let's celebrate !" The alpha finishes.

I don't care. This means that I won.

I'm the best.

But I already knew that.

'Is your head alright ? Be careful it doesn't explode.' My wolf mocks me.

I trot to Roger.

"I won. Pay up." I tell him to make him sweat.

As night falls over the territory I walk silently to the tracks where we had the car race a week ago. I can't believe it's been a week already. The time flew out the window without me noticing. It's not like me. Here everyday is different, the pups are funny to hang around.

'And the alpha is handsome.'

That too.

'And smart.'

Yes.

'And strong'

'And has beautiful green eyes.'

'And he's hot.'

Alright ! I get it !

The moon is half full in the sky and her light burns my skin. It reminds me I'm not welcome in her world. During the full moon, it's actually difficult for me to stay outside. The year I had the insane idea to watch the blue moon of the winter solstice I got third degree burns on my face and arms and it took me two weeks to heal completely. Since then I check my calendar.

The gravel resounds under my feet in the quiet of the night. The wind blows my hair on my face, the cicadas' song disappears. The place smells of metal, petrol and oil, the ground is covered of skid marks. My body hums in anticipation. I want to race.

Jared is waiting for me in the shadows against one of the trees on the left. Even though everyone was happily celebrating the success of the trials earlier we still haven't settled down our different yet. I make a show of cracking my knuckles and neck, stretching my legs and rotating my shoulders to warm them.

"Ready to eat some dust ?" I ask him in a monotonous voice.

Inside I'm jumping and doing back flips.

I can't wait to break him to pieces !

'Let me do it, let me do it !'

Not even in your dreams !

'That's not fair, you're always the only one having fun.'

Sucks to be you. I shrug and my wolf growls.

"I've had enough of your attitude. You're a guest in this pack and yet you don't know when to shut up." He stirs me out of my internal banter.

"I understand." I tell him solemnly nodding my head. "However don't come crying to me when you lose your last shred honour." I smirk smartly at him.

"I don't know if I want to kick your ass because you're a rogue or because of your delightful attitude."

'Oh... he makes my heart squeeze.'

I can't help giggling.

"I'm in a good mood so I'll play fair." I promise.

I close my eyes, inhale deeply. I hear his breath, his heart, when he moves closer I hear his steps. I feel the air shift around us as he lifts his right leg high to hit my face. I'm surprised he's that flexible. I bend down and just as I did with Nate in the training room sweep at his legs. I hear him crumble to the ground so I open an eye. Indeed he's face first on the concrete floor. He quickly shots up and I close my eyes again.

"Do you actually think you can win without looking ?" He questions.

"Don't worry I see you just fine." I reassure him.

"Your choice. "

In my head I see him clearly lift his leg again but this time he rotates on himself and puts more force on his foot on the ground before hitting my side. I stop his attack with my hand, blocking his leg under my arm. Without stopping he shoots his right hook to my stomach, I let go of his leg to protect myself from his hand and he uses the time to strike my face. I feel his fingers rip against my skin over the bone of my jaw.

'Not bad.'

Not enough though.

'Give him a few years.'

"Do you want to see something amazing ?" I ask him suddenly feeling playful looking directly into his eyes.

He frowns at the change of pace, probably surprised I'm fine after his hit.

"That's like a magic trick." I explain.

"Magic doesn't exist." He mumbles.

I roll my eyes.

If people turning into wolves isn't some kind of magic then you should have me committed into an asylum."

"Fine. FINE. Go on." He waves his hand for me to proceed.

"I'll give you five seconds to observe and then I'll attack." I warn.

He nods. I straighten up and face him fully. I concentrate. I lift my hands in front of my face to form a cross with my two index and middle fingers.

'Don't you dare do that stupid thing.' My wolf hisses.

I don't listen to her because it's way too fun.

"Kage Bunshin no Justsu." I chant.

Suddenly Jared is surrounded by a thousand exact replicas of Hope, The Amazing Me, laughing at him maniacally.

"What the hell !" He screams.