"It takes getting everything you ever wanted and then losing it, to know what true freedom is" - Lana Del Rey

((chapter dedicated to Danyaile since she always comments which means a lot, thank you!))

The party was coming to an end, people were going back to their rooms now.

I was sitting at the barstool with Josh and Tyler, a drink in my hand, thinking about the scene which took place fifteen minutes ago when an angry Alpha left the party.

Even though Ethan was outside, his loud howl echoed throughout the place. It was so loud that it could be heard over the blaring music.

"What did you do?" my father rushed to my side.

All eyes were on us now, waiting to hear what I had to say.

"I didn't do anything. Somebody mind-linked him, must be some pack problem," I answered, zero hesitation in my voice.

Please, believe me. Please, please.

He nodded, "Hm..hopefully, all is well. I must go back now too. It's getting late. I'll see you tomorrow," he hugged me, "and don't forget, we still have to talk about the room matter."

"I know...and dad, please do not tell Zack or you know how he gets."

"Alright, see you tomorrow champ."

---

We were back in our room now. Josh was snoring on the sofa after he had puked on Tyler's jeans. It was absolutely hilarious. Moreso, I even made five more friends; all from Tyler and Josh's pack. Andy and Olson from Tyler's, Felton, Ruby and Lia from Josh's. They all were some of the nicest people I've come across. I started to miss my pack after talking to them for a while. I did have 9 of my pack members present here at the Academy but we weren't that close. Only good pack members who helped each other in times of need.

"Wow, tonight was awesome! I'm so tired, I could literally pass out any second," a freshly bathed, shirtless Tyler appeared in the living room.

Why does he look this good? This is unfair, Goddess. Absolute unfair and torturous.

"Take a picture, it will last longer," Tyler smirked.

"You're right, stay there," I quickly grabbed my phone and snapped his picture as a joke. And maybe because a tiny part of me wanted it.

He laughed at me and grabbed a shirt he had laid on the table to wear.

"Na-uh, don't wear it," I quickly spoke.

He smirked, "Why not?"

"Just because I said so," I smirked back.

"Okay, take of your shirt."

"Why?"

"Just because I said so," he smirked once more.

"Touche," with that, I pulled off my 5sos shirt.

The surprised look on Tyler's face was priceless. His mouth was open wide, his eyes planted on my body.

I was wearing a sports bra underneath so there wasn't any clevage but he could see my toned stomach.

"Y-you did that?" he muttered.

"Ah-huh," I smiled.

"Y-you have abs." he stated, his breaths awfully slow and deep now.

"Yes, I'm fit. I thought you already knew that."

"Yeah.....wait," he ran inside his room and came back with his phone. He quickly snapped a picture of me, "now I have proof too."

I laughed as I got up from the sofa, my eyes on the verge of closing now.

"Goodnight, hotshot."

---

"Vivian! Bloody wake up!" A loud bang woke me up from my beautiful dreams which featured Dylan O'Brien. I stuffed a pillow on my ear to block the loud banging noise and so I could return back to my dream.

"Vivian!!"

"Go step on a lego, Tyler!"

Ahhhh, guess this would be our oh-so-sweet morning routine for the next 29 days. Oh, how I missed my bed back home.

"Vivian, the training starts in five minutes. Josh has already left and I'm leaving too now, considering you don't want to go and I don't want to be late to the first day.....Viv? Alright that is it. Goodbye!"

I heard a door close.

Finally, some peace.

"Vivian!" my door opened, a furious Tyler pulling me out of my bed.

"I thought you left." I rubbed my eyes, trying to wake up.

"Do you seriously think I'd leave you? Get up now. Three minutes and we are out."

He pushed me inside the bathroom.

"Let me get my clothes at least-"

"I'll get your clothes, you go brush. Your breath stinks," he scrunched his nose.

I smirked and blowed my breath slowly on his face.

"You're disgusting."

I laughed and closed the door.

---

"Couldn't you have given me a more loose shirt? And to top it off, you got me a black bra," I questioned him as we ran towards the training ground.

"Don't complain. If you care so much, you should get up early so you are dressed according to your requirement. You're lucky it's my dad's class today so he won't punish us or anything."

He was right, I shouldn't complain.

But this white shirt was awfully lose, if I bent down, my whole bra would be on display. Thankfully, the shirt wasn't transparent.

"You're right. I am sorry."

We were nearing the grounds now. Everyone was standing in a line, looking around the area.

They are waiting for us.

Crap.

"You both are late." Alpha Lennon acknowledged our presence as we stood in the line.

"Sorry, Alpha. I slept through, he was just waiting for me. It won't happen again."

I heard some girls scoff, probably jealous. From the corner of my eye, I saw Josh passing us smirk.

It blows my mind. How the hell is he so active and not tired like me? He was bloody wasted yesterday!

Something tickled my nose and I realised Ethan's presence. I was too busy trying to compose myself that I forgot to see that the other three Alphas were sitting on the four chairs placed outside the training grounds. One of it was empty as Alpha Lennon was standing in front of us.

Ethan was gripping his chair's arm tightly. If he added more strength to it, I was sure it would break in two and he'd land on his ass.

"Just imagine that," my wolf laughed.

His icy bluish-grey eyes were piercing through my soul.

I do not understand what his problem was.

"Vivian, add this to the list of things we need to talk about," my dad mind-linked me.

Oh, for Goddess sake.

---

"Since there are twenty-five wolves, you'd be divided in five groups. Each of you grab a chit from the bowl," Alpha Lennon came to each of us with a bowl in his hand filled with paper chits.

"Each paper has a number from 1-5 written on it. All the matching numbers stand together," he announced.

In less then two minutes, five lines were sorted out. I was in line 3 among my old pack members. Tyler was standing in line 1 whereas Josh and Angela were in line 5. I also noticed some of my new friends which I made yesterday in the same line as Josh and Tyler.

"Now since you all are sorted out, let me give you all your first task of Wolf Senses. Each team will receive the same part of an item which has been hidden in this forest. Whichever team locates the item first and brings it back to me wins. At the end of the class, I will teach you some techniques to further enhance your senses. That's all, everyone ready?"

Loud, approving howls were heard.

Alpha Lennon handed each line a cutting of a piece of leather.

"Your tasks starts - NOW!" As soon as these words were spoken, line 1 and 4 shifted and ran towards the forest.

I turned to see my pack members staring at me.

"What, is there something on my face?" I asked.

"We expect you to lead, since you are our Alpha's daughter." Jordon answered. He was very tall and one of the strongest warrior of our pack.

"We need to be quick, all the teams have left already!" the blonde haired, Ashlee, exclaimed. She was one of the smartest person I know of. Back at high school, she used to top in everything.

"Alright, everyone take a good sniff of the leather. Since we all are pack mates, it would be easier for us to communicate with mind-link. Now, I'm dividing our team in 2 groups. 3 of us will defend and 2 of you will search." They all nodded, pleased to hear that I at least had a plan unlike the others who just ran.

Back at our pack, we were always taught to play according to a plan; rushing things always ruined everything.

"Jordon, Brock and I will defend, Ashlee and Ron you both will search. We will always be beside you to help defend and we will also help you to locate the item. Clear?"

They all shouted in unison, "Clear!"

I raised my fingers to signal 3, 2, 1!

I heard clothes tearing and in a blur, all my team mates dashed towards the forest. I looked at my side to see all the Alphas looking at me. My dad passed me an approving nod to show he appreciated my idea to plan first.

My eyes locked with Ethan's icy one. Looking straight in his eyes, I shifted.

"About damn time!" my wolf yipped.

Ethan's eyes darkened when he saw my wolf but she was already too busy sniffing the leather.

"Let's win this!" With that, my wolf dashed in the forest.

---

"Are you sure it would be there? All the other wolves are the other way!" Jordon mind-linked.

"It has to be, trust me!" Ashlee answered back.

"Let's not fight. We already are far behind! Let's move," Brock ended the fight.

We were in the middle of the forest now. The problem was that there were two directions; one where all the other teams had gone and where the smell was the strongest and the other was where the smell was extremely faint but still there.

Trusting our pack and team mate, we headed the other direction.

"You better be right, I hate losing." Jordon addressed Ashlee.

We kept on running deeper in the woods, following Ashlee's tracks. She used to run for while, then stop, sniffed the air and then started running again. We were doing this for the past 20 minutes and since then, the smell was getting weaker. I was starting to doubt our move. Maybe we did chose the wrong way.

"Ashlee, it has been bloody 20 minutes! Where is-" Jordon got interuppted when Ashlee stopped all of a sudden.

Her wolf turned, "Jackpot."

"Where is it?!"

'Start digging, sweetheart." Ashlee grinned which looked absolutely crazy since she was a wolf right now.

"Digging?" We all questioned, confused.

"Do you seriously think they would've put the item out on display? Obviously Alpha Lennon wanted to test how strong our senses are. Considering all of your senses suck, you should be thankful I am in your team." She laid down on the ground and tilted her head towards a spot few feet away from her, "Go on, dig!"

Jordon lowly growled but headed forward with Ron to dig.

Minutes later, Ron brought his face out from the pile of dirt dugged, a leather shoe in his mouth.

"Let's go before the other team detect its smell. You all go back, I'll just dig this leather piece inside instead," I told my team.

"What for?" Jordon questioned back.

"To act as a bluff."

They all nodded and started running the opposite way.

Instantly, I begin to dig the leather piece which was clenched between my teeth. As I was piling the dirt on top, a huge weight crashed on top of my wolf. I quickly turned around and pushed the wolf who had attacked me away with all my strength. It landed quite a few feet away from me. My dark brown wolf quickly stood up tall. I analysed my attacker. He was a black wolf and just a few inches taller than me. The wolf got up and started walking towards me. That's when I noticed his brown eyes.

Tyler.

He stopped a few inches away from my wolf. He tilted his head and started to check my wolf out. He then moved even closer and then all of a sudden, nudged me aside. He begin to sniff the air and his whole body tensed.

I smiled to myself. He is falling for the bluff.

To continue the plan, I quickly pushed him aside and stood in front of the spot where I dug the leather piece so I could 'protect' it.

He smirked and slowly moved his head side to side, probably laughing at my attempt to protect it.

Good, the more time he takes to figure it all out, the more time my team members have to reach Alpha Lennon.

Tyler moved towards me once again but this time he pounced on me but I saw the movement before and quickly moved out of the way. I instantly jumped on top of his wolf so I could trap it under me.

Tyler's wolf grinned, clearly loving our position. Slowly, he tilted his neck showing that he surrendered.

Well, that was easy.

My wolf quickly got up. Tyler followed and stood beside me, waiting for me to start digging. When I didn't, he looked towards me, puzzled. I just nodded towards the spot, telling him to dig it. He was obviously confused since a minute ago I was protecting it and now I was just letting him dig without any protest.

Not questioning any further, he began to dig. Seconds later, he looked up, the leather piece in his mouth. He lowly growled whereas my wolf laid down, clearly enjoying his confused state.

Not understanding anything, he shifted. My wolf eyes widened, seeing a naked Alpha in front of her. And that too, Tyler. I quickly ordered my wolf to turn around, much to her dismay.

"You can look now, I am decent." Tyler spoke after a minute.

I slowly turned around to see Tyler dressed in some shorts and a plain black shirt.

"Shift," he simply stated.

I shook my head.

I would obviously not shift and be completely naked in front of him. Understanding my problem, he took of his shirt and threw it to me. Damn, those abs make an appearance again.

My wolf grabbed the shirt, her eyes still glued to Tyler's muscular body.

"You can stare at it later, go shift now."

My wolf lowly growled but obeyed. Seconds later, I stepped out from behind a tree. Tyler's eyes immediately went to my legs.

"You can stare at it later, talk now," I crossed my arms and smirked at him.

His mouth twitched slightly.

"What is this?" He picked up the leather piece which was laying next to his feet.

"A cut out of leather," I deadpanned.

He rolled his eyes. "No shit, sherlock. What I meant was, what is it doing here instead of the item?"

"It is a bluff," I grinned.

"Where is the item?"

"We won!!!" I heard Jordon scream in our mind-link.

"Back with your father," I teased him.

"Damn it," he cursed, rubbing the back of his neck, "gotta give it you, Viv, it was a smart move to bluff and distract."

I just grinned wider in response.

"All teams return! Team 3 has won the task!" Alpha Lennon's voice boomed throughout the forest.

"Wow, they've installed speakers here. Must've taken them quite a while." I admired.

"Not really. They have boundaries at the ends of the forests. Inside those boundaries, all the area is for the academy. So it is all measured and installing the speakers took very less time, as my dad said." Tyler answered.

"Hmm, anyways, let's go back now. I want to celebrate the first of my many wins to come!"

"Yeah yeah, let's go." he spoke, annoyed at his defeat.

---

We were closing the training grounds now. We quickly shifted back, wearing the clothes we were wearing back in the forest.

"Good game, bluff. Congratulations!" Tyler smirked and put an arm around my shoulder.

His naked side was firmly pressed to my side, the heat warming my insides. I gulped.

"B-bluff?"

What's with the stuttering, you idiot! Get yourself together!

"That is my name for you now. I shall rememeber this day forever," he grinned.

"The day a girl defeated the future, weak Alpha of the South pack?" I winked.

He instanly lunged for my waist and locked me in his arms, trapping me.

"Tell me I'm the strongest Alpha you've ever met and then I'll let you go," he playfully demanded.

"Yes, you are the weakest Alpha I have ever met, I admit it," I laughed.

His hold got tighter and my heartbeat fastened. He was so tightly pressed against my body. I could feel all his..... manliness. There was no doubt in my mind he was one of the strongest person I've ever met but I obviously did not want to admit it and feed his ego.

Gaining strength, I pushed him and was freed from his hold.

"Go back, he felt nice...." my wolf whined.

"Come here, bluff. Let's go now." Tyler grinned and wrapped his arm around my shoulder again.

"Thanks, Ty..." my wolf purred.

I rolled my eyes. Thank Goddess, he couldn't hear my horny wolf.

"We are proabably the last to arrive again. People are going to doubt us now..."

"Let them...." Tyler looked at me and winked.

I was right. Everyone was already there. Tyler let go of me when my team rushed towards me and started hugging me.

"We did it!" Ashlee shouted, clearly enjoying every second of the victory.

I looked at the other teams who were clearly looking unhappy and defeated at losing the first task. I turned to the side to see my dad smiling in my direction and giving me a thumbs-up sign. I nodded in his direction. Alpha Carlos also smiled and nodded in my direction, appreciating my team's win.

But where was Ethan? I sniffed the air slighlty and recognised his scent in the other direction. He was standing next to a man, whose back was towards me, and was whispering in his ear. His face looked absolute livid.

Ethan caught me looking. He narrowed his eyes at me, then his gaze slowly travelled down the length of my body. His body and face was stone cold. No expression, whatsoever. After a few second, he started walking back to where all the other Alphas were seated, not once glancing in my direction.

My eyes widened in shock when I recognised the man Ethan was talking to.

Tyler.

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