Mute

Aria’s POV

The moment Elijah gave the signal, I bolted forward with the rest of the contestants. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat driving me faster.

The wind whipped through my hair, and the ground seemed to blur beneath my feet.

I could feel the eyes of the crowd on me, their astonished murmurs barely reaching my ears as I focused on the path ahead.

I was swift, years of practice paying off as I pushed my limits.

But Mia, another strong runner, reached the tug of war spot first.

I followed closely, my breath steady and my legs pumping hard.

The tug of war station was a grueling test, and I knew it would be challenging.

The burly men stationed at each rope were powerful opponents. Each contestant had to defeat their man to continue the race.

I watched as the male contestants ahead of me used their sheer strug to overpower their opponents, their muscles straining as they yanked the ropes with all their might.

When it was my turn, I gripped the rough rope and faced my opponent.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

He smirked, clearly underestimating me, I dug my heels into the ground, but as we began, it was evident that my strength was no match for him.

My wolf, weakened by past hardships, couldn’t lend me the power I needed.

“Come on, Arial” someone from the crowd shouted, but I could hear the doubt in their

voice.

I pulled with everything I had, my muscles burning and my hands aching. Despite my elforts, the burly man barely budged.

The rope slipped through my fingers, and I fell to the ground, defeated.

The crowd’s laughter stung, cutting through the air like a knife.

red.

“Just quit already!” someone jeered.

“She doesn’t stand a chance,” another voice added, full of derision.

+57%

I pushed myself up, any face flushed with embarrassment and determination. I couldn’t let their words break me. I had to keep going resumed running, though I was now far behind the others. My legs felt heavy, and my heart sank, but I pressed on. I could see the other contestants far ahead, their figures growing smaller in the distance.

As I ran. I could still hear the taunts and laughter from the crowd, their voices echoing in my mind.

But I

mto let them define me. I would finish this race, no matter what. This was

my chance to show my strength, my resilience.

The path stretched out before me, and I focused on my breathing, each step a testament to my resolve. My legs burned, but I kept pushing, my eyes fixed on the **n. I would catch up. I would not give up. I was more than they thought, and I would prove it.

I could see Caspian in the distance, his eyes watching me closely. His expression was unreadable, but I knew he was observing my every move. I would not bring shame to myself. I would show him my true spirit.

The race was far from over, and so was my fight. I was determined to catch up, to prove myself worthy, no matter how many times I stumbled. This was my race, and I would run it to the end.

I arrived at the next challenge: a long table laden with a full chicken and a bottle of vodka for each contestant.

The sight of so much food made my stomach churn with anxiety. I had never eaten a full chicken in my life; crumbs and scraps had been my meals. I slid into my seat, the last to do so, and the others were already devouring their food.

“Look who finally showed up,” sneered one of the contestants, a burly man with a mocking smile. “Think you can handle this, little maid?” And the rest of the contenders laughed.

Ignoring them, I picked up the chicken and began to cat. My hands trembled as I tore into the meat. It was overwhelming, the taste and texture foreign to my mouth.

I could hear laughter around me as I struggled, the other contestants wolfing down their meals with practiced ease.

“She’s never going to make it,” someone chuckled.

I forced myself to focus, biting and chewing as quickly as I could without choking. The chicken was dry, and I had to keep swallowing hard to get it down.

1

My throat burned as I drank the vodka, the harsh liquid scalding my insides. I glanced up at Caspian, his eyes were fixed on me, his expression tight with discomfort, as if he were silently rooting for me.

Determined not to give up. I pushed through even as my stomach rebelled and nausea threatened to overtake me. Finally, I finished the chicken and the vodka, almost barfing but managing to hold it down. I sta**d to my feet, the last to leave the table, but not defeated.

I ran towards the next challenge: a large pool teeming with biting fish.

The other contestants were already swimming, some starting to slack from the fullness. of their stomachs.

Without hesitation, I dove into the water, the cold shock clearing my head.

The fish nipped at my skin, but I swam swiftly, dodging them with practiced ease.

My mind flashed back to the countless times Lady Agatha had thrown me into the lake, forcing me to swim or drown.

Those terrifying experiences had honed my swimming skills, turning fear into proficiency.

I moved through the water like a fish myself, my strokes strong and steady. The biting fish were relentless, but I was faster, avoiding their sharp teeth with agile twists and.

turns.

The other contestants struggled, some spwing down, weighed down by the feast and the fatigue setting in.

The crowd roared with excitement, their cheers and shouts blending into something that pushed me forward.

My lungs burned, and my muscles screamed, but I didn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop. Not now, not when I had come so far.

As I swam, I caught glimpses of the other contestants ahead of me.

The gap was closing, my determination driving me to catch up. Each stroke brought me closer, the taste of victory tantalizingly near.

I glanced up again and saw Caspian, his eyes locked on me. For a brief moment, our gazes met, and I saw something in his expression a flicker of hope, of belief.

I surged forward, breaking through the water. The biting fish nipped at me, but I

35

pushed past the pain, my body moving with a rhythm bom of desperation and determination

I

I was catching up. The race was far from over, and I was still in it. I was going to prove

them all wrong

As I scrambled out of the pool, water streaming off my body. I was panting heavily but determined

Mia was already ahead, her smug expression a dear indicator of her confidence. Leon followed close behind her, his powerful strides cutting through the water like a knife. I was third, but I was far from giving up.

We reached the point where we were to shift into our wolf forms.

Mia’s wolf was larger and imposing, reflecting her Alpha lineage. Leon’s wolf, with its powerful muscles, looked like a beast ready to conquer any challenge. I shifted, feeling my smaller, leaner wolf emerge.

Being an Omega, I was always considered weak, but when it came to running. I had a surprising advantage: speed.

The signal to start rang out, and we bolted forward. I felt the ground beneath my paws as I darted ahead, weaving through the dense forest.

The obstacles were relentless, fallen trees, jagged rocks, and narrow paths that require quick thinking and even quicker reflexes. Mia and Leon were strong, but my agility allowed me to dodge the obstacles with precision.

As we neared the midpoint, I found myself running alongside Mia and Leon. Their competitive spirits flared, and the crowd’s cheers grew louder. “Go, Mia! Go, Leon!” The roar of the crowd was deafening, but amidst it all, a single, clear voice reached my ears.

“Go, Aria! You can do it!” A young boy, no more than twelve, stood at the edge of the crowd. His legs were twisted, his body frail, but his spirit was fierce. His encouragement struck a chord within me, fueling me to run even faster.

I glanced at Caspian. His eyes were locked on me, his hand clenched into a fist and pressed against his mouth. Was he silently rooting for me?

I pushed harder, my wolf’s legs pumping with strength.

The terrain grew more challenging, with steep inclines and thick underbrush.

”

Leon bulldozed through with brute strength, while Mia maneuvered with a mix of power and grace. I relied on my agility, slipping through narrow **ns an

Chapers 25

obstacles.

The young boy’s cheers spurred me on. “You can do it, Aria! Don’t give up!”

Mia glanced back, her wolf’s eyes widening in disbelief as she saw me closing in. Leon’s wolf let out a growl, acknowledging the unexpected competition.

The final stretch was upon us. My muscles burned, my lungs ached, but I didn’t slow down. The finish line was a red rope strung between two trees. Mia and Leon were just ahead, but my wolf didn’t slow down a bit.

With a final burst of speed, I surged forward. The crowd’s cheers became a blur, filled. with noise that faded into the background.

All I could hear was the pounding of my heart and the steady rhythm of my paws against t

ground.

I passed Mia, her snarl of frustration barely registering. Leon was next, his powerful strides no match for my speed. The red rope drew closer, and with one last push, I crossed it.

For a moment, there was silence. The crowd was stunned, their disbelief evident. No one had expected this outcome.

Then, the young boy’s voice broke the silence. “She did it! Aria won!” His excitement was contagious, spreading through the crowd like wildfire.

Caspian jumped to his feet, his fist punching the air. “Yes!” he shouted, his voice filled with triumph.

The crowd erupted in cheers, their surprise turning into admiration. “Aria! Aria!” they chanted, their voices was now a powerful wave of support.

I shifted back to my human form, panting heavily. My body ached from the exertion, but a sense of accomplishment washed over me. I had done it. I had won.