Maria.

I woke up slowly, stretching lazily across the bed as the faint light of morning filtered through the curtains. My limbs felt heavy, as though sleep hadn’t truly rested me at all. I rolled onto my back and dragged a hand through my hair, only to feel the tangled mess it had become. A groan slipped past my lips. My hair was everywhere, wild, stubborn strands clinging to my face and neck.

I blinked up at the ceiling for a moment, trying to gather myself. My head felt foggy. My face, I was certain, looked as gloomy as I felt. There was no excitement in me, no spark, just a dull weight pressing down on my chest.

Turning my head to the side, I expected to see an empty bed.

Instead, I found Galen already dressed and standing near the mirror.

She looked put together. Alert. Ready.

"Morning, Galen," I greeted lazily, my voice thick with sleep as I yawned terribly, not even bothering to cover my mouth.

"Morning, Maria," she replied, brushing her hair backward with smooth, practiced strokes. Her reflection caught mine in the mirror briefly, assessing.

I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes.

I was so damn tired.

After finishing the dishes yesterday, I hadn’t gotten the chance to rest. I’d been dragged along to help arrange the venue for the competition. Chairs, banners, decorations, everything had to look perfect. Everyone had been buzzing with anticipation, but I had moved like a ghost among them, quiet and distracted.

Now, with morning here, reality felt sharper.

From the little information I’d gathered from the whispers of other rogues, there were about eight, if not more, rounds in this competition. Eight trials to determine who was worthy.

Worthy of me.

The thought made my stomach twist.

The first round had been officially announced last night.

Horse riding.

I let out a slow, measured breath, as if saying the words too loudly might make them heavier than they already felt.

Horse riding.

The phrase circled in my head, repeating itself with quiet insistence. It wasn’t just an event. It wasn’t just another challenge. It carried weight now, expectation, competition, pride.

And somehow, inevitably, my mind drifted to Noah.

Was he good at it?

The question surfaced before I could stop it. Of course he probably was. He was strong in that effortless way, balanced in both body and mind, disciplined to a fault. Everything he did, he did with quiet precision. I had seen it in the way he trained, the way he carried himself, the way he endured without complaint.

But I had never actually seen him ride.

I had never asked.

The realization sat uncomfortably in my chest. For all the moments we had shared, for all the things I thought I understood about him, there were still pieces of him I had never reached for. Or maybe never dared to.

And now... now he barely looked at me.

He hadn’t spoken to me since that day.

The memory of his distant voice—Take care of yourself—still echoed in my head like a door closing softly but firmly. Not slammed. Not angry. Just... final. The kind of final that didn’t leave room for negotiation.

I swallowed.

I doubted he might even join the competition.

Maybe he had already decided to step away.

Maybe he had decided that none of it was worth the effort anymore.

Maybe I wasn’t worth fighting for.

"Come on, Maria," Galen’s voice cut through my thoughts. She turned fully toward me now, one brow raised. "Aren’t you even curious to know who would win?"

I stared at her blankly.

"You’re the prize, remember?" she added pointedly.

The word stung.

Prize.

Like I was something displayed behind glass.

I sighed heavily, my shoulders collapsing forward in defeat.

Curious?

Yes.

Terrified?

Even more.

"They’re about to start!" Galen suddenly exclaimed, glancing toward the window as distant noise drifted faintly from outside.

"What?!" I shouted, instantly jolted awake.

The fog of sleep vanished.

I threw the covers off and hurried toward the washroom, nearly stumbling over my own feet in my rush.

This concerned my fate.

My life.

My future.

I wasn’t about to miss any detail.

I splashed cold water onto my face, wincing as it shocked my skin awake. I quickly brushed my teeth, combed through my unruly hair, tying it back in a simple style that would at least make me look presentable.

My hands moved faster than usual, nerves tightening with every passing second.

I returned to the room, toweling my hands as I moved toward the wardrobe to get dressed.

But Galen wasn’t there anymore.

The room felt oddly empty without her.

She must have left ahead of me.

I paused for a second, staring at the door she’d exited through, my heart beginning to pound harder.

They were about to start.

Somewhere outside, cheers were beginning to rise.

And I was still standing here.

I quickly grabbed the nearest suitable outfit, my mind racing.

This wasn’t just entertainment.

This was my future unfolding before my eyes.

I strode down the hallway quickly, my steps echoing against the polished floors as distant cheers floated in from outside. My pulse matched the rhythm of my pace, uneven and restless.

Just as I turned the corner, I nearly bumped into Vincent.

"Hey, Maria!" he greeted, looking far more energized than he had days ago.

"Hi, Vincent!" I replied automatically, barely slowing down.

He fell into step beside me easily.

"So," he said suddenly, glancing sideways at me, "who would you want to win this damn competition?"

The question caught me completely off guard.

For a split second, I faltered.

Who would I want to win?

The answer felt too dangerous to say out loud.

Instead of responding directly, I arched a brow at him. "You seem to have recovered fully, Vincent. So I guess you can definitely increase your pace, we are late."

He chuckled lightly at my deflection, the sound easy and amused.

"Yes, ma’am," he teased, quickening his steps.

We both picked up speed, nearly jogging the rest of the way. The noise grew louder as we approached the garden where the competition was being held.

When we arrived, the sight before me made my stomach twist.

Everyone was already seated.

The entire pack had gathered, filling every available space. Murmurs, anticipation, excitement, it buzzed through the air like electricity before a storm.

At the front, elevated above the crowd, the Quadruplets sat on their thrones.

Their presence commanded the entire venue.

Other Alphas occupied their respective seats nearby, their postures straight, their gazes sharp and competitive.

I swallowed hard.

My hands had begun trembling, but I clasped them together tightly in front of me, hiding the shake beneath the folds of my dress. I refused to let anyone see how nervous I was.

This wasn’t just a game.

This was my future being decided in rounds.

Beta Torin stepped onto the podium, his presence immediately quieting the restless murmurs.

"Welcome, everyone," he began, his voice booming across the garden. "The long-awaited competition between the Alphas commences today."

An applause erupted instantly, echoing loudly across the open space. Cheers followed, whistles piercing through the air.

My heart pounded harder.

"Eight rounds will be held in this competition," Beta Torin continued, raising his hand to restore order. "And of which the first is horse riding."

Another wave of excitement rippled through the crowd.

Horse riding.

My eyes instinctively scanned the gathered Alphas.

Darren was already present, standing confidently near the horses, his posture proud and assured.

Daniel stood not far from him, calm and composed.

But....Noah wasn’t there.

My chest tightened.

Where was he?

Beta Torin paused, then turned slightly toward the Quadruplets as if silently asking for permission to proceed. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

They nodded in unison.

The synchronized movement sent a shiver down my spine.

He turned back to the crowd.

"One of the Quadruplets will represent each round. And the very Alpha representing our pack today is Alpha Damien."

A surge of cheers erupted again.

Damien rose from his throne with a composed elegance, every movement controlled and regal. He descended the steps slowly, almost majestically, as though the outcome was already beneath him.

He approached his horse confidently, running a hand along its mane before mounting it with seamless precision.

The crowd roared louder.

I forced my eyes to scan the surroundings again.

Still no Noah.

My breathing grew shallow.

It was already time.

Was he really backing out?

Had he decided not to fight?

Not to try?

He said he wants to take me away.

The thought made my throat tighten painfully.

"The competition will start in three minutes," Beta Torin announced.

Three minutes.

My heart skipped violently.

Three minutes felt both too short and unbearably long.

I clenched my hands tighter, trying to steady myself.

Every second stretched painfully.

My eyes kept drifting toward the entrance.

Waiting.

Hoping.

Please show up.

Please don’t give up.

The horses snorted impatiently, pawing at the ground as their riders adjusted reins and posture.

The energy in the garden shifted from excitement to sharp focus.

And still....Noah was nowhere to be seen.