HIDDEN HOWL

Chapter Eighteen: The Beta's challenge

TRINITY

I had been wandering the palace for what felt like hours, my curiosity guiding my steps through every hallway, every corridor, and every room I hadn’t yet discovered. The walls whispered secrets, ancient and untold, and the flickering lights seemed to invite me deeper into the heart of the castle. I had no particular destination in mind—just the thrill of exploration.

Plus, I didn't want to remain cooped up in my room.

As I turned a corner, a low hum reached my ears, followed by the rhythmic sound of fists striking something like a steady thud that grew louder with each step I took. My feet instinctively followed the noise, curiosity piquing with every step.

I paused at a heavy wooden door, cracked just enough for a sliver of light to escape into the dim hallway. Through the gap, I could make out shadows moving fluidly, their bodies engaged in rapid, precise movements. My heart picked up its pace as I leaned in closer, holding my breath.

Then I saw him.

Xerxes.

He was sparring with a group of new recruits—guards, from the look of their uniforms. His movements were calculated, deliberate, each strike as fluid and swift as a blade cutting through the air. He was a force to be reckoned with, like a predator in its element, always five steps ahead.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

Xerxes had always been quiet, cold, distant—he exuded an air of intimidation without even trying. But here, in the training room, he wasn’t just a mystery; he was an enigma, his strength and speed on full display. I watched as he effortlessly dodged a recruit’s attack, sweeping his leg to knock the man off his feet with barely a glance.

The recruits were struggling to keep up, their faces flushed with exertion, but Xerxes didn’t slow down. He moved like liquid steel, each strike landing with precision, each block an impervious wall. He was without a doubt, the best fighter in this room and likely in the entire palace

When the last recruit was pinned to the floor, Xerxes straightened, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. His gaze swept over the men who were now lying defeated on the mats, and his voice cut through the air like a whip.

“Pathetic. You’ll never make it at this rate. Get up and do it again. Better.”

A murmur of dismay passed between the recruits, but they scrambled to their feet, visibly shaken. Just as I was about to pull away from the door, a voice rang out, confident and commanding.

“I’ll take the next round.”

I turned my gaze back to the room, and my breath hitched in my chest as Xander strode in.

His presence was commanding in a different way than Xerxes. Where Xerxes was a quiet storm, Xander was a blaze—a flame that could burn the whole world down. But there was something undeniably powerful in the way Xander stood across from Xerxes now, meeting his cold stare without a flicker of hesitation.

Xerxes’ lips twitched in the smallest of grins, the first expression I had seen from him since I entered the room.

“Challenge accepted.”

The two men squared off, the atmosphere thick with tension. The recruits, momentarily forgotten, stood back to watch as the room seemed to pulse with an electric charge. I felt a shiver run down my spine as they circled each other. This was going to be something different—something far more intense than what I had just witnessed.

The fight started with a blur of motion, fast and brutal. Xerxes moved with calculated precision, blocking Xander’s powerful punches with ease. Xander wasn’t easily deterred, though. He threw himself into the battle with everything he had, his movements wild and free, yet controlled.

For a moment, it seemed like Xerxes was toying with him, but then something shifted. Xander’s strikes came faster, sharper, and the two of them became locked in a flurry of movement that was nothing short of mesmerizing. The recruits had fallen completely silent, watching the two men spar as though they were witnessing a fight between gods.

I couldn’t look away.

Xander’s strength was impressive. I’d always known him to be formidable, but seeing him face off against Xerxes made me realize just how strong he truly was.

His agility matched Xerxes'—but there was a ferocity in his movements, an untamed energy that gave Xerxes a run for his money. Still, despite Xander’s relentless assault, Xerxes didn’t falter. He was a wall—impossible to break.

Xander landed a few good hits, making Xerxes step back for a fraction of a second, but Xerxes quickly regained his ground. The fight was raw, intense, and perfectly matched—yet Xerxes remained unscathed, his movements still sharp, his focus unwavering.

Finally, with a swift maneuver, Xerxes disarmed Xander and sent him sprawling to the ground, flat on his back.

“Not bad,” Xerxes said, his tone low and steady. “But I expect nothing less from my beta.”

Beta.

The word rang in my mind as I stared at Xander, who was slowly pushing himself up. It took me a moment to process the meaning, but when I did, my eyes widened in realization. Of course.

Xander wasn’t just the beta of the Alpha triplets—he was their best friend, their childhood best friend. That was where I knew him from.

I stepped back, heart pounding in my chest as I tried to process everything I had just witnessed. The room was still buzzing with energy as Xerxes turned to the recruits, who were all looking at him with a mix of awe and respect.

Just then, two more figures entered the room, and I didn’t have to look closely to know who they were.

Liam and Nasir.

Nasir’s gaze locked onto Xerxes, a playful glint in his eyes as he stepped forward.

“One man can’t beat Xerxes,” Nasir said with a chuckle. “But I’d love to see how he handles three.”

I held my breath, the tension in the room thickening as Xerxes regarded Nasir and Liam with a calm, almost amused expression.

“We’ll see about that.”