HIDDEN HOWL

Chapter Nineteen: The ultimate challenge

TRINITY

The air was thick with anticipation as the three of them—Nasir, Liam, and Xander—stepped forward, a united front against Xerxes.

I could feel the tension building in my chest as I leaned against the doorframe, unable to tear my eyes away from what was unfolding in front of me. I had never seen anything like it.

Nasir was the first to speak, his voice dripping with mischief and confidence.

“Three against one, Xerxes. I’m curious to see how you handle it.”

Xerxes didn’t respond immediately, his dark eyes flicking between each of the men. His lips twitched upward in the faintest of grins, his body still and ready for whatever came next.

“I’ll take the challenge,” Xerxes said, his voice low and steady.

My heart raced. How was he so calm? He wasn’t just facing one of them—he was facing all three.

The three of them lined up, ready to go, and for a moment, all I could hear was the steady beat of my own heart.

Then it began.

And they were formidable, each of them possessing their own unique fighting styles.

Nasir was unpredictable and wild. His movements were sharp, fast, and aggressive. I had seen him take down opponents before with raw force, relying on his instincts more than strategy.

Liam, on the other hand, was precise. Every move he made was calculated, methodical. He studied his opponents before making a strike, his attacks deliberate and lethal.

And then there was Xander, swift and powerful. His speed was almost inhuman, his strikes landing with the kind of force that could knock anyone off their feet. I had seen him spar with Xerxes before, and even then, I could tell he was no slouch.

Nasir lunged first, charging at Xerxes with a roar. His fist came barreling toward Xerxes’ chest, but Xerxes didn’t flinch. Instead, he sidestepped the attack with a fluid motion, his hands pressing Nasir’s chest and sending him stumbling to the side.

But before Nasir could regain his footing, Liam was on him. His leg shot out, aimed for Xerxes’ side, but once again, Xerxes was too quick. He twisted, evading the blow and landing a swift punch to Liam’s shoulder, sending him reeling.

And then, as though they were all in perfect sync, Xander attacked. His movements were fluid, a blur of motion as he struck fast and hard. Xerxes blocked his attacks, barely breaking a sweat as he dodged and countered, his muscles rippling with each twist and turn.

I could feel my jaw drop as I watched them.

How was Xerxes doing it?

The three of them were coming at him from every angle, but Xerxes didn’t miss a beat. He was a whirlwind, a force of nature. Every time one of them struck, he seemed to know exactly where to move, how to dodge, how to land a blow of his own. He was everywhere, and nowhere at the same time.

It was like watching a dance—a brutal, vicious dance. They were good, so good—but Xerxes was in a league of his own.

The fight continued, each of them throwing everything they had at Xerxes, but he just wouldn’t go down. They were all starting to get tired, their movements slowing slightly, but Xerxes seemed unaffected. His endurance was unreal.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Xerxes took advantage of an opening. He struck, not once, not twice, but three times, each blow perfectly placed. One to Nasir’s ribs, another to Xander’s abdomen, and a final one to Liam’s chest.

All three men went down in an instant, falling to the mat with a thud.

The room fell silent, save for the sound of heavy breathing.

Xerxes stood tall, not even winded. He looked down at the three men, his expression unreadable. Then, with a grunt, he reached down and pulled each of them to their feet.

“You all fought well,” he said, his voice surprisingly warm, “but you still have a long way to go.”

I watched as he turned toward the recruits, his eyes sweeping over them as they stood at attention. His next words were directed at them, a challenge hanging in the air.

“I hope you’ve learned something today. That’s what a real training session looks like.”

The recruits nodded fervently, their eyes wide with admiration.

Nasir, now standing and rubbing his side where Xerxes had landed a blow, grinned.

“Well, that was fun. But now it’s time for the next part of your training.”

He turned toward the recruits, his grin widening as he spoke.

“We will be going hunting.”

A nervous murmur rippled through the group. I could see a few of them exchange uncertain glances, unsure of what to expect.

One recruit, a tall, broad-shouldered man, stepped forward hesitantly. “What exactly will we be hunting?”

I didn’t know why, but I felt a strange tension building in the room. It wasn’t until Nasir’s gaze locked onto mine that I realized something had shifted.

His eyes held mine with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. I felt every muscle in my body tighten, my heart skipping a beat.

Nasir’s grin widened, and before I could even react, his finger pointed directly at me.

“Her,” he said, his voice full of amusement.

Everyone’s eyes followed the direction of his finger, and I felt a chill run down my spine as all eyes landed on me. My stomach twisted in sudden panic, and I instinctively took a step back, my mind racing.

“Her?” the recruit questioned, looking from Nasir to me, confusion etched on his face.

“Yes, her,” Nasir repeated, his tone teasing. “You’ll be hunting her.”

My breath caught in my throat as I stared at him. Was this some sort of joke? But Nasir didn’t look like he was joking. His smile only grew, and for the first time, I realized I had just become the center of attention in a way I had never expected.

I swallowed hard, my mind spinning as I tried to make sense of what was happening.

Nasir’s gaze never left mine, a wicked glint in his eyes.

“I do hope you’re a good runner, Trinity. Let's see how long you can evade twenty real wolves.”