Rejected by the Alpha, I Returned as His Destroyer

Chapter 3: The Tournament Begins

The Combat Tournament was the most anticipated event of the year at the Wolf King's Academy.

Every student wanted to prove themselves. Every Alpha wanted to catch the eye of Damon Blackwood. Whispers of glory, power, and royal appointments filled the halls like wildfire.

And I intended to win.

Not for glory. Not for Damon.

For revenge.

The tournament arena was massive—a colosseum carved from enchanted stone, surrounded by thousands of seats packed with students, professors, and visiting pack leaders. The air crackled with excitement and the scent of wolves preparing for battle.

I stood in the waiting area, stretching my limbs, feeling the familiar surge of power beneath my skin. Marcus's training had made me lethal. Two years of brutal combat drills, stealth tactics, and ancient magic had turned me into a weapon.

*Time to show them what I can do.*

"Elena!"

Lily rushed over, her red hair bouncing with excitement. "Oh my Goddess, you're going to fight today! Aren't you nervous? Everyone's been talking about you!"

I smiled calmly. "Not at all."

Lily's eyes widened. "You're either incredibly brave or completely insane."

"Maybe both."

The tournament brackets were displayed on a massive magical screen above the arena. My name—Elena Hart—appeared in the first round, paired against a Beta named Victor from the Iron Fang Pack.

I had studied Victor's file. He was strong, fast, and arrogant. But he relied on brute force. No strategy. No finesse.

*Easy prey.*

The first matches began. Students fought fiercely, trying to impress the Alpha King who sat in the royal box, his golden eyes watching every move with cold detachment.

Damon hadn't looked at me once.

Not since our conversation in the garden.

But I felt his presence like a weight on my chest. He was watching. He was always watching.

Finally, my name was called.

*"Elena Hart versus Victor of the Iron Fang Pack. Proceed to the arena."*

I stepped onto the sandy floor of the colosseum. The crowd erupted in murmurs.

*"Who is she?"*

*"Never seen her before."*

*"She's gorgeous. Is she from a royal family?"*

Victor strode in from the opposite side, cracking his knuckles. He was massive—easily a foot taller than me, with shoulders like boulders and a sneer that made my blood boil.

"So you're the mysterious Elena Hart," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "I was hoping for a real challenge. Instead, I get a pretty little Omega who's in way over her head."

I didn't react. "You talk too much."

Victor laughed. "Let's see if you can back that up, princess."

The referee raised his hand. "Fighters ready... BEGIN!"

Victor charged like a bull.

He was fast, I'd give him that. But his movements were predictable. He swung a massive fist toward my face, intending to end the fight with one blow.

I sidestepped.

His punch hit empty air, throwing him off balance. In that split second, I swept my leg under his, sending him crashing to the sand.

The crowd gasped.

Victor scrambled to his feet, his face red with rage. "That was luck!"

He lunged again, this time with claws extended. I ducked under his swipe, drove my elbow into his ribs, and spun behind him. Before he could react, I grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back, forcing him to his knees.

"Yield," I said calmly.

Victor snarled. "Never!"

I applied pressure. He screamed.

"I said yield."

"FINE! I YIELD!"

The referee raised my hand. *"Winner: Elena Hart!"*

The crowd erupted in cheers and shocked whispers. I released Victor, who scrambled away with a mixture of pain and humiliation.

From the royal box, I sensed Damon's approval. He didn't clap. He didn't smile. But his golden eyes glowed with something that looked suspiciously like pride.

*Good. Let him see what I can do.*

I walked off the arena without a backward glance.

---

The second round came quickly.

My next opponent was a female Alpha named Rina from the Nightfall Pack. She was smaller than Victor but faster and far more cunning.

"You're good," Rina admitted as we faced each other in the arena. "But I've been training for this my entire life. You don't stand a chance."

I smiled coldly. "You'd be surprised."

The match began. Rina was relentless, attacking with a flurry of precise strikes and lethal kicks. She was better than Victor. Far better.

But I was better than her.

I blocked, dodged, and countered with ease. Marcus had drilled me against wolves twice Rina's speed. This was nothing.

When Rina lunged for a finishing blow, I dropped low, swept her feet, and pinned her to the sand with my knee on her chest.

"Yield," I said.

Rina gasped for air, staring at me with shock. "I... I yield."

*"Winner: Elena Hart!"*

The crowd was no longer whispering. They were cheering. Students who had mocked me earlier were now chanting my name.

And in the front row, watching me with wide eyes and trembling hands, was Kael.

His face was pale. His lips were parted. I could see the gears turning in his mind—the same scent, the same fighting style, the same fire in my eyes.

*He's starting to figure it out.*

I walked past him, not even glancing his way. But I heard his whisper:

"Elara...?"

He wasn't sure. Not yet. But the seed of doubt had been planted.

---

The final match of the day was the main event.

The announcer's voice boomed across the colosseum: *"For the championship round... Elena Hart versus Selene of the Shadow Pack!"*

My blood froze.

*Selene.*

The woman who had stolen Kael. The woman who had humiliated me at my rejection ceremony. The woman who had allied herself with the Shadow cult.

*Finally. I get to destroy you.*

Selene walked into the arena with her usual arrogant smirk. Her long black hair flowed behind her, and her body was toned and dangerous. She wore a tight black combat suit that hugged every curve.

She looked like a villain.

And she played the part perfectly.

"So you're the mysterious Elena Hart," Selene said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Everyone's talking about you. I must say, I'm not impressed."

"Good thing I'm not trying to impress you," I replied coolly.

Selene laughed. "Fiesty. I like that. It'll make breaking you all the more satisfying."

*The referee raised his hand. "Fighters ready... BEGIN!"*

Selene attacked immediately.

She was faster than any opponent I had faced—using dark magic to enhance her speed. Her claws glowed with a black, smoky aura as she slashed at me.

I barely dodged, feeling the sting of her claws graze my shoulder.

*Dark magic. Just like Marcus warned.*

"You're quick," Selene purred, circling me. "But not quick enough."

She lunged again, aiming for my throat. I blocked with my forearm, feeling the dark magic burn against my skin. I retaliated with a kick to her stomach, sending her stumbling backward.

The crowd roared.

Selene's smirk disappeared. "You're stronger than I thought. But you're still no match for me."

She unleashed a wave of dark energy that slammed into my chest, knocking me to the sand. I gasped, struggling to breathe.

*She's powerful.*

But not as powerful as me.

I closed my eyes and reached deep inside. My wolf stirred. The True Luna power surged through my veins like liquid fire.

*"Elara,"* my wolf whispered. *"Unleash me."*

I opened my eyes. They were blazing silver.

Selene froze. "What... what are you?"

I stood up slowly, the power radiating from me in visible waves. The sand beneath my feet trembled. The air crackled with electricity.

I didn't answer her question.

I attacked.

One punch—that's all it took. My fist connected with Selene's jaw, and she flew across the arena like a rag doll. She crashed into the wall, crumbling to the ground.

The crowd went silent.

I walked toward her, my steps deliberate, my eyes still glowing silver. Selene tried to stand, but I put my foot on her chest and pressed down.

"Yield," I said, my voice cold as ice.

Selene's eyes were wide with terror. She couldn't speak. She could barely breathe.

"I... I yield," she whimpered.

*"Winner: ELENA HART!"*

The crowd exploded. Cheers echoed off the stone walls. Students jumped to their feet, chanting my name.

But all I could see was Selene's face—the mixture of fear, hatred, and realization.

She knew.

She knew who I really was.

And that made her dangerous.

---

Later that evening, I walked through the garden, trying to calm my racing heart.

The tournament was over. I had won.

But I knew this was just the beginning.

"Elara."

I turned. Damon stepped out of the shadows, his golden eyes glowing in the moonlight.

"You were magnificent," he said softly. "But you revealed too much. Selene saw your eyes. She knows you're the True Luna."

"I know," I admitted. "But I couldn't hold back. I wanted to destroy her."

"And you will," Damon said, stepping closer. "But you must be careful. The Shadow cult will come for you now. They won't wait."

I met his gaze. "Then let them come. I'm ready."

Damon smiled. "That's why I chose you, Elara. You are the strongest wolf I've ever known."

He reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. The mate-bond hummed between us, warm and alive.

"I will protect you," he promised. "No matter what comes."

I should have pushed him away. I should have kept my walls up.

But for the first time in two years...

I let myself feel safe.

---

**End of Chapter 3**