Twice Fated

Episode Six

Pain settled deep in Selina’s ribs as she stirred awake. Every breath sent a dull ache through her side, a reminder of last night’s fight. She winced, rolling onto her back, staring at the weathered canvas of the shelter overhead. Still sore. Still breathing. Still here.

With a slow exhale, she pushed herself up, refusing to linger. The moment she stepped outside, the shift in the air was impossible to miss.

The rogue camp was already awake, wolves moving in small groups, murmuring over last night’s events. And for the first time, they weren’t looking at her like she was nothing.

Some gave her curt nods—acknowledgment. Others, especially the ones who had mocked her before, still regarded her with wary suspicion. A few openly glared, clearly displeased with how the fight had ended.

The rogue she had defeated sat by a smoldering fire, sharpening a knife with slow, deliberate strokes. He didn’t look up when she passed. But his jaw was tight, and his grip on the blade was just a little too firm. Good, she thought. Let him stew.

Before she could process any more of the new dynamic, a sharp whistle cut through the air.

“On your feet,” Roman called from the center of the clearing. “You’re running today.”

Selina straightened, ignoring the throb in her ribs. Of course, she thought grimly. No rest for the weak.

****

The forest stretched out before them, a twisting maze of trees, uneven ground, and hidden dangers.

Selina ran with the pack, but even from the start, she felt the weight of the challenge. Her ribs protested every jarring movement, her muscles sluggish from the night before. Still, she pushed forward, her breath steady. Don’t fall behind.

The others ran with practiced ease, vaulting over fallen logs, ducking under low-hanging branches. She had to focus—not just on running, but on where to step. The terrain wasn’t forgiving. Roots threatened to trip her. Loose rocks waited to roll beneath her feet.

A voice cut through the steady rhythm of footsteps.

“Feeling slow this morning, omega?”

Selina didn’t have to look to know who it was. Kade—one of Roman’s men, and from what she had gathered, the second-in-command. He was tall, lean, his dark eyes sharp with challenge.

She ignored him and focused on keeping pace.

Kade wasn’t deterred. He jogged a little closer, his smirk audible in his voice. “What’s wrong? Did our boy Kieran hit too hard last night?”

She gritted her teeth.

“Better keep up, or you’ll get left behind,” he taunted. Then—he reached out, just subtly enough that no one else would notice—his hand brushing her elbow, throwing off her balance.

Selina stumbled, catching herself at the last second before she hit the dirt.

A few chuckles rippled through the group, but she didn’t let them sink in. Instead, she used the momentum of her near-fall, shifting her stride to veer slightly left—right into Kade’s path.

He had to sidestep to avoid colliding with her, losing his own rhythm for a second.

His smirk vanished.

Selina shot him a look, her expression cool despite the pain in her ribs. “Better keep up, Kade.”

His gaze flickered with something—irritation, maybe amusement. Either way, he didn’t bother her again for the rest of the run.

****

The morning run had left her exhausted, but there was no time to recover.

Roman stood before the gathered rogues, arms crossed, eyes scanning the group with quiet authority. “You survived the run,” he said, “but survival isn’t just about endurance. It’s about strategy.”

Selina kept her breathing even, trying not to show how much her body screamed for rest.

“We’re doing pairs,” Roman continued. “This isn’t about strength—it’s about how well you adapt. You don’t fight for yourself. You fight to win.”

Selina barely had time to process that before Roman’s gaze flicked to her.

“Selina.”

She stiffened.

Then he nodded toward a rogue standing near the edge of the group. “You’re with Axel.”

Her stomach tightened.

Axel. Broad-shouldered, silent, dangerous. She had seen him last night, watching the fight with unreadable eyes. Unlike Kade, he hadn’t mocked her outright—but he hadn’t looked particularly impressed either.

Now, as she stepped toward him, his expression remained unreadable. He didn’t offer a greeting.

Roman gestured toward the center of the clearing. “Simple goal—disarm your opponents. Work together, or lose.”

Selina took her stance, expecting Axel to do the same.

Instead, he just looked at her and said, “Don’t slow me down.”

She smirked despite herself. “Likewise.”

The whistle blew.

Their opponents came fast. Selina ducked a swinging arm, twisting to the side as Axel stepped in. He was fast, brutal, taking down his opponent with a calculated strike. Selina barely had time to react before her own opponent lunged for her.

She spun, using her smaller size to slip under his reach. Instead of meeting his strength head-on, she shifted her weight, using his own momentum against him. He stumbled—just enough for her to slam a knee into his gut and knock him off balance.

Axel finished his opponent with ease, then turned just in time to see Selina knock hers to the ground.

For a beat, they stood there, breathing hard. Then Axel exhaled through his nose, the faintest hint of something like approval in his eyes.

“Not bad,” he muttered.

She arched a brow. “You sound surprised.”

He didn’t answer.

Roman stepped forward, surveying the group. Then, with a small smirk, he nodded once. “Not bad.”

Selina let the words sink in. Not praise. But not dismissal either.

She had passed the first test.

But she knew—there would be more.