Bound to the Alpha Racer

The Pit of Judgement

Sparks flew as tools hit metal. But for a brief moment, all that noise faded under the sharp laughter that followed me.

I froze, completely lost as to what to do. I was trapped between them, and leaving felt impossible. I had come here with Cassiel, and I knew that if I just walked away now, it would cause trouble. The last thing I wanted was to be the cause of another clash between him and Daniel.

Who was I, really?

I was no one. Just a woman, Cassiel claimed as his until he decided to let me go.

Daniel heard every word but said nothing. He looked between me, Fin, and the other mechanics, but he remained silent, and his silence felt like an insult. It almost seemed as though he was agreeing with them.

"I came here because I was offered a position," I said firmly, forcing my voice not to shake.

Fin barked a laugh. "A position? As what? A mascot?"

He took a step closer, towering over me. "Do you even have a certificate? Or are you one of those wannabes who fix scooters at the neighborhood garage?”

I swallowed hard. "I learned in my father's workshop."

The laughter came again, sharper this time. It echoed across the pit like metal scraping on concrete. Everyone laughed—except Daniel, who just stood there stiffly and unreadably, as if he had turned off his hearing entirely.

“Daniel, sir,” Fin said, turning toward him. His tone dripped with disbelief. “Is this some kind of joke? Cassiel just got promoted from Moto2 to MotoGP. You know how impossible that leap is. Are you telling me you want him to risk his career for an untrained rookie? A girl who only knows how to fix old junk?”

My fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. Everything Fin said was true, and that was what hurt the most.

I wasn’t anyone important here. I wasn’t a racer, a professional, or even a real mechanic.

But I couldn’t let that be the end of it.

"Enough, Fin," Daniel said flatly. "I'm not here to argue with Cassiel."

"Oh, I'll argue with him," Fin snapped. "I'll make him see sense before he ruins his chance."

Daniel gave a humorless laugh. “I couldn’t agree more, Fin.”

Fin turned back to me with a smirk and crossed his arms. "You can come back when you have a real certificate or diploma from a mechanic school. Until then...” He made a sweeping motion toward the exit. “The pit’s off-limits.”

His words hit harder than I expected. My throat burned and my eyes stung, but I refused to look away. My pride wouldn't let me.

"And another thing," Fin said coldly, tilting his chin down. “No woman should ever be allowed in the pit. It’s bad luck.”

Bad luck.

Something inside me cracked.

"Then give me a chance to prove myself!" I said, my voice rising. "Let me learn. Let me show you what I can do! If I fail, I’ll leave on my own. You won't even have to kick me out!"

Fin’s lips curled. "Stubborn little girl," he hissed. “Someone get her out of here!”

“Fin! Enough!” Daniel’s voice cut like a blade.

But Fin wasn’t done. He stepped closer until I could smell the oil and sweat on him. "Listen to me, sweetheart. This isn’t charity. You don’t belong here. This is a man’s world—"

Something inside me snapped again, harder this time.

The ground seemed to tremble faintly, like a low vibration under my boots.

Fin blinked, confused, then frowned as the lights above flickered once. A gust of wind rushed through the enclosed pit, strong enough to rattle the tools on the workbench.

"What the hell—" he muttered.

I didn’t understand what was happening. My vision blurred at the edges, and suddenly, the air felt thick and hummed against my skin. The sharp, electric smell of ozone filled the air.

Fin staggered a step back, his eyes wide. “What—what did you just do?”

"I—didn't do anything," I breathed. My pulse raced. "What's happening?"

Now, the others were staring, whispering under their breath. The air felt colder. I could feel their eyes on me like needles. My heart pounded so loudly that it drowned out the sound of the engines.

Daniel’s voice sliced through the confusion.

“Lune!”

Startled, I turned toward him. His expression wasn’t just angry anymore—it was wary. His pupils were dilated, and his nostrils were flared as if he could sense something.

Then he moved—fast.

Before I could react, his hand shot out, gripping my wrist and yanking me away from the others. "We're done here," he muttered through clenched teeth.

"Daniel—wait—" I tried to pull back, but his grip only tightened. He dragged me down the corridor behind the pit stop, moving quickly with a tight jaw. The air between us crackled with tension.

When he finally stopped, he spun around, still holding me by the wrist. His eyes blazed with not just anger but also suspicion. “Who the hell are you, really?” he hissed. "I just sensed something...off. Something not human.”

“What are you talking about?” I stammered.

“Don’t lie to me, Lune.” His grip tightened again. "Are you spying on us? Were you sent here by one of our enemies?"

I tried to pull away, my arm throbbing. "Let me go! You’re hurting me!”

Then, I heard the roar of a bike. Loud. Angry.

Cassiel appeared out of nowhere, his bike screeching to a stop behind Daniel. He tore off his helmet and threw it so hard that it clattered against the wall. His eyes burned with fury as he shoved Daniel back.

"What the hell are you doing?" Cassiel snapped.

Daniel pointed at me. "I sensed something different from her!"

"Say that again, and you're out of my pack, Danny!" Cassiel roared.

"I'm your brother!"

"And Lune is my mate!"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Without another word, Cassiel grabbed my hand and pulled me away from Daniel. My pulse thundered as we slipped into the shadows between the garages.

“Cassiel, where are we going?” I asked breathlessly.

No answer. Cassiel's jaw was tight, and his golden eyes flickered in the dark, glowing faintly for a split second.

Wait—had I just seen that right?

What was happening to them?

And what the hell was happening to me?