Alpha can read my mind

Chapter 5 - Is she the Devil?

The five candidates, Anya, Silvana, Renita, Amaris, and Kaia, stood huddled together in the Great Hall, their excitement palpable. They were about to have breakfast with the Alpha, an event they had all been eagerly anticipating.

"I can't believe it's finally happening," Anya whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Me neither," Silvana agreed. "I'm so nervous."

Renita grinned. "Nervous? I'm thrilled! This is our chance to show the Alpha what we're made of."

Amaris nodded. "I just hope we don't make any mistakes."

Kaia chuckled. "Don't worry, we'll be fine. We've all trained hard for this."

As the Alpha entered the Great Hall, the candidates fell silent. Their eyes were fixed on him, their hearts pounding in their chests. They knew that this was their chance to impress him, to show him that they were worthy of becoming Luna.

But not for Anya, all she is thinking is wht will be on the breakfast table.

''Would there be pancakes? Or maybe bacon and eggs?''

Zarek almost wanted to ask Peter to dig about whether Anya had been starving back at home. Why was this woman always thinking about food?!

Zarek, the Alpha, approached the candidates with a warm smile. "Good morning, ladies. It's a pleasure to see you all here."

The candidates responded with polite greetings, their voices barely a whisper. Anya, however, managed to muster a smile and a nod.

"I hope you've all been training hard," Zarek continued. "The pack is counting on you."

The candidates exchanged nervous glances. They knew that the Alpha was watching them closely, assessing their fitness and their potential. Anya, however, was still preoccupied with thoughts of food. She couldn't wait to dig into the breakfast spread.

As the candidates sat down at the table, Anya's eyes immediately scanned the food. There were pancakes, bacon, eggs, fruit, and a variety of pastries. Her stomach rumbled, and she couldn't resist reaching for a pancake.

Zarek watched Anya with a curious expression. He had noticed her distracted behavior and her unusual interest in food. He wondered if there was something else going on, something that was affecting her focus.

As Anya took a bite of her pancake, she couldn't help but smile. It was exactly what she had been craving.

''Oh my moon, this pancake! How did they make it?''

Zarek moved from candidate to candidate, engaging them in casual conversation. He asked about their training, their families, and their hopes for the future. Each candidate responded with enthusiasm, eager to impress the Alpha.

When Zarek reached Anya, he paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. He had noticed her distracted behavior and her unusual interest in food.

"Anya," he said, his voice gentle, "is everything alright?"

Anya looked up, startled. She had been so engrossed in her breakfast that she hadn't even noticed Zarek approaching.

"Yes, I'm fine," she stammered, her cheeks flushing. "Just a little hungry, that's all."

''Sh*t, did he see me eating 5 pancakes in one go?''

Zarek raised an eyebrow. "Hungry? It's not even noon yet."

Anya shrugged, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I guess I'm just a little nervous."

Zarek nodded, understanding. "It's natural to be nervous on a day like this. But remember, you've trained hard. You're prepared."

Zarek turned to Anya, his eyes filled with curiosity. "Anya, have you ever studied magic?"

Anya's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected the Alpha to ask her such a question. She had always been careful to keep her magical abilities a secret.

"No, I haven't," she replied, her voice steady. "I'm not very good at magic."

Zarek raised an eyebrow. "Really? I've heard that you're quite skilled."

Anya blushed.

"It's just a hobby," she said, trying to brush it off. "I'm not as good as some of the other candidates."

''Why is he asking me about magic? I don't even pay attention at school magic lessons.''

"I have some exciting news for all of you," Zarek announced, his voice booming through the Great Hall. "I've arranged for new training suits to be made for each of you. They're designed to enhance your strength, speed, and endurance."

The candidates erupted into cheers. New training suits meant new opportunities to improve their skills and impress the Alpha.

"The cloth maker will be here this afternoon to measure you all," Zarek continued.

''Oh no, I definitely gained weight these few days.''

The air in the large, empty room was thick with anticipation. The candidates, their hearts pounding in their chests, lined up nervously in front of the measuring table. Each one knew that this was a crucial step in their journey to become Luna.

Anya, her hands trembling slightly, stepped forward. She tried to maintain a calm facade, but her anxiety was palpable. The cloth maker, a stern-looking werewolf with a measuring tape in hand, regarded her with a neutral expression.

As the cloth maker began to measure Anya's height, she felt a surge of nerves.

The cloth maker continued her measurements, her hands moving quickly and efficiently. Anya tried to focus on the task at hand, but her mind was racing. She couldn't help but think about the other candidates, and whether or not she was measuring up.

Finally, the cloth maker finished her measurements and recorded them on a piece of parchment. Anya breathed a sigh of relief. She had survived the ordeal.

As she turned to leave the room, Anya caught a glimpse of the other candidates. They all seemed so confident and relaxed.

''Guess I will need to cut down on cupcakes and pancakes now.'' Anya thought to herself.

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The cloth maker paused, her eyes scanning the list of measurements he had taken.

"No, I didn't notice any moles on any of the candidates' waists." She explained, ''But Miss Anya did look nervous while I was taking her measurment , almost looked like she was trying to hide something.''

Zarek nodded, his expression unchanged. He knew that the cloth maker was being truthful. The mole on waist was a unique feature, and it was unlikely that the cloth maker would have missed it. And why was Anya nervous if she was not hiding something.

But Zarek also knew that there was something about Anya that was different. Something that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

The recurring dreams he'd been having, the sudden flashes of her thoughts - they couldn't be a coincidence. But what was the connection between Anya and his strange experiences?

Was it possible that she had cast a spell on him, a curse that had caused him to see her in his dreams and hear her thoughts? Or was it simply a matter of a powerful empathic connection?

Why was she doing it? Was she trying to get his attention? Or was there something else going on?

It was hard to believe a girl who thought about cupcakes and pancakes all the time would cast a curse on him.

Zarek approached Peter, his most trusted advisor, with a serious expression. "Peter, I need you to do something for me."

Peter nodded, his eyes filled with curiosity. "What is it, Alpha?"

Zarek hesitated, his mind racing with thoughts of Anya. "I want you to investigate Anya's background. I think there's something about her that's different, something that we're not seeing."

As Peter turned to leave, Zarek stopped him. "One more thing, Peter. I want you to keep this investigation a secret. I don't want anyone else to know about it."

Peter nodded. "Of course, Alpha. Your secret is safe with me."

Zarek watched Peter walk away, his mind filled with thoughts of Anya. He knew that he was taking a risk, but he was determined to find out the truth. Whatever it was.

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After the long, nerve-wracking day, the five candidates gathered in a secluded restroom, their voices hushed and their faces etched with concern.

"What do you think they'll throw at us?" whispered Silvana, her voice barely audible.

"Probably something to test our knowledge," Amarius replied, her eyes darting around the room as if expecting an ambush.

"Yeah, like tons of questions asking us about the history of Werewolves," Renita chimed in, her voice laced with anxiety.

The candidates exchanged nervous glances, their imaginations running wild with the possibilities. The thought of being put to the test of their intelligence was terrifying, but also exhilarating.

Each of them wanted to prove their worth, to show the Alpha that they possessed the strength, cunning, and resilience.

"I think we should focus on what we have been learning," suggested Violeta, her voice firm and resolute.

The other candidates nodded in agreement. They knew that this was a chance to show the Alpha that they were a capable candidate to stand next to him as the Luna.

As they discussed their strategies, the candidates began to feel a surge of confidence.

"Anya," Renita began, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, "have you given any thought to your strategy for tomorrow's test?" She was curious about Anya, who was silent the moment she came into the restroom and sat alone by the fireplace reading a book.

Anya, her fiery red hair cascading down her shoulders, turned to Renita, her piercing blue eyes meeting her gaze with an intensity that was both disarming and captivating.

“Strategy?” Anya was startled by Renita’s sudden question. "I have no strategy," Anya replied, her voice calm and unwavering.

A collective murmur rippled through the gathered candidates, their faces etched with disbelief. How could Anya possibly enter the first stage of the Selection with no plan in mind?

Renita challenged, her voice laced with doubt. "Without a strategy, how can you hope to overcome such challenges and pass the test?"

Anya's lips curled into a faint smile, "I guess I will have to improvise?” she replied.

The other candidates exchanged puzzled glances, their uncertainty growing. Anya's words seemed to challenge their very understanding of the Selection, suggesting an approach that was both unconventional and untested.

As the night deepened and the candidates prepared for the challenges that lay ahead, Anya's words lingered in their minds, challenging their preconceived notions and stirring a sense of uncertainty.

Violeta, with her usual calm demeanor, sat down beside Anya in the training grounds. "How are you feeling about the upcoming training and the first test, Anya?" she asked, her eyes filled with gentle concern.

Anya hesitated, her mind racing with a mix of excitement and apprehension. "I'm... nervous, I suppose," she admitted.

Violeta smiled reassuringly. "You've come a long way, Anya. I have no doubt that you'll do just fine. Remember, it's not just about physical strength and skill. It's also about your determination and your spirit."

Anya nodded, feeling a little more confident. "I hope you're right, Violeta. I really want to make my pack proud."

Violeta patted Anya's hand. "I know you will. Just focus on doing your best, and the rest will take care of itself."

Anya, Silvana, Renita, Amaris, and Kaia, stood in a circle, their eyes fixed on their trainer, a grizzled werewolf named Gorak.

"Today, we're going to focus on hand-to-hand combat," Gorak announced, his voice booming. "I want you to pair up and practice your strikes, blocks, and takedowns."

The candidates paired off, their bodies tense with anticipation. Anya found herself paired with Silvana, a skilled fighter who was known for her speed and agility.

As they began to spar, Anya found herself struggling to keep up with Silvana. Silvana's strikes were quick and precise, and her footwork was flawless. Anya tried her best to defend herself, but she was no match for Silvana's skill.

After a few minutes, Anya felt herself starting to tire. She was breathing heavily, and her muscles were burning. She knew she had to push herself harder if she wanted to improve.

Just as Anya was about to give up, Silvana paused. "You're doing well, Anya," she said, encouraging her. "Keep practicing, and you'll get better."

As the candidates rested after their grueling training session, Gorak gathered them around him. "Combat is a vital skill for any Luna," he said, his voice filled with authority. "A Luna must be able to protect the Alpha and the pack from any threats."

He paused, his eyes scanning the faces of the candidates. "Remember, strength is not just about physical power. It's also about mental toughness and the ability to think strategically. A Luna must be able to assess a situation quickly and make the right decisions, even under pressure."

He continued, "In combat, every move counts. A single mistake can mean the difference between life and death. That's why it's so important to train relentlessly, to push yourselves to your limits. Only then can you truly master the art of combat."

Anya stormed back to her room after the training session, her face flushed with frustration. She threw herself onto her bed, her body aching from the physical exertion.

"I can't do this anymore," she groaned, her voice filled with despair.

Elara and Juniper, who were tidying up the room, looked up in surprise. "What's wrong, Miss Anya?" Elara asked, her concern evident.

Anya sat up, her eyes filled with tears. "I don't want to compete in the test. I just want to go home."

Juniper frowned. "But Anya, you've trained so hard. You can't give up now."

Anya shook her head. "I'm not giving up. I just don't think I'm cut out for this. I'm not strong enough, or fast enough. I'm not good enough."

Elara sat down beside Anya, taking her hand. "That's not true, Anya. You're a strong and capable werewolf. You just need to believe in yourself."

''I just want this to end...'' Anya signed.