The Lycan Trials (A Reverse Harem Academy Romance)

Wilderness survival -1

CELIA

The moment the Spencer guy steps back from the podium after finishing his speech, the room shifts in an inevitable way.

People begin to rise, one after the other, the low hum of movement returning as everyone starts heading toward the large doors at the side of the auditorium.

My heart picks up, the beat ringing in my head like a drum as I also stand up.

So we’re doing this now. No warm-up. No chance to even give oneself a TED talk.

No “take your time and settle in.”

Just straight into their selection process which they'd decided to name ‘trials’.

Fuck me sideways.

I smooth my sweaty palms against my gown, not having the emotional capacity to care about being watched as I watch the crowd continue to move

And then, I also fall into step, letting my feet carry me forward toward the exit.

Beside me, Keiran walks with that same composed ease that makes me want to trip him just to see if he’ll finally look human.

Then, when we reach the doors at the side of the auditorium, he stops.

“This is where we part ways,” he says.

I glance at him, my breath almost catching. But I say nothing.

“Best of luck to you both,” he continues, his tone calm. “I’ll see you inside the academy.”

I only hum, the sound swallowed by the murmurs around us as my attention shifts back to the crowd.

All the while, I can feel his gaze on me. I almost turn to him with a sneer on my face as I resist the very strong urge to reach up and gouge his eyes out.

Because honestly, after everything, he should be grateful I’m not doing worse.

Laureline, on the other hand, looks like she just received a blessing.

“Of course,” she says softly, her voice suddenly sweet in a way that makes me internally gag. “We’ll do our best.”

She reaches for his arm briefly, her fingers brushing against him in a way that feels entirely unnecessary.

I roll my eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t fall out.

Bitch please.

If this is what love looks like in this world, I would like a refund.

I don’t wait for whatever romantic nonsense is about to follow.

Instead, I turn and move with the rest of the crowd, slipping through the doorway without looking back because I refuse to be part of that scene.

The moment I step over the threshold, the air changes. And same with my scenery

One moment, I’m standing just beyond the threshold of the door that opens to a grand field surrounded by people, noise, and tension.

The next—

Everything disappears.

I blink.

And the world is… different.

Gone is the field and gone are the people.

In its place, there's a forest. An actual real one.

Tall trees stretch endlessly around me, their branches weaving together overhead, filtering the sunlight into soft golden streaks that spill across the ground.

The air feels cooler and fresher here, filled with the quiet rustle of leaves and the distant sound of birds calling to each other like nothing is wrong and I’m not supposed to be freaking out right now.

I turn slowly, my heart starting to climb up my throat.

“No…”

My voice comes out quieter than I expect.

Because—

Where is everyone?

The crowd that had been pressing in from all sides just seconds ago is gone.

No lovey Laureline or dovey Keiran. Just me standing alone in the middle of a forest that I definitely did not walk into.

The sun hangs high above, right in the middle of the sky, like it’s been frozen there just for dramatic effect.

“Is anyone here?!” I shout suddenly, my voice cutting through the stillness as I turn in a full circle.

No answer.

The birds keep chirping and the leaves keep moving as the world keeps existing like I didn’t just get dropped into it without warning.

My chest tightens.

Okay. Don't panic Cee.

This is absolutely fine.

This is—

Hell nooooo, this is not fine!

I take a step forward, and my foot sinks slightly into soft, wet grass, the moisture soaking through the sole just enough to make me grimace.

“Anyone?!” I call again, louder this time.

Still nothing.

Not even an echo.

My heart starts racing properly now, my thoughts beginning to scatter as that familiar edge of panic creeps in.

For a moment, I think someone is behind me.

I flinch, my body tensing immediately as I spin around, my heart jumping straight into my throat just as a voice breaks through the whole forest. One that I recognize too well.

The Spencer guy’s.

“Everyone.” He starts. “Welcome to the Lycan Trials.”

I unconscious release a breath I didn't know I've been holding.

“The first trial,” his voice echoes, smooth and controlled, like he’s standing right beside me even though I can’t see him, “is wilderness survival.”

I swallow hard, my fingers curling slightly at my sides as I finally let my eyes scan my environment with a clear head.

“Each candidate has been placed in an isolated environment,” his voice continues. “You will not encounter one another unless the trial permits it.”

Great.

So I’m actually alone.

Absolutely fantastic.

“You are to survive,” he says simply. “Three days.”

And then—

Silence.

Just me, the forest, and my very questionable life choices.

I blink once and then twice.

“Okay…” I mutter slowly. “Wilderness survival.”

That’s… good.

Right?

Yes. Very good.

Except—

I have never survived anything in the wilderness before.

Like, ever.

Not even a camping trip.

Not even a “let’s go touch grass for fun” kind of situation.

I mean, what am I searching for?

I have spent my entire life being a billionaire, vacations to the Maldives when I can, Santorini, Edinburgh sometimes, living in air-conditioned spaces, drinking iced coffee, and complaining about slow Wi-Fi.

And now I’m here in a forest expected to survive for three days.

“What the actual hell…” I whisper, dragging a hand over my face. “This is outrageous.”

But wait…

Okayyyy. Think. Think. Think.

What do people even do in the wilderness?

Food? Sleep? Camp? No—waittt.

Water.

Water is important. Right?

I think.

“Okay, water,” I nod to myself like I actually know what I’m doing. “Find water first.”

Tell me it's a great and wonderful plan without telling me it's a great and wonderful plan.

I'm a f*****g genius.

Except—

“How the hell am I supposed to find water?” I add immediately.

Because the forest is big.

Very big.

And I am just one girl with zero survival skills and a rapidly declining sense of confidence.

I suck in a breath.

“Okay. Calm down, Cee. Calm down.”

Because panicking is not going to help.

Dying will not be cute and will be totally embarrassing.

I need to survive the academy to go back remember? And I can't fail these trials. I really can't.

I close my eyes for a second, forcing myself to focus.

Just… listen.

That’s what people do, right?

They listen.

For a moment, there’s nothing but the sound of my own breathing and the melodious chirping of birds.

Then— there's something else.

It's faint and soft, a distant, steady sound.

The sound of running water.

My eyes snap open.

“Oh my God,” I whisper. “I’m a genius.”

Relief floods through me so fast it almost makes me dizzy.

See?

Celia 2.0. Survival boss queen.

I turn toward the direction of the sound and start walking.

Then walking faster.

Then almost jogging because at this point, I am very proud of myself.

“Wow,” I mumble under my breath as I move through the trees, pushing branches aside. “Look at me. First try. No experience. Still figured it out. I’m actually brilliant.”

Honestly, if I survive this, I deserve an award.

Or at least iced coffee.

Preferably both.

The sound of water gets louder and clearer, until the trees begin to thin and a clearing opens up ahead.

And there it is.

The river.

Actual flowing water, glistening under the sunlight like it was placed there specifically for me.

My face breaks into a wide smile.

“Oh my God,” I breathe. “I did it.”

With this, I will definitely survive for three days with just water. I do go on just water and coffee for days countless times. This will be child's play.

I don’t even wait to think too much.

I just start rushing forward, practically skipping the last few steps as I continue to praise myself.

“I’m literally so good at this. I’ve never even stepped into a forest before and look at me—”

I step fully into the clearing before freezing.

Because—

There are animals.

A lot of them. Different kinds. All gathered at the river, drinking.

Some small.

Some not small.

Some very much not small.

My smile drops instantly. My brain, which was just celebrating seconds ago, goes completely blank.

Why didn't I think this through. This is the only source of water I could hear around here of course it's—

A low deep frightening growl cuts through the air, interrupting my train of thoughts.

And the source?

A very massive gorilla-looking furred animal who has its claws extended.

Right in front of me, looming over me.

Jesus Christ. It wasn't there a second ago!

My blood runs cold.

“Oh no…”

That is the last thing I manage to think before everything tilts and the world spins.

And then—

Darkness.

I don’t even last an hour.