Drawn next Door

ChapterFive

Hollows Ash was everything Hollows Nyx wasn’t.

I leaned against the cab window, eyes wide as we sped past towering buildings and clean-paved sidewalks. There were basketball courts full of kids yelling and laughing, sleek cars humming down the roads, signs for rooftop bars, late-night diners, hotels glowing with LED lights, and storefronts boasting names I’d only heard in passing. It all felt loud—alive.

Back home, we had dirt roads, a single public school, and the Moonveil Temple—the oldest structure in all of Hollows. There, the air was thick with tradition, with roots and memories. But here… this place pulsed with movement and ambition.

When the cab pulled through the gates of the Alpha’s manor, I had to stop myself from gasping.

It was enormous. A black stone fortress is seated on wide, open land with marble statues standing guard and banners flapping in the wind. To the far right, a steel-arched arena stretched wide like a coliseum carved into the ground. Even from this distance, I could see the crowd.

The recruit.

I paid the driver, climbed out, and followed the signs until I reached the inner court. The energy in the air was thick—tension, nerves, adrenaline. It was packed. Bodies pressed together, all waiting, posturing. I scanned the sea of faces—mostly male. Of course.

Why wouldn’t it be? Becoming a Hollow warrior was one of the highest honors in the pack. It was battle-tested. Earned. Respected.

I kept my chin high.

A few turned to glance at me as I walked toward the arena. Their eyes lingered, sizing me up. Maybe confused. Maybe dismissive. I didn’t care.

Let them look.

Let them wonder why a girl from Hollow’s Nyx—wolf-less and quiet—thought she had a chance. Let them laugh.

I was here. That was what mattered.

A loud whistle pierced the air, and a man stepped forward—tall, muscled, wearing a fitted black shirt and combat pants. His voice boomed over the crowd, instantly commanding silence.

“Welcome to the Hollow’s Guard recruit trials!” he called out. “I’m Beta Luca. I’ll be overseeing today’s challenges, and let me make one thing clear—we don’t care who you are, where you’re from, or what your name is. What matters is how you perform. That’s what earns you your place.”

Silence fell. Even the ones who’d been whispering or flexing stilled.

“There’ll be four rounds,” he continued. “Each one is designed to test your skill, strength, and loyalty. First—target strike. Your precision, your power. Those who qualify will move on to Round Two: team coordination.” He paused. “You’ll be grouped and tasked with retrieving a pack artifact hidden in the forest. It’s not about brawn. It’s about brains. And trust.”

I folded my arms, silently repeating every word.

“Round Three—combat. One-on-one. No weapons. No mercy. And finally—Round Four: the Maze. You’ll be hunted. You’ll be tested.”

Around me, people shifted. Nerves rising.

I swallowed mine.

As he continued talking, I noticed more people gathering at the upper ledge of the arena—warriors, elders, and pack council. Some were already seated in the stands. A few stood casually by the railings, observing.

One figure caught my eye. His back was to us, but something about him was… striking.

He wasn’t dressed like the others. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing the edges of a black-inked tattoo that snaked down one arm. He didn’t move, but there was tension in the way he stood—still, sharp, as if waiting for something.

Then, as if he felt me staring, he turned.

And our eyes locked.

His gaze was unreadable. Intense. Darker than it should’ve been. I stiffened, breath caught in my throat. I knew those eyes. I’d seen them before.

The black wolf.

“You’re staring at him too, huh?”

The voice startled me. A girl had sidled up beside me, brown curls bouncing against her shoulders.

“What?” I blinked.

She nodded toward him. “The man you’re gawking at? That’s the Alpha’s son.”

My heart lurched. “Uhn?”

She laughed softly. “Yeah. The Alpha’s son. He hasn’t been around for, like, ten years or something. Left when we were kids. Some exile drama—no one talks about it.”

I stared back at the man on the platform, feeling my pulse drum in my ears. No way. That’s him?

“Oh—sorry,” the girl said suddenly. “I’m Hannah. My bad, I talk a lot when I’m nervous.” She extended a hand. “You?”

“Bella.” I took her hand.

“You nervous?” she asked, shifting from foot to foot. “You know… being a girl and all.”

I shook my head. “Not really. My father was a warrior. This is something I’ve always wanted.”

She nodded like she respected that. “Nice. Mine’s a healer. She wanted me to go into herbs. But I’ve got other plans.”

I smiled.

Hannah looked back at the Alpha’s son again, then leaned in and whispered, “He’s hotter than I imagined.”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

Because all I could think about was the way that black wolf looked at me. The strength in his limbs. The moment our eyes met.

He left me a shirt.

Why?

The image burned in my head. The way he’d watched me shift—watched me fall to the ground, unable to move. And then, just like that, he’d turned and vanished into the woods, leaving nothing but his scent and a shirt.

Now he was here.

And he’s the Alpha’s son.

Something told me this recruit wasn’t just about proving myself anymore.

Something told me… this was the beginning of something much bigger.