THE ALPHA'S REJECTED DAUGHTER

Chapter 3: A Wolf Reborn

The sound of fists colliding with flesh and the sharp c***k of bones reverberated through the training grounds as Liana entered the circle of sparring wolves. Her stomach twisted in knots as she watched them move, their strength and skill a stark reminder of how far she had fallen. Each wolf fought with precision, their bodies honed for battle. She had been trained to fight once, under the guidance of her father, but that was before everything had changed.

“Get in line,” barked one of the older warriors, his voice gruff and impatient. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his face marred with scars that spoke of countless battles. He did not even give her a second glance, just gestured to the back of the line where the newer recruits stood. Liana’s hands balled into fists at her sides, but she did as she was told.

The other wolves eyed her with a mix of curiosity and disdain. They all knew who she was: daughter of a fallen alpha, reduced to a slave in the pack that had destroyed her family. It didn’t matter that she shared their blood, that she was a wolf-like them. To them, she was nothing more than a prisoner.

Liana took a deep breath, forcing herself to ignore the whispers. She focused on the task at hand. She had to train, had to get stronger.

There was no other choice.

One of the senior wolves, Derrick, strode into the center of the circle.

His eyes flicked across the gathered recruits with a critical gaze, assessing each one of them. He was a seasoned warrior, a brutal fighter, and one of Alpha Cain’s most trusted enforcers. His presence alone commanded respect -and fear.

“Pair up!” Derrick ordered, his voice carrying across the training grounds. The recruits immediately began forming pairs, some sizing up their opponents, others hesitating.

Liana’s heart skipped a beat as she realized no one was approaching her. Of course. No one wanted to spar with the “weakling”

Before she could make a move, Derrick’s voice cut through the tension. “You.”

His eyes landed on her, sharp as knives. “You’ll spar with me.”

Liana’s breath caught in her throat.

Spar with him?

Derrick was a seasoned fighter, far more experienced and powerful than she was. Her first instinct was to protest, but she bit her tongue. She couldn’t show fear. Not now. Not in front of Jaxon, who was surely watching from the sidelines.

Without a word, she stepped forward, into the center of the circle.

The other recruits shifted uncomfortably, their eyes flicking between her and Derrick as if anticipating her defeat before the fight had even begun.

Derrick gave her a cold, appraising look. “You think you can keep up, little wolf?”

Liana didn’t answer. She simply widened her stance and prepared herself, her muscles tensing as she waited for the inevitable blow.

Derrick smirked at her silence, clearly amused by her apparent defiance.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Without warning, he lunged at her.

Liana barely had time to react. His speed was incredible, and she felt the force of his attack like a shockwave as he closed the distance between them. She threw up her arms in defense, managing to block his first strike, but the sheer power behind it sent her stumbling back.

Derrick didn’t let up. He came at her again, faster this time, aiming a hard kick at her midsection. Liana dodged, narrowly avoiding the blow, but she was already on the defensive, struggling to keep up with his relentless attacks. Her mind raced, trying to anticipate his next move, but Derrick was a seasoned warrior, his strikes precise and calculated.

He landed a punch squarely on her shoulder, sending her sprawling to the ground. Pain radiated through her body as she hit the dirt, her breath knocked from her lungs. For a moment, everything seemed to blur, the world spinning around her.

Get up, she told herself, gritting her teeth against the pain. Get up!

Derrick stood over her, his arms crossed, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “ls this the best the daughter of Thorne can do?” he mocked, his voice dripping with contempt. “No wonder your pack fell so easily.”

A spark of rage ignited in Liana’s chest at the mention of her father, at the insult to her family. She wouldn’t let them erase her legacy. Not like this.

With a snarl, she pushed herself to her feet.

Derrick’s smirk faltered, and she saw the briefest flicker of surprise in his eyes. Good. Let him underestimate her. She wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Derrick moved in again, but this time, Liana was ready. She dodged his punch, slipping to the side and using his momentum to her advantage. She landed a quick jab to his ribs, and though it wasn’t a powerful hit, it caught him off guard.

Derrick stumbled, his eyes narrowing in frustration.

Liana pressed her advantage, moving in with a series of quick strikes. She wasn’t strong enough to overpower him, but she was fast, and she could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she dodged and struck, each move fueled by the memory of her father’s teachings.

Fight with your mind, not just your strength, her father had told her during their training sessions.

Outsmart your opponent, make them think they have you figured out, and then strike when they least expect it.

Derrick growled, clearly annoyed that she wasn’t going down as easily as he had anticipated. He came at her harder this time, his punches faster, more aggressive. Liana’s body screamed in protest as she blocked and dodged, but she refused to back down. Every bruise, every scrape was a reminder that she had survived worse than this.

She had survived the death of her pack and the rejection of her mate. She could survive this. But Derrick was relentless.

He feigned a punch, and when Liana moved to block it, he shifted his stance and slammed his elbow into her side. Pain exploded through her side as she faltered, stumbling backward. Derrick didn’t give her a chance to recover, his hand shot out, gripping her throat and lifting her off the ground as if she weighed nothing.

The world spun as her vision blurred, her lungs burning for air.

Derrick’s face loomed above her, his eyes cold and triumphant. “1 told you, he growled, “you’re weak.”

Liana clawed at his hand, struggling to break free, but his grip was iron. Darkness began to creep at the edges of her vision, and panic set in.

No. Not like this. She wouldn’t let him win.

In a final, desperate move, she summoned every ounce of strength she had left and kicked out with both legs, hitting Derrick square in the chest. The force of the blow surprised him, and his grip loosened just enough for her to break free.

Liana hit the ground hard, gasping for breath. But she didn’t have time to waste. She rolled to her feet, her chest heaving as she glared at Derrick. His smirk was gone, replaced by a look of barely restrained fury. Before he could make his next move, a voice cut through the air.

“Enough.”

Liana’s head snapped up, and she saw Jaxon standing at the edge of the training grounds, his arms crossed, watching the scene unfold.

His blue eyes were locked on her, and for the first time since she had been captured, she saw something flicker in them-something that wasn’t cold indifference.

“Let her go,” Jaxon ordered, his voice steady but commanding.

Derrick hesitated, clearly not pleased with the interruption, but he stepped back, his lips curling into a snarl. Liana didn’t move, her body still trembling from the fight. She wasn’t sure if Jaxon’s intervention had saved her or if it was just another display of control.

“You’re done for today,” Jaxon said, his gaze never leaving hers. “Go.”

Liana’s pride screamed at her to stay, to keep fighting, but her body had reached its limit. Without a word, she turned and left the training grounds, her steps slow and deliberate. She could feel the eyes of the other wolves on her, but she didn’t care.

As she walked away, one thought burned in her mind: she had survived the fight. She was still standing. And as long as she could keep standing, she would keep fighting.

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