Page 23 of Alpha Games

The course was some kind of suspended ninja training setup on steroids of nets and ropes thatstretched across the narrow cliffs lining the ravine. We were high enough to kill a normal human on impact, but at most, I’d throw out my back for a few days if I fell. Someone screamed, followed by the crack of bones snapping and the squelch of mud.

Ouch.My wolf and I cringed, seeing the blond hair matted with blood on the ground below.

That may take more than a few days to heal.

I swung my legs up over the rope, climbing like a spider monkey toward the ladder braided nets ahead.

My hands grew slick and my muscles were burning, but I ignored the slight discomfort, grabbing for the net and swinging to the next handhold.

This is ridiculous.My wolf rested his jaw on his paws.

Agreed.I clenched my teeth, sweat stinging my eyes as I got a firm grip on the next hold, and hoisted my legs over the net.

The end of the rope course was already in sight. I climbed faster, trying not to look too far ahead. Past the platform on the other side of the ravine was the next obstacle. I’d deal with that when I got to it.

The metal platform rocked a bit as I landed on it and then jumped off the backside. I hit the muddy ground in a crouch. I wasn’t sure if I was the first one to finish judging by the cheers of the females above, but I finished all the same.

I took a moment to scan the cliff. The blinding sun and sweat in my eyes made it hard to make out her outline. But she was there, watching. I could feel it.

“See something interesting?” A rough laugh sounded from up ahead. John O’Neil was jogging backwards as the big beast grinned at me from under his beard.

“More than interesting,” I called back, letting out a howl as I raced him to the next obstacle.

We made it to the line of boulders at the same time. The instructions were simple enough. Push them.

“You didn’t set your mark on this one, did you?” John teased as he positioned his shoulder near a giant rock.

“Nope,” I grunted, picking the one beside him.

There was no time to assess which one would be easier to move. Other Alphas were landing on the platform behind us.

I tugged on a bit of my wolf’s strength, waking the bored bastard up from his nap, as I shoved against the boulder.

John moved at his own pace and I turned my attention inward, focusing on the task at hand. My muscles were already burning from the rope course, but I’d be alright. I’d known pain and exhaustion much deeper than this.

I couldn’t yet see the finish line ahead, but knowing what waited for me was enough motivation to keep pushing. The boulder moved another staggered foot as I shoved it forward.

Grunting, I pushed again.

And again.

Sweat dripped down the back of my t-shirt and my legs were shaking as I heaved the boulder another painful inch. Darkness danced on the edge of my vision and I blinked it away.

John was somewhere to the left. I vaguely placed him from the sound of his cursing grunts. But there were other males gaining on us, moving their own tortuous boulders up the hill.

This was some next level bullshit.

I hated this rock.

It rolled back on me, threatening to crush my bones, and I fought back with another shove.

Aspen.

She’d be waiting for me with a rose.

I drew on more strength of my wolf, merging our skins into that of the Lycan beast of nightmares. My arms and chest doubled in size, shredding the t-shirt, as fur and claws extended. My jaw elongated and I let out a vicious howl, shoving the boulder again.

My feet dug into the ground.