Olivia’s POV

“Remember, put on your best performance. The goal isn’t just to make them jealous, but to make them feel the pain you once felt. Alright?” Alpha Damien whispered in my ear the moment we stepped onto the combat ground. His breath was warm against my skin, and his words stirred something sharp and cold in my chest. I gave him a single nod, my expression unreadable.

My heart pounded as I stepped into the open, the scent of sweat, steel, and earth wrapping around me like a cloak. I knew the moment I walked in, they noticed. Their eyes burned into me—Louis, Lennox, and Levi. I could feel their gazes across the field, thick with tension, confusion, and possession.

My wolf stirred inside me. “If looks could kill, Alpha Damien would be dead by now,” she scoffed. But I didn’t look at them. Instead, I turned my attention forward, pretending I didn’t see the way some warriors’ eyes followed me, watching, whispering among themselves. I could guess their thoughts: Why is our Luna with Alpha Damien? Why is she training with her husbands’ uncle? But I didn’t care… I’d stopped caring what anyone thinks.

Damien walked ahead and picked up a steel sword from the rack. He swung it once with smooth precision, then offered it to me with a smirk playing on his lips. “Let’s see what you’ve got, firefly.” He wasn’t just training me; he was flirting. His gaze lingered a bit too long. His tone was low and teasing, dripping with a familiarity that begged for attention. He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and I didn’t flinch. I let him, because I knew the triplets were watching—and it was killing them.

I took the sword and stepped into stance, mirroring Damien’s movements with ease. We began to spar—light at first, just movements, parries, footwork. But it was enough. Enough to drive the knife deeper into the hearts of those who once threw mine away.

“Your form is better than I thought,” Damien teased, stepping in close, close enough that our swords clashed and our bodies almost touched. That’s when I heard a sudden shift in the air—boots scraping against the ground, and a deep, sharp voice cutting through the tension.

“Why don’t you spar with me instead?” Lennox said, striding forward, his jaw clenched tight and his eyes blazing with rage. I didn’t turn, not yet. I could feel Damien straighten beside me, the air between us thickening. He chuckled under his breath, not looking away from me as he said coolly, “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, pup.”

I finally looked over my shoulder—slowly—and met Lennox’s eyes. His anger was unmistakable. But I just smiled. Lennox stood before us with clenched teeth… I could practically feel the anger of his wolf inside me, and that made me realize he had also done it… just like Levi, he no longer blocked me from feeling his emotions… now I could feel everything. I was confused, but I didn’t let it show. I forced a frown and glared at him instead. I wouldn’t let him see how that small crack in his walls had shaken me.

Lennox didn’t even glance my way. His entire focus was on Damien.

“Why don’t we spar… for old times’ sake?” he said, his voice cold, eyes narrowed. I knew then—this wasn’t about training; this was personal.

Alpha Damien gave a slow, amused smile as he stepped forward. “You want to fight me, pup?” he asked, spinning the sword lightly in one hand. “Alright then… but let’s make it interesting.” He turned slightly, his eyes flicking to me briefly before returning to Lennox.

“If I win,” Damien said, raising a brow, “you’ll let Olivia slap you as many times as she wants. No blocking, no dodging. Just stand there and take it.” Lennox’s jaw twitched, but he didn’t flinch.

“And if I win?” he asked tightly.

Damien shrugged casually. “Then I’ll stay away from Olivia. No training. No talking. No touching. At least until after the council hearing.”

The air went still. Even the nearby warriors stopped what they were doing. Lennox didn’t hesitate. “Deal,” he said firmly, stepping forward and picking up a sword. Our eyes met for the briefest moment. His gaze flickered, like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. He just turned to Damien and readied his stance. The crowd quickly backed up, making room as the two Alphas faced off. Swords drawn. Eyes locked. The tension was heavy—like the whole world was holding its breath.

And then they moved. Lennox attacked first, fast and fierce. His sword clashed with Damien’s, the sound ringing through the combat ground like thunder. The power behind Lennox’s strikes was wild, fueled by pure rage and something deeper—something I could feel through the bond: pain. He was fighting like he had something to prove, like he had everything to lose.

The crowd cheered, warriors gathering around, eyes wide in shock. They had never seen Alpha Lennox fight like this before. He was stronger, faster, more brutal than anyone expected. But Alpha Damien wasn’t backing down. He matched Lennox move for move, cool, calm, collected. He dodged every strike with smooth steps, turning and spinning, blocking with perfect timing. He was older, but he was clever, sharp.

They fought hard, blades slicing through the air, sparks flying when steel met steel. My heart thudded in my chest as I watched them circle each other like predators. And then it happened. Damien ducked, spun, and his blade sliced across Lennox’s upper arm—fast and precise. Blood spilled. I gasped loudly, my hand flying to my mouth. The crowd went quiet.

Lennox stumbled slightly, grabbing his bleeding arm, but he didn’t fall. His eyes burned even brighter now, wild with fury. I took a step forward, panic growing in my chest.

“This has gone too far,” I whispered, feeling my wolf stir inside me. “They’re going to kill each other!” I wanted to stop it. I was about to speak, but I was too late.

Damien smirked and suddenly dropped into a low stance, his movements smooth like water. In one sharp twist, he swept Lennox’s legs out from under him. Lennox hit the ground hard with a grunt, his sword flying from his grip. Before he could move, Damien was already over him. He dropped to one knee, pressing the edge of his blade against Lennox’s neck. The crowd froze. My heart stopped. Everything went quiet. The fight was over. And Alpha Damien had won.