The Bully Alpha's Fake Alpha Mate (BL) Chapter 9: SABOTAGE

ASHER

Two hours later, I stood at the edge of Blackwood Forest with twenty other first-year students. Coach Maddox stood in front of us, holding a stack of maps and supply packs.

"Listen up!" he barked. "The rules are simple. You’ve got until sunset to find three checkpoints marked on your maps and make it back here. Each checkpoint has a token you need to collect as proof. Miss even one checkpoint or co back after sunset, and you fail."

He started handing out maps and packs. When he got to , he paused.

"Graham. I heard you’re going solo, right?"

I glanced around and saw Scott nearby, looking worried. Reed stood off to the side with his arms crossed, watching .

"Yeah," I said. "Solo."

Coach Maddox raised an eyebrow. "Your funeral, kid. The forest is dangerous enough in groups. Going alone is suicide."

"I’ll manage." I told him even though I knew I was bluffing, he nodded before handing a map and a small pack containing water, a knife, and so basic first aid supplies.

"Good luck," he said, though his tone suggested I’d need more than luck.

I studied the map. Three checkpoints were marked in red, one to the north, one to the east, and one deep in the center of the forest. The most efficient route would be to hit the northern checkpoint first, swing east, then cut through the center on the way back.

Simple enough.

Except for the fact that Blackwood Forest was notorious for being ho to rogues, wild animals, and other dangers that made even experienced Alphas nervous.

"Move out!" Coach Maddox shouted, snapping out of my thoughts.

The students scattered, most moving in pairs or small groups. I watched Scott team up with two other Alphas, then turned and headed into the forest alone.

The mont I stepped under the canopy of trees, the temperature dropped. The sunlight filtered through the leaves in patches, creating an eerie, and dappled effect. The sounds of the Academy faded behind , replaced by the rustling of leaves and distant bird calls.

I followed the map north, moving quickly but carefully. My ribs were still sore, but the healing ointnt Ms. Chen had given was working. I could move without too much pain.

The first checkpoint was easier than expected, I found it marked by a red flag tied to a tree, with a small tal token hanging from a branch. I grabbed the token and tucked it into my pack.

One down. Two to go.

I headed east, using the sun to navigate. The forest grew denser here, the underbrush thicker. I had to push through thorny bushes that scratched at my arms and face. That’s when I caught the scent.

Rogue.

My entire body went on alert. Rogues were werewolves who’d been cast out of their Packs, they were dangerous, unstable, and often violent. They road places like Blackwood Forest, preying on anyone unlucky enough to cross their path.

I slowed my pace, moving as quietly as possible. The scent was faint, which ant the rogue wasn’t close, but it was fresh enough to be a threat.

I reached the eastern checkpoint without incident and grabbed the second token.

Two down. One to go.

The final checkpoint was in the center of the forest, the most dangerous area. I checked the ti. Three hours until sunset. Plenty of ti if I moved fast.

I started making my way toward the center, following a narrow ga trail, and that’s when I heard it.

A snap, like a branch breaking, and I froze, every sense on high alert.

Another sound, closer this ti. I wasn’t alone. My hand quickly went to the knife in my pack, gripping the handle. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but it was better than nothing.

"Well, well, well," a voice drawled from the shadows. "What do we have here?"

Three figures stepped out from behind the trees.

Rogues.

They were all Alphas, I could tell by their size and the dominant pheromones rolling off them, but there was sothing wrong about them. Their eyes were wild, their movents jerky and unpredictable.

The leader, a tall Alpha with matted brown hair and scars covering his face smiled at . It wasn’t a friendly smile.

"A Stone Claw student," he said. "Alone. How... unfortunate for you."

I backed up slowly, keeping the knife ready. "I don’t want any trouble."

"Too bad." The leader stepped closer. "Because we do."

The other two rogues fanned out, circling like wolves.

My heart pounded. Three against one, and these weren’t Academy students playing at dominance. These were real threats, and most importantly I was so screwed.

"Whatever Reed Jackson paid you," I said, a sudden realization hitting , "it’s not worth it."

The leader’s smile widened. "Smart boy. Yeah, the big bad Alpha gave us a nice incentive to make sure you don’t make it back to the Academy. Nothing permanent, he said. Just... rough you up a bit, scare you, and maybe break a few bones."

Fury exploded in my chest. Reed had set up. He’d sent out here alone knowing there would be rogues, and knowing fully that I’d be vulnerable.

"Fuck Reed Jackson," I spat.

"Oh, we intend to fuck you up good for him," the leader said. "Now, you can make this easy and just lay down, or—"

I didn’t let him finish. I lunged, driving my knife toward his throat. He barely dodged, the blade sliced across his shoulder instead, and blood sprayed out.

The leader roared in pain and fury.

"Get him!" he shouted.

The other two rogues rushed .

I fought like my life depended on it, because it did, but I was outmatched, outnumbered, and without my drugs at full strength, my Oga instincts kept trying to surface, screaming at to submit, to yield, and to run.

A fist connected with my jaw, my head snapped back, and stars exploded across my vision. Another blow hit my stomach, this ti the air left my lungs in a rush, and I went down hard, the knife flying from my hand.

The rogues were on imdiately, kicking, punching, and laughing like so sick maniac people.

Pain blood everywhere. My ribs, which were barely healed from Reed’s beating, scread in agony.

"Not so tough now, are you?" the leader sneered, grabbing my hair and yanking my head back.

I tasted blood, I felt it running down my face. This was it, I was going to die in Blackwood Forest because Reed Jackson couldn’t leave well enough alone not to watch suffer because he derived so sick pleasure in watching in pain.

Suddenly, through the haze of pain, I heard sothing.

A roar, not from the rogues, but from sowhere in the forest, and the rogues heard it too. They froze, looking around warily.

"What the hell was that?" one of them muttered.

The roar ca again, this ti closer, furious, and then a massive black wolf burst through the trees.

Reed.

Even in wolf form, he was unmistakable. Huge, powerful, and with those sa gray eyes blazing with rage. The rogues didn’t wait to see what would beco of them, imdiately scattered j to various directions.

Reed didn’t chase them. Instead, he shifted back to human form, naked, covered in dirt and leaves, and dropped to his knees beside .

"Asher," he said, his voice rough with sothing that sounded like... fear? "Asher, fuck, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t intend for it to go this fucking far. I am so sorry, please forgive ."

I tried to speak, but blood filled my mouth.

"Don’t talk," Reed said. He scooped up in his arms like I weighed nothing. "I’ve got you. I’ve got you, I will make sure you are okay, I promise."

The world started to fade around the edges.

The last thing I rembered before everything went black was Reed’s voice, desperate and broken:

"Don’t you fucking die on , Asher Graham. Don’t you dare."