Crowned by Fate Chapter 114

Skye's POV

Forty-two Alphas plunged into the water simultaneously, creating a massive splash that sent water droplets flying through the air like diamond shards.

The fortress was massive—a sprawling complex of stone buildings now covered in algae and coral after centuries underwater. Shadowy entrances gaped like hungry mouths, promising darkness and danger within.

The camera feeds switched constantly between competitors, creating a disorienting mosaic of their underwater journey.

"Please be careful," I whispered, though Adrian couldn't hear me. "Just come back to me."

Among the crowd of Alphas, my eyes were drawn instantly to Adrian. His movements were fluid and powerful, cutting through the water with an athlete's precision. He glided ahead of many competitors.

"Look!" I gasped, pointing at one of the screens. "That's Maxwell!"

Adrian's uncle appeared suddenly from a side passage, deliberately colliding with Adrian in what couldn't possibly be an accident.

The impact sent Adrian spinning, his oxygen bubbles swirling in chaotic patterns as he fought to regain his orientation. Maxwell powered forward without hesitation, leaving Adrian to recover as precious seconds ticked away.

"That bastard!" Ryder snarled beside me, his hands clenching into fists. "He just rammed Adrian to slow him down!"

"That despicable Maxwell!" I spat out.

Though momentarily set back, Adrian quickly regained his composure and continued toward the fortress.

"Look at those Alphas," Ryder pointed to a group of three who were deliberately avoiding the main entrance, swimming around the perimeter of the fortress instead. "They're trying to find a back way in. Smart move."

I nodded, impressed by their strategy. "If everyone's fighting to get through the front door, finding another entrance could—"

My words died in my throat as something massive and terrifying burst from the shadows at the rear of the fortress. The creature moved with shocking speed for its size, jaws opening to reveal row upon row of needle-sharp teeth. The Abyssal Direwolf lunged at the closest Alpha, who barely managed to twist aside.

A second Alpha wasn't so lucky. The beast's jaws clamped around his leg, the reinforced wetsuit providing only momentary protection before giving way. Blood bloomed in the water as the Alpha desperately tried to break free. Within seconds, his emergency beacon activated, sending a pulse of red light through the water as he began to sink.

"Moon Goddess," I whispered, horror freezing my blood. "I thought there was only one Direwolf guarding the central chamber!"

Rescue divers immediately deployed from a nearby boat, racing toward the injured Alpha as the Direwolf retreated back into the shadows. The injured candidate was quickly brought to the surface, his trial ended before it had truly begun.

But my relief was short-lived. On three different screens, more Alphas encountered similar ambushes from different directions. Another Direwolf emerged from the eastern wing of the fortress, a third from the western approach, and a fourth guarded the northern passages.

"There are four of them," Ryder breathed, his face pale with shock. "Four Abyssal Direwolves!"

The realization sent panic spiraling through me. Adrian was swimming directly toward the northern entrance, completely unaware of the beast waiting to ambush him.

"This is insane!" I turned to confront the nearest Council Elder, unable to contain my outrage. "Why didn't you warn them about multiple Direwolves? These are supposed to be trials, not death traps!"

The Elder—a gray-haired man with eyes like flint—regarded me with cool detachment. "Would your enemies announce their numbers before an attack, Beta? Would they provide you with a map of their defenses?"

"This isn't war," I argued, struggling to keep my voice level. "It's supposed to be a fair assessment of strength."

"On the contrary," the Elder replied, his voice carrying centuries of werewolf tradition. "The Alpha King must be prepared to face the unknown, to adapt to surprises that could mean life or death for their pack. A leader who expects fairness in battle is a leader who will fail their people." His gaze swept over the screens where Alphas now fought desperately against ambushes they couldn't have anticipated. "In the true wilderness, there are no warnings. There is only survival."

I wanted to argue further, but the truth in his words silenced me. Still, my heart pounded painfully as I turned back to the screens, desperately searching for Adrian.

There—his midnight blue form glided cautiously through a half-collapsed archway. The camera angle shifted, revealing the northern Direwolf lurking just beyond his line of sight, its massive body coiled to strike.

"Adrian," I whispered, knowing he couldn't hear me. "Behind you!"

The beast lunged forward, water exploding around its massive form. For one horrible moment, I thought I was about to watch Adrian being torn apart. But at the last possible second, he twisted sideways, propelling himself through a narrow gap in the stonework. The Direwolf's momentum carried it past him, its claws scraping against the ancient stones as it tried to reverse direction in the confined space.

Adrian didn't hesitate. While the creature struggled to maneuver in the tight corridor, he shot forward, using the beast's confusion to gain valuable distance. His tactical awareness and quick reflexes had saved him where brute strength alone would have failed.

"He made it," I said, relief washing through me. "He's past the northern Direwolf."

Ryder nodded, a grin spreading across his young face. "Did you see that move? Pure Alpha Adrian style—using brains over brawn."

But our relief was premature. As Adrian swam deeper into the fortress, approaching the central chamber where the gold coins waited, the four Direwolves began to converge. They moved with unnerving coordination, as if responding to some silent command.

"Something's wrong," I said, dread pooling in my stomach. "Look at their movement patterns. They're herding the candidates."

Ryder followed my gaze, his expression darkening. "You're right. They're not just guarding territory—they're driving everyone toward the center."

On the largest screen, we could now see the central chamber where the gold coins gleamed. Candidates who had survived the initial ambushes were arriving from different directions, each believing they'd outsmarted the dangers. But as they reached for the coins, the true nature of the trap became apparent.

The chamber had only one exit.

And all four Direwolves were now positioning themselves to block it.

"It's not just a test of strength, It's a test of cooperation. They have to work together to escape."

But cooperation was the last thing on these Alphas' minds. As more candidates crowded into the chamber, grabbing coins and turning to leave, the first confrontations broke out. Alphas shoved each other aside, using their rivals as shields against the approaching Direwolves.

The camera focused on Adrian as he entered the chamber, quickly assessing the deteriorating situation. He snatched a coin and immediately backed away from the growing chaos. But before he could plan his escape, a massive explosion rocked the underwater structure.

Stone and debris filled the water, and suddenly every screen went black. The entire arena fell silent for one breathless moment before erupting into chaos.

Screams and shouts echoed across the lakeside as spectators leapt to their feet. Council members rushed toward the control stations, their formal composure shattered. Pack members who had accompanied their Alphas to the competition pushed forward, demanding answers that no one seemed to have.

I stood frozen, my heart suspended between beats, staring at the dark screens that had swallowed Adrian and at least fifteen other Alphas—now trapped with limited oxygen and four converging predators.