Chapter 4: The Rules of Survival

Amara woke to the faint hum of voices outside her cabin. For a moment, disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings, she thought she was back in the Silver Ridge Pack. But the sharp scent of pine and the distant sounds of wolves reminded her where she was: Rogue Haven.

The previous night’s events crashed back into her mind like a wave. Kael’s rejection, the exile, and Adrian’s enigmatic offer of help. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and glanced around the cabin. It was simple but warm, the fire from the night before reduced to glowing embers.

A soft knock startled her.

“Amara,” Adrian’s voice called from the other side. “Get up. We need to talk.”

Her jaw tightened. She wasn’t sure she liked Adrian’s commanding tone, but she swung her legs over the side of the bed and opened the door.

Adrian stood there, arms crossed, his gray eyes scanning her. He was as imposing as she remembered, dressed in a black shirt and jeans that made him look every bit the dangerous rogue he was.

“Good. You’re awake,” he said, stepping back to let her exit.

“What’s so urgent?” she asked, shielding her eyes from the sunlight filtering through the trees.

Adrian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he started walking, clearly expecting her to follow. Amara sighed and trailed after him, her curiosity outweighing her irritation.

They wove through the camp, drawing more curious and wary stares from the other rogues. Mara, the petite woman from the night before, watched her with a guarded expression, whispering to a stocky man beside her.

Finally, Adrian stopped at the edge of the clearing, where the forest grew thicker and the air cooler. He turned to face her, his expression serious.

“You’re in Rogue Haven now,” he began. “Things work differently here. There’s no pack structure, no Alpha to enforce rules. Everyone looks out for themselves, and alliances are made out of necessity, not loyalty.”

Amara crossed her arms. “So what does that mean for me?”

“It means you’re on your own,” Adrian replied bluntly. “But you’ll have to prove you can pull your weight if you want to stay. Otherwise, the others will see you as a liability—and liabilities don’t last long here.”

The weight of his words settled over her like a heavy cloak. She had known life as a rogue would be hard, but hearing it spelled out so plainly was a harsh reminder of her new reality.

“What do I have to do?” she asked, her voice steady despite the knot forming in her stomach.

Adrian tilted his head, studying her. “For starters, you need to learn how to fight.”

Amara blinked. “I know how to fight. I trained with my pack.”

“Training with a pack and surviving as a rogue are two different things,” Adrian said, his tone sharp. “Out here, it’s not about honor or rules. It’s about winning.”

He stepped back, gesturing to the open space around them. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Amara hesitated. She wasn’t sure if this was some sort of test or a way for Adrian to assert his dominance, but she wasn’t about to back down. Squaring her shoulders, she nodded.

“Fine,” she said, stepping into the clearing.

Adrian smirked faintly, motioning for her to come at him. “Show me what they taught you.”

Without warning, Amara lunged, aiming a punch at his side. Adrian dodged easily, his movements fluid and calculated.

“Too predictable,” he said, sidestepping her next strike.

Frustration flared in Amara’s chest, but she forced herself to focus. She shifted her weight, feinting left before aiming a kick at his legs. This time, she connected, though the impact barely made him flinch.

“Better,” Adrian said, his tone approving. “But you’re still holding back.”

“I’m not holding back!” she snapped, her temper boiling over.

Adrian raised a brow. “Really? Then hit me like you mean it.”

Amara growled, her wolf stirring at the challenge. She moved faster, her strikes sharper, but Adrian countered each one with infuriating ease.

After several minutes, he caught her wrist mid-punch, spinning her around and pinning her arm behind her back. She struggled against his grip, but it was like trying to move a mountain.

“Let me go!” she demanded.

“Not until you listen,” Adrian said, his voice low and firm. “Out here, strength isn’t enough. You need to think. Every move you make has to count.”

Amara stilled, his words sinking in. He released her, stepping back.

“You have potential,” Adrian said, his tone softer now. “But you’ve been sheltered. That won’t help you survive.”

She glared at him, brushing dirt off her hands. “And what makes you the expert?”

A shadow crossed his face, his gray eyes darkening. “Because I’ve seen what happens to those who aren’t prepared. I won’t let that happen to you.”

The intensity in his voice caught her off guard, leaving her unsure of how to respond.

Before she could say anything, a low growl sounded from the trees. Adrian’s posture shifted instantly, his eyes scanning the forest.

“Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice deadly calm.

Amara tensed, her wolf stirring uneasily. The growling grew louder, and a group of rogues emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malice.

“Well, well,” one of them sneered. “Looks like Adrian’s got himself a new pet.”

Amara’s chest tightened as she recognized the scarred rogue from the night before.

Adrian stepped forward, his expression cold and unyielding. “You have no business here, Logan. Leave now.”

Logan chuckled darkly, his packmates closing in. “Or what? You’ll take us all on by yourself?”

Adrian didn’t reply, his muscles coiled like a spring ready to snap. Amara’s heart pounded as the rogues advanced, the air crackling with tension.

This wasn’t a training session. This was life or death.

And for the first time, Amara realized just how dangerous her new world truly was.