River of Trials
SCARLETT
The tears burned the back of my eyes as Lily dragged me through the woods, her grip tight on my wrist like she was afraid I’d disappear if she let go.
My vision blurred, the trees turning into dark, swaying shadows.
My heart pounded so violently against my ribs that it felt like it was trying to claw its way out.
Each breath came shorter, sharper, like someone was squeezing my lungs.
I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t think.
All I could see was Rhys’s calm, psychotic smile as he fought with Saint.
My legs buckled.
“L-Lily…” I gasped, voice cracking.
She stopped immediately, turning around. Her eyes widened when she saw the tears streaming down my face, the way my chest heaved like I was drowning on dry land.
“Oh God, Scar…” She pulled me into her arms, hugging me tight against her smaller frame. “Breathe. Just breathe, okay? In… and out. You’re safe now. They’re not here. You’re safe.”
I clung to her, fingers digging into her shirt as sobs tore out of me, ugly, broken sounds that I couldn’t stop. My body shook uncontrollably. The panic attack hit like a wave, crashing over me with no warning.
“They… they threw me,” I choked out between sobs. “Like I was nothing. Like I was a toy. Why would they do that if they say I’m their mate? They’re sick… they’re all sick in the head.”
Lily held me tighter, rubbing slow circles on my back.
“Yes,” she whispered, voice gentle but honest. “The Triumvirate aren’t ordinary Alphas. They’re… broken and twisted. But Saint… he seems different. He tried to stop them, You saw it for yourself.”
I pulled back slightly, wiping my face with trembling hands.
“Y-yes… Saint is better,” I admitted, voice small. “He always tries to protect me. But the others… Rhys looked at me like he enjoyed it. Like hurting me was fun for him.”
Lily’s expression darkened, but she didn’t argue. She just hugged me again.
“Come on,” she said softly. “Let’s get back to the tent. You’re shaking and you need to sit down.”
We made our way back through the trees, the sounds of other groups still fighting in the canopy echoing faintly behind us. I could feel eyes on us, other students who had seen the chaos, whispering as we passed. Our group had failed the activity completely.
Thanks to the Triumvirate.
When we reached our tent, we slipped inside and sat on the blankets, breathing hard. The space felt smaller now, the canvas walls closing in.
A few minutes later, the tent flap opened.
Saint stepped in, completely naked, blood still streaking his skin from the fight, muscles gleaming with sweat. His ice-blue eye met mine for a second before he flushed faintly and quickly moved to his bag to grab clothes.
Lily and I both looked away, faces burning.
Saint dressed quickly in silence, pulling on a clean shirt and pants. He didn’t say a word, but I could feel the guilt rolling off him.
Then Kaiden appeared at the entrance.
He stopped in front of me, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, still covered in dirt and a few bruises.
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
I looked up at him, surprised he was even talking to me after everything.
“Yeah… I think so,” I whispered.
He glanced at Lily, then back at me. “I’m sorry about… all of that. I’ve been a bit different since the Purge. Things got complicated.”
Lily raised an eyebrow. “It’s cool but where did you go after the Purge, anyway?”
Kaiden hesitated, then gave a small, tired smile. “I can’t really tell you. But it has something to do with the school.”
Before I could ask more, Professor Ryan’s voice boomed from outside.
“Everyone outside! Now!”
Saint stepped out first. Lily and I followed.
Ryan stood in the center of the clearing, face thunderous. Rhys, Kane, and Saint stood nearby, looking completely unbothered.
Ryan pointed at them.
“You three,” then he looked at us, “and your group are disqualified from today’s activity. You were supposed to defend your sector for two hours. Instead, you caused bloody chaos — literally. As punishment, you will wash all the dishes after lunch and dinner for the entire camp today,
maybe manual labor will teach you some discipline.” .”
Kane smirked. Rhys just smiled that calm, terrifying smile.
Saint looked at the ground, jaw tight.
Ryan glared at all of us. “Now go clean up and get ready for the next activity. And stay out of trouble.”
As Ryan walked away, I felt the weight of everything crashing down again.
****
Two hours later, the groups began returning from the canopy.
Most students came back buzzing with adrenaline, laughing and talking excitedly about their victories. Some were boasting about successful defenses, others complaining about close calls or “unfair” rival groups. The clearing filled with chatter, the smell of pheromones, sweat, dirt, and triumph.
Lily and I sat outside our tent on a log, still shaken from everything that had happened. My hands hadn’t stopped trembling.
Milo spotted us and hurried over, his face bruised but his eyes wide with concern.
“I heard what happened,” he said, dropping down beside us. “Are you okay?”
Lily gave a weak smile. “Well… yeah, I guess. We survived.”
Milo opened his mouth to say more when Professor Ryan’s voice boomed across the clearing.
“Everyone! Gather round! Now!”
We stood up and joined the loose crowd forming around the central fire pit. The other camp authorities, Captain Crowe, Mr. Halloway, and Miss Elara stood beside him.
Ryan waited until the noise died down.
“Congratulations to the ten winning groups of today’s Canopy Claim,” he announced. “Your sectors were the most successfully defended and expanded. You have earned priority access to resources for the rest of the retreat, including better camping spots and first choice at meals.”
He read out the winning group numbers.
Group 7 — ours — wasn’t mentioned.
Neither was Group 8 (Rhys, Kane, and Kaiden).
A few students smirked in our direction.
Captain Crowe stepped forward next. “The winning groups showed true teamwork, strategy, and control. The rest of you… let this be a lesson. Silvercrest doesn’t reward chaos.”
A heavy hush fell.
“The next activity is called **River of Trials**.”
The clearing went quiet.
“You will be split into your assigned tent groups. Each group will make their way to the Blackthorn River. A single rope has been tied high above the rushing water between two ancient trees on opposite banks. Your task is to cross the river using only the rope,
no shifting allowed during the crossing itself. You may use only your balance, strength, grip, and teamwork. Once on the other side, you must complete a series of challenges before returning the same way with your group marker intact.”
Murmurs broke out immediately.
“The river is fast and deep. Falling means starting over from the beginning. Rival groups may try to shake the rope, distract you, or interfere — non-lethal contact is permitted. Serious injury is not. The first three groups to complete the full round trip will earn major privileges.
The slowest groups…”
Captain Crowe’s expression hardened. “Will face consequences.”
Students shifted uneasily. Lily squeezed my hand tighter, her fingers cold.
Halloway added with a sharp smile, “You have thirty minutes to prepare with your group. The trial begins at 3 PM sharp. Move.”
My stomach dropped like a stone.
Mandatory alliances.
High rope crossing.
No shifting.
Rival interference allowed.
And with the way groups were already eyeing each other, I had a terrible feeling about who my group might end up paired with.
As everyone began dispersing to find their partners or prepare, I glanced toward the Triumvirate’s tent area.
Rhys was watching me again.
Calm.
Patient.
Predatory.
Kane stood beside him, arms crossed, that feral grin slowly spreading across his face as his black eyes locked on me.
I quickly looked away, heart hammering.
This wasn’t just survival training.
This was another game.
And the monsters were already circling.
The real trials of Blackthorn Ridge had only just begun.