Warrior's Camp

The first morning in the warrior’s camp was nothing like I could have ever imagined.

The sun had barely risen when the sharp blast of a horn jolted me awake. I scrambled from my bunk, my heart pounding, only to be shoved aside by another trainee rushing past. My heart flew t my throat and it tightened, but no sound could escape of course, since my voice, as always, locked away.

“Move, mute!” one of the girls hissed, shoving her again as they lined up outside. Laughter followed, low and cruel, and Amanda bit her lip hard enough to taste blood. Even here, she wasn't free from her bullies. She thought to herself, and her wolf growled in defiance at the back of her mind.

A towering figure strode forward, his presence alone silencing the whispers. His hair was dark, cropped close, and his eyes—steel gray—cut through the line like blades.

“Sergei Volkov,” someone muttered under their breath. “The General of Hell.”

Amanda swallowed.

“Line up straight,” he barked, his voice like thunder. “You are not here to play," he started to say as he walked towards us as we all stood in a line. "You are here to bleed, to break, and to rebuild stronger than you ever imagined. If you can’t handle it—leave now.”

Non of us moved, i was't sure if any of us was breathing from how silent everywhere was.

"I need to see how well you guys move. I need to know what I am working with, so I will be pairing you guys." When the warriors began to murmur among themselves, he continued, "Your gender doesn't matter," he said, as though to shut out the murmurs.

Sergei’s gaze fell on me suddenly, like he knew something. He looked at me a little bit too long for my liking, his brow furrowing as though he sensed weakness... My weakness “You." he called out to me,  "Step forward.”

My body froze and my fingers trembled, but I obeyed, stepping into the dirt clearing where everyone could see me. Sensing all eyes on me i immediately looked around the crowd and surely they were. I could see sneers and some looking at me like i was a joke. I was so lost in feeling sorry for myself when i heard, "You scared,"

It was Serdei's voice calling me back. I shook my head and my eyes hardened, but my heart was beating like it was taking extra time to beat.

Sergei circled me once, a predator sizing up its prey. “I hear you can’t speak. A wolf with no voice.” He smirked, the sound cruel. “Tell me, girl—how do you plan to command a battlefield if you can’t even command your tongue?”

Laughter erupted around me, sharp and cutting. I could feel my cheeks burning crimson from shame or embarrassment, i have no idea. But i felt anger and my nails dug into my palms until crescent moons formed on her skin and blood formed underneath my nails.

My father's voice was all i could hear in my head, "You re strong, you aremy dughter afterall,"  So, I lifted my chin slowly and raised hands to sign, sharp and precise: I don’t need a voice to fight.

The camp grew quiet. Some whispered, confused. Others snickered. But Sergei’s expression shifted, just barely, as though caught off guard.

Then, he barked a harsh laugh. “We’ll see, mute. We’ll see if your fists speak louder than your silence.”

He turned away, snapping his fingers. “Pair her with the strongest. Let’s test if her courage is real.”

A boy twice my size stepped forward, grinning cruelly. He cracked his knuckles, already eager for blood.

This was clearly ot a fair fight but i didnt have the time to show fear, although my stomach knotted as fear clawed at my chest. But deep down, my wolf stirred, pressing against my skin, whispering strength.

Kara, my silent anchor. We’ll show them.

The fight was about to begin.

The boy who stepped forward was a mountain of muscle, his grin cruel. His wolf’s presence pressed heavily on my skin, daring me to falter or look scared.

“Don’t hold back, Ivan,” Sergei ordered, folding his arms. His cold gray eyes never leaving ms. “Let’s see if the mute can survive even a single round.”

"This is not fair, sir. What if I break more than her voice?" Ivan said with a mocking pout.

"Don't act cheeky with me, Ivan," Sergei replied in a harsh voice, but his face was nothing short of harsh.

Ivan smirked and started cracking his fingers and neck. Then he began circling her like a predator. “This’ll be fun.”

To show him i wasn't weak, i suddeny shifted my stance, every nerve in her body alight with fear and alertness. My wolf, Kara, pushed at the edges of my mind, growling for me to not retreat.

Stand tall.

Ivan lunged first. His fist was a blur but I ducked. A bit too slow as his knuckles cracked against my jaw, and the world spun. Staggering back, I could taste the iron flooding my mouth. I need to work on that, I told myself mentally, but the fight wasn't over yet. In fact, it was just starting.

Laughter erupted from the trainees.

"The fight isn't over yet, mute. Where is your head at?" I suddenly heard Ivan say from behind me before tripping me. I managed to get up again and turned to face Ivan, where he stood with a mocking grin on his face.

“Pathetic!” someone shouted.

I shook her head, vision blurring. My hands clenched ad unclenched. There was no way i would stay down now, I just wouldn’t— couldn’t—stay down.

With a burst of desperation, I darted forward and lunged at Ivan, landing a weak punch against his ribs. The impact barely made him grunt, but for me, it was a victory. I heard Kara’s approving snarl inside my chest and that distractd me from the fight.

But Ivan only laughed. “That's all you got?”

His fist came again. This time, straight to my stomach and it knocked all the air out from my lungs. I crouched and collapsed to my knees, my chest heaving silently, my fingers clawing at the dirt. I could tell my eyes were red and watery from the pain but no one could hear my sound.

“Enough.” Sergei’s voice cut through the arena like a blade.

Ivan stepped back, smirking, unscathed but I stayed on the ground, trembling, the sting of humiliation burning hotter than the pain in my body.

The other trainees whispered, snickering. Mute. Weak. Useless.

Sergei’s boots stopped in front of me and slowly, I forced myself to look up. His cold eyes studied me, unreadable.

“You lasted longer than I thought,” he said flatly, "But don’t mistake that for strength. Right now, you are nothing.”

His words sliced deeper than Ivan’s fists.

"Just like you all are nothing. In this camp, you will be training like there is no tomorrow. I don't want anyone to think just because they are the next Alpha, Beta, or whatever, they will slack off," he kept on saying, and i could only tune him off with my gaze lowered.

Then he turned to me, "Mute!" he called out to her, "20 laps around the training ground. The more you lose, the more laps you run."

I could not say anything; but nod my head and stood frozen in place as everyone left the training ground, mocking and hitting as they left, followed by loud snickers.

I might be nothing now but this won't be forever.