26. Marcus

Waking up on the day of the final challenge is a struggle. Team West spent the next several hours strategizing over different ways we could use the additional thirty-minute head start to our advantage.

Over the last few weeks, I hadn't spent much time with Finn. I really hadn't spoken to anyone outside of Deacon. The other cadets kept their distance for fear of being associated with either of us, and we took that in stride, not wanting to put in the effort of playing games.

I knew the alliances made here were important. I also knew no one wanted to align themselves with a packless Alpha like me. Having my alliance meant nothing if I wasn't in line to lead.

The same could be said for Deacon, whose older brother Luca would be stepping into the role uncontested when the time came. We were two sides of the same coin, and to say I was glad to have found a friendship with him here is an understatement.

That being said, Finn joined our team with a quiet confidence and cool temper, which allowed us all to voice our thoughts and ideas while listening to the same from everyone else. We didn't have much to go on regarding the item in question, but we came up with several ways to transport different-sized items while still protecting the assets.

Each of us has combined our packs to even the loads, Deacon carrying the food and cooking supplies. I have the tent, ponchos, and bed rolls. McCormick will have our clothing and medical supplies. We each will carry our water and any personal items we can't go without for the three days.

For Deacon, I'm sure this will include his letters to Grace and the photograph he keeps on his person at all times.

For me, the only additional item I'm bringing is my dad's compass. He gave it to me the day I was Awakened to remind me I could always find my way home.

A bit dramatic, considering we lived in a big city, not in the woods, but it was important to me all the same. I also made sure to pack the map Deacon gave me in case we ended up needing it.

At 4:30 am, all teams are dressed and waiting for transport to the starting area. Four trucks with canvas covers over their beds sit waiting at the edge of a makeshift parking lot. Guards amble around, mostly to ward off the cold, which has become increasingly difficult to combat in the last few weeks. Clouds of air waft from their mouths, and steam floats off the mugs of coffee they hold.

Are we going to be able to survive three nights in this? It's well below freezing, and if I were to guess, we are teetering on single digits.

A whistle blows in the distance, and each team is directed into the back of one of the trucks. Finn and Deacon both look tired from the early hour, but neither complains as we get situated in the back. To our surprise, two guards join us.

The three of us share a look, all silently questioning the same thing. Why are they back here with us? As the trucks pull away, Deacon turns to look out the slit in the front of the canvas. He's tracking our position as we go in an effort to have a better idea of where to go when we find our starting point.

For the next hour, we are silent. The guards sit quietly, not making eye contact with any of us and carrying tension through their shoulders, which makes my wolf perk up.

They're waiting for something.

I get Finn's attention and try to let him know to be ready for anything. His face turns cold as he sees what I've noticed, and adjusts his weight to be able to react to an attack. We attempt to pull Deacon's attention, but his eyes are firmly planted on the road outside.

The vehicle takes a sharp left off the main road and comes to a stop on the shoulder. Trees line both sides of the road, tightly forming a barrier to the woods themselves.

"Out. All of you," One of the guards shouts, moving from the back and jumping to the ground in the process. The gun in his shoulder holster flashes as his jacket lifts in his dismount.

Armed guards. Glorious.

We file out one by one and take in the starting point. It's a little anticlimactic if I'm being honest. A sign is posted on the trunk of the tree carved in all capital letters reading ‘WEST.' Under the sign is an envelope that is being held up by a large nail.

The driver, both guards, and Team West walk to the base of the tree. Deacon reaches for the envelope as the driver speaks.

"As promised, you are being given a time advantage. All other teams will begin at 7:00 am. Your thirty-minute advantage begins now." With his final word, he starts the timer on his watch and takes a step back.

Both guards stand, waiting for our response.

Deacon snatches the paperwork and tears it open with no finesse, reading it out loud.

"Team West,

The object you seek sits at the center of the maze. To get to it, you must work together to overcome obstacles, fight off adversaries, and make choices that will determine your success.

What does winning mean to you? We will find out within this course. Start by heading in the direction of your team when a choice becomes available. Go right. Another clue will be posted inside.

Good Luck. May The Fates guide your path and your choices."

A Maze. Fucking A.

The bonus, I have my compass, so we can get started right away. I pull it out and point in the direction we need to start, taking point as we enter the trial. Just as I turn the corner and begin down the crudely made path between trees, a gunshot rings out, causing me to drop and turn instinctively.

As I take in my team, I see the guard reholstering his weapon as he leans over Deacon"s body.

"Rodriguez sends his regards." Then, he turns to Finn, who stands sheltered behind the closest tree, "It's silver, by the way, so you might want to get that treated if you don't want him to die." With his statement completed, they jump back into the truck and peel off onto the main road before I can even attempt to follow them.

Fuck.

"Where is he hit?" I ask as I move to assess the damage. "Deacon, where are you hit?" I nearly shout the second time, knocking Finn out of his shock.

"Calf, hit the bone. It's still in there. I can't shift until you dig it out," he stammers out, his breathing labored.

Finn digs into his pack, producing our med kit and retrieving gauze, bandages, alcohol, and some tweezers that look too small to be helpful. He pours the alcohol onto the hole in the back of Deacon's leg without warning or apology before rinsing his hands as well, and I find a leather strap that Deacon can bite down on.

"This is going to hurt, but I"ll get it as quickly as I can," Finn says before plunging his finger into the hole in search of the bullet.

Deacon cries out, and I attempt to hold him steady so Finn can work. Deacon's eyes have gone completely orange as his wolf pushes for control.

"Not yet. We need it out." I grind out, pushing some command into my voice, knowing it probably won't be enough to convince him but trying anyway.

"Found it!" Finn shouts, his face still pinched as he tries to grip it through the blood pouring out. "Just a second, I think I, Yeah, Got it," he finishes producing it from Deacon's leg.

Quickly, I remove his bag from his back and roll him over, unzipping his jacket to get it off before his wolf shreds it in his transition. Finn tosses the bullet and begins unlacing his boots to get them free, just as Deacon's wolf takes over.

We both jump back, not wanting to appear threatening when Deacon's more logical side is no longer in control.

Seeing his wolf in person has me taking an extra step back. The rumors involving Deacon have been going around since he was Awakened, and they don"t do him justice. Most shifter wolves stand about four feet tall and weigh about 300 lbs. Deacon's, though, is closer to five feet and is wider than my human frame.

Fucking Legend.

I've never seen a wolf that large, and when his fire eyes swing over to us, my breath catches, knowing he could kill us both at this moment.

Calm down, big guy…

Recognition flashes in his eyes, and I let the air out of my lungs.

"You gotta shift back. We have to get moving, and we can't carry all of your stuff," I say, keeping my voice light and my hands where he can see them. Before I can make another statement, Deacon's human form appears where his wolf stood.

Finn tosses him a pair of sweatpants and a shirt from the clothing bag, and I hand him back his jacket.

"How does it feel?" Finn asks as Deacon tests his leg by placing his weight on it.

"I'll be fine. I'll have to shift again tonight, but we need to get moving. We've lost our lead."

"I'm guessing that was the point. He never wanted us to have the advantage in the first place," I finish, a growl escaping my throat.

After cleaning up the area, we grab our bags and head off in the direction we had started. Deacon took the lead, and we went at his pace since his leg was still healing. His limp was subtle, but I could see the toll the wound was taking.

After another half hour, the maze opens, and we have the choice to go right, left, or continue straight. We re-read the original instructions and head right.

Over the next five hours, we find our red markers and follow the path toward the center of the maze, all the while wondering if the other teams are headed to the center as well and wondering if the first team there will have access to every item.

If that"s the case, Stickman will have made damn sure that our path was the most difficult in any way possible.

We break at noon to eat. Deacon pulls out portions of our stored food for each of us to consume. None of us talk during the meal, knowing that noise is never helpful and we have a long way to go to get where we need to be. The leadership that designed this challenge intended for the first team to return on day three in front of the Alphas. So there is no way we don"t have a full day ahead of us before we find our item.

What the hell are we retrieving anyway?

Once Deacon finishes his food, he excuses himself to shift a few times to fully mend his leg now that we have the time. He knows he has slowed our progress over the last few hours, and the additional pain has only made his strength diminish.

At the next red marker, we find another clue.

"You have reached the first challenge of the maze. To your left is the path that must be taken. At its end, lies the Colorado River. At this location, it is too swift to swim across. Work together to find a way to get yourselves and your gear to the other side."

Wonderful. I guess we are heading left. This may not be the time to tell my team that I don't know how to swim.