Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers-Chapter 573: Sleep Over Winning

Evaline:

I yawned for stars knew what number as Oscar’s voice carried across the beach, sharp and commanding enough to cut through the lazy buzz of the afternoon.

"Alright, everyone - divide yourselves into the four groups that were called out earlier."

It was a little past noon and the sun was high, warm enough to make the sand almost too hot beneath bare feet. Just minutes ago, we’d all been stretched out on towels and loungers, basking in the afterglow of a hearty lunch and the sea breeze that kept threatening to lull me into sleep. The water sparkled invitingly, waves rolling in like they were personally calling my name.

And instead of letting us enjoy even another minute of peace, the professors had found us.

Professor Elira stood with her arms crossed, looking far too pleased. Professor Aldric and Professor Alden flanked her, discussing something quietly between themselves. And then there was Oscar...looking every bit like this was exactly what he’d been waiting for.

After beach volleyball yesterday and tug of war followed by surfing earlier today, I had genuinely thought they might finally give us some free time.

I should have known better.

The announcement of the third activity of the day had landed like a punch to the gut.

"A physical combat game," Professor Aldric had said cheerfully, like he was announcing dessert instead of imminent suffering.

The groans that followed were loud enough to startle a few nearby seagulls.

"You have got to be kidding me," Brian muttered behind me.

"We just surfed for two hours," Selene complained.

"I can’t even feel my arms anymore," came a dramatic wail from somewhere to my left.

I wholeheartedly agreed with every single one of them.

Then Oscar stepped forward.

"The winning team," he announced calmly, "will get permission to visit the nearby seaside towns this evening."

The shift in atmosphere was immediate.

Groans turned into murmurs. Murmurs turned into interest. Interest turned into competitive sparks lighting up eyes all around me.

A chance to explore seaside towns - cafes, shops, food stalls, freedom beyond the resort walls?

Yeah. That would do it.

Me?

I felt nothing.

If anything, I wanted to curl up in my hotel bed, pull the blanket over my head, and sleep until my body physically refused to let me anymore. The exhaustion from last night still clung to me like a second skin, no matter how much I tried to shake it off.

And apparently, I wasn’t hiding it very well.

I felt eyes on me... familiar ones.

My friends noticed first.

Mallory gave me a worried look as she stretched her arms over her head. Kyros leaned closer, lowering his voice to ask if I was alright. And then there was Oscar.

I felt his gaze before I saw it.

When I finally looked up, his brows drew together slightly, his eyes scanning my face in a way that told me he’d noticed the dark circles I had tried... and failed... to hide using Mallory’s concealer.

There wasn’t much he could do about it now.

Well... there was something he could have done. Like talking the professors out of pushing us through another physically demanding activity.

And a part of me was almost certain this combat game had his fingerprints all over it.

Because who else would think a combat exercise was appropriate during a trip that was supposed to be about fun and relaxation?

Traitor.

We were divided into four teams, ten students each.

Except... because there were forty-one of us in our class... one lucky soul got to act as the referee.

When that was announced, my heart actually lifted.

For exactly three seconds.

Because when the final list was called and my name wasn’t on it, I almost screamed.

I would have loved to be the referee - sitting on the sidelines. Observing. Calling fouls. Doing absolutely nothing physical while forty other students exhausted themselves.

Instead, here I was.

I shot Oscar a look that promised a slow and painful demise later. He pretended not to notice.

Fortunately, Kyros and Ria were on my team, along with seven other students I didn’t mind. More importantly... very importantly... Nadine wasn’t. And none of her friends were either.

That alone felt like a small mercy.

At least things weren’t completely terrible.

The teams took their places on the sand, the combat field marked out clearly. The rules were simple - non-lethal, no wolf strength, no serious injuries. Points for takedowns and submissions. Last team standing wins the round.

The first round began quickly.

And just like that, my luck ran out. Because our opponents were Nadine and her team.

Of course.

I internally groaned as she stepped forward, smug smile firmly in place, her eyes already scanning us like she was measuring where to strike first.

The next ten minutes were pure chaos.

Even though every single part of me wanted to conserve energy, to move slowly and carefully, my pride absolutely refused to let Nadine gain the upper hand. So I fought... since her sole purpose was to defeat me.

I dodged. I blocked. I struck when I had openings.

Sand flew everywhere. Shouts and grunts filled the air. Bodies hit the ground, rolled, sprang back up again.

I took down one of Nadine’s friends early on, earning myself a glare that could have curdled milk.

Worth it.

By the time the final whistle blew, our team was battered, bruised, and breathing hard... but we were standing.

We won.

The satisfaction was immediate, but also short-lived. Because as we barely had time to catch our breath, it was announced that we would be facing the winner of the second round to determine the final winning team.

I stared at the ground for a solid five seconds, contemplating my life choices.

Still, I pushed through.

I always did.

The final round started, and somehow... through sheer stubbornness and adrenaline... I kept going.

My movements grew heavier. My reactions slowed. I could feel my body protesting every step, every block, every strike.

Seven minutes in, and Rowan took me down.

It was clean and controlled - him sweeping my legs out from under me and pinning me to the sand before I could fully react. I landed with a soft thud, the air knocked from my lungs as I stared up at the sky.

He hovered there for a moment, concern flashing through his eyes.

"You alright?" he asked quietly.

I huffed out a breath, half-laughing despite myself. "Never been better," I muttered.

He knew, though.

He knew I was exhausted. He knew I needed rest more than I needed victory... or a trip through seaside towns.

And I was almost grateful when he kept me there just long enough for the referee to call it.

Because it meant I could finally stop.

I let my head sink back into the sand, the sounds of the beach fading into the background as my body welcomed the stillness.

For now, losing didn’t feel so bad.

Not when all I wanted was sleep.