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**Chapter 15: Duel with the Alpha**
Elias darted through the dense forest, moving swiftly as the wolves pursued him. He was quick on his feet, instinct guiding him as he avoided the sharp fangs snapping just behind him. Up ahead, he spotted a sturdy tree that could give him the high ground he needed.
Without hesitation, Elias leaped and grabbed hold of a low-hanging branch, pulling himself up just in time. Below him, the wolves snarled, circling the tree but unable to reach him. From his vantage point, Elias quickly surveyed the pack. He drew an arrow, focusing on one of the wolves directly beneath him.
Releasing the string, the arrow sailed through the air, striking its target. The wolf yelped and collapsed, but there was no time to celebrate. The pack’s leader, an Alpha wolf with gleaming fur and glowing eyes, stepped forward. This was no ordinary creature—it moved with purpose and intelligence.
The Alpha raised its head, and to Elias's surprise, the forest seemed to respond. The roots around the tree began to shift, creeping toward him. Before he could react, the roots wrapped around the branches, pulling him down to the ground. Elias hit the forest floor hard, his bow slipping from his grasp.
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Dazed, he grabbed an arrow from his quiver, holding it as a makeshift weapon. Another wolf lunged at him, but Elias rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. As the wolf turned, Elias moved quickly, striking the beast and bringing it down.
More wolves closed in, their eyes glowing with predatory focus. Elias knew he was outnumbered, but he wouldn’t back down. He moved quickly, dodging and weaving between the wolves’ attacks, stabbing at them with his arrows when he could. His movements were fluid, the result of years of training in the forests back home.
However, his body was tiring, and the cuts and scrapes from the battle were starting to take their toll. The Alpha, still watching, didn’t make a move. It was as if the leader was assessing him, waiting for the right moment.
When the last of the wolves fell, Elias was left facing the Alpha alone. But instead of charging, the Alpha did something unexpected. Its eyes glowed a soft green, and the ground beneath Elias shifted once more. This time, vines sprouted from the earth, but instead of attacking, they wrapped gently around his wounds, easing the pain.
Elias blinked, confused. The Alpha wasn’t attacking—it was healing him. He realized that this was no ordinary trial. The Alpha, and the magic guiding the trial, were bound by honor. The creature was giving him a chance, ensuring that the battle would be fair.
The healing vines receded, and though Elias’s body was still weary, his injuries were no longer a concern. The Alpha crouched, muscles coiling as it prepared to launch the final attack.
Elias braced himself, gripping his arrow tightly. The true fight was about to begin.