The rhythmical side to side sway along with the unfamiliar tumult welcomed Blenda's senses as she gained consciousness. She opened her eyes to the dark dome of a starless sky. A silver path on the surface of the water, leading to a small moon right above the horizon, was the only source of light.

A bustle intensified the swaying of the boat to a point that threatened to threw Blenda in the water. She shot her hands to hold on anything, but everything she touched was a foreign body part.

Pain erupted in every part of her body as she moved from the odd position she was in. The figures in front of her blurred with every jarring movement. She launched to the edge of the boat, tripping over the unconscious bodies. The water level was too high that every time the boat tipped sidewise, water filled in. Blenda tightened her hold on the edge, looking at the moving waves, feeling the cold water on her skin and clothes. She drew in a long, steady breath to calm her stomach and force the bile down. When her senses cleared, she turned around looking for answers in her surroundings and in people's faces. Someone shoved her leg, glaring at her. She rasped her apology to the half-conscious man she was stepping on.

All twenty participants were on the boat, in every state from consciousness to complete slumber. The boat was packed, no one can move from their position.

Three bodies were piled in the middle like useless weights, and the water was ankle high inside the boat.

The one on bottom can drown, Blenda thought as she sprang from her position, shouting.

"Help me move them."

She reached for the closest person, checking his breathing. She sighed at the steady pace. She rolled him and dragged him to the side.

"Move. Make some space." She gritted through tight lips.

Some of the warriors snapped out of their confused state and rushed to help.

There were no room to move. The boat's capacity was nine people, maybe ten, at max. They were twice that number.

It was clear by now that this was a part of the competition, but that didn't help with the fire surging in Blenda's veins.

How can they drug us and leave us unassisted in the middle of the sea and without life jackets?

The whole thing didn't settle well with Blenda as she eyed the three participants who started to gain consciousness.

"What's the task?" She asked to no one in particular.

"We need to bring the boat to the beach. I found this note on me when I woke up."

Josh, the winner of the first day, said, showing a crumbled, wet piece of paper.

What a joke.

"How are we supposed to bring the sinking boat to the beach?" Kavya asked. Blenda's gaze shot to her, roaming her little figure to make sure she was okay. When she found no injury, she nodded at her to which Kavya returned a small smile.

"Are there paddles or a bucket or something?" a black woman asked, rummaging under her feet. Blenda recognised her as Adana due to the tribal marking on her face. White dots aligned her eyebrows and eyes, stopping on her cheekbones. Every participant confirmed that there were none, only few robes and a fishing net.

They kept shooting ideas on how to do this task as the first rays of dawn filtered in the sky.

"Let's break it into boards and bring it to them. They didn't specify in which condition they want it." Josh said, earning him a few chuckles that he didn't reciprocate.

He added. "It's a long distance to the beach. We can use it to rest."

The warriors hummed in understanding.

"Some of us can't swim." Adana interjected, raising her hand.

"Who else can't swim?" She asked, looking around.

Five other people raised their hands.

"Okay, whoever can't swim stays on the boat and the others swim and push it with them. The boat is small we can do it." Kavya said, clapping her hands.

They manoeuvred themselves so the six non-swimmers became in the middle of the narrow boat. Four swimmers shifted as the other helped them secure ropes around their mid-sections and attach it to the front of the boat. They were stronger in their wolf form. They'd be able to swim faster and pull the boat with them. They jumped in the water along with five swimmers who'd push from behind. Five remaining warriors swam along side them ready to exchange places with whoever wanted a break.

It wasn't hard when the wind blew in their favour, but as the sun rose on the sky, the wind changed direction and waves kept pushing them to the inside of the sea.

Nevertheless, they made it. The beach was in front of them. Blenda's muscles relaxed, looking at the white sand. The water level was still taller than their heights, but they were almost there. Blenda wanted a break, but nobody was around. She shouted their names, but no response.

Under the morning light, there visual acuity was high, but they found no one. All five participants were gone.

In their confusion, the nine warriors guiding the boat dispersed, looking for their comrades. They dived as far as they could, but still no trace. As Blenda went back to the surface, gasping for air, a loud splash filled her with dread. She looked back to find the boat upside down where they left it. She swam back as the others did the same. The distance was quite long, but the mere image of her comrades drowning urged her to swim faster.

The boat was shaking violently despite the calm sea. Upon arriving to the site, Blenda dived under it to find a she-wolf, Adana, clinging to a board in the inside of the boot as she struggled to kick whoever was pulling her down. Blenda came behind the man and pulled his oxygen mask which succeeded to make him release the girl.

As he turned in her direction, Blenda's punch drew blood from his nose despite the resistance of the water. The chocked man didn't fight back, he put back his mask and swam away. Blenda debated going after him, but the desperate woman behind her changed her mind. She went back to her as she clung to a wooden board in the middle of the boat to pull herself up so she could breathe some air from the small space between the water surface and the inside of the boat. Blenda did the same, then said to the woman.

"Fill your lungs with air then let go of the board. I'll bring you out of here."

The woman nodded wide eyed, then did as she was told. Blenda brought them both to the surface as the others arrived. They went to flip the boat, but Blenda stopped them.

"Forget the boat. Swim to the beach. Stay close and look after each other."

"What's going on?" A warrior, who's name Blenda didn't remember, asked. His face and neck were sun-burnt.

"There's something in the water. Just swim."

That was enough for them to swim as fast as they could without looking back.

Blenda's mission wasn't easy as Adana struggled to keep her head above the water. Blenda was afraid the girl would have a panic attack.

Josh came from nowhere and took some of the girl's weight off of Blenda.

They swam to the beach and collapsed on the sand.

Ten people survived the night. Scattered on the beach like an aftermath of a disaster, nobody dared to speak.

Ironically, the boat came jiggling until it was stopped by the sand.

"What happened?" Josh asked, his head between his fisted hands.

"Are there sharks in the water?" The man, who's name Blenda still didn't know, asked. Shadowing his burnt face with his arms, he paced, looking at the ocean.

"There are people in the water." Blenda's spat, voice dripping with venom. She shut her eyes, reining in her wolf.

It wasn't easy.

Growls vibrated from her chest as she shook. She jumped on her feet, needing to run her anger off. However, when she saw her comrades' faces, she exploded.

"There. Are. People in the wasser (water). They are drowning us on purpose." Blenda shouted, pointing to the ocean. Her crazed eyes flashing as her gaze jumped from face to face.

"Ask her."

She spun to Adana. "Tell them. What happened under the boat?"

Not waiting for an answer, she faced the others.

"Sharks? There is no blood in the water? Where is the rest of us?"

It was known that the Alps werewolves were feral. They wouldn't have survived the climate if they weren't. A feral wolf needed a strong human to control it.

Nine set of wide eyes watched what they once thought was a rumour about the ferocity of the wolves of the Alps and the iron control of the humans.

Waves of power and anger radiated from Blenda as she fought her beast who was slamming inside her to be let out.

It was overpowering that some wolves succumbed on the ground in submission.
What they didn't know was that it wasn't about physical strength. It was more about the power of wills. It was about leading towards the right decision, not force it upon the beast.

But how could Blenda win this war when the human and the beast were on the same side? Both calling for blood.

Betrayal wasn't something she could overlook. It wasn't something her wolf could understand. It threatened the core of pack philosophy.

No loyalty, no pack.

No pack, no life.

Kill the wronger.

Blenda flexed her now clawed fists. Barks and vicious growls emitted from her. Like a possessed person, she jerked and turned, then came to a halt. Breathing hard, she pounded her fist above her heart, a promise, then titled her head and howled it to the sky.

She promised her wolf blood.

She promised to make anyone responsible pay.

She promised vengeance