Fated and Claimed by Four Alphas
Chapter 57 - 1st Defeat

Chapter 57: 1st Defeat

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Chapter 57

~Madelyn’s POV~

Immediately, I crawled to the side, scrambling out of the way as the air changed—sharpened—and she stepped forward.

Spring Kaine.

She came face-to-face with Lilith, the very Vice President who moments ago had towered like a deity.

But now, Lilith seemed... smaller. Or maybe it was Spring who seemed larger—taller—not in height, but in presence.

Spring held Lilith’s stare, her luminous green eyes gleaming with something both wild and terrifying.

Danger. Chaos. Joy.

She didn’t cower before Lilith. Spring didn’t even flinch under the oppressive weight of Lilith’s aura, as though she weren’t standing before one of the most powerful wolves in the academy—but rather before an annoying insect.

I didn’t understand how—a nameless rogue, a reject—could do that. Could stand so effortlessly and look so... supreme.

But I felt it.

"You’re correct," Spring said finally, her voice smooth and unhurried, eyes flickering to me. "She is not me—and she will never be me."

I lowered my gaze in shame, feeling that truth settle heavy on my shoulders. Just like Lilith, Spring was here to gloat. That’s what I thought. And maybe I even deserved it.

I had already mentally prepared myself for another round of embarrassment when Spring spoke again—only this time, not to taunt, but to question.

"But who gave you the right..." Spring drawled, her tone darkening like a slow-moving storm, "to treat another being like this?"

My eyes snapped up at her words.

And what I saw in her face sent a shiver down my spine.

She wasn’t looking at me anymore, but at Lilith—and the luminous green of her eyes had dimmed, overtaken by a deep, eerie darkness. A stillness that mirrored death—but promised so much worse.

I remembered this look. I remembered it the day she saved Eva. This was not just a girl speaking. It was untamed, absolute power itself.

Lilith sneered. "Just because you have powerful mates doesn’t mean you can butt into my business."

Spring tilted her head, the shadow of a smile dancing on her lips. "Your business?" she echoed. "Or mine? After all... she is my house pet before I gave her..."

"Was," Lilith cut in quickly, lips curling.

The word was landed like a slap. My breath caught in my throat. Lilith was trying to justify her cruelty, to prove she had some twisted right to humiliate me like trash.

"Yes, previously, you have no control over her now," Lilith said, trying to remain composed.

Spring smiled. "If you had let me finish, you would’ve understood—but I guess even high-ranking wolves can be dumb."

Lilith’s eyes narrowed. "What?"

Spring smirked—right before Lilith pushed her aura to its peak.

It surged immediately in response, erupting like a hurricane. The hallway trembled violently. I saw the walls shift slightly, dust lifting from the edges of the floor tiles.

The weight of Lilith’s wolf came crashing down like a mountain set to bury everything beneath it.

But Spring’s smile didn’t falter.

Instead... it grew and a feral grin curled on her lips.

Then she raised her hand—and with a sharp snap of her fingers, everything changed.

A surge of energy exploded from her body like a sonic wave. It wasn’t just power—it was rage wrapped in stillness, a controlled storm unleashed in one breath.

Lilith flinched violently. Her body staggered back two steps. Then—

Blood.

It trickled down her nose... then her ears.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as her own aura crumbled, disappearing like fog under a scorching sun.

And her dominance—shattered.

Silence ensued after a minute and inside me, I jubilated.

Only Spring stood there—unmoving, untouched, and in complete control.

"Scram," she said quietly, though her voice carried like a command, one that couldn’t be disobeyed. "Until the day of our challenge."

Lilith gritted her teeth, trying to salvage what was left of her pride.

She brought a hand to the blood on her nose, smearing it across her fingers. She examined it, then turned her gaze to Spring.

"Wait until I defeat you," she hissed. "Let’s see how powerful you really are after you’ve been rejected five times. Because I know being mated to the Alphas gave you that tremendous aura. Strip that away—then we’ll see if the Moon Goddess truly blessed you... or not, Moon Goddess reject."

Spring didn’t blink. "All bark and no bite huh," she stated while keeping her voice in a deadly calm manner.

"If being a Moon Goddess reject earns me five mates, then I’d rather be that... than a failed favourite."

The words struck deep.

Lilith’s face twisted, her pride clearly bruised. She scoffed, turned on her heel, and walked away with as much dignity as she could muster.

Only when she disappeared around the corner did I finally exhale.

The tension broke.

I scrambled forward, voice shaking. "Thank you. Thank you, Spring. I—"

Her eyes turned to me.

They were cold and detached. It froze the words in my throat.

"Do not mistake this for kindness," she said, her voice cutting like ice. "I didn’t do that for you."

I blinked, tears stinging the edges of my eyes.

"No one—living or dead—deserves to be treated like that. Not even the ground you’re kneeling on deserves you two."

My heart cracked open.

She didn’t look at me again. She just turned and walked away, her long hair swaying gently behind her, steps unhurried—as though nothing had happened.

And there I stayed there, kneeling, alone and ashamed.

Tears spilled freely down my cheeks, hot with humiliation and something worse—realization that I had fallen farther than I thought.

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~Spring’s POV~

I didn’t look back as I walked away. I was roo busy thinking to be bothered by her mess.

My boots tapped against the floor as the rage inside me drowned itself, curling back into its den, satisfied. I let out a slow breath.

Then, suddenly, something solid collided with me. A hand caught my shoulder, holding me firmly in place.

I didn’t look back.

My boots tapped against the polished floor—sharp, steady. The rage inside me, though still simmering, had quieted. It curled back like a beast in its lair, satisfied for now. I exhaled slowly, shoulders lowering as the hallway stretched ahead.

Then suddenly, I collided into something solid.

A hand caught my shoulder before I could stagger. Instinctively, I glanced up.

Storm.

He held me firmly, that signature smirk already tugging at his lips like he’d been expecting me to crash into him.

"Watch where you’re going, mate," he said softly, the corners of his eyes crinkling with mischief. "Or do you need my morning kiss to help keep your mind sharp?"

I raised a brow, unimpressed. "Keep talking and you might need a healer before breakfast, Storm."

He chuckled but didn’t let go.

"Nah, she needs a kiss from me," another cocky voice chimed in.

Jace appeared beside us, looking smooth as ever, his brown hair slightly tousled, like he’d just rolled out of bed—which he probably had. He reached for my hand without hesitation, lifting it to his lips with an exaggerated sigh.

"Morning, love," he murmured, brushing a kiss to my knuckles. "Heard the news?" My brows drw together. "The date’s been set for your challenge with Lilith."

My eyes narrowed slightly as I focused. "When?"

"Tomorrow at noon," he said, tone light but eyes serious. "The Games shall be picked at random as per the news before noon."

My smile stretched, slow and satisfied. "Perfect."

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