The meeting had just ended, and I was gathering my things when Alice suddenly blocked my path. Her gaze was sharp, predatory, like a rival wolf testing my boundaries.
"Anastasia," she hissed, her tone laced with challenge, "if you're truly skilled, let's compete fairly. If you win the prize just because of your pack connections, you're barely worth my time."
Her words were venomous, meant to sting and assert dominance. I paused, sensing the surge of tension in the room, the unspoken power dynamics circling us like scent-marking wolves. Why is she challenging me like this? I reminded myself: she struck first, so I had every right to stand my ground.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said evenly, my voice calm but edged with the quiet authority of one who knows her own strength. "I've always relied on my skills."
"Hah!" Alice snorted, her pride bruised, and stalked off, her pack mentality unable to accept that her threat had no bite.
