My Fated Alpha's Cruel Game (Elena and Marcus) novel Chapter 154

Chapter 154: Chapter 154 Underground Training Begins

Soldier’s POV

"Damn it all to hell. I got sent in there on what should have been a simple retrieval mission. Command told me to grab intel from the packhouse, but Luna Elena spotted me before I could complete the objective." The words came out harsher than I intended, frustration bleeding through every syllable.

Corbin’s expression darkened as he processed what I’d just told him. His jaw tightened in a way that made me realize I’d stepped into something far more dangerous than a routine reconnaissance mission.

"Yeah, her and Damien both. Those two are absolute hell on earth when they’re protecting their territory. They’re not just tough pack leaders - they’re fucking legendary in every sense of the word. Their reputation spans across every hunter division from here to the Canadian border." He paused, running a hand through his hair. "That’s exactly why our protocols say we don’t engage with them directly. Not yet, anyway. Not until we have overwhelming numbers and the element of complete surprise. I’m honestly shocked as hell that your previous Captain would send you anywhere near their territory without proper backup."

The more Corbin spoke, the more that same realization was crystallizing in my mind. Something had gone seriously wrong with that mission assignment, and I was starting to suspect it might not have been an accident.

As soon as we finished choking down the bland military rations they called lunch, Corbin immediately dragged me out to the training field. The afternoon heat was already brutal, but that didn’t seem to matter to him in the slightest.

"Time for conditioning runs. We’re doing perimeter laps of the entire base today." His tone left no room for negotiation or complaint.

The whole damn base stretched out before us like a concrete maze designed by someone with a serious grudge against human endurance. The perimeter fence stood twelve feet high, topped with razor wire and electrified enough to fry anyone stupid enough to test it. We’d be running along that fence line with full combat packs strapped to our backs.

Corbin helped me adjust the pack straps before we started. The weight distribution was crucial - one hundred and ten pounds of gear, ammunition, and supplies that would try to throw off my balance with every stride. He made sure the straps weren’t cutting into my shoulders and that the weight sat properly on my hips.

I noticed other soldiers running the same route, but their loads looked significantly lighter. They were wearing standard green fatigues while we had the specialized black gear that marked us as part of the elite hunter division.

"Captain mentioned we’re the elite squad," I muttered as we started jogging. "Guess that means they expect us to handle more than the regular units."

"Elite means elite standards," Corbin replied without breaking stride. "Higher expectations, harder training, more dangerous missions. That’s the price of being the best."

That reality hit me like a punch to the gut, but I wasn’t about to let it show.

The base covered roughly ten acres of carefully maintained tactical terrain. By the time we completed our first full circuit, sweat was streaming down my back and soaking through my gear. My breathing was getting labored, but Corbin showed no signs of slowing down.

"Again," he announced as we rounded the starting point for the second time.

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