He chuckled, “You talk too much.” I admitted, “That’s the going theory.” Which probably had merit. He said, “I’ll enjoytaming you. Maybe I’ll make you mine.” Wet dog boy growled, and his dad backhanded him. Umm what?
I emphatically stated, “I’m not yours.” He argued, “You are if I decide you are.” I shook my head and the bell rang. He charged and I raised my hands. Then all my family’s hate poured into me from the letters. I could hear it in my head. I deserved the hit. I lowered my hands.
Alpha Edward shouted, “PUT YOUR DAMN HANDS BACK UP!” Nope. I took the hit and staggered a step. The place gasped. Alpha Alan growled, “You should be on your ass.” I shrugged, “You hit like a third year Warrior in my pack…. You should probably train more and….” He cut me off with an upper cut I could’ve stopped but didn’t.
With each hit I saw Tristan when he laughed. My parents together dancing in the moonlight. Our family dancing in the living room. All those moments were gone, and I was here. I forced myself to stay on my feet as he beat me up. I swore I saw Tristan standing behind him at one point looking worried.
I reached out, “T.” I took a kick to the ribs and went down, but Tristan wasn’t there. My brother was gone. He was dead and it was all my fault. He wasn’t worried about me. I’d stolen his life from him. Slade killed him, but my brother came home to take care of me. He never should’ve been there.
I cried, “He wasn’t supposed to be home. He wasn’t.” Alpha Alan snarled, “I’m going to make you mine.” I jolted back to the present and screamed seeing his teeth elongated. Alpha Edward didn’t even make a move. Gamma Booker did though. He shouted, “NO!”
Fury filled me and I heard a growl from deep within me. I threw my right arm around my neck then screamed in pain when his teeth sank down onto my forearm. Rage filled me and I kneed him in the balls. He crumpled and I threw him off me. I rolled onto my stomach and got to my feet.
Blood was dripping down into my eyes. Every single part of me was in pain, but I didn’t care. Alpha Alan growled, “You’ll pay.” I replied, “No, you will.” The crowd was dead silent. He threw a punch I dodged.
I mocked him, “Sloppy.” I countered and he staggered. He came again. I mocked him again, “Slow.” I kicked out his legs. I jumped on him and began to hit him over and over. I screamed, “THEY WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE! THEY WEREN’T!” He growled, “You’ll be mine.”
I declared, “I WLL NEVER BE YOURS!” I hit him long after he stopped responding. I was grabbed around the waist and hauled off him. A man declared, “And our new winner is Ashley Griffen. She certainly wiped the floor with our reigning champ. What’s her fighting name?”
That guy was their reining champ? This was not a good fighting ring. Also, why did they get to decide MY fighting name? He answered, “The crowd decides after your first fight. It’s tradition.” I really needed to stop talking out loud without meaning to.
They began to chant, “Swiffer, Swiffer, Swiffer.” Someone must have talked into his ear peace. He said, “For making the floor drip with blood then cleaning it all up and wiping the floor with her opponent the crowd has dubbed her SWIFFER!” He held up my hands and they cheered.
I stared at them bewildered. They were loving this, but they knew I was underage. They knew I had no business fighting an Alpha. I was shoved out of the ring while medics were working on Alpha Alan who was still unconscious. His Beta raised an eyebrow at me but said nothing.
What was wrong with everyone down here? If someone hurt Peter like that my dad would’ve been going at them. Did his Beta understand this was all wrong? Crush led me back to the lockerroom. Someone clapped my back, “Damn new girl! Beating an Alpha is a hell of a way to join our fighting ranks!”
Someone shoved him and I reached so he didn’t fall. I asked, “Why are you in chains?” Wet dog barked, “Stop asking questions.” He went to hit me, but I’d had enough. I hit him back, dropping him to the ground. He shouted, “You will pay for that.” I muttered, “Add it to my tab… I guess.”
The guy I’d helped laughed, “The new girl is funny. I’m chained because I live down in what they call the fighters quarters. It’s a nice name for cell.” I gasped, “What?” Wet dog sneered, “Behave or you’ll join them.”
I rubbed my temples, “I’m not in your pack… you literally can’t have me thrown into a cell… or people will ask where I am.” The guy laughed, “Tough luck, Trevor.” I preferred wet dog. The guy laughed and I turned red. He bumped me, “See you around new girl.”
Trevor mocked, “If you live.” I frowned asking, “Why wouldn’t he live? He’s a fighter.” Trevor growled, “He’s won some, but all the fighters die eventually.” Horror filled me. I watched the guy leave. He threw me a wink and I realized I didn’t get his name.
Determination filled me. I’d save him. I would. I didn’t save Tristan, dad, or mom but I could save that guy. Crush announced, “You’ll have to be seen by the doc.” I shrugged, “Ok.” After two hours Lydia came in with the guy who ran this fighting ring. They jolted.
Lydia gasped, “The doctor didn’t come in yet?” I replied, “Nope. It’s not like I have anything to do… so…” She ran off to get a doctor. The leader said, “You did good tonight.” I hummed, “I’m operating under the assumption you paid someone for me to fight… right? There’s no one way someone isn’t getting paid.”
He agreed, “I did. You were worth every penny. By your next fight, I’ll have earned it all back.” Good. I nodded, “I’d like to talkto you about an opportunity after that fight.” He laughed, “Sure, kid.” I was going to convince him, I was certain. It was going to work.
The Doctor came in while Lydia berated him. He said, “I was told to make sure I saw her last.” He stalled then his eyes widened. He shouted, “A PUP! A FREAKING WEREWOLF PUP! You people are DISGUSTING! There isn’t supposed to anyone underaged in these fights.” That was definitely good to know.
The guy in charge shrugged, “Her Aunt signed the waiver.” The doctor pointed at him, “There are lines even for those without many morals. You do NOT allow anyone underaged to fight. Why are you making an exception after all these years?” I was an exception again. Yay. They all looked at me.
The doctor asked, “You allow biting now?” I replied, “The Alpha I fought tried to mark me.” He snarled and snapped his jaw at the guy running the place.
The man in charge questioned, “What I supposed to do? She’s not marked, and she won her fight.” He evaluated me with care which told me Crush was right. I would know who was here against their will or not. He told me to go. I went outside but no one was waiting to take me back. I grumbled, “Jerks.”
I began walking. I was about five miles away from the pack when I heard someone screaming in pain. What the heck? I ignored the pain and began to run. Dread filled me as I realized I was getting closer and closer to the pack grounds.
I pushed people out of my way. Several stared at me in shock. I screamed, “NO!” When the horror that was happening before me came into view. Alpha Edward was hitting his own daughter with a whip. I knocked Beta Jean to the ground when he tried to stop me and threw myself on Addison Davis.
I felt the sting of the whip and cried out. The intensity increased. Luna Elena shouted, “Edward, no.” I held onto Addison tightly as twenty-five lashes came down on my back. Hestopped and Addison scrambled out from under me and helped me to my feet looking at me like I was the crazy one here.
She whispered, “No one has ever…” She trailed off but I could guess what she was going to say. I replied, “No pack worth anything watches as anyone is hurt. Let alone the Alpha’s daughter. Their wolves must hate all of them. Or they were Alpha Commanded to do nothing, which is against the laws… that people down here clearly do not care about.”
She said, “A few are Alpha Commanded.” I shrugged, “Then a lot of these people’s wolves don’t like them.” No one growled, which meant I was right. Alpha Edward growled, “It was your fault. I warned you not to be late.” So, he’d just lied about who he’d hurt.
