Page 21 of Rejected By a Wolf

“No, I’m done arguing.” He came to a stop at her side, his voice calm for what she believed was the first time since he arrived yesterday. “I just wanted to wish you luck.”

“Thanks. I don’t think I have the energy to argue with you anymore.” They were friends after all, weren’t they?

“Neither do I,” he agreed. “Nothing good will come out of it except a broken friendship.”

“Agreed.” She still couldn’t look away from that ominous tunnel that seemed to be a foreboding of what was in store for her tonight.

“Relax, Soph. You’re going to be fine.” Casper must have noticed her fear. She had no doubt that she was brimming with it.

“That’s not what you told me earlier,” she reminded him.

“I acted rashly earlier. I didn’t take the time to look at this with a logical eye.” He gripped her shoulder, turning her to face him. His green eyes glistened as he talked. “My siblings talked to me. They told me how extraordinary you’ve been doing during your training sessions. They’re sure you’ll win this.”

She was glad those two believed in her, but she didn’t think she believed in herself any longer. “That training didn’t involve over one hundred other fighters.” She patted the dagger hidden on her hip. “Will I get in trouble for bringing in a weapon?” Technically she wasn’t supposed to know anything about tonight, but how could she go in empty handed with what knowledge she had?

“I’m sure others walk around with weapons on them regularly. There’s no rules against wearing them during the opening ceremony. Why didn’t you bring your sword?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t want to be too obvious.” She looked over to the tunnel once more, noting the different species walking inside. Some she had never seen before, but she could recognize most of them - vampires, elves, demons, witches, and a few werewolves. “There’s so many of them.”

“Where’s your confidence?” He gripped both of her shoulders, shaking her a bit as if to convince her to knock herself out of whatever mood she was in. “You’ve had a fire about you the last twenty-four hours. Don’t tell me you’re losing it now, right when it matters most.”

She looked back at him, frowning. Where did her confidence go? “These battles are supposed to be one on one.” From what she read about these tournaments of the past, theyalwaysconsisted of one on one duels.

“Soph, are you forgetting the reason you signed up for this in the first place? You haven’t given up on your parents for decades. Don’t tell me you’re going to give up on them now. They need you.”

She knew this, but for some reason her newfound fear shoved the thought of her parents into the back of her mind. “I’m not giving up on them.”

“Are you sure about that?”

She narrowed her eyes, bringing more power to her voice when she spoke next. “Iwon’tgive up on them.”

He smiled, releasing his hold on her. “There’s that fire. Now just keep it for the next ten days.”

“Sure will.” She wasn’t sure she could.

“We’re going to be rooting you on from the stands. My uncle too, he’ll just have to be a bit quieter about it.” That was understandable. As king and the man in charge of this tournament, he couldn’t risk picking a favorite. Others would notice.

“You’re staying? In Elaron?” Sophia asked, noting that he said he’d be watching.

“Until you win this thing.” His voice cracked a bit and she knew he wasn’t entirely sure she’d win. She tried not to let that get the best of her. He was trying to show his support for her at least, right? “My best friend is fighting for her life right now. Like hell I’m leaving. The others can wait.”

There was that word again,friend.As much as she hated hearing it, she was happy to no longer be arguing with him. “Are you ever going to tell me about thoseothersyou spend so much time with?” Who was it that always kept him from her?

His gaze flickered to the side. He seemed uncomfortable with her question. “Ask me another time, okay?”

“What if I don’t get another time?”

He hardened his stare as he repeated, “Another time. C’mon, where’s that fire?”

“It’s here, it’s here,” she tried to assure him, nervously tightening her braids as she did. She looked back at the tunnel, much less unnatural beings were walking in now than before. She didn’t have much time left.

He must have also noticed. “Soph, before you gopleaselisten to me.” She looked back at him and canted her head, urging him to continue speaking. “That werewolf you were with? Stay far away from him out there. He’s dangerous, and he’stalented.He’ll probably make it far in these games. We’ll worry about him when the time comes. For now -stay away.”

“Alright,” she agreed, beginning to wonder if she actually should stay away from Antonio. “What makes you think he’s so dangerous?” She knew Casper mentioned he slaughtered hundreds, but didn’t a lot of unnatural beings do the same over the course of their lives? What was it that Antonio did that put so much fear in Casper?

His eyes grew grave. “Just don’t get in his way.”

“Noted.” She glanced back at the tunnel once more. “I guess I should hurry in.”

---