This is the day we've been waiting for. The whole day of training yesterday was tough. I also didn't see the King in the palace after what happened to us. Maybe he's doing a lot of work outside of the palace.
The battlefield is now filled with wolves from different packs who are supporting their candidate. The Queen and King are sitting on the veranda looking at us. We are all behind the stage they created and preparing our bodies. Some do yoga, stretches, and other stuff.
The King is now giving his speech to all of us.
"Thank you, everyone, for coming here today. I would like to thank everyone who's participating here today. This is only a one-day battle. The whole competition will happen here right now and will end after the strongest one beats all her opponents. She will be crowned as the Kingdom's New Queen." he said. The crowd shouted, cheering for their representatives.
"Everyone listen. Since female fighters thought about how to use Bows and Arrows to protect themselves when they were young. The first challenge is Archery!" The crowd gets wild and shouts from their seats. "They need to hit the middle of the circle board. The first ten fighters who successfully do it will proceed to the next challenge. So, females!!!! Good luck." Another shouting and cheering from the crowd.
I saw Alpha Duren with Beta Justin and some of the pack members on the bench. I looked at the Omnirous pack and saw my Dad and brother together with our pack fighters.
They don't have any idea that I'm competing here.
They haven't seen me since I was the last one to do the challenge. I hope my Dad will not make a scene and drag me off of the stage.
I inhale and exhale a few times. I need to focus now. The first challenge is archery. We need to hit the middle of the board. I don't know how far it is but my concern is the wind. I can feel that it's changing direction every now and then. I need to focus on its movements before I release my shot.
They are looking so serious at assessing their bows. I, on the other hand, was just standing there and sizing the appropriate position of my arrow since there was a change of wind blowing in the field.
A tiny smile lifted in one corner of my lips when I finally managed to determine the flow of the wind.
I'm thankful because my mother always sticks to studying bows and how to be accurate at their target. Since then, I have loved to hunt using the bow, because I can't shift yet. I continued that habit as I grew up.
We all have ten arrows in our hands. I just need one bullseye to pass this challenge. The king told me to fight and win this competition. He wants me to prove that I am not weak like an omega. But I also feel that he is betting on me or am I imagining things?
All of them shoot the target right. Ruby is also done and it's my time to show myself to the crowd.
"Our last challenger, Katharina Omnirous of Alurious pack," the announcer shouted.
The moment I stepped out, the Omnirous pack became quiet while the Alurious pack cheered for me. I looked at my father, who was looking at me now. He is very shocked at my appearance on the battlefield and my brother almost jumps and runs to me.
If he wasn't held by one of the guards in the palace, he might cause me a problem.
This is not the time to think about them. I need to battle and win this game. I look at the King and he is looking at me also. His eyes really hold the power to make my knees lose their strength. I hope my decision to fight with all my might is right. I hope the Mood Goddess will not curse me for deciding who my mate will be.
'I can do this! I know I can. Mother will be proud if I do this, she's watching me.' I said to myself.
I looked in the sky and, assessing the wind once again, positioned my arrow and looked at the King's eyes.
'King Zeus, watch me.' I know he can hear me. He can read minds anyway.
I release my first arrow, everyone seems quiet when I release it without looking. The moment I heard the thudding sound of my arrow, I turned and saw that I had hit the right spot. I looked back at the King and smirked.
Everyone shouted since it was my first attempt and I had hit the target already. Some of the fighters hit more than five times before they hit the target.
He smirks at me. Challenging my luck.
I once again take an arrow and position it.
The announcer tells me that it's over, but I want to prove to the King that it's not luck. I want to wipe that smirk from his face.
I positioned the arrow once again and looked into his eyes. I smirk at him also and release my arrow. Again it hit the middle, causing the first one to split in the middle.
Feeling proud of myself. I turned around and threw the bow onto the stage. I can feel his eyes on me while the crowd is cheering for me.
The announcer announces the four female fighters who are eliminated and cannot continue the fight.
"The next challenge is running. All of you will run around the field three times. No shifting. No claws. No use of your wolf strength. The King and Queen can sense if you use your wolf strength. The first six who reach the finish line will continue the next challenge. Girls, please position in your line." The announcer
I'm getting nervous about this. Though my brother trained me, I still don't know how fast the other girls are. I am fast with my wolf strength. I don't know if I'll be faster using human strength only.
"Ladies, ready.... and GO!"
I ran as fast as I could but I couldn't reach the first spot. I looked at the finish line.
I can do this..... I said to myself. I can't help looking at him. I see the King's eyes never leaving mine.
I remember what he said. I am weak!!
But I'm not
I am strong!
I can do this...
I saw some of them have already reached the finish line. I can do this, I don't need my wolf strength for this.
One...
Two....
Three....
I'm here!!!
I looked into their eyes. Did I make it to the top six? I looked at them and saw that I was seventh in the position.
I feel so down at the thoughts that I have already lost in this fight.
I look at him and he shows no emotion towards me.
Is he mad? Disappointed?
"Don't leave the stage for a while for those who get the seventh to tenth position. The King and Queen will tell us who are the top 6 in this challenge." The announcer gives the microphone to the King.
"As the announcer told you before you started, no use of wolf strength. But some of you used it. Control is very important for girls and I'm very disappointed in some of you." He looked at everyone. "Now, when I call your name please step forward. The names that I will call will proceed to the next level." Everyone is listening very well. "Loui, Kristin, Ruby, Ella, Trish, and lastly......" he looks at me and smirks again. "Katharina." He said and the crowd exploded again with the news...
I can't believe that I made it to the top six. I release the breath that I didn't know I was holding.
Ruby and I hugged one another. We are very happy that we made it. I looked at him and, without even thinking, I waved at him and gave him a thumbs up.
A smile came to his lips. I can't believe that he smiles at me. Ruby and the others seemed to notice that awkward moment but they just shrugged it off and kept hugging every single one of us except Loui. Most of her supporters are eliminated now.
"Settle down, everyone. The next battle will bring the top two contestants who will do the last challenge." We all stand still and listen very carefully. "All of you will have a name tag on your back. You will all fight to take that off from their backs. The two females who maintain their name tags will win this battle," said the announcer.
They put our name tags on our backs and position us in a circle form with a distance between one of us. This one will be hard since we are all fighters. My sense is on high. I am alert to every movement they are making.
"Okay girls, let the fight begin."
We look at each other assessing who is weak in the group for us to attack, but Loui is getting aggressive. She launches towards me but Ruby pushes her away. She nods at me to fight someone else and she will take care of Loui.
I saw Kristin attacking a girl named Ella. I ran to her and held her by the neck. I tore her name off her back. The guards get her off the stage. One out.
Looking into others, I saw Ruby still fighting Loui. Trish is now attacking me, trying to tear my name tag, but I push her away and that causes Kristin to tear her tag. Now it is me and Kristin, Ruby, and Loui.
Kristin's claws are visible and her teeth ascending. My wolf wants to go out but I keep her in. I need to fight this without her help. If I win this fight, I need her full strength for the next round.
Kristin attacked me with her full strength. She pins me down on the ground but I manage to push her out of me. Her claws dug into my flesh and blood started to flow down my arm.
I watch her moves and smirk when I spot her weakness. I threw a punch in her face and kicked her rib cage. I caught her arms midair but before I threw her off the battle stage after I tore her name tag.
I looked at Ruby's but I found her blood flowing on the stage. Her name tag is already torn out on her back but Loui is keeping her pinned down on the ground.
"Loui, that's enough. She's already lost." I said to her.
"Enough? Hah! make me stop?" She said, putting more pressure on her feet that is positioned on top of Ruby's face.
My anger was building inside of me, seeing my friend lying on the floor almost lifeless. I ran into Loui and pushed her away. I held Ruby in my arms but someone pulled me away.
Loui dragged me away from Ruby's body and punched me in the face. She pushes me off the stage.
"You’re such a weakling. Crying for your enemy is WEAKNESS!" She slapped me in the face but before the second one came into my face, I caught her arm in the air and twisted it.
"She's my friend Loui and protecting your friend is not a sign of weakness." Then I pushed her away.
"That's enough!" The Queen shouted. "Keep that energy for the next round." She said.
I bowed my head to her and looked at my friend's body. I ran to her and helped her to the bench. Some of our pack mates help her too, especially the healer.
"Are you okay, Ruby?" I asked.
"I'm good. Thanks by the way."
"No problem."
"Fighters on stage now." The announcer calls us, Loui and I. The remaining fighter.
I looked at her and the anger started to build up again. My wolf is mad at her also. She wants her head. She looks at me as fiercely as I do.
"This will be the last challenge. You need to fight until the other person gives up. The one who gives up needs to tap the stage floor," he said.
That is great!!!! I said to myself.
"The winner will be the new Queen and king's mate." The cheers coming from my pack and my previous pack gave me the energy to fight.
I look at my friend Ruby. Loui should control herself. She almost killed her.
If she didn't surrender... I will kill her...