The arena seemed to fade away as I focused all my energy on the battle unfolding before me.
The clash of steel on steel filled the air, accompanied by grunts of exertion. Each blow landed with a resounding impact, reverberating through my body. I didn’t expect a weapon to come between us. Am I happy? No. I rather have my bare fists land on Hestia’s jaw.
Hestia was quick and agile, her movements fluid and calculated. She attacked with a ferocity that matched my own, and I knew that this fight would push me to my limits. Perhaps our encounter yesterday just fueled her desire further. But I refused to back down. I never will. I had spent months honing my skills, perfecting my techniques. I would not let it all go to waste.
So this is how it felt like to fight for your life, to fight so that you may have a life ahead. A better future.
Warm blood gushed down from my nose, and it was enough to pull me back to my warrior mindset. We circled each other, eyes locked in a fierce contest of wills. I sprinted to the left and launched a swift strike towards her right side, but she parried with skill and retaliated with a lightning-fast counterattack. I barely managed to dodge. I’m grateful my heart is still pounding in my chest or it will end up being stabbed by Hestia’s blade.
As the battle raged on, the heat of the arena intensified. Sweat poured down my face, stinging my eyes. But I pushed through despite the discomfort. This fight was not just about physical harness; it was a test of my spirit, my determination, my mind and wits, and my unyielding desire to win.
With every clash of our blades, I could feel the power surging through me. My muscles ached. I ignored the pain, channeling it into my strikes instead.
Hestia matched me blow for blow, her eyes blazing with a fire that mirrored my own. Fire to fire, blood to blood. That is this fight between us now.
Time became distorted, the fight becoming a blur of movement and adrenaline. The crowd's cheers blended into a distant roar, their faces blurring together. All that mattered was the clash between Hestia and me, the battle that would determine our fate.
Suddenly, in a moment of vulnerability, Hestia left an opening. It was a split second, but it was all I needed. I seized the opportunity and struck with all my might, my blade finding its mark. Hestia stumbled backward, surprise flickering across her face. But instead of retreating, she roared with newfound determination, her eyes locking onto mine with unwavering focus.
My heart pounded in my chest as I sought to predict Hestia's next move, ready to counter her with swift precision.
But something was off. Hestia's movements seemed strange, almost deliberate in their irregularity. It was as if she wasn't truly fighting back, merely going through the motions. Confusion mingled with my determination, momentarily throwing me off balance.
I hesitated, then I unsheathed my claws, poised to strike. Yet I’m still unsure of how to respond to Hestia's peculiar behavior.
Then, to my astonishment, she abruptly stopped fighting altogether. The clash of weapons ceased, leaving the arena in an eerie silence.
Hestia's gaze shifted, her eyes locking onto a figure standing nearby—a powerful Alpha who commanded the respect and loyalty of everyone in the crowd. It was as if a spell had been cast upon her, compelling her to halt in her tracks and submit.
A thunderous roar erupted from the spectators, their voices a cacophony of surprise, excitement, and speculation. I glanced around, my eyes scanning the faces in the crowd, searching for any hint of understanding.
What had just transpired? How had this battle, teetering on the edge of victory or defeat, come to such an unexpected halt?
As the crowd continued to bellow, my attention shifted back to Hestia. There, she knelt, her head bowed before him, a symbol of deference and surrender. The moment I laid eyes on Hestia kneeling before Zarion, a rush of anxiety washed over me, causing my heart to pound in my chest like a wild stallion.
My breath caught, and for a brief moment, I felt as if I couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't breathe. My mind was a chaotic mess, thoughts tumbling and colliding like a tempestuous sea.
“What’s going on?!” I whispered, my voice barely audible as I watched Hestia remain on her knees on the cold cemented ground. Her head hung low, a submissive gesture, even though Alpha Zarion wasn't recognizing her. Confusion welled up inside me, and I couldn't comprehend the scene unfolding before my eyes. “What the hell is happening?” I shouted from where I was standing, knees buckling and arms shaking.
Alpha Brandon's voice erupted in a furious scream, demanding that Hestia stand up or risk losing the battle. But at that moment, I couldn’t care less about the battle. What I wanted to know was why Hestia was kneeling there, vulnerable and exposed before my beloved Zarion.
Alpha Zarion gazed down at Hestia, his expression filled with a strange mixture of resignation and wonder. His clenched jaw was visible from afar, his struggle evident. The intensity of his emotions weighed heavily upon him. Then, unexpectedly, his gaze shifted towards me, filled with a deep concern.
What the fuck is going on?
“Mate.” Hestia's voice reverberated through the air, announcing her claim to the entire pack, her eyes fixed on Alpha Zarion. The word hung in the silence, resonating with an undeniable truth. My body stiffened, unable to move, unable to comprehend the magnitude of what I had just heard.
Impossible, I mused.
Alpha Zarion, the Alpha of Volatile Hounds Pack, is mated to Hestia—my previous mate's wife.
My mind swirled with a torrent of emotions. Betrayal, anger, confusion, and even a tinge of jealousy intertwined within me. And as I stood here, my resolve firm, I couldn't help but wonder how our pack would weather the storm that loomed before us.
He can’t be. They can’t.
“You’re not my mate!” Zarion spitted at Hestia’s face. “I will never be your mate!”