THE WRESTLERS ENTERTAINMENT

“What is the full moon like for the slaves, Mandy?” Carly asked as they cleaned the grand hall. 

“It's the only night we have to be free. We can roam the forests and howl as loud as we want. Lovers get to unite and bask under the moon. I'll tell you about mine later,” Mandy replied and added a silly wink.

“Without restrictions?” Carly asked to be certain. 

“Yeah, without conditions.” Mandy nodded, scrubbing a stain on the wall that was proving too stubborn to leave. “I think this place needs painting. I'll fetch the person for repairs later.”

“Uhm..... aren't they scared that we will run?” Carly asked, hoping that Mia’s threats were just empty threats to prevent her from running.

“The vial works, Carly…. Don't even attempt to run, I've seen it firsthand, not the death part though, but it has the power to track us. What they did to the culprits, I wouldn't even wish it on my enemy,” Mandy said dejectedly, and the next second she had her eyes focused on Carly “Promise me you're not going to run, Whitey.” 

“I promise,” she responded in a resigned tone. 

Mandy searched her face for any hint and when she was satisfied, she nodded and replied “Good” then got back to her scrubbing.

“Do you have plans for the night? I can show the ropes and the interesting part of the town,” Mandy offered.

“The thing is…. about that… someone already offered” Carly wrung her hands, not wanting to hurt Mandy by turning down the offer.

“Ohhhhhh… that's new! Who is he?” Mandy inquired with a mischievous grin.

“A friend I made yesterday… he is a servant here too” Carly whispered, for fear that anyone would hear. Or even the Supreme Alpha. 

“What's his name?” Mandy asked. 

“Rick.” she replied, with a subtle smile on her face. “He was very kind to me.” She added after a beat. 

“Oh, I do know him! He is the one in charge of repairs. You have eyes for pretty things, Carly. Be ready to fight the other ladies that would swoon over him,” Mandy responded with the grin still on her face.

“Oh, it's nothing like that…. We're just platonic friends. I have a supposed mate, remember,” Carly tried to clear the air.

“A supposed mate that rejected you and put you up for ridicule…”

“Mandy! Be careful, you never know who's listening,” Carly warned. 

“You're right.” Mandy agreed and glanced round. “We are alone, satisfied?”

“Some people have a stronger sense of hearing.” Carly reminded her. They all had their wolves so, hearing look distance talks won't be difficult. 

“Fine. We're all done here,” Mandy said while admiring her work. “Looks like a new place, except for that ugly mark right there… I have an idea. Why don't you go fetch Rick yourself? It'll allow you guys a little time to plan your night together.” She added. 

“Okay. That sounds cool though,” Carly whispered with her face a bright shade of scarlet red. "

“It's not for free… we will have a gist of your escapades later,” Mandy replied while patting Carly's hair. “Now, shoo…”

Carly chuckled and left in search of Rick. As soon as she sighted him, she went pale. He was with Derek.

She quickly turned and took a step to run back.

“I can smell you, you know,” Derek drawled.

She halted, turned and bowed.

“I was sent to call someone. It seems I went in the wrong direction,” she said, clearly avoiding Rick's eyes, so the alpha won't sense a connection.

“Wait, I have something to discuss with you” he then turned to Rick. “You can go” Rick then bowed and took his leave.

“Seems I'm not executing my plans well, you are glowing,” he stated accusingly.

Carly pasted a fabricated smile and remained silent.

“Why are you not replying me” Derek asked with his right brow raised. 

“You did not ask a question, you only made a statement.” She gritted out, with her fake smile still plastered on her face.

“Seems you still have fire in your bones. I will enjoy breaking you,” Derek smirked and left Carly. 

“Such a sadist” she rolledher and went in search of Rick. She found him in a corridor talking to a male slave that she was not familiar with.

“Heyy Rick, are you busy?” She said, trying to draw his attention.

He turned back and gave her his signature grin. “No. What can I do for you princess?”

“You can't call me that!” she chided, glancing at the other slave, she then turned around to check if anyone else was close by.

“It's fine. He's a trusted friend,” Rick assured her.

“Your attention is needed in the grand hall. There's a stain that won't come off. It needs repainting.”

“Okay, I'll be right back. Let me get the things,” he said before stalking off towards the supplies room.

After a few minutes, he resurfaced and then glanced at her. "Are you coming along?”

“No, I have things to do before the banquet.” she answered. 

“Okay then, tonight?” he whispered. 

“Yeah, tonight” She nodded, agreeing with a shy smile. 

“You know where to meet me,” Rick added. 

“Yes,” she affirmed then turned and ran off, hoping that her plans won't be ruined.

Soon, the Grand hall was filled with guests that wanted to partake in the banquet.

“A toast to myself, all my Alphas, Betas, Deltas, and every single one of us here. May the Moon goddess always be with us, and protect us and. May our females have fertile wombs. May our lands flourish beyond, and may our males be with immeasurable strength,” Derek said with a booming voice that reached the far ends of the hall, after which he swallowed down his wine.

“To our moon goddess” everyone else thundered and gulped their wine.

The entertainers played their instruments and everyone danced without merry.

Derek sat on his throne, observing everyone, at alert in case anyone dared to contest the throne with him.

Carly observed from her post and wished she could join in the fun. 

“This looks fun,” Alexis whimpered.

“Yeah…. Well, tonight Alexis, we will finally get to roam around as we like.

Alpha Hulbert was watching her closely, waiting for the perfect time to execute his plans.

“Alright everyone, it's time for the real entertainment, everyone take your seat” Carly followed the direction of the voice to see who decided to end the music.

It was Alpha Hulbert.

“Monster….” Alexis sneered inside her head.

Two hunky men came in. They were seven feet tall and had a thick build with scars on their faces to show that they were used to wrestling.

They both faced the throne and bowed to Derek, who replied to them with a nod.

They had different colours of tunic to differentiate their clans.

The bigger one was on a red tunic cloth that covered only his groin area.

“Alpha Hulbert wears the same colour, they must be from the same clan.” Carly made a mental note to learn about different clans later at night.

The other one had a blue tunic that covered just his groin too.

“Start!” Hulbert thundered.

All Carly could see and hear was bones been broken and blood been spilled as they left blows on their opponent. 

The two men had roughed each other with no one ready to give up.

The distaste must have been evident in her face because she felt Mandy clasp her hand and tighten it. “Your emotions are quite visible, whitey.” She uttered, giving her a hint to shade her emotions at times. 

“Oh… just that there's so much violence and I don't know how this could be fun for anyone,” Carly responded, shaking her head. 

“Look elsewhere then. Don't let them see your distaste, it's like an insult to them,” Mandy advised.

The red tunic grabbed the other by his arm, trying to twist him and make him land on the floor, but the blue tunic was underestimated.

He used a technique that left everyone amazed and floored his opponent once. There was total silence, then claps and shouts erupted from everywhere.

Derek stood up and walked towards the winner.

“You've earned a spot in my den,” He said while patting the wrestlers back.

The wrestler kept his head bowed as he showed his appreciation and respect.

“A splendid warrior, you agree with me, right?” he cocked an eyebrow, waiting for anyone who still wanted to challenge the wrestler.

“Aye… yeah,” the crowd answered.

“Good, you can go,” he told the wrestler and headed back to his throne, proceeding to watch his subjects and wishing that time could pass faster.

Alpha Hulbert’s anger radiated around him, and he struggled to keep himself in check.

He stared at the wrestler still on the ground with his head bowed in shame, silently swearing to end the wrestler the moment they left the hall.

Seeing as everywhere was rowdy, he beckoned to his spy among the slaves. She hastened to meet him and curtsied.

“Drop this potion in Carly's dinner. If you mess things up, I will have your son killed.” He warned and then dismissed her.

The banquet came to an end before dusk, and many hurried home to be with their loved ones, awaiting the full moon.

Amidst the chaos that took place in the dinning where the slaves eat, no one saw when a maid dropped a vial in Carly's water, not even Carly herself.