4. The Fighting Arena

I need to learn how to defend myself.

The thought woke up with me the next morning as my life's situation came falling hard to my senses. If Mira is eventually going to be tried with a treason, I need to learn how to defend myself and flee as fast as I could.

I sighted a rumpled note beside my bedside and I immediately reached for it.

"8pm tonight. T."

Who is T? I wondered, then for a split moment Mira memories flashed through and I realized Toren, a member of the bodyguards was her lover before the whole incidence.

I groaned inwardly, no way I'm continuing a relationship I did not start but I must be careful not to let that show.

If Toren was part of the Royal bodyguards, then there is a high chance he will know a few things about the incidence of the vampire and if there was anything they were plotting in the night.

It's official three days to my 18th birthday and no way I'm avoiding that impending rejection. What do I do?

Diana poked her head through the door and whispered softly.

"Are you up?"

I shuffled and shifted to my side as I replied her back.

"Yes."

We spent the next couple of hours washing clothes, away from the werewolf- vampire treaty.

"The vampires have been on edge lately. Their treaty offer looks like a sham." Diana mirrored my thoughts as we started working.

"Do you think they are up to something new?" I feigned ignorance and probed.

"Well, I think they are egomaniacs, they have no decency, especially for the human populace. And they have to be continually put in check. You can't trust them with those defenseless humans, they will drain their blood at a go."

If only you know Diana. If only. I was glad to know someone gets me now.

"Mira! Diana! You’re wanted at the training grounds. They need extra hands for the warriors' session." My stomach dropped. The training grounds? Omegas rarely went there, their low rank keeping them from combat. Diana's eyes widened, a mix of excitement and dread.

"Warriors?" Diana whispered as we gathered our buckets. "Since when have we started working with warriors?" I asked apprehensivly.

" Since never. Maybe it's just fetching water. The head warrior is going to be there, you know Dave is not entirely bad right?..." Diana trailed off with a pink tinge on her cheeks.

"On first name basis with the head warrior now?" I teased and she groaned at the slip up.

"Okay fine, we are just friends okay?"

I threw her a knowing smile as we got up to leave.

The training ground was blasting with energy. Lycan warriors, men and women in leather vests, sparred in pairs, with rehearsed, predatory moves.

I inadvertently scanned the surroundings but no sign of the broody Alpha Prince or the scary Vampire Lord.

The head warrior was noticeable absent today also, another one was in his stead. Warrior Bryce, a blunt Beta with scars crisscrossing his arms, barked orders wildly with a gruff voice.

Some vampires guard were also in the other section of the training guard, they all have this air of menace around them.

"Omegas, took you long enough! Warriors pair up at once." His gaze narrowed as it swept over me." You, fetch that staff."

As I grabbed a staff, a warrior's errant swing knocked it from my hands, the wood clattering. Laughter rippled through the grounds as I flushed with shame.

"Enough!" Bryce snapped, striding over. "Pick it up, Omega, and show me you are not entirely useless. Block a strike now." He tossed the staff to me, pointing to a young warrior.

"Lena, show her how it is done." Lena smirked, twirling her own staff. I panicked instantly, wanting a way out of this sudden mess, Diana could only look at me helplessly as I struggled inwardly. "I'm not here for the fight please." I pleaded with a desperate voice but Bryce's glare pinned me. "Do it, or you're scrubbing floors till dawn."

I swallowed hard as I gripped the staff, its weight unfamiliar in my hands yet oddly right. Lena lunged with a swift strike aimed at my shoulder. Time slowed for a moment then I suddenly had an idea.

I sidestepped, my staff swinging up to block Lena's blow with a crack that echoed.

Gasps rose from the Omegas, even some warriors pausing to watch us. Lena's smirk faltered, and she struck again faster and determined. I continued to evade her advances, my movements were all clumsy but they just feel right.

"Again!" Bryce roared loudly with a hint of intrigue in his voice. Lena pressed harder, she was visibly sweating now, but I ducked, spun, and landed a light tap on her arm, that move took her with surprise. The grounds fell silent, all eyes on me, I was visibly shaking with the staff trembling in my hands.

She tried for the last time and I saw an opening by her right side. The staff made contact with her side and she immediately stopped sparring.

Lena looked on with a pained expression but a glitter of respect in her eyes as she huffed and turned to leave.

Diana's jaw dropped, a grin breaking free and she mouthed. "How do you learn all that?"

I threw a "later"at her direction, wondering what sort of lie I can hatch to cover that one up. I was never a fighter and where these strange fighting skills came from, I don't know.

Bryce stepped forward, his weathered face unreadable. "You've been training a lot Omega?"

I stammered nothingness in response but he immediately cut in.

"Not bad, Omega. Keep this up, and you will join the hunting expedition next month. That is a rare honor for an Omega. Don’t waste it."

I sucked in air, the hunting expedition. I remember the history behind it. Prince Kael has ventured to the expedition after the rejection. And before he came back, I was dead.

I need to do something to stop the impending rejection. The prince might not know this but it will ruin him.

I instantly had an idea as Diana fell in step with me.

I nervously scratched the back of my head as I asked the question that seems to be the best idea at the moment.

"What kind of magic could someone use to hide their scent from Lycans or trackers?"