Offside Hearts

GWEN

“Are you sure you're ready, little rabbit?” Talia teased me mockingly, slowly walking around me.

I didn't answer. I didn't need to.

I was here to survive.

I was here because the Gamma gave me no choice.

EARLIER THAT DAY

“You know what happens if you don't fight”, Gamma Evan growled earlier. “ You'll lose your housing, your ration and your damned life”. 

“I shouldn't be here” I muttered, barely loud enough to be heard.

“But you are,” he said grinning. “And you'll fight. Because if you don't. I'll make sure I send you to your parents in hell.”

……

I had no choice. This was what it was. A fight for survival. For the right to remain useful.

I stood on one side of the training pit.

 Talia stood on the other side, taller, broader and smiling with malice swirling in her eyes.

 I know she wants to kill me. I can feel it.

The signal horn blared.

Talia came in fast, no hesitation, no mercy. I ducked under the first blow, but the second glow got me in my jaw, snapping my head sideways. Blood filled my mouth. I staggered but did not fall. 

The crowd was going wild. Wolves of every rank gathered to see who was stronger. A sick game. 

I wiped my mouth and stood straighter. My hands trembled, I knew this wasn't about dominance. It was about humiliation.

Talia swung again. I ducked and drove my fist into Talia's ribs. A clean hit. The crowd murmured.

“I'm not weak” I said to Talia.

She surged up and grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed me down on the ground. Her elbow crashed into my stomach. The crowd went wild.

She hit me repeatedly.

Once..twice…

I gasped, stars bursting in my vision.

I reached for air. Reached for anything.

I was going to die.

Then suddenly.

A snarl.

Beta Archer jumped into the training pit.  

“Enough!”

He shoved Talia off me with a force that sent her skidding into the dirt. The crowd erupted in confusion. Some shouting protests, others still cheering.

Talia scrambled to her feet. I lay there. Breathing hard. 

“Fighting’s over. Everyone get lost!” Beta Archer's voice rang through the pit.

Everyone started grumbling. They loved pack fights.

As the crowd dispersed, Beta Archer and I were left alone in the pit. He turned to look at me.

“She was going to kill you” he growled. 

“I had it under control” I say as I push myself off the ground.

“No you didn't” he snapped. “ If I hadn't stopped her. She would have killed you Gwen. You are not built for this. You're soft. You hesitate. That's why I rejected you.”

The words struck harder than any blow.

My wolf whined, sad that our mate didn't stand up for us. Not that he would. But she was a hopeless romantic, always pushing for the bond. She still hoped that one day he would punish Gamma Evan for hurting his Beta female and take care of us, but that was just a wild thought. 

I looked up at him, “ I need to survive”. 

“God damn it, Gwen, I can't stand to watch you.

 Why do you have to be so fucking weak?”

My heart stung, more painful that all the hits. “ She shoved me” I try to explain hopefully.

“Shoved you?” Archer scoffed “ I don't give a shit. This is why I will never accept you. They say the moon goddess does not make mistakes with a pairing, but she did when she bonded us.” 

“You didn't even tr—”

“You are just a poor, pathetic maid. The worst day of my life was the day that I found out I was bonded to you”. He shook his head in disgust. “Your parents would be so disappointed in what you have become.”

“Don't talk about my parents, Beta” I snapped

“Watch the way you talk to your Beta,maid” Archer's eyes flashed black for a moment, before returning to their icy blue colour.

“You don't care about me. You know what you are doing. You make me weak on purpose. You sleep with Lily knowing fully well I would feel pain. You make me work day and night leaving me no time to train. I have warrior blood in me. You know I can be strong. But you won't let me.

“Oh I see” He smiled evilly. “You are jealous”

I turn my head away saying nothing.

“Oh Gwen, I can't keep playing this game with you. I don't want you. Lilly is going to be my Beta female. 

“Just reject me. Mate and Mark her and be done with it”

His eyes flashed. Archer's Wolf seemed restless, not happy with my answer. It was almost as if he wanted me to begin to beg him not to reject me.

“Fine” He cleared his throat. “ Don't come begging me afterwards you stupid bitch. I Archer Nicholas Beta of Riverclaw pack reject you, Gwendolyn Hannes as my mate and beta female.”

A sharp pain struck my chest, sending me to my knees as our bond shattered every inch of my body.

“I Gwendolyn Hannes, accept your rejection as your mate and Beta female of the Riverclaw pack.”

Archer groaned in pain from the rejection as your bond broke into pieces. “ You bitch!. Why the fuck would you accept the rejection?”

As I was about to answer, I hear Gamma Evan.

“Aye, Bitch!” He calls out to me from outside the pit. 

“Alpha is looking for you”

I get up painfully, holding my chest. I take one last look at Archer and walk away. 

The Alpha's chamber smelled of firewood and cedar. I stood stiffly before the Alpha. Bruised.

“You fought well” the Alpha said. “ But that is not why you are here”. 

I straightened my back.

“You are being sent to the Mystic Pack. To Alpha Conan.

I froze “ the widowed alpha?” 

“His mate died four years ago. He needs a surrogate. His pack is growing restless. He's strong, but…. He needs an heir. You'll give him a child to restore his bloodline. 

My stomach twisted.

“Alpha, I can't” I say to him, trembling. Scared but determined.

“You are being given an opportunity” the alpha said. “Protection, food and even a position. You have no family, no claim, Archer has rejected the bond. What are you still fighting for?”

My breath caught. “ This isn't a request, is it?”

“You leave at dawn.” 

He turned his back to me signalling the end of the conversation.

I left without a word. My fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

As the door shut behind me, i felt it– the final quiet blow.

I had survived the pit.

But I was still rejected and now being sent away.

Tomorrow, i will be sent to a new alpha.

And I would have to fight to survive again.