4

Chapter 4.

The boys of Alpha Crest Academy, all in their sports uniforms, were spread out across the courtyard, stretching, laughing, and showing off.

The courtyard was open and wide, nestled between the academy’s high stone walls. Runes shimmered faintly across the ground, old magic woven into the stone for sparring and shifting.

It was tournament day.

On the stone benches at the edges, the girls had already claimed their spots. Some chatted in low tones, others cheered or waved at their favorite wolves, giggling whenever one of them glanced their way. The air buzzed with excitement, pride, and a little bit of flirting.

Talia watched with quiet envy as two boys clashed in the ring, their claws flashing and eyes glowing. Mid-air, they shifted with fur bursting out as their bodies twisted into wolves

She pressed her lips together. She had never transformed before. Not once. And she hated how much she wanted to.

One wolf slashed the other hard, sending him flying toward the stone benches. The crowd erupted as the boys roared, girls stood, clapping and squealing with excitement.

"Felix wins!" Master Arcade announced, as the cheers, claps, and howls grew louder.

"Next set!" He blew his whistle, and two new boys stepped into the arena, circling each other before launching into a duel. Talia leaned forward, eyes locked on them.

"Hey, Sage!"

A hand landed on her shoulder. She turned to see Derek grinning at her.

Hey, Derek," she smiled at him, pretending not to notice the weight of his hand still resting there.

“Nice duel, huh?” Derek grinned, waving at one of the fighters before giving Talia a slight tap on the shoulder. 

“How’re you settling in?” he asked, eyes still on the arena. Talia shrugged, wishing he would move his hand. 

A cold wind brushed her skin, and instinctively, she turned just in time to catch Damon watching her. His gaze lingered for a heartbeat before shifting back to the fight.

Her chest tightened. She couldn’t shake his words from yesterday. And just like that, the sounds of the arena faded.

'If Damon is really my mate, he can’t find out who I really am. It’ll ruin everything'

She let these thoughts linger in her head before turning to peak a glance at him.

Just then, Damon turned her way. Her heart jumped, and she quickly looked back at the arena, pretending to be interested in the match.

“Derek…” she said quietly.

“Huh?” he replied, eyes still locked on the fight.

“Do Omegas feel the mate bond?”

The question made him pause. He turned to her, brows raised.

“Omegas don’t get mates,” he said flatly. “They’re slaves.”

Then he scoffed, like the very idea was a joke.

“Really?” Her eyes widened, surprise flickering across her face as a thin crack of ice split through her chest.

“Yeah. There are books in the library. You’ll find more on that kind of stuff there,” he said dismissively, turning back to the arena and cheering.

But that answer didn’t satisfy her.

“Tell me more,” she nudged him gently. “Before I go digging through dusty shelves.”

Derek let out a low grunt, clearly annoyed by the distraction, but she didn’t back off.

“Look,” Derek said, lowering his voice a little, “if an Omega is lucky enough to be mated to a high-ranking wolf, like an Alpha or a Beta; they’re the only ones who can feel the bond. The Omega can’t.”

He paused as the teacher blew the whistle. "Break time!"

The students scattered, some grabbing drinks, others chatting in small groups. Derek and Talia walked over to a shaded spot and sat, the hum of excitement still in the air.

“The Omega only feels the bond after the Alpha or Beta marks her,” he continued, brushing sweat off his brow. “But that kind of thing is rare. The Moon Goddess haven't done that in ten thousand years" 

He exhaled and turned to look at her.

“Why? You got some omega girl back home you’re in love with?” he teased, tilting his head at her with a half-grin.

“Yeah… something like that,” she lied easily, turning her face away so Derek wouldn’t catch the flicker in her eyes.

Her gaze drifted and locked with Damon’s. He was staring at her.

A tall, slender girl in a different-colored sports uniform stepped in front of him, holding out a pink water bottle. Damon broke the stare, took the bottle, and drank deeply while the girl stood close, grinning like she belonged there.

“Who’s she?” Talia asked, eyes still pinned on the girl.

“That’s Selene Fletcher,” Derek said, following her gaze. “Daughter of Alpha Fletcher of the Howlbond Pack.”

Then he added, almost casually, “She’s betrothed to Damon Creed.”

Talia turned to Derek this time, her heart clenching, then she averted her gaze to Selene as the girl walked back to the stone benches, her hips swaying with confidence.

The whistle blew again. The boys began gathering.

“It’s time,” Derek said, grinning. “Hope I get chosen this round.” He casually draped an arm around her neck again.

“Chosen?” she asked, glancing up at him.

“Yeah. In this round, we’re picked by another fighter. And Master Arcade supervises it himself.”

Talia looked around. Sure enough, the teacher had stepped away.

The boys formed a loose circle around the arena. A blond boy with broad shoulders and an arrogant smirk stepped forward. Cheers erupted as he raised his arms, soaking in the attention.

He scanned the group. Then his eyes locked on Derek. He pointed.

“Oops, I’ve got a duel,” Derek said with a grin. “Wish me luck.”

He stepped into the arena, pulling off his shirt as the crowd erupted in cheers.

The match was fast and brutal. Within ten minutes, Derek was down and defeated. He limped back to where Talia stood, a bruise blooming across his forehead.

“That was a good one,” she said gently. “You gave it your all.”

This time, she rested a hand on his shoulder. He winced but still managed a grin.

Then a tall, chubby-shouldered boy with a hint of facial hair stepped into the arena. The crowd went wild, shouting and chanting his name.

“Who’s he?” Talia asked, eyes narrowing.

“That’s Big Joe,” Derek said, clapping. “He’s never lost a match.”

The crowd roared around them, but suddenly, everything went still. Big Joe was choosing.

He stepped forward, his eyes scanning the circle… then stopped right in front of her.

Talia froze.

He pulled off his shirt and tossed it at her feet.

“Pick it!”

“Pick it!”

The crowd chanted, louder and louder, their voices crashing over her like a wave.

Stunned, heart pounding, Talia bent and picked up the shirt. The moment her fingers touched the fabric, the arena erupted.

Before she could even process what was happening, boys shoved her forward into the ring. The circle closed in, sealing her inside.

Big Joe raised his left hand to the sky and pounded his chest with his right, riling up the crowd again.

Big Joe turned to her, his chest heaving, waiting. Talia just stared, frozen, unsure of what she was even supposed to do.

“Come on, Sage! You have to fight him!” Derek’s voice cut through the noise.

She shook her head. “No. I’m not—”

Before the words could leave her mouth, a heavy fist crashed into her stomach. Air vanished from her lungs as her body flew across the arena and hit the ground hard.

The crowd roared.

Big Joe raised his arms in triumph as if he’d already won.

Pain bloomed in her chest. She coughed, blood spattering the dust, every part of her body screaming in protest.

"We can’t shift. We can’t fight" Titi panicked and yet, Talia's fists curled.

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

The crowd’s chant rose again, loud and ruthless.

Talia turned and saw Big Joe stomping toward her like a charging bull. Her body screamed in pain, but she forced herself up, staggering to her feet. Her fists clenched, imitating what she’d seen the boys do.

She swung too early and weak into the air, making the crowd burst into laughter.

Big stepped in and slammed his fist into her cheek. She hit the ground with her face, and cheers erupted again, this time louder and crueler.

Before she could move, he was on her and grabbed her hair, yanking her upright.

Blood trickled from her nose and smeared the corner of her mouth. The crowd howled with delight.

“Enough!” A voice sliced through the air like a blade. Silence crashed over the arena.

The crowd froze. Damon stood, his eyes blazing with fury.

Big Joe scoffed. “And what are you gonna do about it, Damon? This is my fight, not yours!”

But no one was cheering anymore. Damon stepped into the arena, fists clenched, jaw rigid. His silver eyes didn’t waver as they locked onto Big Joe.

“Then pick someone your own size.”

Big Joe barked a laugh, then shoved Talia aside like a rag doll. She hit the ground hard, dust rising around her as the crowd watched in stunned silence.

Damon’s growled at that, but didn't move first. He waited as Big Joe lunged at him.

And the moment Big Joe was close enough, Damon sprang. One swift, powerful blow landed right at the base of Joe’s jaw.

Crack.

Big Joe collapsed instantly, limp, stunned and unmoving. The crowd erupted in wild cheers, but Damon didn’t spare them a glance.

He strode over to Talia, knelt, and gently lifted her into his arms in bridal style. Without a word, he carried her out of the arena.

Just like that, the tournament ended. Confusion and murmurs filled the air.

“Who’s the new boy?”

“What just happened?”

“Is he crazy?”

Selene stood frozen, her smile gone, lips curled in a frown as she watched Damon disappear from sight.

*.*

LATER THAT NIGHT 

Talia stepped out of the bathroom in her pajamas. A bandage covered part of her forehead, another sat at the corner of her lip. She stretched her back, wincing slightly, and walked into the room.

Damon lay curled on his bed, reading. He didn’t look up.

At her bedside, she noticed a covered cup and a small packet beside it. Something she hadn’t kept there.

She glanced at him.

“It’s coffee. And aspirin,” he said, eyes still on the page. “For the pain.”

She hesitated. “Thanks,” she said quietly.

“You won’t survive Alpha Crest acting like an omega.” He flipped a page, still not looking at her.

“You act like prey, you’ll get eaten.”

She froze, eyes on him, but he never looked up.

"Why... why did you help me?"

"It was Hart" he said.