7. Selection day

I look at my reflection in the mirror and take in what I see, faded bruises, a slightly wonky nose. A more serious expression, a body that’s muscular littered with small scars and a few fresh scabs. I no longer have the body of a bratty Alpha daughter but that of a warrior. 

Naveah sends a rush of warm pride through me, a sentiment we both share. Over the past three months we’ve kept up with school, training with the candidates for the royal academy and put in many more hours to catch up with them.

I take a deep breath and steel myself, “I can do it,” I mutter under my breath.

/I’ll help you as much as I can,/ Naveah promises.

I walk out to join my pack members who are already outside waiting for the Royal family. I’m dreading the moment I will meet Hartley again. Olwyn gave us a tincture to prevent him from recognising us as his mate. But I still have the memories and the anger of my last life. He’s the same womaniser as before unless the Moon Goddess changed things. 

Scanning the crowd I see a familiar face; Candy. To my dismay she spots me and smiling as she works her way towards where I’m standing. In vain I hope that she’s on her way to someone else but in my heart I know she’s coming my way.

/Bitch,/ Naveah growls.

Quickly I cover my mouth with my hand but everyone arund us heard Naveah growl. Candy raises a brow and hesitates but pushes on towards me, seemingly undeterred.

“Hi, I’m Candy, nice to meet you Liberty” she holds out her hand. Her smile is radiant but doesn’t reach her eyes. Ignorant, 17 year old Liberty didn’t see that Candy was fake. Seasoned and wiser Liberty sees right through Candy’s act. It pains me to realise how naive I previously was. 

I recoil thinking back to our first meeting. Candy came up to me to introduce herself. I felt flattered that she knew my name, honoured that she as my equal introduced herself. I thought we had a bond based on the fact that we were both Alpha’s daughters. Knowing what I know now it is hard to plaster on a smile and not tear her to shreds. 

“Hi Candy, I am indeed Liberty,” I reply, doing my best to keep the hostility from my voice. Before she can strike up a conversation King Truetts’s voice comes through the speaker. 

“Welcome werewolves,” he starts. I put on a mask as I listen to his speech. My eyes leave King Truett's face and wonder to Hartley who is standing next to his father. Seeing him brings back a rush of memories. How I used to look into his soft brown eyes, used to stroke his thick brown locks. How sharp his cheekbones are.

Now it nauseates me to know how he played me, how he kept talking about us having babies. Suddenly a wave of sadness crashes over me. Blake, my lovely little cherub. Taking down Hartley and Candy will satisfy my lust for revenge but I will grieve my little boy forever. I swallow hard, pushing the grief away.

/Either way, we’re safe from him now. We used the tincture Olwyn gave us. We can watch him from afar.

Behind me I hear Verity and Candy blabbering about how sexy Hartley is. How much they would like to bed him. I roll my eyes in irritation. Viera complains that Maverick isn't present yet and that she much prefers the older brother. 

King Truett has finished his speech, Beta Xander takes the stage to explain the rules. The fighters and weapons are drawn.

Viera and Erik, a warrior from Candy’s pack are drawn for the first fight. I pay extra attention hoping to learn something about the fighting style of Candy’s pack.  Viera and Erik will fight with  a mace as an attack weapon and a shield. 

I watch Viera and the warrior circle each other. I should be rooting for Viera as she is from my pack but I can’t. I not only hope that Erik wins but I also hope he seriously injures her. If her injuries would lead to her death I would be slightly pissed because I won’t be able to take revenge on her but otherwise I don’t care.

Suddenly the sound of breaking bone is heard as Verity hits Erik on his ankle. Erik screams in agony as he crashes to the ground.  The cheering stops as everyone shudders in horror, realising it could have been them. Viera takes a step back, stopping the fight just before Beta Xander calls it. A small vicious smile on her face. She really doesn’t care that Erik will likely never walk pain free again. 

Erik is still on the ground writhing and screaming in pain. Healers rush out with a stretcher to tend to him. Once he’s carried off of the field Beta Xander congratulates Viera with her victory. She at least has the decency to have wiped the smile from her face and to not look proud. 

“She is heartless,” Madeline whispers to me. She didn’t even apologise or say anything to him. 

“Yep, she’s cruel and heartless,” I reply, glad that Madeline isn’t fond of Viera either. 

After a couple of fights where nothing dramatic happens Madeline's name is called. Her opponent is Claire from Alpha John's pack. Alpha John is King Truett's brother and the only Lycan Alpha. He’s infamous for his horrific punishments and misogyny. 

Claire looks downtrodden as she picks up her battle axe and shield. Madeline on the other hand looks fresh and eager. I can’t help but feel sorry for Claire. I watch Madeline size her up, looking for strengths and weaknesses.

When the whistle blows they both lift their shields as they circle each other. Madeline fakes a hit to test Claire’s reaction which is faster than I expected. Claire immediately steps up to Madeline trying to get a hit in. Madeline blocks and the sparks fly off the shield. I notice I’m holding my breath, Claire looks as if she doesn't care but she’s got plenty of fight in her.

They are evenly matched for some time exchanging blows and blocking incoming attacks. Suddenly Madeline fakes a blow and immediately steps closer while dealing another blow, forcing Claire to step back. Madeline swipes Claire's legs from under  her causing her to  lose her balance. Claire lets go of her weapon in her fall and Madeline kicks it out of her reach. 

Madeline moves swiftly and grabs Claire's shield, moving it away from her body so she can place her axe on Claire's throat, winning the fight. Xander declares Madeline the winner as he helps Claire up. 

Madeline makes her way back up the bleachers and takes her seat next to me. I nudge her as I congratulate her with her clean victory. She nudges me back, “Now you have to win too,” she winks.

“Hmm, I hope so. As long as I don’t have to shoot a bow and arrow I’ll be fine,” I laugh back.

“Don’t jinx it!” she replies laughing.

A strong tall male named Tomas is the first contender of the new fight, he draws Candy. They will fight with a silver coated dagger. The silver will stop wounds from healing quickly.

I, not so secretly, hope that he manages to run the dagger along Candy's face. Causing her face to scar. 

They start, I see Candy talking and though I can’t hear what she’s saying I know she’s trying to rile him up in the hope he makes a mistake, like the scheming bitch she is.

Tomas is immune for Candy's taunting and talks back to her. An angry look cross Candy’s face and she lunges for him. I wonder what he said that got her to go from 0 to 100 in one remark. In her anger she manages to stab his left arm, but the dagger is in his right. He grabs her right arm in which she has her dagger and twists it high up on her back. Forcing her to kneel down.

On her knees she squeals for him to not squeeze her arm so tightly he bends over but before he can put the dagger on her throat she twists. Candy dislocates her shoulder in the move, leaving Tomas frozen in surprise as she grabs his dagger and points it at his throat. Tomas taps out and Beta Xanders calls the fight pronouncing Candy the winner.

“Liberty Redd, Howling Moon Pack is the first contender for the next fight! Come down Liberty!” Beta Xander calls out my name causing the smile to drop from my face.