Seven

KAELYN

‘Your vision,’ Kaiven had said.

The lights went off.

I sucked in a deep breath.

‘Your senses,’

Sticks hit hard against drums. Loud. Too loud.

‘Speed,’

A blow hit me from the corner.

I didn't even hear start.

I staggered forward, pain shooting right through my system.

‘And lastly, stamina.’

My weight shifts before I could hit the ground and I took a deep breath.

I have it all.

I could win.

I had to win.

The first noise came through the shadows. Iet my eyes adjust to the darkness and before a punch could fly aimlessly into my face, I threw mine.

Bones scrunched up underneath my fists, blood spurred out from whatever I'd punched.

I heard a scream but I don't wait to check who it's coming from. We are eight in the ring and at five minutes, this would end.

I just needed five minutes.

Just five.

Four.

Three.

A punch hit my stomach, hard. So hard I’m up one moment and on the ground the other. A hand grabbed my head, pulling from the ground and throwing me against the nearest wall.

A former fang.

They'd studied this place.

They know every nook and cranny.

Two.

A punch flew towards my face but my reflexes are fast as my right hand blocked it. It's hard. So hard it sent tremors down my arm.

I had to time to groan in pain as it threw a counter punch, landing it on my opponents face. Blood blinds his vision and he staggered backwards. I raised my legs, kicking him backwards. He hit the ground hardly, while I climbed above him, landing a head to head punch.

He went limp. I can barely see, but I know he's fainted.

I gulped, scrambling to my feet. Others are still fighting. So I'm careful not to make a single sound and draw attention to myself in the ring. It's a blind fight, so it doesn't depend how many people you fight. It depends on how many went down and how much are still standing.

One.

Fifty seconds.

Forty.

Thirty.

It's dark. It's too late when my eyes catch a wolf lunging towards me from the darkness.

“Ah!” A scream tore out from my throat as his teeth, precise and calculated, tore into my skin.

I couldn't push it off.

No.

Twenty seconds.

Ten.

He's tearing me.

Nine.

Five.

I heard the sound of a stab and the wolf went limp, releasing my arm. Blood spluttered from it.

I went mute. Knowing whoever was with the weapon could turn back and kill me.

Two seconds.

Blue eyes.

One.

“Time's up.”

The lights went on. And yes, blue eyes stared right back at me.

“Are you okay?” His voice was thick.

“I'm…fine.”

I'm not.

His eyes fell to my arm and he bends down, ripping off a part of his inner uniform. “You are not fine. Look, you are bleeding.”

“I heal fast.” I cut him off.

His eyes stared at the wound he is tying up ands it already closing off.

“Alpha?” He asked.

“No.” I muttered, getting up to my feet.

“I didn't think anyone could heal ‘that’ fast, as a normal wolf.”

Yes, I knew that.

It was like a gift to me, just like yesterday, my legs already healed up at the clinic before I woke up.

Wolves had the ability to heal fast. Alpha wolves more. But sometimes, even I, heal faster than Kaiven.

Those times, when father stared at me, my blessings felt like a curse.

“Prospect.” Commander Stone's voice was heard as he walked down the cemented staircases. Students stared at those of us still standing. I felt eyes on me, probably in shock.

A guy walked out from a hiding in the ground and I'm totally shocked to the bones. He survived, that meant….

“Kaelyn, Finn,” Commander Stone's eyes shifted to the guy who'd hidden, “and Michael. Congratulations.”

What?!

All we had to do was hide?!

You get into a prospect level by hiding?

“It was because he hid, that was why you had two opponents.” Finn, the blue eyed guy laughed.

It wasn't funny.

I almost died!

My eyes turned to the guy and my teeth chattered as I fisted my hands. I wanted to punch him. I'm barely holding it in, but that's what I want to do so bad. So so bad.

How could he?

“Alpha Prince Finn,”

My heart stopped for a second. The blue eyed was an Alpha?

“Welcome to the Alpha Prospects.”

A breath escaped from my lips. I'm too stunned to speak.

Instead, my fingers just loosened up as Commander Stone walked towards me, “You find a way to break my expectations.”

I didn't think he had any expectations. I knew he was expecting me to fail.

“But you got to the highest rank in two days.”

“Finn did too.”

“He's an Alpha.” Commander Stone, “And this other guy…was just cunning.”

I gulped.

“But you, Kaelyn…Altair. Everyone is stunned by you.”

I looked upwards and yes, all the teachers are staring at me. A lady in particular with eyes that slanted upwards. She's pretty. Pretty enough to be mistaken for the moon goddess.

“Congratulations.” Stone said and stepped backwards as Headmaster Thornhelm stood up, drawing the attention of the students. Evren…is behind him. Eyes stone cold, fixed on me. Like he could see my deepest secrets. One which he already found out.

I gulped, feeling nervous under the scrutiny of his gaze. So I pulled my gaze back to Thronhelm and tried to ignore him.

“New Prospects. Congratulations. You've proved yourself to be worthy of this position, by being an alpha, being a smart ass and by being…” Thornhelm’s fell on me, “courageous.”

I didn't think that was the right word to describe me.

Desperate is.

It's a bad thing. Something that could lead to death.

“With these, we welcome you to prospects rank. Where you can fully enjoy ninety percent of the benefits Storm Academy has to offer. The world out there is nothing. Storm Academy is the right place…for you or anyone to be. Welcome.”

Applauses scattered round the hall and for the first time in life. I felt like I've found a purpose for myself.