Chapter 04

FRANKIE POV (Age 16/ 4 years ago)

I flinched at the sudden sharp pain.

The scent of my own blood and the sharpness as his claws dug in deeper only fueled my fury further.

I became relentless. Rabid in my attack.

If he wanted to cheat, I would disfigure his face permanently.

I didn’t know when Troy lost consciousness; I was lost in my rage.

Beta Hank Bates, who was the referee of the matches, came rushing over to break us up, but I wouldn't hear it. I was angry, and my fists beat into his body like he was my greatest enemy. Every bit of hurt I felt from my family, my friends, and this match went into the impact of my hits.

I let it all out.

“Frankie!” Alpha Tom’s voice cut through the equally panicked and excited crowd. He rose to his feet to assert himself.

I couldn’t refuse our Alpha’s command as easily as I overcame the Beta’s.

My fist, coated in Troy’s blood, froze midair.

Beta Hank yanked me off of Troy, who I only now noticed wasn’t conscious. I yelped when Beta Hank's firm hold squeezed in on my punctures from Troy’s claws.

It was then that Beta Hank understood what happened, what triggered the ruthless side in me. It was a primal instinct to protect oneself when endangered. Troy sticking his claws into me would have triggered that response in anyone.

Troy Presley was eighteen and full of arrogance. He had his wolf, but this match was clearly stated as human only, as I was only sixteen with no wolf to counterback with. If it weren’t for Gamma blood, I would have been forced to concede immediately, and I suspect that that was what Troy was aiming for. He wanted me to tap out and hand him the false win.

His mistake became my best form of therapy.

The medics took Troy’s slumped body away, and Beta Hank called one of the medics over to look at my ribs.

“These are claw marks for sure, Beta. They are really deep and without a wolf awaken yet, she’ll need to be stitched up to close the deeper ones.” The medic assessed.

The announcer was having a hushed conversation with Alpha Tom before announcing that I had been disqualified for excessive force in a match.

I paled. I looked at Alpha Tom with an absolute expression of betrayal. I didn’t do anything wrong, but was being punished for it.

“This is bullsh.it!" I shouted, silencing the crowd. I saw my father narrow his eyes. He was already embarrassed by my disobedience and disqualification, but now I had challenged the Alpha's decision in front of everyone. I was sure that I would be in trouble once I returned home, but I didn’t care.

“Francis, you were told to stop, but blatantly refused an order given by your Beta.” Alpha Tom responded.

“And so it’s not alright for a sixteen year old wolfless female to protect herself with her fists against an eighteen-year-old male who sliced her sides open with his wolf's claws to attempt to weaken me and cheat himself a false win? What bullsh.it double standard is this? Is that the message you wish to send? Cheat, it’s okay?” I was stunned and angry.

“Francis!” my father growled, a warning. He was embarrassed.

“No! Screw this! I won, and you all know it. Pretty boy was a bitter, petty bitch who cheated against a wolfless female, and you’re supporting it. Fuck that and fuck your little boys-club dynamic!” I stormed out of the fighting ring, angry and hurt.

“Frankie,” Beta Hank tried to call me back. “You need stitches for those open claw marks.”

“Like any of you actually give a fu.ck! Go nurse your winner!” I continued to walk away.

As always, I was invisible for my achievements and disciplined when it came to the bad. I’m eager to leave this place.

If they thought Cheating Troy was the victor today, then fine! I had no interest in competing any further. What was the point if they were going to keep supporting the boys' club regardless of the cheating?

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