Bonus Chapter

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Iris’s POV

Shane and I found seats in the spectator section with a very good view. The benches were filling up quickly as pack members and guests settled in with excitement buzzing through the air.

I subtly hid the orange bands under the sleeve of my jacket, making sure they weren’t visible. The last thing I needed was someone recognizing them and Rowan finding out before I was ready. Everything would be over even before it began.

“Good thinking,” Shane muttered when he noticed what I was doing. “At least you’re trying to be somewhat careful.”

“I’m always careful,” I said.

“That’s false,” Shane replied, but there was amusement in his voice.

A large sparring ring was set up in the center of the arena. Referees stood close, and medical staff waited nearby in case of injuries.

An announcer stepped into the sparring ring with a microphone in hand.

“Welcome, everyone, to the sparring competitions!” he called out enthusiastically. The crowd cheered loudly. “Our first match is about to begin. Please welcome our competitors!”

Two fighters entered the ring from opposite sides. The first was a woman with her red hair tied back in a tight braid. She moved with confidence, and her stance was like someone who had spent years training.

“That’s Gamma Lydia from the Blue Ridge Pack,” someone behind me said. “She commands their entire army.”

The second fighter was a tall man with pale skin and an arrogant smirk on his face. He rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck as he sized up his opponent.

“And that’s Gamma Torres from the Mountain Ridge Pack,” another voice added.

The referee stepped between them. “The match will continue until one fighter yields or is rendered unconscious. No killing blows. Fight with honor.”

He dropped his hand, and the match began.

Lydia moved first, throwing a quick jab that Torres deflected easily. They circled each other, testing their defenses, and looking for weaknesses.

Torres lunged forward with a combination of strikes. Lydia blocked most of them, taking one blow to her shoulder that made her wince slightly.

“She’s good,” I murmured, watching the way Lydia recovered immediately and countered with a kick aimed at Torres’s knee.

Torres jumped back, avoiding the strike. “So is he,” Shane replied.

The fight continued, both fighters were evenly matched. Lydia was faster, more agile. Torres was stronger, his hits carried more force. They traded blows, none of them had a clear advantage.

Lydia managed to land a solid punch to Torres’s jaw that snapped his head back. The crowd gasped and cheered.

Torres’s expression darkened. He wiped blood from his lip, his arrogant smirk was replaced with something more dangerous.

They continued fighting, and the intensity increased. Lydia went for a high kick. Torres caught her leg mid-strike and tried to sweep her standing leg.

Lydia anticipated it, so she used the momentum to twist out of his grip and land safely. It was an impressive move that made the crowd roar in excitement.

Torres looked frustrated now. They were nearing the ten-minute mark, and none of them had managed to gain the upper hand.

Then Torres did something that made my stomach turn.

As Lydia moved in for another strike, Torres kicked dirt from the ring floor directly into her eyes.

Lydia cried out, stumbling back with her hands covering her face. She was completely blind and vulnerable.