ARAYAH'S POV.After the wonderful day at the spa, I returned to my room feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. The hot stone massage had worked wonders on my tense muscles, and the aromatherapy had left me feeling refreshed and invigorated. As I entered the room, I noticed a small package wrapped in shiny paper on the table. It had a note attached to it, which read, "Congratulations on winning the competition. I hope you enjoy this gift."I was curious and excited to see what was inside the package. As I unwrapped it, I discovered a beautiful necklace made of silver and studded with sparkling emeralds. It was breathtakingly beautiful, and I couldn't believe the Prince had given it to me. I wore it around my neck, admiring it in the mirror.As I sat down to relax on the couch, I heard a knock on the door. When I opened it, a servant was standing there with another package in hand. This one was much larger than the last, and it was also wrapped in shiny paper. The servant informed me that it

ARAYAH'S POV.As the Prince announced the end of the competition, my heart sank. I had failed miserably, and now Raina was the winner. I could feel the stares of the other girls burning into my back as I quickly gathered my things and made my way out of the arena.I didn't even wait for Mark to catch up to me before I was already out of the door and running. My face was hot with embarrassment and anger, and I needed to get away from there as fast as I could. I ran until I found an empty restroom, and I quickly went in and locked the door behind me.I leaned against the sink, panting heavily, trying to catch my breath. I was so upset that I could barely think straight. I splashed water on my face, hoping to cool down my heated cheeks.But as I turned around, I saw Raina standing at the door, looking at me with a strange expression on her face. I tensed up immediately, wondering what she wanted. But she just stood there, not saying anything."What do you want?" I asked, trying to keep m

ARAYAH'S POV.The sound of the door crashing open and heavy footsteps filled the room, and I looked up to see Mark and several guards running in, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion. Mark was the first to reach us, and he knelt down beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder."Arayah, what happened? Are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with worry. I could feel the heat emanating from my body and the blood trickling down my nose, and I shook my head, unable to form any coherent words.Mark quickly turned his attention to Raina, who was lying motionless on the floor. He placed two fingers on her neck to check her pulse, and then looked back at me with a furrowed brow."What happened to her?" he asked urgently, his eyes darting between me and Raina's still form."I don't know," I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible over the sound of my pounding heart. "She just started shaking, and then...this."I gestured to the blood on my face and the heat emanating from my b

ARAYAH'S POV.I spent the next few weeks in a fog. It was as if my life had been sucked out of me, and all that remained was a shell. I went through the motions of living but felt dead inside. The Packhouse was shrouded in a blanket of grief, and everyone was mourning the loss of Raina.The air was thick with sadness, and it was impossible to escape the gloom. Raina's parents came to collect her body and take it back to their home pack for burial. The Packhouse had lost one of its own, and the pain was palpable.I found myself going to therapy on many occasions, trying to deal with my depression. Mark was always by my side, watching over me as if he was my shadow. But even his presence couldn't make me feel better. I was trapped in my own misery.The days went by in a blur, and I found myself going through the motions without any real purpose. I would wake up in the morning with a headache that would continue to worsen throughout the day. But even that physical pain was nothing compar

The crowd erupted into a frenzied buzz, the air thick with whispers and murmurs. The werewolves were all abuzz with excitement, chattering and whispering amongst themselves. I could hear them making jokes and jests, wondering if I would come out alive or if I'd be ripped to shreds in the ring.The high-status werewolves were particularly vocal, snickering amongst themselves as they talked about how ridiculous it was for a vampire to even consider fighting a wolf in their human form. They seemed convinced that I was signing my own death warrant by agreeing to the match.The noise was overwhelming, a chaotic mix of excitement and disbelief. It felt like the whole world was watching me, judging me, waiting to see how I would fare in the arena. But amidst the clamor, the Prince's voice cut through the noise like a knife."Silence!" His voice boomed, commanding the attention of everyone in the room. "I have made my decision. Arayah will fight in her vampire form."There was a collective ga