Fighting for Dominance

A friend or a foe: 08

To say that I was amazed was an understatement. I've never been to an Arena before. It was like a huge cage meant for a real duel, where one will die at the hands of their killer.

I looked around and everyone was chanting my name and Miguel's. They were loud, wild and excited. A smirk made its way up my lips. Is Miguel that famous around here?

Well of course he is. He runs the Tainted Blood's house. Who would've thought that I'd get into a duel with him? I didn't intend to stay here for a day, much less a few days when I first realized where I was.

Eversince I became a rogue, I got used to being alone. Always in the move, fighting for my life almost every minute. I got used to not having a shelter under my head, but being here reminds me of home.

It reminds me of how it felt to have a home. A friend. How to sleep without worries of threats that might kill you. I found peace in this new environment that I had found. And maybe I didn't want to leave yet, because the world is a cruel place. And I knew I had found a place suited for me. A place where I wasn't foreign. A place familiar to me.

"You nervous?" I turned to my left and saw Caden. His serious face told me he wasn't as excited as everyone is about the duel.

"No, not really. More like excited." I grinned.

I admit, wolves around here got some dominance and strength. They fought different. Far different from the alphas I had fought with before. But then again, I was too. I am different too.

It wasn't hard defeating them, it just felt different. With their different way of fighting and the amount of dominance their wolves had, I knew they had it rough.

"I heard how others talked about you," Caden got my full attention with what he said. "All good things I hope?"

"They said the amount of dominance your wolf has is far different from a natural banished rogue. Your wolf is different, you're not just meant for petty duels like this. You're something else." I shivered at how serious Caden's voice is.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I shrugged, meaning what I had just said.

Miguel and his minions were nowhere in sight. I'm standing in the corner waiting for him to appear. After this fight I might go my own way and find some people to help me with my plan.

"Who are you?" Caden turned to me. His eyes meeting mine. They held curiosity, fear, anger. My wolf doesn't seem to like his stares. It was rude and accusing. Something my wolf and I find offensive.

"If you're merely curious as to how my wolf has such dominance, it's because she's defeated a few alphas on the run. She knows how strong and powerful she is that's why." I tried to explain.

"Then you should be arrogant if that's the case. But it's like your wolf knows you're meant for something so much more—that that much dominance was natural for your wolf." I didn't get what Caden had said. What's his point?

"I don't understand what you're trying to say." I saw Miguel in his robe and appeasing people who cheered for him. "I gotta go, got a duel to finish." I turned my back on him and went straight to the Arena. I stopped at the middle to wait for Miguel to come to me.

Miguel removed his robe only to reveal in his shorts. People cheered for the duel even more loudly. I noticed Lilia standing in the crowd, her eyes filled with worry.

I suddenly remembered my mom. Her eyes were the same when my mom was worried. I felt a tug at my heart.

"Do you fight in human or wolf form?" I asked Miguel when he came near me. I shouldn't let my focus waver. I shouldn't underestimate Miguel.