Raised Among Alphas

34 - The Face-off

Alora POV

For our usual face-offs, I would've worn one of my silk robes without any other piece of garment since we are constantly shifting to our wolf form.

This time, Leila took over the organization of the event and asked us all to be dressed in casual clothes and attend to the training grounds as part of the crowd.

The four leaders of the packs were the only ones in their robes at the center of the field and they would be calling to the field the names of their chosen warriors to participate. Leila had robes made in four different colours and they represented the different packs.

By the time I reached the training grounds with Kasthor by my side, we moved over to sit beside Beta Mathias in the front row of the bleachers.

The energy of this place was invigorating, about a thousand wolves were gathered in the bleachers surrounding the field. They were cheering, and screaming, holding signs and banging drums.

I am used to the crowds cheering, but this time it felt different. Now we are facing other packs, the competition was at a whole different level, much more powerful.

For a second I began wondering if Jathred was going to pick me to join at all, my heart skipped a beat as the thought settled in my mind. 

"What if he doesn't pick me?" I turned to Kasthor in panic.

"Impossible" Mathias intervened.

Leila's voice took over the microphone calling for our attention, and the crowd went silent. She introduced Jathred first, who was wearing a terracotta silk robe. He waved to the crowd and walked over to the bottom left corner of the training field to stand behind the line marked in white powder spelling 'Grasslands'.

Next in line was my newest dearest friend, Beta Thierot. He was wearing a beige robe, waving his hands and clapping excited at the crowds. He walked to the bottom right corner of the field marked with the 'White Sand' sign.

Leila introduced the next leader, the Commander of the Shrublands army, Mikah, who was wearing an olive green robe and took his designated spot at the top right corner of the field. Surprisingly, Mikah had a huge fan base, at least half of the crowd cheered ecstatic for him and he loved it.

"How good is he?" I asked Mathias, who is the most knowledgeable man when it comes to other warriors and fight skills.

"Good," Mathias gave me a wary look. I'll remember not to underestimate that one. 

Finally, Leila introduced the one name I wasn't looking forward to hearing.

Becker was wearing an ash grey robe, dark as his heart but not fully black. He nodded seriously to his warriors and took the only unoccupied corner of the field. At the top left, there was the 'Forest' mark waiting for him. 

Leila followed him to his corner and stood by his side, explaining to the crowds that he would be the first one to call his nine warriors to the field.

His Beta was still gone, but one by one, the men he called to the field with him, were impossibly imponent and strong, almost as terrifying as Becker was. There was no doubt Becker's team had the bulk and muscles. We'll have to see if their fighting skills are as impressive as their physical complexions.

Every time Becker called out a new name, my heart would crack at the sound of his voice, it was unbearable. I tried really hard to pretend he was just another wolf, as if he wasn't special, almost as if he didn't exist, but to no avail. The ring in my ears that echoed from his voice numbed my mind and left me alone to face my aching heart.