Into the Arena

Chapter 1

I wanted to write something and I felt it was too soon for me to update my other story, so I thought I would update this one. Maybe I can get more attention to this one faster...

CHAPTER 1 PAIGE

"Do you have your jacket?" I nodded.

"Do you have your flashlights?" Another nod.

"Your extra batteries?" Yes, yes, yes.

"Your rope, knife, extra jeans, hiking boots?"

My dad stared at my face from the front seat of the car as my mom drove. He eyes stayed focused on the road, but I could see the tears brimming in her eyes, she was showing the emotion we were all feeling.

"Yes daddy, I have everything. We packed everything." My face fell and I toyed with the braided bracelet on my wrist.

"Don't lose hope Paige, that's the worst thing you can do right now."

"I just don't see how any of this will help, if I am wanted who says a little hunting knife and rope will stop them?" My tone was rejected, I was resigned to this.

My dad's fist smashed against the dashboard and my mom let out a quiet sob.

"Dammit, kid, you are not your sister!"

A tear slid down my face and my mom sobbed harder.

A year ago today my sister went through the same thing I did, although her experience may have been a little less traumatic. My dad packed her up, he trained her, she was prepared. Entering the arena she was confident, she wasn't afraid that she would be chosen, in fact she wanted to be.

She was chosen, however, not the way she wanted to be. She was unwanted by them all, every one.

She was chosen to die.

I didn't live in a normal family, which many people don't understand. I'm a werewolf, along with my family. Actually the place we live is a sort of werewolf community, filled with many packs. It's easier to stay together, too many humans get suspicious.

Ages vary, but when a werewolf reaches mating maturity they are thrown into the yearly arena to be paired. The newly mated pairs become a new pack and settle into an empty town in the community.

Lasting 7 days the first is usually spent with the males fighting for dominance. After that, they came after us, looking for their pair, their mate.

The bad part about it is, there are typically more females than males, males being cherished in our species. Once every paired is made the lonely females are "taken care of."

The "extras" the "unneeded" ones. They kill those. That's what they did to my sister.

"Paige, snap out of it. I know what you're thinking about." My dad's voice was soft yet forceful and it pulled me from my trance.

"If they didn't want her, why would they want me?"

The statement was true, my sister was the more beautiful one with more confidence. She got her looks from my mother, her long flowing black hair and green eyes enchanted everyone. She was a living goddess, and she knew it. How they managed to kill the most beautiful one there, well my family never understood it.

Yet, here I was entering my year at the arena. My mother had taken special care with my hair, trying to make me as appealing as possible. My ever-wavy brown hair fell to my waist and my grey eyes were wary. My scarf hid my neck and I stuffed my knitted beanie over my head.

It was winter here, and the arena would be a frozen over hell this year. With any luck I would freeze over before a male had a chance to rip my throat out.

"Just stay away from them until they figure out the pack positions, males will be most aggressive then. If you run into one try and keep him in human form. The more human thoughts he has the less aggressive he will be."

"I know Dad, you told me this..."

"And don't run from a male, they will get rough trying the chase you."

"I know Dad..."

"And don't-"

"Dad! I know. Look, if I get caught then I get caught. If I die then I die. I can take care of myself."

"I know you can, kid." His voice broke, and his demeanor crumbled.

In my smallest voice I whispered, "Daddy, you have taught me well. Whatever happens know that I won't give up. With or without a male I will make it out alive. I'm not an extra."

"I know you aren't kid, you are my daughter after all." A little smile lightened his face, but the mood didn't life.

If anything the mood got worse as my mother muttered...

"We're here."