Forbidden |18+

XXIV: Knockout

XXIV: Knockout

"Alright, juveniles!" Noir calls loudly, everyone lining up as I also take an awkward step forward. After training for one day, I'm not sure how well I'm going to do, nor what's expected of me for this tournament sparing.

She clears her throat, her eyes surveying us all as she states, "This tournament will be knockout style. You fight until one of you is unconscious and that individual will be knocked out of the tournament. Upon successfully winning the entire tournament, the individual will be up for ranking within the pack," as she says this, she nods behind us to the pack lodge.

When we turn, we can see Alpha Ernouf standing there with Luna Lovetta. I don't notice Beta Rolf around anywhere or his mate, though a soft smile makes its way onto my lips when Ulric strides over from the medical building.

Noir also smiles as she motions to Ulric, her stance slightly altering, and notes, "Our pack doctor is onsite to attend to any injuries resulting from knockouts." She only pauses once more to arch a brow, her hands resting on her hips, "Any questions?"

One about the age of seventeen raises his hand and questions, "I don't think it's fair that Wren is participating when she can just heal?" It's more of a statement, yet the way he says it, he's seeing what others think also.

I mean...yeah, I can heal, though that doesn't mean I can't be knocked out. One good hit to the back of my skull or losing enough oxygen to my brain will do the trick.

I might be immortal...

...that doesn't make me invincible.

Noir thinks about this for a moment, her voice even as she questions, "Are you saying, that vampires are stronger than werewolves?"

"No, but—"

"With that attitude and mindset," Noir muses, waving her hand, "you've already lost."

The look of defeat crosses his features as he releases a sigh and lowers his head. As those who are part of the first round, one pair at a time, I'm left waiting for whoever I'm going to be up against. Taking a moment, I'm able to sit on the grass, watching those in front of me as they do their best to knock one another out.

Ulric stands across the way, on the other side of the training grounds. His gaze lands on me, tilting his head to the side and I furrow my brows. I wish I could talk to him, wondering what he's thinking.

When it is my turn, I rise to my feet, walking toward the center of the training area. I'm up against a female who looks close to my age. Her eyes are set on me the entire time, waiting for Noir's signal in order to proceed. It's not a second after we've been given the go-ahead to spar, that she immediately lunges forward and grapples one of her arms behind the back of my neck. She pulls me toward her, catching me off balance as her fist aims right for my face.

My eyes widen, reacting quickly as I use her own momentum against her. My hands grasp her shoulders as I push off the ground, flipping over her body as she tumbles and staggers forward. She whirls around though, attempting to find her footing as she rushes at me again, throwing punches wildly this time. I just keep moving, dodging her strikes while just keeping out of reach from another of her traps. She's breathing hard now, sweat beading down her forehead and over her brows.

I don't feel exhausted in the slightest though. No, instead, I wait for her to wear down as she seems to be doing a good job of knocking herself out. At this rate, she might just...

...oh.

She releases an exasperated breath before she collapses forward, her muscles tensing as her eyelids close. She's completely spent, her muscles barely able to move, her chin not even lifting when Noir asks, "Allura?"