Emily’s POV
We had been going at this fight for more than an hour, and I was starting to become exhausted and annoyed.
Angelica’s wolf had endurance that I didn’t imagine an omega wolf could have.
Even though I was planning to just tire her out without breaking a sweat, she was now the one who was giving me a run for my money.
“She is using magic to help her,” Willow growled, pissed. “Let me have a bite at her!”
“Why don’t you just block her magic off?” I snapped out of breath. “The same way you made sure Paul couldn’t shift.”
Every time I tried to bring Angelica’s wolf down, she was able to get away from my grasp. She was much faster than an omega wolf and could even give a fully trained warrior wolf a run for its money.
I sighed, frustrated, balling my hands into fists. I didn’t want to hurt her; I just needed to humiliate her to get her off our backs so that she could leave me and Alex alone.
“I tried that,” Willow growled. “She is using external magic to block my abilities.”
“What the f*ck!” I growled, getting angry. “The bitch is cheating! And I was going easy on her!”
Hybrids, crossbreeds, or half-breeds, whatever they were called in their respective packs, weren’t blessed with any magic or abilities, nor were they given a strong wolf.
The highest rank any hybrid ever could achieve was a low warrior rank and, at best, a prison guard.
There is only one half-breed wolf to my knowledge that has ever been blessed with a Lycan beast, and that was Sasha. Even though she was only given the beast, she had no special abilities that we know of.
It was almost as if the goddess preferred to only give her pure-breed children special gifts.
I moved my gaze between the pack members in the arena. The person helping Angelica must be close, and I was hoping to see if I could find who was helping her.
“She must have attached herself to someone with abilities strong enough to be able to keep up this fight,” Willow huffed.
The question was: who?
Who would do such a thing if the pack didn’t like her?
Who would go out of their way to destroy me and let Angelica become Luna?
Angelica came at me again, and she knocked me off my feet, sending me to eat dirt, but I managed to grab her tail and yank it, making her hiss out of pain.
“Luna.” Luke’s voice sounded in my mind. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” I growled, rolling out of the way when Angelica’s wolf pounced on me again. She certainly didn’t like me grabbing her precious tail.
“Someone is helping Angelica,” I linked, getting back on my feet and readying myself to give Angelica a go.
“What?” He gasped horrified, dragging his hands through his blond hair. “Do you have any idea who?” He growled, pissed.
“No!” I sneered, leaping forward.
Angelica’s wolf pounced with her claws open; she wanted to ensure that she left a mark.
I managed to grab hold of her around her throat, flip her over my head, and bring her down hard on her back.
The sound of a bone snapping echoed through the arena, and Angelica’s wolf howled in pain.
“I hope that’s going to leave a mark on her skinny bones,” Willow huffed.
I rolled away and jumped back onto my feet.
A burning sensation on the side of my face made me wipe my fingers on my cheek.
Angelica’s wolf had managed to draw blood, and I will make sure she does not get another chance at that again.
“It’s taken care of,” Luke linked. “I think I found him.”
“Thanks,” I replied, wondering who was so bold to do this to me.
“Let’s finish this,” Willow urged.
I gave control over to Willow, and in one swift shift, she stood proudly on all four legs in our silver form.
The crowd gasped, seeing us, and then went wild. The sound of their wolf whistle was electrifying and urged us to finish this duel.
Angelica’s wolf came at me again. Willow jumped out of her way and kicked her to the other side. Another big breaking sound echoed through the stadium, and people cheered.
Angelica landed on the arena floor with a loud thump and did not move, and Alpha Zack came closer to check on her.
Was she out cold?
Have we done it?
Did we win?
But my celebration was short-lived.
Angelica’s wolf lifted her head and got back on her feet. Alpha Zack gave the signal that Angelica was ready to go.
Willow growled; she had enough of this foolish game and stormed at Angelica’s wolf.
Willow opened her claws and ripped through Angelica’s thick brown fur with her razor-sharp claws, leaving bloody claw marks on the side of her body.
Angelica’s wolf is whimpering in pain.
“That looks much better,” Willow sneered. “She just needs one more mark covering her pretty face, and I will feel better and call it a day.”
I chuckled, picturing how pretty that scar on Angelica’s face would look.
Every hair on Willow’s back was standing horizontal. She expanded her aura, removing the oxygen from the air.
Angelica’s wolf huffed and coughed; her throat must be dry and her lungs burning.
She dropped to the floor, rolling and gasping for air.
Willow stood her ground and lowered her head, her eyes pinned on the she-wolf who tried to claim her mate. She was now done wasting precious time on her-she wasn’t worth it!
Willow slowly stalked forward, ready to pounce on her and rip her to shreds.
Angelica’s wolf didn’t move; she lay still and whimpered.
The crowd settled down, and everyone was holding their breaths. They didn’t want to miss Willow’s last move.
Willow got closer, lifting her paws, ready to strike-
“Mommy!” The small voice of a boy traveled through the quiet arena.
Willow froze in her tracks.
Lex.
Did we hear correctly?
Lex is here.
Did he witness the duel?
Who told him to come?
Willow turned her head toward the sound, and both our eyes widened seeing him standing at the edge of the arena, his eyes big out of fear and tears running down his cheeks.
He looked lost and afraid, and maybe even cold.
How do I explain this to him? Willow wasn’t about to kill Angelica; she was just ending the duel.
“But he doesn’t know that,” Willow said urgently, shifting back and giving me control.
“Lex?” I shrieked, my voice high and dry. A cold shiver ran down my spine as I darted closer to where he stood.
He shouldn’t see me like this; he was way too young.
“It’s all okay, Lex,” I tried to coo when I was close enough for him to hear me.
I held my hands before me, showing him I meant no harm.
“Mommy is just demonstrating her wolf moves to the pack. There is nothing to worry about.”
Alex came rushing closer; he had the same confused look on his face when he saw Lex down there.
Our eyes met, and I nodded my head, agreeing to the unspoken permission for Alex to take him.
“Hi Lex,” Alex said, squatting down next to him. “Remember me?”
“Alpha Alex,” Lex said, nodding.
“Yeah, that’s right,” he said. “Will you come with me? I have the best seats right up there.”
Lex gave me a wary look, and I nodded, smiling and gesturing for him to go with Alex.
“You will be in good hands with Alpha Alex,” I tried to urge.
Alex got to his feet, Lex took his hand, and they started back to Alex’s seat.
I waved, feeling relieved that Alex quickly came to my aid.
Lex turned his gaze to look back at me, and the soft smile he had on his little face suddenly faltered. He froze in his tracks, his face twisted in horror.
“Mommy, watch out!”
****