One Week Later
Intermediate Showdown
As the days passed, spending time with Carlo and the rest of our group started to feel normal again. The emptiness inside me was still there, but the pain ebbed and flowed, often striking at the worst possible moments-whether I was surrounded by friends or completely alone. Carlo was always able to tell when my mind wandered away, lost in the depths of grief. Most of the time, he would pull me back with that familiar crooked smile I’d come to rely on. While I knew the void in my heart would never fully close, Carlo and our friends dulled the pain, making it easier to bear. I wasn’t hiding in Carlo’s basement anymore, pushing my body to its limits until exhaustion overtook me. Instead, I was laughing with them, living with them, and slowly beginning to heal.
As the Intermediate Showdown drew near, I found excitement bubbling up inside me. The first time I signed up for the Beginner’s Showdown, I had been scared out of my mind, uncertain of my abilities. I knew I wasn’t the strongest fighter in the pack, but I also knew my body well enough to use it as a weapon.
The entire town turned out for the Showdowns, held every few months. This time, Chiara was taking part in the Beginner’s Showdown. She’d been anxious all week, so Carlo and I gave her a few tips during training. After watching her spar, we had no doubt she would pass with flying colors.
Tents were set up in a large square around the park at the heart of town. Normally, this place would be full of kids playing and families picnicking, with dogs chasing balls and rolling in the grass. But today, it was a different kind of gathering. The Showdowns were almost like a rite of passage-more important than a high school graduation. Many of the warriors would soon be sent to other packs, tasked with helping control rogues or assisting with other critical matters. They were sent wherever they were needed for as long as necessary.
The delicious scent of food filled the air, and this time I indulged. When I competed in the Beginner’s Showdown, I’d been too nervous to eat, but now I knew better. I had practiced identifying weaknesses, using them to my advantage, and I was confident I could win this time.
Carrying my plate of food, I wove through the crowd and found Carlo standing with Sofia and Enrico. Vito was off to the side with his dad, who was deep in conversation with the Alpha and Luna. The Beginner competitors sat on a long bench near the fighting pit, Chiara among them. I couldn’t help but wonder if my face had looked as tense and determined as hers on the day of my own showdown. That day had changed me. I still wasn’t the strongest warrior, but I was no longer the fragile girl who had helplessly watched her mother die.
I handed my plate to Carlo, who immediately grabbed a buttered roll. Carlo, with his insatiable appetite, grinned at me while he ate. His dark hair looked even darker under the sunlight, his skin taking on a warm bronze hue.
We hadn’t really discussed where our relationship was headed, and I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. Part of me hesitated to give Carlo my whole heart, knowing one day he’d have to leave. I wasn’t ready to let go of that last piece of myself.
Carlo’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts as he stepped into the circle to announce the start of the showdown. After finishing my plate and tossing it into the trash, Carlo slung his arm over my shoulder. It wasn’t much in terms of affection, especially in front of his parents, but having him close was enough for now.
We watched three rounds of fighting before Chiara’s name was called. She was matched against a girl named Claudia, a slim, wiry figure who looked as if she barely weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet. Despite her size, I knew that wouldn’t be a disadvantage. Claudia was built for speed, which would allow her to outmaneuver opponents. Chiara, on the other hand, was average in size but toned from weeks of training. Her hips were naturally wide, and she’d pulled her wild curls into a ponytail, steadying her breath as she prepared for the fight.
Just as I expected, Claudia was quick, dancing around Chiara’s attacks with ease. For a few minutes, Chiara’s punches and kicks missed their mark. Her frustration was visible, and I could tell she was reaching her breaking point. But Chiara was nothing if not determined. Focusing all her attention on landing a blow, she feigned left and darted right, driving her fist into Claudia’s stomach with enough force to knock her back. Chiara didn’t give her time to recover, and within minutes, Claudia tapped out, groaning in defeat.
Once the Beginner’s matches concluded, we had a short break before the Intermediate Showdown began. I couldn’t help but notice the look of disbelief on Chiara’s face-it was the same one I had after passing my first showdown. She hadn’t expected to succeed, but she had surprised herself.
“You did it!” I said, grinning, feeling lighter than I had in a long time.
“I’d hug you, but I’m all sweaty,” Chiara replied with a playful smirk.
“Very funny. In a few minutes, you’ll be just as sweaty,” she teased back.
As we gathered around to congratulate Chiara, the mood was light and joyful, but the tension of the upcoming fights lingered in the air. Soon, it would be my turn in the ring.
When my name was called, I stepped into the fighting pit to face Rosa, a girl with a similar build to mine-athletic, with the same steely determination etched on her face. As she walked, I noticed a slight imbalance, as though she favored her left leg. It could have been an old injury, but either way, it was a weakness.
The moment Carlo signaled the start, Rosa lunged at me. I dodged her punch, noting how she overcompensated for her right leg. Guilt tugged at me for a brief moment, but this was how we became stronger. As she launched another attack, I ducked under her swing and kicked at her leg, hearing the snarl of pain that confirmed my suspicion.
The fight was relentless-punches were exchanged, sweat dripped down our faces, and the sun beat down on us mercilessly. After several minutes, I saw my opening. As Rosa dodged one of my punches, I drove my knee into her stomach, knocking the wind from her lungs. She fell to the ground, raising her hand in surrender.
“Do you submit?” I asked, my voice steady and firm, surprising even myself with the strength behind it.
“Yes,” Rosa gasped. “I submit.”
The crowd erupted into cheers, with Carlo, Sofia, and the rest of our friends celebrating the loudest. But the triumph was short-lived, as an ear-piercing scream echoed through the park.
Chaos erupted as rogues poured out of the forest, their snarling faces twisted with murderous intent.