Ascension of a Gamma
Chapter 36
Chapter 36 Alpha Duel
Liam
It was almost nighttime. The pack kept pouring in into the open field in the woods, which we used for pack gatherings, often for families to hang out at night. Rigel was helping set up the bonfire, keeping his distance from me for
now.
There was no laughter in their eyes. Instead, a worrying tension that they failed to hide from me. Surprisingly, the children were present, a lot of them. They could’ve chosen to stay at their homes, attending tonight’s event was optional. Pride swelled in my chest – they’re a good pack.
They could’ve berated me for accepting the challenge but here they were, supporting me. How could I possibly let them down?
A link tried to connect. It was Gale.” Alpha, everyone is in position.”
“Don’t let your guards down.”
They replied with a unified answer, in a
ey replied with a unified answer, in a reassuring tone.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Opening a private link with Gale, I asked, “How’d Anna take it?”
“The Delta Unit is guarding her room for now. She’ll be there soon. They’ll be right behind her.”
“And Lexy?”
“She’s with Luna, Alpha.”
“I see. I’m cutting the link for now. Keep me updated on the Delta Unit’s channel.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Angry flames ate the wood prepared, casting pale yellow flickers on everyone’s eyes, the shadows hiding their tight closed lips. I smiled as a familiar scent came from behind me. Pretending not to notice, I kept seated on the log.
Then a pair of warm hands covered my eyes.
I heard a giggling, and my smile widened.
“”Hmm… who could this be?” Lasked
mm… who could this be?” I asked playfully, picturing a pout on her face.
I molded my hands into hers, reveling at the sensations she woke in me.
“Let me guess. Should I start guessing from A or Z?”
I heard the click of a tongue.
That annoyed her?
“I’ll start with A. Hmm… Alia?”
Those hands harshly pulled themselves off. Then a loud hit landed on the back of my head, shaking my brain cells.
“Who is this Alia?” she snapped, standing in front of me with a hand on her hip
I’d tell her but it was way too soon.
Rubbing the back of my head, I replied with a smile.
“No one, babe. I was just messing with
you.”
She pouted.
There it is.
There it is.
“Come here,” I said, motioning for her to sit beside me.
With a little assistance, she was seated, watching our people fill the grounds. Two more bonfires were set up, far smaller than the first. We sat in silence, with her leaning on me and my arm around her waist. This was almost everyone. The Red Claw Pack, my pack, and now hers as well.
Her hand found mine and our fingers intertwined. I brought it up for a kiss. I could never get enough of her.
If she looked closely, she’d see that the mark had reached up the sleeves of my shirt now. And if I took it off, the mark was already on my chest. This would be the last – her silence was killing a part of me.
A new scent wafted into the air. They were here. Alpha Myron and Salina in front with their men behind them, joined my pack. They kept their distance, occupying one side.
“Anna -“I began, but she cut me off.
This time, she brought my hand closer to
is time, she brought my hand closer to her lips. Soft, gentle, unrushed. Her eyes looked up at me with clarity instead of fury.
“For the pack,” she said, and forget that everyone was there, I captured her lips, feeling the softness of them as I pressed harder.
Then I got up, and without looking back, headed straight to where Myron stood – i n front of the biggest bonfire. Salina and Rigel were on both sides of him.
“You showed up,” I said in a bored tone.
“I challenged you. As Alpha, I remain true to my word.”
“Remember that,” I said.
They will always make you.
“Who will officiate the duel?” he asked.” This pack has no elder in sight.”
All elders were at the Red Circle.
And Sister Katrina was nowhere to be found as well. None of the members had seen her, and neither did I since this morning
morning
to nominate Rigel. As you are already
quick look. “So
said, an arm around her waist a s he directed her out of the way.
usual spite in her expression gone, replaced by sadness. That… couldn’t have
a beautiful thing,” he said, sighing. “Pity how you can’t
seen enough,” I said
would’ve looked away. I wasn’t
at each
this over with,” he
get this over with,”
he just
bored from this? Maybe Gale was right – I
us. They were about twenty-eight meters away
witness the traditional duel between Alphas, challenged by Alpha Myron Knox of the Blue Moon Pack and accepted by Alpha Liam of the Red Claw Pack. Let the death marks bear testimony that the Moon Goddess has given them
Rigel continued. A little girl came up to him, holding a golden goblet
ceremonial wine warm
that it may give them the courage to see the duel
from her and handed them to us. I emptied the content, the fiery taste
second. I shrugged my shoulders and stretched my neck, ignoring the burning heat. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, the weight of their anxiety boring on my back. They supported me with a silent trust. None opposed my decision. It was all riding on
the winner, or in his absence, his second-in command, gets to enforce his terms, and the defeated must give his Alpha Word, or in his absence,
a calm
arms to his sides with a
set on
name your
Gale Gavyn,” I
snarl came from behind me, followed b
said Myron. “My daughter, the future Luna shall
from
“I accept.”
nodded, then stepped
that were almost upon his heart. We were running out
was controlled, and his eyes on me. His pack howled for
pack howled, a plethora o femotions pulsing through the
I hadn’t drunk
had gathered, Rigel stopped and got on all fours. It took him a few moments to shift into his wolf. Once that once done, he looked
“Come,” said Myron.
his head to
his arm. I didn’t give him a split second to adjust as I continued to rain combinations on his head and body, finding a weak spot. He blocked
was different now. This wasn’t a practice session; this wasn’t a game. There were too many at
with the punches, alternating between
my
attacks, without having taken a single step back. As expected of m y
my distance from him. My body was heating up, my breathing ragged, and beads of sweat rolled off
don’t remember it having this
air with lungs, keeping my face
by a punch aimed at my abdomen. I dodged to the side at the last second, still keeping my distance. My limbs felt
said Myron who was suddenly
landed on the side of my head, and I was lifted off the ground only
m y vision a little blurry. I got back up with constrained effort, the cold wind making me shiver
what just happened or what was happening. I planted my feet firmly on the ground and raised my arms for defense, but before m y eyes could see clearly, a punch landed o n my right cheek, then on my left. My head spun and my vision went hazy, pain registering on my brain from
by now, boy,” he said i n a
with a heavy thud. I tasted metal in my mouth, and I could hardly see anything from my left eye. And yet,
up blood. Too hot. I was burning inside *like an oven
and my mind was foggy. I didn’t understand how I was on my back, looking up at the man I hated most. From the flickers of the campfire’s light illuminating his
won.
Won? Won what?
body, the pain from the bruises and cuts and kicks h e gave me. Something weighed my body down, something far stronger than gravity held me on the ground and pinned my entire
stomping on
from my throat to my mouth,
he shouted again and kicked me on the
the blood in my mouth
Out on
“No!” I shouted.
am I saying
to my
I shouted with Herculean effort it felt like my lungs would burst
Pain.
the agonizing protest of every part of me and the taste o f my own blood. All I could
my chest. I couldn’t tell if my body was reacting
“Yield!”
voice in my head shouted “no.” I stuck
word. I clungt o it like it was my saving grace. I clung toi t like it was
alive. I couldn’t feel my limbs, the pain
no.”
it said. It was louder, it drowned out the small voice. “If you yield,
I told it no.
and you will free yourself of
pain.”
“No.”
I
it demanded, shouting at
determined to keep saying no. With every reply, the pain returned… increasing in intensity. It felt unbearable, The fire returned. I could picture the flames raging and burning everything inside me. I
my chest.
in my head was something familiar. It said no words, it was but a sound. A sound that lit something in my mind. Something in me pulsed, slow at first then faster
my throat. A scream so low and guttural in my ears, it didn’t sound human. I felt my bones crack, and my insides twist and move. Another scream forced its way out my mouth, and I slammed my head back
I was being split. I gasped for air as my lungs began to feel smaller, and soon I was struggling to breathe. My body
losing my senses, losing a sense of who I was. All I could feel and think of were the waves of furious torture that racked throughout my
screamed, her
cry.
“Liam!!!
jam!!!”
Then everything went black
my eyes, I was face to face with a wolf. The murderous gaze of gray eyes focused on me. The wolf in front
with me,” said