2.
1123 Words
"Don't" I say holding up my finger in warning.
"You'll have a dip half way through the trial and then..."
"Don't" I interrupt "I'll be fine dad and besides if you want my eyes open then I need this" I reply motioning to my almost empty cup.
Dad eventually sighs, admitting defeat to my caffeine addiction, a battle he has fiercely fought since sixteen.
I gulp down the last dregs of my coffee, as always wishing the cups were bigger, as the crowd swarms around us, eight am fast approaching.
Alpha Weston doesn't waste a moment, the bells have barely stopped ringing as he addresses the pack.
"Welcome.... welcome. Yesterday we had eighty-nine eligible pack members trying out. That number is now down to fifty-three, with three trials remaining and only thirteen first class positions available.
Today will contain trial two and three, defense and offensive skills. Usually these trials would be undertaken separately, but after much thought and discussion between myself and the council, we have decided these skills can be determined in unison. Therefore allowing our contenders more much needed rest before their interviews and practical tomorrow.
At the end of today we will also be introducing a leader board. This will allow contenders to see their current standing among their peers and will also assist judges in determining whom outside the thirteen are deserving of second or third class ranking".
Alpha pauses for a moment allowing the crowd time to die down again before continuing.
"I ask our fifty-three remaining contenders to line up in front of the podium to receive your grouping.
Thank you and remember contenders my word is final. When I say out, you're out. No arguments".
We line up and are then split into five near even groups.
My group is placed with Kyan, the beta's eldest son and one of the fairer commanders in the pack. And by that I mean he ignores my presence instead of scathing or making whispered comments as he passes.
"Right" Kyan says after we have separated into one of the set up sections on the field, padded mats behind him.
"We will begin with Garrison and James, the rest of you can sit calmly on the side lines until your names are called".
After forty five minutes I have learned one thing, Kyan is officially the king of ignoring my presence. Sixteen practice rounds and I wasn't included in one.
As we return to stand in front of the podium I avoid looking at my dad, knowing he was watching every minute of the forty five.
"Now we are thoroughly warmed up let the trials begin" Alpha informs the crowd before pointing to two competitors whom are to begin the trials.
I can feel my father's eyes on me, the heat of his gaze intensifying with each pair called. Each pair that I'm not in.
We thought we had planned for every occurrence but as the competitors dwindle it occurs to me... fifty-three.
Fifty-three.
Fifty. Three.
As in twenty-six pairs.. plus one.
"F*ck" I whisper to myself, my mind going into over-drive with the thought of me being that one. What are they going to do with that one? Make me wait till next year? Fail me because I have no one to compete with? Simply tell me to go home and not come back? Or 'accept' my role?!
No.
No. No. No.
I have worked way too hard for too many years for them to do this to me.
No. I will petition the council... but that won't work. They hardly let it pass for me to enter the trials, they are just looking for a chance to put me back in the box. The box of wife, cleaner, cook, child carer, teacher or nurse.
No. No. Ummmm, the Luna? Nope, she hates me for doing this too. The Beta? No. The Gamma... no hes already done so much for me....
"Michaela!" Alpha calls pulling me back to reality.
I look around... only I remain. Great.
"Michaela" he repeats with a low growl, thinking my silence disrespectful.
"Yes Alpha" I answer quickly with a bow.
"Fifty-three competitors, twenty-six pairings have already been decided. Twenty-six competitors have already been dismissed for next year. Would you like to join them Michaela?" he asks but I can see his true question.... his question of whether I am ready to yield yet. To give up what he sees as a ridiculous pursuit.
"No, Alpha" I reply, my head still down-turned.
"Good" he replies happily, instantly making my stomach turn.
"Weston" he calls through the crowd.
"Be so kind as to fill in, won't you?" Alpha asks, slightly smirking even as he tries to hide it.
Weston appears from the sidelines but doesn't head straight for the mat, instead walking quickly up onto the podium to have words with his father.
"Dad... I can't" he begins.
"Yes you can Wes and you will" he dad says with no room for argument.
"Dad, she'll get hurt. Even if I try not to she will...".
I don't hear the rest as I make my way towards the mats, theres no turning back now.
I give my dad a reassuring nod as I pass but end up shaking my head also as he looks between me and the two alphas still arguing quietly on the podium. His eyebrows crease but another shake of the head from me followed by another nod assures him or at least confirms what we both now know. I will lose but I will go down with a fight.
"Enough!" Alpha growls before walking away from his son toward the mats where I am now stretching. Weston doesn't want to, any sane person can see he doesn't want to, but still, he follows. Daddy's little puppy to the end.
Weston soon joins me on the mats, his large frame dwarfing out the sun behind him. He is twenty-four, three years my senior, an alpha and he got his wolf early four years ago. I gulp down the part of my brain telling me how idiotic this is and instead take my stance, praying to the moon goddess I make it out of this alive.
Weston eyes me, the hope that he won't have to do this fizzling out as he too crouches down into his fighting stance.
"No wolf Wes" Alpha remarks, as if he would ever need Ryker, "This match, unlike the others, will end in yield. One of you must give up" he says, eyes bearing down on me. I can see Weston go stiff, straightening a little to argue but the words seem to get stuck, his eyes going sad before he bobs back down into his stance.
"Begin".
- Writer
