A bite from an Alpha King

Chapter 4: A fair fight

-Octavia-

At first, I was disoriented as I was thrust into the cool night air, the bright lights illuminating the sand beneath me. Beyond the large circle of sand, there was only darkness. Yet, I could feel the presence of many others, all watching intently. No one would miss this fight. They were all here to cheer for their alpha—for their king.

My gaze shifted to the only figure I could make out clearly. A tall, strong, half-exposed body stood in the center of the ring, his yellow eyes locked on me, waiting for me to approach.

Slowly, I moved towards him, unsure of what would happen next. Would someone announce the start of the fight, or would we simply begin the moment I reached him? I knew I couldn’t afford to show any weakness, so I kept my posture steady—shoulders down, back straight—and quickened my pace.

As I stood before him, I held his eyes with my own. My brother had been right: there was no mistaking the yellow in his. He was a royal, but that didn’t change the fact that he had killed my father—the rightful king.

A low growl rumbled from my throat as I stared at him. His eyes widened briefly in response but quickly narrowed again, watching me closely. I still couldn’t comprehend how he had survived the silver. But somehow, he had, and the thought made me even more eager to start the fight and finish what I’d begun.

I ignored the strange pain that shot through my heart, something that had happened a few times while I was in the cell, imagining stabbing him over and over. I had always dismissed it as nothing.

My eyes drifted down his body. It was no surprise that he was practically all muscle—he was a male, after all, an alpha, and a royal one at that. In close combat, I would be no match for him. I could only rely on my speed.

My eyes stopped on a wound on his chest. It still looked fresh. A smile crept across my face. The knife had affected him after all, and he was still weak from when I stabbed him.

“So?” I asked, breaking the silence after we had been standing there, eyeing each other for what felt like an eternity. “Now what?”

The king glanced away, looking around as if to say, What do you think? My smile faded as I sensed the confidence radiating from him. He was preparing himself, fully aware of his advantage.

“Octavia Hawkins, daughter of the late king and Alpha Xavier Hawkins,” the king announced, his voice carrying to the onlookers hidden in the darkness. “You have committed high treason by attempting to kill the alpha and rightful king, Valerio Hall.”

Dark growls echoed from the shadows surrounding us. I rolled my eyes. He’s no king, I thought. Just a coward and a traitor himself.

“Clearly, you harbor a deep hatred for me, given you tried to kill me,” he continued. “To show that I’m a fair and just king, I will give you the chance to exact your revenge.”

I rolled my eyes again. He’s just trying to make himself look good in front of everyone.

“That is why we will fight one on one, to the death or until one of us submits. The last one standing will inherit everything the other owns.”

My eyes widened at his words. Everything the other person owns. If I killed him, I’d gain all his titles and lands. I’d be the next king—or rather, queen. And I’d finally reclaim my father’s pack. My heart raced as the realization hit me. This was far better than an assassination. Now, I could achieve true justice for my father.

My father. That’s who he was. My father. I refused to believe my brother’s words, even if it meant I was related to my mate. The thought made me shudder—disgusting—but it wouldn’t matter soon, because I was going to kill him.

I would avenge my father. My father... my father... The words echoed in my mind, but doubt started to creep in. What if my brother was telling the truth? What would that mean for me?

-Valerio-

I saw it, just for a moment—a flicker of doubt in her eyes. A devilish smile crept across my face. My plan had worked. I signaled for the fight to begin, and we started circling each other. Sweat glistened on her skin. Likely from exhaustion—she hadn’t eaten or slept in days. S

he wasn’t at her best, but neither was I. With each step, I felt the sharp pain from my wound. Despite the antidote, my healing was slow, and the pain was nearly unbearable. But I had to ignore it, focus on making her submit.

She lost patience first, launching the initial strike. I had to admit, she was fast. Her leg aimed for my side in a swift kick, but just before it landed, I caught it and pushed her off balance. She stumbled but quickly regained her footing, immediately coming at me again. She leaped towards me, aiming for my face, but even at her speed, I easily dodged her.

She was skilled, but her technique lacked the refinement that could make her truly deadly—probably because I’d killed her father before he could teach her properly. She kept attacking, over and over, her eyes blazing with hatred. She didn’t care about strategy or conserving energy—she just wanted me dead, pouring everything into her strikes. Foolish, I thought.

As she came at me once more, I moved quickly, grabbing her wrist and twisting it back until I heard the snap. She dropped to her knees with a scream, her left hand clutching at my fingers, desperately trying to bend them away.

But she was no match for my strength. I pried her hand off and held it at bay, watching her struggle. Sweat dripped from her brow as I maintained pressure on her broken wrist, refusing to release her. Instead, I pressed harder.

“Submit!” I growled.

She glanced at her broken wrist, then back at me, meeting my eyes with defiance, as if my alpha command had no effect on her.

“Never!” she shouted, biting down hard on my hand. I released her instantly, wincing as pain shot through me.

She had bitten deep, drawing blood, but as I looked at the wound, it was already healing. Her wrist, however, remained broken, and it would stay that way until she set it properly—a difficult task for someone without medical training.

She tore a long strip from her top, which had been tightly wrapped around her chest. I couldn’t help but watch as she methodically bound her wrist with the makeshift bandage. She tightened it with a groan, the pain evident on her face, but it was a smart move. Clearly, she had some experience—she knew how to stabilize her injury to help it heal.

She charged at me again, sweat dripping from her brow, her eyes glassy with exhaustion. She had little strength left, and I easily dodged her attack. But she didn’t stop. She swung her leg at me, and I caught it, pushing her back until she fell to the ground.

Her breathing was labored, and her legs trembled as she stood up again, attempting another punch. I caught her fist just before it hit my face. For a brief moment, our eyes met, and an unfamiliar energy surged through me.

Ignoring it, I tightened my grip on her fist, watching her face twist in pain. It was difficult to suppress the guilt in my chest, knowing I was the cause of her suffering. With my other hand, I grabbed her throat, forcing her chin up so she was looking directly at me.

Her eyes still burned with hatred, even though she knew she was losing. She was never going to submit, I concluded. I would have to kill her, and that meant risking my own life.

Everyone knew that when an alpha found his luna, their bond became unbreakable. I clenched my eyes shut, the thought of ripping out her heart sending a wave of pain through me. If I killed her, I might die too—or lose my mind entirely. I bit my lip, torn between the duty and the bond.

Octavia would never give up. She would fight until one of us lay dead on the ground. Could I really rip her heart out? Could I truly kill my mate?

I never wanted a queen in the first place, and I had only accepted Selene because of an old promise and the fact that she would easily submit and serve me. But Octavia was different. She was like fire—dangerous and uncontrollable. You could extinguish it, but if left unchecked, it might burn you down with it.

I couldn’t let her live. She would never stop coming for me. I exhaled deeply, knowing what I had to do. It was difficult to accept, but there was no other option. With her fist still in my grasp, I pulled her arm down, clearing the way. Then I grabbed her neck and yanked her close to me, sinking my canines deep into her marking spot.