Marco's signature red hair was now the color of golden wheat. It hung in thick curls to the tops of his ears. His green eyes were now a clear aquamarine and they shined like gems, and his skin was a sun-kissed tan that would make any shewolf swoon.
Along with his new look his temperament, aura, and scent had changed. The only thing that stayed the same was his soul pattern and this did not usually present itself to others so many werewolves would not even recognize it.
His name was now Stefan and he carried his little sister "Tiffany" (actually Tris) on his shoulders. He occasionally bounced her on his shoulders to bring her back into character when he felt she was becoming annoyed or feeling odd about riding her Alpha's shoulders. She was now his little sister and he wanted her to remember that.
He hadn't needed to bring her along but he had always err on the side of caution and he wanted her there just in case there was an issue with the illusion.
The illusion she used had been a long forgotten technique. Werewolves did not rely on magic and had essentially stopped using it. Because of this much had been forgotten or even evolved out of their innate abilities. But young cuts like Tris were taking an interest in their innate abilities and they began using them, understanding them, and making them better.
They reached Whitehaven, where the tournament was to begin tomorrow, fairly quickly. Marco was further impressed with Tris because she was so smart and she was Psi. Tar had also trained her pretty well and she could protect herself well.
'My Lord there is a group to your right who are covering their intent well. For some reason they are planning on assassinating you before the tournament begins. They are hiding so much I am only getting bits and pieces.'
Marco smiled inwardly. He was suddenly even happier to have such a powerful seemingly weak shewolf with him. He casually and obviously, sent his senses out and made note of the group she pointed out.
'Don't worry. I will keep an eye on them. They have probably targeted me as a potential threat to winning the tournament and they want to permanently knock me out of the running. You and I can take care of them.'
'Yea My Alpha.'
"Hey you idiot! Don't you see my brother and I walking here?! If you aren't careful my brother will kill you in the spot."
Marco almost laughed out loud. Their cover as brother and sister was that she was the little menace that he had to always protect because her mouth always got her into trouble. He was always easy going and she was going to "convince" him to join the tournament.
"Tiffany calm down. I am sorry. She gets excited sometimes and speaks out of turn. Please forgive her."
The wolf had been stunned speechless looking at the bulky, muscular Marco with round eyes, but after hearing him speak he relaxed and sneered.
"You need to either train her better or get her a muzzle."
In an instant Marco flipped. He wanted them to believe he was easy going but not weak and he wanted them to know he was always ready to protect his "sister".
Killing intent rolled off of him in thick waves and Tiffany smirked on cue.
"I already apologized to you friend. Don't make me think you are threatening my baby sister. I promise you that I will never allow her to be hurt."
Stefan smiled and the werewolf before him took an involuntary step back. Tiffany's smile widened and she patted Stefan's shoulder. "He knows better than to bother you big brother."
Stefan's killing intent immediately vanished and his smile broadened. He laughed and lightly squeezed Tiffany's foot as he turned back to Whitehaven.
"Stop inciting the werewolves to violence." Everyone who heard him felt that they heard a loving brother speaking to his sister.
The tournament was going to take four days. Over fifty thousand werewolves had signed up to participate. Amber simple frowned when she was told the numbers. All she could think was, 'Are there that many werewolves interested in being publicly humiliated?
The first day would consist of ten group matches of at least five thousand werewolves each. They would fight down to the last one hundred werewolves in each group.
The second day would then place them into smaller groups of one hundred and the last ten of each group would move on to the next day.
The third day would start the one on one fights that would take two days and on the fifth day Amber would fight the winner of the tournament in a private fight that would only be witnessed by higher ups of the pack.
She knew that her soulmate was there but she was not sure if he was entering the tournament. As soon as he entered the city she felt him. She felt him so strongly that her body trembled and her head buzzed with numbing electricity.
Adonis was now trying to make sure that this particular werewolf joined the tournament. Who else would be able to neutralize if not out and out beat his sister.
Marco trained in a special room in their rental house. He presented as an Omega but one that had not been cut off from his family. So he spent his money as if it were of no importance.
Tris watched him train his body as she trained her mind. She had explained watching him and training her mind helped her to practice splitting her attention successfully. He noticed that, at times, she seemed to diverge, as if she were two individuals and then she would seamlessly meld back into one.
The first time it happened he just stopped and looked at her. She had calmly spoken to him even with her eyes still put of focus. He had been in awe and fully understood just how important she was to his Pack. He vowed right then and there that he would never allow her to come to any harm.