Thorn Varek's POV
Alex launched his attack at me, his claws aiming for my face. I blocked him midway with my left arm.
In another swift motion, he used his other hand to strike.
Before it could land, I scrunched forward and landed a blow on his abs.
He gnarled and staggered back up.
I used my left leg to kick him. He blocked it—unaware that the next move would catch him off guard. My foot landed squarely on his cheek, sending him backward.
The pack members cheered. They were thrilled that Alex hadn't landed a single blow.
I turned, rubbing my fist—then got kicked from behind.
The cheers died down.
He wasn't getting away with that.
I turned and launched multiple kicks to his chest. I didn't want to injure him badly; Alex was the most capable Gamma in the pack at the moment.
Our fights always got bloody, but never to the point of damage.
"That should be all for today," I said, walking out of the field ring.
Cheers resumed. I was handed a towel and used it to wipe my body.
"You've improved," I told Alex, giving him a pat on his broad shoulders.
"I'm impressed," I added with a smile.
"You teach well, Alpha," he said, bowing.
"Where will the execution of the rogue caught last night take place?" he asked.
"I had almost forgotten," I hummed.
"To the grounds, where we hold our assembly," I replied.
I handed him the towel and walked back to my house.
I was drenched in sweat. The sun had nearly scorched my skin. It was so hot today, it felt like we might burn to ashes.
I filled the tub, stripped, and stepped in.
The water felt warm against my skin, already blistered from the heat.
The minor hit I'd received from Alex earlier didn't faze me. I seemed resistant to pain.
Still, I found it odd that I was executing a rogue publicly.
She was meant to die in the dungeon.
I rested both arms on the tub's edges, closed my eyes, and allowed my body to soak in the water.
Kayla's POV
I tried to summon a small rod—and it came.
Great.
I could summon my weapons again.
Now I just had to wait for my chance to get out of here.
"Psst, psst," I whispered to the man who'd been speaking to me for days.
Silence.
"Psssst!" I tried again.
"That's not my name, young lady," he snapped, clearly annoyed.
"Don't blame me," I replied.
"I asked you for your name last night and got no answer."
"You can call me Demetrius. I'll be dying anyway, so I didn't want to bother you," he said quietly, voice so low I barely heard it.
"Great. I'm Kaela," I said.
"How about we get out of here… together?" I offered.
"Are you crazy?" he said, followed by laughter.
"You think you'll survive if you try? Shadow Clan isn't something you play with."
"Well, I'm skilled. We could at least try," I replied.
"I won't be part of your plan, lady," he said.
"Demetrius?" I called.
He ignored me.
Fine. I'd escape on my own.
I was starving. My stomach growled.
The guards were chatting loudly outside the dungeon.
They brought rice balls for the other prisoners—but gave me nothing.
I focused, trying to hear their conversation.
"Don't you think Alpha's rushing to kill that female rogue?" one guard said.
"Maybe his frustration over not having a mate is getting to him," another replied.
Seriously? Were they bad-mouthing their Alpha?
The talk continued, but I tuned them out.
So… the Alpha is mateless?
The dungeon door opened. A man with orange hair entered, carrying a plate of food.
He told a guard to place it in front of my cell.
Even though I was angry, I grabbed the plate and tore into the food.
"I see you got lucky," Demetrius said.
"Hmmm," I hummed back, still stuffing rice balls into my mouth.
Maybe I wasn't going to die today after all.
I noticed the orange-haired man and the guards staring at me.
I didn't care. I was focused on eating.
Alex's POV
After sparring with Alpha Thorn and hearing his plans for the girl, I thought she should at least be fed.
I cleaned up and went to the dungeon's kitchen.
"Take one plate and follow me," I told one of the guards.
Without hesitation, he picked it up and followed.
At the dungeon entrance, the guards nodded and opened the door.
I stepped in.
"Give it to the fair lady," I told the guard carrying the food.
She had pale skin, and her white hair—now dirty—hung limp.
She didn't look like someone who could cause harm.
She devoured the food quickly.
Before she could finish, I turned and left the dungeon.
Like the Alpha, I hadn't found my mate.
I didn't mind—I wasn't interested.
Back in the hall, I joined Kai and Thorn, who had just finished meeting with the Moon Fang Alpha.
"What issue did he bring?" I asked.
"An alliance. He says his pack is being looked down on," Kai replied.
"I guess Thorn agreed to it?" I asked.
"He did," Kai said with a sigh.
"Don't you think that's a bad sign?" I asked.
"It doesn't look too good," I added.
"Alpha knows best," Kai said. I nodded in agreement.
"They're on their way back," Kai added, seeing my unspoken question.
I nodded, and we headed home.
We had an important gathering tonight.
Getting home, Alpha is in his room already.
I began to cook lunch just as I and Kai arrived.
"You do know about the execution taking place tonight?" I ask Kai as I cut the vegetables.
"Alpha told me about it. Did you ask if he is going to eat lunch?" Kai asked me.
"I am making lunch for you and me," I say.
"I am sure he already had something before we came," I add.
After cooking, I arrange the meal and set it on the table.
"Thank you Alex"
Kai says smiling
"I sometimes wonder if you are made for the kitchen rather than a Gamma" Kai jokes around as he takes a mouth full of the meal.