Chapter 34: *”Next up!”
Alora continued to study Darien with a sharp-eyed look for a moment longer, then let him go with a “humph,” when it looked like he was truly remorseful for what he had implied about her strength
Facing the arena Alora said, “I have already told you, I am not holding back this time. When I face Sarah, 1 will give her a beating she will not soon forget.”
Darien studied Alora, outwardly she seemed calm, only her words and the slight growl in her voice gave away the anger simmering under the surface. As Darien studied Alora, he felt another flare in her power. When it settled, it was like Alora was more powerful than she was a second ago.
If Darien could compare this to something, he would compare it to the breaking of a seal, one designed to hold back an immense amount of power. It got him thinking. Darien would not have put it past Bettina to have done something to Alora when she was just a newborn pup.
Alora and Xena went into a state of calmness, a stillness found before a storm. Inside her space, Xena lay in a regal pose. Her front paws were in front of her, crossed at the wrists, her head up and her look focused. Xena’s tail would slowly lift and then softly go back down.
Alora was reclined back on the bench again, her long muscular and shapely legs extended in front of her, crossed at the ankles. Her hands braced on the bench beside her hips, her hoodie once more halfway down her biceps. This time the connecting ends of the hoodie were left to fall on each side of Alora, no longer hiding away her birthmark
Although it was darkest at the top row of the stadium where they were, Werewolves had excellent night vision. Jamison caught sight of the mark on Alora’s thigh, after having studied her legs. He truly found Alora attractive, and he had a thing for legs. It was not the first time he had seen that mark on Alora, and he thought of the legend his family had taught him.
If the legend proved true, her family would soon be punished by the Moon Goddess for the treatment she received, if they had not already. Jamison wondered more than a few times if Alora knew of the legend behind the mark on her thigh. Now that he knew some of what Alora had suffered growing up, he was now sure she did not.
Jamison debated on whether he should tell her but decided not to after glancing at Darien. The Alpha and Luna of the Pack would know this legend, and if they had not yet told Alora about it, they must have their reasons. With that in mind, Jamison forced himself to focus back on the fight happening in the Arena.
Lexus leaned in close, almost intimately. “It’s her legs, isn’t it?” He whispered the question into his ear, his lips accidentally brushing as he did, sending a shiver of awareness through Jamison.
That confused him for a moment, he knew he had a slight attraction for males, but he was very attracted to females with legs like Alora’s and the Vice Principal’s. Jamison would not turn eighteen till the last day of exams, he was hoping he would be able to find his mate that day. The reaction he just had to Lexus was now making him nervous.
Clearing his throat, and forcing himself to remain calm and collected, Jamison whispered lowly. “They are quite lovely, yes,”
“You want to know which female I think has the best legs in the whole school?” Lexus asked him, still whispering in his ear.
Lexus was already eighteen, and he had not met his mate yet, but that did not mean he would not soon. “Who” Jamison asked, hoping to distract himself from what he was feeling
“Katrina Novikov.” Lexus said, and Jamison knew exactly who she was
Katrina Novikov was a polar bear shifter female who was just as tall as he was. Jamison had a crush on the female, she was another curvaceous and statuesque beauty with a muscular and shapely form. A pale white-haired beauty who seemed to shine from the inside out, as pure as freshly fallen snow, Katrina turned eighteen the same day Jamison did.
Before Jamison could make a returning comment about Katrina to Lexus, the fight down below ended, and the announcer came booming over the speakers.
“Next up! Sarah Frost Northmountain, formerly Enforcer Class fighter third rank now Delta Class fighter fourth rank, has challenged Alora Luna Heartsong. Alpha Class fighter first Rank!”
Bettina and Allister’s heads popped up in surprise and fury as they heard this announcement. Then they looked at each other silently for a moment before looking down and frantically flipping to the back of the program where the Alpha Class fighters were listed.
There she was, Alora, only her middle given name was supposed to be Frost and her sumame was supposed to be Northmountain. “That whore! How did she find out?!” Bettina hissed her fury out in a whisper.
“There is no way Alura could have thanged her name without our permission or the permission of one of our Clan Alphas. Not without breaking from their Clans The only way she could do that is if she were to pledge herself individually to The Pack Alpha. She can’t do that until the reaches adulthood.” Allister was so shocked he forgot to lower his voice, lucky for him the music was already playing loudly.
Bettina hissed in a fury filled whisper, “That dark skinned bitch from the office told us earlier she was already eighteen! That whore probably did it the day the
Allister was looking at Alora’s fighter statistics, they had her listed as the first rank fighter of the Alpha Class, and according to the information in the program, she has held that Rank starting her first day at the high school. Allister started to eat, the glare that Alora had given him every time they had beaten her lately had begun to scare him a while ago.
It was like it said she was only letting this happen for now but would soon seek het retribution. It was why he had lessened the number of beatings in the last couple of years. He could not stand his own fear at that glare, and no matter how much he beat her, he could not get rid of it.
“Sarah is not her match.” Allister whispered, his words shaky.
Bettina was so angry she did not even notice the fear Allister was suddenly saturated in. “That whore better submit to Sarah if she knows what is good for her. If that bitch does not, the will be sorry the second she steps through our front door.”
In other areas of the stadium the reaction to the announcement was different. Darien knew the song Alora had picked out the moment he heard the opening chords. Love the way you hate me, I Like A Storm. Before Darien could make a comment about her song choice be froze, as Alora’s Alpha aura washed over him. It felt so strong, a lot stronger than his own.
There was a deadly edge to Alora’s aura, it warned those within its path not to cross her. As Alora stood up, she allowed her hoodie to fall away from her and slipped off her sandals, leaving them behind with her hoodie. Power sang through Alona’s veins and radiated outward from her body.
Looking every inch like a dignified and powerful Alpha, Alora started her descent to the bottom row of the stadium seating. As she passed each row of fighters, they all had the same reaction when her Alpha’s aura washed over them. They tilted their heads and bared their necks in submission.
Sarah had already run down and was in the arena standing there, she turned to face Alora. Waiting impatiently for Alora to get into the arena for the beating Sarah had planned for her Sarah watched as Alora made her way to her, too slowly in her opinion, Sarah became even more infuriated, when she noticed the reaction the other students were having to Alora’s presence as she passed them.
Alpha Andrew and Luna Ember had been waiting for the challenge between Alara and Sarah. They knew Alora was not going to let Sarah win against her and were looking forward to Alora asserting herself against one of her abusers. Ember already had her video camera out and was recording it all.
Ember noticed it when it happened as Alora passed the Delta Class fighters. With a surprised expression she looked up at her mate wide eyed. Andrew had also caught the reactions the students had to Alora as she passed by them and was just as surprised as his mate.
“She’s finally letting out her Alpha’s aura.” Ember said her words coming out breathy with her surprise and joy.
“Yes, and it is quite strong judging from the reaction of those students.” Andrew said, his voice held a faint note of pride Ember could feel through their bond.
That was also when Ember noticed the lyrics of the song that was playing over the sound system. “Oh my. This song is most definitely a message, and if Sarah were smart, she would listen to it.”
Andrew looked down at his mate in confusion for a moment, then some of the lyrics of the song caught his attention and he understood what his mate meant. “I do not think Sarah would listen to that message even if she did know what it meant.” Andrew told his mate after he thought about it for a moment.
Leaning into her mate Ember looked back in time to watch Alura vault over the railing of the bottom row of the stadium seating. Alora landed in a graceful crouch then stood up smoothly. Making her way to the fighter’s platform in the middle of the arena in long powerful strides.
