WHO IS THIS GIRL?

CHAPTER 25: WHO EXACTLY IS THIS GIRL?

~ Harpers POV~
Something told me this wasn’t going to be a clean fight as Tanner was telling us the rules. A crowd had gathered around the ring. I heard pack members whispering. They all thought that I was going to lose to Samantha. I don’t know her skill set yet. She may be very good. But there’s only one way to find out. The thing is no one here has ever seen me fight before. And if there was anything that I was confident about, it was my skills in combat. My father and mother were the top of their class and highly ranked warriors. I bounced on my feet trying to loosen up before the match began. Samantha looked at me like she was ready to tear my heart out. I gave her a sweet smile back. Hopefully she realized that I was being condescending.

Once Tanner was done explaining the rules. Samantha and I both took a defensive stance. We circled each other around the ring. I’m not going to be the first one to attack. I feel like it’s always best to let my opponent come to me.

Samantha and I held eye contact while we continued to circle each other in the ring. I could tell she was about to pounce, her demeanor changed, and she positioned herself to attack. She stepped forward using her left foot first and leaning in not out. This told me that I could expect her to strike using her left hand, and I was right. I ducked her fist and caught her arm with both of my hands holding her in place while I used my right knee to smash it into her side as many times as I could before she escaped my hold on her.

The crowd around us was loud but I blocked them out and focused on my opponent. I braced myself again as Samantha swiftly positioned herself behind me. I saw her starting to lean back so I knew she was going to kick me with her right leg. I quickly threw my body to the ground, flattening myself out just enough to avoid her kick and counter attacked by throwing my leg out to the side of me while spinning. I caught both of her ankles and she tumbled to the ground. I quickly straddled her waist, landing blow after blow to her face.

She held her hands over her face trying to shield my attack. While I was hitting her, I remember the way she was talking about me on my first day here. Then I remembered how I caught her whispering about me as I passed by her in the hallway on my way to the training field today. All that upset me, but what really set me on fire was the thought of her insinuating that she and Gabriel had been together this morning. She was trying to make me think that she and Gabriel were still intimate with each other.

My blows to her face became harder and harder. Blood started splattering all over my face, chest, and arms. I don’t know when they entered the ring, but Tanner and Gabriel grabbed me by each arm and pulled me off Samantha. Once they let me go, I looked at her in the middle of the ring as she was trying to get up. Her face looked a mess. This is their strongest female warrior. Really? I must admit though, I wasn’t meaning to go that far. I can’t remember at what point it was that I blanked. A female warrior ran into the ring and helped Samantha up to her feet.

I looked at Tanner and he wore an expression of pure shock on his face. His mouth was hanging wide open. I don’t remember him ever doing this in any of the other sparring matches, but he took my left arm and lifted it up in the air as if declaring me the winner. The crowd that had gathered around the rain was going wild.

I overheard some male warriors talking about my fight.
“Samantha didn’t even touch her. Who exactly is this girl? Did you see her eyes midway through the match? They were light blue. Doesn’t she have green eyes?” I looked over at Gabriel. He was smiling at me as if he was proud.
“What the hell Harper you went beast mode and kicked her ass into next week. I don’t know what Gabriel thinks here, but That match was over too quickly. You could have at least prolonged it a little for the sake of our excitement. None of us were expecting that.” Gabriel looked at Tanner with amusement, written all over his face.
“Maybe you weren’t expecting it. But I had a good idea that she could handle herself.” I giggled at Gabriel.

I turned and walked back towards Samantha where she was standing in the corner of the ring. She had already started to heal because she had her wolf. Trying to be an honorable opponent, I reached my hand out to shake hers. The way I did in every match, whether I lost or won. She refused my hand and slapped it away.
“You bitch, you caught me off guard.” She said to me, I smirked at her and turned to walk back towards Gabriel.
“Well, whenever you’re ready for a rematch, just let me know. You might want to let your face heal up first though.”

I had only taken a few steps away from her when I heard her scream in anger. I felt two hands grab hold of my hair and jerk me backwards, causing me to land on my back. I protected my face with my forearms. As she landed blow after blow. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Gabriel coming towards us, reaching to pull her off me.
“No, don't. I’m fine. Stop trying to jump in and let me do this.” He wasn’t happy with what I was telling him. His angry growl blasted over the arena and echoed over the entire training field. I needed to do this myself though. I’ve been in this position before. I’ve practiced ways to get out, this is easy for me. Do they think I can’t take a hit?

I used my feet to turn my body even with her still on top of me. I used my right leg to brace myself and twisted my body putting us both in an awkward position. She stopped hitting me to reposition herself and I quickly lifted my hips using my right leg again. I was able to make enough room between my body and the floor of the ring to slide my left leg up near my right leg and twisted my body underneath Samantha’s.
I now braced myself on my left knee. I grabbed Samantha’s left arm with both of my hands and held on. I was now able to continue my twist rising as I did. Everything happened so fast after that. I was now in a crocheted position standing on my left foot.

Having the upper hand now I was still holding Samantha’s left arm. I threw my right leg over her bent over position straddling her left arm and shoulder. I moved my hands down to her wrist and forcefully threw my body backwards while holding her wrist tightly.

I wrapped my legs around her left arm and held her down by her torso at the same time. Samantha was desperately trying to break out of my hold on her. She was spitting curse words at me the whole time. I had her arm in a bar position between my legs and slowly bent it backward until I heard a *crack then pop* and Samantha let out a demonic scream that vibrated in my chest.

I finally let her go and she grabbed her arm and rolled over propping herself up on both her knees. Her cries were getting louder and louder.
“Get her to the packhouse doctors.” Gabriel instructed some pack members who had started into the ring to help her.

Gabriel grabbed me and embraced me in a tight hug. “I guess there’s no point in asking if you’re ok.” He said laughing at me. Tanner stepped up beside us along with gamma Kai.
“Harper, you are a badass! I bet you could take about any guy in this field out right now. Well not me. But anyone else for sure. Even Gabe, judging by how hot and bothered he was just by watching you fight. I would say you could take him out without even having to touch him if you got creative enough.” Gabriel laughed and shoved Tanner’s shoulder. “So, are you guys a thing, or can I marry her?” Tanner was joking. I giggled at him; gut Gabriel didn’t think it was funny.
“Shut up Tanner! Mika, already wants to kill you.” Tanner, Kai, and I all laughed at the same time.