Chapter 14

Golden rays seeped through the curtains, telling me it was morning and that I had to get out of bed and train my pack. Despite the goddess's promise of no war, we needed to be fit. Once I was done with my preparation, I jogged down the stairs, went into the kitchen, and poured myself a glass of apple juice to begin my day. Then I headed out of the house to join my pack at the training grounds.

Hundreds of men and women had gathered and were in lines. We usually started that way to enable easy picking of partners. Unfortunately, Mavros was early and had already gotten himself a spot beside Melody, Drake, Carter and Maya. He must have felt me staring because he looked in my direction. I tore my eyes away from him immediately. I still wasn't over what happened yesterday.

"Attention." Melody said when she saw me.

All heads bowed as I walked to the front of the lines they had created. "Good morning to you all."

"Good morning, Alpha." They chorused.

"Today we will continue the practice of Neacela. I hope you have been working on it."

"Yes, Alpha."

"Very well." I felt Mavros' eyes bore holes into my head with his continuous stare. It made me feel hot. "Turn to the person beside you. He or she will become your partner."

One after the other, they paired in twos and created some space. Melody and I were usually partners, but ever since she became pregnant, I always trained with Logan. Now, he was hospitalized, I would train with my sister. Maya advanced forward with a teasing smile.

"I've been practicing." She told me, flexing her lean arms. Drake shook his head, embarrassed. "Come at me."

"I've practiced longer."

She shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Let's go."

"Very well." I attacked first with a swift left punch to the face. She hadn't seen it coming. It was more like me to attack with my right hand.

"Oh," she touched her busted lip. "You got me there."

"I warned you."

Our legs and fists were a blur as we attacked each other, barely giving the other person a chance to stop and rest. Maya managed to land a few hits to my face, but she got it worse. I had hit vital areas father had told me about. She was growing tired and fast. Her once straight posture was now bent, like a street lamp, as she struggled to hold herself up.

"Give in." I advised, blocking her punch. "You'll only hurt yourself more."

By this time, the pack stopped what they were doing to watch us.

"Princess Maya, you can do this!" a pack member chanted, earning a smile from me.

"Princess Maya, you can do this!" Another joined and just like that. Maya got herself a group of you-can-do-this fans. It boosted her morale.

"You heard the people." She cracked her knuckles.

"Whenever you're ready, sis."

Maya raised her fist, and I sidestepped the move, grabbed her wrist, and stepped behind her. I sunk my foot into back of her knee, sending her to the ground. Before she stood, I slammed into my back with enough force to get her to surrender, but not inflict serious damage.

"I surrender." Maya cried out, much to my pleasure.

Cheers erupted and some ululated.

I held my hand out for my sister and she took it. "I warned you."

Drake helped Maya maintain her footing by holding her waist. She leaned on him for support.

"Show off."

I smiled a little. "Sorry."

She waved a hand in the air, dismissing my apology. "It's okay. No hard feelings."

I clapped her back before Drake carried her away. Mel walked up to me and fist bumped my shoulder. "You did great."

"Thanks." My eyes trailed down to her tummy, a brief reminder of what Carter had told me. "How's the baby?"

Mel rubbed her tummy. "He's fine."

My lips curled into a smirk. "He? Did you check?"

"Nah, but I can feel it." She said, "A mother knows."

"Whatever you say, mama wolf." I turned to the crowd. "Is there anyone who would like to challenge me?"

Seconds went by and no one raised a hand or stepped forward. Mavros just stood, watching us like a hawk. I'd expected him to raise his hand or something, yet he didn't. I was a little disappointed as I was looking forward to testing my strength.

"Anyone?" I repeated. "Come on, don't be-"

"I'll fight you."

Before I saw her, I heard gasps and people stepped aside for her to approach me. The way they shifted was as if she had a deadly disease. Zariya took one step after the other until she was directly in front of me.

"Fuck." I heard Mavros say before he left where he was. "Zariya, get back." He stood between the both of us like a barrier, except this barrier was ready to attack the threat. "Go back now."

She tilted her head to the side, her steely gaze challenging him. She was bold. I'd give her that. Perhaps it was because she was already dead and did not fear death. "And if I say no?"

"I'll do something awful to you." He responded, his voice spine chilling. "Get back now."

"No."

"I swear, if you-"

"Let her be." I went around him. "I'll fight you."

She appeared to be impressed by what I said. "You have a backbone. I like it."

I ignored her comment. "All of you, leave."

Even though they I knew they wanted to stay, I couldn't risk anything. They'd seen enough.

"Val, you don't have to fight her." Melody held my arm as if to stop me.

"Mel, come here." Carter gestured for Melody to come to him. "Now."

"Carter, she's going to-"

"Come here now." He ordered. When he saw the hurt and annoyed look on his mate's face, he sighed. "Please, Mel. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'll be fine." I tried to assure her. "Go inside."

"You sure?"

I nodded. "Yes."

She faced Zariya. "I hate you."

Zariya rolled her eyes. "Are we fighting or what?"

After Melody left with Carter, Mavros stepped aside after asking if I was certain I wanted to fight Zariya. My positive response was enough for him to know I was serious about what I said. I didn't need him to fight my battles for me. I was fine without him and things hadn't changed.

"Very well." Mavros moved away from us, but he was still close, just in case things were to get out of control, considering my opponent was a spirit with ichor and I, a mere mortal.

Zariya and I circled each other. The pack ground was the perfect place to fight. There were trees to block out the sun, allowing me to focus on the woman before me. I didn't have to bother about anyone getting hurt because of us. As I circled Zariya, I wished she were a mortal. I wanted to kill her.

"There's something I haven't told you." She said, stopping for a moment. "Your beta,"

My heart stopped. "What did you do to Logan?"

Zariya stopped moving. "You know I'm running out of time and I have eight days left. I needed to do something that would make you work faster on what I want. I don't have time to waste."

"Get to the point." I almost shouted.

She smiled, her eyes dark with evil and wickedness. "I have finished what I didn't do."

"Y—You killed Logan?" My heart became heavy and my world stopped.

"Exactly." She stroked her jaw. "Minutes before I came here. His mate doesn't know it yet. She thinks he is sleeping."

"Zariya, have you gone insane? You killed a man who did nothing to you. You don't even know him." Mavros took steps in her direction. I stopped him.

She killed my beta, my friend, my family and had the audacity to be cool about it. Monster. She deserved what was coming.

Zariya stepped forward, her steely gaze never wavering as he spoke. "If I can do it again, I would in a heartbeat."

That was all it took for me to lose my sanity.

I lifted my fist and jammed it in her face. She stumbled back and smirked. The nerve of this woman. She fired back with a kick to my right leg and I fell to the ground. I rolled away before she could attack me again. She grabbed me by my hair and in agonizing pain; I rammed my elbow backwards, feeling it connect to something boney.

Zariya fell like I did. She rolled over and lunged to grab my leg. I kicked her hand away. I picked up a stone, kneeled over her, raised my weapon and slammed it in her face repeatedly. At one point, I dropped the stone and punched at her smashed face. Her head bounced to the left, causing me to slam my fist into the rock-hard ground. The pain didn't bother me because all I felt was anger and hatred.

She rose to her feet after banging my nose with her head and pushing me off of her. We circled each other at a slow pace, each with a glare and a seemingly unbreakable eye contact. I didn't understand something. Mavros said she was powerful. Why was it easy for me to hurt her?

"Valeria Romero," she growled, "are you that upset?"

I was seeing red metaphorically and literally because blood was dripping down my nose, thanks to her.

"I'll fuck you up so bad that after this, you'll never hurt my family again." I said, wiping the blood away.

My extremely sensitive ears picked up the sound of leaves swaying from side to side and the chirping of birds. It helped me regain strength and a newfound determination to get rid of the woman before me. It was in my destiny to get rid of her.

I attempted to make another move, but it was useless. Something wasn't right. I felt light-headed. I couldn't pass out now. I had to hurt her. When I realized I couldn't do more, tears fell from my eyes. The thought of what she did angered me to no end, and I wished that anger would fuel me with strength even if it was for five minutes.

"I win and you lose."

I willed my body to move when she invaded my circle. She placing his a hand on my shoulder and thrust her knee into my abdomen. She effortlessly hurled me to the ground, knocking air out of my legs. I lay there, gasping for air as she walked away.

"Val?" Mavros lifted my head onto his lap. "V? Can you hear me?"

"I can't let her go." I told him as tears wet my cheeks continuously. "I can't let her go after what she did."

I scrambled to my feet, mustered energy, ran up to her and jumped on her back despite the terrible pain I was in. I choked her with both my hands. She threw me off like I weighed nothing and aimed her fist at my ribcage that hurt already. I doubled up, wheezing.

"Valeria, stop." Mavros gripped my arm.

"Let go!" I pulled my arm out of his hold. "Don't touch me."

I grabbed Zariya's shirt and pulled her close to me so that I could do more damage. She pushed me backwards and I fell, hitting my head on the same stone I had used as my makeshift weapon. I lay there, groaning. I stared up into the sky without blinking or making a sound.

"Val?" I felt Mavros' hand go underneath my thighs and head, and he carried me bridal style.

"She's getting away." I managed to say. "Don't let her get away."

"Stop talking, please."

"But she's getting away." I complained. "Put me down. I need to stop her from hurting more..."

The words died on my lips because I passed out.