71

Back at the venue, Lavana and the other 5 pack members were at the costume hall. Mel's bone had been reset successfully. He could move his hand now but not too much as he was still healing. He and the other 4 thanked Lavana effusively. Blood Star pack would be at the Finals tomorrow and it was possible because of her!

Even if she can fly and vanish, she can't use any of these abilities in that ring and neither can she use her really long claws. She didn't have much experience in battle but with her strength, she secured a place for them.
They all had changed back to the outfits they had come to the venue with. Then they headed back to the field to stand with the other 3 packs that made it to the finals.
Charlotte addressed them for a while before sending them off the field amidst applause from everyone. Most were clapping mainly for one person- the female that impressed them.

Several Alphas watched as Lavana walked to Phoenix and sat beside him. He placed a kiss on her forehead and commended her.
This got quite a number of them irate. So this strong potential Luna they sought was already mated? And to such an ugly guy at that? What an insult!
Many started devising ways in their mind how to snatch this female and even get her to reject her hideous mate!
Phoenix, on sensing killing auras directed at him, turned to look at the culprits. He simply smirked before looking at his mate who was now resting on his lap.
He patted her head gently and then looked in the direction of those unhappy Alphas.
This ugly brat was challenging them? He's not even fit to carry the shoes of their Omegas and he dares threaten them? This guy really wants to be in the cold hands of death!

"Idiots! You better stop your bad thoughts. If you dare act upon it, I promise you, I'll dig out your eyes and cut your tongue!" he thought.
When the event was over for the day, Phoenix carried his sleeping mate bridal style towards the parking lot with the other 6 pack members following behind.

***

Blood Star pack.
7:59 pm.

Several shifted grown-ups in the pack were seated in the parlour in Mel's house. Earlier when they saw the red-haired lady following behind Mel they were confused. According to what they knew, 6 people left the pack, the addition of Lavana and her mate made it 8. They'd seen Lavana's mate yesterday during the first and last activities in which he wowed everyone who underestimated him, especially in the 12th activity.

They’d also seen the other 6 who departed from their pack on screen yesterday. They expected to see Lavana today as a support at least. But instead, they saw a very beautiful lady that was taller than Lavana and had much meat on her body.
She made women feel inferior. She even got many males of high rank in the arena excited even while wearing a tunic and Capri leggings, no make-up and no sexy look. Her innocent look was rather fascinating.
She was the replacement fighter for Blood Star pack. Lavana was nowhere to be seen.

"Maybe this lady acknowledged herself as a pack member before they reached the competition grounds?" Clyde Nithercott, a middle-aged man with tanned skin and small stature asked.
"(shakes her head) No, that's not possible. If there's a new pack member, either Rolandro or my husband would have at least informed us either by call or text about the new development. But there's nothing of such sort." said Regina.

"Maybe she got acknowledged today and there's no time to inform us yet about it?" Magnolia asked with creased eyebrows.
"(sigh) Guys, in any case, this mysterious female has won us a spot in the finals tomorrow," said Carmelia.
"Yeah, that's right." the others agreed.
"That lady is pure badass!"
"True! The way she beat up that numbskull Gilbert, Damn! It blew my mind." exclaimed Keaton Ellington, a man with a scar on the right side of his face.
"Did you guys notice one thing?" Regina couldn't help but ask.
"What is it?" Magnolia asked.
"That lady was last seen in Phoenix's arms," Regina replied.
"Yeah. I recall. Why is she with Phoenix? Where is Lavana? How could she let her mate be that close to someone else?" Magnolia questioned.

"Maybe Phoenix's a cheater?" Clyde suggested.
"Or are they no longer together?" Simone Crethford, a bald female with a burly build asked, arms folded and legs crossed.
"Guys, silence! We've all watched the events that unfolded at the competition grounds and in the end, the lady claimed victory for Blood Star. Let's not be so nosy, alright?" Carmelia chided.
"Right!" the others agreed and apologised for talking out of point.
"It's fine. Spread the news to the precious ones who helped guard our pack today and our young ones- Blood Star will be competing tomorrow," said Carmelia with a small smile pasted on her lips.

The others rose and left with excited faces. They would celebrate the victory in their homes. Now there were only three females in the sitting room.
"I think we can only wait for clarification from either of our husbands," said Regina with a shrug.
"Yeah. That's what we can do. However, we need to celebrate at least, our victory today." replied Carmelia.
"I really hope Lavana's alright, wherever she is. If it turns out that Phoenix backstabbed her, I'm gonna rip him to shreds." Magnolia spat.
"Maggie, we don't know what's going on yet. Don't jump to conclusions, alright?" Regina scolded.
"(sigh) Fine. I'll wait for the explanation. It just better not be what I'm thinking."
"Maggie!"
"Sorry!"
"How about we discuss what to make for tonight." Carmelia changed the topic quickly. Pregnant she-wolves easily get mad and were a ticking time bomb. She had gotten pregnant before so she had to quickly defuse the situation.
"Uh, you decide," replied Regina after thinking for a while.
Carmelia then smiled as she brought out a paper containing the food she had in mind. "Okay, so we'll be making..."

...

Blackville Hotel, Jygane City.

The eight of them were in the room assigned to the ladies in the group. Phoenix was seated on the bed with Lavana seated on his lap and resting her head on his chest.
"She sure can sleep," Zehelina commented as she stared at the peaceful look on Lavana's face.

Phoenix chuckled and gently laid his mate on the bed and covered her with the bed cover. Then he looked at them, rubbing his palms together. "So I guess members of the pack might be worried as to why this new lady is found in my arms and where the Lavana they know is?"
"(nod) Pretty sure about that," Oliver replied, adjusting his glasses.
"Handle it your way," Phoenix replied before placing a kiss on his mate's forehead.
Facing Zehelina, he said: "Please take care of my mate. Don't let her sleep in these clothes."
Zehelina nodded in accord and he rose from the bed, stretching both hands sideways.
"Alright. (yawn) Who's sleeping with me today?"

"You're making it sound like you're gay," Oliver said with arms folded.
"I am indeed gay that you've chosen to share the bed with me tonight. Come on. Let's go." Phoenix smilingly patted Oliver's right shoulder.
"M-Me?" Oliver pointed to himself in incredulity.
"Haha, good for ya!" Dante stuck out his tongue. Oliver rolled his eyes and shook his head before leaving the room with his roommate for the night.
"Buddy, what will you tell our pack members?" Mel asked Rolandro.
"Something mysterious. Will keep them speculating until we arrive. Haha!"
"You're a bad guy." Mel nudged his friend's shoulder.
"You speak like you're some saint." Rolandro chuckled as they left the room with the other two guys after telling Zehelina 'Goodnight'.

...

The next day.
11:00 am.

They arrived at the venue.
4 long banners made of the finest silk were the only banners hung around the venue at a considerable distance apart.
Storm Rider's banner had a beige colour with black fringes and their pack's brand which was a wolf's head with a skull in its mouth was vividly drawn on the banner.
Wild Fangs' banner was lilac purple with boysenberry-coloured fringes and their pack's brand of a huge shiny navy blue sword with metallic gold wings was on it.
Erion pack's banner was royal blue with ivory white fringes and possessed their pack brand of a golden wolf with glowing green eyes howling.

Lastly, Blood Star pack's banner was white and possessed golden fringes with the pack's brand of a massive luminous red star and with dark red markings all around it in a circular shape.
Each banner seemed to be competing with the others in terms of being imposing and catchy.
"Woah, look at our banner. It looks beautiful. Blood Star!" Zehelina squealed in excitement. For the first time, their pack reached the finals and got a banner!
"Yeah, it's indeed our banner," said Zyair as he walked side by side with her.

"The whole place looks much more grand than yesterday. It feels like I'm in a different place." Oliver commented.

"It's the finals after all and this is not the grandest. Wait till the day of the top 3 Alpha ranking." Rolandro said with a chuckle.
"Yeah. That day the riches on display could even hurt your eyes." Dante chipped in.
"So where do we sit?" Lavana asked as she looked around. Quite a lot of seats were vacant. A few were seated while others walked about chatting excitedly. Seems that many would bet a lot of treasures on the pack that would emerge as the winner today.
"Um... we can sit anywhere," Zyair answered.

"But who among us will be competing today? Are they the ones to choose?" Zehelina asked.
"Only one person from each of the 4 packs will be selected. There'll be two rounds and then the winner appears. We should expect very brutal battles and even... death on that ring." Rolandro replied in a serious tone.
The others nodded as they headed to a chosen spot to sit. The ring on the field today was less spacious and the metal chains around it serving as a barrier for today's contestants had spikes on them. One needed to be careful or he would get injured even before meeting his opponent.

18 minutes later, the 1st ranked Alpha arrived dressed in a beaded raisin-coloured suit and sunglasses with several bodyguards following behind him and his grey-haired Beta who was dressed in a white suit and wore spectacles. Many of those walking about quickly took their seats after bowing to the Alpha king.
The third-ranked Alpha also arrived 9 minutes later, a golden-haired, middle-aged man he was. Possibly his offspring wasn't eligible for kingship yet. The first-ranked Alpha was around in his late 20s and rumours had it that he already had seven kids and 2 concubines in addition to his Luna.

After another 30 minutes, the second-ranked Alpha arrived looking more majestic than the other two Alphas. He's dressed in a golden brown top coat made of Vicuna wool with a white turtle neck shirt made of baby cashmere underneath it. His black pants were also of vicuna fabric and his black and gold checkered leather shoes screamed 'Custom made!' and had the letters R.P. at the heels.

At the hem of the right side of his jacket was an image of a fearsome black wolf with red eyes and a moonstone necklace around its neck- the brand of Ralton pack. His Beta was behind him dressed in a brown suit and sunglasses along with the bodyguards.

"(scoff) This moron didn't attend the event for the past two days. He manages to show up and he wants to establish he's rich? This guy needs a good beating." said the displeased 1st-ranked Alpha, Marcus Calderon of Moon Saint pack.
"His father at least had some decency. Is he afraid no one would know he has wealth and influence?" the 3rd-ranked Alpha Dmitri Snyder chipped in. "Does he really think he's the star of the event just because he came in flashy clothing?"
"Forget it. Everyone knows who's the big boss here. He's nothing more than a dunce if you ask me. Not worth looking at." Alpha Marcus said before taking out his phone to make a call.

The 2nd-ranked Alpha on the other hand was looking around while walking, searching for a particular someone- the female that caught his eye yesterday.
'Where is she? Or she hasn't arrived yet?' he thought as he headed to the grand VVIP section reserved only for the top three Alpha Kings.
The 3 Alphas of high-ranking were seated on magnificent thrones with the one in the middle being the highest and grandest- the one where the 1st ranked Alpha was seated.
On the other hand, a certain someone had been carried out of the venue by her mate.

Earlier when the second-ranked Alpha arrived, her blood began to boil and she balled her hands into fists and gnashed her teeth. This bastard that long deserved death- he and all of those Ralton bastards!
Her mate got worried upon sensing her killing intent and quickly put her in his arms and carried her out of the venue to calm her down.