(Zorya)
Xalik cornered Baram between his sweaty, hulking body and the metal cage.
The merciless punches he landed on Baram’s face and torso had him screaming in endless pain.
He spat out blood, but Xalik’s rage towards him didn’t die down.
I understood why he was so pissed at him.
Everything we had witnessed last night would enrage anyone sane, and this was the only way for him to vent out the pent-up anger inside him.
The moment I thought Xalik would end him with his punches, Baram transformed into a grizzly bear.
The fur sprouted out of his body.
His hands transformed into sharp claws.
Instantly, he attacked Xalik’s chest, clawing him deep.
A scream erupted in my chest and died on my lips.
Canara gasped beside me, along with the crowd.
All of us watched in horror.
Xalik staggered back.
Blood oozed out of his wounds.
My heart incessantly ached, seeing him wounded.
A flash of pain passed over his face before he masked it and narrowed his eyes at the enemy.
How was he going to defend himself against a gigantic bear?
Could he transform too?
The bear jumped forward, claw raised, ready to land another attack.
My breath caught.
The crowd gasped.
Baram’s supporters cheered, urging him on.
Xalik elegantly rolled to the other side.
The bear could only scratch the air and collided with the heavy metal cage with a deafening clanking sound.
A loud, angry, and frustrated growl left Baram as he spun around on all fours.
My hands tightly clutched the glass.
My lips moved in a silent prayer.
Xalik steadied himself, ready to face the beast again, banging his chest.
“Come!” Xalik provocatively invited him.
He jumped again, and this time, Xalik was ready.
He spun on the ground once and side-kicked the flying bear in the belly, sending him back with brute force.
The bear blasted against the cage with a sickening thud and fell to the ground.
Xalik stalked over to him, stomping his foot on his neck.
He repeatedly stomped on his neck with a maddening force.
“DIE!” Xalik raged.
The bear violently shook under his relentless attack.
The blood sputtered out his open mouth until Xalik broke his neck and he ceased to move.
The referee raised Xalik’s hand, declaring him the winner.
The crowd erupted all around.
Canara jumped from her seat, clapping and cheering.
Even Caliath smirked beside me, raising his glass in triumph as if he had achieved this victory.
Only I could see the pain on Xalik’s face.
Not the pain of his injuries but the pain of taking another life, no matter how evil the person was.
Every instinct in my body screamed to rush over Xalik and hug him.
But I couldn’t.
He didn’t belong to me.
So carefully I crafted a sentence.
“Master!
Should I check up on him?” I asked with my heart thudding loudly in my chest.
“No need.
Others will do it.
Tonight you remain by my side,” he stiffly answered.
His icy tone made my heart sink, and I could only stare at the receding figure of Xalik, hoping his injuries weren’t fatal.
The other Alphas congratulated Canara and Caliath on Xalik’s victory and his advancement to the final of the tournament.
There was still time for the start of the next semifinal.
My heart wouldn’t stop pounding.
I couldn’t concentrate, and I had no desire to watch two beasts trying to plummet the other to the death.
I needed to check up on Xalik.
So I devised a plan.
“Master, I need to use the restroom,” I quietly whispered.
He lifted his arm without glancing in my direction.
“Go and be quick.” I nodded before hurrying away.
Lifting the gown from the sides, I climbed the stairs, making haste towards the medical room where I knew they must have taken Xalik.
To my dismay, I only found Rami there with a few sentinels.
He was watching the fight with them.
I cleared my throat to grab his attention.
He turned towards me with a surprised smile on his face. New chapters come out on g.com first.
I chose my words carefully because sentries were present.
“Alpha Caliath wanted to know how Shade is?
Is he injured?”
Rami nodded.
“Yes, he needed to be patched up in the medical bay and had to rest up for the final.
Tatiana and Ashlia took him.”
“Thanks!” With a pleasant smile, I rushed out of there.
Without thinking, my feet rapidly moved towards the Clinic.
Caliath was busy watching the second semi-final, which had begun.
No one was going to keep an eye on me, and I could always say I wanted to use the clinic washroom as it’s safest.
I staggered inside the clinic and found Tatiana and Ashlia.
They curiously looked up from the tablet they were holding.
Tatiana wearily eyed me.
“Zorya?
What is it?” Ashlia asked, a crease settling on her forehead.
“Umm, I just needed to check up on Shade.
Alpha’s orders.” I had lied, and I hoped whoever was listening wouldn’t check up with Caliath.
Xalik was their warrior, and it was pretty straightforward that Caliath could have sent me to check up on him.
Tatiana instantly relaxed.
“He is fine.
We patched him up.
He just needs rest and will be fine for tomorrow’s final.”
“I will take you to him,” Ashlia answered, moving forward and taking my arm in hers.
We left Tatiana’s office and headed to the medical bay.
Before entering, she squeezed my arm and barely whispered.
“Alpha Caliath didn’t send you, did he?”
Facing her, I shook my head.
“This is a dangerous game you are playing, Zorya.
Please, be careful.” She squeezed my shoulders and left.
I knew this could cost me my life.
That feeling to be near him, to ensure he wasn’t injured, to see him, overshadowed everything else.
With a heavy sigh, I pushed open the door and entered the room.
There he was, on the bed with his eyes closed.
He was sleeping.
His bare chest was wrapped with a broad bandage.
An IV had been hooked to his arm.
Without much thought, I stepped closer and placed my hand on the back of his.