Witch in wolf's clothing - Namaari

Chapter 14: You Asked for It

Before Tazzym can step into the circle, I stride forward, interrupting, "Nope, I'll show you what an exciting fight looks like."

Tazzym's brows furrow in concern. "Ari, you're going to get hurt," he warns, his voice edged with genuine worry.

But Trainer Jethro steps forward, intervening, "If the girls want to train with us, they'll have to take a hit or two. Look, if Ari can defeat Alrik, then the girls can join our sessions without any further objections."

I smirk confidently, meeting Tazzym's gaze. "Challenge accepted," I declare firmly.

The men around me chuckle, sensing the tension and excitement in the air. Alrik grins, his earlier cockiness returning. "This is going to be fun," he remarks with a hint of anticipation.

"Fun indeed," I reply, my voice steady and determined.

Kieko, always supportive, cheers from the sidelines, "Go Ari!"

Ebony and Willow stand steadfast, their expressions full of confidence in me. Alrik, emboldened by his earlier victory and egged on by the surrounding crowd, lunges at me aggressively. He's quick, but I match his intensity with precise defensive maneuvers and swift reflexes. Dodging his strikes with fluid grace, I keep him at bay, frustrating his attempts to land a solid hit.

As the spar intensifies, Alrik's attacks become more aggressive, his movements fueled by a combination of frustration and arrogance. Between his strikes, he starts taunting me, his voice carrying over the sounds of our clashing.

"You're just a coward, Ari!" he jeers, his words dripping with condescension. "Too scared to even take a swing at me?"

Alrik's accusation echo around the training ground, drawing the attention of onlookers who watch eagerly. His strategy shifts to provoke me into making a mistake, but I remain composed, studying his rhythm, waiting for the opportune moment to counterattack. I know that patience and strategy will win this spar, not reckless aggression.

As the spar continues, Alrik's initial confidence begins to wane. His movements, once fluid and assured, start to betray signs of hesitation. The onlookers sense the shift in momentum, some murmuring in surprise at my steadfast defense against Alrik's relentless barrage.

The tension between us thickens with each exchange, until finally, Alrik's voice cuts through the air again, tinged with disbelief and a hint of frustration. "You're nothing but a timid kitten," he sneers, his tone laced with uncertainty.

His words hang in the air for a moment before I calmly respond, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. "I was holding back to spare you, but if you insist..."

With that, I unleash a series of calculated strikes, catching Alrik off guard. His confidence wavers as my blows find their mark, leaving him on the defensive for the first time in the match.

The onlookers, including Tazzym and the other men, watch in surprise as I assert control over the spar. Alrik's earlier bravado fades, replaced by a growing realization of his miscalculation. Despite his efforts to rally, he struggles to regain the upper hand against my relentless barrage of attacks.

Eventually, as I maintain my composed stance, Alrik concedes defeat, his breath heavy and movements hesitant. "You're alright," he mutters through gritted teeth, acknowledging my skill.

I lower my guard slightly, a hint of a smirk playing on my lips. "I didn't want to hurt you too badly," I reply coolly, my tone laced with amusement. "But you asked for it."

With that, the tension dissipates, and there's a mixture of laughter and applause from the spectators. Ebony cheers loudly, Willow nods approvingly, and even Tazzym offers a begrudging nod of respect.

Zyméo quietly moves up behind me, his voice a gentle whisper in my ear amidst the sound of applause. "I was hoping you'd do well. You didn't disappoint," he murmurs softly.

His words send a shiver down my spine, a rush of tingling sensation that causes me to blush despite myself. "Thanks," I manage to murmur back, my voice barely audible over the sounds of the training ground. Quickly, I step away from him, unwilling to let anyone see my flushed face.

Willow, sensing my discomfort, steps forward and envelops me in a comforting hug. "You did amazing out there," she reassures me with a warm smile.

Trainer Jethro approaches us, his expression stern yet acknowledging. "Alright, from now on, I expect you all to be punctual for training sessions. As promised, you may continue training with us, but don't expect me to lower the standards for you," he asserts firmly.

Kieko, always straightforward, chimes in, "We wouldn't want you to."

With a nod of acknowledgment, trainer Jethro turns away, leaving us to bask in the aftermath of our hard-earned victory on the training field.

"Hey Ari," Ebony says, breaking the moment, "maybe you should sign up for an extra class and join the men in combat training in wolf form. Show them a thing or two."

I run a hand through my hair, chuckling nervously. "Uh, my wolf form isn't that strong. I'm better at combat techniques."

I think to myself, if I shift into wolf form, they'll immediately know I'm not an Omega. Let's leave that lesson for another time.

"Too bad," Ebony responds. "But everyone has their own talents."

"Yeah, and girl," Kieko adds, "you already have more than enough talents. You can spare a few for me." I chuckle at her remark.

As the excitement of the sparring match begins to settle, Willow turns to me with a bright smile. "By the way, I'm throwing a big party this Saturday night for my 20th birthday. My brother has invited pretty much everyone our age, even from neighboring packs. Ebony and Kieko are already coming, so I hope you can make it too."

"Oh, that sounds fun!" I respond, genuinely excited. "I've never been invited to a birthday party besides family ones. I'll definitely come! Where is it?"

Willow's eyes light up with excitement. "The university has a large event hall, and I've booked it because we're expecting a huge crowd. Feel free to bring a date if you want."

I wrinkle my nose at the suggestion, making a face. "A date? Not really my thing right now."

Willow chuckles, "Well, just come and have fun. It's going to be epic!"

Willow calls out to Tazzym, who makes his way over, and I can't help but feel a bit confused. "Alpha Tazzym, you and your brothers are coming to my birthday party, right? My brother said you'd be keeping him company. Ari doesn't have a date, so I was wondering if you could bring her along to make sure she gets there safely."

Tazzym looks at me, about to make a snide comment about my lack of a date, but he quickly swallows his words when he sees the steam practically coming out of my ears. He then says curtly, "She can come, but only if she promises not to embarrass us."

"Agreed," Willow says quickly, turning to me with a bright smile. "It's settled then."

"Hey, don't I get a say in this?" I protest, feeling a bit outnumbered.

"No," both Willow and Tazzym say in unison, Willow laughing and Tazzym walking away with a smirk on his face.

After everyone else has gone to lunch, I head to the communal showers next to the training room. The space is quiet, and the sound of running water is almost calming. After my shower, I wrap a towel tightly around myself and start to walk towards my locker. Suddenly, Zyméo passes by.

He looks at me, his eyes briefly turning black, and a small growl escapes his lips. It’s gone just as quickly as it appeared. He composes himself, and I clutch my towel more securely, asking, “What are you doing here?”

Zyméo goes to his locker and pulls out a sweater. “Forgot something,” he says simply, before turning to leave.

As he walks away, Noali chimes in, “Please, Ari, I’m almost certain they’re our mates. Can you please undo the spell? Let me run free, please. I want my mates.”

“Noali, I can’t do that,” I respond, trying to sound resolute. “I need to focus on my studies.”

“You’ve noticed the attraction between you and the triplets,” Noali insists.

I brush off her words, feeling a mix of frustration and fear. “They’re not worth it. They’ve treated me poorly, and I’m glad I used the spell. Now I see how they behave without the mate-bond influencing them.”

Noali doesn’t agree and argues that I’ve seen glimpses of their softer sides, their genuine attraction. But I push those thoughts away, not wanting to open myself up to the potential for more hurt.

“They’re d***s,” I say firmly, trying to convince myself as much as her.

Noali falls silent, but her presence lingers, a constant reminder of the bond I’m trying so hard to ignore. Deep down, I know she’s right about the attraction, but I’m too scared to admit it, too scared to let myself be vulnerable.

After lunch, I make my way to my Leadership and Decision Making class. As I walk down the hallway, I spot Alrik. I want to say something to him, to make things right, but as soon as he sees me, he looks panicked and rushes past. I stand there, dumbfounded.

Zephyr, invisible on my shoulder, chirps, "Did you see his face? Black eye and swollen jaw."

"Strange," I murmur. "That wasn’t from me..."

I let it go, not wanting to be late to my own class. I hurry and arrive just in time, slipping into the last available seat in the semicircle. Directly across from me sits Kaynim, his arms crossed, staring at me intensely. He looks angry. What is it with him and staring? I wonder what I’ve done wrong this time.

Trying to ignore the weight of Kaynim's gaze, I focus on the professor as the lesson begins.