Twinned Flame

Disrespectful

Sylvie stood off to the side to watch the first match between Jessica and Elsa begin. It was a single-round fight. The first one pinned or knocked out will lose; the winner will advance. Sylvie focused as best she could on the fight, but the interaction between her and Braxton nagged at her. Braxton had always been an antagonistic and nasty guy, he was always easy to rile up and got a sickening pleasure in the torture of others. He walked with a smile that chilled his target to the bone, and left one squirming in discomfort.

She grew up as his target, consistently seeing that smile tower over her as he beat her into submission. Even as she learned to fight back, she learned how to treat her wounds and continued to put up with the mistreatment. It was always a fight in itself for them to be within each other's proximity.

"You," Hugo's voice echoed, "He's going to make sure you do."

"Don't be late, there is a surprise just for you," Braxton's words came next, and Sylvie could feel herself getting sick. What could he be planning?

"Jessica Barker for the win! A stunning knock-out for Jessica. Sylvie's head snapped up to see Jessica, a perfect blonde-haired, blue-eyed potential future Luna, standing over Elsa. Jessica looked flawless, like none of Elsa's hit her at all. She smiled, pumping her fists in the air in a little cheer display, causing the crowd to cheer alongside her. She stepped out of the ring, walking over to Sylvie with a grin.

"Did you zone out during my fight?" she asked.

"What?" Sylvie asked, confused. Jessica let out a laugh, covering her mouth.

"Come on little rogue, don't want to study up on how to defend yourself against a future opponent?" She giggled more to herself than anything. Sylvie rolled her eyes

"Sure, but how do you know we'll match? For all anyone knows, I could be out first round," Sylvie said. Jessica now rolled her eyes.

"Oh please, Jakob could never," she laughed to herself, walking close to Sylvie and leaning down close to her ear.

"Just finish it quickly, I hate waiting," she whispered to her before shoving her shoulder as she walked away. Sylvie sneered in her direction.

"Next match, Rosanna And Wesley!" Hugo announced. The two stepped into the ring and Hugo counted down from three, they read up and Rosanna was first to swing.

"Sylvie," Hugo whispered, catching her attention. He was standing at the edge of the podium away from the mic. Sylvie walked over

"3 out of 5 assessments, 2 wins and 1 pending. How are you feeling?" He didn't look down at her, eyes focused on the match in the ring. Sylvie stood in front of the podium and faced the match again.

"Conflicted" She admitted watching as Rosanna grabbed Wesley's hair to try and slam his face into her knee. He brings his hands up, deflecting it and causing her to stumble back.

"Explain," Hugo said, Sylvie sighed.

"Why are you so sure I'm going to win?" She asked, stealing a glance up at him. He didn't look down at her still, crossing his arms.

"Because it's you. I trained you myself," Hugo said. Sylvie rolled her eyes.

"Please you trained every recruit that has stepped foot into this arena for 20 years," Sylvie said, turning back to watch Wesley flip and slam Rosanna into the mat, leaving her dazed as he went for the side-controlled pin. Laying across her torso to control her head and hips, leveraging his body weight against her.

"I hadn't raised them since infancy," Hugo said, stepping over to the microphone, announcing Wesley as the winner of the match. Wesley released Rosanna and jumped up howling out in victory. Rosanna rolled onto her stomach, lying there for a moment before picking herself up. Her face was red, and she looked like she was on the brink of tears.

"Will Allan and Lawrence please step onto the mat!" Hugo called, gesturing to the two males who crawled into the ring, first bumping each other. Another count down from three, and the two go at it.

"You're strong Sylvie," Hugo said, bringing her attention back to him.

"You always have been. You've survived things none of these whelps could even imagine. Stop doubting yourself," Sylvie breathed.

"I'm not doubting myself," she admitted, releasing her breath.

"I'm questioning the point of this." She gestured to the fight,

"Braxton spoke to me earlier, his refined alpha shtick is sickening to witness, by the way, and he told me the same thing" Hugo finally looked down at her, eyeing her as he waited for her to finish.

"He told me he'd call for me from the winners podium. That he has a surprise for me." She finished. Hugo looked back up at the match.

"He wants you for the secret detail he's cooking up," Hugo said,

"Ok and?" Sylvie pressed, Hugo sighed.

"I don't know anything else about it. He told me that he plans on using the assessment to find someone for this protection position. I assumed a guard of some sort," Hugo explained. He rubbed his face with a sigh.

"He then made the comment on how perfect you were for it, and how the assessment would show the rest of the pack that you are too," Hugo finished, stepping back over to the microphone. Sylvie looked at the ring, Lawrence stood with his foot on the back of Allen, who was faced down. Sylvie locked eyes with Lawrence, and he did the classic finger, sliding across his neck in a 'you're dead' motion.

"Lawrence for the win! Brutal match!" Hugo said, when Lawrence hopped out of the ring, two field hands rushed up to drag Allen out. A third came up to wipe up the blood he left behind. Lawrence walked over to Sylvie with a smile. She was starting to hate the act.

"I hope you took notes," Lawrence said, and she gritted her teeth.

"Why is everyone so interested in me today?" She quipped. Lawrence let out a laugh

"It's not everyday we get a go at teachers' pet" Lawrence admitted.

"Everyone wants a chance to beat down the nobody who thinks she's somebody," Sylvie sneered at him, and he couldn't help but laugh again.

"It's actually kind of cute when you try and act intimidating" Lawrence said, his eyes flashed yellow as he called forth his wolf

"But you'll still be a wolf-less little nobody," Lawrence shoves her shoulder as well as he walks by, and she has reached her limit of tolerance. When Hugo calls her and Jakob to the ring, anger is the only emotion coursing through her right now.

"Begin!" Hugo shouts, Jakob raises his fist and Sylvie launches herself forward. Before Jakob could block properly, Sylvie's fist connected with his cheek, sending him stumbling back.

"Wa-wait!" he stutters, and Sylvie closes the gap again, going in for another swing. Jakob drops to the floor, causing her swing to miss. He crawls away from her.

"Please.. I'm not ready!" Jakob whines. Sylvie is only seeing red. She had taken the discomfort of today long enough. She staring, the murmurs, disgusted looks. The shoving, accusations, all of it! Can't she just be a part of this pack, be part of a life she watched on the sidelines?

She kicks Jakob's side, and he slides, grabbing his stomach as he retches at the force

"S-Sylvie" He chokes out

"Stand!" She barks, Jakob has tears in his eyes, and he stumbles to his feet.

"Raise your hands," she demands. Jakob is full crying now as he raises his fists in a futile attempt to block. Sylvie throws a punch, it connects with his arm and Jakob yells out in pain.

"Again!" She hisses. Jakob is shaking

"I concede," he whimpered, dropping his hands. Sylvie swings her fist and connects his jaw with a sickening crunch that causes his head to snap to the side. He's on the floor with a thud. She spins to the other recruits who are staring at her. She points to Jessica first.

"What are you waiting for?" She calls. Jessica turns to Hugo. He looks down at Jakob,

"Match Sylvie," he says into the mic, she frowns his earlier enthusiasm at the earlier matches gone.

"We shall take a short recess before we conclude with the final three matches," Hugo said.

"No!" Sylvie shouts at him,

"I'm ready now," Hugo looks at her with a disapproving father look that makes Sylvie even more mad.

"Alpha Jackson!" she turns to Alpha's box, meeting his eyes. They're shinning as he laughs.

"Yes! Let's move ahead! Who shall challenge this winner?" he questions. Hugo nods to Jessica with a soft 'go', she nods and walks up to the ring. Two field hands have carried Jakob away, and Sylvie stands in the center waiting. Jessica steps up to her and tosses her hair.

"Told you Jakob was easy," she laughs, but there is no humor or early confidence. Sylvie ignores her and readies herself. Jessica scoffs and does the same. Hugo counts down and when she hears it begin, Sylvie is swinging, catching Jessica off guard.

She stumbled backwards a bit, dodging the onslaught before she catches herself and tries to get her own blows to connect.

"You know," Jessica breathes, hearing the 'whoosh' of air from Sylvie's fist as it flies by her ear.

"Sometimes I admire you," she admits. Sylvie isn't paying attention, her anger having long boiled over the edge.

"You're strong, but you're still a ro-" Jessica's head snaps back as Sylvie's fist connects with her nose. She stumbles back holding her face, she pulls her hands back, and they're full of blood. She screams and stomps.

"What the f**k Sylvie!" She screams,

"You broke my f*****g nose!" Sylvie rolls her eyes,

"And?' Sylvie says, Jessica shrieks, looking up to the Alpha's box.

"Braxton!" She cries,

"She broke my nose, that's cheating!" Jessica is stomping her feet. Sylvie scoffs

"Miss Barker, this is a hand-to-hand combat match. Broken bones are almost a guarantee," Braxton calls, causing the others in the box to force a chuckle. Jessica screams, climbing out of the ring with a 'f**k you!' at Sylvie. Sylvie turns to Hugo

"Next," she says, Hugo shakes his head at her.

"Please step away from the ring and allow the next match to commence," Hugo says, Sylvie glares. No. If she is meant to prove herself with this assessment, then she isn't going to play anymore.

"How about this?" Sylvie calls, raising her hands and gesturing to the arena.

"I take on both remaining winners." There is an overwhelming wave of whisperers and shouts from the arena.

"Allow me to prove myself," Sylvie says.

"Let me show you that I am a warrior of Bloody Dagger!" She shouts, turning to stare back up at Braxton, who looked positively giddy. His grin stretched so wide it looked like it would split his face.

"Will you deny me this Alpha Jackson?" Sylvie asks,

"I would never," he announced. Hugo stares her down, and she meets his eyes. His face is giving away everything thought he is having.

"Why are you doing this?" "What are you hoping to gain?" Sylvie straightens her back, and Hugo relents.

"Wesley, Lawrence. What do you say?" he asked. Lawrence, instead of answering verbally, hops into the ring.

"I'm ready and willing," he calls. Wesley looks between Lawrence and Sylvie, then backs up at Hugo. He sighs before trudging over to the ring and climbing in.

"I'm willing." There's applause,

"Finish this, Lawrence!" "Come on Wesley!" before a chant of "beat the rogue" starts from the pack members. Sylvie shakes it off, letting this fuel her determination even more.