A mate for the beast

Chapter 14: Not him.

/-Sabrina-/

“Imari! Imari!! Imari!!”

“Lisa! Lisa!! Lisa!!!”

Chants thundered in the arena, and my ears rang with it. Some men had even brought alcohol, lifting their crude goblets while cheering as though this were a celebration, not a spectacle of violence. For once, the scent of blood was diluted by that of alcohol.

In the center of the ring, two women lunged at each other, with one of them ducking like a serpent and sweeping her feet beneath the other. The one I assumed was Imari staggered backward, barely regaining her balance before Lisa charged at her again.

But, Imari made a surprising move by sidestepping before spinning into a vicious backhand that cracked across Lisa's jaw.

Lisa's face whipped to the side, and she spurted out blood midway. Imari followed it up with another punch to Lisa's gut before she could react, and Lisa stumbled back while gasping for breath.

Just as Imari tried to send a kick towards Lisa, Lisa suddenly ducked and grabbed her incoming legs. Using the momentum, Imari lost her balance, and Lisa swung her to the side, kicking up dust as she rolled on the ground.

Looking at their skills, even most of the seasoned warriors from the Valeria kingdom won't be able to compare. No wonder the Virekans remain a topic that induces fear in the human world.

If I had just a tiny fraction of their skills, Lady Fiona and those maids would be unable to inflict any harm to me.

“Lisa!” Someone screamed from the crowd, and others quickly followed.

Lisa, who was shorter and storkier, flexed her arms with a sneer carved across her face like she had already claimed victory.

The crowd cheered louder, but I had a different feeling.

Imari had not lost.

Just as Lisa advanced towards Imari, who was still lying on the ground, Imari suddenly surged to her feet with a start, and all I saw for a moment was the sharp glint of claws, followed by a streak of red as Lisa retreated explosively while clutching her arm.

The crowd howled in approval as if the sight of blood excites them. It should have sickened me as usual, but it didn't, and instead, I watched.

With a loud cry, Imari slammed Lisa against the iron bars and landed several brutal punches on her face. Lisa slid to the ground with her face swollen, only to meet a kick from Imari.

“She is….” I wanted to commend her but could not find the right word to say.

“Skilled? Ruthless? Fierce?” Nerida said, scoffing lightly with her nose. “That's what the red arena is all about.”

Lisa tried to make a desperate charge, but Imari spun behind her and grabbed her by the waist before lifting and beating her to the ground with a spine-breaking force.

“Imari! Imari!!”

Lisa's body twitched, and then she went still.

My eyes widened, “Is she…”

Dead?

Nerida was quick to reply, “Imari went easy on her, so she won't die. She's lucky.”

I quickly grabbed the meaning in Nerida's sentence and asked tentatively, “So, they are... permitted to kill?”

“Yes.” Came her brief reply, but it shut me up.

It was the same everywhere. Your strength determines whether you will live or die. But here, strength was even more pronounced.

Something stirred within me.

When can I be as strong as this? When will I be able to dictate how my life would be? When will I have my fate in my hands?

The familiar figure of the Alpha's beta emerged from the side gates, then he took Imari away.

Nerida suddenly spoke, “The Alpha can have as many women as he wants, having a mate doesn't stop this. The Alpha has not made your presence official. So, until then, say nothing and do nothing.”

I nodded subtly, pressing my lips together. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, but I didn't say anything further.

“The Alpha is here.” A voice whispered from beside me, and I quickly turned to follow his eyes.

High above, at the far end of the arena, was a stone platform shaded by a black canopy, where a lone figure sat with an air of restrained authority.

His features were obscured from the distance, and his eyes glinted with a sharp light. But somehow, those eyes locked with mine.

The noise around me dulled, just for a moment.

He did not look away, and his eyes pinned me right where I stood, making my heart race.

I had completely forgotten how I was able to see him from such a distance and how he was able to do the same amidst the crowd.

“The fight is over; we need to go back.” Nerida's voice pulled me back to my senses, and that was when I noticed the several gazes on me.

Nerida took my wrist and began to lead me out of the arena.

“I heard the Alpha brought in a human female, is that her?”

“She looks like she could break with just a little touch, hahaha.”

“Could she be the Alpha's new toy?”

Nerida held onto my wrist tightly, dragging me past the group of half-drunk men and gamblers counting their wins.

The further we walked, the more the crowd thinned and the quieter it became, until all I could hear was the soft echo of our footsteps and the lingering roar of the crowd behind us. At that moment, the sun had already dipped beneath the horizon.

“Staring at the Alpha for too long is considered an offense.” Nerida suddenly said, and my face stiffened.

“I wasn't staring.” I tried to deny it, but she scoffed.

“Of course you were.” She added, not in accusation but just stating the obvious.

I didn't reply, maybe she was right.

I had stared at him, long and hard. As though I wanted him to see me, to notice me.

As we walked towards the familiar corridors of the mansion, my stomach suddenly let out a sudden, loud growl.

I clutched my stomach in mild embarrassment, and when I heard Nerida's silent chuckle, my face flushed.

“Wait here; I will go grab something for you.”

Before I could protest, Nerida had already disappeared around the corner.

Left alone, I wandered slowly through the corridor. The walls were made of stone and engraved with paintings. One painting in particular caught my attention - a large portrait of Alpha Raizan in black cloak, just like I had seen him that night.

I stepped closer, reaching for it.

Suddenly, a sharp grip yanked me back and pushed me against the wall with a force that had me grimacing.

A body pressed close to mine, too fast for me to even flinch away. I turned my head slowly, my voice catching in my throat.

It wasn't Alpha Raizan.

“So, you are the human w***e they've been whispering about.”