Rise of the First Female Alpha

CHAPTER 4 - PART 2

''Those ones,'' He said, his voice low enough that only I could hear over the roar. ''The red collars are on those who've fought fifty or more fights and won.''

I looked back at Jayden, and for the first time I noticed the same blood‑red band hugging his own neck.

''I see,'' I nodded, trying not to let the sudden realization shake my resolve. I needed to keep my mind on the exit, on the plan, on the way out of this cursed place. ''Do they all hate each other?''

''Of course,'' He shrugged. ''We have to fight for the death. You don't exactly make friends here, but as I said earlier, you're still young, so you don't need to worry about it yet.''

''Has anyone ever gotten away?'' I asked, the question slipping out before I could catch it.

Jayden's brow furrowed, his eyes darting toward a guard in a black coat who was watching us from the periphery. ''Don't talk like that. They'll kill you,'' He warned, his voice a mix of concern and warning.

''No they won't, they clearly want an Alpha,'' I pointed out, feeling the heat of the mask I wore, ''Also. What was the point of putting this mask on me if they were going to tell you all who I am?''

''It's not for us. No one will ever believe us if we were to tell someone who you are,'' He shrugged, moving over to a small, quiet alcove and sitting down on a stone ledge. ''It's for the spectators of the fights. If someone notices that a female Alpha is fighting, it'll get back to your father, and they'll lose gold.''

''He's not my father,'' I snapped angrily, but then cringed as my cheeks flushed a scorching red. Even though I hadn't shifted, my Alpha blood still helped my healing ability to kick in, knitting the burn from the mask into smooth skin.

''Did your mother have an affair or something?'' Jayden asked, his tone half‑teasing, half‑curious.

I glared at him, the scar on his eyebrow catching a stray beam of light. I knew I shouldn't say anything, but the truth had a habit of spilling out when I was bruised. ''It wasn't an affair.'' I muttered, voice hoarse, before I admitted what the King had done to me and my mother.

His eyes widened, the scar now a bright s***h of white against his skin. ''Your own father?'' He stared at me, then shook his head, as if trying to dislodge a dream. ''I knew there was a reason I always hated him.''

''How did you end up here?''

Before he could answer, a harsh voice shattered the moment. ''JAYDEN, HERE NOW!'' A guard dressed in black barked, striding toward us with a baton that crackled with static.

Jayden looked half annoyed, half upset, and glanced at me, his expression softening. ''Go back to your cell, you'll be safer there,'' He said, his voice low enough for only my ears.

''Thank you,'' I whispered..

''Don't thank me,'' He warned, ''We're not friends. If we ever have to fight. I will try to kill you.''

''Good to know.''

''It's nothing personal.'' He added.

''It's always personal.'' I argued as he walked away.

I turned and walked back toward the cell. The corridors were lined with rows of other prisoners, their eyes hollow, their collars clanking in unison. The smell of sweat, blood and old stone was thick, but I tried to keep my focus.

As I rounded a corner, two large teenagers, muscle‑bound youths who wore the same red collars I'd seen earlier, stepped into my path. Their faces were twisted into sneers, and the older one cracked his knuckles, the metal bands on his wrists whirring in protest.

''Hey little Alpha,'' The taller one growled, ''Think you can just waltz back to your cell and get a free pass because you're royalty?''

''Maybe we should start calling the little b*tch Sovereign?'' The other one laughed.

''If you think we're going to bow to you, or fall in line beneath you, kid, you're out of your mind!'' The first continued.

I swallowed the panic rising in my chest. The mask's weight on my face reminded me that I was still a prisoner, but not a helpless one. My training as an Alpha sprang back at me. I could feel the blood in my ears, the slow thrum of my heart, the tingling in my fingertips that came with the promise of power.

The bigger teen stepped closer, ''We're gonna teach you a lesson you'll never forget.''

The fight erupted in a flurry of raw, brutal movement. I ducked under his swing. I caught his wrist, pulling him off-balance, and used my Alpha's innate reflexes to slip behind him, planting a hard palm against his throat. He choked, his eyes widening in shock as the pressure built.

The second teen, seeing his friend falter, lunged at me with a wild, reckless swing. My training kicked in again, breathing in sync with the rhythm of battle, the way I had been taught, and I pivoted on the heel of my shoe, dodging his blow, and with a swift, upward twist I drove my elbow into his ribs. He doubled over, coughing, his red collar clanking against his chest.

For a heartbeat, the courtyard fell silent, the only sound the echo of my own breath and the distant roar of the crowd beyond the high walls. I stared at the two bruised teens, feeling an unfamiliar surge of triumph. I had stood my ground, fought back, and survived.

''Enough,''A voice boomed from the shadows. The guard with the electrified baton stepped forward, his eyes glinting with a cold, mechanical light. He raised his stick, and a crackling arc of energy leapt from its tip, hitting me in my back.

The shock surged through me, a painful sting that ripped through every nerve. I wet myself as my vision tunneled, the world narrowed to blackness, and my body went limp, the strength that had surged through me in the fight draining away as the electricity sapped my muscles.

The last thing I heard before the darkness took me was the guard's voice, muffled but firm. ''Stay in your place, Alpha. No one fights unless the Master says so!''

I fell to the cold stone floor, the mask clanking against the ground. My mind swirled in and out of darkness, flickering like a candle about to be snuffed out.

When I finally opened my eyes again, the world was a soft blur of muted colors. Jayden was sitting in my cell waiting for me to wake up.

''That was really stupid kid. You should have let them beat you,'' He told me, as I slowly sat up, my back burning as badly as my face from that baton things. ''Now they're going to keep coming at you until they knock you out.''

''Then they're going to keep coming at me until I die, because they'll never beat me.'' I said with more confidence than I felt.

''Don't be stupid,'' Jayden shook his head at me, ''You really have no clue what your life is going to become.''

''I won't be here for long. I'm getting out.''

''I've heard dozens talk like you, with more life and fighting experience and do you know where they all are now?'' He asked, but he didn't give me a chance to answer, ''They're dead. I burned their bodies myself.''

''I'm not them.'' I pointed out, ''I will get out of here, and you all have a choice. Join me, or die by getting in my way.''

Jayden shook his head, and stood up, ''You're not stupid, you're crazy. Good luck with your little plan kid,'' He said, before moving towards the door, ''I'll come and get you at dawn, you're on food duty tomorrow.''

''Fine,'' I said with rage, as he left and shut the door, locking me in.

I laid back down on the filthy mattress on the ground and looked at the ceiling. I had to get out of here. I had to kill the King. I couldn't die here. I wouldn't!

END OF FLASHBACK

I resurfaced from the water, and took a deep breath, remembering my beginnings only fueled me. I couldn't let my mates get in the way. I wouldn't change my mind. I would get my revenge. Yet... thinking that, I couldn't help the draw of the bond, and my desire to see them grew. And I climbed out of the bath, with the intention to go to their room and see them.

Damn it. I had to get that drug from the witch.

I didn't bother putting on my underwear, and just pulled on Tristans shirt. I'd planned to seduce them, as I realized many years ago that s*x was the best option to get men to do what I wanted, so underwear wasn't necessary.

I left the room, and to my shock, there were guards posted outside and I froze. Time to act. I cowered back and clutched the shirt, making the guards look concerned.

"Princess, please don't be afraid," One man, with wild red hair, stepped closer and bowed, "The Alpha's asked us to watch over you. Did you need something?"

"I wanted to see my mates," I said, making sure to sound nervous, just as the adjacent door opened and Tristan stepped into frame.

"Is everything alright?" He asked, as his eyes swept over my body.

I smiled internally. This was going to be easy, but then his eyes darkened.

''AVERT YOUR GAZES!'' He demanded, before he grabbed my wrist, and pulled me into the room, his heart racng.