Hello Again

Fight

The arena is set up like the Roman Colosseum. The Councilmen and Snow are sitting in a private box at the head of the arena. All the fighters are in large tents in the back.

I'm facing my fourth and last opponent today.

He's a tall tiger shifter who looks like he spends a lot of time at the beach. We're waiting for the bell to ring. I can't help but glance up at Snow. She's looking at me with an expressionless face.

(Ding! Ding!)

We start circling each other in an attack position. We're both naked in front of over 300 people until we change into our animal, which we can do anytime now that the bell has rung.

We both change simultaneously; his tiger is smaller than my wolf but not by much.

I'm trying to get this over with as fast as possible; I charge him. He quickly jumps over me, but I have fast reflexes too. Before he gets all four paws on the ground, I turn around, lock my jaw around his leg and swing him until I hear the sound of his leg-breaking. I let go and back away to see if he wants to submit or die. He closed his eyes and bowed his head in submission.

There are only two ways out of the arena: submission or death. His pack mates come to carry him to the healer. He'll be fully recovered in a few days.

"Winner! Stephan, from the Phoenix Pack!" the announcer yells. The crowd goes wild, not as wild as some of the others who drag it out. I guess I'm not as entertaining. O, well, I am not here to entertain them. I'm here to win.

Walking into my tent, I see Dad, Nick, our younger brother Matt, my sister Lily, her mate Nickili, and Aden.

I called them to let them know what's going on with Snow and me and the potential war if I lost. I didn't expect them to come.

"Don't look so shocked, brother. You didn't really think I would let you do this by yourself, did you?" Lilly hugs me. I'm surprised Nickili left the packs and brought her. He just shrugs and says "You know she didn't give me a choice and don't worry about the packs. They'll be fine without us." He's right between the twins, David, and Leo. The packs will be fine.

"I'm glad you finally got your head on straight son, I'm proud of you, and when you win, not even the council can touch you," Dad says with a smile.

"Although- we wouldn't be here if you would have just mated her when you met like a normal wolf," Nick says, jokingly.

Lilly asked worriedly. "How many fights did you do today?"

"Four."

"Is that normal?" She looks like she's ready to cry. This is why I didn't want her to come.

"No, it's not; they are singling him out, hoping to beat him down before one of the Council's sons gets to him," dad snarled.

I tell myself there are only two more days and I will be done with this.

"Welcome to the arena Stephan! Alpha of the Phoenix pack." the announcer yells.

Everyone who won yesterday will be competing today. I try not to show any emotion; I don't want them to signal Stephan out more.

I don't think it's helping.

"How did you sleep last night?" Councilman Black asks with a lazy smile. Like there weren't people fighting for their lives in front of us.

"Good, thank you," I say, not taking my eyes off the fight. The last thing I want is to have a conversation with him.

"Are you excited about becoming my daughter-in-law?" He asks with confidence; he shouldn't have.

Before I could answer, another councilman yells, "Hey, my son is in the fight too; Tyson hasn't won yet!" he's a lion shifter, I think.

"You're both going down," A deep voice boomed from the end. I think that one is a bear shifter.

Councilman Black just ignored them, leaned in a little closer, and said, "I know you planned on mating Stephan. I also know you're pregnant with his mutt. As soon as Tyson wins tomorrow, the first thing we're going to do is abort that mutt so that Tyson can put his babies in you." He smiles and leans back in his seat. "O, you didn't really think that stuff you used to cover your scent would fool me. Did you?"

He did not just threaten my unborn child!

I'm on my feet in a second, growling at him. Eager to kill him. Both guards are on their feet, prepared to stop me from killing this piece of s**t.

A powerful growl from below makes me pause. It's Stephan staring at Councilman Black murderously. The audience has gone still. Stephan is instantly surrounded by eight enforcers who serve the Council, ready to kill Stephan if he makes a move. I see Con and the others standing, watching me, ready to attack as well.

I realized they are waiting on me for a signal to attack. This isn't good. We are not in an excellent position to attack right now. We would lose. I can't lose my family.

My thought is interrupted by a tap on my hand. I realize that my hand is around Councilman Blacks' throat, my claws are starting to draw blood.

"Mss. Snow- If you are done with your tantrum, you should let go- if you want to live." Councilman Black says with a smirk. Like I didn't have his life in my hands.

Slowly letting go, I take a few calming breaths, look at Stephan and the boys with a tight smile, and retake my seat.

Councilman Black stands up and starts clapping and laughing. Not even caring that there's blood running down his neck from my claws.

"What you just saw was the most powerful female Alpha that we've encountered in decades! This is what you're all fighting for! Imagine how powerful your kids will be with two alphas as parents!" The crowd goes wild, jumping up yelling for their victor to win.

Stephan doesn't look like he's going to back down until a man, I assume is his dad due to their resemblance, places a hand on Stephan's shoulder and whispers something to him. With one last look at me, a furious Stephan turns and walks out with the man.

Day three is just as long as day two.

Unlike Stephan, who fought five times today, Tyson only had two fights. Stephan finished off his opponents as fast as possible with three out of the five of them summiting. Tyson would draw it out just for fun. In the end, he would kill his opponent in some gruesome way without even allowing them to submit.

Stephan's final fight didn't look good. His opponent was able to strike him in the stomach before Stephan killed him. That one strike seemed to have injured him more than it should have. He even needed help out of the arena.

"What's wrong? What happened" Lilly asks worriedly as she runs into the tent with the rest of them.

"The Cat he just faced, claws were coated with some type of poison," Max said as he stood up from examining me.

"Apparently, the healer has disappeared and no one knows where to!" Nick growls as he walks in.

I feel like my body is on fire. The pain is so intense my vision is starting to blur. Everyone around me is beginning to sound like Charlie Brown's teacher. I can't pass out. I have to win. The packs are depending on me; Snow and Amelia depend on me. I can't go out like this.

'What can we do?" My dad asks with concern.

"Nothing much but pray to the goddess for a miracle. Most of the poison should be out of his body by mid-morning. His body will feel like it got dragged behind a truck, though. He won't have his full strength." Max says as he looks at everyone.

"Let's get him to his room. Hopefully, he won't fight till afternoon," Dad said.

I vaguely remember floating before everything went dark.