Lottery Arena Genesis

Dream you

SKY

Where was I? Azul was frantically racing through a dense wooded area. The sun was going down and there was just a dim light streaming through the leaves in the trees. 

I didn’t recognize the forest we were in. Azul leapt over a fallen tree log on the ground and continued running at full speed. I could sense a male’s presence before I could see or hear him. We were being hunted. 

My heart nearly leapt out of my chest as the realization hit me.

We’re in the arena, aren’t we? I thought to Azul as she continued racing through the woods. She didn’t respond as she dodged a low hanging tree branch, but I didn’t need her to. 

He was gaining on us; this had to be how a rabbit felt when they knew their predator was locking in on them. 

Azul stumbled over a root sticking out of the ground. Just as we corrected our footing I felt a large wolf slam straight into us. Azul let out a yelp and spun around to protect us. 

The instinct to fight took over since fleeing was no longer an option. A large light brown wolf snarled and bared his teeth while he towered over us. 

It was an obvious sign that he wanted me to submit, but I could only think one thing to Azul… not him.

She wasn’t willing to submit to this particular male either. He sensed our hesitation and slammed into us again. We began wrestling around on the dark forest floor. He nipped lightly at my hind leg, not enough to draw blood but enough to make it hurt. 

Azul yipped out causing him to let go immediately. I could tell he was growing impatient with my resistance, I didn’t know how much longer I truly had before he would use real force against me. 

He knocked me over again and stood directly over the top of me. His large paws were straddling my heaving chest. Azul growled softly, warning him that she was not willing to submit. He pulled back his teeth to let out a growl but another more menacing growl beat him to it.

A massive white wolf stepped out of the shadows about 10 feet away. He was baring his teeth at the male on top of me. The hackles on his back were raised straight upward. 

If I hadn't known who he was, I would’ve been truly terrified. 

But I wasn't, I felt a strange comfort with his presence. He lunged directly at the light brown wolf knocking him off of me. 

He bit down on the male’s neck and killed him quickly. He shifted back and slowly raised his hands up. He wiped the blood off of his neck and mouth with the back of his hand. 

I shifted back and let my eyes wander over his broad chest and shoulders. His abdomen and even lower still. 

I snapped my eyes back up to see he was holding my eye contact. “Sky, you should know…” The Alpha’s son started to say to me before I woke up in a cold sweat to the blaring of the barrack’s alarm.      

Oh, son of a b***h! I thought to Azul. I wanted to know what he was going to say. Even if it was just the dream version of him. 

There’s a good chance we’ll find out soon enough. Azul thought back as she yawned in my mind. 

Ugh, me too. This 7am wake up call is getting really f*****g old, really f*****g fast. I told her as I threw my blanket back. 

You’ve been spending too much with Amaris, such a potty mouth now. Azul thought. I could tell she was teasing me. 

Well what about you? Annukka was teaching you how to bite down on someone’s throat when you two were training together. I added. I couldn’t help but tease her back. It was rare we had light moments between us anymore. 

Fair enough. I’ll bite and you cuss. She thought to me, I could feel her smiling in my mind. 

“What are you smiling at, like some crazy shewolf?” Amaris thought to me as she waved her hand in front of my face. 

“Nothing, noisy.” I smiled as I hip checked her on my way to the bathroom. I could hear her say something about me finally losing it as I walked away. 

After we’d finished getting ready and dressed in our absolutely hideous red dresses we walked from our barrack to the dining hall. The shewolves took turns volunteering for different duties. Amaris always volunteered for cleaning the bathrooms for whatever reason. 

No one wanted to do it anyway so everyone was more than happy to let her clean the guard’s urinals. 

Today was Samantha and Olivia’s turn to serve breakfast. They were housed in Barrack B so I only saw them during meal times and when we had communal time. 

Samantha placed watery eggs in front of Amaris and I before she continued on her way. 

“Ughhh, I can always tell when Olivia’s made breakfast. Everything is always wet… why is it sooo wet, Sky?” She smiled at me as she lifted her fork with a clump of watery eggs dripping off of it. I couldn’t help but smile and shake my head.

“At least Samantha knows how to burn the bacon just right.” I said as I smelled it coming out of the kitchen. I liked wrestling outside with Sam’s wolf, Wyette. She was black with a few white spots sprinkled throughout her coat. She was reserved like Azul and almost the exact same size so they usually romped around together. 

Olivia’s wolf, Tanaya, on the other hand was pretty fierce. She was a dark gray color and one of the only ones that could hold her own against Amaris’ wolf, Annukka. I usually stood back when they got going. 

We’d been eating for about 10 minutes or so when The Commander came in followed by his little shadow, Ms. Anne. 

Amaris’ face immediately hardened upon seeing him. “Oh goody, time to find out what hell they have in store for us today.” She whispered to me. 

The Commander’s head ticked over in our direction, but instead of looking angry at Amaris’ outburst like he usually did, this time he just smiled. 

It wasn’t a friendly smile, instead it sent a chill down my back. 

“Amaris, since you’re so outspoken, perhaps you’d like to go first for inspection day, today?” He asked her as he continued to walk to the front of the dining hall. 

“Ladies. Today we’ll have our first inspection day. 40 shewolves have already been preselected by The Alpha and myself. You’ll be introduced individually on stage in the auditorium and the males for this year's lottery arena will have a chance to ask questions about you, if they have any. Ultimately, just 15 of you will be selected for the arena this year. Ms. Anne will explain the rest of the process to you backstage when you get there.” He said.

 He looked directly over at Amaris and I. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you, on a more… personal level.” he added, making my eyebrows furrow in confusion. 

“Don’t forget, you're up first, Amaris.” He said as he walked back out the way he had entered.

“I don't know when or how… but one day I’m going to stand over his dead body, and smile.” Amaris whispered in the coldest voice I’d ever heard her use. 

We’d made our way to the next building and entered through the back door. I could smell that different male’s scent mixed together as we entered the backstage area. I could also hear some of them talking softly as well. 

I couldn’t help but wonder if he was out there. Would he be looking for me, the same way I was looking for him? Once we were gathered around a very nervous looking Ms. Anne, I let my eyes wander around the stage area.

 I’d never been back here before and was slightly curious as to why it had even been built in the first place. It hardly seemed like a necessity. I spotted a row of hooks that had red silk robes hanging on them. My stomach dropped at the sight of them.

Why would we need robes… I wondered to Azul but not really finishing the thought. Something deep inside me told me I didn’t want the answer.

Ms. Anne cleared her throat. “Ladies. Sometimes there are things in our lives, things we have to do… that may not always seem like the necessary thing, or even the right thing…” She was stumbling over her words and her voice was actually shaking.

“Out with it already. Whatever the decision is, it’s already been made without us. And if you’re going to be compliant with it, at least have the conviction and courage to stand there and tell me to my face properly.” Amaris cut in.

Ms. Anne squared her shoulders and looked Amaris directly in her eyes. “You’ll be introduced and walked across the stage… naked.” Ms. Anne said quietly but firmly.

I couldn’t help but gasp at her words. Amaris looked around at the group of shewolves before she took one step closer to Ms. Anne. 

“Over. My. Dead. Body.” She whispered.

“Amaris, you don’t understand. They’ll…” Ms. Anne started to whisper frantically to Amaris but the curtain moved and The Alpha stepped backstage followed by his son. 

I immediately locked my watery eyes with him. I thought I saw the briefest look of sorrow on his face but it quickly disappeared and was replaced by a stony one.

“Ladies, why haven’t you begun to put your robes on? The males are waiting to meet you.” The Alpha asked. “Ms. Anne?” he added as he looked from her to Amaris.

“If you think I’m…” Amaris started to speak up and actually took a step toward him with her head up, a clear sign of challenging one’s Alpha.

“Father, I’d like to take over with your permission.” The Alpha’s son's voice cut through the backstage area. It was deep and strong. It made me feel safe, even though this was probably the scariest moment of my life.

The Alpha glared at Amaris before taking a step back and motioning for his son to step forward. “By all means, Haze. Let me see how an Alpha keeps his females in line.” He said. 

Haze looked over at me one more time before quickly approaching Amaris and grabbing her roughly by the arm and pulling her toward the bathroom. Amaris reached up to grab his arm, rather quickly, but he was faster. 

He scooped her up like she weighed nothing at all and threw her over his shoulder before slamming the bathroom door shut behind them. 

Dream you was much nicer than real you. I thought to myself as a tear rolled down my cheek.