My Mate. My Mission

Chapter 10

VAE

“You.”

She said, while pointing straight at me.

My eyes widened. “Me?” I pointed at myself, giving her the most skeptical look I could manage.

She didn’t answer. She just stood there waiting, chin tilted up, eyes locked on mine like she already owned the outcome.

Everyone’s attention snapped to me in the same second. Nyx shifted awkwardly beside me, but she still gave me a tiny encouraging nod, like that was supposed to help.

I pushed myself up and took slow steps toward the center of the arena. The she-wolf watched me the whole way, head held high, looking down on me the way only elite students know how. This was just another game of “Humiliate the omega” that elite students loved to play. I was sure of it.

I have to keep my cover. I can’t fight her seriously, if I do, I’ll blow my cover. But I also don't want to let her win too easily.

I remembered Ryker and glanced up at him. He looked tense already, not sitting comfortably in his chair at all. The mate bond was clearly hitting him hard. He wouldn’t let his mate get hurt without reacting.

Good. I would use that.

I stepped onto the combat ground. The girl dropped into an attack stance the second my feet crossed the line. Her posture was wrong, shoulders too high, weight too far forward. I could end this in three seconds if I wanted. But I can’t do that now.

Instructor Draven left the combat ground and took his place at the edge of the arena, arms crossed, his expression professional and unreadable.

“Begin.”

The girl charged. Her fist came straight for my face. I dodged at the last second and deliberately stumbled, making it look like the punch had hit me. The arena exploded with laughter.

The brunette’s face lit up with an arrogant little smile, the kind that said she already knew she was better than me.

“Some people need to know their place,” she said, voice dripping with superiority.

I glanced at Ryker out of the corner of my eye. He wasn’t comfortable at all. He looked like he was one second away from standing up. Not enough yet. I needed to take more hits.

I looked up at her. “What do you mean?”

She stared at me with pure spite. “I mean people like you can never stand at a royal’s side, no matter how much you try to seduce him.”

Oh… so this was what this fight is about. Was she the cameraman from the woods?

She growled the last part and came at me harder.

This time she led with her legs, a sharp kick aimed at my side. I rolled out of the way. She switched to pure speed, forcing me to move faster than I should have.

I rolled again, keeping my movements clumsy on purpose. Omegas aren’t supposed to have fast reflexes like mine. If an omega started moving faster than a beta female, people would notice. And it would raise doubts.

So I did the most omega thing I could think of.

I ran.

I bolted straight out of the arena. The girl chased me for a few steps, then stopped when she realized I had stepped over the boundary. The arena erupted in louder laughter. Ryker still didn’t move, but his jaw was tight and his hands were clenched on the arms of his chair.

“Miss ”

Instructor Draven walked toward me, voice calm but firm.

“You cannot step outside the arena. It violates the rules. Either you admit defeat or you defeat your opponent. You have to choose one.”

I kept my voice shaky and low, like the fight had already drained me. “I… I can’t keep up with her. She’s too strong.”

The brunette looked at me and snorted. “Pathetic. You’re just a weak little omega who doesn’t belong in this school. Give up now before I crush every bone in your body.”

I glared at her. I wanted to crush her dirty lips, pull her tongue out to see if it matched the length of her words, and pluck out those disgusting eyes.

‘Kill her,’ Lora growled in my head.

I would if we weren't here, under their watchful gaze.

I let out a breath. She’s not worth it. I’ve trained my whole life in the guild for this mission. I’m not blowing my cover because a stupid brunette sprouts nonsense.

I turned back toward the combat ground and walked in again, keeping that “omega who won’t give up” look on my face.

If she hits me that way again and Ryker doesn’t stand up, then I won’t hold back.

The brunette’s smirk widened. “Still think you can play?” she asked, loud enough for the entire arena to hear. Werewolf-heightened senses meant no one missed a single word. “You really are desperate, aren’t you? Clinging to a royal who wouldn’t even look at you if you weren’t throwing yourself at him.”

Clinging to him? As if I wanted it!

My jaw tightened, but I kept my voice soft and careful. “And how are you so sure of that?What if it was the other way around?” I asked, faking a small smile while circling her the same way she was circling me.

She laughed, claws sliding out as she kept moving, looking for the perfect opening. “Keep telling yourself that, omega. Everyone here knows what you are. Weak. Useless. Just another low-rank trying to climb by spreading your legs, you think kissing the crown prince is going to help you?”

The words hit the air and the whole arena went quiet for half a second before the whispers started. I felt every single pair of eyes on me again.

Then she charged again, faster this time, claws aimed at my ribs. I dodged, but I let the next hit land, a kick to my shoulder that made me stagger.

The crowd cheered. She followed it with another strike, this one harder, aimed for my face.

I twisted just enough that it only brushed my cheek, but I still let myself fall hard onto the ground, selling the idea that she’d really hit me.

I stayed down on purpose, breathing hard, shaking, struggling to get up. Making it look like the hit had done real damage. The arena roared for her.

But she didn’t stop there.

She stood over me, breathing hard, eyes bright with satisfaction. “Stay down where you belong, you worthless thing.”

Then she swung again, this time with everything she had, aiming to really hurt me.

If he doesn’t stand up… I’ll break her bon—

“Enough.”

A deep, dangerous growl ripped through the arena like a physical force. The command making the air feel heavier. The stupid brunette’s hand froze on the spot.

I let out a sigh. Took him long enough.

I stayed completely still on the ground.

Ryker was in the arena in a second. His hand closed tightly around her neck.

"You want a fight?” His voice dropped low and cold. “Then, fight me”