Rex and I find ourselves front row, center. Aqua looks like a badass in her challenge corset.
It's funny how drastically our outfits have changed in only a year. We even have a Challenge Wardrobe Facilitator. She is an old, sassy sweetheart.
Aqua relinquished her sword at the door of The Dome. I'd offered to let her use my father's sword, but her father had given her one she could call her own. The sword had a bear on it. The hilt was a claw. Bears are known to be fiercely loyal and protective of their family.
"Babe?"
"What?" I snap being pulled from my thoughts. "Oh, sorry."
"Can you ease up on my hand. You're crushing it." Rex wretches my hands from his.
"Oops!"
"She'll be fine."
"It's not her I'm worried about."
"Right..." He smiles a genuinely warm and knowing smile.
Busted. "She's been my best friend since I can remember."
"Aqua has got this. She's not even fighting their Alpha, she's fighting a warrior."
"That doesn't help ease my mind." I narrow my eyes at him.
He puts his hands up in surrender. "Just relax. If not for your sake, for the pup."
Aqua stands erect, one hand on her hip the other lazily draped by her side. The other warrior has a smug half smile on his face. An expression I know Aqua can't wait to wipe off.
"The champion for the Silver Sun Pack is their gamma, a chief warrior named Aqua. For the Timberwood Pack, their champion is their beta and strategist, Maximus." I muted the rest of the Challenge Coordinator's speech.
*May I kill him?*
*Win, at all cost necessary.*
*Yes, Alpha.*
Before I could exhale the battle was underway. They'd both changed quickly and efficiently. Aqua's Wolf was a deep amber, almost brown, while Maximus' Wolf was grey. How plain...
I forgot how a fight, as a spectator, you missed the intricate details. They moved so quickly, it was hard to distinguish what exactly was happening. A blur of amber and grey streaked across the dome.
Aqua used The Dome as leverage and pushed off to strike Maximus in the chest. His chest collapsed slightly.
Blood drips from Aqua. Was it hers or his? Then I saw her wobble. I couldn't make out where the gash was, but judging the amount of blood it was deep.
Aqua collapses as Maximus' chest begins to heal. He stalks toward her and in a flash Aqua slit his throat. They both collapsed in a pool of blood.
"Aqua!" I scream and before I know what my body is doing, I am bounding into The Dome.
Rex was beside me in mere moments as I pull Aqua's naked, bloody body into my arms. Rex took her from me, averting his eyes. I take off my sweater and drape it over her.
"Is she alive?" The Challenge Coordinator feigned interest.
"Yes!" I snap.
*Aqua needs you immediately.*
*Bring her to my chambers.*
Thank goodness our pack doctor was on this trip. She was healing unusually slowly. Bright red blood still oozed from her.
*At least it's not blue or purple.* Praesul acknowledged.
I gagged.
Rex followed my lead through the crowd.
"Wait, you have to tell their pack the terms otherwise we forfeit. Since our pack member won but was unconscious."
"But their pack member is dead!" I basically shriek at Rex.
He gives me a pointed look. "I'd rather you not carry her in your condition."
"I'm still a strong female Alpha, you -" He shrugged his shoulders in defense. "Fine bring her straight to the pack doctor!"
"Yes ma'am!"
I turned to face the Alpha of the Timberwood Pack.
"State your terms." Vulpes, the Challenge Coordinator gestures time the Timberwood Pack Alpha.
He looks slightly familiar. "I want pick of the litter."
Anger rises in his already red cheeks. "No."
"You're really in no position to counter. I'm betting your wolf had enhancements. That's why Aqua isn't healing quickly."
His eyes cut to the floor and I knew I hit my mark. A growl grumbled low in my throat.
"That will be investigated and your pack will be prosecuted if we find evidence." Vulpes narrows his eyes.
"How many?"
"I want 20."
"What? 20!"
"I didn't say warriors or pups. I just want 20."
"Done." Vulpes puts a seal on the deal.
The Timberwood Alpha stalks away, clearly upset.
"Don't mind him. He's surprised your champion beat his. I think that was his second cousin? I can never keep family trees straight." Vulpes shrugs and leaves abruptly.
I run full speed to Aqua and Rex. When I enter I'm not even winded. Doc has Aqua hooked up to an IV and some bluish liquid is dripping slowly.
"What's up?" I ask impatiently.
"Poison tipped claws would be my best bet." Doc says pointing to the greenish tint seeping through the bandages with Aqua's blood.
"What the -" I fume as Rex pulls me to him.
"It's going to be okay." Rex says into my hair. "We've got a serum that cures most poisons."
"You mean an antidote? Is that what the blue stuff is?" Rex nods at my questions. "How will we know it works?"
"Well, Rex sent pack members to bring the Timberwood Alpha to Vulpes for judgement. They said they'd mind link when it's done. Or if there's trouble. He should be able to provide more answers." The Doc says as she checks Aqua's vitals for the second time while I'm present.
"I'm going to rip his head clean off!" I growl and leave the room in a fury.
It's been years since my vision clouded with literal red. Everything around me seemed amplified and covered in a bloody hue. What was this vision?
"Alpha, come back." Doc uses her parent tone and I flinch.
"What?" I snarl.
"You need to be cleaned up and checked up on." I look down to see my clothes stained with Aqua's blood.
The red in my vision dissipates and I begrudgingly walk back to the doctor.