It had been two weeks since the announcement of the duel. Sonia and Ralph's mating process had been suspended as they awaited. Sonia had taken her yearly leave as she could no longer face the customers who stopped by the shop. Their words pierced through her chest like a stake. A pawn in the hands of the Alpha one of the ladies said as she overheard them behind the counter on one of her grocery shopping.
"Serves her right, maybe next time she won't attend a forbidden meeting meant for the alpha's."
"But she is lucky though, at least she has been fought over by the Lyacn King and another powerful and wealthy alpha, every lady's dream."
"Oh please, and if the Lycan king defeats Ralph in the duel then what happens to the prophecy about a fated mate? She would only bring a curse into the land."
Curse into the land?
It sounded like a folklore but she knew that breaking rules always came with a price and Lucas being the Lycan King would always have his way, after all, they make the rules. Sonia couldn't bear the words anymore. Her throat had gone dry and the zeal to continue shopping evaporated. All she wanted was to lock herself in her room and never come out. All she wanted was for Ralph to win and then everything would go back to the way that it used to be. She had missed her job and Arya as well. She was subjected to a phase of life where she lived in regret, perhaps she would have listened to her uncle and not followed him to the meeting. She returned home and walked past her uncle without saying a word.
"Sonia! He called out but she ignored him and rushed into her room locking at herself in. Tears flowed freely down her eyes now. She took off the hoodie and tossed it far away. In a town where she was among the freeborn, she now lived like a fugitive avoiding any eye contact from the people on the streets. It was like the world was against her and she was powerless. The duel was just a day away as she crashed into the bed squeezing the duvet in her grip. Hot tears flowed down her eyes.
"Sonia please open up," Athene knocked for a while but she didn't leave the bed.
"Just leave me alone."
"I know that you are going through a lot and I feel like somehow this is also my fault. I don't want you to blame yourself for anything. You didn't do anything wrong."
"I did everything wrong. I could have listened. But I didn't, instead I followed you there and now I am in this shit."
"Please just open up so we can talk."
"I just want to be left alone and cry till my eyeballs fall out."
"No, dear. I am here for you. We are in this together, remember? Please just open up."
"Can you just let me be alone for a while? I promise I won't do anything stupid."
"Okay. I'll let you be but I'll be right here waiting for you until you are ready to come out."
"Okay, thank you," she said, her voice buried in her sniffs.
And just then, there was a knock again.
"Pa, I told you that I am fine."
"It's me, Ralph."
"Ralph?" She walked over to the door as she opened it letting him in.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I came to see you."
"Don't you have a duel to prepare for?"
"A duel?" He chuckled, "Why would I need to prepare for a duel?"
"Are you insane? It's the Lycan King, Ralph."
"Oh please, he might be strong and thinks that he is stronger than me but he isn't as skillful as I am. Look, I have fought battles with him and I know that his powers are a bit exaggerated. Do you know how many times I have saved his ass?"
"Look Ralph, this is not about war, it is about me. You have to win."
"I would beat him. Besides, the prophecy already made you my mate, so I am at an advantage and everything would work in my favor."
"Did you see the prophecy?" She asked as she realized she had never really asked that to be sure.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
"I just want to be sure."
"You worry too much. It's not a big deal."
"For me it is, aren't you worried about losing me?"
"You are making this a big deal Sonia. Let it go. I didn't come here for that."
"Why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Accept this duel?"
"Because he challenged me."
"Just that?"
"Yes of course, why else would I agree to this?"
"Did you ever consider my feelings in any of this?"
"C'mon Sonia, let's not do this now."
"You just stood there and accepted without even thinking about it. Somehow it felt like you were selling me to the highest bidder."
"I am Ralph, I cannot turn down a duel not for anything in the world, not even you."
"And you say you love me."
"This doesn't have anything to do with love, Sonia. My pride and my dignity are all at stake. Rejecting the duel would mean I am a coward don't you get that?"
"Do you know how bad this decision has affected my social life? I can barely go out."
"Don't worry my love, it will all be over soon. Maybe if I win this, I can be considered the alpha king position."
"Oh, I see, I knew this was always about you."
"It's about us, our future. Think about how it would benefit us."
"There would be no us if you lose tomorrow. Please, Ralph, I want to be alone."
"Are you sending me out?"
"I just want to be alone."
"I see. Make sure you are on time tomorrow and wear a beautiful dress," he said as he walked out.
She lay still facing the ceiling but the tears kept on. Her eyes had become weak and now shone red. She always knew Ralph to be proud and arrogant but she never knew he was selfish and possessive that he would accept a duel with the Lucas she sorely despised.
She stepped out of her room walking towards her uncle as she burst into tears, he held her tightly until she was calm.
"I heard all he said to you. You don't deserve him."
"Neither do I deserve Lucas, that ruthless Lycan king. But why do I have to be the one to suffer for all of this?"
"It's okay."
"It's not okay. What if Ralph loses? No woman has ever been to Lucas' chambers and comes out to tell the tale. Why would Ralph do this to me? Pa, please do something to end this misery. Maybe talk to Lucas, he would listen to you."
"You know that there is nothing I can do here. I understand how you feel, trust me. I know that whatever is going to happen tomorrow, it will be to your benefit, you'll see. I made you some jasmine tea, it would help you sleep better. You need your rest child," he caressed her hair but she had already fallen to sleep.
The day of the duel came, Sonia in her pleated red dress made specifically for her mating ceremony drove down to the Arena. She had spent half of the year thinking about this day but now she couldn't even hold her lips in a genuine smile. She was given a special seat high at the top while everyone else was settled in as they awaited the contestant.
"Today would be marked in history as we would experience a duel between the Lycan king and Ralph, our most exalted alpha over his mate, Sonia. Whoever comes out victorious will be going home with a special gift. Today history would be changed. Let's begin." The speaker said and the gong sounded.
Ralph took off his robe and so did Lucas as they launched on each other. It stood intense just as she had hoped it would be. The crowd cheered and rejoiced but her heart only pounded as Lycan stood more ground.
I told him to practice but he never listens.
Sonia could not watch as Lucas posed to make his final hit on Ralph that left him unconscious, she turned away tightening her eyes and her grip on the chair.
She knew it was over as the cheers from the crowd increased.
"Lucas wins!" The speaker announced.
She felt her heart had exploded as her eyes became blurry and the ladies came to take her from the high seat.
"A duel is a duel and as promised. The lady is yours," he took her hand and put it in his.
"No!" Sonia yelled and pulled away as everyone stopped cheering and watched in awe.
"What?" Lucas asked.
"I can't do this, I can't be yours," with those words, she fled the arena. Lucas shrank in shame as he had just been rejected.
"Get her!" He roared.