Chapter 36
Draven refuses to say anything. I can't help feeling disappointed. After everything I had hoped he could at least be honest with me.
I don’t know how much more I can take. He keeps butting into my life despite what I say.
The times I’ve wanted him to be there or to help me, when I needed it most he turned away. Shutting me down without any reason for it.
I was so sick of this double standard with him and frankly I wasn’t going to take it anymore.
“Since you have nothing to say you can leave,” I said stepping back, crossing my arms, “I’m done dealing with this crap from you.”
“From now on stay away from me,” I ordered, firm and resolute.
Something flicks through his eyes, he even seems like he wants to reach out and stop me from stepping way,
But as quickly as it appears, it’s gone again.
“We,” Draven starts before clearing his throat, his voice coming out slightly horse, “we’re family now, I can’t really stay away.”
Shaking my head I turn and grab my bag where it dropped on the floor when he pulled me into the room.
“Besides family situations, I don’t want to deal with you.”
Hours later, the training grounds are packed with people. The bleachers filled with the other A Class students placing bets on who takes out who first.
The final challenge allows you to pick a weapon to defeat your opponent, the last one standing wins. No fatal or permanent injuries are allowed.
Along with the use of weapons, competitors can utilize their abilities or shift if they wish but the same thing goes, no deadly attacks or anything resulting in fatal or permanent injury.
Other than following those rules, winning depended fully on themselves. Honestly, I felt a little nervous hearing the rules.
I’ve never been a fan of pain, I mean who is. But being I’m still struggling to unlock my ability I’m at a bit of a disadvantage going into this competition.
Also, by the way Rebecca keeps looking at me, I’m not under any illusion that she isn’t going to be gunning for me the moment the competition starts.
As for Draven, well he’s standing off to the side, quietly waiting with his arms crossed. But the occasional glances he keeps shooting me has me feeling on edge even more.
Even though I’m about to go up against both Draven and Rebecca, I can't help but feel more worried about going against Rebeeca.
She’s had it in for me since we met and now is the perfect chance for her to fight me without getting in trouble.
Well unless she takes it too far. Part of me thinks that surely she wouldn’t take this too far.
However looking back on everything she’s done, I can’t help but chuckle grimly at how naive that thought was.
“Competitors grab your weapons and head to the area,” the A Class student announcer from the broadcast club said, “we’re about to begin.”
“Katie, you got this!” Cathy screamed from the bleachers.
I turn,smiling at her when Adrian’s voice joins in, “Hell yeah you do Katie, kick their asses!”
I flush embarrassed but shoot him a smile and a thumbs up like Cathy then turn back around, only to lock eyes with Draven.
His earlier impassive expression is now gloomier. Great, now I still have to deal with his mood swings when he’s probably going to wolf out for this fight.
“Alright, you three please take your positions inside the area,” the announcer said at the door opening.
Choosing to ignore Draven for now, I hurry inside and go to the furthest left position as the other two take their spot.
“Now if any of you will be participating, please shift now.”
I felt tense, though I had seen Adrian and Draven’s wolves before, I didn't know it was them and I also didn’t believe it was them afterward.
So, trying to mentally prepare myself to go up against a shifted Draven was a struggle.
As I stood there waiting, I heard a low growl ringing through the arena. Though as I had my eyes trained on Draven I could tell it wasn’t coming from him.
Instead of shifting, Draven held on to a long spear. Turning my head my eyes shrunk as I saw the once blond cheerleading pain in my ass turn into a large blond furry nightmare.
“Shit.”
How the hell am I going to handle a wolf Rebecca? Draven at least would have held back a little I think but Rebecca, yeah right.
“Alright, let the finals commence,” the announcer said, the loud blare of the horn signaling the beginning of the competition.
In an instant Rebecca launches at me, her large paws pounding on the ground as she charges across the space between us.
If I was a second behind, her teeth would have sunk into my shoulder. This bitch is seriously not holding back.
I quickly slash out with my daggers, landing two long slashes across Rebecca’s shoulder before putting some distance between us again.
Her growl deepens, somehow simultaneously mocking me and threatening me at once. I honestly didn’t know how to handle a wolf so the moves I had were too basic and easy to predict.
In a matter of moments I was overwhelmed by Rebecca. I couldn’t put the necessary distance between us and she was dead set on ending me today.
Just as she launched at me, Draven teleported in between us. I had seen him, only with a glance when the competition started.
He seemed to be content to wait to see who the victor would be before he joined in. But apparently he picked up on Rebecca’s killing intent.
Draven wedged his spear between Rebecca’s sharp teeth pushing her back.
“That’s enough Rebecca,” Draven ordered, using his own presence to try and subdue her, “stop this right now.”
Rebecca just growled at him, her jaw closing on his spear. Though made of a strong metal, her wolf teeth still seemed to do some damage.
Draven uses his strength to throw her off, sending her across the arena, where she landed hard.
“Thanks,” I said, part of me reluctant to acknowledge I needed his help, but the bigger part knew if he hadn't stepped in I would have been hurt pretty badly or worse.
“Don't thank me,” Draven said, eyes still trained on Rebecca as she climbs to her feet, “not yet at least.”
Rebecca snarls at Draven and I, her teeth snapping viscously As she charges forward.
The arena quickly erupts with sounds of snapping teeth, metal on flesh and the splattering of blood.
Draven and I work to wear down Rebecca,
Eventually, with her fur matted in blood and open wounds she can't struggle to her feet anymore.
Sighing in relief that dealing with Rebecca is finally done, I turn to Draven.
Raising my daggers, “Now all that's between me and victory is you.”
A rarely amused look passes over Draven’s face before he raises his mangled spear.
“Let's see what you got.”
Their brief rest is over, soon the sounds of metal on metal fills the air.
Using my opponent's strength against them, I decided to hit Draven.
Rushing him, I quickly leap up, wrapping my legs around him before flinging my body back to take him down with me.
However, for some reason the moment I've wrapped my legs around him, he tenses, his movements faltering.
Using this to my advantage, I quickly get him on the ground.
My leg is holding him down as I rest my dagger next to his neck.
“You lose,” I said ecstatic.
Standing up I smirk down at him amused at his bewildered look.
“The winner is Katie Sterling-” the announcer said before a savage snarl comes behind me.
Before I can do anything I feel sharp teeth piercing into my abdomen, the pain is excruciating.
As the pain rushes through me another overwhelming burning feeling fills me, like it’s about to explode.
I quickly cover my side, blood seeping through my fingers as I collapse onto the ground.Chaos erupts all around me but all I can hear is the loud pounding of my heartbeat.
I’m roughly aware that there's people around me but I can’t focus on anything. Instead, as my heartbeat slows.
As my vision fades I feel something inside of me unlock. A bright, intense golden light rushes through me before bursting out, covering the whole arena in glittering gold.
The pain in my side fades and my vision clears. Sitting up I find that Rebecca and Draven have been flung several feet away.
The light seeps back inside me, as I look around only to find everyone staring at me with large, surprised eyes.
Suddenly overwhelming cheers fill the silence. What just happened?
