The Ring
Tyranni
I hated training, loathed it, in fact.
It was just an excuse for the pack to gang up on the odd one out—on me.
Still, I had become quite good. People looked down on me for not being able to shift, so I proved them wrong in the only way I could, by dedicating myself to my training.
When I landed on my ass, I was covered in sweat, the dirt of the training grounds sticking to my slick skin. “Again, Woodrow!” Norrix demanded, his voice harsh and critical as he watched me push myself off the ground.
I could never figure out whether Norrix, our future Alpha, was hard on me because he saw potential in me, or if he simply hated me the way everyone else did.
Riley Haven and I took our stances, facing down one another. “Begin!” Norrix commanded.
I let my instincts take over, the way I always did, and Riley and I were grappling once more. His fist met my stomach, knocking the air from my lungs, and I nearly doubled over, my eyes watering in pain.
“Focus, Tyranni!” Norrix barked, his arms crossed as he watched. From the corner of my eye, I saw Evangeline sidling along the border of the ring, catching his attention.
I smirked. With Norrix’s attention on his girlfriend, it was my chance to have a little fun. I’d learned long ago how to fight dirty, and while such tactics were disapproved of, the only rule in the ring was that pack members were forbidden from shifting.
So, with my arm still trapped in Riley’s grip, I swung my foot, kicking dust into his eyes. “Fuck!” he snarled, his hands immediately flying to his face. Once he released me, I landed a blow on his stomach, earning a long groan. Before he recovered, I dropped low and kicked at the back of his legs, knocking him to the ground.
That caught Norrix’s attention. “Better, Woodrow!” he called out. Despite the encouragement, his gaze remained cold and detached. Still, I counted even the smallest victories in the ring as wins.
Breathing labored and slick with sweat, I rose from the ground, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. “Alright, everyone! Showers!” Norrix commanded. Everyone immediately complied, heading toward the compound.
I followed, my posture relaxing as I left the ring. I made it all but two feet when my wrist was gripped, my shoulder smarting as I was wrenched sideways. “That was a dirty fucking move, Woodrow!” Riley snarled, looming over me threateningly.
“Not my fault you weren’t prepared, Haven. There are no rules in the ring, remember?” I asked, pulling my hand from his hold and crossing my arms over my chest defiantly.
“It’s called fucking etiquette,” he replied with a hateful glare.
“You think there will be any ‘etiquette’ when we’re attacked?” I countered. “Don’t be a pussy just because I beat you!”
Riley took a step forward, his chest nearly colliding with mine. “You’re lucky you don’t have a wolf… It’s the only thing that keeps you safe.”
“Safe from what?” I snapped, glaring at him. If he thought I was going to cower like the rest of the pack bitches, he was sorely mistaken.
“From me teaching you a lesson you’ll never forget…” Riley replied, his voice dropping into a low growl. “A hard, fast, savage lesson, that would leave you unable to walk for days…”
My cheeks flushed with fury and humiliation. “You’re lucky we’re forbidden to touch you, or I’d have you on your knees in the fucking locker room, using that smart ass mouth in the only way it’s good for."
My vision went blinding white; before I knew what I was doing, I’d punched him square in the face, his nose cracking right along with one of my knuckles.
“Tyranni Woodrow!” Fuck… I closed my eyes and sighed as Norrix stormed over to us. Of course, now he was actually paying attention to something other than Evangeline. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!”
“I—”
“Training is over! You know the rules, so why are you the only one who keeps having to be reminded?” he snarled at me.
“He threatened me!” I countered, tears of frustration pricking the corners of my eyes. Norrix blinked, his posture straightening up.
“Did you threaten Tyranni?” he asked Riley.
“Of course not!” Riley denied, the lie spilling so easily from his mouth. “I told her to stop playing dirty in the training ring and she fucking decked me!” he claimed, wiping his bloody nose.
“Woodrow, go shower, and then I will see you in my father’s office.” Norrix declared, turning and storming away.
“You fucking liar!” I snapped, turning to Riley.
He simply smirked, taking another step toward me, until our bodies were touching. “You better pray to the Moon Goddess you never get your wolf, Tyr,” he whispered, his voice so cold it sent a shiver down my spine. “Because if you do, I’m going to fuck you bloody, over and over again until you have my pup inside you.”
I recoiled, half tempted to break his nose again. But the last thing I needed was more trouble. So instead, I curled my lip at him and stormed away, eager to wash away the filth of the ring and Riley’s word...