Chapter 5: Cunning Men
Meredith's POV
It's been three weeks since the rejection and I have rarely encountered Vida. Since she left the very next day, Akira was discharged, she didn't want to stay not because she didn't want to be around Akira but because of me. She hated me, If she had little feelings left for me, the day I rejected her, I am sure by now she felt nothing but complete hatred for me, after our encounter that morning before Akira went with her family.
Although she had left for three weeks, the mark she left on me had refused to heal, I studied the cut on my cheek in the mirror, too obvious to be ignored, everyone had seen it, the day Vida had hauled the glass of juice at me.
How can I forget the way, the glass smashed against my face with a sharp crack, the fruit juice splattering across my cheeks and shirt? I wasn't fast enough to avoid the shard completely as it left a tear on my face.
I saw the panic in her eyes when she saw my blood, but she averted her gaze, that didn't stop her from spitting out, "That is for thinking you could walk over me," before she walked out of the kitchen, ignoring everyone who had rushed to us, hearing the outburst.
It was supposed to heal, but it's not healing and it's even worse.
With a quiet curse, I reached for the concealer stick I had borrowed for Catherine, dabbing it carefully over the wound.
Catherine had asked me what I wanted to use it for, but I just lied my way out, that I wanted to buy one for my girlfriend, although she was surprised I had a girlfriend because I never had one but she didn't ask further, probably assumed I got one now, since she was gone for some time.
The pain flared under my touch, but I kept going, blending the edges until my raw skin was masked beneath layers of color.
Next came a light layer of foundation, just enough to even it out, not enough to draw suspicion.
I adjusted my collar, let my hair fall slightly forward, and stepped back from the mirror. The wound was still there, hiding under this make-up but to everyone else, it was gone.
Yes, werewolves heal faster, so it was supposed to be gone.
Satisfied with what I had done, I stood up from the couch, and walked to the clearing where the alpha and Luna ceremony is been held, the alpha and his mate had their wedding in the human territory a few weeks ago, since Akira is hiding the Alpha identity from her family she decided not to invite them for this, but she invited Vida and Vida turned her down saying that her new office is demanding.
I know I had asked them to give her workload but I don't think that is the only reason she turned down Akira's invitation but I am grateful, at least I wouldn't get to see Riley lurking around her like some owl.
The Pack was filled with laughter, music, and glowing lanterns strung high among the trees. I didn't remember when I last saw this appealing atmosphere in the pack.
The smiling faces of the males, sipping their beers as they watched the ceremony unfold, they were happy that the pack finally got their alpha and Luna back.
I rest lazily on one of the trees, watching everything and how two warriors wrestle. "Meredith..." I heard Austin call, and I tilted my gaze to him as he handed me a glass of beer.
"Thanks..." I mouthed while taking the beer and sipped on it.
"You know you are always welcome," he said winking at me, my brows furrowed knowing he is up to something.
"Did you spike my drink?" I snapped at him and he tittered.
"You are nuts, Meredith. Why will I do that, I don't have a hole that you could push that thing into." He smiled, pointing to my waist, I sighed. "You know I think you are getting grumpy because you haven't been laid for long..."
"Austin..." I wanted to retorted when we heard a roar, my eyes snapped to the warrior that his hand just touch the ground, in surrender, I sighed seeing how the winner beat his chest in victory, while the other was covered with blood, like every feast held in the Pack, it wouldn’t be complete without one thing, blood sport.
Logan never liked it, he had always said the first thing he would do when he got the alpha title was to abolish this act, but he hasn't been able to abolish it, maybe because since he became the alpha, we have never held a feast that this event had to take place.
“More, who is next?” someone roared from the crowd as a circle formed in the center of the clearing.
"Me?" I saw Riley's hand raise accompanied by his voice, and the crowd roared. He took the last sip of the beer in his glass before he stepped into the circle but before the fight could start, the warrior in the circle touched the floor in surrender.
“I step down... for Beta Meredith to take my place.”
My heart skipped a beat as my gaze snapped to Austin, who was already looking at me.
“Please, Beta…” he murmured, almost pleading.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t take Riley down... I could. But Riley was a cunning wolf, unpredictable, and I had no idea what game he was playing. He was supposed to fight the winner, but the rules allowed the winner to nominate someone else in their place.
I took a cautious step forward, uncertain.
Before I could move any further, Austin grabbed my hand, his grip firm, eyes locked on mine as he shook his head. A silent warning.
Don’t do it.
I let out a forceful smile, reassuring him that I would be fine without a word before I pulled his arm from my wrist, took off my shirt and boots, and stepped into the circle.
"Beta Meredith, you could nominate someone else if you are afraid of me." Austin taunted.
"Stop joking around, get on, one sparring and we are done." I spat out, for these past three weeks, Riley seemed to take pleasure in taunting me, he never missed the opportunity to whisper cruel things to me, for some reason, I almost thought he knew my little secrets.
"Don't forget the rules, you can shift into your wolf form, nominate someone else, tap the ground, or raise the white flag to surrender,"
"On the count of five..."
"Sure..." The words rolled from my lips confidently. Riley was no match for me.
"On your cue..." The spectator answered, I rolled my shoulders, jaw clenched, as I faced off with Riley, Alpha Logan's cousin. He grinned cockily, eyes full of challenge.
I wasn't in a rush, I waited for him to make the first move, as I watched him, “Meredith. ” he called softly enough for just me to hear, before he sniffed the air. "What happened to your wolf? Why can't I smell him?"
My heart dropped hearing his words, I shut my eyes, this was a trap, I didn't see it coming, I guess he must have noticed it, I haven't shifted in three weeks.
"What has my wolf got to do with me dueling you?"
"Nothing beta..." He said the title sarcastically.
“I don’t need claws to put you down,” I said calmly, as I crouched just as Riley did.
"Did they have to?" Alpha Logan's voice came up.
"C'mon son, you know these things, and you seem to be enjoying it before your..."
"I wasn't enjoying it," I heard Logan snap at his uncle while Aunty Louisa glared at him.
"Stop it, Logan, everyone is enjoying it, so let it go." Logan signed as he leaned into the chair, still not comfortable while Akira's eyes snapped to me, I averted my gaze from her almost immediately.
Riley took the first attack while I dodged his attack, sliding my body to the side before making a pivot move and extending my legs to hit the back of his knee.
In a second, his knees bent before he lost balance and fell backwards landing on his ass, with a loud growl.
A loud growl erupted from his throat, he wasn't given up, he pushed himself up, I didn't wait for him to gain balance before I lunged at him, throwing punches at him.
He threw punches at me but they were no way compared to mine, my fist landed on the side of his lips, leaving a tear there, and I heard the crunching sound of our skin colliding.
Blood spattered out from his lips as he stumbled back till he almost fell on the floor and then his eyes dilated and his fangs elongated.