Alpha Deception

round had chan

d . Symbols marked the perimeter ancient, primal, and old as the blood that had once consecrated the ground. War

breeze cooling her. Beneath her clo

Roy here. A gh

ed the Beta Stary

stepped in twitching, glanc

leaned in. "Watch their feet. That'

tightly together. Her gaze swept th

econds,

illed the air, and the crowd roared. There were no rules except one: stay i

ide and was knock

," the Beta

ed. Not with s

ed. They cheer fo

s cornered by two opponents. They didn't hesitate. A

t's

that look of terror wrapped in hope, th

er that either breaks you or remake

ed out. The trial ri

" the Beta bark

epped

was

ood was fire. Around her, the others took their positions. Among them wer

t her h

eg

ao

to her feet and twisted, driving an elbow into her attacker's gut. He stumbled, and s

eir bodies twisting near the edge. Her boots scrap

o

th, knocking her opponent into another fig

t a punch to her ribs.

" someone

couldn

nd raised her fists. Another attacker came, this one faster

w, sweeping his legs from un

o," the Be

tossed by

re

lip bled. But she

ou!" Jess

kick, catching the leg and driving a punch

o

then backed up and launched herself at a wounded boy ins

i

roared. "Group Tw

, gasping, heart hammering like it wanted out

ad su

de, grinning. "Well don

th, teeth red. "N

nes, Jayson caught up to her, his

panted. "Sti

ack gently. "You

e muttered, though her lips tw

e the ne

Form up in te

her breath. She stepped tow

caught in

of the guards from the

with the scar over his chin. The sil

seen the man who slit her throat... but t

ists tr

said from behind

swer. Her vis

, please pair me up with the

of the guards was on the opposite

d surged

ing to mak

er right–Jax, she thought his na

horn

e figh

met fists, bone met bone. The ground was soon stained

ad no interest

cked on the

ame at her first. He didn't recognize her that much was clear to her.

him. She coul

lun

ed, but she didn't stop. She struck again knee to ribs, punch to th

er, probably Jax, but she was alrea

d at how fast she'd downed his partner.

ia hissed under her breath, almost

punch. Sh

ed her forehead into his nos

g blade, but it would do. Moreover this was one of the few challenges the

is arms flailed, but her knee pr

rowled. "You let them do i

are you tal

dagger towar

a deeper vo

lv

one cracked through

e guard's skin. Her breath was heaving, u

ing into the circle as the others ar

't stop, but her instincts the ones drill

he blade onto the ground. It

sobbing, hands over his face. Crooked-no

nished for almost m

again. And the rules were to eliminate your o

e was w

spered, "She was

," someone e

, chin high, ig

a few paces away before stoppin

said again, this time w

now, all this your disguise, your place in the Trials, your father's

lenched so

she gave a sm

et cleaned up. You'll need a c

from her witho

he was ready for the next fight but befor