The Match

TALIA'S POV

I yawn and stretch out while still laying flat on my bed with my eyes closed. I can already feel the rays of the sun warming the room through my bedroom window.

I rub my sleepy eyes before blinking them open. Everything surrounding me looks different and I gasp in shock. The room I am in looks nothing like my bedroom. It's fancy and colourful, two things I have never been a fan of.

The curtains that now hang on the window are pink and larger than the tiny blue ones I used to have. Several framed pictures hang on the walls making the room look like a small, overly decorated gallery.

I try to think about what may have happened. Then all the memories come flowing in. The match, the soldiers, King's council. . . The execution! 

I stroked my heart, feeling the rush of energy to make sure that I really came back to life. I had been beheaded, yet the memory of the pain was still fresh in my mind. I looked around, trying to figure out where I was, and then I remembered everything.

I am a werewolf, born to a family of warriors. My mother was the strongest female warrior in the pack, and when she competed with the queen, she won. The queen, however, never forgot her defeat and always looked for ways to get back at my mother.

On that day, the queen invited my mother to the palace. But it was all a trap. The queen framed my mother for poisoning Prince Evan, who was deeply loved by everyone in the werewolf kingdom. The people were outraged and demanded that my mother be executed.

I knew my mother was innocent, but no one believed me. So, I made a bold decision. I decided to die in my mother's place. As I closed my eyes and felt the sharp blade slice through my neck, I expected to feel the darkness take over. Instead, I felt a surge of power.

Now, I opened my eyes again and realized that I was alive. Not only that, but I was stronger and more beautiful than ever before. I knew that this was my chance to save my family and seek revenge against the queen who had caused us so much pain.

***Flashback***

The crowd roars with excitement when the kick knocks the sword right out of the Queen's grasp. Their defending cheer makes my ten-year-old little brother, Michael, instinctively cover his ears even as he jumps up with glee alongside everyone else.

I wasn't expecting less, people have been wishing for this match for as long as I can remember. A battle between the queen and the kingdom's best female warrior. And that warrior is none other than our sassy and beautiful mother.

She is so bold, so swift with a sword yet always very calm even in a match like this. she can even afford a cordial smile while watching her opponent's movement Intently. The tired Queen on the other hand is already seething with frustration and anger.

Mother has always been the icon of female strength in our large Kingdom. Always in control of her emotions and flawless in her movements. Yet she remains a stunning beauty, more attractive than most of the noble women I have seen.

It is the reason why people have always wondered what a match between her and the queen would be like. The Queen probably wanted to prove that she is the most formidable female in the kingdom, and that's why she called for this Match.

Unfortunately, she is losing badly and the embarrassment is vivid on her face. She takes in a deep breath as she stands swordless and the crowd watch with anticipation to see her next move.

She cannot call the match off when so many eyes are focused on her. Giving up so easily would really taint her reputation. Not to forget that her son, Evan, is watching.

Just looking in his direction makes my nervous body twitch. The man looks like a Renaissance painting. God must have been in a good mood when he made him because the beloved prince is the most embodiment of physical perfection.

Every feature on his face is perfectly proportioned. His piercing blue eyes are highlighted with pitch black eyelashes and equally dark, thick eyebrows. The lack of fat under his smooth skin makes his impressive jawline even more noticeable. My body instinctively tenses when he licks his smooth pink lips.

Unlike every one of us that are all anxious and cheering at the top of our voices, the man just sits with an enchanting smile on his ridiculously beautiful face. His serene composure is annoying sometimes. How can he be so calm when it's his mother getting her ass kicked at the centre of the field.

But he has never shown support for anyone in these matches. He seems only interested in who has got the skills, doesn't matter if they are just some poor peasants or a woman with no noble title.

But no one had thought he would act the same way when it's his mother in the battlefield. He is probably thinking the same thing as us, that she is getting what she asked for.

Anyway, he is too relaxed in the midst of all the chaos going on around him. About five young nights had the misfortune of sitting next to the man. I am guessing their job was to keep the multitude of girls surrounding them from trampling on the prince in the fight to get his attention. It however seems like they are invisible to the pretty girls that keep attempting to push their way through them to get to the gorgeous giant at the centre.

His bulging muscles have stretched the black shirt so tightly that I can imagine it busting up their scenes anytime. It's hard to believe that he cannot shift into wolf form like everyone else.

He didn't phace into a werewolf on his eighteenth birthday. He instead got dazzling powers and incredible strength. Not even a hundred werewolves can fight him, he is a force to behold. It's the other reason every girl wants a piece of him.

Some say he was born to and gifted with that much power to protect the big Kingdom and keep every park and alpha in check. But that is just a rumour. No one knows why the measure of perfection and power was higher when he was made.

"Look!" Michael screens, bringing my attention back to the battle in front of us.

Mother has tossed her wooden sword aside, giving the Queen and equal fighting chance. But not so equal considering how good mother is in hand combat. 

The Queen lunges forward with her right hand fist clenched tightly. She throws a punch at mother putting all the force and strength behind it.

Mother dodges the blow and easily tackles her down by sweeping her feet. The Queen hisses as she lands on the ground with a thud. Mother puts her foot on her back, pushing the Queen into the sand and restraining her from getting back to her feet. The woman sure got a lot of strength in that lean and curvy body.

The Queen struggles for several seconds to move the foot of her back and get up but she fails. She curses loudly as she finally gives up and taps. 

The crowd goes wild with cheers. Me and my ten year old brother high five. Then I look up and ahead to the prince, curious to see his reaction. He seems totally unfazed as he applauds alongside everyone else.

Does he care at all that the woman on the ground is his mother and Queen of the Kingdom? The man is actually smiling approvingly as he claps his massive hands.

Mother helps the Queen get back to her feet and they shake each other's hand in a harmonious gesture. Their smiles are signs that they remain best friends despite having exchanged blows a moment back.

Mother makes her way to us and our twelve year old sister, Taylor joins us in time for the big family hug. She is always away with her friends until moments like these.

We all congratulate our incredibly strong mum. How I wish father was here to see her. To see how strong is she has become since he left us to get married to another woman.

I was eight then and I didn't understand much. I heard him arguing with mum one night about him seeing another woman. He packed his stuff and left the next day never to return. Mother didn't want to talk about him anymore or about what exactly transpired.

I learned that it's best not to keep asking her questions she is not comfortable answering. She was doing her best to protect and provide for us and that was more than enough. I have always wished for a chance to help her at least keep my little siblings safe since being a single mother means she has to carry all the burden.

But I am yet to get eighteen and phase. She insists that she cannot train me until she is assured I can heal quickly in case of an accident. The good thing is my eighteenth birthday is only a week away.

"You really kick her ass! Shouldn't we bake a cake to celebrate?" Taylor suggests as we make our way out of the training grounds.

"Sure, we can have a little celebration." Mother agrees.

"But Taylor always invites all her friends and they always ruin our dinner," Michael complains. He has always been shy around girls that are older than him and hate it when Taylor's group of friends crowd our dinner table.

"You always invite your chubby little friend and I never complain." Taylor points out to him.

"Quit arguing guys. no inviting friends tonight." Mother intervenes. Michael smiles while Taylor just shrugs her shoulders.

I look back at where the Prince and his knights were seated. The massive crowd of girls still wait to meet him. But he is talking and paying attention to a little girl that so boldly found a way to get to him. It's embarrassing for the adult girls that stand waiting behind, being snapped at by the knights to make way for the prince to leave.

"Miss Abrams!" a man's voice calls my mother's name and I turn my head again to see who it is.

"What is it Mr Efron?" she asks the Queen's messenger that is rushing towards us. Mother knows every one of the Palace servants since she and the queen are close friends and she has been invited to the palace countless times.

"Her Highness has requested that you join her family for dinner. She is preparing her son's best dish and will most likely need your help with the eggs. He says when he gets to us.

It sounds ridiculous since the Queen didn't look very happy when she left the field. Why on earth would she immediately want to have the woman that just embarrassed her eat dinner with her family?

Mother thinks for several seconds before answering the man. "Tell her I will be joining her in an hour."

The nods, smiles and walks back the way he had come.

"She looked pissed even after you shook her hand. I find her invitation weird." I say.

Mother smiles and shakes her head. "I am sure she just wants to win her son back. It must have felt embarrassing to lose a match with him watching." 

I just shrug my shoulders because that doesn't sound a good enough reason.

"Talia and I can bake the cake. You may go help the queen now if you feel like." Taylor says without asking me. She can barely make a single cup of tea let alone bake a cake. That means I will be the one doing all the work.

"You sure? Mother questions and looks at me. 

"Yes, I will help. You can go." I affirm. My stomach churns for a yet to be known reason.

Perhaps because I am too suspicious of the Queen that asked for a match just to prove that she is the best woman. That woman didn't seem the type that can get over the pain and embarrassment of losing instantly and start offering dinner invitations.

I really hope mum is right. That she just wants to win her son's confidence back. Which is very questionable because how would making him a delicious meal make up for the shame of losing a match that she herself asked for?

Mother gives us all a peck on the forehead before leaving. I watch her making her way towards the massive gates of the Palace.

The grand gate opened and closed in my sight.