Ariana’s POV“Good morning all, that is, our seven contestants remaining. I believe we all rested well. Now as stated yesterday once the amount of remaining contestants drop to eight the top three players locations will be revealed.”I stood, Damon beside me, scroll in hand listening attentively in complete silence, holding my breath.“The top three contestants are: The Ore Merchant Damon, The Royal Princess of The Warwick Kingdom, Ariana and Chief Fenrir from The Central Academy.”As suspected I and Damon were both at the top. The only thing that remained which was the most important was how wide the gap between our points and Fenrir’s were.Damon’s signal flares first, black smoke filtering the sky. I gritted my teeth in anger.Why did they expose Damon’s location first?This could serve as a problem because Fenrir could see this and attack us first, since he must know we both work together. He wasn’t supposed to see Damon.My signal followed after, worsening the situation. It was a
Ariana’s POVThroughout my entire twenty-one years of living, I’d experienced a lot of things that should’ve sent me into full rage then but didn’t, instead I either ignored them or worked 'against' it.Example, when I found out and saw with my own two eyes on my birthday my own mate cheating on me. When I found out I locked myself up and came back ‘stronger’ the very next day, helping him find his partner and child.I didn’t live through my pain, rather I didn’t let it wash all over me under the rain of my sorrows. Instead I took an umbrella and shielded myself.Another example; the day the twins dislocated both my shoulders in a fight. That was my first real fight and it was meant to be a test battle, to give the opponents an opportunity to find out their cores and strengths. Those two took it far and dislocated both my shoulders at the same time. What did I do?I got it glued back to my arm that day and began training the very next day. I still remember what I thought then,“I have
Ariana’s POVFenrir laughed again, myself on the verge of passing out.“What do you think that puny necklace is going to do for you?” He pushed me up the tree, my back sustaining injuries from rubbing harshly against the rough surface, “Save you from the defeat that awaits you? There’s nothing saving you from m—”I grabbed both his wrists, separating his hands away from my neck, slowly pulling it apart. He stared, in disbelief, his attempts at fighting back useless.Once his hand was far away from my neck, I tightened my grip on them, that exact move changing the dynamic of the fight. I had now become the opposition.I took two steps closer to him, head-butting him. His head fell backwards, eyes losing its focus.As he lifted back, I surprised him, instantly using my knee to connect with his jaw. He staggered backwards, planting his feet firmly on the ground, trying to stabilize himself, staring at me with both shock and hatred.Blood dripped from my forehead, but the pain only added
Ariana’s POVThey all cheered, sounds of people clapping, organized chaos and bright light making me wrinkle my forehead.Right in the middle of the crowd, I saw a small girl, not above the age of twelve, cheering loudly, her face red from so much excitement.I focused my attention on the person next to her. He was the guard I met the day Jasper and I went looking for Lorna.He smiled warmly at me, clapping his hands. I smiled, shifting my gaze back at the little girl beside him. She must be the daughter he spoke about as they did look alike. I gave my brightest smile, blowing her a kiss.She screamed turning to her father as she tugged on his shirt endlessly. He laughed, hugging her, muttering a “thank you” to me while he bowed his head curtly.Seeing such vast amount of people in a enclosed space made me confused and a little frightened. It took me a moment to adjust, blinking rapidly, an ensuing headache coming forth.After a while I tried to shut out the noise, my injuries finally
Damon’s POVThe most laughable thing about fate or the concept of it were the coincidences. The coincidences that transcended a man’s life, either for better or ultimately for worse.Regardless, such occurrences or as I mentioned earlier, coincidences that remained pivotal than man’s own birth and death, were termed ‘fate’.For exiled Jasper, a man now worth nothing, this would be his biggest coincidence yet. Stripped from his former glory, wrapped in bandages of his own undoing, he let himself be taken away grimly by guards he once held authority over.His punishment was exile, a thing werewolves feared more than death. To be exiled from a kingdom or pack meant one’s existence had been wiped, and he/she had no claim to nothing.One would either be torn apart by savage beasts of the forest, or joining feral werewolves who took no account of life and could dispose the person anytime they wished. One could also end up starving to death, plus a whole other gruesome fates that waited outs
Ariana’s POVWarm water enclosed me and I shut my eyes, letting it soothe me. A stinging sensation follows as it irritates my injuries but I welcomed that too.The doctor had arrived earlier, giving me treatment and a full inspection. There was evident shock on his face seeing as I hadn’t passed out already from the brutal force and sheer exhaustion.It was mandated for me to get bed rest of at least three days and of course I refused it, seeing as it absolutely wasn’t necessary.My mother stuck with me through out the examination and she definitely went through several stages of grief seeing the injuries on my body but said nothing. She only clutched her shoulder, and gasped briefly on several instances, especially when the scratches on my back were exposed.Now, she was with me, in my room, right in my bathroom, giving me a bath. She pursued all the maids away and stated she wanted to do it herself, which I saw no reason why but with the look on her face I knew I couldn’t fight it.
Ariana’s POV“What?” I exclaimed.That night, I received news of both Jasper and the guards disappearance. Dressed in my royal attire, seated beside my mother, I faced the guard who came to give me the report.“I will join you immediately to start a search,” I said, standing up, clutching to the ends of the gown I was forced to wear.It was a trade since I refused to get some sleep. But I just couldn’t sleep.“Sit down, young woman.” My mother spoke beside me. “You’re still healing, don’t worry me more than you already have. Pity your poor body.”“Listen to your mother,” My father spoke, avoiding eye contact with me. Always siding with each other, I see.With a defeated sigh and a grumble, I sat, extending my hands, “Alright. Take more guards with you, most preferably higher in the ranks.”“Understood, your highness.” He took a bow, exiting the palace.If Jasper had miraculously escaped then he couldn’t have made it far but last I saw him he was in extremely bad shape, there was no wa
Ariana’s POVI’d realized ever since Jasper’s betrayal or better yet ever since I’d come across the merchant, my life had seized to experience the fortune of calm—except when I was in the arms of the one who was the forth bringer of the chaos.Which made me ponder; had my life ever truly known the presence of calm or were the disturbances something that seemed too small for what I was currently living before my very eyes.Seeing the woman who was at the very epicenter or my rejected mate’s life and my own very agony at a point in time, alive, well and her pregnancy that haunted me at night gone perturbed me.The guards brought her before me and she approached me with a smile which struck me more than anything.“Hello, your highness.” She greeted, taking a customary bow.Stricken by her response, I opened my mouth to say something only for nothing to come out. Her smile grew wider, coming closer to me, holding my arm.“I apologize for the troubles my presence in your life causes you.”