Team Ares? Team Ajax?
“Ajax.” His crimson eyes crawled from her head to her toes before he mustered a chuckle of disbelief. Ajax’s huge figure almost covered the entire doorway to the counter. Cataleia took a step back and held onto the knob as she tried to escape the gunsmith’s shop. She pulled the heavy door, but it shuts close as a hand is plastered across the glass, locking the human in place. There was a wall behind her and Ajax had slammed his hand onto the door, so she couldn't get away from being alone with him again. A smirk tugged on the edges of his unmerciful lips. He leaned close and Lei averted her face, pretending to look at the counter.“What brings you to the gunsmith, Miss Reiss?”“The same purpose you have, sir. To buy weapons.”“For whom?” he curiously asked. “For my competition.” Ajax loosened his grip on her when he felt her shivering. He stepped away, but did not take his gaze away from her. “Are we invited to this competition?”“That depends on the Auctioneer, Sir.” She replied.
“Oh? Is it you, Lord Ajax.” The Auctioneer greeted the Alpha as he leaves the gunshop with a frown on his face. The Alpha always had a frown on his face, but this time— it was a little bit worrisome.“Is my sweet little Cataleia, inside?” Ajax ignored his question and lit a cigar before turning his attention to him. In such a cold weather, a spark of cigarette was enough to warm you from the inside. “How much would you sell the human girl for, Auctioneer?”“Interested in her?” the Auctioneer also took a cigar from his pockets and smiled at him. “May I?” Ajax lit his cigar and they both leaned against the wall while focusing their gazes at the girl inside the gunshop who was curiously trying out different models of guns with the smithy. “She is not for sale.” The Auctioneer broke it to him. “Didn’t you refer her to the competition for the black auction?” “Yes, I did.” He nods in agreement. “However, the girl does not see herself as a slave. You see, she is quite special in her ow
The Auctioneer visits Cataleia in her chambers. Casa and Angela were braiding her hair whilst she polished her sword. His eyes lands on the girl’s face, but nothing was etched it in but calmness. The Auctioneer strolls near her, his arms crossed against his chest. Cataleia glanced at him. He smiled. “Nervous?” Cataleia looked at the girls behind her who had just finished braiding her hair. Casa and Angela looked at her, nodded then left the room. “No.” She answered as soon as the door closed. “Good.” He then sits on the bed. “Remember not to get yourself killed today.” “I am not an amateur, Mr. Auctioneer.” “I know.” He nods. “I am hearing a lot of offers for you already.” “That’s a lie.” Cataleia shrugged her shoulders, then sighed. “I am not seeing you meet anyone, and not one has ever come to meet me like Casa or Angela.” “That’s because they aren’t entering the Auction as hitmen, but assets for labor work. You on the other hand, agreed to kill for money, that’s why you’
THE COMPETITIONCataleia reunited with the other members of the game. Behind her was a huge labyrinthe that the Auctioneer will be utilizing for the game. Cataleia was one of the participants that stood out because she was human. The others gave her a nasty glare, while the other broodingly whispered to themselves how the would incapacitate the girl.She remained quiet however, and listened to the host.“The rules are simple.” The host told them. “There is one flag in the labyrinth. The one who brings it to the front wins.”“Just like that?” one asked. “That’s easy peasy.”“You’ll have to do whatever it takes to survive and get out of the maze. The flag must not be taken from your hands nor must it be broken. There will be traps inside, there will also be people who will combat with you. In this game, you lose if you die. Those who win in the game will enter the Black Auction and will be given a new name and life. Those who fail, will remain living their miserable, wretched lives.” “
Destruction lay upon Lei's path, leaving a trail of onyx-colored blood in her advance. Those who challenged the girl either lost a body part or were paralyzed completely. Though Lei was beyond exhausted, she carried on, her eyes set on the prize— the flag.Lei walked towards the middle of the maze, where she could see the flag held by a gigantic werewolf. “Careful!” one warned her before she could proceed any further. “He has the blood of the ancient titans and the wolves!”‘Is that why no one has circulated the flag all around the maze? They’re afraid to approach him?’“No one has attempted to take the flag yet?” she asked the cowering werewolf she had just beaten in combat.“None,” the wolf replied while pressing onto his wound as the blood kept leaking. “Should you defeat him, you’ll have to defend yourself from others.”“But there are no more others,” was Lei’s dreadful response. “Are there?”The wolf kept its mouth zipped, and Lei slowly closed the distance between her and the gi
"The Auction is tonight." Casa walked towards Lei's bed and sat. Lei stared out the window, looking at the busy streets from outside. It was already 4 in the afternoon, and the sun had just set.Cataleia had not had her dinner yet, nor she intended to. Her appetite was not the best when she woke up that morning. Casa became worried about her friend."Look, Lei, you have to get ready. The Auctioneer is going to get pissed if he sees you not well dressed. You are his biggest asset as of yet. You need to look good."But Lei was not in the best mood to answer."Lei..?" Casa nudged her arm for a little bit, then the girl finally spun her head at her."Casa... what if the Prince buys me instead of Ajax?""What are you talking about?""What if he gets ahold of me instead?""You're not seriously thinking about pulling back, are you?" Casa holds her hand. "Lei, you have to make up your mind. Going back to Askavan, he'll surely gang up on you and kill you. He has more power there."Cataleia fro
"Lord Aron, I am glad you could make it!" the Auctioneer greeted his most awaited guest. "When the brothers said you were in the Highlands, I thought it would be possible for you to miss it.""You lack too much faith in me." Alpha Aron replied and then jerked his head to his sons. "How can I not be here today when my sons asked me so nicely?""I see," The Auctioneer let out a forced chuckle. "Well then, the show is almost beginning. Please, have a seat."The Alpha sat first, and then his sons followed accordingly. The Auctioneer then excused himself away to the backstage to get ready.The Nyth brothers kept their eyes on the stage."Father," Ares turned his head to him. "You didn't have to come with us if you're exhausted.""I'm alright, Ares. You don't have to worry about anything.""You look pale, Father." Arthurian chimed in. "Have you been eating well?""The food in the
The gruff male raised his father's banner high and mighty. The auditorium was dead silent and not a breath interrupted the illustrious eldest child. His draping cape of wolf fur which he skinned from the Alphas he slew wrapped loosely on his broad shoulders; his cold face blanched in a spiraling obsession to own.One could see the future Alpha was agitated."Half a million for Cataleia Reiss! An outstanding amount!" The Auctioneer said through the mic. His face was pale too. At that point, he thought Prince Kai would win over her. "I have no words!"Ajax's crimson eyes fixated on Lei's and the girl shuddered, her knees near to giving up. The two locked eyes for a few seconds before Lei broke her stare from him. Ajax, however, did not stray his eyes away from her."He's staring! He's staring!" Angela squealed. "You're saved now, Lei!"Prince Kai gave Ajax an unpleasant glower before lowering his banner. He slumped against his seat, defeated and rejected. His eyes fixated on the woman w
“You’ve really lost your mind,” Cataleia clenched her jaw so hard that her face ached. “With five brothers competing for your hand, you must feel overwhelmed now that a king has joined the roster, yes?”She shook her head, her thoughts bitter. *This asshole is making me feel like a toy.*“What have I done so wrong to deserve this treatment? I killed the governor, yes, but what have I done to you? If anything, you should be indebted to me for taking my uncle’s life!”“Indebted? A king is never indebted to anyone,” Kai replied. “Come with me, and I’ll repay everything.”Suddenly, the door behind Cataleia slammed shut, leaving her alone in the room with Kai.She rushed to the door, trying to pry it open, but it wouldn’t budge. Kai approached her slowly, his golden eyes shifting into something venomous—like those of a snake. “Do you not wish to become Askavan’s Queen, Cataleia Reiss?” He drew nearer until his breath was just inches from her cheek. “Do you not wish to become the most pow
“A war?! Seriously?!”Ajax continued walking in the halls while Cataleia’s small figure tailed after him. She nearly sprinted to match his big paces. “Ajax, wait!”Cataleia grabbed the alpha’s wrist, and he quickly stopped. She was startled initially, not expecting her gesture to halt him. She had thought he would have shrugged her hand away as soon as their skin touched.“A warning, woman. You ought not to touch me so suddenly, especially when we’re alone.”Fumbling, she quickly releases her light grip on his wrist.“I’m sorry, it’s just that— you’re walking so fast. I can’t keep up.”“The matter with war has nothing to do with you. I will make my own decisions as the Lycan King.”“You have to think this through,” she implored him. “Many innocent humans will die if you wage war.”“So, you admit the Lycans will win?”“I do not admit it,” she replied with furrowed brows, disagreeing. “I simply say that many will die for a bad cause.”“You call it a bad cause because you think you won’
"Ugh. What foul stench."King Kai, the ruler of humans, covered his nose with his gloved hands as his carriage passed by the streets of the Black City. The weres scowled with their bare fangs as they noticed the insignia of Askavan on the carriages."Don't make such statements," his retainer reminded him. "The weres can hear you.""I intend for them to hear," Kai shrugged. "Such a gloomy greeting. Where is their Alpha?""He is already there." Kai's eyes wandered into the entrance of the Nyth Manor— a huge fortress made of obsidian and basalt which glowed only in the moonlight. The fortress rose high into the sky like a castle."This architecture is splendid," his retainer comments out of awe. "It is much bigger than your manor before you moved into the palace, Your Majesty""The Palace is much more beautiful than this unthought structure," Kai replied out of spite."Well, let us not keep the Alpha waiting."They descended the vehicle. Kai looked at the front of the gates where Ajax's
Today was the day that the Nyth brothers parted ways to reign their assigned areas in the Wolf Territories. Gaining their special packs of their own, they are to rule a specific area on behalf of their father. As the title of Alphas was given to them in a final moon ceremony attended by the people of the Midnight Legion, they assumed reign over their subjects.Six carriages were prepared in the gates while the townweres peeked over the commotion. Today was the day the Nyths let go of their vices and grandeur for the betterment of the Wolf Territory.Of course, there will still be rebellious rogues that may try to attack each of their packs; and they must be prepared for it.What’s important is that the Midnight Legion rules the entirety of the Wolf Territory— consuming even more rebellious rogues as they expand to the ends of the continent. “So this is it,” Arthur frowned while staring at the home he had lived for twenty-four years. “We finally leave home.”“I thought mom was joking
Five alphas, one possession. This was the concept that doomed the mind of Lei as she dashed into the halls of the Nyth Manor, leaving the brothers behind. Tears streamed down her eyes, realizing that instead of freedom, she had only enslaved herself even more. The dream of going home… it has been almost five years since she had ever seen her family. She didn’t even know whether they were still alive. Or if they cared if she went home.Cataleia found herself outside, finally. She rushed into the streams and crossed the boulders until she was not out of reach by the palace. She felt like the vicinity itself was choking her.She grabbed a handful of her hair and walked in circles, frustrated.“They were only resisting themselves because their father was there to apprehend them if they did something to me,” she told herself. “Fuck… what did I get myself into?!”Lei spent her night in the stream, all afternoon until it was dusk. And she had no choice but to go back home.At least, at du
The Midnight City was eerily silent.Only the slow, loud sound of the bells could be heard. The streets were barren, and only a few stores were open. Every single Were was in their homes, holding candles as they gazed at the empty streets through their windows. “The Alpha is dead. “ A gruelling thought.What would become of them now that their Alpha has left them? Lord Aron was the best leader they could ever have. Alphas are immortal in nature. However when injured severely— their lives could deplete in an instant with no chance of regeneration. In the back of their minds, they thought: ‘Who was clever enough to have slain the Alpha?’Meanwhile, in the manor of the Nyth brothers, the maids welcomed a lawyer to the living room. Cataleia and the five brothers sat in the room. She still couldn’t forget what Ajax had told her the last time. Today was the day Lord Aron’s will would be read to them. The lawyer brought a scroll containing Aron’s neat handwriting and his promises to hi
YEARS LATER “Lei? When do you think will Father come home?”Axel, now the age of sixteen, asked Cataleia while they were in the stage to get his certificate of complete education. Axel had just graduated from schooling and had gotten his diploma. Since the entire family was busy for a reason, Lei served as the boy’s guardian to receive his awards.Seeing the illustrious Axel Nyth walk in the isle, his schoolmates gave him a round of applause— yet their cheers never pierced the boy’s anxiety.“I’m not sure when Axel.” Lei told him. “But we need to hope that he’d come sooner.” “I know.” Axel nodded.When they returned to their tables at the event, she inspected the boy with a caring smile— like that of a mother. Axel had grown so much over the past years. Now the boy who was once the size of her— was now the size of his brothers. His voice had gotten deeper, yet his choice of words still remained a child’s. Axel will always be the baby boy they adore. “Why are you looking at me like
Upon returning back to the Black City, their carriage earned the silence of the streets when they passed. They arrived at noon, and the bustling environment was frozen upon their dreadful aura. As the Weres stood over to the sides to give them a path, the others paused their business to pay a welcoming homage to their governs. “It’s quiet,” Cataleia spoke as they eyed the people in the streets who couldn’t even bear to look at them. “What’s wrong with them?”“Leave them be.” Lord Aron told her with a smile, his wrinkles appearing on his retired face. “They’ve always been like this.”“Ever since when you were the one ruling?” “Well, not entirely.” He replied and then smiled at the people outside. “Though I suppose I may have cruel times to myself that earn this silence whenever I come home, it had become frequent lately when I announced Ajax’s upraising to the seat of Alpha.” ‘Ah, so it was Ajax.’ The girl thought in her mind. “ “How soon is it? Ajax’s ascension?”“Perhaps a few ye
Cataleia was stunned at the Alpha’s words.As she stared deeply into his devilishly red hues, she found the flames that raged within. For some reason, as she gazed endlessly to find the intention in his eyes— she unexpectedly felt her heart beating so fast she almost wanted to vomit.That striking sensation— that tightening pressure in her abdomen grew more as the Alpha’s finger slowly tucked a strand of fallen hair behind her ear. Her lips were agape, and she couldn’t blink a bit.Cataleia quickly grabbed his wrist to stop him from going any further. Her mind was flooding with thoughts that she almost deemed inappropriate. What kind of human girl would fantasize a wolf?“Stop.” She cried between huffed breaths. She was breathing heavily. So heavily- she didn’t understand as to why either. “If this is another one of your jokes, Ajax— I do not like it.”“Was I ever the type to make jokes?” he lowered his hand into the pockets of his draping coat whilst answering in that same deep, dark