4

"No there's not. If you don't want to do it though, we can work with what we have. It's not that bad." SJ gave me another small smile.

I looked down at Christan, his face full of pain. Then I looked back at SJ, my face full of determination. "I'll do it. Let's beat these Viribus babies."

SJ gave me a wide smile.

Christan tried to cheer, but it sounded more like a hiss because of the pain. He did give me a thumbs up, saying, "Thanks V. You got this."

I did not deserve their kindness. I had to stop myself from cringing again as SJ and another pack member picked up Christan, each taking a leg, while the doctor supported his broken leg as they carried him off the field.

The safety who levelled Christan walked over to him apologising. It surprised me that the Viribus member would apologise. It was a game, accidents happened. 'Accidents' happened.

The male actually felt bad for the pain he caused. He walked with Christan to the bench where the doctor would continue looking at his leg.

The male was a big dude, tall like most wolves. He looked like he went to the gym a lot. He had kind eyes though, they looked soft. He kind of reminded me of a teddy bear I had when I was a kid.

It only took a minute for the players to get back on the field. As we got into position SJ looked over at me, "I guess I should have asked earlier. Are you any good?"

I shrugged my shoulders, smirking at him. "We'll see."

He gave me another hundred-watt smile seeing past my 'humility'. Quickly I threw my wild-looking hair into a ponytail while SJ told me the play. Taking up Christan's old position. Looking over the rival team, I started my plotting.

It did not take long for me to formulate my game plan. I looked back at SJ as he surveyed his team. This play I would listen to his game plan, but next was all mine.

With a hut, the ball was passed to SJ and the teams flew into action. Everyone moving from left to right. Jumping and diving. People were grunting and yelling. Hitting and dodging. It was hectic, it was beautifully hectic.

It brought a smile to my face. It reminded me of all those times I played football with my family. Our football games were a bit more mentally damaging than physical though.

SJ threw the ball in a beautiful spiral. Heading straight for his wide receiver. She jumped in the air arms open ready to welcome the ball. Then a player for Viribus Pack was there. He barely touched the ball, but just enough to send it sailing out of bounds. Ending the play. The crowd either groaned in disappointment or cheered in anticipation.

That's when I took my cue. I walked up to SJ with a small smile on my lips. Fluttering my lashes a bit, I said hesitantly. "I have an idea."

He was a bit skeptical when I told him. It wasn't his fault. It's not like I can tell him 'yeah you see. I'm really good at figuring out what people's strengths and weaknesses are. Have been ever since I was a kid, anyways I now know how to tear this team apart from the inside". Instead I just went with a simple, "Trust me."

Simply put, he did. He nodded his head giving me that SJ smile. The team clapped and got into position.

Wolves were known for their speed, strength, and blind loyalty. Foxes though? We're were known for our wits, tricks, and agility.

That's why I wasn't afraid of the giant ass wolves that were glaring at me from the other side of scrimmage line. I just smirked back.

I jumped from one foot to the other. Rolling my shoulders back. Finally, the magic words were said and I booked it to the quarterback. Grabbing the ball from his hands I ran. Ran straight into the heart of bodies.

Most of the time, this was where a running back did not want to go, but for me, this was my hectic beauty. I jumped, and dodged, leapt, and moved. All with a smile on my face and a laugh on my lips.

They weren't expecting me to go straight into the mess, they thought I would go around, or the team would make a trail for me. That's why I did it, they weren't expecting it. Normally it would be stupid, but I was a lot more agile than the wolves.

Wolf shifters were fast when it came to one straight line. Foxes were fast when it came to a million different directions and never knowing which way to go until it was almost too late. Wolves were made for long distance, foxes liked the short distance. It helped too that no one knew I was a fox.

Some of them tried to set me into a trap. Others tried to fake left but go right. Every trick they set I easily saw it coming and moved out of the way. Tricking them in the process.

I was almost out of the heat of bodies, but one last player jumped in front of me. She was female, she was almost double my size with black braids pulled into a messy bun at the top of her head. Her mocha skin was covered in sweat.

She went to tackle me from the right side, so I quickly jumped to the left. But it was a fake. Faster then I was expecting she moved left, catching me off guard. With a quick double step I moved around her, ditching her in the process. Her fake was enough to almost jar me. It was impressive.

After I got past her it wasn't hard to avoid the rest of the players lingering on the field. It didn't take me long to reach the end zone. Finishing my beautiful running touchdown. The crowd and the team cheered for me.

Walking back to the rest of the team as they set up for the punt, SJ walked over to me.

"You never said you were that good." SJ cried in joy, pulling me in for a hug.

"I just thought of the defence as my problems, and I'm really good at avoiding my problems." I laughed. The whole team grinning at me, patting me on the back.

While the Algoren defensive line ran onto the field, I looked around for the girl with the bun. I found her on the other side of the clearing. She was talking to some of her pack mates.

Heading over to her direction, the team stopped talking as I got closer. She glared at me, I smiled back. "I just wanted to tell you that your fake out was amazing."

A look of confusion crossed her face. "Thanks?"

"I'm serious," I assured her, noting her iciness. It just made my smile grow. "I want to make sure credit is given where credit is due."

"You do realise my fake out didn't stop you right?" She was still giving me a weird look.

"Doesn't matter. I still fell for it." I beamed at her. "It's not every day I fall for a fake out. It was very well done."

That seemed to break some of her icy exterior. She gave me a quick small smile before she turned her back on me and continued talking to her teammates.

For some reason I had a weird feeling someone else was watching me though. I turned around and saw a young kid looking at me. I gave him a wink as I turned around and walked back to the Algoren side of the field.

"They are supposed to be our rivals. You're not supposed to make friends with them." Christan chuckled from his bench. His leg was bandaged and elevated now.

I looked down at him and shrugged. Still smiling. "Everyone deserves to know when they're good at something."

"Well, in that case, you are a very good running back," Christan said, nodding his head.

It was time for me to get back on the field, I started to walk away from Christan. Turning my head back to face him. I called over my shoulder, smirking. "Don't worry, I know."

I heard his laugh as he stayed on the bench as I joined the rest of the team. Football wasn't about winning points for yourself. Football was about two competing teams fighting for the control of the ball, defending and invading the field around them. One person couldn't do it all by themselves. No matter how agile they may be.

That's why when SJ passed me the ball a couple of plays later, I went for the ultimate fake. I shoved the ball into the hands of the girl with two braids. From quarterback to running back, to wide receiver. That's why I took one for the team and got tackled by the same Viribus male that destroyed Christan's leg. He wasn't expecting to touch me. He thought I would bolt out of the way, but that wasn't my plan.

He had to put much pressure on his legs so that when he did hit me, it was anything but a small push. We both went hurtling to the ground, rolling in the dirt. My face hit the grass so hard I knew I would be eating mud for a week. Before we even stopped moving he was apologising, I just laughed. That was the game.

The crowd started a deafening cheer as we fell to the ground. The girl with the braids crossed into the end zone, not a wolf around her. I didn't notice when everyone froze. The cheer dying between their lips as they heard the earsplitting growl rip through the air.

I continued to laugh at my misfortunes and mud-caked pants. The hit was so hard my hair wasn't even in a ponytail anymore. I started wiping the dirt off of my clothes, sitting on my knees.

That was when I noticed the second growl, lower this time, feeling the vibrations in my chest. I rolled my eyes looking for the source of the angry wolf who couldn't handle a loss. As I scanned the crowd I instantly found the source of the growl.

Alpha Cassar Salvaterre of the Viribus Pack had graced us with his presence after all.

He only said one word. "Mate."