Chapter 2: Exposing (1)

“Catriona…” Lucy realized that my feelings had shifted. She had always been so sensitive.

It seemed as though Lucy wanted to inquire if I was okay. Eventually, she pursed her lips, gently taking my hand with her warm and soft one. Guiding me towards the stone door, she positioned her hand on the engraved circle. As our pack members, the magic circle recognized us, causing the intricate patterns on the door to illuminate in a soothing blue hue. Subsequently, the door swung open.

Lucy guided me into the heart of the pack. After exchanging afternoon greetings with patrolling members, we made our way through the crowd, delving deeper into the pack’s territory.

As I observed the lively and harmonious scene within the pack, my convictions grew stronger.

I had already been reborn, hadn’t I?

“Trina, speed up. We’re running late, and the Alpha won’t take kindly to your tardiness,” Lucy complained.

I came to a halt, playfully sticking my tongue out, and teasing her, “Just you, Lux.”

Despite Lucy’s determined attempts to pull me along, her struggles only resulted in an amusingly exaggerated expression. This sight made me laugh, and I received her fierce gaze.

Indeed, Alpha would never express anger towards me, for I was his daughter and the sole heir to the pack. Even before I became an Alpha myself, the pack members had a certain level of respect for me.

My heart raced with excitement and anticipation as thoughts of my father, who had always been indulgent and tender with me, filled my mind.

Abruptly, I tugged Lucy along, embarking on a sprint toward the pack house. The sound of my laughter filled the air, blending with Lucy’s screams of fear.

Upon passing the training school, I had to halt due to the lively atmosphere surrounding it. A multitude of people formed a queue at the entrance of the arena. One of our 10 Betas, John, was distributing tickets to everyone.

“Wow, the battle is about to happen?” Lucy’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. She tugged at my hand, saying, “Hurry up! We need to report to Alpha that you’ve returned and are back here in just 5 minutes. I don’t wanna miss this. It’s the last battle to find out the strongest warrior of the pack. Wahhh, I’m going to see Max display his power.”

Lucy’s delighted squeal was followed by a quiet mutter, “And his body, too.”

The name ‘Max’ sent a shiver down my spine. I hadn’t forgotten that name. He was the one indirectly responsible for my father’s death.

The memory of that day remained vivid in my mind. His gaze on my father during his last moments was etched into my memory, the silent and bone-chilling gaze of a wild beast.

Letting go of Lucy’s hand, I spoke in a serious tone, “Go back and report to Alpha.”

“What about you?” She asked in a panicked tone.

“I will stop this battle,” I responded without hesitation.

“Hey, wait, Catriona,” I brushed off Lucy’s protests and approached John.

A smile appeared on John’s face as he spotted me, “Lady Catriona, you need to get in line.”

I had intended to explain to him that I had important tasks to do. However, before I could voice my thoughts, John’s polite smile intervened, accompanied by a gesture inviting me to join the line’s end.

I pursed my lips, giving in, and accepting that I had to wait.

“Did you readily agree to his request?” a young man standing in front of me turned his head and inquired.

I was certain his question stemmed from curiosity, not sarcasm. Well, I was used to receiving preferential treatment due to my status as Alpha’s daughter and the pack’s sole heir. My father, Alpha Oscar, was a firm and stringent leader, but not with his daughters. His biases were never concealed, and the pack members were used to such distinctions.

I shrugged, “Why not? People are lining up.”

“Yeah,” the guy shrugged in agreement. “Who do you think will win in this battle?”

His question made me pause.

Drawing from my father’s teachings, I recollected that every pack possessed distinct strengths. Some packs excelled in physical might, especially those closely connected to Lycans. Others were adept at using black magic, they often were hybrids of black witches and werewolves. Certain packs even boasted remarkable immunity to poisons.

And what about our own pack? Our forte was using magic circles. These circles served multiple purposes, such as healing, defense, and “wishing”. It was no surprise that our pack had immensely robust defenses which were made up of magic circles. Pack members could confidently claim that our defensive capabilities were unmatched, although we refrained from asserting invincibility.

Therefore, genuine warriors with unparalleled strength were still in need. Hence, an annual tournament was instituted to identify the mightiest warrior of our pack.

However, a special thing was that we didn’t need too many warriors; there were times when just one was sufficient. The reason? I would come to understand it as I embarked on my training to become an Alpha, as my father had said.

Drawing from my past life’s events, the final victory had belonged to Max. Attaining the status of the pack’s strongest warrior, he had rapidly garnered my father’s trust. However, there was more to the story… my father had intended for Max to become my right-hand Beta and eventually my husband.

The memory of my ill-fated wedding day resurfaced when Max’s true nature had been exposed, and my father had died of shock. Clenching my fists, I suppressed my simmering anger, though not entirely.

I managed a smile, though it did not reach my eyes, “I’m not sure.”

“Alright,” that guy shrugged, turning his head back. “I’m guessing Max will emerge victorious. He owned immense physical strength right from the start. Just observe the way he overpowered his previous opponents. Goddess, it was awe-inspiring.”

I gritted my teeth to refrain from uttering profanities upon hearing the praises of him.

Indeed, he had shown his great strength that cause dread in me. Nevertheless, my father had never questioned the origin of his capabilities. Clearly, his power was on an entirely different level from the strongest warriors the pack had ever had. Furthermore, it had been common knowledge that Max wasn’t initially a member of our pack. He had been rescued by a she-wolf when he was severely wounded in the Black Eye Forest. Then, my father’s recommendation secured his membership in our pack.

In the end, all pack members, including my father, praised his extraordinary physical strength without a doubt.

Thoughts of him consistently caused my throbbing headaches. Placing my hand over my left chest, I took measured, deep breaths to restore my calm.

Everything would be alright, I reassured myself. I already had a plan. I held the conviction that he was a spy dispatched by another pack. At least, that’s what David had revealed in his previous life. I would subdue him and expel him from the pack before the event even began.

Over 30 minutes elapsed before I finally got my ticket. Upon entering the arena, instead of following the instructions, I promptly found a member of the organizing committee.

“Where is Max?” I asked.

The guy raised an eyebrow, “He’s preparing for the battle and you can’t disturb him by law.”

Half of an hour in line had depleted my patience. “Where is he? Just tell me, where is he?”

My assertive attitude seemed to freak him out. He led me to Max’s room.

“Lady, please wait here, because he is…”

I kicked the door open right away.