Chapter 3: Betas mission

Felix POV//

" I'm on my way to the Arena where the recruits will arrive today. What do you need ?" I ask my little brother Finn who called me 7 times before I picked up.

" Yes I know , I heard. I wanted to ask if I can come along. A friend of mine is there , I would really like to meet him and see how he's doing. Please!"

when my brother wants something he can play really nice , but it's the first time Isaacs sends me on my own I can't mess this up and I can't focus if I must have an eye on Finn.

" Sorry brother but not this time. if you like tell me the name of your friend , if he is half as good as you I will bring him back with me. But I can't afford looking out for you , I need to stay focused on the recruits".

It's quiet for some seconds before he sigh and say " Well bringing him back will be a problem. He is a she , her name is Isabella Clarke, I met her 2 years ago in booth camp when she applied for the following season. She is 17 now and one hell of a fighter . But no matter how good she is , you know Alpha won't allow a girl in our team."

That is something I've never thought I will ever hear, my brother have a girl as a friend.

" That's not true! We have some great female fighters there ! If she is that good he won't mind."

" Hah! Yeah right. the women here look like bears , the only female in them is the fact that they getting their periods" my brother says sarcastically laughing. I have to admit the women back home are well let's just say different.

" OK look, I will watch out for her and if I can't bring her back home with me I will give her your number. Is that a deal?" I ask. He sighs and says " Fine, have fun Felix" and with that he hang up on me not even giving me the chance to answer. He always shows his attitude when it doesn't go his way, but he have to accept that, I can't deal with him right now I think to myself just as I see the big steel gates with barber wire all over them, cameras and some guards in front of me. The guys here take the security a bit to serious for my liking but who am I to judge. I stop at the small security building showing my pass to the man who presses the button to open the gate. As I drive inside I see that I am not the only one just arriving . The Neros brothers just got out of their car waving at me with that fake smile and I give the the same back.

We had our differences in the past, but after the war started 15 years ago we had to work together. That doesn't mean I have to like this bastards, just tolerate them is enough. I get out of my car, get my things and without a second glance at them I head right inside the massive building that indeed looks like a castle. After about half an hour I found my room, place my bag on the bed , not bothering to unpack my things, turn around and brace myself to search for the damn cantine because I am starving!

And another 30 minutes of searching later I finally can smell the food! As I enter the cantine my eyes search the crowd and see my old friend Misha Levanov the Beta of the Ashers . This Russian is crazy and that's why I love him. As soon as he sees me he jumps up and rushes towards me. We hug and clap each other on the back." Long time no see my friend" he says with his amazing Russian accent. " Indeed buddy. How have you been? How's the pretty wife of yours?"

" I'm fine although this woman gives me hell!! She is pregnant again and I swear to you, everytime it gets worse" he says laughing and I join in. " Damn how many kids do you want to make? You already habe like 5 " I say and he plays like he's counting and than make the 'who know' gesture.

" How's the food here? eatable ?"I ask.

" Delicious man, come i show you the way to the best snacks!" Misha tells me exited. We get through the menu chatting and I follow him to his table. His Alpha Marcus, an allie of Isaccs, greets me with a big smile" Felix, welcome to the circus! Where's Isaacs?"

" Alphas Marcus nice to meet you again! He stayed behind, a lot of work to do back home since we came back from the North front just about a week ago." He noods in understandment " I heard. How was the fight ? Many losses?"

" To our surprise none. A lot have bad injuries but all came back alive. It was hell on earth but we managed to get through till Nox and his unit arrived and released us. I'm not sure but It looked like we exhausted them , maybe Alpha Nox can finish them and we have some peace for one another month" I answer truthfully. Something changed 3 days before we haeded home. The Berserkers lacked in their defences and their attacks were somehow sloppy and Nox was happy to hear that , he didn't even wait for us to leave as he started the backfire hoping the Berserkers are still lacking in their abilitys.

................

The Chatting in the big room is mesmerising, some talks are about private stuff others about the new recruits. We eat in silence, enjoying the chit -chat around us, so many recognizable faces. Nice to know they all are still alive.

It was 14 o'clock when the bells rings, telling us the freshmen are ready and waiting for us on the meeting ground. "Time to meet the fresh meat, will you join us Felix?" Alpha Marcus asks

"Gladly! I was thinking about how to ask you . Since it's the first time I am on my own , it would be nice to have an experienced Man by my side to guide me a little" I say with a mischievous smile on my face.

" Of course I take you under my wing, Isaacs will never forgive me if I let you struggling on your own" Marcus answers with a wink at me before we leave the mensa.

On the meeting grounds I spot about thousand of kids. Yeah kids!

" Man it looks like they getting younger every year" I tell Misha.

" Funny Alpha and I were mindlink the same thought right now" he giggles.

The Recruits are separated in boys on one side and the girls on the other. It is a common rule. First they fight the same gender and if the Lords decide that the girls are strong enough they mix things up. The competitions are hard, and with each step it's getting harder and more brutal. A lot will get injured and although we train worriers to fight and maybe even die, they try to avoid unnecessary damage to the girls because a lot are not strong enough to compete with the boys which by the way are almost rightful warriors and grown up men by the time they arrive here, while girls sometimes are still soft creatures. The first competition is already over and the strongest fighters stand in the front 4 rows, and the weakest in the last. That's when I see her. She is the third in the first row. Amazing!

The first two looks like my brother would describe them , huge bears, and she looks more like a little princess . She is small ,thin, long ash blond hair, pale skin and the most bright green eyes I ever saw, but the power that radiats off of her is breath taking. And the confidence and strength her face and posture shows is intriguing. So intriguing that I can't hold back but look at the sheets the guides gave us at the entrance.

I knew it! My brother is an annoying but smart ass! First row third place : Isabella Clarke, I will put an X on her name to show the Lords I'm interested in taking her. Marcus sees that and smirks. " Good choice Beta! She stands out even if she is not on the first place , she definitely will spice the things up this week!" I smile proud as an response to his comment. When the Alpha likes her than I did a good shot.

A loud voice echos through the speakers " Welcome to the Battles everyone, as you can see we already had our first competition. This time we have some more qualified fighters. In the first 6 rows are the most potential fighters. Right now the Lords set up the first fights and as there are a lot strong women the six women rows will be tested first against the middle 6 rows of the boys. Get ready and please take your seats around 15.30 pm in the Arena!"

Marcus and I looking at each other a bit stun , that never happened before, girls against boys is always one of the final rounds. " That should be interesting " Misha says from behind me. " Indeed buddy, indeed" I say.

...........................

An hour later I am showered, changed in fresh clothes and waiting for the Asher rulers in the hall near the Arena entrance. And there they are , right in time and obviously also changed. " Time to see the kids sweat a bit ,right ?" Misha says putting an arm around my shoulders brotherly and pushing me to the entrance. We walk to our seats above the Arena and since we are on time we get 3 places at the front. Around 15 minutes later the announcement " Welcome to the first Round! The fighters are ready, so we shall begin. First fight Amanda against Davido, second Marcy against Ginnian, third Clarke against Reikers...." as the commentators list goes on the names and pictures show up on a huge canvas on the roof. As I look at the pictures I stop listening to the voice In the speakers, starring at the little princess and her opponent. Damn the boy is huge! So huge that if he was green he could be hulk. Do they think this will be a fair fight? This Reikers guy looks like he could kill the girl with one hit , or eat her. Just as this thought cross my mind the signal for the first fight goes on.

...................

The two first rounds found a fast end, the girls were indeed amazing and now it's princess' turn. Reikers is already on the field when Isabella walks in casually like this is a not a brutal competition but a date ,looking more confident as the first time I saw her today. The moment she stands on the spot her opponent starts to giggle and walk around her like she is his pray " Is that a joke ? This little girls is no match to me!" he yells in the direction of the judge, which look unbothered at his comment.

Than he turs to face her" Look sweety, you should just give up. I would rather have my hand on you in bed , when I am giving it to you good rather than damage your pretty face " Reikers tells her with a meshivious smile. I get angry at his words, he doesn't have a hint of respect towards her but she stays calm , looking him up and down she smiles bitterly " If you win we can discuss this matter in your room afterwards " she says sarcastically.

Smart move, now he's rather confused or maybe even mad? I can't tell from where I sit.

" This girl has balls , that's for sure" Marcus says laughing.

" Balls? What about the patience? I would have hit him in the spot the sun never sees after such a sexist statement " Beta Misha says.

" Tell me about it! what a prick !" I join their conversation.

It's been about a minute since they started the fight and I was about to regret my decision to pick her when I finally realised what she is doing. The whole time she didn't even try to hit him , just blocking and avade his attacks. But that's the whole point. She is smart enough to know that he is bigger and stronger than her, and can easily knock her out. She uses her disadvantage to her advantage, she is small and thin but good in her defence. She trys to exhaust him , she just need to have more endurance than him, and also it looks like he's getting mad. The more mad and exhausted hulk gets , the easier it is for her to give him some sweet hell on earth.

Its about two minutes down when I notice the sweat and his sloppier getting attacks, that's when she throw her first shot and meets the right place near the middle stomach and he starts to chough and fight for air. " Finally ready to join the fight bitch?" he says still gasping for air. " You should have giving up at the beginning sweetheart , than I wouldn't have to hurt you like I intend to do now"

Without answering she hits him a few more times , hitting the right spots every time, while his trys don't even bothering her.

" Don't think you could win, I'm not done with you little whore!"

She smiles proudly and says " you know there is a saying my daddy used a lot when training me. The bigger the closet, the harder he crashes!" And as soon as she finished her sentence she rushes up to him ,using his knee and stomach to climb him up, catch his right arm in her hands, throwing her left leg around his shoulders catching his throat and neck between her tights and using her own body to force him to fall on his face, choking him with her thighs while dislocating his shoulder. After less than 10 seconds he realised he doesn't going to free himself and has no other choice but to give up the fight with using his free hand to clap the floor three times. The buzzer goes off and she let's go of him. Standing in front of hulk she throws his on words at him" You should have give up at the beginning, than I wouldn't have to hurt you like I did sweetheart!"

And with that she walks off as nothing happend, the judges and we watchers cheering silently by hitting the armrests.

" If you don't claim the girl today, I will!" Alpha Marcus says still watching the girl with awe.

" Don't you dare , Alpha! I saw her first, and she is mine" I say smiling and and he laughs nodding at me.