The Delta's Daughter Chapter 170

I walked into the arena, flourishing my sword, getting used to the weight as well as loosening up. Ajani had been picked along with me for today’s fight, we had no idea what to expect.

I wasn’t scared, par-say, but I was apprehensive. I kept my guard up and my wits about me. Focusing my mind on the battle I was about to enter. Any day could be my last day and I hoped today was not it.

I looked at the sword I held; it was sharp, strong, and shiny. Much better quality than what was available in the Gladiator barracks. The inscription on the bade glistened under the sun, I had no idea what it said, but the style of the scripture reminded me of Lamia’s own swords. The ones she used to channel her power, making them glow an ethereal green or golden color. The ones that I had watched her use to slice through hoards of enemies.

I briefly wondered about her, and what she was going through. If she was having just as hard a time as I did when she went missing. She would be 5 months pregnant now and I was determined to get back before those pups were born.

The sound of the crowd’s cheering and booing had me coming to my senses and leaving every thought or worry back in the barracks as I stepped forward and looked up at the mass of spectators. Resolving to get in the right frame of mind, I didn’t want to make a mistake and die today. My eyes instantly pulled to the far end where I knew my little flame would be standing under the shade of the tent.

Ajani stood tall and proud next to me as we listened to the announcer introduce us. Guards flanked us on either side as we walked towards the center of the arena. Our opponents had already been announced and were taken off to the side. When we reached the middle the noise of the crowd was almost deafening, the stadium more full than I had ever seen it.

“Somebody is making a name for himself.” Ajani chuckled nervously. He hadn’t fully recovered from his last fight, the wound had closed but his wolf was healing him slowly, making me think the weapon that stabbed him was laced with, probably, wolfsbane. That would explain why he hadn’t healed any faster and we found no evidence of silver in the wound when we patched him up. As a Beta werewolf, he should have healed in a matter of two days.

Ajani too looked around at the masses; I took note of his shaky breath when he inhaled deeply. He was nervous. He had a right be. “Live or die we fight,” I said with a matter-of-fact tone.

“Live or die we fight.” He repeated, nodding his agreement as he resolved himself. Shaking off his nerves.

We were meant to turn and bow to the crowd, then our fourth bow was for Alpha Vargr. The traditional Gladiator slave would bow and put his hand over his heart in a pledge to the Alpha, that they were fighting in his name for. It would be disrespectful if you didn’t, a direct insult to the Alpha and the host.

However, I was not going to do that. Fuck no I would not bow to him! Today I would make a stance. I glanced over at Ajani “You ready brother” I said, and I meant it, he had become a brother to me, we had fought together, and we had each other’s back. More than that, I respected his strength and values. I would be proud to run alongside this man in battle. And that is exactly what we were doing.

“I am with you, although, we could be dead before we even get to fight.” He cringed.

Yep, we could very well die without fighting. I thought.

The announcer finished his introductions and speech, indicating it was now our time to bow before the crowd and the Alpha. I sucked in a huge amount of air and puffed my chest out as I turned to the crowd. Raising my arms wide, Ajani copied my movement. Moving from left to right but always kept my back to Vargr’s tent.

The crowd simmered down, We turned to face Vargr. He stood from his wooden throne, also outstretching his hands and the crowd began to cheer. This was when we were meant to bow down with our fists over our hearts. Instead, Ajani and I gave each other a quick nod, simultaneously, we turned our back on him and instead took a knee and bowed before the crowd.

The stadium went deathly quiet. The people were shocked that we would blatantly defy the Alpha, the king of Bhakhil.

“Live or die we fight.” I heard Ajani mumble to himself.

Suddenly, “Live or Die we Fight!” Was yelled out from somewhere in the stadium. You could hear gasps and chattering. Then I smirked as I heard the first call of our chant, throwing my head over my shoulder and training my eyes on Vargr as the Gladiator slaves began chanting “ARGHOOH, ARGHOOH, ARGHOOH.” Repeatedly. The sound of them knocking their metal cups against the bars of the barracks could be heard loudly and clearly like a warrior's melody.

The boys were making noise.

Even from this distance, I could see Vargr’s face contort with anger, twisting and growing a shade redder by the second. The man was not just fuming, he was flustered. I kept my eyes trained on him and my smirk sly. Almost laughing in to face.

The Gladiators continued their chant and when we stood up, they abruptly stopped. The silence continued for a moment and then to our surprise the crowd went wild! They weren’t just cheering they were repeating our chant “ARGHOOH, ARGHOOH, ARGHOOH.”

This was very unexpected. I shared a look of ‘wow’ with Ajani and we turned to face Vargr’s tent. I couldn’t wipe the smirk off, not even if I wanted to.

I let my eyes roam to where Tala stood, like a beautiful summer day, her beauty made my heart beat a little stronger and a little faster. My wolf whined for his mate and he scented the air gulping in her delicious fruity flavor that was stronger now she had marked me. I couldn’t let them linger on her too long, not wanting people to figure it out just yet. That did not mean I didn’t want to shout it from the rooftop, but for us to get out of this place unscathed we would have to be smart.

Tala’s eyes were looking at my neck and I wondered if she could see her mark from there, how visible it was, and I also wondered if Vargr or I guess when Vargr would notice.

Vargr lifted his hand to the announcer, clearly irritable with not only the crowd’s reaction but also he was still seething from our public display of ‘fuck you.’ I couldn’t be more pleased with the result so far. I did have to hand it to Vargr, though. He had not lost his shit like I had assumed he would. He was in it for the long game.

A horn blew, the crass sound filling the stadium and the guards that were flanking us began to retreat revealing our opponents. Six men; two were on horses, each holding a flail with spiked ends. The other four men were large and built, some donning large visible scars.

They were all wolves except the two largest men that stood a foot taller than the others and they were holding large battle axes. They were bear shifters. Bear shifters were naturally strong, not as quick as us wolves but they had brute strength and when you got hit by one, you definitely felt it.

This was an unfair fight, two against six but could we expect any less from a coward like Vargr.

The horn blew again to signal the beginning of the fight.