Chapter 142 BLOODSHED AND WARNINGS
SEBASTIAN'S POV
The token feels heavier than it should in my palm even though it's a small piece of wood that determines my fate.
I stare at it for a second much longer with my brows pulling together slightly as the realization finally settles in.
A bypass lot.
I picked a bypass lot straight to the second stage with no fighting in the first round of the challenge.
For a moment, I don't react as I realize how much of a coincidence it is that the only Omega in the challenge picked a bypass lot.
Then–
A scoff sounds somewhere from behind me.
Of course. I'm not the only person that recognizes the irony of the whole thing, I don’t even need to turn to know it’s directed right at me.
“Lucky,” someone mutters.
Another voice follows, a little louder this time.
“Only an omega would get something like that.”
A few low chuckles ripple through the small crowd gathered around the selection area but I say nothing.
I don’t even look at them as they start mocking me
“It’s better this way,” another voice adds mockingly. “At least he won’t embarrass himself in the first round.”
More laughter from the crowd.
“Yeah,” someone else chimes in. “He can last a little longer before he gets crushed anyway.”
These words are meant to provoke and get a reaction out of me.
To remind me of exactly where I stand in their eyes without Ragnar's protection.
Weak and out of place.
A mistake in a competition built for strength.
My grip tightens slightly around the token but I don’t respond or even give them the satisfaction of a reaction.
What’s the point anyway? They’ve already decided who I am and nothing I say will change that.
And quite honestly, I don’t even have the energy to try and argue with them.
The selection ends soon after as names are called out and the second round of tokens for today's challenges are distributed.
Tension builds as everyone begins to understand what’s coming.
Two days.
It'll be two days before it all begins for us and I step into something I can’t walk away from.
I tuck the token away and move toward the outer grounds where the viewing area has been set.
Even though I know it won't help, I want to see the other packs sparring.
Maybe I may be able to take one or two wolves down?
The arena is already alive when I arrive, that is if you can even call it an arena.
It’s more like a wide and open clearing surrounded by raised platforms and rough seating carved from earth.
There are no barriers for safety, just direct sight viewing and blood. So much blood.
The first fight is already underway with two massive Alphas going at each other brutally.
They crash into each other like beasts with their claws out and their wolves surfacing just beneath the skin with sharp fangs.
The sound alone is enough to make weaker wolves flinch.
Weaker wolves being me that is.
I stand still, watching as they basically mutilate each other not because I want to, but because I need to.
I can no longer afford the luxury of going still and fainting at the sight of blood.
Especially with my challenge coming up in less than two days.
One of them goes down really hard and slamming into the dirt with enough force to crack something–I hear it from here.
The other doesn’t hesitate as he lunges at him with really sharp fangs that sinks into his flesh, causing blood to spurt out.
The crowd roars at that
I don’t react to them, I just watch.
Because this is now the reality for me.
Not the whispers or their mockery, this.
This is what they expect me to walk into.
Some fights end quickly with a smooth victory, while others drag out turning into something uglier and desperate.
The only certain thing? There are no clean victories here, only survival.
And even that comes at a cost.
I think as I see the “winners” with bleeding body parts, claw and bite marks.
One of them is even missing an eye.
I exhale slowly, folding my arms loosely across my chest.
I should feel something after seeing all of this.
Fear, anxiety or even…
But all I feel is tired.
Just… tired.
“Still planning to go through with it?”
A smooth voice cuts through my thoughts.
I don’t need to turn, I already know who it is.
“Lila,” I say flatly.
She steps into view anyway with a faint smile playing at his lips as she looks out over the ongoing fight.
“You can still forfeit you know,” she says casually. “No one would blame you anyway.”
Her gaze shifts to me.
“An omega fighting a group of Alphas?” she adds with a soft chuckle. “That’s not bravery honey that’s just suicide.”
I don’t respond.
“Walk away now,” she continues. “Before it becomes something you can’t escape from.”
Still, I say nothing to her.
“You don’t belong here,” she finishes finally as I turn slightly, just enough to meet her gaze.
But then I look away afterwards back to the fight because she’s not worth the energy at all.
A low laugh sounds from the other side.
“Careful,” Lance says as he steps into view. “You might hurt his feelings.”
My body stills just slightly but I don’t look at him.
That powerful Alpha’s influence of his that is just enough to irritate me.
“Lila means well,” Lance continues lightly. “But she lacks… tact.”
“I doubt that’s the issue,” Lila replies dryly.
Lance hums in agreement with her.
Then, he shifts closer to me.
Not too close but enough for his scent to reach me.
He doesn't smell like Ragnar today although I could still get a hint of it if I concentrated.
My chest tightens before I can stop it but Lance notices and his smile sharpens just slightly.
“Ah,” he murmurs. “That.”
I don’t react.
But he continues anyway.
“It was merely a misunderstanding,” he says smoothly. “I borrowed Ragnar’s clothes and that’s all.”
Silence from me as he watches me carefully like he’s waiting for something.
A reaction or crack in my expression.
“I hope it didn’t cause any issues between you two,” he adds casually.
It did cause an argument, a huge one where I misunderstood Ragnar and I'm sure he can deduce it from my expression.
But I don’t say any of that, I don’t trust this bastard.
I wonder what his relationship with Ragnar is?
Instead I fully turn this time with my attention returning to the fight and the bloodshed.
And for a moment he says nothing until he lets out a soft exhale of disappointment.
“Stubborn wolf,” he mutters.
“Very well!”
There’s a subtle shift in the air like something just changed because of my silence.
“You should leave.”
He tells me but I don’t move.
“You still have the time Sebastian,” he continues.
Something about his tone is no longer amused.
“You won’t survive what’s coming,” he says quietly. “Especially not like this as an Omega.”
My jaw tightens but I still don’t respond and I don’t trust anything he says, not anymore.
“You better leave now, little omega,” he says, “or you’ll never be able to leave again.”
A chill runs down my spine as he says it with a cold tone before he steps back and leaves.
He’s gone.