Chapter 105 The induction
The induction
Milo’s POV
The moment I hesitantly passed through the huge doors, I froze.
What was in front of me, was not what I was expecting to see at all.
The last time I was here with Damon, the place was like an abandoned military war camp. Especially the arena that was like a charred wasteland filled with huge claw marks, and dents made by weapons that filled the ground. But today, none of those were present. Everywhere was different, the air was still thick with power, but the huge space in the center of the room had been transformed, into something a lot more preventable. Torches glowed brighter, banners hung along the walls, and strange lanterns lit up the corners like it was some kind of festival.
What was happening today? Was today someone's birthday? But a quick glance at their hardened no-nonsense faces told me that was very far from being the reality. That could only mean one thing… They were waiting for someone.
And immediately James came out of the shadows to the limelight, all heads turned to us. I braced myself, already preparing for the sting of mockery, laughter, and the sneers that I had grown too familiar with. But, surprisingly this time… none of those come.
Instead, hushed murmurs rippled through the gathered small crowd. But then I was given a fright of my life at what happened next. The hardened warriors that would not move, even if the world should start burning in flames, stopped whatever they were doing, and started coming towards us, their eyes lightened up in familiarity filled with Respect. Recognition. Acknowledgement.
“Leader, finally in flesh, a girl who carried a crossbow longer than her entire height came forward first. ”
“Leader, you have finally returned.”
“Welcome shadow fang, finally you have chosen to join us…”
They bowed their heads in respect, others clapped him on his shoulder in greeting. My jaws were basically reaching the floor, in shock.
James, the one who grunted more than he spoke, the one who vanished after being “sacked,” I had been worried, but then my worries were for naught, as I should be worried about myself.
James gave curt nods of acknowledgments. As if all of this was a normal thing. But to me, my world view was crumbling before my eyes.
“W…what…?” I stammered, tugging at his sleeve when I caught up to his stride. “you are the leader…. How, when?”
James shot me a glance, his jaw ticking. “I suppose Damon never told you anything about the Shadow Unit hierarchy.”
My silence was enough.
He sighed, lowering his voice. “This place has its own hierarchy. Damon stands at the top as the shadow commander, a diamond bearer, just like the person following him in rank. rumors had it that during her stay, She was a feared, Shadow member worldwide, and lets i don't forget, a diamond bearer too.
“What's her name…?” I asked impatiently.
James only smiled, “her name you don’t need to know yet... As I was saying, after the legendary shadow girl, is me.” His eyes glinted, I could almost smell his pride from afar. “The third rank in the shadow unit, the shadow fang. It's the lowest ranked among the three, but still higher than even the four other commanders.”
My lips parted. I nearly stumbled. James… was one of them? And not just any one of them, he is even ranked among them!
It all made sense now, the respect and power he has when he goes out into the pack. It's not something a common beta would have.
I hardly had time to process what I had just heard. Before more people approached him, stealing his attention, offering words of respect. And for a second, I almost faded into the background, until all my hairs suddenly stood up, reacting to the murderous intent that was leaking somewhere in the crowd.
It wasn’t hard to fish them out from the crowd.
Two warriors stood together, their eyes filled with hostility and disgust, as they continued to glare at me. My body shook, caught off guard from their mental attack, but very quickly, a familiar heat rushed out from my chest onward, immediately their pressure vanished like it was never there.
“Kill those two, how dare they look down on me. Snuff out their pathetic life now!” The voice began to trashed in my head, using my moment of distraction, to escape my hold of it.
The weight of their hatred was so thick and palatable. It took me a while before I recognized them. They were the friends of the man Damon forced me to fight in front of everyone to prove myself to them.
My shoulders tensed, the whispering of the voice unconsciously affected my emotions. Anger boiled inside my chest. I clenched my fingers into fists, bracing myself for war. But then a hand clamped on my shoulders, I recognized James' voice in my ears. “Ignore them, They are just angry, nothing more.”
I nodded, trying to swallow the lump in my throat, but the heat in my chest still lingered like a stubborn fire.
Before I could dwell more on it, a loud booming voice cut through all the chaos in the arena.
“Attention everyone! Today, by decree, we induct a new warrior among us!”
The entire atmosphere became even more charged after the announcement. My eyes widened in shock. So today was an induction day? I fought hard not to squirl like a little girl. I was secretly happy that I was going to watch the rumored induction of a new member of the famous shadow unit.
But then I failed to realise the slight shift in the crowd, nor how they formed a wide circle around me, Until it was too late
My stomach dropped. I realized that all eyes were suddenly on me.
“Why are they staring at me?” I whispered to James, clutching his clothes nervously.
“He didn't tell you?” he asked, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
“Tell me what…?” I asked, clearly dreading whatever he was about to say.
“Well I am not surprised,” James said, his amused expression turning softer. “You fought a shadow member in the ring to prove yourself. And when you won, you sealed your position as the next shadow wing candidate to be inducted.”
“Whaat?... no, Damon made me do it. He forced me to fight in that ring. I didn’t want to do it…” my voice came out hard, and loud but I didn't care. I was shattering from the inside.
“Listen Milo,” James grabbed my shaking shoulders hard to keep me still. “You merited this. By winning your last fight, you earned a place among us. Here, the rule is very simple and more straightforward than anywhere else. Strength leads, and the person you fought understood the situation on ground when he came out to accept the challenge. We are merely following the tradition.”
My lips moved, but no words could come out. To my surprise even the evil voice for once had nothing to say. Me? Become a part of them? The most respected group of people in the world, I am becoming a member of the shadow units.
James gave the smallest smirk. A yelp escaped my lips as I stumbled forward. James had pushed me forward despite my protest.
“Don’t look so shocked, You fought so hard for this, and You won.” He mouthed to me, his eyes filled with something that resembled pride.
But I didn't have time to process anything. I was not even given an option whether I wanted it or not.
I stood there trembling, still shocked to the point that I could not speak a word.
Me? The stray branded toy. An omega, was now being… inducted into the world's most feared group in the world.
And for the first time in my life, I wasn’t sure if I should be proud… or terrified of what to come.