That had been hours ago.
Now, they were at the Selection Ground, watching as different lycans tore at each other with their claws and canines while they were seated on the stone bleachers.
The moon stood full in the sky tonight. There were torches at strategic points so that they could see everything happening between the barricaded space below where the warriors were fighting.
Oana made sure Aniya sat down right next to her. Some of Oana’s friends were there too but this time, none regarded her with disrespect, not even the one she had been introduced to on that day. Instead they just decided to speak in their language and not talk to her. Aniya was grateful for that, she had no time for frivolous discussions.
The seating arrangement on the stone bleachers was according to status. At least, it seemed like it.
At the top was the Alpha’s seat which was empty. Then a seat lower was the Luna’s seat.
She looked elegant in her blue silk dress, like a beautiful and gentle goddess herself. Her fragrance was just as sweet as she was too. Lavender… was it?
A row below her, that is the same row they were seated but in a different section, were the Luna's friends. They turned up to speak to her at intervals. When they laughed, they hid their smiles beneath their little hand fans. The Luna suddenly looked at her and she froze but the Luna smiled instead and she did the same. Although she wouldn't have been able to see her smile, her veil stood in the way. Except if her sight was so good that the veil was nothing but a little obstacle.
Aniya didn't want to think about that. If all the lycans here could see through her veil then it would make her feel too vulnerable. Not because of how scarred her face was but because of the significance of her powerlessness against them. It would only mean that even if she wanted to hide something from them, she couldn't.
But that didn't seem like the case when Oana’s friends looked at her. Maybe they really couldn't see through her veil.
The stone bleachers were so long that it went around the fighting ground that was enclosed with tall and solid brick walls, so that when the wolves slammed themselves against the wall, it didn't crash to the ground.
On the same row, in another section were seven men in beautiful, dull coloured attires. Oana had said they were the Betas.
What caught Aniya's attention most was a different section entirely. Ikrus’ friend was seated amongst them. She was right then, he did have some importance. He was dressed in a white robe, different from the rest that were dressed in black robes.
Oana had said that they were the Elders and the one that sat distinctively from them was the Elder Superior.
Ikrus' friend wasn't the Elder Superior but a one in training. No wonder he looked like an outcast among them.
Wait.
Training?! By Ignas was that who he had given her son to? Just someone in training.
She couldn't find her son anywhere around him though. He had left her son in the temple.
She was displeased by that, as well as her aching breasts. It hadn't been easy to get rid of the milk.
When she had asked Oana for his name, she didn't know it. He was that unimportant.
A loud shout went across the crowd as they reacted to the warriors on the fighting ground as a winner was declared for that round. The most shout came from the ones’ below. One of Oana’s friends had referred to them as “loud omegas” with a look of superiority.
Aniya believed that to mean they were commoners.
The friend who had said that seemed to be Oana's closest friend, she had sun-coloured hair just like that, although hers was darker and her eyes was that blue color that reminded Aniya of Belladonna only that hers was a shade deeper.
Aniya couldn't blame the omegas for their passion, with such an attractive prize they must have their sons contesting too. She hoped that none of them would win though, her hopes were all relying on Ikrus.
On that thought, where was he?
She hadn't seen him anywhere.
The Announcer declared the beginning of the next row and Oana’s hand went around hers immediately. The glint in her eyes when she turned to her was everything Aniya needed to see.
Ikrus would be fighting in this round.
She turned to look at the Fighting Ground and there he was.
Ikrus.
He had only pants on, and four long lines of black paint drawn across his chest. His body glimmering under the light of the torches. He didn't go around the Fighting Ground chanting for support like his opponent was doing, instead his eyes found and time around it seemed like he could see her through the veil.
It was so different.
An unsettling feeling settled in the base of her stomach, heat rushed through her veins and the mark on her neck seemed to burn with an intensity she didn't understand.
“FIGHT!” The Announcer declared and the battle began.
It was too easy.
Ikrus had taken his opponent down in one hit.
The Princess rushed up to her feet and screamed with joy. Her friend couldn't call her “loud”, instead they joined her.
Oana looked back at her, pulled her up and her feet and embraced her.
“The Winner for this round is—”
“There will be no winner in this round.” A voice boomed and they all bowed.
It was the Alpha, with his long golden robe with claws and fingers stained with blood.
He took his time to ascend to his seat, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze on him. Then he settled down, and his hard gaze was set on his son who looked up at him with nothing but disdain.
“A defeated warrior cannot join the Hunt, neither can a traitor.”
Traitor? Aniya's head rang bells. This could not be because he had brought here instead of killing her like his mission had dictated him.
This had to be something else.
“Seize him!”