Chapter 110 After party
After party
Milo pov
A pin drop silence cut through the whole arena like a blade, after the final 200th tick of the clock.
My chest burned, my skin trembled, as I struggled to keep myself from falling over.
Every eye in the chamber locked on me. No longer with disdain or doubt, noo. I could see something else flickering in their eyes. Fear, Respect, and even awe.
Then, breaking through the graveyard silence, the announcer’s voice boomed, shaking the chamber:
“MILO! BEARER OF THE DIAMOND BADGE!”
The voice of the announcer boomed through the entire chamber, shaking everybody from their trance.
Immediately the surrounding shadows erupted in thunderous chants and cheers that shook the very foundation of the facility. Some howling, some thudding their feet in a rhythm pattern, others simply had their jaws literally striking the ground in disbelief of what they had just witnesse
I floated for a second like I was stuck between a parallel universe, where pain, the sweat, the loud screams, the thunder of a hundred boots at once… i couldn't hear them, none of it reached me,
Because my attention was somewhere else.
At the very dark edge of the arena, secluded from people, I could make out a tall silhouette that stood cloaked in darkness. I felt myself being drawn to him, despite it not moving an inch, its presence cutting through the chaos like a blade.
I meant to call out to him, but then I paused, frowning slightly, his aura was entirely different, like a wild hurricane that was barely kept on a leash.
I knew it was him. I felt it through the invisible tether that always draws me to him anytime we are close, his intense golden gaze seemed to drown me in…
“You did it Milo,” I heard a familiar voice scream my name, forcefully snapping me out of the intense deadlock with the strange silhouette. It was James and he was making his way towards the arena, but he was a step too late.
Different shadows broke out of the circle, reaching me before him. They all surrounded me.
“Diamond! Diamond!” They screamed, but my mind was too distracted to concentrate on them. I wanted to reach out to the dark stranger, to confirm my thoughts on who it is, but to my utmost disappointment, just as quickly as it came, it was gone as if it had never been there at all.
the crowd’s roar crashed around me. But my gaze refused to leave that exact spot, as if wishing that the figure would magically appear, or talk in my head like it had done in the match.
Different emotions.and thoughts ran through my head at the same time.
Was it Damon? I could have sworn it was him… or was my battered brain just playing silly tricks on me?
But I didn't get the chance to linger on the thought.
A broad-shouldered man clapped me on the arm, nearly knocking me off my feet. “Welcome, brother. You earned this glory.”
A scar-faced woman leaned closer, her voice low but filled with approval. “The unit hasn’t seen fire like yours in years.”
And just like that, they came one by one, drowning me in their vigorous energy and vibe.
Diamond!.
The name echoed everywhere in their mouths, congratulating me, while others expressed their utter shock and respect to me.
I… I didn’t know how to react to it all. Me, the stray toy, the branded omega, the one mocked and beaten for simply breathing too loud. Yet here I was being surrounded by warriors that only the mention of their names would strike fears even to the boldest Alphas
And not just that, they all had looks of awe and camaraderie. Welcoming me like I was one of their own already.
The moment stretched into long intense minutes for me. Laughter erupted around me, introductions were made, names were exchanged but barely caught half of them. Io was still shaken from everything, as their faces blurred around me yet their words of encouragement and acceptance seared deep into my heart.
I didn’t know if to laugh or to cry. I couldn't believe that all the celebration around me was because of me. I smiled at the crowd that continued to chant: “shadowborn. Shadowborn.” The thought that I, Milo could go toe to toe with 5 trained shadows and disarm them of their weapons felt like a dream I could never ever dare to dream of.
Diamond!...
The word couldn’t fit in my mouth no matter how I tried to convince myself that I did it. But I know deep down that I couldn't just have done it without somebody, in fact I would have already given up if not for the silent whisper of the dark silhouette in my head.
“Not bad…” James' voice reached me, as he came forward. Unlike the others, he didn’t clap me too hard or celebrate like them, but I could see the way his usually hardened face softened with relief, the smallest smile tugging at his lips.
“Atleast you didn’t die….”
That broke something inside me. My chest heaved, my throat tightened, and before I could think or stop myself, tears burned my eyes and I lunged forward, cutting off what he was about to say.
I hugged him. The surrounding shadows cheered, but I didn't care.
All the emotions that have been growing inside me. Broke like a chain that was snapped into two.
James stiffened immediately, his entire body locking like I had just stabbed him. For a second, I thought he would shove me away, but his hands remained by his sides.
Before… slowly… it lifted up, wrapping around me, strong and steady.
I nearly broke down right there. My tears ran down like a fountain, soaking his clothes, but he did complain.
Before the moment could swallow me whole, the announcers voice boomed again, silencing the chamber:
“Tonight, we celebrate! The after-induction feast begins now!”
Cheers followed his announcement.
I blinked, breaking out of the hug to stare at James. “A… party?”
He smirked at my expression, tilting his head toward the rest of the charged up unit who were already preparing for the next thing.
“It's part of the tradition. The Shadow Unit doesn’t induct often, unlike the other units of the pack. our requirements are too high, almost nigh impossible to achieve. So when a new one joins, it’s a big deal. A rare thing. And therefore it calls for an after party.”
His hand landed heavy on my shoulder, grounding me. “Tonight, they’re not just honoring you, Milo. They are honoring what it means to be a Shadow.”
I swallowed hard, my lips parted, but no words could come out.
“Come, you wouldn't want to miss it.” James beckoned a little too eager.
For the first time in my life, I wasn’t an outcast. I felt among…
I nodded, immediately following him together with the rest of the shadows.
But still, somewhere deep inside me, a shadow of doubt lingered.
Had Damon really been here… watching me?