Chapter 5: Announcement

“Can you describe what happened to me?” the sweet looking nurse who had been talking to Anthony and Greg earlier asks me. She is sitting in front of me now and her name tag reads “Violet”. “Well I was up fighting, then my arms felt numb then i-I, I woke up here” I respond and I see Anthony smile and shake his head. She picks a sudden interest in my bracelet and starts to inspect it, then she asks “were you wearing this while you were sparring?” I nod and tell her I wear it all the time and Greg chimes in saying I only take it off when I sleep. She continues to look at it intensely and finally she puts my hand down and advises that I should take it off next time I have to spar. That’s ridiculous, is she really trying to insinuate that the heart wrenching pain I felt was because of a crystal bracelet? Of course I am not going to challenge her logic, I just nod and tell her I would do that. A guy with dirty blonde hair who looks around the same age as Anthony walks into the infirmary towards my bed where my three brothers are hovering over me and the nurse, he calls out for Anthony and when he sees us he says “The games have been announced”.

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Violet watches the girl leave with her brothers, when she is alone, she picks up her phone and sends a message that reads “found it”

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I hurry after my brothers Anthony and Greg, they are talking to Hunter; the guy who came in to tell us about the games. Alongside me is Alyssa who can barely contain her excitement. “The games” is an annual werewolf event that lasts for 14 days, for seven out of those days seven teams representing the seven packs are created and presented before the reigning Sedes Lycaonis, then participants are tested and pushed to incredible (and if I might add unnecessary) physical strain; every werewolf sense and ability is tested and at the finale the last two remaining teams each provide a champion for a final duel. The winner gets to keep a fancy gold trophy and also gets to dance with the winner of that year’s pageant. Oh yeah, while the games happen for the first seven days, the remaining seven days are filled with Galas and luncheons and a pageant but for a lot of people, the highlight of the event is the first seven days so that is why it is popularly referred to as “the games”. “Stupid games” I say everyone pauses and look at me, Hunter is about to say something when Anthony tells everyone “don’t mind her, she’s just upset because she doesn’t qualify for this year’s games” I look around and respond “It’s a stupid rule, why do I have to wait till next year?” my ceremony is in six months, I am practically eighteen “Didn’t you just pass out mid spar like two minutes ago” Alyssa says and everyone chuckles. I look at her “wow, thanks for the support sis” I say, Noah puts his arm on my shoulders and says “you could be twenty five sis, there is no way Mum and Dad” “or Us” Greg cuts in “will let you anywhere the games”. I look at them in disbelief and they all begin to laugh again.

We enter into an office and as my brothers are discussing with Hunter the details of this year’s games, I notice Alyssa in a corner excitedly texting someone. Gerald walks up to me and sits beside me “hey Princess” he says, I smile “I thought it was warrior Princess” I ask him, “still a princess regardless” he responds. “Can I ask you something?” he says, I nod then he says “why are you in such a hurry to do everything?” I find myself unable to answer the question then he continues “no matter how your ceremony turns out to be, you’ve already proven yourself to be exceptional, you have an amazing family” he points towards my brothers “so you will be fine, better than fine even”. There is a short pause between us then he breaks the silence “stop focusing on everything you aren’t allowed to do Celeste”. It’s probably because I am attracted to him but everything he just said makes a lot of sense, he gets up to go join my brothers in their conversation “Gerald” he stops and I have his attention again “am I allowed to have your number?” I say, he smiles at me and gives me his phone so I can put in my number. I am still smiling when Alyssa walks back to me and sits in the position that Gerald was in. Then excitedly she asks me “bless me gaia have you heard?” I have a puzzled expression then she squeals and says “The young alpha of Lycius apparently has plans to pick a mate from this year’s pageant”.

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a phone rings and it is answered by a hooded figure “keep a close eye on the girl” the person on the other end of the line says. The hooded figure nods and the call ends