Chapter 69
In another part of the arena, not far from the Alpha and the six elders, another section of the Kade family sat. Camila Kade and her son, Javier Kade. Just like the other important werewolves, their side also had a roof that shielded them from the muted sunlight, and they sat on plush seats, looking up at the screens where the participants were being displayed.
“She looks different from how you told me,” Camila remarked to her son with a frown, her eyes fixed on the wolfless girl on the screen. Her son had described her as a tiny teenager who barely looked older than sixteen, and Camila had found it amusing at the time that a teenager without a wolf would even want to become a Luna of their pack.
But the woman on the screen didn’t look like a mere teenager. In fact, her eyes looked fierce, and she gave Camila an uncomfortable, unsettling aura. This was her first time seeing the girl, as she had never bothered to pay attention to a wolfless.
Her only concern had been Laila, who, if she won today, would solidify Sebastian’s power and influence among the elders, ensuring that all the elders would support everything he did in Silver for Laila’s sake.
Now, as she looked at the wolfless girl, a curious feeling stirred within her.
Camila had married into the Kade family, to the late Alpha’s brother, but her two sons had never been given the chance to hold any important position within the pack. They were only known for the Kade blood running through their veins and had been given roles in developing the pack, rather than being entrusted with ruling a section of it or holding positions like Betas.
Javier, sitting next to his mother, narrowed his eyes at the screen. “She’s changed. The last time I saw her, she was so skinny and tiny. I bet she’s been fed,” he said with a nonchalant laugh. The wolfless girl was no threat to him or his wish to be Alpha, so he couldn’t be bothered to care about her or keep track of her changes.
“It doesn’t matter, does it?” Javier replied, shaking his head dismissively.
“She’s not going to make it as his Luna, but then, Mamita, imagine if she did. Sebastian, who doesn’t like weak people, getting forced to marry a weakling who passed the competition. I’d give up anything to see him insulted and stuck with a wolfless as his partner.” Javier remarked, turning to his wife sitting next to him, her gaze still locked on the screen.
She had her head raised as if she had the right, after everything she’d done to him.
Javier gritted his teeth in frustration, then raised his hand and slapped the back of her head with such force that her neck cracked.
“You are not allowed to enjoy this competition or the show, bitch. Lower your head,” he warned, his voice cold.
Sofia whimpered and bowed her head, her fingers trembling as she clenched them tightly in her lap, silent tears falling onto the back of her hands.
“Javier,” Camila scolded her son with clear displeasure in her tone, her eyes flashing toward her daughter-in-law and then back to her son. “What did I tell you about hitting her p>
Javier turned to his mother with a grin, his golden eyes, the same as hers, glimmering with feigned innocence. “Yes, Ma p>
Camila raised an eyebrow, her voice sharp. “What did I tell you about hitting her? If you want to punish her for her sins, you should do it in the privacy of your room, not out here where everyone can see. Someone’s bound to witness it. Couldn’t you control yourself p>
She’d warned him countless times, but the boy never listened. If only her other son, Nick, was interested in the Alpha position, he would have been the one she supported, as he listened to her and didn’t act recklessly, unlike her older son, who did things without considering the consequences.
Yes, Camila was aware that Sofia had sinned, and it had twisted her sanity, turning her into a fool. The girl’s family was still influential, as she was the daughter of an Alpha from another pack who was strongly backing Javier. But her son was simply too hot-tempered.
At his mother’s scolding, Javier smiled and put his arm around Sofia, who flinched at his touch and trembled. But he brought his hand up and stroked her hair lovingly, kissing the top of her head before saying, “I’m sorry, mi mujer. I didn’t mean to hit you. Have you forgiven me p>
Sofia quickly bobbed her head, then hugged Javier sideways, her body still trembling. “I-I f-forgive you, mi vida p>
Javier smiled and turned to his mother, “You see that, right, Ma? I am her life, and she forgives me. She always does. You worry too much about image and what people think. Now, can we enjoy the competition and see who dies and who lives to marry my cursed cousin p>
Camila shook her head, then turned back to the screen, which had gone blank, signaling that the competition was about to start.
Viola and Emilia were directed toward a room where everything, from the walls and ceiling to the ground beneath their feet, was silver in color, with a long black sofa placed at the center.
They were directed to sit by the guard who led them there. Viola sat down first, and Emilia followed suit. As soon as they settled onto the comfortable sofa, the omegas served them refreshments, treating them like guests at a party.
Soon, the plain silver walls transformed into screens, giving them a clear view of the arena grounds and the first competition.
Laila was assigned to go first in every round of the three competitions, as it was plainly obvious she was the most important candidate, and they were to sit here and watch.
Viola was assigned the last place, which, for some reason, she was grateful for, as it meant she could observe the two before her turn. Being last wasn’t always that bad.
When the walls suddenly transformed into screens, it startled Viola a little, but she adjusted almost immediately, masking her surprise at the advanced technology of this pack and how they seemed to use it everywhere. Though she’d been here for months, she still wasn’t used to it.
She glanced over at Emilia, who was relaxed beside her, stretching her legs across the table in front of them. Emilia wore heeled shoes over her overall suit instead of flat boots, and her omegas were massaging her legs.
Viola couldn’t even relax enough to breathe, not to mention resting like that, receiving a massage, and eating the snacks served to them. She feared that if she ate anything before stepping out into the arena, she would be utterly sick. Perhaps having a wolf gave one another sort of confidence, because she wasn’t feeling it at all. Thankfully, she had numbed her feelings.
“Watch and see what you’ll never be able to do, wolfless. This is relaxing,” Emilia remarked with a smile as she noticed the wolfless girl’s eyes turn away from her.
If Viola heard her, she gave no sign, not even a blink, as her eyes remained fixed on the screen in front of her, where the crowd was cheering their throats and lungs out for Laila Serrano, holding up banners with her picture.
The arena wasn’t like the normal arena Viola knew in Moonwillow. This one was built with some kind of advanced technology, something typical of the Silver Pack. It was large, about the size of a village, with barricade walls around it and wires running along the structure like spider webs.
She couldn’t understand what they were there for at first, but as she studied them, Viola soon realized their purpose.
Right in the middle of the arena, a platform slowly began to rise from underground, and on top of it were more than a dozen people in tattered clothing, ranging from old women to little children. There was blood on their clothes, and some of them were injured, the little children looking fearfully around at the crowds.
Another platform rose next to it, revealing Laila. The moment she emerged, the cheers of the crowd increased into deafening cries that made even Viola cringe internally.
She saw Emilia sit up straighter beside her, narrowing her eyes on the screen at the old women and children.
“What the hell? What are they doing up in the arena?” Emilia muttered, her voice tinged with confusion as she tried to make sense of the sight. There were children and women, people who looked like they hadn’t eaten in ages, and it made no sense to her why they were there.
Unlike Viola, who had been given insight into what was about to happen today, Emilia was completely ignorant, as expected of the participants. Viola didn’t give her any spoilers and remained silent, leaving Emilia to find out on her own.