The sky was beautiful today. It was a mixture of baby blue and a navy color, this was something I often noticed; how beautiful the sky looked whenever blood was about to be shed. I felt the wind kiss my skin as I stood on the opposite side of those who belonged to Mountain Ash, Blackrain stood beside me, all ready and excited to win. Today we would fight for our ranking, warrior against warrior, two packs becoming one.

It didn't surprise me when I saw no other women on the empty clearing, though I wished I did. Perhaps the Mountain Ash alpha was sexist? No. Alpha Rush seemed like a lot of things, but sexist wasn't one. It was not common for women to be in a powerful position, this was the way of the were world. It was expected of females to bare pups and take care of the home as the man would provide. It was a natural instinct we had, women would only fight if her pup were in danger. This is how it has been since the beginning of time, hundreds of years later and I have only known a few women to make a power play.

I had been born to become a warrior, the small indent of a crescent in the center of my forehead signified that. No one could tell me that I could not be where I am today. I was selected by the moon goddess herself and Apollo; and no one defied the gods. Well, except one person.

Alpha Arian Romanov. She was the first female alpha to ever exist, the devil born to the Rikers Pack, a barbaric pack in which no one wished to cross. Not even us. She was a force to be reckoned with, having lived with the morals of the infamous Warzone Pack, and infamous father, Andrei Romanov. She created a name for herself quickly after beheading her father and killing her brother, the next soon to be Alpha. No one knows where the pack resides, only one unfortunate soul was able to escape the pack. A young girl named Kayla. She was mated to a guard, but fled as soon as she could. She quickly told the towns people of how horrific their land was, corpses propped up at the gate, brutality encouraged inside the border, pack members eating the flesh of any unlucky rogues who got too close to the pack. She told of how they would hunt rogues for sport, the kind ones who didn't have a home to go to. Tallying off every kill. However, before she could lead the council to the hidden pack, she was found dead. Her body hung from a ceiling, the word 'RAT' carved into her stomach. The council feared the damage this pack could do; how could they get in the walls of the village? No one knew. The only thing they did know was that the pack never attacked unless provoked. So the council made a nationwide order, stop the scouting for the Rikers Pack, do not attempt to look for it, if the word Riker is even breathed, let it go. And so, the legend of the Red Devil was born.

"Black Ash Pack," my attention was called away from my thoughts. Alpha Rush began again, "today you will all fight for your place, whether it be guard, a pack fighter, the beta, or gamma. Do not disappoint me," the was an edge to his voice. A warning to the wolves who he personally trained.

The two Alphas stood next to each other, their eyes watching every one of our movements. Rush looked annoyed, while Samuel seemed calm. Though we could all feel the tension between the two, Alphas were not meant to share power unless it was with their other half.

"Joshua, step forward," it was Samuel who spoke this time.

"Steven," Rush nodded him forward. The two would battle for the position as Gamma. The two wolves moved towards the center, where everyone could see. Steven has an average build, a creepy smirk playing on his face as he and Joshua begin to circle each other. His eyebrows crinkled together, his eyes watching Joshua's form, catching every movement.

He lunged, but Joshua dodged the attack by half an inch. They begin to circle again, this time Joshua attacks first. He swings his left arm to his opponent's stomach. I saw as it made contact but the wolf didn't even flinch. Joshua looked wide eyed at the man, shock covering his pale face. It was all Steven needed to get a good shot at Joshua's face. They continued to attack back and forth, landing a few good shots here and there, but in the end, Steven had won.

I could see Samuel's expression go dark as Joshua laid on the ground. I understood his anger, Joshua was trained and prepped to kill any wolf, and he lost. I would be lying if I said I wasn't the least bit upset, this was the first match, and one of my own had lost. I helped Joshua up and leaned him against the tree, "that was shit," I smiled at him.

"it was," he replied with a smile.

I stood and walked back next to my comrades, across from me I can see Rush's smirk. His smirk teased me as our eyes met briefly. He was enjoying this. Prick. I will admit though, perhaps I didn't take his fighters seriously before, but now I worry for the oncoming fights.

Butch was next. Butch looks exactly how you would expect him to, tall and big. Like the Hulk. If I didn't know the man personally, I would have thought he had a steroid addiction. His eyes quickly scan the perimeter, landing for a moment in the trees, then he steps forward.

Percy, a dark man, is called as Butch's opponent. His body is slender with little muscle. His body didn't show signs of him being a fighter, but he had scars covering his arms, and scars could only be made by silver. Maybe not the strongest physically, but he was tough.

The two stood against one another, Percy looked straight into the eyes of Butch, as Butch rammed into him. Butch wasn't known to scope out the enemy, he throws himself into battle head first, with fists out. The large man knocked Percy off his feet, and straight to the ground. We all saw his body fly a bit when Butch had rammed into him. We heard the small thud as the dark man hit his head against the earth. Butch stood over his body, lifting his fist, then bringing it down. The shot never connected as Percy kicked Butch in the one place no man wished to be kicked.

We all gasped in pain, knowing that must've been painful. It was a low blow to hit a man in the baby maker, but sometimes fighting dirty is the only way to win. The hulking beast staggered back as a cry reached our ears. I looked towards the sound, only to find the tree Butch had glanced at earlier.

Ah, so she had come to watch her mate.

Her eyes watered as her tiny form began to shake. I knew she was a fragile thing the first time I had seen her, but I was not one for the dramatics. He had only got nailed in the balls, it wasn't like he was shot with a silver bullet.

Her pathetic crying called out to her mate, his eyes meeting hers for an instance. And then, the beast was on a warpath again. He snarled as his face contorted into the rage we all knew too well. The veins in his arms were protruding as his jaw clenched. Percy was on his feet in a split second, he had notice the same change we did. He moved quickly, aiming to land a blow to Butch's stomach, but the hulking beast grabbed his arm before it could land. The sickening crunch was music to my ears as he twisted Percy's arm, then snapped it. His cry of pain echoed the clearing, his bone protruding, coming out of his skin. The group of wolves across from me looked horrified at what had occurred, but all I could do was smile. My smile was all teeth as Rush made eye contact with me once again. This is why we are the hidden protectors of the weres! Don't forget that mate, I wished I could've mind linked the jerk.

Rush kept his face neutral, "Antonio, take Percy to the infirmary,". We all watched as the blond wolf took Percy away.

The next hour went on like this. Wolf against wolf, Blackrain against Mountain Ash. My patience was wearing thin as I waited for my name to be called. Most wolves have fought already, I had to be next.

"Alexandria, of Beta Rank, step forward,"

"Kyle, of Beta Rank, step forward,"

'How long?' Joshua mind linked me. I turned my head slightly with a smirk,

'fifth teen.'

I could hear the rest of my comrades rally in the mind link, everyone betting on how long the match would take. I knew we must've looked crazy smirking at one another, as if we were plotting or cheating, but we were all waiting to see who would be correct in our little bet.

I felt everyone's eyes follow me to the center of the clearing where I raise my arms up, getting into a fighting stance. Kyles cocky grin stared back at me, perhaps I could've been more cautious of this man. He was almost as large as Butch, though he did lack the steroid look. His muscles seemed more natural. His arms go up partially to cover his face, getting into a stance similar to mine. He bounces on his feet slightly; he has the stance of a boxer. Immediately, I know what his mistake is.

His arm shoots out, almost catching my face; ONE. He tries again, throwing his whole body into the punch, definitely a boxer. He's quick on his feet moving to the side slightly then shooting his arm out again, scraping against my arm. It obvious that I'm on defense as he has taken the role on offense. I watch as his fist comes out again, I don't move; TWO. I let the powerful blow knock into my shoulder. I heard the subtle gasp behind me. The wolves who knew me, knew I was quick to end someone, never getting touched, but I was playing a different game here.

ELEVEN. I let Kyle land a few hits on me, quickly tiring himself out. A smile etched onto my face as his fists comes towards my face, this time I move out of the way. His mistake was simple really, boxers fight mainly with their arms, no legs.

It's the perfect time to land my hit.

I bring my foot up, mustering all the force and strength, and strike his knee. The scream and snap that rings in my ears causes me to laugh maniacally, as if this pup could ever beat me! His leg twisted at an odd angle, I had just snapped it. I was no doctor, but even I knew legs were not meant to bend the opposite way. As his body slammed to the ground with a cry, I wasted no time in jumping on him and landing blow after blow to his face. I wanted to permanently wipe off that smirk he and his stupid alpha wore. The blood gushed out, oozing into a red river. The metallic scent invades my senses, as I hit a new high. My eyes roll back in ecstasy as a crunch sounds every time my fists come down. FIFTHTEEN.

Is this what she wanted? To see me become the monster she was!

My eyes open as the content, soft smile lies on my face. Suddenly, I am no longer on top of Kyle, I am standing up next to Samuel and Joshua as two wolves carry the beaten wolf away.

Is this why I could not have my mate?

I flash my teeth towards Samuel, "Am I still Beta," I asked gleefully, enjoying the scared looks pointed in my direction.

.