As the match dragged on, Leah became more and more frustrated.
She was taken aback by Akila's unexpected resilience; usually, Akila would simply stand there and absorb whatever blows Leah landed.
But now, Akila's determination to defend herself was infuriating Leah, who felt her pride wounded by the realization that Akila wasn't the pushover she had thought her to be.
Failing to land a blow, Princess Leah backed off, her gaze flickering to Alpha Dante, then to Alpha Kael, who was watching the match with interest and fascination.
Her brother wore a blank face.
She couldn't tell what he was thinking. She looked back at Akila, who panted heavily on the other side of the ring.
She knew what she had to do. She just had to defeat Akila.
She just had to be the Luna of the Crystal Valley pack.
It didn't matter that Alpha Kael wasn't her mate. Being Luna of the Crystal Valley could mean so much for her. It would secure a relationship between her pack and the Crystal Valley, which meant that her brother would have something to be proud of about her.
That's all she ever wanted...
For her brother to be proud of her.
With a fierce determination, Leah turned back to Akila, her hands clenching into fists as she summoned Ruby's power.
Leah unleashed a ferocious growl as she charged at Akila with relentless fury, her blows landing with precision and force. Akila struggled to defend herself, but Leah's speed and strength proved overwhelming, each strike landing with increasing precision and pain.
Akila crumpled to the ground, her body rolling with the impact as she struggled to catch her breath. Blood speckled the floor, dripping from her battered lips, and her arms bore witness to the brutal assault – bruised, scratched, and reddened. Just as she attempted to push herself up, Lexine's voice cut through the din, her words laced with concern and urgency: "Akila, you can't take much more of this..."
Akila crashed to the ground, rolling in an attempt to absorb the impact. Blood splattered from her mouth, and her arms were a mess of bruises and scratches. As she struggled to rise, Lexine's voice echoed in Akila's mind, her tone laced with concern.
"Akila, we can't take much more of this beating. We're going to get seriously hurt if we don't find a way to turn this around."
Akila gritted her teeth, her mind racing with desperation. She knew Lexine was right; she couldn't keep taking Leah's punishment without finding a way to fight back.
But how? Leah was too strong, too fast, and Akila was running out of options.
Lexine's instincts took over, and Akila's body had reacted without her control.
"Stop hitting me!" Lexine growled, hitting back hard. The punch had been swift and precise, catching Princess Leah off guard and sending her flying to the ground.
The crowd's initial stunned silence was followed by a cacophony of boos and jeers, with many accusing Akila of trying to kill the princess.
"She's trying to kill the princess!"
"... She's evil! She'll kill us all!"
"She's a monster! A curse!" The crowd's cry escalated, their voices laced with fear and outrage.
Akila's eyes widened in horror as she stared at her hand, feeling a sense of detachment and dread. She hadn't meant to do that; she hadn't meant to lose control.
The weight of what she had just done settled heavily on her shoulders, and she felt a wave of fear wash over her.
What would Alpha Dante do now? Would she be punished even more severely?
As the crowd continued to jeer, Akila's gaze flickered to Princess Leah, who was slowly getting to her feet, her face twisted in anger and humiliation.
Akila's heart sank, knowing that she had just made a powerful enemy.
Alpha Dante rose from his seat, his face a mask of fury and disappointment. He turned to Alpha Kael and said something inaudible, before turning and walking away, Alpha Kael following closely behind.
The crowd's jeers and boos continued, but Alpha Dante didn't look back, his departure a clear indication that the match was over.
Before he left, Alpha Dante spoke with the Gamma through the mindlink to take Akila away and punish her for humiliating the princess.
Donel strode into the arena, his face cold and unyielding, and grabbed Akila's arm in a tight grip. "You're coming with me," he growled, dragging Akila away from the arena as the crowd continued to shout and jeer.
Akila stumbled along beside Donel, her mind reeling with the consequences of what had just happened.
She knew she had made a grave mistake, and now she would have to face the wrath of Alpha Dante. Donel's grip on her arm was like a vice, and Akila knew she wouldn't be able to escape.
As they walked, the crowd's noise faded into the distance, replaced by the cold, harsh reality of Akila's situation.
She knew she was in for a world of trouble, and she wondered what her punishment would be. Would it be physical, or would Alpha Dante find a way to humiliate her further?
Akila's heart sank as she was dragged deeper into the darkness, unsure of what lay ahead.
Donel dragged Akila to the dungeons, shoving her inside as soon as the door was opened.
Before she could get up, he kicked her stomach.
She doubled over, crouching in pain, but he didn't stop. He pulled her up by her hair, her scalp burning as he pulled harshly.
She let out a cry, but it didn't help her one bit. He didn't stop abusing her. By the time he threw her back to the ground, her face was bloodied, aches and pains all over her body.
There were tears flowing down her cheeks, though she didn't know why she was crying anymore.
"Lexine. I'm so sorry. I'm really sorry," She sobbed over and over again to her wolf, who tried her hardest to heal her wounds, but there was only so much she could do. She was weak, just as Akila was.
The goddess had turned her back on them the moment they came to the world. That was why their life was filled with so much pain and hatred.
She had done nothing wrong.
She always did as she was told. Followed orders, like the good mutt she was, but still, she was hated, she was despised and cursed, just for existing in the world.
