“Hey there honey.” one of the triplets say, and then she started running towards us.
She went right past me and into the alpha triplet’s arms. I was shocked and heartbroken.
“Jess?” I forced myself to ask.
She turned towards me. Her blue-green eyes were brighter. “Hello Alpha Roy.” she said as she bowed her head, but she kept her arms wrapped around the other male.
“Why are you holding him? You are my mate.” I growled. All three of the alpha triplets growled back. She fully turned to face me. “I am not your mate. You rejected me and slept with another that same night. I have broken our mate bond 5 years ago. I belong to Leo, Zero, and Hero. I am their mate and they are my second chance mates. I will be leaving with them back to Raven Moon a few days from now.” I felt heartbroken that I couldn’t fix things with her.
“You have already done so much to her. We should let her be happy. If she chooses them then we should accept that.” my wolf, Max, said he sounded so hurt that he couldn’t be with his mate. I looked down. “I will accept your choices Jess, but only if you hear me and your brother out before we leave tomorrow morning.” She looked at the triplets, then down. Before she finally looked back at me and said “We can all sit at the same table for dinner tonight after the tournament, and I will listen to what you and Alex have to say. But Leo, Zero, and Hero will all be present with me. I still do not trust to be alone with the two of you.” “Alright, Jess. That is fine with me.” Then I walked away to find Alex. If he ran into her last night then I was worried if he would be up for the tournament today.
Jess’s POV
I was suddenly hugged tighter. I turned and looked at Leo. “Are you sure about speaking with them my love?” I leaned back into him and inhaled his scent. “I am sure. I want to leave the past behind when I leave to go to Raven Moon. Just like I need to tie up loose ends here before I leave. Raph, Ryan, and Jorge have all been my family for the last 5 years.” I smiled at Raphael and he smiled back. “Plus I will be alright as long as you three are with me. I know I wouldn’t be strong enough to do it alone.” My alphas smiled at me as Leo tightened his hold on me. “Alright kids. Let's get this tournament started.” Odette said in a cheerful voice to try and brighten everyone's mood.
Once everyone was seated outside Raphael explained the rules of the tournament. “It is a tradition to welcome the new Luna by holding a tournament in her honor. As alpha of the Thunder Mountain pack I welcome all the alphas and their packs to join in the tournament. First we have Alpha Marcus from the Silver Moon pack. Then Alpha Roy of the Red Moon pack, and last but not least the Triplet Alphas of the Raven Moon pack. Leo, Zero, and Hero.” People cheered for Alpha Marcus and Roy, but I heard a lot of women cheering for my alpha triplets.
Midnight and I didn’t like women looking at our mates so in timing with the introductions, I shifted in a near by pop up tent and once I walked out I let out a massive howl. I saw a lot of stunned faces.
Only my pack members knew my wolf. Midnight walked out towards the alphas. It was part of the tradition that the Luna would lite the ring to begin the tournament, but since she could not use a bow to lite it, I told her she could ride on my back and as I jumped by the ring she could lite it that way. Midnight had really strong legs so she was an amazing runner and jumper.
Odette came down from the stands reserved for the alphas and lunas. Midnight kneeled down and allowed Odette to climb on our back. Ryan handed Odette a small torch as Jorge tied Odette to our back for safety. As soon as Odette gave me the ok, I howled again to tell Raphael to proceed. I walked around the arena with Odette as his voice boomed out
“As tradition the new Luna of the Thunder Mountain pack will lite the tournament ring to begin the festivities. Although this is usually done with a bow and arrow, Odette has chosen to lite the ring with the help of our top female warrior, Jessabelle Simons!” I howled at the mention of my name to acknowledge the alpha. “Now my love, if you and Jessabelle would do the honors.”
Odette nodded and just like we practiced she nudged our side and Midnight took off running around the aerna to build up speed. Once we were 100% sure we had enough we went straight for the 50 foot pole and jumped. I felt Odette cling to the scruff of our neck as we left the ground, but I could feel she trusted us more than ever. It felt like time had stopped, but it was so quick that if people blinked they missed it. With the small troch she dropped in the oil and the ring was set ablaze.
When we landed back on the ground everyone in the arena was on their feet cheering and hollering. As I brought Odette back to the base of the Stands that she will be sitting with the other alphas, I heard Raphael announce that the tournament will now begin.
He drew the first two names out of the first match, while Jorge untied Odette from my back and Ryan brought me my clothes.
I looked up at my mates and they were smiling like crazy. I could smell that their wolves like looking at Midnight and she purred and playfully growled at them to tease them. Zero eyes turned black and he looked like he was ready to jump off the stand to take me, but Leo and Hero held him back.
I grabbed my clothes from Ryan in my mouth and then went to a pop-up tent to shift and change back. Once I was out I stood by Ryan and Jorge. Until we were called for our fights, we were to stand by our alpha and luna.
The first 4 matches were just between some decent warriors, but none rally interested me. Then I heard my named called. I stepped into the ring and waited for my opponent. Raphael’s voice boom though the arena “The warrior that will fight Jessabelle Simons is… Gamma Jorge from Thunder Mountain.”
I saw Jorge smirked as he looked my way. “Now don’t hold back Jorge. Show me what you got.” I said matching his smirk. “I wouldn’t dream of holding back on you Jess. I still owe you from last time.” This was going to be a fun match.
Third Person POV
Alpha Raphael was ready to start the fight. He waited for Jess and Jorge to enter the ring. Jess took off her sweatshirt. Seeing her tone body with an hourglass curves made a lot of the unmated males in the stand go crazy with cat calls and wolf whistles. Zero growled. “Relax Cuz. She always gets these kinds of reaction from the boys. There are even some girls in the pack that have a big crush on her.” Odette said trying to calm the alpha. Jorge then took off his shirt receiving some cat calls from the females.
Both fighter ignored the crowd, they were waiting for Raphael to start the fight. “Fighters Ready?” he boomed Jess and Jorge both nodded and got into stance facing each other. “START!” Raphael yelled. In the blink of an eye Jess and Jorge moved at the same time. The first blow to land was when Jess and Jorge’s fist came together and met each other in the middle. It almost looked like a very hard fist bump.
“Do you wanna place a wager on who will win my love?” Raphael said to Odette. “It is no contest. My girl is going to kick Jorge’s butt.” she said not taking her eyes off the fight. “I don’t know about that my love. Jorge has been training harder with me since last time him and Jess fought.” Raphael took his luna’s hand. “I still say Jess will win. Oh and boys you might wanna pick your jaws up of the ground before something crawls in your mouths.” She said giggling at her cousin’s expreations.
“I didn’t think she was so quick.” Hero said. “Her stamina looks to be pretty high.” Leo commented. Zero looked as if he was in a trance. Zero didn’t look away from the fight. Jess and Jorge were going faster with their punches. Their arms were moving so fast that they were almost blurred. It was like watching anime characters fighting each other.
Jorge then suddenly drop down to and swiped his leg around trying to kick Jess’s legs out from under her, but she jumped over and roundhouse kicked Jorge in the face. It sent Jorge rolling around a few feet away from her. “Oooooh” everyone said in unison. Jorge quickly got back on his feet and went straight back towards Jess.
Alex and Roy were shocked at the fierce fighter Jess had become. “Wow. I never would have thought Jess was this good. I hope I don’t have to fight her when it comes my turn.” Alex said. Roy nodded and looked a bit scared. “Don’t worry Alex she won’t kill you but I would watch for her right hook. She broke Raphael’s nose when he got caught by it.” Odette said. Raphael blushed a bit and Alex shuddered at the thought about being hit with that. Jorge and Jess were still going at it full force. Then all of a sudden Jess rolled behind Jorge and jumped up onto his back wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
Jorge was surprised as well. If he didn’t think of something quick she was going to choke him out. Jorge tried to undo her arms, but she squeezed tighter. Jorge rolled on the ground and then he basically did a back flop landing right on Jess. The triplets tensed up and Zero growled. “Easy boys. She will be fine. I know I worry about a lot myself but I know she has had a rough past. Now getting her treatment afrerwards is the challenge.” Odette said. Everyone thought that Jorge was done for until he elbowed Jess in the side and she loosened up the hold on his neck. Jorge then broke her hold on his neck and threw her to the ground.
Everyone gasped at what happened next. While in mid air, Jess grabbed Jorge by the shoulders and slammed her knee into his face. Jorge fell to the ground out cold. Jess stood tall raising her fist in the air. The arena erupted in cheers at the amazing match. “See babe. I told you my girl would come out on top. Looks like I won our bet.” Odette beamed with happiness while Raphael groaned and shook his head because not only did he lose the bet with his mate, but to his best friend just got his butt handed to him.
Jess’s POV
I’m trying to catch my breath. That was a good match. Jorge had definitely gotten quicker. After the cheers die down a bit I bend over Jorge and gently wake him back up. “Oh GOD DAMN IT! I LOST AGAIN!?” I chuckle “Yeah, Sorry if I hurt you. You feeling ok?” I helped him up. “Yeah. You broke my nose but I’ll heal by the end of the day. But you owe me a beer later.” We shake hands and laugh as we walk out of the arena. I hear Odette whistle for me and look up. I stopped and ran to the stand. I jumped up and climbed the stand until I got to Odette.
When I landed in front of her it startled her. “Can’t you just use the stairs like a normal person Jessabelle?!” She screamed. Raphael and I laughed. “Where is the fun in doing things the normal way?” I asked with a huge grin on my face. “Whatever you crazy girl. Now turn around so I can check your injuries.” I dropped my head “I am fine. Why do you have to fuss over me like this?” I immediately regretted asking because I knew the answer when she narrowed her eyes and Raphael shook his head and held his head in his hands. Odette may have not known me as long as Raphael, but she was like an overbearing mother when she saw how I hid my pain from others. She trusts in my skills to fight, but she always wants to look me over afterwards.
“Why do I fuss?! Excuse me if I remember a certain someone hiding the fact that she had 3 broken ribs when some stalker tried to have his way with her when she was out drinking alone. Plus it also took 3 weeks of following you to catch that ass hole because you kept your pain to yourself. You tried to be so strong all the time that you don't want to depend on anyone, well that is going to end missy. Because my cousins over there are going to treat you like the queen you are and make sure you never get hurt again.” she huffed. Damn I hate it how she can make me feel so little with her words.
I jumped off the ledge and turned around for her to check my back and neck. While she was doing that, Raphael spoke up “Now honey, please remember. Jess has been on her own for 5 years when she was in her old pack and then was a rouge for a few days before she came here.
Even then it took her at least 2 years before she would smile around Ryan, Jorge, and I.” I could feel Leo, Zero, and Hero staring at me. “Is this ture, Love?” Hero asked, sounding very worried.
“Yes. I always thought I had to be on my own. Even more so when I was rejected the first time. But I will try my best to depend on others like I have been doing with Ryan, Jorge, and Raphael.” I hissed when I felt Odette put some medical cream on my back.
She jumped a bit. “Sorry sweetie. I guess some rocks cut up your back a bit.” I hated that cream even though it works. “Baby girl, you're sitting with us until your next match.” Zero said. Leo and Hero nodded in agreement.
Meaning there was no room to say no. I sat down on Zero’s lap since he was sitting in the middle and Leo and Hero each held my hands in theirs.