Mala walked into the area with Alpha Aston and their pack, Ben was right next to her, their team was all dressed the same, in a dark grey Gi, with the words Hollowed Moon Pack in bold white embroidery across the right front side of their Gi, and on the back was their pack logo, took up the entirety of their back.
Big and bold, they were here to make a full statement to all about not only who they were but what type of pack they were. All of them were bare footed, and they were chatting happily amongst themselves. It didn’t seem to Mala that any of her fighters were worried about this competition.
Had been training with her for 9 long years, they all knew how to fight like her now. Multiple types of martial arts, as well as the wolfen ways of hand to hand. Which is how most of these fighters would fight.
They were all good and strong, like her and Ben, all of them here today were like her, going to possibly be pitted against their old packs. Smiled to herself for it would just make them that much more determined to win. Like she was.
Mala sank herself down and leaned back in her chair, to wait for the announcement of pack names and what the schedule for today was. She had noted that there were more packs here, than the last time she’d been here, and allowed her eyes to move about the room and look at all the other packs, their fighters, the size of them, their demeanours.
Found Hudson’s ice-blue eyes right on her, raised an eyebrow at him, leaned over a little towards Ben and mind-linked to him ‘Smile at me will you.’
Turned her eyes up to him, to find him doing just that. ‘Oh is the dumbass here?’ he mind linked right back to her, sounded full amused.
‘Yes.’ She answered.
Found Ben’s hand reached out and then was run through her hair, “Sweetie, you really need to tie this up.” He stated aloud for all to here.
“I will babe. I promise.” She smiled up at him, seemed he was happy to play the boyfriend card, felt his lips pressed to her temple.
‘Knock it off "
you two.’ Alpha Aston shot down the mind link at the both of them ‘I don’t need a pissed-off Alpha wolf coming over here.’
‘Awe, you spoil my fun,’ Mala pouted a little. ‘Besides Alpha, if he comes over here and starts anything, he’ll be disqualified, before it even begins.’
‘Knock it off.’ He repeated himself.
‘He rejected me, remember.’ She muttered.
‘That doesn’t mean he won’t get ticked off, Mala.’
She snort, didn’t really care if he got ticked off, could handle him, there was no bloody Mate Bond between them anymore for him to use to make her defenceless against him, like he had done the last time.
Watched each pack stand as their name was called out, as did hers, she did not look at Hudson or his pack again after that first look. Alpha Aston accepted the schedule of fights, and each individual pack member was given their tiers' fights and times, which mat to be at if they passed through to next round. Along with the rules about not using wolfen strength, wolves still only allowed to help heal their human counterpart. She heard a slight annoyed growl from Laun, she seemed annoyed about that rule. Turned and looked right at her “You’ll be fine, Ben and I have trained you without your wolf for two solid months now.”
“I want to hit him so bad.” She grated out “Give him everything I have.”
“I understand Laun,” Mala nodded, and she really did understand that feeling, she’d never been able to give it back at full wolfen strength to Hudson or anyone in that stupid pack of his. Should have punched Hudson with all Suki’s wolfen strength behind her before she’d left.
Might just do it yet, but even if she could, it was going to have to wait until the challenge was over, was not going to ruin this show, of Alpha Astons’ packs strength to his brother.
Mala could see that she did not get to fight one of the Glimmering Moon Packs warriors today, though none of them would find Tamala Lucas on their list of competitors, they probably would think she was just here as a pack trainer. How wrong they were going to be.
She could see just how tense Aston was all of a sudden, tracked his line of sight to a man, who was standing looking right back at him. Looked very similar to Aston, both must take after their father in that department. Though that man was clean shaven.
Aston had taken to having a neatly trimmed, 5-day stubble, actually really suited him a lot. His slightly curly brown hair was pushed back with a wet gelled look, that was normal for Aston, he looked amazing for a wolf who had lost his Luna just two months ago. Likely this was the plan, to tick off that first Goddess Gifted Mate of his.
Mala had seen Aston out there training, hitting the weight room as well, had used his grief and pain to push himself harder than ever before, and make himself stronger, something he thought was needed, she guessed.
He had strolled into the gym in their pack and given her a challenge as well. Given it his all, she’d held her own, but jeeze he’d landed some bloody hard hits on her, was a lot stronger than she was, though she was faster on her feet than he was and that was what had matched them evenly, that and she was trained to hit pressure points, fast direct hits to the body’s most vulnerable places, to bring about serious pain with every hit.
Mala looked at the wolves he’d brought with him. No Luna over there, she noted, wondered if that man knew that his own Mate, had killed his brother's Mate and in such a callous manner. Didn’t even come and do it face to face. Perhaps she wasn’t a good fighter. Roberta had trained like everyone else, and was an excellent Warrior Luna.
‘Do you want me to curse him out?’ Mala mind linked to Alpha Aston.
‘No, Mala, he’ll fight. Loves beating other wolves, is viscous, you could well find yourself pitted against him.” Touched his finger to her division and a name “Later on in the fights.’
‘I hope so, Alpha. I quite enjoy putting Alpha bastards in their places.’
Saw Aston look right at her and then just burst out laughing. It was the first smile anyone had seen, since the Luna’s death. “I knew I liked you for a reason.” He stated afterwards.
“Worth my weight in gold, huh?”
“Definitely. I am so very glad you came to my pack. Never once regretted having you in my pack.”
“I’m never going to leave Alpha.” She smiled right up at him. “It’s my home” and it was, loved her pack, the other wolves, got along with everyone. It was a really nice pack to live in, even the wolf-less were treated with respect.
They trained like everyone else did, though those 20 were trained with Kama’s to better protect themselves, all were armed with two tactical Kama’s with razor sharp blades that were eight and a quarter inch long, good for slicing into any attacking wolf.
They could also use the handle, fifteen and a half inches of fibreglass and reinforced nylon, to block attacks with. They were also now wearing reinforced vests to protect them from direct attack from wolfen claws and bites. Had black outfits of the best protective material out there to keep them safe. A deadly group of 20 that were trained to work as a large group not individuals. A good tactic for the pack and for the protection of themselves as well.
Mala sat herself down and watched as the matches started, found Jet standing right in front of her while Ben was up on the mat fighting. No surprise, there he was a big muscled-up wolf and likely they had no idea what rank he was, only that it looked like she was with him.
“Tamala, it’s good to see you again.”
She didn’t answer him, just shifted in her seat to continue to watch Ben fight, ignored him, did not have to interact with him at all anymore.
“Alpha Hudson, would like a word with you after your team is done fighting for the day.”
Mala turned and looked right at Aston, he smiled at her, then looked at Jet. “My pack members don’t fraternise with the enemy, Beta. Go away.”
“I’m not the enemy, was..”
“Was being the operative word.” Aston cut him off. Saw Simon stand up, was going to step in, it seemed. “She belongs to me now, go away.” Waved a hand at Jet, as if to shoo him away like he was an annoyance, smiled at Aston as she heard Jet walk away. Dismissed by an Alpha, not much he could do about that.
Turned her eyes back to the match Ben was in, ‘I told you not to piss him off, Mala.’ Aston mind-linked right to her.
‘I didn’t do anything.’ But she did chuckle softly. She’d played nice, it was not her fault, Ben kept leaning over and talking to her all softly with a smile on his face, had tilted her chin up when he’d stood for his match, stated calmly but loud enough for all to hear “I’ll be back for you.” And dropped a kiss on her mouth for all to see.
Then he had strolled away to his fight with a smile on his handsome face. Shame it wasn’t with the Glimmering Moon Pack. She was smiling watching his skill and technique. He was almost as good as her. Being a rogue for so long had honed all his primal instincts when it came to fighting, he still used that to his advantage. She was watching him use it now.
Stood up and grinned right at him when he was declared the winner, clapped for him and his win. He strode back to the team and hugged her with one arm while he was high fived from the Beta and the rest of their pack members. Got clapped on the back by Aston himself. “Well done, Ben.”
“Piece of cake Alpha.” He’d chuckled.
Ben sat right down next to her again. ‘What did that man want?’
‘Apparently his Alpha wants to talk to me after the matches are over.’
‘Who was he?’
‘Pack Beta. Aston dealt with him. Don’t worry about it.’
‘I’m not worried Mala, simply curious. Doesn’t seem big enough to be a Beta.’
She snorted ‘He’s the only one with any backbone, should be the Alpha, at least he can go places on his own, doesn’t always have to have a bodyguard.’
‘What?’
‘Don’t underestimate him, might not be big and buff like you, but he is well trained and has that Beta blood behind him, strong he is.’
They sat and watched as their warriors were pitted against others, sat and watched as other fights were happening, got to watch several from the Glimmering Moon Pack fight. Knew most of them, they all knew who she was, it seemed, saw most of the look at her at least once during the course of the day. Recalled her, one in particular knew her very well. Looked right at him emotionless, he’d treated her no different to his current Alpha, no different to the entire pack. Was an asshole, just like the rest of them were.
Though pain touched her at seeing him, the hard angry look he gave her, likely thought she was still wolf-less, still hated her as much as that entire pack would, she supposed. But she would not let them see that pain inside, hadn’t back then, wasn’t about to now either.
“Mala Luca.” Her name was called, and she stood, rolled her shoulders, and cracked her neck, “Go kick ass babe.” Ben grinned at her and cracked her right on the backside, made her laugh and the pair of them were once again reprimanded by the mind-link from their Alpha.