The Challenge

Jealousy, hatred, love, pain, care, affection are a few of the several emotions which we encounter multiple times a day.

But when the emotions overlap with one another, you just start to avoid the person and label all the emotions as hate, so that no further questions could be asked regarding that matter from you.

The same was the case with David and Ryan. Legends say that they used to be an unbreakable duo till middle school, but the rivalry between their parents had made them stand across each other, on the frontier!

"Step aside, Ryan! I am really not in the mood to talk to you, as I still have a whole day to spend." David growled.

"Ohho! Looks like someone is being whiny in the morning! Why baby? Are you afraid of the fight, or losing to me?"

"Losing to you? Have you started dreaming while your eyes open?" David smirked, his eyes trying to see past him and searching for the girl he wanted to talk to.

Ryan felt the insult deep down in his veins. He hissed back, "Oh! Honey, no- I didn't start dreaming with my eyes open, but I definitely think someone is really getting impatient, instead."

Saying this, he turned to look at the girl, but both of them were shocked to find no instance of her ever being present there.

Anger flashed in David's eyes as he started fuming. He didn't know why he was feeling the fear of losing her, when he had just barely met her.

He roared again, "I guess it is time to show you what a huge loss you have caused me! Let's go, Ryan! I- David Matthew, the Alpha of Eclipse pack, is challenging you for a fight in Arena."

"Challenging you for a fight in Arena"- the statement spread throughout the canteen and to the teachers' offices like a forest fire.

{A seventeen year old has challenged another Alpha in the arena, what will happen now?}

{Is it even legal?}

{David will rip the bones out of Ryan!}

{Ryan is always looked down upon, because he belongs to Orion pack. }

Many men, many minds, and so the sensationalising piece of gossip evolved, with each person adding their own personal opinion to the grapevine.

Henry tapped David's shoulder and spoke in an urgent whisper, "David! Dude have you lost it or what? How can you challenge Ryan for a fight before the main tournament! Aren't you afraid that he will find out all your hidden tactics!?"

"Chill, Henry! He is not my real competitor, so there is no need for you to worry." David replied in a very calm tone, without even glancing at Henry and still looking at the changing expressions on Ryan's face.

"What do you mean he is not your real competitor, and if he isn't, who else is? Do you also believe that the hidden Alpha of the Moon pack is your real competitor? Have you not seen his timid sister- they almost share the same characteristics, so I don't think that guy can be your competitor!" Henry explained.

"Yes, you are right. The secret Alpha of the Moon is not my competitor, indeed."

David's stable tone refused to betray any emotion, while baffling the person he was talking to, not only due to his words but also his nonchalance.

"So you are saying that no one is your competitor, then?" Henry asked, getting confused and excited at the same time.

"No! The secret Alpha isn't my enemy, but his sister sure is."

"Wait-what?" Henry was brutally thrown back from the fantasy world of his, where he had assumed that David was sure to get the crown, to reality- and he was not ready for it at all.

"You-you are saying that the girl who didn't even respond to your Alpha call of fight is your potential competitor! How is that even possible?"

"That, I also don't know yet...but I will find out soon. Wait for me here, till I sneak into the prohibited section of the library. And keep an eye on Ryan till I return."

"Wait-" 

Before Henry could complete his sentence or be able to ask him anything, he had vanished like a strong gust of wind- without leaving any proof of its prior existence, totally merging in the air.

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The guards quickly took two steps backwards, leaving Myron free.

Nora quickly rushed towards him and started checking if he was alright.

"Brother, are you alright? I am sorry I dragged you into this mess, even after knowing the fact that I am curse for-"

"Shut  up! Just zip it, now, or else I really don't care what your real identity is- no one can call my sister all those demeaning things, not even she herself!"

Myron spoke, getting overwhelmed by the care she was showing him while drowning herself in an ocean of guilt. 

'He had lost his parents at a really young age, and had never experienced such care from anyone after that. He had probably forgotten the feeling of having such attention being showered on him, after being responsible for himself for the most of his life. The feeling was giving him warmth inside his heart.

But then, she had started criticising herself, and he wouldn't be tolerating anything bad about his only sister. After eighteen years, he had finally found a purpose, a motive for his life- this girl! His only family. He had always been in search of a reason to keep going, and now, one reason for him to survive, would be the safety of his sister.'

'The events had left Nora equally flustered. She couldn't exactly decipher the reason that a person who hadn't been appointed to wait on her, who hadn't been a part of her family or friends, but in fact was someone whom she had just met, would be so protective over her.

But on one hand, where she was feeling quite warm inside her heart because of the affection Myron was showering her with, on the other hand she was extremely embarrassed because of the treatment that had been meted out to him because of her.'

"Okay okay, I will shut up. But I still am really sorry about what happened just now, I was really unaware-"

"Sisters are not supposed to apologise to their brothers for anything." He interrupted her once again, adding with a pleasant smile, "Now let me take you to your class, or else you will be late."

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