Chapter 18

• HAERA.
• Blood was the first thing I saw after a punch landed on Alpha Prince Zachary's face. The blood spluttered in the air and he staggered trying to keep himself from falling but his opponent delivered another blow right in his guts that made him collapse to the floor. And that was the first round. I kept a palm on my mouth to keep me from squealing out in horror when the blow landed on his face. Everyone else cheered, drums rolled and the dignitaries all clapped and shared views as if they were watching a game. I was the closest to the signatures on the single line I and the other maids formed and so I was able to see the other pack heads nod at Luna Hegna while she smiled proudly and grinned from ear to ear like a Chesire cat. Of course. Her son delivered the first blow in just a few seconds into the duel. Everyone else was enjoying this but I wasn't. The thought of it never sat well with me even before I knew that the prince is my mate. No one deserves to be treated like a curse or like they don't deserve to enjoy certain life privileges. In some way, it makes me connect more with him. We are worlds apart. While he's a male of Royal birth who is not meant to have such problems in his life,I'm nothing but a simple maid without an origin and whatever happens to me, it doesn't matter to anyone. Yet we have so much in common. We're both treated like outcasts. Like we don't deserve to be alive at all. Nothing made us so different after all and it's why I feel so connected with him. It's why that blow seemed like it hit me just as it hit him. Was it the mate bond? He hasn't even marked me yet. But I guess our connection digs deeper than just being mated. I understand him because I go through the same thing every single day of my life. "PRINCE TYBALT HAS HAS THE FIRST ROUND!!!" The announcement caused another uproar as everyone clapped in excitement. Out of the multitudes of people,it was hard to tell if they just find it interesting or not but I could tell that no one was rooting for him among the crowd. No one except me. He picked himself up and staggered to the end of his own podium. Alan, his Beta was waiting for him and was quick to dip a towel in water to wash the blood off and clean his sweaty body. He gave him water to drink and I could see his mouth move against the Alpha Prince's ear. He was telling him something. Soon, Alpha prince Zachary was up again with regained strength and began to walk closer to where the other prince was standing and waiting with a menacing look on his face. I could see the hatred in his deep set eyes. "THE SECOND ROUND WILL NOW BEGIN!!!" I clasped my hands together in anticipation as my heart pounded against my chest. Please let him win. Please don't let him get hurt. Prince Zachary's movements sprang with a different kind of confidence. I was certain he could do it if he set his mind to it. I watched with bated breath as the men began to circle each other strategically. In a go, they both ran towards each other with a war cry that ended with deep grunts as they grabbed each other. Their muscles flexed under the not weltering son as they tried to put each other down to the floor. Alpha Prince Zachary let go just in time to dodge a kick to his legs. He swerved around and the other prince followed him in annoyance. The prince started for him again and caught Prince Zachary right in the middle of the podium and they both pull, kick and sneer at each other again. Out of nowhere, Prince Tybalt head-butted Prince Zachary. "Oooooo!" Came the shocked voices of everyone in the crowd. Prince Zachary staggered to the back and his eyes rolled in their sockets for a brief moment. He shook his head as he appeared disoriented. I couldn't even hide the gasp that left my lips at the attack to his head. The kind of one that is capable of leaving someone's head ringing for days. Prince Tybalt must have seen how disoriented Prince Zachary was and he seemed like he was going to take advantage of it. I bit down on my fingers nervously as I watched the scene unfold. C'mon. He's coming! Get back in there. You can't let him have this round! I was practically screaming it in my head even if I wanted to scream it in his face. To scream it out loud for him to hear. Prince Tybalt took his stance and rushed at prince Zachary but before he could send a blow his way, prince Zachary's leg stood in the way and with a loud groan, Prince Tybalt tripped head first to the floor. I could barely contain my squeal. The maid beside me eyed me skeptically but I didn't care. My mate just won a round! The uproar of the crowd wasn't what I expected but I didn't care. What mattered was that he won that round! "PRINCE ZACHARY HAS THE FIRST ROUND!" Loud cheers erupted and I wished I could join in too but as a maid, I had no business cheering with the crowd at such events. But I watched with a huge smile on my face. "That's our mate." Dezra purred lovingly inside of me. The next round set me on edge as I prayed emphatically that he doesn't get hurt or lose this round. The round was quicker. Alpha Prince Zachary was swift on his feet and barely even touched Prince Tybalt before he sent him flying to the ground. Two fucking rounds! "PRINCE ZACHARY HAS THE SECOND ROUND!!!" I was shaking with excitement that threatened to burst out of my body if I wasn't careful. I couldn't believe he was so close to winning. I guess even the crowd couldn't believe it either. The dignatries barely even cheered and I could tell that they were being wary of Luna Hegna whose face had already turned as white as paper. I let my eyes wander back to the podium to see Alpha Prince Zachary smiling to Alan about something he said. His smile made me smile. His eyes suddenly search the front row where the Pack heads were all seated as if looking for someone. My breathing hitched as his eyes slowly rake the seated people and over the single file of maids. Was he looking for me? I blushed red hot. He must be trying to see if he can recognize me among the crowd. But I know he couldn't. It's all matter of time. When he wins, he'll see me. He smiled in the direction. And I assumed he was trying to assure me even he couldn't recognize me amidst the crowd. He knew I was there watching and rooting for him. I smiled like he could see me too. The sound of drums broke both of our trance. "THE LAST ROUND BEGINS NOW!!!" Prince Zachary's attention was drawn back to the podium as he glared in his half-brother's direction. The crowd fell silent. One couldn't even hear the shifting of feet or the rustling of legs. I breathed hard, in and out in anticipation and in the peace and quiet of the entire place, I was afraid someone would hear me breathing so loud. Everyone was waiting in anticipation for them to start. I was sure everyone was as tensed as I was as we waited. Both men stood opposite of each other and just stared. I could see the tension roll off the both of them. I was praying silently before I knew it again. Please... Both men stalked closer to each other and at once, they rushed at each other. Prince Zachary delivered a blow straight to Prince Tybalt's nose. The sound of bones cracking claimed the air and everyone gasped in shock. Prince Tybalt was incapacitated for a moment as he doubled over, grabbing his face in his hands with a loud silence piercing groan. When he removed his hands from his face, his nose was bleeding hard and the blood dripped down to the floor. Prince Zachary stood in attention as if preparing for an attack that was imminent. And really, it was. Because, Prince Tybalt slowly raised his eyes to look at Prince Zachary and the rage in them made me shudder. His eyes switched between that of him and and his wolf and I could tell he was losing control. He could shift any moment from then. "I'm going to kill you!!!" He yelled and charged at Prince Zachary. Everything happened so fast. One moment he was rushing at Prince Zachary and the next he was off his feet, shifting into a big black furred wolf with wild golden eyes and teeth ready to tear off his enemy. And the next moment, he was being thrown from across the podium and flying up in the air till he landed on the floor, inches away from the crowd that had made a clearing out of fear and shock. Prince Tybalt was on the floor. Not the floor of the podium but far away from it. And he was in his wolf form. Everything went silent for a moment. Everyone was shocked at what just happened but the answer was right there in the eyes of the sole winner, standing and breathing hard on the podium. Alpha prince Zachary threw Prince Tybalt's wolf off the podium. Alpha prince Zachary won the Duel. Alpha prince Zachary is the new Alpha of the Imperial pack.