Chapter 9

"Get you a better beta."

Alavanz drove them to the Kinecardine arena, where the school held it's tournaments, or welcomed it's first years. The building was large, circular and composed of pale aged stone. It's walls were ranged with scowling golems, each one a different size. At the arena's entrance, sat an imposing doorway guarded by two towering stone griffins on each side.

At the reception, Alavanz requested a private sparring room. They took an elevator to the third floor, where they were both led to a dimly lit room with tinted windows and a thin mat on the floor.

Alavanz took off her neon pink jacket and sneakers. She wore a black body suit with her hair tied up in a ponytail. Marx took off his shoes. They stretched for twenty minutes as Alavanz aggressively muttered on about how disrespectful Cranos was.

"Second to the alpha king my ass." She muttered again and prepared her fighting stance. "Well??? Come at me."

"What are you?" She dodged the punch he threw at her. "Cranos part two!?"

Alavanz caught his wrist and pulled him close. Suddenly, he heard a grunt followed by the thud of a foot as it collided with muscle against skin, before he registered where it hit. Marx's feet had left the ground and his body slammed against the wall across the room. Pain went from being centered at his stomach and spread throughout his body as he limply fell onto the floor with a groan.

"Again." Alavanz got into a fighting stance. Marx slowly stood with a grimace, clutching his throbbing abdomen.

Alavanz impatiently repeated. "Get up. I said again."

She didn't warn him before a punch rippled through his body, followed by a kick that sprung him to the air. Alavanz leaped up and his vision spun, before his back collided with the floor, his opponent firmly planted on his chest. Suffocated, did nothing to describe what he felt then. His ears and muscles were already trembling in pain. It reminded him of the psyacha training, her hits were more painful that her voice's sound waves in the water.

Had his wolf not been suppressed his eardrums would have bled. Marx gulped with grit teeth as he attempted to push down the vile taste of bile that had climbed up his throat. All while the ground was a series of after images shifting beneath his feet. This was only the fourth time she'd thrust him across the room. He was sure because the echoes of her voice, still thrummed against his skull.

"Four. Your punches are weak. Where is your wolf?" Alavanz complained.

Marx slowly stood up, thankful that his knees didn't buckle before her. A faint sound that boarded between a grimace and a shuddered exhale left his lips. He showed his wrist to her.

"What's that?"

"It's supposed to seal, my wolf."

"Take it off."

"I was advised against that."

"By who?" She took his sore hand and examined the thin band on his wrist.

"The chancellor and Mr. Sol."

"You meant the Dean of Medicine. Not, Mr. Sol. Here, we address people by their titles." Her hateful glare was now locked on the wrist band. "See, this is why I don't like people budding into my business." She let go of his throbbing arm, and planted her hands on her hips, as she paced around the room. "How am I supposed to train you, when they restrain your wolf."

Marx almost shrugged his heavy shoulders but decided against it when he felt his muscles protest.

"You know what, I don't care." She waved at thin air and pointed at him, with nostrils flared. "That thing better be off before the end of the week."

Alavanz took on a fighting stance and charged at him, he dodged. Only to grunt in pain as his head thudded against the ground. She'd hit him with a jab , that was succeeded by an elbow to the face. Marx stood up and she grimaced looking at his tingling face. He could feel it swelling.

"Even your healings slowed." She chuckled at his swollen eye. "Gonna be some rough intensive training, huh?"

Marx frowned, as his shoulders stiffened.

"What? You thought I'd change my mind. I'm not. That's a you problem." Alavanz shrugged her shoulders, "I wasn't there when you decided to put that thing on. Next time you'll remember how to say. No, I have commitments." Alavanz kicked him so hard he began to feel like a weightless pup as he flew across the room. She pinched her nose at the sight of his blood, and added in a nasal tone. "Just like that, well being unaffected. Peace? Undisturbed."

She pointed at a door in the room that led to a toilet, and squeaked. "Go wash your face."

Marx flinched as her voice echoed in his mind, never in his life had he been hit so hard he wished to stay down. Some time passed before he stood, although didn't trust his knees. He washed his face and returned to another round. During the session he came to terms with something he knew about Alavanz yet never thought of. If he were asked to describe the vampire it would be three words: lovesick, sadistic, and unrelenting.

His highest time he lasted 'fighting-by which he dodged her strikes while suppressing the irrational urge to run-her was twenty one seconds and he didn't dodge her blows more than three times. Any time she hit him it was like a high speed truck, each blow fast and heavy. To save the last of his shredded dignity, when he fell he made sure he didn't curl into a cradle position. Marx dodged another one of her blows.

Alavanz's satisfied voice sounded. "Good."

Marx flinched as he braced for another hit, but she tapped his shoulder. He croaked, "Wh- what?"

"That was good. You dodged." She said, her eyes carefully scanned his body.

"Yeah, but I've been dodging."

"Maybe the wolf being gone is a good thing?" Alavanz questioned her own thoughts out loud.

At his confused look, she addressed him. "You see, you're too reliant on your wolf's abilities. And you're well trained in them. I watched your recruitment videos, you were so in sync with your beta. At the forest you were too dependent on your nose and hearing." She charged at him while speaking. "Wizards and witches can slow the time of their spells effectiveness, which is why you smelled the strange scent. Yet, you didn't mind as long as your senses were fine. Over confidence."

Marx dodged once, then he received a knee to the ribs and he groaned in misery. The sound sounded way too pathetic for his liking. He twisted his body to avoid the next punch.

"Once you dominated you became reckless. Forgetting you were on enemy territory." Alavanz continued. "During the hunt, you didn't talk to your wolf, and when you passed out it took over."

Alavanz threw him into the air. She jumped and kicked his stomach with the back of her foot. "I was slightly proud when you volunteered to team up with Boise and still let Trot help you after your humiliating defeat."

He released a hiss as his back hit the floor. A flash of pain erupted from his spine. Alavanz commanded him. "Your ability to respectfully share a space with Brianna after how she dominated you during the hunt. Even your cooperation with Toya during Psyacha was good." Seated on his chest, she threw normal punches at him, that he'd dodge by shifting his head. "Instead of passing out disgracefully, you allowed her to bring you up. It showed that part of you knows when not to burden your team. A loser, but not a sore one."

One of the punches landed next to his head, the stone cracked due to the force. He flinched and gave Alavanz a surprised look. "That dodge over there was the second time you did it, without trying to sense or understand my movements."

"Like you're in tune with your wolf." She stood and shrugged her shoulders. "Although you're big, you're quite swift for your size and that can be used to your advantage."

What the heck was this vampire saying Marx's wolf was actively suppressed, as for too reliant on his senses what else was he supposed to do, it's how all life perceived the world. Now she sounded like Tusk, the pack elder who introduced Mayo to nvia. If left alone those two could clear a forest.

She offered him her hand. "Now, Marxis Wolfgang Tundra. Accept my teachings and I will help you become the most powerful Wolfgang."

"Do I have a choice?"

"No."

Marx took her hand and she pulled him up. She gave him a gentle smile and kicked his chest. He staggered a few steps back, as he dodged her blow again. They trained until Marx reminded her about his meeting. At the sight of his dragging trot she offered to drive him to Falkrik. He left Kinecardine with trembling legs as Alavanz helped him into her tiny car.

"I'm not going to get into Falkrik like I did Wylerr. That's wolf king territory." She glanced at his legs, as she drove on. "You'll have to walk by yourself. Last I heard he's in rut." She chuckled. "But still, I don't wanna test my luck and get eaten."

Along the way he received a text from Cranos asking where he was. He responded by telling him that Alavanz, was driving him to Falkrik but he didn't know the residence. They met Cranos at the border of Falkrik territory. The alpha offered Alavanz a charming smile. She responded with a disgusted scoff and left them in a dust cloud. Marx aggressively coughed and limped to Cranos and greeted him with a respectful nod.

"You've looked better." He commented, and immediately changed the subject before Marx could respond. "So which pack do you belong to?"

"Tundra." Marx answered.

"Shit, you're not just in the out skirts, you are the out skirt." Cranos adjusted his pace to match his. Marx looked down ears turning red, Cranos chuckled. "When will your beta get discharged? I have to meet the infamous wolf."

Marx nodded. He didn't know what to say to that, Thatnmoor was at the border of the Lycan territory right before the ocean. So he answered the second question. "Been sick, since we arrived. Don't think he'll live at Wylerr though. His condition is quite... Sensitive."

"If that's so, you mean weak." Cranos corrected.

Marx's footsteps paused, he glanced at Cranos from the side of his eye. One could feel the spark of tension between their partially locked gazes. Cranos's lips tilted up slightly, and Marx's jaw tightened, his low voice sounded.

"I meant sensitive."

"Of course."

Cranos didn't make an attempt to hide the grin in his tone. They spent the rest of the walk in silence, until Falkrik, came into view. They passed through the security gate in order to access the building. Where a large group of alpha wolves stood near the entrance.

Curious gazes fell on his limping figure, as they bowed their heads slightly at Cranos' arrival. The alpha greeted them all and they saluted him. Cranos left Marx alone and he went to inquire about the bus's arrival.

Most of the werewolves avoided him because of the smell of vampires on him. Soon, the bus arrived and Cranos instructed them to get on board. He boarded and sat alone watching the trees stand still while he passed them by.

Marx had never imagined that he'd meet the future alpha king like this. He felt unprepared, underdressed, and dirty. Is this how girls felt when they were about to go on a date with someone they like? What if the wrist band came off and he did something he'd regret in front of the future wolf king?

The bus came to a halt with his thoughts. They were at a wide, aged parking lot surrounded by large towering trees. Marx stood up, back straight and disembarked from the bus, he had no time for doubt. There was a wooden sign with a pointed arrow crookedly written: 'Marnmouth Amphitheater this way', next to a desire path that led into the woods.

The group slowly walked down the desire path as that led to an open clearing. It looked like a rocky open mouth pit in the woods, with jagged teeth-like edges. Marx stood at the edge looking on as the other wolves climbed into it. Others ran right before they jumped in as if they were diving into a pool.

Its walls were over fifty meters tall with natural grassy step-like formations. Laughter and music echoed off the walls, as he struggled down. The smell of barbecued unicorn filled his nose. His sight was greeted by wolves from different regions, north, east, south, and west.

Western wolves were known as the fighting region. It was the most diverse part of the lycan empire, known for housing three great packs. Some of them could be as large if not larger than northern wolves others of similar size to southern wolves. The region was filled with outlaws and crooks. Rumors said that the lycan king had exiled his heir there, with a secret order to reclaim the chaotic region and return it to its rightful place under the banner of the Lycan empire.

The region has since raised their empire flag, and the great packs pledged themselves to the alpha of alphas. Such a feat had many wolves wondering how it came to be without the threat of civil war. But, he trusted the future king's capabilities. Marx reached the lowest point at Marnmouth. Marx's eyes scanned the field and a large pale wolf approached him.

Northern, like himself. They greeted each other using the wolves formal greeting. The northern wolf led him to a stall where a group of northern wolves politely greeted him and offered him unicorn meat he gladly ate. They asked him which part of the north he was from.

He told them Thatnmoor. A short uncomfortable silence settled in the group. Thatnmoor was known for being reclusive, even amongst other wolves. Known for being "barricaded" behind their towering walls of ice and their floating glacial islands. Marx pretended not to notice the silence and continued to eat.

The uncomfortable silence was disturbed by a welcomed call from a large female alpha wolf who stood barefooted on the roof of the largest stall.

"Listen up!" She introduced herself "I'm Arien, here with my theta partner Cranos." She pointed across the field. "Unfortunately, the Daegon won't be able to make it to tonight's meeting."

A series of groans followed her words.

"Ohh, shut it. 'Least he ain't dead."

Arien wore gold rimmed glasses without any frame. A pack tattoo painted her left cheek, her thick hair hung loose and rough like a lion's mane. She wore a formal t-shirt and a tight mini skirt. She looked down at her phone and read the future lycan king's formal apology for missing the event to the disappointed crowd.

It stated that due to unforeseen circumstances, his rut had not ended at the expected time. He promised to make it that coming Saturday. Arien and Cranos would be in charge of the night's happenings in his place.

Marx's heart fell, as he bowed his head. At least he had more time before he embarrassed himself in front of the Daegon. His shoulders tensed, and the hairs at the back of his head stood on end. His eyes met with a pair of menacingly glowing eyes. It was one of the wolves he'd boarded the bus with. Those wary eyes were on him, since he had first arrived with Cranos. Marx didn't mind, most wolves made their opinions clear about vampires. But, he would not be bullied.

Being new and smelling like one did not add any point to his like ability. He could vaguely make out what Arien was saying about challenges to help pick the heads of each team, because they'

d be running in Daemerel woods. Yet he was unwilling to back down. Marx scowled at the other alpha's glare, and the alpha took a step toward him.