Suzan walked up to me, looking at my state. Hailey had not been subtle with her warning and it was odd for Alpha blood like me to be threatened by her admonitions, but that was the case here. Maybe it was because this is my first time facing bloodlust, especially one directed right at me.

“Getting nervous in the spotlight?” Suzan stole my attention. She eyed me worried, I shook my head and said,

“Ya, I am not used to being chanted like this in a crowd full of people,” A simple lie.

Suzan’s wolf nudged my wolf with her shoulder, “You will get used to this after you become the Beta.” My brows raised at her words, and she noticed my self-doubt. “Oh, come on, Selene, you better win. The only one you are allowed to lose to is me”

My head bent down and it came back up chuckling, “Better luck next time then, I am winning this time”

Suzan giggled with me and looked ahead. “Sure, get the win then. I couldn’t ask for a better Beta than you, Selene” Her eyes tinted in light as they met mine and there was a certain seriousness in them. What did she mean by that, there were other experienced and more capable people in the pack. Suzan picked up my confused look and said, “I don’t think any of these members are capable. When it was time for saving the Alpha who is first in command, all of them blindly followed the nincompoop Beta, John Walter”

There was no arguing about that. By nature, in any pack, the omega wolves are compelled to bend in front of the Alpha, serve the Alpha, and protect them. There is no natural compulsion to comply with the Beta of the pack.

I wondered whether the members who were casting the spiteful looks were actually involved with John Walter in planning the murder of Channing. If that was the case, then it would be tough trying to win them over.

Channing got out the air horn he used in the morning. The noise had everyone go silent and all the heads turned to the Alpha of Winterwells.

“Okay, okay, let the participants take their break. We will continue with Stage two in the next an hour!” announced Channing. Everyone went crazy over it. I searched for team White members, Hailey had disappeared, and Diana was heading back towards the living quarters. Sam came around to stand beside me and his wolf form shrugged, as if the way Channing was going on did not surprise him.

Connie from our team protested, “That is so less time to sleep, at least give four hours”

His innocent comment had a wave of laughter erupt through the entire pack. Although he had honestly put it forth, it still made me chuckle. Connie looked around at what had made everyone laugh. His soul was too pure for this world. My eyes went mild at him and then saw the tides of the crowd changing.

“Give them some break, Channing, they have been at it for 6 hours,” said someone.

“Look at them they are so tired”

“Selene is still covered in blood from her injuries”

“Yes! Keep the stage 2 tomorrow!”

I checked myself out, and the blood that had dried on my white fur. I looked half red, half white right now. Even though the injuries were now healed, no healer could make the already flowed out blood disappear. I sighed. Dry blood is going to be hard to clean even after I turn into my human form.

Channing held his palm up, which had everyone quiet down. Such opposition to his decision would offend any Alpha, but that was not Channing. That is why everyone liked him, since he accepted people expressing themselves.

He spoke firmly as soon as there was pin-drop silence, “After a long expedition, the teams can be attacked looking at members taking rest. But a Beta should be able to fight his or her best, even in a tired state. That is what taking responsibility of a pack is. In a situation to protect Alpha, any Beta should be able to forget their fatigue and protect the Alpha at the cost of their life.”

There was anger that resonated in his voice. It baffled the members, as his words sounded harsh, but I could see the hurt behind them. John’s betrayal had really pushed Channing to be way too serious about this competition.

They did not fill the silence this time with any protest, as an environment of guilt was heavily weighing upon the members. All of them had blindly followed John when Channing was counting his last breath. No one could say anything to Channing anymore as their heads hung low and Channing let that reality settle on them. He had not mentioned it after the incident. But now that he had put it out indirectly, the members knew the place that held themselves partially in the crime.

There was a need to break off the tension, so I spoke up in a low voice, as I was the only not-guilty person standing there. “Should we meet at the same place for Stage two?”

Channing’s eyes moved towards me and softened before addressing the other drooping heads of the members. “Yes, the winning team can go rest and clean up. Others will stay here and help arrange the setup for Stage two”

I turned to Suzan, and she gave a positive nod to me for breaking the tension.

Sam, who was standing beside me spoke, “You should go to Suzan’s place and get yourself cleaned, Selene. I am sure Channing can excuse her to help you”

“Ya, I will ask Channing and return. ” Suzan was quick on her feet and her words as she went toward Channing before I could even protest. Asking her to stop would not have made any difference. This girl was very stubborn when it came to helping, and there was no amount of force in this world that could stop her from being who she was.

Sam spoke before leaving, “Be prepared Selene, I don’t think Diana and Hailey will spare any expenses in the duels. They both have their individual reasons but I have seen it in their eyes, you are their obvious target for the Next Stage”