Page 44 of Ava: Part Three

“Strike to kill,” the Alpha wolf cut in.

She sucked in a breath. What was the meaning of this? This was a school. They were training for the future. They couldn’t just kill students for the fun of it.

The Alpha laughed as if watching everyone’s reaction was a joke to him.

“I’m just joking, Coach Henderson,” he said. “This is a school. We’re training the students for the future. We don’t just kill them for the fun of it.”

Word for word, what she had just thought. She wondered if she would get into trouble for thinking about her middle finger if she didn’t act on it.

The coach visibly relaxed and then looked down at his clipboard.

“We do, however, expect maximum effort from every student. The fight is over only when we say it is. Anyone who gives up will be dealt with accordingly.”

What was this? Were they expecting her to be killed in a match and make it look like an accident? Her gaze strayed to Claire, still standing in the same spot. She already knew who her opponent would be.

“We will be going Beginner against Intermediate like in the evaluations,” the coach continued.

What? The beginner class had already shown that they still had a lot to work on before attempting to go up against the next level again. She failed to see how that would be beneficial to anyone.

“Our first pair, Emily from the beginners,” Coach Henderson started.

She didn’t even have to look to know the Omega was a trembling mess. It was worse now with whatever spell had been cast on them.

“And Ava.”

Chapter 26

Thewholeclassturnedto look at her when Coach called her name.

What the hell was this? If they were going to execute her, why were they making her fight an Omega first? And why Emily, who she had already fought at the mock evaluations?

Unless this was another test to see if she would make a good soldier?

“Ava,” Coach Henderson repeated.

She looked up to see the coach’s worried gaze on her before he glanced at Emily. The Omega was already on the mat, her arms wrapped around herself and facing down.

She shook her head and stood to walk to the mat, too. Claire was still facing forward as if this was of no interest to her, but Zeke clenched his fists, not hiding that his eyes were directly on the Council members.

“Remember that anything goes,” the witch said, making her look back at them, too. “Follow the rules, and everything will be fine.”

The three of them looked like they were expecting a show, but surely they knew it wouldn’t take much for anyone to defeat Emily.

The coach’s whistle blew, forcing her attention back to the trembling wolf. It had not been a fair fight before but it would be even worse now. How did they expect any of the Omegas to fight like this?

She looked over at the students sitting in the bleachers and saw how many were in the same state as Emily. Samantha and Julie were among them, as well as Jared’s Omegas. They would all lose their matches today. Was that what this was about? To have them hurt and sent to the Infirmary?

She blanked her mind to avoid thinking about how the other wolves had helped her, but it was impossible not to wonder if they were now being punished for it.

“We don’t have all day to listen to your inner monologue, Miss Morgan. Chop chop,” the Alpha said.

She turned back to Emily and lowered herself into a stance. Emily hadn’t even attempted to make a move while she'd been distracted. It would be like fighting a puppy.

She ignored the chuckle that reminded her she had an audience in her head and advanced on Emily. If she made it quick, both of them could sit back down.

“Emily! Focus,” she said.

But the wolf just shook her head.

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