Hailey had the skills to make any environment heavy. The way she greeted me said enough about how much her bloodlust was dancing to fight me. I did not understand why my Alpha blood was intimidated by her. No matter how challenging her special ability is with mine, there is no reason for this feeling to catch onto me. It only made me more curious about what exactly her special abilities were, but then again, curiosity killed the cat and I wasn't foolish enough.

Hailey walked past me, a smile that said she almost whiffed my interest. But before that, she placed her hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "Make sure to save your blood, only for me to taste"

Maybe it was because of her natural tendency to only talk about fighting, blood and her viciousness that she never controls. Her entire personality was so uncontrolled. For her voice, her actions, and the way her pupils dilated to black when she talked about blood. Tasting my blood. Hailey had a sensual tone of voice filled with desire. But that voice was not about her desires in a sensual sense, but her desire to fight or even kill, and that did not go unnoticed by anyone.

I turned to check the matchboard, which was now filled with names. I only hoped to not be paired with Hailey.

1st line had the format as -

Arina x Selene | Sam x Hailey | Connie x Diana

Then the lines went up abnormally. For Connie and Diana's duel, whoever won went to the final duel. That would mean one of them will secure their place in Stage three. As both the finalists are advancing in the next Stage. The only difference would be that one of the finalists, gets an advantage over the other, which Channing was yet to tell about.

At first, I was happy about me not being paired up with Hailey, but the lines progressed such that if we won our first fights, it would pair us up for a duel. I just hoped Sam won against her and I got to fight him instead.

While Diana and Connie had just one duel to fight, others from the team had to fight two duels before securing a place in the finals and stage three.

"How is team White doing?" We heard Channing's voice right behind us. Diana came rushing towards us for getting in the limelight in front of him, even though all she did was usually standing around. But he would be the final decision-maker.

Arina scratched the back of her head, "Little scared, won't lie"

Channing placed his hand gently on her head and smiled, "It is okay to feel that way, do your best out there" He was a kind soul and that is what I liked about him. He took care of everyone whilst ensuring there is no partiality and he wasn't being too out there and people taking advantage of him.

Suzan came forward like the childish little girl she was and bent her head, "I want the pats as well"

Channing chuckled, "Sure, anything for the baby of the pack" It made everyone laugh as Suzan did not deny that claim and he gave her a pat, "There there, do your best on cheering for them"

"Yes, " said Suzan with her little cat face.

Channing stopped petting her and looked at others, "Do you guys want a pat too?" and Sam laughed, leaning his head sideways, keeping his manly charms and Channing gave three pats stretching his arm without walking up to him and it made everyone giggle. He immediately shifted to Diana, who had not asked for it yet. He did it for her. Diana went stiff under his touch, but couldn't deny it. She liked that attention.

The only remaining was me. I hadn't asked for it, but since he did it for Diana, I expected Channing to do the same for me as well. But he backed away.

"Okay, all the competitors to the seating area" Channing waved his hand for us to disperse.

Was he avoiding me? Even in the afternoon he came to me but left awkwardly. At that time I thought he had his duty back at the finish line, but right now he purposely skipped me. Diana had noticed this and watched me crossed eyes and flipped her hair, showing how she looked down on me right now. She was surely enjoying the attention that I did not get. Not like it fancied it, but something felt wrong.

I turned to Channing. But he had already left and was heading towards the matchboard.

He was dressed in proper formals unlike in the morning when he was here in baggy clothes. Both the dressing looked great on him, as he was considerably buffed. Channing stepped inside the ring, straightening the light blue shirt that showed the groves of his muscles just perfectly and made him look innocent, yet someone to drool over. I held back my thoughts, as this was not right of me to think about someone in this light when I was to be getting married in the next few months.

He cleared his throat over the mic, grabbing everyone's attention. "It is time to start with Stage two. The matchboard has the sequence of the first three matches and we are taking no breaks till the last duel. Of course, both the finalists will advance to Stage three"

He gestured towards our team and continued, "and here is the winning team white, now ready to go against each other! Without further ado, let us begin the first match - Arina and Selene! Step into the ring"

I and Arina headed inside the ring and I looked at her to talk in a low voice, "No hard feelings." I did not want these duels to create a rift between my new acquaintances. Arina was an important ally for that matter.

Arina smiled back at me. "Of course, Selene, it is just a competition. No hard feelings"

It was a relief to hear her words. After we approached the centre, Arina, and I stood face to face with Channing standing between us. "Competitors ready?" He asked. My eyes were fixed on Arina's like her eyes were fixed on mine.

In unison, I and Arina answered, "Ready!"

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The next chapter is a different person POV

I am doing some changes - All the other people's POV will be done in third-person view. So the readers don't confuse the main story which has Selene's POV and also get to read third person POV ;)

Happy reading!