I am not sure what just happened.

In one minute, I was giving a series of interviews to the press covering the King's reception to the tournament contestants. Less than an hour later, my phone was blowing up with notifications of all my social media apps.

My cell phone collapsed from too many notifications at once. I had to borrow Colin's phone to call home because before it died, I saw notifications of messages from my sisters on WhatsApp. They told me they saw me on TV giving an interview, talking about dad and the tournament.

I also talked to my mom for a moment, who expressed her concerns for my health. I told her that the tournament was not medieval and it was not to the death. I did my best to reassure her that I was doing fine. All three of them told me how proud of me they were for representing our pack so distinguishably. It brought me to tears, I love my family so much.

I know selfishly I am here because I want to find my mate, but I am also here to secure my Alpha position because once I find my mate, uncle Damian will have no cause to delay my ascension as the Alpha of my pack. Then I can start earning some money and help out in our household, relieving some of the pressure on my mom.

The next day, uncle Damian arrived after we had returned from the cafeteria, where we had breakfast, looking happy for some reason. He told me that I was all over the papers, with the media running multiple stories on me. He said that the last time our town made the news cycle was when the King announced that the hero of Monterrei was getting his own pack to lead.

He also told me that now all eyes were on me and the pressure to do well just amped it up. Because that is exactly what I needed... more pressure to perform. That never goes wrong with men... *eye roll*

Colin entered the bathroom to change clothes before we had to report to McCarthy Hall for our first challenge in the tournament. We still had half an hour to kill, but it goes by so fast. Uncle Damian filled my ears with pieces of advice to prepare me for the upcoming battle.

Unfortunately, no one is allowed inside the room where the challenge is taking place - outside military personnel and the contestants - even the press is going to report on it using a live stream on YouTube.

They have taken every precaution to safeguard the fairness of the tournament, as the King demanded. We don't even know what the challenge is, and something tells me we will never know.

Later that morning...

Thousands of men are gathered inside the same room where we had our physical the other day. It is one of the few rooms in this castle that is large enough to fit an event of this magnitude. In the ceiling, walls, and strategic points across the entire room, there were cameras to film every angle. It looked like a televised ceremony, which it was, but there was no camera crew this time. All cameras are operated remotely.

Colonel Armstrong was there to welcome us, looking serious as ever. Upon entrance, we were given a piece of paper with the rules of engagement. That is, the common rules that would have to be obeyed by everyone across all challenges.

Soldiers were taking our names, checking off lists, getting our signatures on a sheet to formalize our intent to participate and abide by the rules of the tournament. It was good that it was serious and formal, it made me feel safer that it was not going to be a free-for-all.

"Look, it's the golden boy. I hope I get him today, so I send his ass home." One of the boys pointed at me menacingly, trying to elicit a response from me.

Colin was surprised by the animosity I was facing due to the publicity I received yesterday.

"Don't worry, peasant. I'll be the one sending his ass packing." Elton smirked, boastfully.

"Let us send the golden boy and the mongrel home and clear this tournament of imposters." He continued, poking fun at us with his arrogance.

"What did you just say?" I glared at him, irritated.

"What? Didn't your friend tell you that his mother is a human? He is mixed race." Elton declared, looking at Colin like a predator would look at its prey. My roommate was so embarrassed by this revelation, as we were being witnessed by everybody in the room.

"His parents are mated! His mother was selected by the Goddess to be with his father! Who cares if she is human or werewolf?! I pushed back, feeling aggravated by his intolerance.

"Oh peasant, your innocence would be endearing if it wasn't so annoying. Of course, it matters. Breed matters." He looked at me with a condescending expression that made my blood boil.

"Why do you have to be such an asshole, dude?" I called him out and the entire room went silent for a minute, staring at me in utter shock.

"What did you just say to me?" Elton walked my way, threateningly.

"I said, why do you have to be such an asshole?" I double down, enraged by his patronizing tone and condescending expression. I knew I was in trouble, but I couldn't hold my tongue.

"Guards! Remove this peasant from my presence before I forget I am a gentleman and show him what I can do." He ordered, looking at the soldiers in the room, who all stood still.

Colin was staring at me, wide-eyed, in shock that this happened right before the first match. Fortunately, the cameras aren't recording yet and the streaming hasn't begun.

"What are you waiting for, remove that boy from my presence. That's an order!" He reiterated, looking at the soldiers firmly.

"Listen up, people!" Colonel Armstrong interjected, looking mad.

"I am not opposed to trash talking your opponents, it's not against the rules, but at least wait until you are in the ring together with them. If you don't even know who your opponent is going to be, save your breath." He cautioned us, irritated at this.

Then he took a big inhale to calm himself down, waiting for his soldiers to collect everybody's signatures.

"By the way, if your name isn't on the roster, that means you failed your drug test. Did you really think we weren't going to consider weed just because it's legal? It's still a drug." He declared, catching many people by surprise with this announcement.

Elton was standing there, impatiently waiting for him to do something about me. Until he couldn't wait any longer...

"Aren't you going to remove that boy from the tournament? I gave you an order!" He confronted the military senior, who scoffed at his request.

"I only take orders from a general or the King. Since you are neither of these people, you do not give me orders, young man. You have no authority whatsoever within these walls. If you want to boss people around, do it with your assistant, not a decorated soldier." He clapped back, putting him in his place forcefully. He was not having this.

Elton is livid at the humiliation. He is fuming.

"But he called me an asshole!?" He pouted like a spoiled brat who had never been confronted by anyone in his life.

"And you called that kid a 'mongrel', — he air quoted the word — it's called free speech. Do you want me to buy you a copy of the Constitution?" He sassed, not the least bit intimidated by him. We were just an audience to this showdown and I am loving every minute of it, even if right now I am being targeted by him.

I could not hide the smirk even if I wanted to. The rest of the men were baffled that this was taking place right in front of them.

"I'll remember this when I'm King." Elton spoke, eyes shining in rage at the situation.

"The only way for any of the contestants to be removed from the castle is for them to lose the challenge. That's it. And no, you don't get to choose him as your opponent. This is not a place to settle your scores, it's a serious event to determine our next monarch." Colonel Armstrong stated, ignoring his threat.

We were shocked by the turn of events. I really thought I was a goner.

"You are done for. I am going to annihilate you. I will drop you on the ground and step on your neck until you die, you fucking peasant! You'll regret the day you crossed paths with me!" Elton snarled at me, seething in anger. His mouth was practically foaming rabidly.

A|N: BOOM!

You are in danger, boy! Run while you can!

Love,

Léo.