Chapter3:Liora's POV

How, me, a threat? The thought is strange to me. If Jaxon, as the Alpha, could see me as a threat, that means I'm not a weak wolf after all; I'm a strong Omega.

Suddenly, we started hearing approaching footsteps and hushing voices close to our training venue. Mira and I, within a blink of an eye, quickly hid behind a dwarf tree, peeping to see who it was. Surprisingly, we noticed a group was approaching, and on a close look, I discovered they were warriors, and Jaxon was among them.

My heart started pounding beyond control; I watched him walk around with authority; his face was emotionless and, at the same time, focused. As he spoke to the warriors, dutifully instructing them with great aura, I continued watching, even though I couldn't hear him from where I was. Then, all of a sudden, he halted on his track and turned toward my direction; it was as if he sensed my presence.

I bent my head lower and seized my breath even more. I continued praying that he turn back and not move forward again towards us. But luck seemed not on my side as he narrowed his eyes and started making his way towards our direction. My heart rate increased with no aim of stopping, threatening to break off from my chest. If he succeeds in finding me here and learns about my training in secret,  considering his callous nature, who knows if he will ever spare me?

I quickly grabbed Mira on her arm and suggested for us to run, “Run immediately, Mir.” We ran and raced through the trees, making sure to keep low to avoid being noticed. We made sure our footsteps were as light and quick as possible.

I suddenly started hearing the warriors right behind us, and at that moment, I had no idea what to do if we were caught. My heart started pounding, and the reflection was hard in my ears. We had to increase our pace if we ever wanted to get away, but Jaxon, being the smart always, was fast and maybe, this time, tripled his game. I could sense him closer now, and soon, we would enter his trap.

I pushed even harder, ensuring the trees covered me enough, but suddenly, a force greater than mine grabbed my arm. In seconds, the hand spurned me around, and as I got ready to defend myself with the tactics Mira taught me, I noticed that the owner of the hand was Jaxon. Anger was evident on his face as he stood speechless at my actions.

“What exactly brought you to this place? Do you think this place is child's play?” he sternly demanded, making me tighten his grip on my tiny arm.

I forcefully yanked my arm free from his inhuman grip, making sure to glare hard at him. “Don't you have eyes, what does it look like in your eyes that I’m doing? I’m training of course.”

He stared at me in disbelief. Did I just challenge him to his face? “Training what? Why exactly? You’re an Omega or have you forgotten that? You should start getting familiar with the fact that you have no business out here.”

I maintained my stand, my chin high, and refused to back off. “I have every right I could think of to be here, just like you do as an Alpha. And if you propose in your heart that you will stop me, let it be known to you that I won't back off, you’re wrong.”

He moved closer to this with a fast pace, fire evident in his eyes. “How did you suddenly grow wings to the point of standing in front of me challenging me, Liora? You think you can easily pick on me, an Alpha?”

I swallowed an invisible lump that had started forming in my throat, yet I did not back down. “If that’s what I need to redeem my face in this pack, I won't mind challenging you to it.”

For some seconds, he was stunned and couldn't believe his eyes; it appeared like he had  never expected such an answer from me. Then, he smiled as if accepting the challenge, but the smile didn't look genuine, not friendly at all.

“Very well, then. I accept,” he said, his voice grave. “If you truly desire to prove and redeem yourself, then meet me at no other place but the training grounds tomorrow immediately after it's dawn. We’ll put to test all you have boasted about. Come and show how you are no more a weak Omega which I know you will always remain.”

I stood speechless, but blinking controllably. “You are planning on fighting me to prove a point?”

Jaxon continued smiling. “No, Omega Liora. I just want to test your new strength. If eventually you survive, maybe I’ll change my mind, and not consider you as an Omega anymore. But, be warned on time, I won’t mind going hard on you.”

My heart skipped a beat; something in me was telling me to decline, but I knew it was my weak self. This is my time to prove myself and I won't trade it for anything. I refused to show how frightened I was or give a hint to it. “I’ll make it to the training ground at dawn.”

He turned around and went in the direction he had come, his warriors trailing him at the back. As soon as he vanished from my sight, I released a breath I had been holding for a long time. Mira rushed out from her hiding place, worry boldly written on her face.

“Are you sure you are still sane?” she said in a whisper. “He’s going to brutally humiliate and torture you!”

Determined, I tried to explain to Mira. “No, he will do no such thing. By the way, this is my only chance, Mira. A very good chance for me to showcase my strength, he had always known me to be weak, but this is the time to change the narration.”

Sleep disappeared from my eyes that night, all that I desperately cared for was to prove myself. I sat down for a greater portion of the time in anticipation. I knew how risky what I was walking into looked like, but I desired to play with the fire. If I desire to change my fate and how the members of the pack see me, I have to do everything possible to get that.

At dawn, I quickly got ready to go. I stood fearlessly on the training grounds, even there before Jaxon and his warriors. On his arrival, l looked around and saw how I was surrounded by warriors. They all wore discouraging facial expressions, something that betrayed their curiosity and doubt about my ability. Even though my heart pounded non-stop, almost giving me out as it sounded like a drum in my chest,  I remained focused on the prize and not the price.

Jaxon was standing all this time with a smirk perfectly displayed on his face. He crossed his arms in awe, dutifully watching my resolve, but willing to crush it down. He looked the part of the Alpha, confident, powerful, yet ready to witness me fail. I remembered every bit of what he said the night before. "If you eventually survive this test, maybe and only then will I reconsider seeing you as an Omega."

I had not slept a blink as I continued preparing. I made sure to practice every move, going over every lesson Mira had taught me days earlier. But as they continued to stare at me with pity, I started having self-doubt. I thought of quitting, of running away, but I quickly rebuked the thought.

“Alright, enough of the stares, Liora,” Jaxon began. “Let’s watch you do your magic then.”

It is time for the challenge finally. Determined to show off my new skills, I launched forward in demonstration of not being weak anymore. I used all the skills I learned, dodged, even weaved, and a few other moves, but Jaxon stood unmoved. He was relentless in his strikes, every one of his strikes always came out powerful and precise, like the lord of the sword. He made every one of my moves look childish; I looked like someone pursuing shadows, my efforts useless.

The warriors in their numbers, watched us and cheered in entertainment. Only a few showed a face of pity, but not without adding an amused expression. I hate being pitied because of the rejection; I could see them excited at my failed attempts as it was entertainment to them. I felt like giving up after every attempt failed, sweat continuously dripping all over my body. My muscles kept protesting for me to stop as it was already weak, but I kept pushing on.

Then, all of a sudden, in a carefree swift motion, Jaxon effortlessly knocked me off my feet brutally. I landed my back hard on the ground, and the air sustaining me immediately rushed out of my lungs, also failing me. I felt a dislocation on my right leg, pain shooting endlessly through my side, but I held the cry of pain struggling to escape from my lips. But I am not into giving him that satisfaction he so desired.

“Get up, Liora; we are just starting,” Jaxon mocked with impatience. “Is that all you can do?”

I managed to stand on my feet and wipe off some dirt. But my legs trembled weakly; what remained of my breath was gasps. I could see the satisfaction in his eyes, he has proven to me once more that I am a weak Omega. And at that spot, I agreed with him, he was right after all. I wasn’t as strong as I had imagined, maybe not yet now, but in the future. But the problem was admitting it. It was easier swallowing a broken glass than admitting that I am still weak.

I charged at him again in desperation. My movement was wild, but at the same time useless. Jaxon only shifted, and with no effort, grabbed me and landed me hard back to the ground again.

The crowd gasped in fear for me. I could feel all eyes on me; the shame coming from those stares was unbearable. The humiliation, pitiful eyes, the taste of my blood on my lips, all were like a deadly poison.

Jaxom leaned forward to meet me on the ground. “I warned you, Liora,” he said in mocking pity, “you will always remain a weak Omega, try and get used to that.”

The words were too harsh, cutting deeper than I expected. Tears came rushing freely from my eyes, but I quickly wiped them off. I struggled to my feet, and my legs kept shaking until I fell back to the ground again, but nobody came forward to help me up.

I had failed as expected.

I had failed once more, I lost to Jaxon again, and once more, everyone will know about it.