Arranged To The Alpha
Chapter 68

Blake:

I growled as I glared at my brother who was announcing us as if we were some sort of game up on the podium.

His eyes met mine and I shook my head as my heart raced against my chest, processing everything that was happening.

My wife, support, and mate, stood by my side, her eyes wide in both anger and fear as she looked around us. “Blake, we are going to get screwed in this, and the f*****g bastard is literally doing it publically. How bad could this be getting?”

“I am just as lost as you are, princess, but right now we have nothing more to do than survive. The man is having a public execution, and these people don’t know about it.” I said, looking up to find Jaiden and mum sanding, looking down at us with wide eyes. Mum shook her head as she covered her mouth, not believing what was happening. The funny part was, I did warn them about this. It was them who chose not to believe it. Dad, who was somewhere close by, had his back to the podium, refusing to look at me, knowing that this was somewhat his fault. It was a warning that I gave him a long time ago, one that he chose to ignore, one that would now lead the pack to death, and would lead everything that he has worked to build and I fought to maintain to the ground. It was something that he did not calculate, and was something that the two of us knew that he could have prevented simply if he had listened.

“What happened to us acting like a team? I am guessing that you chose to back out on us now?” Elijah asked, and I raised an eyebrow at the vampire who glared at me. Natalia stood between the two of us, shaking her head as she had flames coming out of her hand in warning. Seeing her, the crowd cheered on, clearly impressed by what they believed was a cinematic effect. It killed me to think that one of us could be harmed and the people, at least most, would believe that we were just acting. Little would they know that whoever did get hurt or whoever died here was REALLY losing their lives. They wouldn’t have been cheering as loud as they were if they realized it, but it was only a matter of time before they saw the death of those who were innocent of the witches’ doings right before their eyes. The thing was, I didn’t know how they were going to react when they saw it.

“Elijah, enough, the last thing we need right now is to be against one another. This is exactly what Drake wants, and seeing as Myla is watching us from the podium by his side, I can tell that both are going to end up enjoying this.” I said, nodding up at the podium where my brother was.

“Your brother needs a chill pill, and his balls chopped off. His girlfriend, the real woman that he is initially with, is literally standing there and yet, he has his eyes on Myla.” Elijah said, and I nodded. It just sickened me that Myla was accepting this. The woman that I knew would have never thought of it, if anything, my woman would have fought her life rather than steal a man from another woman. It was something that she used to fight the pack’s women for.

“I am guessing that it is a bit too late for that. The women can fight their own fights, but we are going to have to deal with this somehow. Otherwise, we are all going to end up dying here, and the last thing that I want is for my last breath to be on this podium.” Riya said, crossing her arms over her chest. “As for him, the poison would be affecting his body very soon. Not even the strongest of witches can save him if I don’t allow it. And my apologies, brother or not, he started this fight, and I will not have him thinking that he can take advantage of my family’s sanity and security by putting me here. I will be sure that he pays, and that it eats him inside very slowly to the point where he wouldn’t be able to move his limbs.”

“How long does he have?” Natalia asked, frowning when she looked up at Drake to find him touching his side as he spoke, announcing the rules.

“A maximum of three days. The exact duration of the contest.” Riya said, and I nodded, turning to the board that revealed my picture.

“Now, I know what you are all thinking, HOW IS THERE TWO OF HIM?” Drake asked, trying to be humoristic. People laughed as if they really did care, and kids covered their mouths, and I had to fight back rolling my eyes at that as I took my wife’s hand in mine, intertwining our fingers. “Down there is my twin brother and his lovely wife. Blake and Natalia Knight.”

The crowd cheered on, and I couldn’t help the frown that formed on my face when his eyes met mine. “Now, for our games.”

“Great.” I said, rolling my eyes and Natalia laughed, shaking her head. “What?”

“I can’t believe that you are in a mood right now when we are literally fighting to LIVE!” She said, emphasizing the word ‘live’. “You should put your brother aside for now, he will be facing his own end. But what are we going to do with the team? I doubt that we are one right now considering the cults that are forming as of now.”

“Hence the question that was asked, how do you plan on doing so?” Riya asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Ariana stood by my side, and putting a hand on my shoulder, she squeezed it gently as she looked at Drake whose eyes were wide with anger. The mate who rejected him stood right in front of him, within the walls of the games, challenging him.

“I am guessing that we have to put our plans aside this time.” I said, looking at Riya who frowned. Ariana shook her head in question, and Elijah sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“You can’t be serious, Blake? We are not going to end up killing one another.” Ariana said, looking at the groups that formed around us, ready to kill us. Elijah shook his head at her and put a hand on her shoulder.

“At this point, Ariana, we will have to.” Elijah said, looking down at the woman who frowned. “Because by the looks of it, they won’t hesitate to kill us if they had the chance to do so.”

“The game will consist of three main levels, and each of the levels would have its own quests and three levels. Three days, one level per day, and the survivors would be going to the next level.” Drake explained to the audience who were watching the screen with interest. “First, would be the knight’s helmet. The game would consist of a knight’s ancient helmet, one that has been lost for a long, long time, and they would be required to find it. To find it, they must cross the river of justice, the island of truth, and the heart of the lion.”

“The second level would be the glorious blade. A Titan’s blade that was made of thin glass and metal. It is one of its kind, and is known to carry the power of the unknown. To reach it, one must cross the sea of ice, the land of flame, and the forest of doom.” He said, pointing at the screen as flashes of the lands that we would be going through played in front of us. “And for the final level, the Ring of Elements. A ring made to control all elements. It is said that those who possess it can control the four main elements, land, fire, water, and ice. To reach it, one must cross the volcanic eruption of death, the devils of the night, and the dragon of Crystal…”

My eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Crystal being held hostage by three men. Her mouth was covered with a mask as she growled, trying to escape the metal chains that held her, and that was when Natalia lost it. “You F*****G BASTARD!”

“Three levels, equal to becoming the champion of the games. To pass all these, one must get past these obstacles, regardless of the consequence, the outcome, and the result. Otherwise, they would end up facing the emanations that will follow.” He said, looking at Natalia whose eyes were filled with tears as she saw her dragon suffering. My heart raced as I looked up at her, knowing what my brother was doing. Killing Crystal, even if Natalia did survive, would kill her instantly. And that would lead to one thing, MY death as well.

My eyes met Myla’s who smiled, her smile devious, one that I don’t remember seeing before. It was one of revenge, and the thing was, she didn’t even realize that this revenge would only mean the end of her as well. The witch won’t keep her alive after what happens, but I doubted that she realized that. The woman didn’t see that she was drawing her, and many other people’s deaths with her own hands by her ignorance, and that was something that Drake knew very well.

My brother was playing a dirty and dangerous game, and the thing was, he was now playing it well…