Chapter 44
The first time that I hurt my brothers physically was when I was seven years old. Felix surprised me that time by wearing a scary mask so I punched him straight in his face. I never intended to hurt anyone physically, especially my brothers.
My parents saw me as someone who can never kill an ant. I am the image of a precious daughter who wouldn’t distress them in school. Who would not be brought to the guidance officer because she assaulted someone or cheated on an exam? A perfect daughter. Then that perfect daughter punched her brother in his face because she got scared.
I did not count how many sorry’s I said that time. I knew it was more than a hundred. The punch was hard enough to left a dark blue bruise below Felix’s eyes.
But the most wonderful thing about that time was that they didn’t get any at me. They told me that it was okay and it was my brother’s fault. That he should’ve not surprised me at all. I don’t know how I managed to punch my brother like that. That hard. Painful enough to make him cry for the first few hours.
Ten years after, I learned why. It’s because I wasn’t a normal human. I wish I was but things had changed already. I am a half-blood. I pissed the alpha enough so he’s after me.
And now, I’m having a duel with one of the best students in the training ground who challenged me. Skip doesn’t have any fear on his face. Before, I wished to be his friend. To be his company. But on how he asked me to fight him, I don’t know if I still can.
It angers me. Men like him see me as a challenge. I hate being pertained as special when the thing that I want is to become normal. I wasn’t part of the human world, nor the wolves. Because I am in between. I am the combination of the two halves of it.
Skip positioned to his place. Men, these toxic men, started to cheer for their friends. It seemed that they already have a winner. In this society, women cannot win against men. Unless I am Stacy who broke the rules. I am no Stacy because I could brandish my name with my uniqueness.
I trudged to my place as well. I gritted my teeth. If I can be hurt by brothers before, I could do that to my rival as well. If Skip wanted a game, I would give him the best game of his life. I wasn’t normal. Skip chose me because I can and not because I am an easy target.
“Have you prepared your medical bills already?” Skip asked. It lured me to hate. Anger fired inside my heart. I really really hate him right now. My fists and legs were ready to hurt him.
“I don’t think I am needing that one. How about you? Have you prepared yours?” His face replied with annoyance. I was afraid before and earlier. But I couldn’t be scared most of the time. I am the one who should petrify other people.
“Ready yourself,” Chad started. “Hold your position.” My legs slide across the land. “Fight!”
Skip attacked first. His right fist hit my chest like a brick broken into two. I staggered away from him. It hurt so much. I kind of see Gelo trying to approach me but Stacy pulled him. I dropped to the ground. It gave my chest a burning sensation. Skip growled into power, he’s the dominant one right now.
“I thought you could do better than that?”
I tried to rise from my position when he blasted his leg right to my stomach. I groaned out of pain. Fuck! He has those hard muscles that would break me into pain. I wanted to cry. I wanted this pain to stop.
“I-I can.” I tried to use my fist to attack his head. But my attack was so slow and powerless. He quickly dodged that.
He grinned at me and then threw his body over me. My bones cracked like skulls falling from a two-story building. I fucking want to escape this situation right now. My body couldn’t even move at all.
“Skip, that’s too much! She could die already! Fuck you!” Gelo ranged into a human-sized fire. He did not expect how cruel his friend was. He didn’t even have an idea that Skip was able to do this to a woman like me.
“I can’t take things easily. I thought this woman is different, but did not even lay a hand on me. She’s slow and weak. Gelo, you have friends like me and Stacy. Friends who are strong and can protect you in fights and clashes. I don’t understand why you have to befriend this weak chick.”
“Power was never a reason why I befriended you in the first place. And I don’t care if you call Catherine weak, relentless, or slow. She’s different than anyone else here because she has a fucking heart! Unlike you who can do this to the woman that I love.”
“So this is love?” Skip told everyone in a very demeaning way. “Is this love what you're talking about?” He stomped his calves on my body. “You could easily give up right now, Catherine and it’s a win on me.” He turned to Angelo again. “You love a weak stranger because she has a heart. But you never noticed that woman who was there for you every Saturday.”
I wasn’t able to see them well. But based on Stacy’s looks, Skip was pertaining to her.
“The woman who likes you secretly. The woman who loves you. The woman I love but always sees the best in you. I could’ve accepted my defeat over you, but you chose to hurt her every time you care for this weak stranger. You could have chosen her. You could’ve loved her back. But you never thought it because you don’t have a heart.”
Gelo turned to Stacy. “You like me?” Stacy only nodded. “I’m sorry if…”
Stacy smiled bitterly. “It’s fine. I already accepted it before. Love can’t always give back. Most of the time, it’s a sacrifice.”
While everyone was distracted, I contained my energy and slowly crawled toward Skip’s foot. I lightly grasped his legs. I used all of my force to pull him downwards and the rest is history. I won and I almost killed him.