Chapter 8

JO

I spend the majority of the exercise watching my competition. Big and his massive body is incredibly strong but slow. If ever I do get caught by one of his attacks, it’s a sure way to die… that’s a big if though. It took him seconds before he could hit and by that time he’d already dead at my feet. On the other hand, So-so Big is slightly quicker, but his moves are sloppy and untrained, ferocious even, moving without thinking. Teapot is surprisingly the best of the bunch, balanced and strong despite his short stature. He’s sure footed and has a sort of grace that only a trained fighter could do. Later, I learned that Teapot was one of my father’s warriors back in the day when my father was still a tyrant and a monster… before my mother and us.

The rest of them are easy enough. It was a colorful mix of slightly confused and extremely talented people but there was one that didn’t move at all, not bothering to show anyone his capabilities or make an effort to do anything at all: Taj Voss. He was on his back, eyes closed and humming to himself. The man doesn’t even think about watching his future opponents and casually ignores everyone.

I’d catch him staring at me a few times and often I’d give him my ladylike finger and smirk to unnerve him. It never did. Not really. He would just continue to look until his eyes closed once more.

I didn’t understand him. I don’t think I ever will.

But judging by his amazing fighting with the guards when I took him out of the prison, he can handle himself. What his full capabilities are… I don’t know and I’m sure he won’t show it. He’s a crooked man and his mystery is what he has best.

A lot of people have gathered today, shouting and screaming our names. The guards keep everyone at bay, pushing and shoving people back.

When it comes to the time that we have to do a spar, I’m almost bouncing on my feet with excitement. I listen to the guard as they pair us off. My name is called along with another. I do not know him nor have I spoken with him in the housing, but he finds me easily.

“Ready?” He asks, getting into a fighting stance a few steps away from me. We weren’t allowed to be in our wolf form in the spar.

I nodded, still standing and not going into any stance. My mind goes into its usual thinking as I examine my opponent. He is taller and more muscular than me, as all of them are, his feet are spread apart and planted heavily on the ground, giving him good balance. He’s expecting me to attack first, prepared to take any hit I give. I won’t though because I want him out of his stance, baiting him out of his defense.

Impatient as all men are, he surges forward, thinking I wasn’t prepared to fight.

Unfortunately for him, I’m always ready for a fight.

I kick my leg up right as he comes up at me, hooking it around his neck. Using my full weight, I throw my entire body forward with my leg still wrapped around his neck and swing my body around. I use the force of his momentum against him and bring my opponent down with me as he loses his balance and topples over. We were airborne for a moment and in a split second I had taken him down by only using my legs.

A successful take down.

There’s whooping and cheering in every direction. I didn’t pay it any mind, offering the man my hand so he could stand up.

He swats it away with a scowl, spitting on my feet and leaves me.

I blew out a breath, focusing my attention elsewhere. Elsewhere happened to be a fight happening across the field. It was, of course, the criminal and another contender. Interested that he’s finally moving, I got a bit closer to see better.

I don’t miss how the women around us were foaming at the mouth at the sight of him and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Of course, some women would come just for him. He might be hated by most, a menace to society but the women… oh, my fellow women, they just fall at his feet.

Because he is handsome, alright. Criminal yet handsome.

Even I can see the appeal.

Taj Voss looked like he was playing with his food in the way that he was fighting his sparring partner, avoiding and dodging without much effort, moving out of the way with a smirk and a quick shove. It was only when his opponent shouted a low and exhausted “Enough of this!” did Voss’ fist fly out and strike the man square in the face with a force that I felt from where I stood.

I heard the cartilage of the man’s nose crunch painfully before he was knocked out, his nose bleeding on the ground and painting the snow red.

“What a scoundrel,” I murmured under my breath.

Apparently it wasn’t as under my breath as I thought it was because Taj Voss’s head snapped in my direction and that appalled, offended look was back in his face. “Scoundrel?”

Deciding not to give him any more attention than he already has, I move away but I’m stopped by a hand that grips my wrist. It’s rough and calloused but the hold is gentle like it’s careful not to hurt me. When I look up, I’m met with this villainous man whose face is deceptively like a prince from some fairytale story my mother used to read to me when I was younger.

“You wound me, Jo.” Taj Voss coos, hand to his heart.

I cringed so hard I almost bumped into another contender. “What did you just call me?”

His lips twitched, fighting off a smile. “What’s the matter, Jo?”

My jaw clenches at the way he purposely makes his voice louder, emphasizing on the nickname only my father is allowed to use. “Don’t call me that. I’m Josephine to all and Jo to my father. Only.”

He winked, letting go of my hand and started walking away. “Sure, Jo.”

“I really don’t like you,” I said vehemently. When he’s gone from my sight, I shake my head before stalking off in the opposite direction, stomping and grumbling.

Other fights are still going on and, with nothing else to do, I settle with sitting down in the snow away from everyone else. My eyes closed before I could stop it, sleep carrying me away from the grunting and sweaty half naked men.

It must have been minutes or hours when my eyes snapped open to the sound of a distant chatter from the guards.

“He’s gone!” They all but screamed at each other.

I didn’t need to look around to know that Taj Voss was nowhere in sight and the guards were panicking. I suppose they had let him smooth talk his way out. It would be funny if they weren’t so scared of what my father would do to them for losing the most wanted criminal.

My eyes flutter close again, preparing for more rest, when I feel a set of footsteps coming towards me. I opened my eyes and saw guards surrounding me.

“Please, find him.” They begged me as I was sprawled on the snow, enjoying the last of the sun.

I sighed, rolling back onto my feet. There goes my sleep. “Sure.”

The reason why Taj Voss is the most wanted criminal in these lands without murdering and what not, is because he is the hardest criminal to catch. For as long as he’s started his little chaos around the pack, no one has ever been successful in finding him. He’s elusive, always a step away from anyone that was searching.

If my father wasn’t so preoccupied with us in the capital, he’d be able to find Voss in less than a week. I caught him because I was trying to make a statement that not even Taj Voss could escape me.

My feet bring me to the heart of these lands. The town is huge. It’s filled with different shops, spacious markets and snow topped houses bunched together. The chimneys of each are hard at work, puffing smoke out of the tops. Right in the middle of the town square is a big bonfire burning with the pack members huddled around it, hands out and talking to each other excitedly. Stalls circle around the bonfire selling boiling hot sweet tea, blini- a traditional pancake of sorts, pirozhki- a pastry puff stuffed with meaty filling or fruits or mashed potatoes and steaming boiled corn.

My stomach grumbled in protest, wanting to buy the pirozhki, but this stupid criminal just had to be missing and with a soft whimper, I mournfully waved goodbye to the puff pastry and made my way to where Taj Voss might be. Priorities.

I found him a few minutes later between two houses and sitting on a rock, holding boiled corn in one hand and a puff pastry in the other.

He looked to be expecting me.

“Did you steal that?” I asked, frowning as he bit into the corn. The juices drip down his mouth and he wipes it with the sleeve of his shirt.

“The corn I stole but this, I bought for you.” He hands me a legally purchased puff pastry, still piping hot. A pirozhki. The one I wanted to buy.

From where I was standing, I could smell the sweet yet meaty pastry. My stomach growls again. “You’re lying. Why would you buy me this?”

Voss grins widely. “I figured you wouldn’t eat anything I gave that’s stolen.”

“I wouldn’t.” I confirmed with a frown, still not believing him.

He places the pastry in my hands and smiles reassuringly. “So I used all the money I had in my name— clean money, don’t worry, I inherited it from my parents, the only thing I have of them mind you— to buy this expensive ass puff pastry that I’ve seen you eat once.”

I felt absolutely stunned.

Taj Voss has been a thief all his life but he actually buys me something.

I don’t know why the gesture touches me more than it should.

“Let me buy you some tea.” I don’t know what I’m doing. All I know is that tea sounds good right about now and it’s perfect for this cold weather.

“Are you asking me out, Jo?” He made sure to draw out his new nickname for me. “I don’t know how I feel about that.”

I shot him a withering look. “Do you want the tea or not?”

Voss jokingly gave his neck to me in submission though there was nothing submissive about the look on his face. “Tea sounds good.”

Together, we walk back to the middle of town where people are glaring at him with distaste. He didn’t seem to mind or care, ignoring everyone in his path.

I felt slightly guilty.

Before me, no one knew what he really looked like.

Even the tea vendor looked hesitant to sell to him, but he couldn’t say no to me. With the hot cups in our hands, we sit in front of the bonfire, blowing on the tea.

“I’m going to kill you in the tournament, Taj Voss,” I said, without looking at him.

He turns to look at me, but there is no surprise in them nor hate. There was only amusement and understanding, “Will you now? Are you going to tell me that your flawless family is actually awful and that you want the title of Alpha to escape them?”

I take a sip of my drink, a smile playing on my lips. “No. I grew up in a loving but tough family if that’s what you’re wondering. That being said, I did not go through everything I’ve been through with just having perfect genes.”

Voss smirks, his gleaming eyes reflecting the raging fire in front of us. “You’re quick to assume you have perfect genes.”

It was my turn to smirk. “Oh, I do. That wasn’t up for debate and neither is my will to win this tournament and be the Alpha of these lands.”

“We both have things to fight for.” He took a sip of his own drink. “Let’s just see who wants it more.”