Academy Of Mates novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

I swallow and instinctively take hold of Kelcey’s hand.

In the past, we were never really close but it’s funny how quickly we can change that as we are put into such a foreign place where we can only really rely on each other.

Kelcey’s eyes widened at the sight of him, sharing a look with me, looking for an answer in me, and was quick to give us space, as if sensing a potential match. She doesn’t say a word, melting into the background like she was never there.

“Can we walk to the clearing together?” Andrew pointed ahead. “I plan on participating, you see, and I would love it if you were there.”

The hint did not fall on deaf ears and I hated how instantly my blush came. It’s not as if I was particularly attracted to him, but I was rather flattered. I can’t count the amount of times people have called me the ‘unattractive’ one, the one that repelled the opposite gender. I just wasn’t used to it. “Of course. Lead the way.”

Andrew offers his arm out to me and I slip my hand through it the way I see the other girls do.

Much like how it was with Benedict, we were gathering attention again. The extremely dashing and wealthy Beta of the richest pack talking and touching a lowly girl from the poorest pack that no one knows. The only difference was that Andrew basked in the attention. He smiled wider, standing straighter and looking like a million bucks.

It’s as if he wants this to happen. He wants to get more attention on himself.

He paraded us like we were the perfect couple… or at least he was perfect. I was just dangling along.

His manners never stopped though, or was it just gossip masked as manners?

“I’m sorry about Benedict.” He says, his voice a little louder than it should be. “That traitor has a special way of pissing people off.”

“Traitor?” I asked before I could think. Thankfully, my tone wasn’t as defensive as I felt and in some way it’s hilarious for me to be defensive of a man who I’m barely friends with. “How is he a traitor?”

Andrew the ever flashing peacock was too busy smiling at onlookers to care about my question too much. “He was angry that he wasn’t the next Alpha or the next Beta. He threw a tantrum and left the pack to join those monsters in the mountains. He went to the only pack that would give him a position. Back in those days, that monstrous pack accepted everyone and was desperate for numbers.”

Somehow, I don’t see Benedict car Successfully unlocked! just left? Just like that?”

“He sort of cried about life being unfair and will tell anyone who would listen that we’re

Chapter 17

mean to him because his biological father is some dirty, unranked rogue that raped his mother.” He explains with a shudder. “His mother is the older sister of the Alpha but his blood isn’t exactly pure enough for rank anymore. Especially since the father’s blood is important in these kinds of things.”

I could taste the disgust in his tone and I wondered suddenly if he thought I was disgusting for being without a bloodline.

And what about Benedict? Is this the truth? An exaggeration of the truth? Or another one of those half truths people spread about powerful people?

Whatever it was, I felt bad for Benedict and his mother and I’m happy that they left Andrew’s pack or at least Benedict has. Andrew’s words seemed sugar coated as harsh as they already were. I can only imagine how bad it was for Benedict.

“We’re almost there.” Andrew says, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I didn’t even notice how far we had walked until I looked around and realized that we were already in the clearing. The trees were high and thick here, the grass green and fresh, the air blew a gentle cool wind that cooled the hot afternoon. It was wide and big enough to fit all of us. The clearing itself was decorated too, with flower garlands on the branches and low tables equipped with food and colorful pillows on the ground to sit on. There were champagne bottles in metallic buckets filled with ice, soft fur on the floor like a carpet. Like everything in the Academy, everything was beautiful and magical, an impressive affair.

Attendees gathered around the table, sticking close to the trees while an elder in the middle fumbled with a microphone.

The elder smacks it with his hand. “Hello, hello?”

There was sharp static and feedback that pierced the air but we could hear him well enough.

“Welcome to all!” The static was thick but the elder’s excitement was as clear as day.” I am pleased to be hosting the first show of strength! It’s tradition to start this with a brawl in human form. As you know, we are only as strong as our human form and it’s essential for any mating match to know each other’s strength.”

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In other words, this competition was to show the pecking order for both the male and female participants. The men by showing their dominance through the fight and the women by giving their blessings to the strongest.

“Everyone is encouraged to participate and each participant may take another attendee’s bracelet to honor them-winning this while wearing another attendee’s bracelet will bless the two with good fortune for their futures.” The cheers grew as several people started to get ready by removing their clothes, showing their ripped bodies and shouting out to the sky. “Now, shall we begin our little competition?”

Chapter 12

Taking another’s bracelet is like a mating mark before a mating mark. A claim. It was to show people that this person was already spoken for and will most likely be chosen. at the end of the week.

I can already hear the bragging rights of the girls who get chosen. Hopefully, Kelcey will have someone take her bracelet. The Alpha would be happy if at least one of us was successful in this.

“Who will join first?” The elder screamed, nearly jumping in his step as he gestured to the crowd. “Step on up!”

I felt Andrew break away from me, taking a step forward as people screamed his name. He smiled widely, confidently. This was a man who had never lost- who had never not known perfection and he was out to win this. I watched him do a little turn, accepting all the praises and whistling. I also watched as he deliberately pulled his shift off as slow as possible. It was well practiced… rehearsed and just like everything else about him: perfected.

“Beta Andrew! Representing the pack known for its luxury and wealth.” The elder announced proudly, clapping his hands. “Of course, we’ll have the very best as our first. contestant. Who is brave enough to go against him?”

The smug voice that could only be owned by Benedict spoke up from somewhere in the trees. “I will.”

A quiet that chills me goes through the crowd.

The crowd parts until Benedict can finally be seen. He’s effortlessly handsome, his nickname ‘pretty boy’ well placed. The blue of his eyes shined and his soft blonde hair was blowing in the wind. There’s no need to try with him. He wasn’t practiced or choreographed. He didn’t need it. He was perfect the way he was.

It was like looking at art.

But a shadow of danger hovering over it.

Benedict’s already shirtless, looking bigger and stronger than the supposedly battle worn Andrew. His arms and shoulders are ripped with hard muscle, his chest sculpted by hard work and power.

I was very much aware of how my heart thumped like a drum at the sight of him, my cheeks burning with one look. There was a lightheadedness to my feeling with butterflies in my stomach and I’ve never felt it with anyone but him before.

Benedict smirks, blue eyes on Andrew. I think I saw Andrew’s expression fall just a little at the sight of Benedict.

“Another Beta! What a match this is going to be.” The shouts were intense, piercing howls and pounding feet. Everyone seemed to be on their feet, shouting and

screaming and pounding on the ground. The clearing thrummed with an energy unlike

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Chapter 12

any other. “Does anyone else want to take on these two?”

No one stepped forward.

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