Academy Of Mates novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

I could barely hear Jeff’s complaints, his loud proclamations that I was his and that no one should touch me but him.

For I could only stare at the bracelet on my wrist in disbelief.

In the end, no one else but me received a bracelet from the participants. And it was from Andrew. I held it with my fingers, tracing the leather as mats were carefully laid down on the grassy ground so the contestants didn’ t slip and break their necks.

The rules were simple enough. Everyone starts with the lightest weight and they must all lift it from the ground over their heads. Anyone that cannot lift it overhead is out. Each round they add more and more and more weight until there is only one left. The strongest.

There were about twenty of them competing, all bigger and stronger than the last, warriors and fighters, but the confidence of the Betas, Andrew and Benedict is what brought them apart from everyone else.

They knew they were going to win.

The question was… who would come out on top?

Would it be Benedict like always?

Or would Andrew have something over Benedict?

Lined up around the clearing, the participants prepared themselves with all of them removing their buttoned up tops and providing us with a clear view of hard muscles that was more than I could count.

Christy cat called them all, hooting and gawking.

Kelcey knew what she was doing when she chose these seats as we were close, ridiculously close, enough to see the veins in the participants’ arms or how sweat trickled down their chests. It was a very flustering sight to behold.

I tried not to stare, busying myself by drinking from my bottomless liquor and poking at the food that was offered to me.

“Look at the veins coming out of his pants.” Miss E not so quietly, whispers to us, eyeing Andrew and Benedict. “Damn, imagine if he didn’t have pants.”

This made me choke on my drink, the strong alcohol going down the wrong pipe as I was unable to look at both boys.

The organizer clapped his hands, once more signalling the start of the contest.

The first that they were going to lift was at least twice my weight as big, thick plates were slid into the bars. With a cheer, the organizer told them to begin and all the participants bent down to grab their barbells and with a snap they all lifted their barbels over their heads with ease.

Except for Andrew who lifted it with only one arm, making all the girls scream as he held it there for a long time, longer than was necessary, before bringing it down.

He makes it a point to look at me, the corners of his mouth turning up in a smirk.

I do not know what he was doing but the desired effect was instant, as I felt my heart start hammering itself against my ribs.

With everyone passing to the next round, the organizer doubles the weight and still Andrew does the same thing, carrying the barbell with only one hand, his eyes on me the entire time.

We lost the first few participants in this round, Jeff along with them which was no surprise.

I made sure to yawn when he passed by me.

But no one lingers, everyone’s eyes on Andrew and Benedict, who haven’t shown any signs of slowing down

yet. Round after round after round came and it was only the two of them left now. The weight they were lifting was heavier than all the problems in the world.

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Chapter 36

Sweat was now dripping down both their bodies, their chests and arms pulsing with muscle as they continued to lift and lift and lift.

The bars were bending now, the weight too much to bear, but they still continued. Their bodies were at their limits. I can see how their muscles contracted and tightened.

I do not know if the crowd was still cheering or if they had gone completely mute like me. Either way, I could not hear them over the beating of my heart.

Behind Andrew and Benedict, the organizers are discussing what to do. They were about to run out of weight plates to add.

Should they crown both of them before it goes horribly?

Just as the organizers look to have decided on something, Andrew nearly topples over with his barbell with three- six of the staff helping him up.

Now I know that the crowd goes wild, all waiting for Benedict. Because if he lifts this, he is the winner.

It was all on him now.

For the first time, Benedict looks at me, his gaze burning me from the inside. He bent to grasp the barbel that cried over the unbelievable weight of the plates on either side and, with one deep breath, his arms that were so tight and taut, pulled and pulled and with a flick, the bar was over his head.

People are screaming, I am sure now. Every single one of the attendees was on their feet.

All except me who he stared at.

The barbel breaks then, literally snaps as the weight plates fall to the ground, shaking the entire clearing and the trees with disturbed birds flying over us.

But he was okay.

And he had won.

“OUR WINNER, BETA BENEDICT!”

I wasn’t really surprised.

Everyone rushed forward, running to him and taking his arms or touching his back. Anything to get close to him. Champagne and whatever else is sprayed all over Benedict, showering him in sparkle. Still, he did not break eye contact as dozens upon dozens of attendees celebrated his win beside him.

I tilted my head in his direction, giving him a quiet congratulation.

He winks at me, the smile I’m used to back on his lips, but I do not return it, keeping my eyes on the table. “Well…” Miss E says to us, finishing yet another glass. “That was expected.”

The celebration didn’t stop for a very long time, cheering Benedict like he was the new King. I remained where I was with Kelsey and Christy, playing a drinking game about how many women would come to try and steal a kiss from Benedict and how many would console Andrew.

So far, we were at thirty nine glasses already and, with the way my stomach was twisting- hopefully not because of jealousy or some sort, it has been a lot.

It was maybe an hour or so later when the organizer asked for everyone to take their seats. “Our winner will now award his pin to his chosen.”

I had almost forgotten about that.

The entire clearing quiets, with hopeful girls clutching their hearts despite knowing that he had already chosen earlier. I kept my head low, hunched over my table as I drank and drank and drank.

Maybe he will change his mind.

He’s been changing it quite a lot.

I won’t be surprised if he chooses another girl.

“Vareesa,” His voice shook the entire clearing and I swear I heard whimpers from the other girls as he said

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Chapter 36

this. “I haven’t forgotten.”

I could not breathe. I could not think.

But as he said… I haven’t forgotten.

Something in me wanted to cry along with the other girls, but I surprised myself by standing up, my legs steady despite how wobbly I felt and when he approached me with the pin in his hand, it was all over for me.

I still cared.

I still wanted him despite everything.

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