The Alpha Can’t Sense His Mate

ITHRA

I fell to my knees with another blow to the head from Athaliah. Blinded by my bodily fluids and earth, I could hardly make out the frame of Azriel, who stood at the far end of the farm.

“Get up.” Athaliah urged, dragging me by the hair. “Second lesson. Do not stay down for too long. Every second is valuable, and the more you stay down, the more dominion your enemy has over you.”

She dragged me up and cut me short with another heavy blow to my stomach. My body erupts in pain, and I feel my internal organs struggle to keep up.

Athaliah continued to drill her fist into my guts, and I tried and failed to prevent myself from it. It became evident that I didn’t have enough skills to defend myself.

All my life, I craved power and went after everything that could grant me dominion over my enemies. I was already at a disadvantage. Born as a witch without powers. I tried all I could to get myself armed and ready to attack before they attacked me.

However, I never thought there would come a time when defence would be much more valuable and life-preserving. I was learning the hard way.

I suddenly didn’t feel Athaliah’s blows raining on me. Everything just ceased.

“Tip three. Never give up in the face of adversity. No matter how weak and disadvantaged you think you might be, you must never stop seeking ways to turn a fight around.” I saw her standing above me with a winning smile.

Her voice got closer as she squatted beside me, “You look like a mess. What have you learnt from all your years training to fend off wicked witches from your clan?”

I spat out blood, “Don’t ask useless questions. Stick to your job description.”

Athaliah let out a chuckle. It sounded like claws on a chalkboard. That was either my hate talking or my ears had been affected too.

“I thought to give your weak ass a break. I guess I better get back to it then.” She stood up, and I braced myself for another hit, but none came.

“I’ll give you a fair chance to get back at me. Three minutes. You have a task to get me off my feet. Any means necessary.”

I sat up on the floor, battered beyond recognition. I knew I would receive some potion that would quicken my healing. Hence, Athaliah had the liberty to go to extreme lengths in training.

A few minutes into the training, I found the extreme lengths only entailed dealing with me till the point of death. I knew that training was unachievable without pain, but I didn’t think I had to be beaten up so badly I struggled to remember my name.

The worst part of it all was that it had to be Athaliah doing the training. Not only was my pride hurt, I was hurt by the fact that, like it or not, I was learning a thing or two from her.

Again, the hard way.

“Tick-Tock.” She tutted, “Your time is running out, Ithra.” She picked me up and landed a blow on my nose and leg.

I fell with a thud, and I felt my ankle shift. A howl of pain left my lips, and my eyes opened wide, “You said three minutes!” I roared,

“Lesson four and five. Never waste an opportunity, and never trust your enemies.” She smirked. “You have a long way to go, witch.” She added in a subtle tone.

I could hear the hostility in her tone. Her glee was evident. With the increased pain in my ankle, I felt my anger. Anger that could only be satiated by Athaliah lying on the floor with pain.

Set ablaze by my goal, I got up, gathering my strength into a powerful punch. I must have been slow. She dodged my attack without breaking a sweat, as though she anticipated it all the while.

“I see you are finally catching up.” She praises me, and I’m stunned by the genuineness of her words.

Before I could make sense of her sudden change, a powerful spin kick was delivered to me, sending me to the floor on my shifted ankle.

Horrid pains spiralled from my ankle, paralysing my entire body with pain. My mouth opened, but there were no words. Not a sound escaped me as I mourned for the pain that tore me apart.

“Lesson number six. Never be caught off guard, no matter the situation. You must never leave room to be distracted by your enemies. It only takes a second, and your life could be gone.” She kicked my ankle, and searing pain devoured me, “Pro tip. Your enemy is not your friend.”

I remained on the floor, devoid of any will to go on. I realised just how weak and inexperienced I was. It hit me like a truckload of bricks. What was I thinking about agreeing to this training?

It was torture and torture in the highest form. My entire body felt out of place. We have been at this for not less than an hour, and it feels like an eternity. Rule number two and three suddenly flash into my mind.

Do not stay down for too long…

Never give up in the face of adversity…

Turn the fight around…

I prep myself, thinking of retaliating when I heard her walk towards me and squat. “Look at you,” She tsked, “So weak, you can’t even protect yourself. How do you plan to fight against us wolves, or better still, protect that wretched clan of yours.”

My eyes flew open, and I took in her smirking face. “If you think those witches are safe just because you pledged your useless self to this pack, then again.” She whispered, “The alpha always knows how to get them unsuspecting and clueless witches like you.”

When the implications of her words dawned on me, I felt my blood boil like never before. The look on Athaliah’s face as she said those words remained in my mind, mocking and ridiculing me for how cheaply I had fallen for their tricks.

A deal with the Alpha? What possessed me to think I could trust him?

“Do you want to know what happened? Do you know what I did to them during my little vacation? What Zadok instructed me to do?”

“What have you done?” I asked slowly. My mind was ready to conjure up a spell.

“What do you think I did, Ithra? It was only a matter of time before the world’s freed from the curse that is witches.”

Everywhere suddenly became hot. Very hot. Too hot, a fog covered the place, and I could hardly see. However, I could sense my target, and hell would freeze if I didn’t return to her a thousandfold pain as she had meted to my clan.

Up on my feet, I reach out to her with a powerful blow.

Athaliah blocked the blow with her hands. However, I was far from over. I turned around and delivered a three-fold spin kick, getting her exactly where I wanted.

“I will kill you,” I muttered, staring her dead in the eye.

For some reason, I could sense fear roll off her in waves. The scent of her fear added flames to the fire within me. “How would you like to die? Slow and painful, or quick and effective?”

“Ithra… calm down…” She said, shying away from me.

“Calm down?” I said in an incredulous tone, “I’m only getting started.”

Determined to end this, I leapt to the air, aiming at her heart. Athaliah stood, looking confused and trying to decipher where the hit would come from. I decided to play a game. I made her think I was aiming for her legs when I was aiming for her heart.

I was about to deliver my hit when strong arms held me in the air. I felt a spark of tingling feeling within me. Delicious currents rushed through my body, leaving me dazed at the sheer contact of that person.

“Athaliah! Get out! Now!” A voice roared. It was Azriel.

Then who was holding me?

Athaliah crawled out of sight, and I felt anger surge within me. She must not escape! I struggle my way out of my hostage and gun for her.

Athaliah predicted my move. She turned back and delivered a powerful hit on my head that knocked me out cold.

“Tip number seven. Do not get beat up.” I heard her say, and I succumbed to unconsciousness.