Heirs, 44

(POV: Lucca)

"Are you ready?" Isabella sits beside me, and I look at her in disbelief.

"What are you doing in the men's locker room?" I ask, feeling awkward with just a towel wrapped around my waist in front of her.

"I noticed everyone else left except you, so I came to see if everything was okay or if something had happened," she replies, shrugging.

"Something?" I arch an eyebrow and smile wryly.

"Yeah," she bites her upper lip, "maybe a stomachache," I burst into laughter.

"Thanks for your concern, Bella," I smile wryly. "But I'm fine," she looks at me skeptically. "Seriously, I'm just a little..."

"Fearful?" she interrupts, cutting me off.

"Apprehensive, I'd say," I start getting dressed in the last stall where she can't see me.

"It's fear," she states, and I make a face.

"It's not fear," I mumble, continuing to dress in the last stall, where she can't see me.

She laughs loudly at my response, and I appreciate the sound of her laughter. I wish to see her smiling like this always because it brightens my day and warms my heart.

"I'll be in the front row cheering for you," she says as I approach, already dressed, and takes a few seconds to gaze at my bare chest.

"Thanks," I close my backpack.

"I'm sure you'll do great," she gives my arm a gentle pat and then kisses me on the cheek. "Good luck."

"Thanks for the support, Bella," I say, feeling my cheeks warm.

"And the reciprocity?" she asks, pointing to her own cheek. I lean in and plant a tender kiss on her fair skin. "You're the third to fight," she informs me.

"I'm nervous," I say as we walk out of the locker room.

"And afraid," she reminds me, laughing, and I roll my eyes.

I feel my blood pumping faster and a huge rush of adrenaline coursing through my body. I've never been in a situation like this before. The Lucca who existed before Lena's training would have never imagined being here as a competitor. But that girl helped me discover my strong and fighting side, and I'm grateful for that. Despite her being a drill sergeant in training, her tough style made all the difference. She didn't go easy on me; she saw me as a strong and capable guy, and I'll always be thankful for her belief in me and my potential. I consider her like a sister I never had.

The arena where the tournament matches take place is in the center of the pack. There's no ring, just makeshift spaces for each championship category in strategic corners. A bit farther away, there are some wooden stands, accommodating the entire pack audience. Each pack has its own stands, and I have to admit that my pack's stand is the most spirited, even though it's the smallest in numbers.

I stop beside my brother, and we watch the fight taking place in front of us, the first one in the men's category.

"Who's fighting?" I ask, unable to recognize the wolves.

"Edgar and Mical," Luan answers. "Mical is the alpha's son of this pack," he adds, arms crossed, paying attention to the fight.

I observe the boys' performance. The fight is between alpha's sons, and Mical is winning easily. I internally smile. Mical seems to have good combat experience and is giving Edgar, who apparently didn't dedicate himself as much to the academy training, a beating and embarrassing us.

"Do you think everyone here fights as well as he does?" I comment, keeping my eyes on the fight.

"I hope so," my brother responds. "I want some level of challenge," he shrugs. "Watching them fight is making me very anxious."

I roll my eyes. I didn't expect any less from my brother, who has trained with Lena quite diligently. He expects nothing less than victory.

I avoid mentioning to him that we were called just because we are the Supremes' children, since we haven't transformed yet. So anyone fighting us will have to do so in human form. I know they were afraid of offending our parents if we weren't called. Although it's not a disadvantage, since all packs' academies have training and combat classes in human form, no one can overlook their true wolf form. The sense of freedom that many describe.

The moon is high, and Mical has definitely won. I watch as Edgar is lifted off the ground by his friends, all bloodied.

"Mical, Mical, Mical," the host pack's stands celebrate.

"The next fight will be between Luan Raphael and George," the alpha acting as announcer announces. "In the center, gentlemen."

"Now is the time," Luan says, jumping and stretching his arms to warm up. Then he takes off his shirt, and the female audience goes wild. I roll my eyes.

"I'm sure he'll win," I hear Lucia speak softly.

"I am too," I reply, smiling, as I keep an eye on my brother's moves.

He greets George, his opponent, and I assess the guy, who is enormous. I'm sure he'll give my brother a hard time. His body is covered in rippling muscles; he looks like a wall.

"Good luck, brother," I mutter to myself, anticipating the thrashing Luan is about to receive before winning.

"Wait, for the love of the holy moon," I hear a cry from behind, and I turn to face a disheveled and tired-looking woman. I can't see her face.

"Who are you?" the alpha asks as Lucia's mother approaches. What is she doing here?

"We were attacked by vampires," she speaks rapidly, stopping to catch her breath. "Scarlett, she's holding our Supremes hostage and they're invading all the houses, enslaving the others. Everyone was taken in the dead of night," tears began to well up in her eyes.