Chapter 21: In The Club

I feel good about myself.

The competitors inside McCarthy Hall were all thinking the same thing when it was announced who my opponent was. They thought the same as I did when I saw Colin's opponent. The bigger, stronger guy has the upper hand.

Well, that's not how I see it. I see it as the advantage goes to the one who knows how to work their disadvantage to turn it into an advantage. Exactly like Colin, who did not let his opponent even touch him. The trick is to act fast, before they have any time to respond or react.

I was not about to let a guy apparently stronger than me put his hands on me. No, sir. That is not how the cookie crumbles. Whenever the fight in wolf form takes place during the course of the tournament, I will be forced to fight with all my strength and knowledge. Then, it will be impossible to win without a direct confrontation with my opponent.

It's anybody's guess who would win in face-to-face combat; it all depends on the skill level that my opponent would have. I prefer not to think that far ahead, so for now, I have won the battle. Take the victory and celebrate it, which is what I intend to do.

Since it's Sunday, the first week of February, and the next challenge won't be until seven p.m. tomorrow, a bunch of competitors decided to go out tonight and explore the Capital. I am all for it. I could use a chance to blow off some steam after being threatened by Prince Elton.

The way I see it, each day here could be my last, so I might as well enjoy myself. Who knows, maybe I could meet my mate tonight. We all know they are not going to knock at my door, looking for me.

It's the afternoon. Colin and I had already had lunch, so we were resting in our dorm room. Uncle Damian went out to have lunch because he cannot eat here - only contestants or staff members are permitted inside the cafeteria.

Colin told me that his whole family sat before a notebook to watch his first match. Like most people, they were impressed by how fast he won against a man who was taller and stronger than him. His mother told him she was very proud of him, and so were his sisters.

His father actually had some money bet that he would wash out in the first match.

I had to do a double-take on that one.

'Wait, your father bet against you winning?'

'Yeah, Papa doesn't believe people like me can win anything. He just sent me here to get rid of me and not embarrass him in our pack.' He spoke the harrowing truth that broke my heart. The saddest part is that he didn't look surprised by his father's attitude.

'What do you mean, people like you? Mixed race?' I questioned him, puzzled.

Colin laughed at my words but remained silent about what he meant by that.

Oh Goddess, I already fear what the answer might be. O.o

There is a knock at our door. Instinctively, I imagined it was my uncle, so I answered it without a shirt on and wearing plain pants. I know it's Winter, but the heating system here is very good. It might as well be Summer instead.

I was jaw-dropped and shocked when I saw Princess Emily at my door. Her Secret Service Protection Detail was hanging back, accompanying her. She looked at my naked torso, and I felt underdressed to be in her company.

"Your Royal Highness, what a surprise! I am sorry for being shirtless, I thought you were my uncle." I told her, completely taken aback by her presence at my door, though she could have come for Colin. Who knows?

"I'm not complaining." She giggled as her eyes checked every nook and cranny of my exposed skin on display.

I walked back to my bed and pulled on a T-shirt lying around to get dressed. Once I was decent, I came back to the door that stayed open.

"What can I do for you? Or have you come to talk to my roommate?" I asked her while Colin was surprised by the visit, lying on his bed. When he heard his name, he got into a sitting position.

"No, I actually came to invite you. I am going out tonight, so I wanted to see if you'd like to accompany me to a nightclub." She said, smiling at me charmingly.

"Oh, that is so sweet, Your Highness. But I already made plans with a few of my fellow contestants. I'm so sorry to disappoint you." I was genuinely shocked by the invitation but mostly surprised that she even knew I existed.

"No problem. I'm sure you'll still be here after tomorrow. Till we meet again." She smiled at me, flirtatiously. She did not seem discouraged at all; on the contrary.

"Can I leave you my number, just in case you change your mind?" She asked politely. Who could say no to that request?

"Of course!" I exclaimed, ecstatic. I grabbed my cell phone and gave it to her to put her number on it. Once she did that, she returned it to my hands — but not without slightly touching my fingers with hers. It was very delicate, but I felt it in my bones. It was electrifying.

"See you soon." She batted her eyes at me, then walked away with her protection detail behind her.

"Farewell." I didn't know what else to say, so I blushed after I said it.

"What was that all about?" Colin was shocked by this, as I was.

"I honestly have no idea!" I gaped at him in shock. Why would a princess even know that I existed?

"Maybe Prince Elton told her to invite you to go out so that he could exact revenge on you!" Colin conjectured, puzzled.

"That seems a bit harsh for a low level like me. Would you put your sister up to it if it were you?" I questioned him, angered by the suggestion. I am not mad at him, just at the implication behind it.

"No, I would never!" He was quick to reply.

"Me neither. I would want my sisters as far away from my enemy as possible. The last thing I'd do would be to use them for that purpose." I corroborated the theory, irked by anyone who would use their sister for a nefarious goal. I prefer to think she came here of her own volition. But who knows what she could have possibly wanted with me?

It's not like I am a good prospect for her in terms of marriage, even though we are talking about an 18-year-old who is probably still in high school. I don't exactly know her age. I should probably Google her before we go out together, if we ever do. *blush*

Later that night, two dozen men, mostly from the South, went out into town to get to know the Capital. We quickly discovered where the bars were, so we checked them out. Unfortunately, the underaged boys like Colin and I could not get inside without a stamp on our wrists that signaled we were minors. That was a bummer, so I preferred not even to enter. The last thing I wanted was to get stamped.

As the night progressed, we heard of a nightclub that was buzzing with cool music and a hip crowd of select young people. I was yet to have any fun tonight, so we tried our chances there. A funny thing happened tonight: some of the bar employees recognized us from the tournament. It was the first time in my life that I was recognized for something I did, not for being my father's son. Though they knew about that too, given the media coverage of the King's reception.

We had to stay in line before we could enter the place, which seemed to be packed for a Sunday night. Don't these people have school or something? Who knows, maybe they already graduated from college.

As we were talking and having fun on the line, a limousine stopped by the front of the club. Quelle surprise. Elton, Emily, and four of their friends came out of the limo to enter the club without having to fall in line. I am not surprised that they are V.I.P.s

I mean, why would I? They are the royal family, and this is the Capital where they reside.

Emily scented me hidden in the long line and stopped in her tracks before entering the nightclub. She walked up to me and surprised me yet again with her lovely smile.

"I guess this is the club you invited me to go to." I smiled awkwardly at her while my colleagues on the line with me seemed surprised that the princess was acknowledging my existence. Everyone except for Colin, of course.

"It is. I'm sorry that you're waiting in line. I can get you inside if you want to." She offered me, ever so kind. She looked nothing like her brother. At all.

"That's very kind of you, but I'm not abandoning my friends here. It would be unbecoming of me, but I thank you for the kind gesture." I smiled at her, smitten by her attitude and gentle demeanor.

Emily joined her brother and friends, waiting at the entrance, but not without whispering something to the man guarding the door about us. I know because she pointed in our direction as she talked to him. The man nodded along as he was hearing her.

The next thing I knew, all of us were allowed entrance to the nightclub, and oh my Goddess!

A|N: Is it really wise to enter the same club Elton is?

Time will tell.

For now, we enjoy.

Love,

Léo.