Chapter 34: Handcuffs

BRADLEY

I am so relieved.

I have been holding my breath ever since that soldier told me I was on probation, possibly facing criminal charges for exceeding my counterattack, which I did not do. I would argue against it right then and there, but it wasn't the time or place to do so.

I was angry, annoyed, I even felt guilty for a short period. I replayed the entire match in my mind, but I couldn't find anything wrong with my behavior. I had to draw first blood; should I ask him nicely while he had a dagger against my throat?

As soon as Colonel Armstrong announced that I had been cleared of any wrongdoing, I breathed the biggest sigh of relief. I did not deserve to be punished for my actions, so if I may say so myself, justice was being carried out swiftly.

Now, I could concentrate on the task ahead and compete in the next challenge.

Oh. My. Goddess!

As soon as Armstrong revealed to us that we'd be fighting in pairs, immediately I thought to myself: who is going to be my pair? I hope it is Colin because, despite the short time that I've known him, I feel like he is someone I could trust to not screw me over. Plus, I've seen him fight already, and I knew I would be in good hands.

If only life were that easy...

With a devious smile, Armstrong told Prince Elton that he was to fight side by side with me, the boy whom he had almost choked to death last Sunday. Does that sound like a reasonable pairing to you?

"What? You're kidding me!" Elton protested, vigorously.

"I don't kid, Prince." Armstrong replied, literally trying not to burst into laughter. I kid you not!

"If I did anything to piss you off, I apologize for that, sir. I am sorry if I offended you in any way. Could you please assign me somebody else?" I interjected, pleadingly. Armstrong turned to my side in the line-up and softened his expression.

"I know that you might think like that, but this isn't a punishment for you, young man. This is a lesson for His Royal Highness. I am sorry that you were caught in the crossfire." He explained to me in a manner that wasn't condescending, just a matter of fact.

I did not expect that any of this would be about me, but here I am, getting tangled in his drama. What will happen to me now?

"What stops him from tanking the fight? You just said that I wouldn't be at risk of losing my placement in the tournament because of somebody else!" Elton demanded to know angrily, practically accusing Armstrong of setting him up.

"That's a valid question, but we are getting ahead of ourselves here. I didn't even tell you what the challenge would be!" Armstrong replied, trying to take one step at a time.

Most of the contestants looked nervous and anxious, especially Elton, who had a lot at stake here — not to say that we don't, but he is the heir apparent. None of us want our fates in the tournament to be left to another person's decision, especially someone we don't trust.

"First things first, I will tell you now what the challenge is before you get a panic attack and blame it on me. It's simple. One pair will face another one on the tatami. However, one of the contestants will be handcuffed - the soldiers showed us two boxes full of handcuffs - and that person will carry something valuable for the opponent, a card." He explained, seeing that it would be better for him to do it now than wait for the live stream to start.

"Your challenge tonight is to simply retrieve that card from the person wearing handcuffs. All contestants will have the card in the same spot. The right front pocket of their pants. Whoever is handcuffed is not subject to losing the challenge because the only part of the challenge that matters is for the two guys who are not wearing cuffs to battle it out to see who retrieves the card first. Whoever does that wins." He continued explaining the challenge to us, sounding excited at the prospect.

"Is the person handcuffed allowed to fight back?" Jace - Elton's best friend and fellow contestant - asked him, curiously.

"Of course, if he wants to. However, no biting, please. You are also not allowed to get out of the handcuffs, or you'll be immediately disqualified from the competition." He replied with a serious expression on his face.

"But what if my partner helps the opponent? If he has no skin in the game, he couldn't care less if I win or lose!" Elton questioned him, worriedly.

"I'm afraid that's possible." He admitted a flaw in the design. All of us were sulking and pouting like... what the fuck!?

"HOWEVER - Armstrong raised his voice to emphasize the word and the warning shot - the person who fights first is the same one who will be handcuffed for the other contestant to play. If he tanked the challenge, what do you think his partner would do when it comes to his turn?" Armstrong instructed us of a very important factor, one that could be decisive for all of tonight's matches.

The entire room mulled over that last revelation from the Colonel. That is a game changer.

"That's great, sir, but what's to stop a guy for whom I just fought tooth and nail when it was his part, now suddenly he betrays me and tanks the challenge for me? I mean, if he already won, he is secured in the tournament, right?" One of the men asked the question that was on everybody's minds.

"Young men, His Majesty is watching the tournament. Even if that guy somehow wins and sabotages your chances of winning the competition, do you really think anyone will ever trust him? Don't forget the world is watching this tournament! If you get a reputation as a backstabber, you're gonna wash out at some point, I guarantee it. Okay?" He tried to assure us that it would be a bad move to double cross your partner in the challenge.

That is somewhat reassuring... maybe.

"It goes without saying that whoever is handcuffed is not allowed to remove the card from his front pocket. Only one of the contenders can do that. But you are allowed to move around the tatami to escape the opposing player, alright? Don't worry if you fall, we'll help you up and back to the tatami. The handcuffed player cannot be disqualified from the match unless he tampers with the handcuff or uses his wolf skin in any way. That goes for all contestants, as I told you before, no wolf ability except for the innate ones." He concluded his instruction before it was time for the live stream to start.

While Armstrong checked with his people the preparations for the live stream, Elton was glaring at me in the line-up. He was standing close to his best friend, looking mad at me as if somehow I had chosen to be his partner in the challenge. Come on, dude!

"If you betray me, I'll murder you!" He threatened me, seriously ticked off.

"You are the one fighting first; I am the guy who should be worried about you betraying me!" I exclaimed, deeply troubled. He could undermine all my chances in this tournament, and I could be sent home if he decides to tank my match.

"Do your part, and I'll do mine. I am a Prince, for Goddess' sake! A man of honor." He rolled his eyes, annoyed.

Some time later...

I was handcuffed by a soldier while my counterpart on the other pairing had the same done to him. The soldier placed a card inside the front pocket of my pants, not too deep though. Anyone would remove that easily with my hands tied behind my back.

The tatami seemed smaller for four people to occupy it, but it would have to do. Elton told me to get behind him, avoiding exposure to his opponent. The trick here is not to defeat the guy in combat, per se, but to be able to get through him to the handcuffed partner and retrieve the card. A King of Hearts in our case.

Elton looked prepared for the challenge. He has an imposing figure that would intimidate any person, even an Alpha. His opponent was an Alpha from San Diego, California. He also looked like he worked out a lot.

All the first dozen matches were cleared to fight at the same time by the referees.

Elton charged ahead to deal with his opponent head-on, then retrieve the deck card.

However, he did not count on the man using his attack against him in a move so quick that I almost did not see it. He grabbed Elton's shirt with his hands, fell on his back, bringing him down with him, and then used his foot to propel the prince forward, over his head. I've seen this in judo, but never done so fast.

He tossed Elton away from the tatami in one strike, then stood tall in one jump. Now, there was nothing in his way to win the match. All he had to do was to retrieve the card from my front pocket as I was handcuffed. He wasted no time lunging towards me.

The whole thing happened so quickly that I am still stunned by how fast he got rid of Prince Elton. Oh, Goddess! He is going to find a way to blame this on me, isn't he? It's not my fault that he left me alone with his opponent with no defense whatsoever. What now?

A|N: BOOM!

I must confess that when I started writing this novel, I had no idea how these challenges would go about. I had no idea how I could ever make this story interesting without it being not only about the tournament but also their interpersonal relationships.

Honestly, I am having a blast writing this.

I did not anticipate having this much fun, but I guess this is why you have been getting one chapter a day lately. Who knows how long that will last?

For now, let's see what comes next.

You can read SIX (6) chapters ahead in my Patreon account:

patreon.com/LeonardoMontero

Love,

Léo.