Chapter 1

XAVIER~~~~

Chaos.

That was the only thing word fitting enough to describe the scene before my eyes.

Shirtless men, both young and old gathered around in a wide circle in an open field, hollering, cheering and hooting as they urged the ones within the circle.

"Kill him!"

"Break his bones!"

"Prove your mettle!"

"Stop punching like sissys! Punch like men!"

These were some of the words being yelled by the spectators as they cheered the ones in the ring. The whole place reeked of booze and sweat as countless bottles of beer were being chugged down one after the other.

The gladiator event is an ancient, long-standing tradition of the Moon Pack. We take pride in our strength and unity, and the event is hosted thrice every year as proof of that. It had a couple of other reasons for being an integral part of our culture. It is a free for all event where every and any wolf interested can jump in and fight with whoever they want. There is only one rule and that is the prohibition of turning into the wolf form during the event as our bloodlust skyrockets when in our primal form.

One of the most important reasons why the event was created and upheld is its importance in settling disputes. We strictly enforce unity within the pack, that's why there's a strict regulations against fights breaking out within the pack. If there is a dispute, it is to be handled the werewolf way, fighting it out. But only in the gladiator event. In a pack filled with hot-blooded werewolves who would throw a punch at the smallest provocative, this was a very important and efficient way to regulate fight outbreaks.

"When are you joining in, Xavier?!" a voice yelled over the noise, pulling me from my thoughts. I had zoned out for a second there.

"What?!" I asked, turning around to look at the source. "Joining in?!"

"Yes, you came here because you wanted to fight, didn't you?!" Reggie, my friend asked as he flexed his muscles. He was built like a bodybuilder, with muscles in massive proportions, a hulking 7'1 feet in height and had long powerful legs which can be very dangerous in a fight. He's always fighting in the event even though he never has a beef with anyone because he enjoys punching people in the face just as much as he enjoys working out. He had black hair which was cut low, and a clean-shaven face, leaving only the moustache. Reggie wasn't exactly handsome, but he was decent, and he made up for it with his massive muscles and height which had a lot of girls dying for him.

"No, I didn't!" I replied, also yelling over the noise. "You dragged me here!"

"Hahaha! That is true!" he laughed. "But now that you are here, let's fight."

"Reggie," I sighed. "Even if we fight every day for the next five hundred years, you still won't beat me even once."

"You don't know that!" he insisted. "I'll beat you this time! I have a good feeling about this!"

Defeating me in a one-on-one fight had been Reggie's obsession ever since we were young. We've sparred countless times, even more than I can remember and he hasn't beaten me even once. Even though it's annoying how he never gives up, I can't say I ever get tired of seeing his face after he loses.

"As you wish," I shrugged. "If you wanna fight me, you know the rules. Earn the ring."

"Got it!" he yelled excitedly and hurried over to the ring.

Earning the ring is the basis for using the ring. You have to challenge and defeat the current occupant or occupants of the ring to earn it, and as the occupant, you have the right to pick an opponent. The occupant is only allowed to be challenged after his opponent rejects his request to fight. He however cannot decline a challenge.

"My opponent is Xavier!" I heard Reggie's loud booming voice yell barely a minute after he left. Everywhere fell silent as he announced this, and all eyes turned to me.

"Huh? How did you earn the ring so quickly?" I asked as I took off my shirt and entered the ring.

"They forfeited," he grinned sheepishly.

"Not surprised," I sighed. "Looking at you is enough intimidation as it is."

There are only a few select people who aren't intimidated by Reggie within the pack. Even though I'm considered a giant at 7 feet, while I chose the calisthenics route which gave me a lean but fit and flexible frame, Reggie chose to be a literal hulk since the Hulk was his favourite comic character.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Sure," I shrugged and smirked. "Come get your ass handed to you."

Reggie launched at me without a word, throwing a huge punch with his right hand which I dodged and grabbed, using his momentum to lift him off the ground and slam him to the floor with all my might. A loud bang was heard as his back hit the floor, but Reggie rolled over and was back on his feet in a second.

"You never stay down, do you?" I smiled.

"Never!" he yelled and lunged at me again. I parried his arm away, only to notice a punch with his other hand aimed at my head in that split second. I dodged by a little margin thanks to my reflexes and drove a knee into his torso but he grabbed my leg in an attempt to trip me. I immediately recovered, and using the knee as a foothold, I aimed the other knee at his chin which connected cleanly.

He let go of me as he staggered backwards but was still able to stand his ground without falling.

"I must commend your ability to take a beating," I smiled. "I appreciate you being a great punching bag.

"Not for long!" he yelled and launched himself at me again. He aimed a punch at my head which I prepared to block, but he switched at the last second, taking me by surprise and giving me a spear to the gut and tackling me to the floor. "Got you!"

He straddled me and unleashed a flurry of punches aimed at my face but I had my hands blocking them, only letting a few pass through.

I parried a punch from him which exposed his side and slammed my fist into his rib. He winced from the pain and I used the opportunity to push him off me, grab his arm and placed him in an arm bar until he eventually tapped out.

The crowd which had been silent erupted in a cheer as I won, shouting my praises as I helped him up.

"That was a close one, right?" he beamed.

"Nope, it was a lucky shot," I smirked. "You just got lucky there."

"Say what you want," he grinned. "I'll bring you down one day."

"Until that day comes," I shrugged. "You would never beat me."

"Xavier!" a voice called as I stepped out of the ring, uninterested in occupying it.

"Yes?" I answered, dusting my shirt and placing it on my shoulder. "Oh, Fred. Is there a problem?"

"The Alpha wants to see you now!" he replied. "Hurry!"

I immediately dashed towards the direction of the Alpha's residence along with Reggie who ran beside me.

The event is usually held a few miles away from the park in an open area deep within the woods as it was the best location for a crowd of drunk, adrenaline-filled werewolves to let loose and rampage without being a nuisance to everyone else in the pack.

"Why do you think he called for you so urgently today of all days?" Reggie asked.

"Beats me," I replied as we neared the mansion at the centre of the pack's community. Painted in the dark blue colours of midnight and an insignia which had a full moon and a howling wolf at the entrance.

"I'll wait in the living room," Reggie said as I hurried inside to the Alpha's office.

I ran up the stairs to the right wing and entered the hallway which was lined with thick wooden doors and ancient tapestries which had drawings and inscriptions dating back to the early days of the werewolf race.

I finally reached the door at the end of the hallway, adjacent to all the other doors. It was a thick door about 9 feet tall and it had the large head of a wolf with red emotionless eyes carved into it.

I pushed open the door and was greeted by the sight of the Alpha, Axel Russell who sat behind his desk, looking at a few papers.

I immediately went down on one knee. "You sent for me, Alpha."

"Have a seat son," he said. "I've got a few things to discuss with you."

"What might that be?" I asked, confused as I sat down.

"It's nothing much," he shrugged. "My proposal for an alliance with the South has been approved. You are getting married.