Alpha Hayley’s Destined Mate

Chapter 27: Wager

Henry had pulled this stunt before—his display of ferocity was just for show, meant to imply he wouldn’t actually harm me. Even if I were merely an Omega, I wouldn’t flinch. When he charged at me, I stood my ground. As expected, he stopped just a hair’s breadth from me and shifted back to his human form.

“This is merely a warning. Push me again, and I won’t be so accommodating,” he warned, his voice edged with menace. “And as for your grand plans to compete in an international tennis tournament, you’ll only bring shame upon yourself!”

His words struck me as juvenile and amusing. Whether I competed or not had nothing to do with him. It was as if he saw my performance as a reflection of him.

Before I could retort, he grabbed my tennis racket. “Give that back!” I said, my frustration growing.

Henry’s face was a mask of mischievous defiance. “I won’t! Not a chance!”

His antics were so childish that I couldn’t help but laugh, and my anger faded considerably. If he wanted to play games, I was more than willing to oblige.

“You’re so certain I’ll fail, but what if I actually win the championship?” I challenged.

Henry let out a derisive laugh. “The competitors are elite professionals from around the globe. How could you possibly compete? You only won the state championship by chance. You’re clearly out of your league.”

He looked at me with open disdain. “Hayley, if you manage to reach the semifinals, then you will earn my respect,” he said, his tone dripping with arrogance.

His confidence and scorn piqued my interest. “Alright then, let’s make a bet.”

Henry frowned, contemplating for a moment before he agreed. “But let’s be clear—you need to reach the semifinals for me to recognize your skill,” he stipulated.

I grinned, sensing his hesitation. “Sure, why don’t we have a wager? Or are you a chicken?”

Henry took offense. “Fine, let’s have a bet. What’s the term?”

“Fine. And if I win the championship, you’ll have to treat me with respect and call me ‘boss’ whenever you see me.”

I thought he would protest my request to treat me as his superior when I was an apparent Omega. That was against the rank of our bloodline. To my surprise, Henry agreed without a second thought. “Deal. But if you lose, you must leave the Southwells and return to your Shadow Pack.”

“Deal,” I said with a smile. This was exactly what I wanted. We concluded our bet with a firm handshake. Henry was so sure I wouldn’t reach the finals that his grin seemed set in stone. He handed back my tennis racket with a casual flick of his wrist and then, after quickly typing a message on his phone, he departed.

That afternoon, as school let out, Christopher arrived to collect me. As a celebrated actor, he was greeted by a throng of fans at the school gates. He took his time, signing autographs and chatting with the students before we finally made our way home.

During the drive, Christopher broke the silence. “So, you really took up Henry’s challenge?”

It was clear he was referring to the tennis tournament. Evidently, Henry had filled him in on our wager. “Yes,” I replied with a calm nod.

Christopher, noting my steady demeanor, decided to offer a dose of realism. “I don’t mean to discourage you, but the players at international tournaments are all top-tier professionals. They possess at least Beta-level physical abilities, and you…” He paused, casting a quick glance in my direction before continuing.

“Benjamin has been in rigorous training from a young age, and he barely managed to secure a runner-up spot in men’s singles. Let’s be honest. If things go as expected, he will become the Alpha King of this continent once he takes over the Alpha role. His skills are unmatched among werewolves.”

The admiration in Christopher’s voice was palpable, a reflection of his high regard for Benjamin. It made me consider Benjamin’s impressive capabilities more deeply. His potential ascendency to Alpha King was a significant reason for the alliance between the Midnight Pack and the Shadow Pack. Should Benjamin vie for the Alpha King title, our pack would need to back him fully.

As I pondered this, a critical realization struck me. Christopher’s words contained more than just a caution—they hinted at the gravity of the stakes involved.

Chapter 28: Rejection.