Post-Apocalypse: Mated To Alphas Of Orion-Chapter 74: The Game Of Tug-of-War

(Amaia)

We gather in the training arena. The August sun burns with its full glory and I know this will be another hot day.

Kacir is already there and he rushes to be by my side. The anger is evident on his face.

"What did he say?" His desperate eyes search for an answer.

I flatten my lips and face him. "You didn’t tell me that the Headmaster is your father."

He sighs, letting his lanky shoulders droop even more. "I know, I just didn’t want you to treat me like the Headmaster’s son, but a normal boy, and you did. I am sorry, I didn’t mean to make you mad."

I shake my head at him. "You didn’t make me mad, Kacir. But you can trust me, I will never treat you differently." A small smile I offer and he eagerly nods at me.

"I know that now. What did he say though? I hope nothing harsh. If he did, ignore him and I apologise on his behalf." His body goes tense again.

"It’s nothing, he was just concerned about you like a parent is. He said nothing rude to me so don’t worry." I pat his arm but a sad smile remains on his face.

"I am sorry he took you away like that because of me."

"I have dealt with worse. Come let’s prepare for that tug-of-war." I drag him along towards the ground, where a man is already standing, watching everyone arrive with hawk eyes.

"That’s Professor Ipian Haze. He is our game’s trainer," Kacir explains.

He possesses a powerful, athletic build which is a testament to his hard training. With a whistle around his neck and the black tracksuit, he stands his ground.

"Amaia!" Alnitak’s deep voice has me turning to face him. He ambles towards me with his sunshine smile—a gloomy Mintaka is in tow and Rahria just behind them.

"Hey!" I call out. The events of the night come tumbling out and make heat seep onto my face.

His big arms gather me in an embrace as if he hasn’t met me for a long time, filling my being with his earthy scent.

"Ready for the game?" He asks, letting me go and I nod with a blush creeping up in my cheeks.

"Gather up!" Professor Haze calls out to us and we straighten to face him.

Guild Pegasus has also arrived.

Zhou Chan is the human recruit of Pegasus. Luthial Jace, the guy who sat with me the very first day in Alnilam’s class. Ramian Kalit and Filana Aztine are the mated pair, Alnitak and I defeated the other day. And lastly, Jakil Nami, with short brown hair and an athletic build, makes up their team.

Ramian and Filana glance at us with blood in their eyes. I know they are furious after that defeat.

The staff brings out a light brown jute rope. It’s long and heavy with a red flag tied in the centre.

"Listen up! Mintaka, you are the captain for Team Leo. Luthial, you will lead Team Pegasus."

He gives us five minutes to discuss our strategies.

Mintaka simply says, "Just give your best."

We don’t discuss any strategy which I find odd.

The whistle sounds. Professor Haze gathers us and begins to position us.

"This is not only a game of strength but also a strategy. No magic is allowed but you will be tested as a team." He points to the quartz-shaped red crystals.

"Remember to place your strongest player at the back who can watch his or her footsteps and not fall when pulling. He will act as your anchor. Your fastest puller should be at the front. Someone who can hold the line and also use their leg strength to the maximum. The rest of the members will go to the centre."

We line up. Rahria and Kacir try to remain far away from each other. Mintaka takes the front while Alnitak anchors himself at the back of the rope. Kacir positions himself behind Mintaka, while I take the central position, and Rahria stands behind me.

Team Pegasus keeps Filana in the centre while Luthial takes the front, and Ramian acts as their anchor. Luthial’s dark dreadlocks shadow his shoulders, and his orangish gold eyes remind me of a tiger.

"Now remember to keep your footing and use strategies when to push. Don’t just blindly start to use your brute strength, use your head too. Are we clear?" Professor Haze yells out.

"Yes, Sir!" Everyone chorus. I firmly grip the hard rope.

"Plant your feet in a diagonal stance and bend your knees so your centre of gravity is lowered," he guides us, and we try to follow what he says.

"We need to make the initial pull, don’t let them plant their feet," Mintaka calls out to us and we nod our heads.

"On the count of three."

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

The whistle goes off and we make the initial pull, strong and heavy. The power ripples through the rope and we gain in Pegasus.

"Pull, keep pulling," Mintaka calls out from the front and we obey. I give my maximum strength but my feet go at the wrong angle from what I observe Kacir’s in front. I adjust them, my arms strain while I hear my mates huffing.

Luthial calls out to his teammates, "Brace!" They seem to dig their feet in the ground, bracing and resisting against our initial pull. The rope goes strain and I observe I can’t pull any further. I glance from the side at Team Pegasus and I observe all of them leaning back in a uniform position. They are using their collective force to counter our pull.

"More force!" Mintaka yells from the front and Rahria huffs behind me.

"What can we do when there is literally a human among us?" Her words sting, but it’s not a time for pettiness; we continue in our endeavours to pull.

"Set, all set," I hear Luthial call out. Their collective stance seems to halt our brute force. They seem to be following a set strategy while we had hardly spoken to each other. Most of us can’t even stand the other, we didn’t huddle or form a strategy, just dived in to pull.

"Ready, on my call and go," Luthial’s voice rings out again and I know they are just going to tire us out.