Playing The Alphas

SAMANTHA

The following day, I made my way to the training area as planned. The morning air was crisp, and I could feel the weight of anticipation pressing down on me. The other sex slaves were already there, clustered in tight groups. When they spotted me, their excitement was palpable. They were eagerly anticipating some drama, their eyes gleaming with malicious delight.

I paid them no mind. My attention skipped past those women and settled on someone I recognized. It took me by surprise. It was Molly. What was she doing here? She was at the center of her usual entourage, flanked by her followers and sex slaves. One of the women said something to amuse her, and she erupted in laughter, clearly pleased. Then, our eyes locked, and she gave me a taunting smile. Her gaze filled with scorn and self-satisfaction.

A sinking feeling grew within me. I felt certain that something was amiss, especially with Molly’s unexpected presence. She had no reason to be here unless she wanted to witness my humiliation. The thought made my stomach churn, but I refused to let her see my unease. I lifted my chin and walked forward with measured steps.

"Samantha, I thought you were too scared to show up," Alicia called out boisterously from the crowd. She strutted toward me with her head held high with arrogance. Her hips swayed with exaggerated confidence, and her lips curled into a sneer.

I met her gaze calmly. "Yet, here I am."

Maybe I appeared too unfazed, which seemed to irritate Alicia immediately. She looked at me with fury, her eyes narrowing into slits. "Quit your act. It’s not too late to plead for my mercy. Just don’t cause a fuss after you’re defeated."

I replied with a light tone, "We haven’t even started, and you’re already speaking so bitterly. Are you worried about facing a humiliating defeat?"

"You!" Alicia’s frustration boiled over as she stomped her foot. "Nonsense!" She shot me one last angry look, and then secured herself with the safety rope and snapped, "What are you waiting for? Get moving! Let’s start this competition!"

Eager to get it over with, I grabbed a safety rope and strapped myself in. My fingers worked quickly, checking each buckle and clasp. I had seen too many accidents in this place to be careless.

"I’m all set." Once I had checked that everything was secure, I declared my readiness.

Alicia mocked again, "I’m really looking forward to seeing you make a fool of yourself."

Just then, a laid-back voice broke through from behind. "Well, well, well. I heard there’s going to be a competition, so I thought I’d come and enjoy the show."

The voice was all too familiar, laced with its usual spite. My grip on the safety rope tightened and my hands shook slightly. It was Jayce again. Always seeming to shadow my every step. A wave of discomfort washed over me, and I took a deep breath as I turned toward the source of the voice.

Jayce sauntered into the training area. I wasn’t sure when he had arrived, but as soon as he entered, his eyes locked onto me with the intensity of a hunter zeroing in on his prey. This sent a shiver down my spine. I quickly averted my eyes. Just a glimpse at him brought back memories of that tumultuous night, filled with agony and pleasure.

"Stay calm... Just stay calm," I repeated to myself in a low voice, though the unease persisted. My heart hammered against my ribs, and I could feel sweat forming on my palms.

I was confused. This was supposed to be a small private contest, but here were Molly and Jayce, two major figures, turning up to watch. It dawned on me that this competition might hold more significance than I had initially thought. Molly’s presence was suspicious enough, but Jayce’s arrival made it clear that something was going on beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, Jayce’s sudden arrival stirred whispers and gasps from the others. "Prince Jayce..." The women bowed and curtsied, their voices trembling with a mixture of fear and excitement. Some of them preened, hoping to catch his attention.

Jayce paid them no mind. He casually weaved through the crowd to position himself at the forefront. His movements were fluid, predatory, like a wolf surveying his territory. And his handsome face broke into a playful and sinister grin.

"A competition should have stakes," he declared. "Without a proper prize, where’s the motivation?"

Daisy Bond, acting as the judge, quickly agreed, "Absolutely, Your Highness. A reward will certainly make the competition more interesting. What do you propose?"

The sex slaves turned their attention to him, some visibly wishing they were the ones joining the competition. Their eyes sparkled with hope and ambition, each one fantasizing about the attention of a prince. Meanwhile, a knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach at his words. Knowing Jayce’s twisted nature, I feared his idea of a "reward" would be far from appealing.

Sure enough, Jayce’s eyes met mine as his smile widened ominously. "How about this? The loser will have to run around the palace naked. And the winner gets to spend the night with me."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Some women looked horrified, while others seemed almost envious. I felt my blood run cold. Run around the palace naked? The humiliation would be unbearable. And spending the night with Jayce was a punishment in itself, not a reward. He was mocking me, toying with me, and I could see the satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to remain composed. I couldn’t back down now. If I did, I would prove them all right. I would be the coward they believed me to be.

"Fine," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "I accept."

Jayce’s grin widened, and I could see the thrill of the chase in his gaze. He had set his trap, and now he was waiting to see if I would walk into it. I had no choice. I had to win.

Alicia looked at me with renewed determination. She clearly didn’t want to lose either. The stakes had just been raised, and the entire atmosphere shifted.

"Let’s begin," Daisy announced, her voice filled with anticipation.

I took my position at the climbing wall, my fingers gripping the first hold. The surface was rough against my palms, grounding me. I took a deep breath and focused. I would not lose. I could not lose.

Molly’s mocking smile was burned into my memory. Jayce’s predatory gaze weighed on me. And Alicia’s smug confidence made my blood boil. I had everything to prove and everything to lose.

The competition was about to begin.