•»You don't need to act all strong and try to carry the burden of your trauma alone. I need you to understand that the more you try to ignore your pain, the more scars it will leave behind•«

Ryan Mason(Veiled in Darkness)

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"Come on, is that the best you've got!" Ryan taunted his Alpha and best friend as she threw yet another punch in his direction, one which he had effortlessly managed to dodge.

"Patience. You'll soon have blood to wipe off your face soon," She could feel fear radiate off the members gathered in the training ground as she spun around to face Ryan, her fist folded and left leg bent forward in a fighting stance.

Sapphire always started every training session by sparring her Beta and second-in-command. For she knew that if there was anyone capable of actually giving her a hard time in training, then it was him. Over the past years, her pack had learned that their Alpha wasn't one to make false statements and that if she said she was going to spill someone's blood, then she would go through with her promise even it was the blood of her best friend. Messing with her was never a wise decision.

"You do realize that you'll have to hit me to make me bleed, Alpha." Ryan flashed all his canines in an act of playfulness, aggression, and a little hint of disrespect. He was trying to bait her and from the way, her knuckles reddened with how hard her fist was clenched, he knew he was doing a good job.

The people gathered around were whispering in a muffled tone as they watched their Alpha's body jolt with vigor. They could see the battle for dominance between her and her wolf show in her eyes with the constant changing of color from their usual stormy grey to hazel. Sapphire sucked in a harsh breath as she struggled to reign in her beast, she knew it wasn't a very good idea to let her take over in a mere spar with her Beta, but yet she wouldn't let him get away with taunting her.

Members of the packs murmured in hushed voices as they watched her dash off in his direction. Bets and debate were passed across them as they argued on who was going to come out of the current battle unscratched. They weren't doubting their Alpha's strength, but they also knew their Beta wasn't one to back down from a fight that easily. It's what made him one of the strongest in the land, but still, they couldn't stop their wandering mind from thinking about the outcome.

Ryan maintained his calm posture as he watched his Alpha charge at him, but as soon she was near enough to get a hit at him, he dodged last second and threw a harsh fist to her side, causing her to stumble backward. Ryan had her just where he wanted her so when she was least expecting it, he punched her midriff, inflicting pain so hard it caused blood to pool in her mouth.

Sapphire's breath became raged and intense as she strained to regain her balance. "Impressive." she coughed out as she clutched her abdomen still reeling from the effect of his assault on her. Ryan watched her stoic stature, looking for any sign of pain from what he inflicted on her, but her eyes didn't flicker in a way that indicated her suffering, rather she maintained her emotionless exterior.

Ryan huffed as he faced her "I guess you are the one who has to clean up blood from her face. Thought the Dark Alpha was supposed to be unbeatable? I guess not." He was antagonizing her and he very well knew that she wasn't one to take lightly to disrespect and she was about to show him why she got her reputation as the Dark Alpha.

Her pack gasped loudly as their Beta finished his last words. Their body shook in horror as they watched her viciously spit out blood from her mouth. They knew very well how much their Alpha hated people demeaning her power and at the moment, they couldn't help but fear for their Beta's safety.

Sapphire let her eyes lock in on Ryan's emerald ones. She could feel her claws elongate, canines extending as she charged towards him, but unlike the last time she did that, this time she had a perfect tactic to take him out. Her plan was full proof and was bound to catch him off guard. After spending so many years with him, she knew how his mind worked in regards to his training with her. Their minds worked differently when attacking their opponents, he fought cunningly, whilst she attacked strategically.

She could feel sweat cling to her skin as she threw a fist at him which he managed to dodge easily. Ryan fisted his palms about to hit her with his own, but before he least expected it she threw her head back and rammed it into him. Stars filled his vision as he stumbled back, putting a hand over his bleeding nose. He could feel a stinging pain in his nose but quickly ignored it.

Ryan cracked his head, tilting it sideways as he threw a sloppy kick in her direction. Sapphire jumped over it as she immediately turned his move against him, proceeding to kick him with so much force that he almost fell to the ground. A victorious smirk danced on her face as her ears perked up listening tentatively to the sound of Ryan's raging heart.

Ryan knew that Sapphire had him in a position where she had the upper hand but he wasn't ready to give up yet. It was a fight for who's back hit the ground first and he was adamant about the fact that it wasn't going to be his.

Ryan steadied himself and threw his body weight at her, rimming a fist that edged close to her face, it almost made her blink and before she had any chance to evade it, he hit her jaw with so much force it made blood pool in her mouth. Pain erupted from where his fist hit her, but she quickly ignored it and grasped his head with her two hands, bringing her left knee up to his nose.

The tension in the air was so stiff that a few of the members started biting into their nails. Through the years, they have never witnessed a much more intense fight between their Alpha and their Beta like they were right now. The victory was uncertain and that's what worried them. They knew none of them would back down, because one time they had both fought so hard that they ended up destroying the pack's kitchen, none of them wanted that to happen again. So they all silently prayed for someone's back to hit the ground soon.

Sapphire could hear a blunt crack as she released his dark-haired head. His nose was twisted right as she watched crimson, pour out from both his nostrils, not that it meant anything because they were werewolves. Injuries hurt, but they heal just as fast.

"Do you seriously want to disfigure me!" He yelled as he cracked his nasal bone, setting it back to his usual form. "Could you please avoid my handsome face?" When she shrugged indifferently, he twisted his neck and plowed his fist into her stomach causing her to take a step back.

Sapphire felt like her guts were smashed together, blood vessels bursting in, as she felt her eyes almost water with tears, but rather than backing down from the pain she moved forward and punched his jaw twice as hard, her fist colliding with all of her body weight. She continued this battering until he fell to the floor.

The people sighed in relief as they watched their Beta's chest gently rise and fall with each shallow breath he drew in. They were glad the fight ended soon and especially happy that their Alpha won. Those that laid a bet on her winning were smiling victoriously, whilst those that had voted in their Beta's favor had a look of disappointment on their face. They've always silently wished that he would be able to take her down but from the outcome of today's fight. It wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

Ryan put an arm at the back of his head, a leg crossed over another as he let out a harsh breath. Sapphire stood over him and he could almost swear that he saw a smile creep up on her face, but was quickly washed away as she walked past him and proceeded to the middle of the training room.

It's been five years since the event had occurred, but not once did Ryan see a smile appear on his best friend's face since then. Each day, he tried all his possible best to make her laugh and when it seemed like he was making progress and that she was about to crack, she would immediately replace it with a stern face void of any emotion. He knew it was all a facade and deep down she was truly hurting, but all he ever wanted was for her to open to him so he could comfort her and assure her that it was all okay and nothing was her fault, but he could only do that if she let him.

He lazily blew out air as he jerked himself up "You could have at least helped me up." He joked as he dusted his gym pants. He could feel his battered and swollen face start to heal up as he awaited a comeback from her, but she didn't even turn in his direction causing his face to fall in disappointment.

"Now, I need-" She began as she faced the people about to announce what their next actions for training were only to be cut off as she heard the pack's Gamma and third-in-command's voice ring loudly in her head.

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Dedicated to all my amazing readers who never gave up on this book. Thank you lovelies for all the support. I truly appreciate it.

The next chapter will be out on Sunday.