Anthony's POV:
When Jennifer's body tilted to the side, I couldn't help reaching out to catch her.
As soon as she fell in my arms, my heart throbbed with concern.
Her body was covered with blood and mud, but strangely, I didn't find her dirty at all.
When coming to the Dark River Pack, I never imagined that I would meet my mate here.
Today, I had seen her for the first time at the welcome ceremony.
Although she was wearing old and torn rags, her beauty could not be concealed.
The fragrance of mate bond coming from her hit me like a brick, Knocking the breath out of me.
My heart beat violently the moment I laid eyes on her.
However, I was careful not to show any reaction.
After all, it was a public occasion, and there were many eyes on me.
To my surprise, however, Jennifer's reaction was also calm and collected.
If any other she-wolf had realized that I was their mate, they would have been so excited that they
would have jumped up on the spot and shouted it to everyone.
Therefore, I was very satisfied with Jennifer's reaction.
Being from the royal family, I had seen a lot of beautiful she-wolves before, but not only was my mate
beautiful, she was also smart, rational, and self-conscious.
She had all the qualities that I liked and appreciated.
Therefore, she would make an ideal partner.
In fact, I had never been interested in finding my mate.
A mate was just a weakness that my enemies could take advantage of.
I had something important to do, and I couldn't let a mate hold me back.
However, my mother's biggest wish was for me to find my mate.
Ever since my father died in battle, my mother was in poor health because she couldn't take the loss.
Recently, her condition had worsened.
No one knew how long she would be able to hold on.
Now that I found my mate, I couldn't let my mother die with regret.
I needed Jennifer's help to appease my mother.
But it would be just be a favor that she would be doing me.
I figured that I could talk to her about the situation and ask for her opinion.
Even if we wouldn't be mates in the future, Jennifer would still...
"Anthony, you obviously like her.Don't restrain yourself.This is a mate bond.It's not something you can
control,"
Zane, my wolf, shouted excitedly in my mind, interrupting my line of thought.
"I don't want a mate,"I told him sternly.
"Things are different now.You have feelings for her.Don't try to deny it.And stop using your mother as
an excuse."
"I don't have feelings for her."
"Fine! Then at least accept her for the sake of your mother and me.Accept our mate!"
"Do you like her?"I asked curiously.
"Of course! When was the last time we saw such a strong -willed girl? She is also good at fighting.She
doesn't look like an ordinary werewolf.And just now, I saw the determination in her eyes.She wants to
be stronger.She is a perfect mate for you."
I couldn't deny that Zane was right.
Jennifer's abilities were indeed extraordinary.
With the right training, she would become a force to be reckoned with.
That was why I decided to make an exception and let her participate in the trials.
I looked down at Jennifer, who was lying unconscious in my arMs.I had never held a girl in my arms like
this before.
I was not used to it, so I handed her to a servant behind me.
"Take her to her residence."
The next morning, I arrived at the trial just when it was about to begin.
I glanced around eagerly to find Jennifer, but there was no sign of her.
Yesterday, it seemed that she attached great importance to the trials, so it did not make sense for her
to not show up.
Was it because she was badly injured yesterday that she couldn't come on time? Everyone was looking
at me, waiting for me to announce the start of the trials.
I cleared my throat and said, "The trial is delayed.Let's wait until everyone is here."
Dissatisfaction crossed everyone's eyes when they heard this.
"Why should we wait for a slave?"
The crowd began to whisper among themselves to vent their frustration.
But I couldn't care less what they thought.
I was willing to give the talent I liked a chance, even if it meant making everyone else unhappy.
Finally, Jennifer rushed into the venue, panting for breath.
As soon as she appeared, all eyes turned to her, and countless curses and accusations were thrown
her way.
"You lowly slave! How dare you come late?"
"You don't have the right to make us wait!"
"You better kneel down and apologize to everyone!"
Surrounded by the crowd's insults and taunting, Jennifer's face went pale.I couldn't help but frown.
These people were being too noisy.
"Those who make noise will be disqualified from participating in the trials," I announced.
As soon as my voice fell, everyone shut up.
"You are late,"I said, looking at Jennifer.
"If it happens again, you will be punished."
"Yes, Mr.Jones," Jennifer replied respectfully with her head down.
In fact, I was looking forward to her performance in the trials.
I hoped that she wouldn't let me down.
"The trials begin!"the emcee announced loudly under my instruction.
All the participating werewolves were divided into pairs.
Each pair of werewolves would fight against each other, and the winner would advance to the next
round.
In the end, only three werewolves would be selected to enter the elite training list.
In order to be ranked among the top three, everyone fought fiercely and desperately.
Sure enough, Jennifer didn't disappoint me.
At the beginning, she defeated a big and rough she-wolf, who soon knelt down and begged for her
mercy.
After that, she continued to defeat every opponent of hers.
None of the werewolves were a match for her.
The more she showed her strength in the competition field, the more the crowd warmed up to her.
They began applauding and cheering for her, as if they had forgotten the fact that she was a slave.
Jennifer fought like a warrior, without making any sound even when she was injured.
With narrowed eyes, she attacked swiftly and brutally, without caring about her own safety.
I didn't condone this sort of desperate fighting, but it proved that she was fierce and tenacious.
At the end of the first round, there were only four werewolves left.
"Kevin Brook, Barbara Lively, Linda Miller, and Jennifer Smith! Congratulations, you four have held on
to the end.The second round will be a group battle.The four of you will compete in the circle, and the
first to fall out of the circle will be eliminated.The other three people will enter the elite training list," the
emcee explained.
Soon, the four of them stood in the competition field.
While all the four participants had been wounded in the previous battles, Jennifer also carried the
wounds that she had sustained yesterday.
Out of the four of them, she was obviously in the worst condition.
And during this round, the other two she-wolves ganged up to attack her.
Jennifer's face was deathly pale.
There were several times when I was afraid that she would collapse, but she held on and calmly
responded to their attacks.
After several confrontations, she was at a disadvantage.
But just when she was about to be knocked out of the circle, the only male competitor in the field
attacked the other two she-wolves, causing one of them to fall out of the circle.
Jennifer didn't disappoint me.
She was selected! But for some reason, when I saw the male competitor help her out, I flew into a
rage.
Jennifer panted and looked straight at me, standing in the middle of the competition field in ragged
clothes stained with blood.
I walked up to her and congratulated her on her victory.
"You did a good job today.I appreciate it."
"Thank you.I gave it my best."
Jennifer smiled and wiped the blood off the corner of her mouth.
Kevin's POV:
At the trials, I saw Jennifer again.
Although she seemed to be in bad shape, she still looked charming.
No matter how shabbily she was dressed, she could always attract my attention.
To be honest, I hoped that she would be selected to enter the elite werewolf training list, so that I would
have more chances to be close to her.
Although there were only three spots on that list, I knew that as the future Alpha, I would definitely be
selected.
Before the competition started, when I learned that Jennifer hadn't arrived yet, I was really worried
about her.
Fortunately, she showed up soon.
For some reason, her bruises made her look hotter than usual.
I wanted to pin her down and fuck her like crazy.
"Kevin, you still have a chance.Take the initiative to win her heart.You will succeed,"
Leon, my wolf, tried his best to urge me.I was a little annoyed to hear that.
Why did I, a future Alpha, have to put effort into winning someone's heart? It was like an insult to me.
"Shut up.I just want her body.I don't want her to be my mate," I retorted.
"Really? Then why are you so concerned about her?" Leon pointed out.
I was so embarrassed that it made me angry.
Did I really regret it? Would I take the initiative to ask Jennifer to be my mate again? No way.
When the trials began, I kept an eye on Jennifer.
To my surprise, she performed exceptionally well and became the focus of the crowd.
But in the final round, Barbara and Linda attacked her together.
At first, I just stood aside and watched them fight it out, but at the last critical moment, I decided to help
Jennifer.
I attacked Linda and Barbara.
In the end, Linda was eliminated.
"Kevin Brook, Jennifer Smith, Barbara Lively, congratulations! The three of you have been selected.
Now let's welcome Prince Anthony to award the elite medals,"
the emcee announced.
The three of us stood in the middle of the competition field, waiting for the prince to award us.
Jennifer was heavily injured.
Although her hair was disheveled and she was bleeding here and then, her aura was so dazzling that
everyone couldn't help but gape at her in awe.
Looking at that, I had to accept that I had made a mistake.
The girl I had abandoned was actually excellent.
"I told you not to reject her in a hurry," Leon complained again.
He had been against my decision back then.
"You were too impulsive at that time.Kevin, you have to find a way to win her back."
"Fine, I'll give it a try,"
I agreed, gritting my teeth.
Although it would be beneath my dignity to pursue a girl, she was both beautiful and powerful.
What was more, she was the daughter of an Alpha.
She was much better than that bitch, Barbara, in all aspects.
Thinking of that, I realized how much I regretted rejecting Jennifer.
Fortunately, now that we were going to the royal training ground together, there would be a lot of time
for me to win her heart.
Sooner or later, I would get Jennifer back.
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