TAMING THE PLAYBOY ALPHA - Chapter 20: Chapter 20

FREYA'S POV
Now, the crowd is thrown in a full-on buzz and we all know why of course.
For some reason, Silas finds this amusing because he smiles brightly despite the confusion bustling all around us.
"Are you crazy?" I whisper the words to him while watching the eyes around me. "This isn't the time to be pulling crazy stunts, Silas."
He seems full-on amused by all this, unaffected.
"I've chosen you as my partner, Freya, you should be honored." He talks loudly without bothering to tone it down, making me more embarrassed.
Xena just stares dumbfounded whilst Lucas watches with a foreign look in his eyes, saying nothing about it.
I had half expected his friend to talk some sense into him but he remains silent.
"Well then, I refuse."
Silas snorts. "You can't refuse once the red thread is tied."
"Well, then untie it." I make a move to twist the knots open but he stops me.
"That's a taboo, Freya. You don't want to receive some kind of liberal punishment, do you?"
I scream internally, trapped in this elaborate scheme he's so meticulously planned. He certainly looks smug right now.
I turn to Xena now, pleading with my eyes first. She warms up immediately, taking ahold of my free arm, worry written all over her. "I don't even know how this whole thing works?" I'm panicking.
"Don't worry, I'll put you through it. It involves shooting an arrow lit with flames to light the two torches atop their pillars."
"I've never used an arrow before."
"Don't worry, it's super easy. You're an Alpha after all."
I gulp down the ball of saliva stuck in my throat as the weight of anxiety slowly grows heavier.
I console myself, however, with the thought that it simply involved shooting some arrow onto a pillar. It shouldn't be too hard even without much practice... right?
The rest of the day passes painfully slowly. My heart only pulses faster as the time moves closer to the ritual that holds after school.
I'm sweating more than usual and I hope no one notices how nervous I am.
Asides from that, there's the dilemma of being literally tied to Silas for the rest of the day. They had unfortunately left out the part where the two tied partners remained bonded together till the end of the day when the ritual officially begins.
I groan every time we pass a group of students that pause in their discussions to look at the both of us and murmur.
I can't even imagine what will happen once I need to use the female lavatory. I hope my bladder can hold on for me today.
All the time, Silas is bent on being a gentleman, opening doors and pulling out seats for me, making me feel tenser.
We walk down the hallway side by side, more eyes moving toward us as we pass.
I groan for the umpteenth time today.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I comment, watching him.
He looks down at me, raising a brow.
"You're enjoying my torment."
"No need to be so dramatic. If their stares bother you, just ignore it,"
he says it like it's a simple feat.
"Easy for you to say. You were literally born under the spotlight. You're used to this much attention, so it doesn't faze you."
"Well, an Alpha with stage fright wouldn't make sense, would it?" He quips smugly but I pass an eye roll.
"Why are you acting so against this anyway? All the girls would kill to be in your position." He continues with a smile now. "Get it, Freya? Right now, you're in the most envied position in school; by my side."
He smiles at me with a hazy look in his eyes. He moves a bit closer, grazing his finger against mine in an attempt to hold hands.
I shiver from the slight impact, shifting my hand away from him too fast.
"No trying any funny business while we're bonded like this, cah- peesh?" I feel heat in my cheeks and I'm flustered from the brief contact.
He chuckles beside me. He's using me for his entertainment, I just know it.
I suddenly trip over something, almost falling to the floor. Silas pulls onto the string that draws me backward before catching me in his arms quickly.
I unconsciously feel the contours of his firm muscular arm tightly holding me against him.
I'm too close to his hard chest and can hear the beating of his heart that thumps quickly. I feel my own pulsing organ begin racing too from the close proximity but I pull away quickly.
I want to scold him for making a move on me again but his attention is focused elsewhere and I follow it to find a very pissed Elena. "You could have gotten her hurt. Do you know what that could have meant for us?"
"It would mean that this stupid ritual didn't have to happen. Why didn't you choose me, Silas?"
Ah, I see. My tripping wasn't solely based on my latent clumsiness but a man-made accident.
"Look I'll choose you next time. It can't always be you, Elena"
She doesn't seem to take his words quite well.
"How dare you humiliate me like that in front of everyone?"
He sighs, seeming physically tired already.
"It's just a simple procedure, it doesn't mean anything."
"That doesn't change the fact that you chose this sewer rat instead of me." She re-directs her fury my way but I'm too tired and exhausted by more important things at the moment.
"I've been called worse by better." I deadpan. "Shut up, bitch, you are just insufferable!" She flares up.
"Wow, Elena. The people who tolerate you daily are the real ones that deserve this honor."
"Don't try to be snarky with me. I know what you're doing. You're not the first to try and steal what belongs to me and you won't be the last." She attempts to sound intimidating.
"That sounds like a 'you' problem. Jealousy is a disease though; I hope you get well soon." I try my best to fake concern.
She huffs and I can almost see steam coming out of her ears while she storms off in the other direction.
Silas laughs at full throttle beside me again.
"Glad to see someone is at least getting a kick out of all this craziness." I roll my eyes playfully.
"You're comical, Freya. It's refreshing."
"Glad to be of service, I'm here all week apparently."
He laughs more on the way to class.
The day finally runs by. I'm torn between being relieved that it's almost over and nervous that the main event is about to begin.
The red thread finally comes off and we change into archery attire; a long sleeve purple top with black tights. My frizzy hair is lifted in a bun and I wear black gloves.
My anxiousness increases ten folds as I'm handed a bow more than half my height. The wood used to carve it is strong and thick with a well-secured string.
We move to the ritual grounds, constructed like an arena. The bleachers are filled with cheering students and a thousand pairs of leering eyes, all waiting to see me fumble.
I wipe the sweat dripping from my forehead, flexing my fingers.
Silas emerges by my side, clad in the same attire as I am and it looks way better on him. Everything looks better on him.
I can't help but gawk a bit at those biceps that flex with each movement he makes. He takes his position by my side and turns to me.
"You ready?"
I'm anything but ready but what choice do I have? There's no going back at this point.
"Where are the torches?"
It's another question on my mind amidst the countless thoughts that plague me.
"Oh, over there."
He points up ahead and at first, I don't see what he's pointing to but then I realize it's because it's that far away.
I look at the two extremely tall pillars more than 50 meters high and a good distance away, and fall into full-blown panic.
Oh shit.
There's no way I can shoot an arrow that high in the sky and hit my target square on with the hard bow and string that feels like it's made of iron.
I lack the full-on strength and eagle eyes a true Alpha-born should have, instead what I have are nonexistent omega muscles and eyes that can only see very far.
I tremble on the spot, gripping onto my bow tightly and praying to the moon goddess for some miraculous strength to pull this off. We take our position, both dipping the edges of our arrows wrapped in cotton into barrels of flammable liquid by my side. They are lit on fire and the ritual begins.
Silas stretches his string effortlessly, raising the tip of his bow high and aiming for the torch.
He has no need to even close one eye for better aiming. He lets go immediately and it shoots forward with impeccable speed through the air and up the Sun pillar.
In seconds, the torch bursts into bright golden flames, making the crowd cheer wildly. He smiles with pride and then looks at me nodding.
I gulp, muttering a final prayer. Time to wing it, I guess
I take my position, fumbling with the arrow to put it in place just as he had.
I tug on the string but it's too tough to pull back and despite my gloves, it digs painfully into my palm.
I grind my teeth, pulling onto it with every strength I can gather in my body but it only bends a bit.
I stagger on my feet, losing balance from the force I'm putting in, knocking the barrel of flammable liquid all over.
It's wet and slippery. More moments of struggle and staggering and
I trip over the liquid, letting go of the arrow that shoots and falls simply 2 feet away from me.
My weak attempt at shooting the arrows is followed by gripping stone-cold silence.