The ballroom was still alive with graceful movements and soft laughter as the guests continued to dance. Champagne glasses clinked, music played on, and the chandeliers above sparkled like stars.
Outside, under the darkening sky, the mood was vastly different.
Kane flopped into the seat beside Athena, who was hunched over the table, visibly drunk.
"So did... you have... fun... outside?" she mumbled, her cheek pressed against the polished wood, eyes half-lidded and unfocused.
Kane scratched the back of his head, lips curling into a nervous smirk. "Yeah... I just messed around with Raphael, but... I think I took it too far."
Meanwhile, Raphael and Julia stood together, tense and wary, facing down the two hostile werewolves.
"My name's Justin," one of them announced, grinning with fangs bared. He pointed to his comrade. "And that's Luke."
"We're knights from the Xeno Kingdom," Luke added, flexing his claws with a grin. "We may not be one of the 36 Heroes like Barata was but we'll show you what a real Alpha can do."
"Stay out of this," Justin muttered to Luke as he stepped forward, his claws extending. He shifted into a Muay Thai stance with practiced precision. "I've got this one."
"Suit yourself," Luke replied, stepping back.
Raphael's eyes narrowed. (Perfect. One-on-one means I don't have to spill blood.) He slipped into his karate stance, calm and collected.
Justin lunged forward with a flying knee aimed at Raphael's head. Raphael sidestepped with graceful ease, then snapped out a powerful sidekick that cracked into Justin's guard, sending him skidding backward.
Justin shook out his arm. "Damn… this guy's strong."
Without hesitation, Raphael closed the distance, feinting with a front kick. Justin parried and countered with a spinning elbow but Raphael was faster. He blocked the elbow, swept Justin's leg from beneath him, then locked him in a sleeper hold from behind. Justin gasped and thrashed as his face began to darken, losing oxygen.
Luke's eyes widened. With a snarl, he bolted toward Julia, claws bared.
Raphael spotted him in time and released Justin, who collapsed, wheezing. He launched himself toward Julia, intercepting the attack.
Inside the hall, dessert had been served, and the music slowed to a gentle rhythm. Lancelot, ever vigilant, glanced around the room.
Where are Raphael and Julia?
He stood from the group table and walked toward Kane and Athena's table.
Athena mumbled something unintelligible, head now completely down, passed out.
"Hey, Athena and Kane," Lancelot said curtly.
Kane turned with a smirk. "Hey, what's up, homewrecker? Why you at our table?"
Lancelot ignored the jab. "Have you seen Raphael and Julia? They've been gone a while."
Kane rubbed his chin. "Yeah, they're outside... it's been a bit though." His tone grew uncertain.
Lancelot raised a brow. "Should we check on them?"
Kane gave a forced chuckle. "Probably... but I think I know why they're taking long. I, uh... pretended like I was gonna rape Julia. Made Raphael cry. Funny prank, right?"
SLAP!
Lancelot's hand smacked the back of Kane's head hard.
"That's not a prank, dumbass, that's assault. Fix your head."
Kane rubbed his skull, sheepish. "Yeah... I'll apologize."
They rushed outside together.
Blood splattered onto the grass. Julia stared in horror, Raphael's hand was pierced clean through by Luke's claws as he shielded her.
"You're fast," Luke admitted. "But now I've got you."
He yanked his claws free, crimson dripping freely from Raphael's hand.
Raphael stared at the wound, his face going pale. "Blood… BLOOD, IT'S MY BLOOD, MY BLOOOOOOD!!"
He collapsed to his knees, hysterical, and pressed his face into the ground, sobbing and chanting, "Our Father, who art in heaven…"
Luke blinked, confused. "What… the hell?"
Justin stood beside him, brushing dirt off his armor. "Hey, you broke my toy."
"I didn't even hurt him that bad."
"I know how to fix him."
Justin turned toward Julia, claws flashing. She stepped back, trembling.
Before the strike could land, CRACK! Kane's flying knee collided with Justin's jaw, launching him backward in a spinning tumble.
Luke turned, but a crushing side kick from Lancelot slammed into his gut, throwing him across the clearing.
Kane landed with a flourish, grinning. "Sorry, but I'm not about to let you kill my little brother's girlfriend."
Lancelot stepped forward beside him, brushing dust from his hand. "Let me guess. You're looking for Jack. First Barata, now you two. I guess some people never learn."
Justin and Luke stood, snarling.
"So you're Lancelot," Luke growled.
"Don't get cocky just 'cause you beat Barata," Justin spat. "Any knight from the House of Xeno could have taken him."
"We're alphas," Luke added, claws glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"Barata was an alpha too," Lancelot muttered, his eyes narrowing. (But these two… they feel tougher. When I kicked Barata, he felt light but when I kicked these two they felt heavy and solid. These two… they're different.)
"Barata was nothing," Justin snapped. "We'll show you the power of a real Alpha."
Their eyes flared a glowing blue as they took their Muay Thai stances.
Kane cracked his knuckles. "Hope you can keep up, Lancelot, they look strong." His own eyes glowed golden as he fell into stance.
Lancelot exhaled slowly, remembering his grandfather's brutal training, the pain, the growth.
"I'm not the same Lancelot as before."
His eyes glowed gold, and he took his kickboxing stance beside Kane, ready for war.