The sudden pressure in the air was so intense that it felt like a noose was tied around everyone’s neck and was being pulled to a choking point. Not just the students, but the wolves were breathing with anticipation. They were as still as a statue, their eyes blazing and their lips curled into snarls.
Violet had never seen such raw hostility. It wasn’t just a game anymore; it was a war. Alaric’s team knew this was their last chance to turn the tide. Thanks to Violet’s performance, she had lifted their morale, hence there was no room for failure. Alaric in particular took it upon himself not to allow her efforts be in vain.
On the other hand, Asher’s team were just as determined to crush them till they wept, and there was no hiding the aggression that showed in their taut muscle and glares.
The whistle blew right at that moment, slicing freely through the suspense like a hot knife through butter, while the Lunar Orb shot into the sky like a comet.
All the wolves moved, launching themselves into motion with a ferocity that took Violet’s breath away. It was simply an instant and brutal collison.
Bodies slammed into bodies with force, their aggressive growls and snarls renting through the air. The sight was chaotic yet glorious as furs moved as one violent entity.
Violet’s heart stopped as one wolf took a hit so hard that she saw its teeth fly out. The scene was cinematic, and she had watched it unfold as in slow motion, the memory forever seared in her mind. Although the wolf staggered back, he quickly recovered, knowing there was no pause for mercy in this game.
When the tangle finally broke apart, it turned out to everyone’s shock that it was Griffin who emerged with the Orb. His large wolf barreled forward like a charging bull, the ball secured in his gripper. Seeing that alone, Asher’s defenders wasted no time closing in with their menacing snarls. But Griffin was not deterred.
With a growl that seemed to shake the very field, he plowed into the two defenders, one after the other, side by side, sending them flying. The impact was so ferocious that Violet and half the crowd gasped audibly, stunned by the sheer force of it.
"Oof!" Lila exclaimed beside her, clapping her hands in excitement. "And that’s why you don’t mess with the big boy!"
Violet turned to Natalie, wide-eyed. "I thought you said alphas weren’t allowed to use their powers on the field?"
Natalie replied to her. "That wasn’t his alpha strength, that’s just Griffin being Griffin. The thrill of Fangball is the brutality." She gestured back toward the field. "And look—he’s already crossed into the opponent’s half."
Violet snapped her attention back to the game just in time to see Griffin make a flawless pass to a teammate. It was kind of impressive and a smile unconsciously graced her lips.
The ball moved across the field, the wolf carrying it weaving around his opponent with speed as they quickly gained on him. He quickly passed to Finn, who caught it cleanly and bolted forward. But the opponent had caught up to him.
Two chasers converged on Finn, their aggressive snarls cutting through the air. One rammed into him, and Violet winced as the impact sent Finn stumbling. But just as it seemed like he might lose control of the Orb, one of his team’s chasers tackled one of the opponents to the ground, giving Finn a fleeting moment of reprieve.
But it still wasn’t enough as the other was relentless on snatching the ball. Cornered, Finn had no choice but to make a blind, desperate throw just as the second chaser slammed into him.
The Orb arced high into the air, spinning wildly and from the corner of her eye, Violet saw Roman dart into position, ready to intercept the ball. Fuck that motherfucker. Violet’s heart sank as she realized the ball would be going to him.
Only for her thunderboy to appear out of nowhere.
In a stunning display of speed, Alaric cut across the field like lightning, leaping into the air just seconds before Roman could reach the Orb. The crowd erupted into loud scream as Alaric snatched the ball cleanly.
"Yes!" Violet screamed like never before, even though her voice was barely audible over the screams of the other students. Finally! She pumped her fists in the air.
She watched with pride as Alaric landed gracefully and sprinted toward the scoreline with determination. The defenders scrambled to stop him, their claws tearing at the ground as they gave chase. He was so close, just a few strides away, but a well-timed tackle brought him down before he could make the final push.
The crowd groaned, but then came the whistle, a point had been scored. The third pass had been completed before the tackle, securing one point for Alaric’s team.
Right before her eyes, the scoreboard was updated: Six to five.
Violet leapt to her feet, grabbing Natalie in a moment of pure exhilaration. "He did it!" she screamed with excitement.
Natalie looked just as shocked as she did, though she quickly calmed herself. Realizing what she had done, Violet pulled away, her cheeks burning red. But she couldn’t help it.
Her eyes darted to the scoreboard again. Six to five. All they needed was one more point for a draw and two more for a win.
Except it was four minutes left.
There was no time for passes, what they needed was a three points score.
The reality was not lost on Asher’s team either as they rushed off with the ball but Griffin the dread, knocked into the wolf as if he were mere air. They took control of the ball once more.
"Come on, come on, come on!" Violet clapped her hands, urging them from her position.
It was now or never. They had to score.
But most of all she couldn’t wait to see the smugness slapped off Asher’s miserable face when they win.