I stared at the massive wolf before me, my expression twisted into a scowl.
What the hell is this?
My gaze snapped up to the private bleachers, where Cassian sat flanked by the other council members. His face was carved from stone—calm, unreadable. But the rest of them? Smirks and smug grins were painted shamelessly across their faces.
Of course. A setup.
---
Earlier.
"How do we know our Luna is strong enough to even fight, Alpha?"
Roman, one of the older council members, dropped the question like a bomb with that ever-present sly grin of his. I'd long known him to be a cunning and conniving wolf. Most of the young alphas who had challenged Cassian during training? Brainwashed puppets sent by him.
Cassian knew it too. But I suspect he kept the old mutt around for sport.
Cassian's jaw ticked.
"What exactly are you implying, Roman?"
Roman leaned back lazily, as if he had all the time in the world. "I'm just saying, Alpha. Some packs are led by strong, fearless Lunas. Warriors. How do we know..." He turned his beady eyes on me, "...that our very own Luna can hold her ground in a real fight?"
He steepled his fingers.
I narrowed my eyes, barely keeping the growl out of my throat.
The rest of the council was silent, the gears in their heads clearly turning. Technically, it was a valid question—but coming from Roman, it was laced with venom.
He wanted blood. Mine.
And with no other female warriors in the pack, it was obvious who I'd be facing: a ranked male warrior.
---
So that was his plan.
Cassian had no choice but to agree—his hands were tied when the rest of the council voted unanimously in favor of the challenge. Roman even picked my opponent: one of the most brutal ranked warriors in the pack. A tank of a wolf known for sheer violence.
Compared to him, I might as well have been a mouse.
Yet my wolf growled softly in my mind, her spirit rising. I wasn't afraid. Not in the slightest.
I glanced up again. Cassian's face had darkened, his jaw rigid with suppressed fury. That look alone told me this opponent wasn't his choice. Sitting beside him, Roman wore a sickeningly pleased grin.
I had half a mind to rip that expression clean off his smug face.
I exhaled slowly and turned my gaze to the moon hanging high above.
Selene, I whispered silently, watch me now.
Luke stepped into the center of the ring.
"This match is to prove our Luna's strength!" he bellowed for all to hear. "Are you ready?"
I nodded, wordless.
My opponent tilted his head and let out a guttural howl, echoed by others around the training ground. The sound rolled over us like a wave of thunder.
"Then… BEGIN!"
Luke leapt back as my opponent lunged at me like a wild beast unchained.
Barbarian.
He came in fast, fists swinging like wrecking balls. I ducked and weaved, blocking his strikes with my forearms and legs, absorbing the impacts but refusing to fall. He aimed for my ribs, my side, my stomach—but I was faster.
Still, he was unrelenting. His power was crushing, each blow sending vibrations through my bones.
Then, he brought both fists together for a two-handed smash. I leapt back just in time, his fists slamming into the ground where I'd just stood.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"She's holding up—"
"She's dodging—?"
"No one's lasted five minutes with him!"
The whispers reached me. I kept my expression neutral, which only seemed to enrage my opponent further. He snarled and charged again.
I caught a glance of Cassian. He was... smiling. Just slightly.
My heart leapt.
Roman, on the other hand, looked like he'd swallowed something sour.
A thrill ran through me as my wolf howled within. I raised a fist toward my opponent and grinned.
"Is that all you've got, ranked warrior?"
He bared his teeth and surged forward.
This time, I stood my ground.
At the last second, I ducked low and slammed a kick into his gut, then followed with a sharp right hook to his face. He staggered back—but only a few steps.
Sturdy bastard, I muttered, shaking the sting from my hand.
He came again, wild with fury. I dodged, blocked, countered—but my limbs were growing heavy, breath shallow. He was tiring too, his movements sluggish.
We circled each other, both panting.
I went in for a side kick, but he caught my ankle mid-air.
Shit.
His grip was like iron.
Before I could twist away, he pulled back and punched. I barely raised my arms in time, his fist crashing into them with bone-jarring force.
The impact sent me flying.
I hit the ground hard, pain shooting through my back. My vision blurred.
Don't stay down. Get up!
I pushed up slowly, swaying. My opponent blurred in my sightline.
"Elara!" someone shouted—Cassian?
A chill ran through me. My body moved before I could think, bending low just as my opponent's fist whistled past where my head had been.
I looked up—he was frozen in mid-motion, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Instinct had saved me.
I planted my hands on the ground and swung both legs upward in a savage arc, catching him squarely under the chin.
His head snapped back. He stumbled.
Then, slowly, he dropped to his knees... and collapsed.
Silence.
I stood there, heart pounding.
"I… won…"
A roar erupted from the crowd. Cheers. Howls. My name.
"Our Luna!!!"
I raised my hands in triumph, letting their energy wash over me.
I turned to the private bleachers—and Cassian was standing, his eyes locked on mine, a proud smile on his face.
Warmth bloomed in my chest. I smiled back, something unfamiliar and fluttering spreading through me.
These feelings were new.
But I didn't hate them.
My wolf rumbled in agreement.