Betrayed By My Mate, Crowned By An Alpha.

Power plays

(Aria)

By afternoon, the pack house felt like a war zone. Wolves whispered in corners and went silent when I walked by. Some nodded respectfully, acknowledging my new status as Luna. Others looked at me like I was something disgusting they'd stepped in. The division was clear, and it was getting worse by the hour.

I needed to do something. Sitting in Kael's office all morning, going over pack business and pretending everything was normal, wasn't working. The pack needed to see their Luna in action, not hiding behind closed doors.

"I'm going to training," I announced, standing up from the desk where I'd been reviewing supply reports.

Kael looked up from his own paperwork. "Are you sure that's wise? Tensions are running high."

"Exactly why I need to be there. If I hide up here, they'll think I'm weak. That I can't handle being Luna."

"Some of them already think that."

"Then I'll prove them wrong."

He studied my face for a moment, then nodded. "Don't let them push you into anything stupid."

"When have I ever done anything stupid?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

Despite everything, I almost smiled. "I'll be fine. Besides, it's just training. What could go wrong?"

Famous last words.

The training grounds were behind the pack house, a large cleared area surrounded by tall pines. About thirty pack members were there when I arrived, some in human form working with weapons, others shifted and practicing combat moves. The conversation died the moment they spotted me.

"Luna," said Silas, one of the senior warriors. He was in his forties, graying at the temples, and had always been respectful to me in the past. "We weren't expecting you."

"I thought I'd join today's session. It's been a while since I had a good workout."

Several of them exchanged glances. I could practically hear them thinking. A few looked pleased to see me. Most looked uncomfortable. And a small group near the far end of the field looked downright hostile.

Ashley was with that group, along with three other girls around our age. She'd changed out of Daniel's shirt and into workout clothes, but I could still see faint marks on her neck from their activities last night. The sight made my stomach turn.

"Of course, Luna," Silas said, though he sounded uncertain. "We were about to start sparring practice. Wolf form."

Perfect. Nothing like a good fight to prove myself.

I stripped out of my clothes without ceremony, folding them and setting them on a nearby bench. I'd been doing this since I was fifteen. Modesty had been beaten out of me years ago. Around me, others were doing the same, preparing to shift.

"Everyone pair off," Silas called. "Remember, this is practice. No serious injuries."

I looked around for a partner. Most of them I would normally train with were already paired up or were pointedly looking elsewhere. That left me with limited options.

"I'll spar with you, Luna," said a young male voice. Jake, barely eighteen and new to the adult training groups. He was trying to be respectful, but I could see the doubt in his eyes. He thought this would be easy.

"Actually," Ashley's voice cut across the field, sweet as honey and twice as fake, "I think the Luna should train with someone more experienced."

She walked over with her little group following behind. Sarah, Michelle, and Tara. All daughters of higher ranking pack members, all followers rather than leaders. They'd never liked me much even when I was just Daniel's mate. Now they looked at me like I was something that needed to be exterminated.

"I volunteer to help train our new Luna," Ashley continued, her blue eyes innocent. "Since I have so much more experience in combat."

That was rich, considering I'd been training twice as long as she had and had actual battle experience outside of practice sessions. But I could see what she was doing. Making it sound like she was being helpful while really issuing a challenge.

"How generous of you," I said, my voice just as sweet. "Though I think Silas was planning individual matches."

"Oh, but Luna," Sarah spoke up, "shouldn't you be able to handle multiple opponents? I mean, you are our pack leader now. What if we're attacked and you need to defend us?"

The others were all watching now, sensing the tension. Some looked excited at the prospect of drama. Others seemed worried about where this was heading.

"Sarah makes a good point," Ashley said, nodding seriously. "A Luna should be stronger than regular pack members. Maybe you should fight all four of us at once. Just to be sure you're up to the job."

There it was. The trap. If I said no, I'd look weak and afraid. If I said yes, I'd be fighting four on one against wolves who clearly wanted to hurt me. And Ashley wasn't stupid. She knew exactly what she was doing.

"Fine," I said. "Four on one it is."

Silas stepped forward. "Luna, I don't think that's necessary. Regular sparring partners would be more appropriate."

"No," I said firmly. "If my pack members think their Luna needs to prove herself, then I'll prove herself."

I shifted without another word, letting Ember take control. The transformation felt smoother than usual, like my wolf form was becoming more natural. Maybe it was the Luna bond, or maybe I was just angry enough that shifting felt like a relief.

Ember stood in the middle of the training ring, russet fur shining in the afternoon sun. She was smaller than the four wolves surrounding her, but she held her head high and showed no fear. Around the field, the other pack members had stopped their own training to watch.

Ashley's wolf, Silk, was the largest of the four. Golden fur, ice blue eyes, and an attitude that screamed princess. She circled to Ember's left while Sarah and Michelle took the right. Tara moved behind me, cutting off any escape route.

"Begin," Silas called, though he sounded reluctant.

They didn't waste time with posturing. All four wolves attacked at once.

Ember spun and caught Sarah's lunge, throwing the smaller wolf aside with a twist of her powerful shoulders. Michelle tried to grab Ember's back leg, but Ember kicked backward and sent her rolling. Tara leaped from behind, and Ember ducked low, letting the other wolf sail over her.

But Ashley was faster than the others, more experienced. While Ember was dealing with the other three, Silk struck. Her teeth found Ember's shoulder, digging in deep.

Ember snarled and twisted, breaking free, but blood was flowing now. The scent of it made the other wolves more aggressive, more eager to join the attack.

They came again, all four together. This time Ember wasn't fast enough to avoid them all. Sarah's teeth found her back leg. Michelle grabbed her tail. Tara went for her throat.

And Ashley, seeing her chance, lunged for Ember's vulnerable neck.

That's when the roar shook the entire training ground.

Thunder materialized out of nowhere, a massive black shadow that landed between the attacking wolves and Ember. His roar was so loud, so full of alpha authority, that every wolf on the field immediately dropped to their bellies in submission.

Every wolf except Ember.

She stood beside Thunder, blood on her fur but her head held high, golden eyes blazing with defiance. She hadn't submitted. She couldn't submit. She was Luna.

Thunder's presence filled the training ground like a storm cloud. His silver markings caught the sunlight as he turned his massive head to look at each of the wolves still pressed against the ground. His message was clear: anyone who attacked his Luna attacked him.

Kael shifted back to human form, not bothering with clothes. His rage was visible in every line of his body.

"Anyone who challenges my Luna," he said, his voice carrying across the silent training ground, "challenges me. Remember that."

The wolves began to shift back, looking ashamed and frightened. All except Ashley, who remained in wolf form, staring at me with undisguised hatred.

That's when Daniel appeared at the edge of the training ground.

He wasn't alone. Behind him were six young warriors, all loyal to him, all looking ready for a fight. They spread out in a line, facing Kael and me across the field.

"Having trouble controlling the pack, father?" Daniel called out. "Maybe that's what happens when you make stupid decisions."

The wolves still on the ground looked back and forth between the two groups. Pack members choosing sides. Father against son. Alpha against heir.

"Careful, Daniel," Kael warned. "You're very close to challenging my authority."

"Maybe I am."

The words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to explode. Several pack members gasped. A direct challenge to the Alpha was serious business, with serious consequences.

But before Daniel could say anything else, I shifted back to human form and stepped forward.

"Enough," I said, my Luna voice carrying across the field. "This isn't about Kael or Daniel or pack politics. This is about respect."

I turned to face Ashley, who was still in wolf form, still staring at me with hatred.

"You want to question my right to be Luna? Fine. Let's settle this properly. Single combat. Just you and me. Winner takes all."

Ashley shifted back, a nasty smile spreading across her face. "You mean it? One on one, no interference?"

"That's exactly what I mean."

"And what does the winner get?"

I looked around at all the watching faces, at the divided pack, at the mess that my life had become in less than twenty four hours.

"If you win, I'll leave the pack forever. Give up my claim to be Luna and disappear."

Gasps reverberated around the training ground. Kael started forward, but I held up a hand to stop him.

"And if I win," I continued, "you acknowledge me as your Luna. Publicly. In front of the entire pack. And you stop trying to undermine me."

Ashley's smile widened. "Deal."

We shook hands in the middle of the field, surrounded by our pack mates. The challenge was official now. There was no backing down.

"Tomorrow night," I said. "Full moon. The ceremonial ring."

"Tomorrow night," Ashley agreed.

As I walked away to collect my clothes, I heard Daniel talking to his supporters.

"This is perfect," he was saying. "Ashley will destroy her, and then we can get back to the way things should be."

I kept walking, but Ember was snarling in my mind. Tomorrow night, one of us would prove who belonged in this pack.

And I had a terrible feeling that whoever lost wasn't going to walk away.