Chapter 48
653 Words
Dominic’s POV
The arena was full.
Every warrior who hadn’t left the pack came to watch. The stands were packed. The air felt heavy.
Garett stood across from me. His sword was drawn. His body was ready for war.
Behind him, sixty warriors who believed in him. Who thought he could win. Who wanted to see the Alpha fall.
In front of me, the warriors who still believed. Who still trusted. Who wanted to see their Alpha stand.
And in the stands, Vivian. I could feel her through the bond. Her fear mixed with her certainty. Her hope that I would win.
Kade announced the rules.
“Trial by combat,” he said. His voice carried across the arena. “One-on-one. No interference. No magic. The winner takes the position of Alpha.”
I nodded.
Garett attacked immediately.
He came at me with speed and power. His sword was sharp. His movements were trained. He’d prepared for this.
But he was trying too hard.
I let him come. Didn’t block everything. Let him think he was winning. Let his confidence grow.
On his fifth attack, I saw it.
An opening. A moment where his defense was weak. A fraction of a second where I could end this.
I moved.
My blade met his guard and I drove forward. My shoulder connected with his chest. The air burst out of his lungs.
He flew backward.
He hit the arena floor hard.
For a moment, he didn’t move.
Then he rolled. Got up on his knees. Breathing hard.
Blood was on his lip. His shoulder was bleeding where my blade had cut him.
“You’re finished,” I said.
“I’m just beginning,” he replied.
He stood and came at me again.
We fought across the arena. Back and forth.My blade against his. My experience against his strength.
The crowd went quiet. They weren’t cheering anymore. They were watching. Judging. Trying to understand who would win.
I let the fight continue.
Let him tire himself out. Let him make more mistakes. Let him understand slowly that he couldn’t beat me.
His movements became slower. More desperate. He was throwing everything into each attack. Trying to win through sheer force.
It wasn’t going to work.
On the twentieth exchange, he overcommitted.
He swung wide. Trying to end it. Trying to use his strength to beat through my defense.
I ducked under the swing.
My blade came up.
And suddenly the tip was at his throat.
Close enough that he could feel it. Close enough that one small movement meant death.
The arena went absolutely silent.
He could keep fighting.He could try to knock my sword aside. He could make this last longer.
Or he could accept that he’d lost.
He dropped his sword.
“I yield,” he said.
The crowd erupted.
But not unified. Not the way it should have been. Some warriors cheering. Some angry. Some uncertain.
The pack was still broken.
But at least I was still Alpha.
I turned to where Vivian stood.
Through the bond, I sent her my certainty. My victory. My promise that this was just the beginning.
Kade helped Garett to his feet and guided him out of the arena.
Warriors crowded around me. Some congratulating me. Some accepting the outcome. Some angry but resigned.
I stood in the center of the arena and felt the weight of their eyes.
I’d won.
But Garett was right about one thing.
The pack was fractured. The divisions ran deep. Some warriors had been convinced. Some still doubted.
But they’d all seen the same thing.
Their Alpha was strong.
Their Alpha could fight.
Their Alpha could win.
And when the Solari came, that was what they would remember.
That was what would hold them together.
Not unity of belief. Not perfect faith.
Just the knowledge that their leader could stand and fight.
That was enough.
For now, it was enough.
- Writer
