Rejected Luna

CHAPTER 3: The Challenge

Aria’s Pov

The sound of the pack waking up reached my room before the sunlight did.

Voices echoed through the corridors. Footsteps moved quickly across the wooden floors. Whispers filled everywhere as everyone prepared for the Mate ritual.

For everyone in the Shadow Fang Pack, today was not just another day. It was a day of hope. A day where dreams could become reality.

But for me,it was simply another reminder that I belonged to a world I had never truly been part of.

I sat on the edge of my bed,staring at the dress Nora had left behind on the chair beside me. It was too beautiful for me.

The dark blue fabric shimmered slightly whenever the morning light touched it,and the small silver details around the sleeves made it look like something a real heiress would wear.

It was the dress that my mother always wore to special occasions. I picked it up carefully before placing it back down

“You’re seriously not thinking of staying here,are you?” I looked up to see Nora standing by my doorway.

I sighed

“Do you ever knock?”

“Why do I have to knock in a friend's home” I smiled slightly

Nora walked inside and picked up the dress before placing it into my hands

“You’re going”

I looked at her

“Nora”

She pointed at me

“Don’t start”

I stared at her

“You know I have no reason to be there”

“You have all the reasons to be there, Aria. This doesn’t happen everyday. Let’s just go and see how it’s done”

Maybe she was right after all. I should allow myself to exist. Even if it was only for one night.

“Okay fine”

Nora jumped on excitedly

“But first I need to find something to eat Nora”

“Then let’s go get something to eat”

We went outside to get some fruits. There was a large crowd at the training ground.

“What could be going on?” Nora asked curiously

I shrugged

“We won’t know till we get there”

We moved to where the crowd gathered. They were having a friendly duel.

It was something Shadow fang pack did during important gatherings.

A chance for warriors and young werewolves to prove how strong they are.

The entire area was filled with excitement. Their voices blended together as they waited for the first match.

“Let’s stay and watch” Nora said

The match started and different wolves were matched together. I watched as they jumped against each other and how one beat the other.

“This looks fun” I heard Nora whispered to me

I smiled at her

“I think I’m interested” She said as she went up to the stage as they were looking for the next participant

“What? Nora” I whispered but she was already gone.

She was paired with a male wolf but even he knows he stands no chance against Nora. She was not a princess or anything but she’s one of the strongest in the pack.

The duel started. I watched as Nora moved swiftly making an attack against her opponent. She looked completely different when fighting. Fierce,fast and strong. With a few moves she knocked her opponent down.

She was declared the winner and everyone cheered happily. She looked at me among the crowd and waved at me.

I smiled and waved at her back.

My eyes landed on Lyra.

She stood on the other side of the arena surrounded by her friends wearing a confident smile.

She looked at me and gave a wicked smile. I knew she was up to no good.

Nora soon came back to my side.

“How was I?”

“Wonderful as usual” I said smiling at her

“What? Lyra is contesting?” one of the wolves said.

I looked up and saw Lyra in the arena waiting for someone to challenge her.

No one dared to because they know how strong her wolf is.

“Since no one is willing to come out, I guess I’ll have to pick someone myself” She said and faced where I was standing.

“Oh no” Nora said

“I choose Aria” she said pointing at me

“What?”

“How could she pick Aria?”

“Except she wants to embarrass her on purpose”

People started whispering among themselves.

“Lyra. If you’re doing this on purpose then stop” Nora stepped forward and confronted her.

I stared at the ground unable to say anything.

“What is wrong with her proving her stay in the pack?” She said looking at Nora

“I know what you’re doing Lyra. You know she can’t.”

Lyra interrupted her.

“She can't do what?”

“You know what I’m saying”

I walked forward and held Nora not to say anything.

“I accept your challenge” I also don’t know what made me accept it

Nora faced me

“Are you insane?”

“You know you don’t stand a chance against her”

I placed my hands on Nora shoulder

“I know that Nora. But you said it yourself. I can’t keep running away from things. I need to prove myself”

“But” Nora tried to say something but I stopped her and went up inside the ring

“Let’s do this” I said to Nora getting in form as Nora thought me

We waited for the start signal.

My eyes landed on Alpha Kael Draven somewhere around the crowd.

Why did he have to be here today of all days?

I looked at Nora as she wished me luck.

Lyra launched her first attack. She moved fastly I could barely point out where she was. The only thing I could do was block a few attacks but she was too strong.

She landed her final attack and I was completely helpless on the ground.

The crowd murmurs.

Lyra started transforming into her wolf. She was determined to end me right there.

I watched as she launched towards me, unable to do anything. If this is really how I die,then so be it. I closed my eyes waiting for my fate but the next I heard was someone landing on the ground. I opened my eyes.

It was Nora.

She protected me from her. Lyra spilled blood from her mouth because she fell hard to the ground and transformed back to her human form.

She stood up angrily and shouted angrily.

“Nora! How dare you interrupt a match”

Nora moved closer to her

“Anyone could see it was no longer a friendly match, Lyra. You nearly killed her!”

“She's right. Why take a match that personal?”

“She knew Aria was no match for her and still forced her to fight”

Lyra watched as everyone said their opinion.

She was embarrassed and stormed out of the arena angrily.

Nora helped me up but I was too weak to stand up.

I leaned on her and walked out of the arena. I spotted the Alpha again watching as everything happened.

“I can't go home right now Nora”

“Let's go to the secret base then” I nodded and Nora walked me away from the Arena.