Chapter 31
929 Words
The forest was alive with movement. Warriors gathered in groups, their laughter carrying through the trees as they stripped out of their clothes getting ready for the shift. Families were gathered together bragging about who would bring back the best meat for the night. It was the day of the hunt, one of the biggest events in the pack, and I had barely stepped out when I felt every eye on me.
Devon’s hand was warm in mine, steady, but it didn’t stop the knot in my stomach from tightening. I had heard the whispers all week and I knew what most of them thought of me as a danger to the pack. A mistake. Not worthy of Luna.
Levi didn’t waste time. I still don't get why he hates me so much. I never did anything to him but he's been a thorn in my flesh since I came to the pack. He stepped forward from the crowd, his tall frame blocking my view of the others. His voice rang out, sharp enough to silence the laughter. “She doesn’t belong here.”
A murmur rippled through the pack. Some nodded, some frowned, but none spoke against him.
“She’s not ready to be a part of the hunt,” Levi continued, his eyes fixed on Devon now. “You’d risk our hunt by bringing her with us? After what happened during training? After she nearly killed one of our own?”
The sting of his words hit deep but I kept my face still. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. I was stronger than that now.
Others began to join in, voices rising.
“He’s right.”
“She’ll ruin the hunt.”
“She’s not strong enough.”
The noise grew, pressing in on all sides until Devon’s patience snapped. His Alpha voice rolled over them like thunder. “Enough.”
The ground itself seemed to still. No one dared move under the weight of his command. Devon’s eyes glowed, sharp and dangerous, and for the first time since I had been here I saw what it meant to be Alpha.
“She is my mate,” he said, each word carrying force. “She is your Luna. If anyone has a problem with that, step forward and face me now.”
Silence. No one moved, though I saw the anger in their faces, the doubt.
But before Devon could lead me away, an elder stepped forward. His hair was silver, his eyes hard, and his voice carried more weight than the muttering of the crowd.
“Alpha,” he said, bowing his head briefly before turning his gaze to me. “Respectfully, your mate has not earned her place among us. Titles are not enough. Power is not enough. She must prove herself as Luna if she wishes to stand beside us in the hunt.” The bitterness in his voice was clear like he was wishing me dead and I really couldn't understand why they held such emotions toward me.
Devon’s jaw tightened. “She doesn’t need to prove anything.”
The elder’s eyes narrowed. “Then you risk the loyalty of your pack. If you force her into the hunt without trial, you divide us.”
More murmurs, louder now. This time they weren’t whispers but agreement. Some even clapped in support of the elder’s words.
Devon’s hand clenched around mine, his power pushing against the resistance, but I felt it in his touch if he kept fighting them, the pack would split.
I stepped forward before he could speak. My voice wasn’t as strong as his, but it was mine. “What do you want me to do?”
The elder’s gaze landed on me, sharp as a blade. “Fight one of our warriors. Win, and you join the hunt. Lose, and you step aside until you are ready.”
The crowd roared with approval. My chest tightened. I wasn’t ready for this, not after what happened last time, not with the fire still burning inside me like an untamed storm. But backing down would mean proving them right.
Devon pulled me to the side, his voice low but urgent. “You don’t have to do this. I won’t let them decide your worth.”
I shook my head. “If I don’t, they’ll never accept me. You know that.”
His eyes searched mine, torn between fury and pride, between protecting me and letting me fight. I reached up and touched his cheek, forcing a small smile. “Trust me.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded once.
When we turned back, the elder was already calling for a warrior. The crowd parted, and a tall man with broad shoulders stepped into the clearing, his eyes hungry for a fight. He bowed to the elder, then to Devon, before turning his attention to me.
“This is your Luna?” he asked with a smirk. “I’ll be gentle.”
I clenched my fists, heat flickering faintly under my skin. Joey’s voice echoed in my head from training. Control it. Don’t fight it.
The pack circled around us, their excitement buzzing like electricity in the air. Devon stood at the edge, his power radiating like a shield over me, but he didn’t step in. He was giving me this chance.
The warrior cracked his neck, settling into his stance. “Ready?”
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding against my ribs. The fire inside me stirred, dangerous and eager.
I nodded.
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