Chapter 32
889 Words
The warrior circled me like a predator. His eyes never left mine and the smirk on his face made my stomach twist. I could hear the pack murmuring all around us, waiting to see me fail. My palms were sweaty, my chest tight. I tried to steady my breathing the way Joey taught me, but nothing seemed to stick. This guy looked like he was ready to kill me.
He lunged first. I barely dodged, stumbling back a step, and the crowd laughed. Heat crawled up my neck but I forced myself to focus. I swung clumsily, catching his arm, but it did nothing. He was twice my size, solid muscle and experience, while I felt like a child pretending to fight.
“You’re weak,” he taunted, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “Not fit to stand beside him. I’ll prove it to everyone.”.
Fear shot through me. His next blow landed on my ribs and I gasped, the sting running up my side. I staggered but stayed on my feet. Joey’s voice rang in my head don’t give up, keep moving.
I tried again, aiming for his leg this time, but he caught me and shoved me to the ground. The impact rattled my bones. The pack roared with laughter, some even cheering him on.
“Get up, Luna,” someone mocked from the crowd. “Show us that fire.”
My chest burned at the words, but not with shame. It was real heat, the dangerous kind that made my vision blur at the edges. My hands tingled, faint sparks licking at my skin, but I clenched my fists and forced it down. Not here, not now.
The warrior didn’t give me a chance. He stomped forward and kicked, and I rolled out of the way just in time. Dirt clung to my hands as I scrambled up, but his fist slammed into my jaw before I could recover. Pain exploded across my face and I tasted blood.
Gasps rippled through the crowd but no one stopped him. No one cared.
I swayed, blinking hard, and saw his next move before he made it. His eyes weren’t on me like I was an opponent. They were cold, cruel. He wanted to end me.
Devon’s growl shook the clearing before the warrior’s final blow could land. In a blur, he was there, one hand catching the warrior’s wrist mid-strike. Power rolled off him in waves, making the air feel heavy.
“That’s enough,” Devon snarled, his voice deep and dangerous.
The warrior froze, his bravado gone, but Devon didn’t let go. He twisted the man’s arm until he dropped to his knees with a cry.
“She is your Luna,” Devon’s voice thundered, carrying across the pack. “You will not touch her again.”
The clearing was silent, though I could still feel the judgment in their stares. No one cared that I had nearly been killed. No one cared that the fight was never fair. All they saw was a Luna who couldn’t defend herself.
My chest tightened, shame mixing with fury.
Devon released the warrior with a shove that sent him sprawling to the dirt. He turned then, his gaze locking on the elder who had arranged this. The man didn’t flinch, though his eyes flickered with unease.
“You wanted her to prove herself,” Devon said, his voice like ice. “But what I saw was an attempt on her life. Do not mistake my patience for weakness.”
The elder straightened, meeting his glare. “She was tested as tradition demands. If she is too weak, then perhaps she is not---”
The sound of Devon’s growl cut him off. He moved in one swift step, towering over the elder until the man had to tilt his head back to look at him.
“She is mine,” Devon said, his voice shaking with the force of his Alpha power. “And if anyone in this pack raises a hand against her again, I will rip it off myself. Do you understand me?”
The elder swallowed, the color draining from his face. Around us, no one dared breathe. The weight of Devon’s fury pressed down on them all, and I saw heads bowing, spines bending under the command.
“Yes, Alpha,” the elder forced out, his voice hoarse.
Devon stepped back, still radiating rage, and pulled me into his side. His arm was like a shield, holding me close, keeping me steady.
“This hunt is over,” he declared. “There will be no more trials, no more tests. She is your Luna. That is the end of it.”
A chorus of reluctant “Yes Alpha” followed, though the bitterness in their tone was sharp. I felt their eyes on me, full of blame, as if I was the reason they’d been denied their hunt.
Devon didn’t care. He turned us both, leading me away from the clearing. His hand was tight on mine, his steps heavy with anger.
But as we left the crowd behind, I caught whispers following us.
“She’ll ruin us.”
“She’s cursed.”
“She doesn’t belong.”
Each word sank like a stone in my chest.
I didn’t look back.
- Writer
