The Last Luna Standing

Chapter 8

Tamara

Earth and I sat on a stack of logs, both of us covered in a light sheen of sweat after an exhausting afternoon of drills. Earth sighed, looking up at the darkening sky.

"There is little to no time left, Tamara. The pack is getting restless. I will explain the details of the trials to you tomorrow."

I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. "Are you nervous for me?"

She looked at me, a soft expression on her face. "I am worried. But you are tougher than you were two weeks ago."

"Do you ever dream of having a mate, Earth? Someone who really understands you?" I asked curiously.

Earth let out a dry laugh. "I haven't dreamt that far yet. I haven't really seen many good examples of mates in my life, so I don't know what to hope for."

I hesitated, but my curiosity got the better of me. "What about your parents? Were they... close?"

Earth let out a long sigh. She picked at a splinter on the log. "They were mean to us, Tamara. They were cruel to North especially. They believed that affection was a weakness. They raised us to believe that to rule, you have to be feared."

She looked at me, her eyes sad. "That is why North turned out like this…so cold and distant. But beneath all that ice, he is a good person. He just doesn't know how to show it."

She looked out toward the fortress. "The way of the Night Sword pack is all I have ever known. I hate it and I hope someone can stop these deadly trials. Nobody should have to kill to earn a title. It doesn't sit right with me, but it is not my place to change our laws. But I wish I could."

We sat in silence for a while, the weight of her words hanging between us. Then, Earth stood up and brushed the dirt off her pants. "Enough talking. Get up. Let’s spar."

We moved into the dirt ring And began to spar. I blocked Earth’s strike and moved with a fluidity I didn't have two weeks ago. I was finally making small improvements.

The next day, during lunch, the atmosphere in the hall was its usual chaotic self. I sat at a table near the end, exhausted from the morning's training. Suddenly, a male warrior approached me. He was someone I hadn't spoken to much. He slid onto the bench beside me.

"You’re training hard, Princess," he said, leaning in too close. He smirked, his eyes scanning my face with a teasing look. "But you’re wasting your time. Everyone knows Alpha doesn't really want you. He’s just keeping you around for show."

I tensed, my fingers gripping my fork. "That is none of your business."

He chuckled and reached out, his hand hovering near my hair. "Why not just walk away? I’m sure a pretty girl like you could find someone who actually wants—"

The air in the room suddenly went ice-cold as we heard a growl. The warrior froze and the laughter in the hall died down instantly. I looked up and saw North standing at the edge of our table. He wasn't looking at me. His gaze was locked onto the male warrior, and his eyes were glowing golden.

North didn't say a word. He didn't have to. The anger radiating from him was so clear. The warrior scrambled to his feet, bowed with his face turning pale, and hurried away without another glance.

North remained standing there for a long moment, his chest heaving slightly. He looked down at the empty seat beside me, then at me. His expression was impossible to read..

a mix of raw possessiveness and something that looked like biting irritation.

Without a single word to me, he turned on his heel and walked away.

I stared after him, completely confused. He had looked at me with such jealousy, yet he hadn't spoken a single word.

He treated me like I was invisible, then acted like I was his most prized possession. I sighed, dropping my fork. His mixed signals were going to be the death of me.