Claimed By Vengeance

PHOENIX’S POV I felt a hot flash in my chest when he looked up. It was him—the man who killed my father. Alpha Mason Moonstone. Ever since I witnessed him kill my father, I swore I would never rest until I had his head in my palm. “That’s Alpha Mason”, one girl giggled. She and her friends were taking a look through the anklets at the jewelry stand. Tonight was Night of The Red Fall, a night of music and dance for the Moonstone pack. “Look at those handsome features”, another sighed dreamily. I rolled my eyes at the comment but kept my eyes on Mason who was weaving gracefully through the crowd. “Here he comes”, the first girl squealed. “Good evening, ladies”, Mason nodded and brushed past us. My eyes narrowed as I took in his features upclose. ‘I’ll make you pay,” I spoke. “Huh?”, the girl next to me asked. Shit, had I said that out loud? “Sorry”, I said and walked away, quickly merging with the crowd before I raised any more suspicions. The people of the Moonstone pack were affable to each other yet incredibly hostile to us rogues, that always left me awed. I walked till I got to the part of the ceremony grounds where men were cheering and screaming their lungs out. I’d arrived at the dueling ground were Alphas tore at each other’s throats to demonstrate their dominance. A wolf limped out of the circle with a gaping wound on its neck but my eyes fell on a familiar face. Mason Moonstone. He made his way through the men and into the circle. A hush instantly fell on the crowd. Mason didn’t command attention, he attracted it as his fingers adeptly undid the buttons of his shirt. He took his time sliding the shirt off; his muscles flexed with every moment. “Let’s get this over and done with”, an evil grin spread across his face as he stared down his opponent. The snapping and crushing of bones sent the crowd roaring, Mason looked like he was bored with his opponent’s moves. “Who’s next?”, he roared, his chest sweaty. His opponent had to be dragged out of the circle unconscious. An idea surfaced in my mind at his question. This was my chance to strike but I had to be strategic. He was stronger than me, I had to strike when he had exerted a lot strength. “Next!”, he bellowed. This was my chance, I was going to be his tenth opponent. The crowd went silent when I stepped in the circle, Mason’s eyes widened. Then his brows knit and then he threw his back in laughter. “Is this some kind of joke?” “How about I make you a joke?”, I cracked my necked, fixing my stance. From the corner of my eyes, I saw a group of men rush for me but Mason lifted his hand. “Let her be. This game is free and fair to who all who wish to participate.” “Enough talking,” I growled. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I stared in his stormy grey orbs. Mason charged for me, grabbing me by my torso and lifted me into the air. Shit, no! I realized too late what he was about to do when I fell face flat on the ground. I wheezed, curling into a ball as my chest felt the direct impact of the ground. “You don’t want to do this,” Mason circled me. I took in deep breaths, ignoring the burn in my lungs. Get up Phoenix, I heard my father’s voice in my head. It was my first day on the training grounds and I’d lost miserably to boy my father was making me spar with. “Get up,” my father had encouraged me. “I didn’t raise you to be quitter, Phoenix!” “Get up”, I said louder this time, pulling myself up. “You’re wrong, Moonstone”, my voice came out louder than I expected it to. “I do want to do this.” He nodded and then beckoned me with his finger. “I’ll let you have the first blow this time, sweetheart.” “Do not call me that,” I gritted lunging for him but I wasn’t fast enough. He grabbed my arm and twisted it to the back. “Let’s make this more interesting, shall we?”, he said in a dangerously calm voice. “I’ll fight you in my wolf form, like I did with everyone else.” Alarm bells began to ring in my head; Mason was trying to play smart. The Moonstone pack had the strongest wolf forms because they were descendants of a Lycan Prince. “No,” I disagreed, a little too fast. “No wolf form Moonstone, fight me like a man if you’re one.” My remark seemed to have touched a raw nerve, around us I could hear the men starting to get infuriated. “Finish her already, Alpha. Shred her to pieces!” “Who do you think you are to challenge me on my own land?”, he growled sauntering towards me. His eyes were darker this time, I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to rip my head off at any given chance. “Enough talking Moonstone,” I demanded cracking my knuckles. “Let’s get down to business.” Mason was fierce but I was determined, I didn’t plan to kill him in this circle. That would be too risky so I planned to start a war. That’s what challenging an Alpha meant. “Kill her!”, the men chanted. “Kill her, Alpha!” Mason had pinned me to the ground with his weight. His knee dug into my ribs. “What do you want? Who sent you?”, his hot breath fanned my entire face. “No one,” I groaned in response. He was exerting more pressure on my ribs now. “Then give this up,” he cautioned for what seemed to be the final time. “I do not want to hurt you.” “I will never”, I growled throwing him off me. I was on top now, with my elbow in his neck. “Not so strong now, are you Alpha?”