Luna Helena

9

The pair entered the pack house at the exact moment Alpha Mason did, followed by Milo, his Beta, and Darius, the prince’s Beta, who still held Helena by the arm. Mason’s face twisted the moment he caught sight of the familiarity between his wife and his most honored guest.

What the hell had happened in that short amount of time? the Alpha wondered. It had only been ten, maybe fifteen minutes—but those two were smiling at each other as if they’d known each other their entire lives. Could it be?

Of course, Mason wasn’t the only one sizing up the lycan and his companion. The higher ranks of the Moon’s Claw pack watched both arriving groups, wearing expressions that barely masked their voyeuristic curiosity, eagerly awaiting the imminent reactions from each side.

Leofrik was the first to speak when his eyes met those of his companion’s husband—a man he was already beginning to despise with every fiber of his being, convinced that the bruise tarnishing his mate’s beauty had been caused by his cowardice.

“I thought this visit would be ordinary… perhaps a bit dull, especially after hearing your preference for hunting with rifles rather than the traditional method,” Leofrik said, pleased to see the discomfort on his host’s face, who was starting to feel the judgment of his own pack. “But now that I’ve had the chance to speak with the lady of the house, I can see it will be far more entertaining.”

Helena watched her husband carefully.

She wanted to examine every twitch, every change in his face—not just in response to seeing her at the lycan prince’s side, but to the words he had just spoken. And she wasn’t disappointed. Mason’s face turned a deep shade of red, clearly brought on by the way his fists clenched and his lips trembled, likely trying with all his strength to suppress the growl rising in his chest.

But Mason hadn’t earned his place by brute force alone—though he was savagely violent. He had also climbed through ranks with intelligence and cunning. He hadn’t become the foremost Alpha through strength alone. So, once the initial rage passed, he forced his wolf into submission and restrained his emotions.

He smiled.

“My apologies, Your Highness. I didn’t take you for the kind of man who disdains weapons. A failure in my judgment,” he said. Helena, well-versed in her husband’s condescending tone, recognized it instantly. She knew that after a comment like that, a counterattack was coming.

“Why don’t you dazzle us, Your Highness, with a demonstration of that traditional hunting method you referenced?”

Still holding onto Leofrik’s arm, Helena could feel the tension his opponent’s calculated words had caused.

But the prince was not easily provoked, and he was just as quick-witted.

“I think your suggestion is a wonderful one, Alpha. In fact, I see an excellent opportunity to make this visit even more exciting.”

Helena saw the hardening in her husband’s eyes. He clearly hadn’t expected such a response—probably anticipated some elegant evasion from the prince.

But she, knowledgeable in the traditions and history of her kind, understood exactly what they meant by traditional hunting: chasing, stalking, and grappling with prey while completely nude—and in human form.

“Why don’t we make it a wager?” Leofrik added.

“A wager, Your Highness?” Mason asked, clearly uneasy—likely beginning to guess what kind of proposal was coming from his honored guest.

“Oh yes, Alpha,” Leofrik replied cheerfully, still not releasing Helena. He found it difficult to do so with his main rival standing so close.

“You’ll hunt with your little powder toys, and I’ll do it my way.

Whoever brings back the most splendid prey—and in the shortest time—wins.”

Alpha Mason gave a nervous smile while scanning the faces of those around him.

There was no way to refuse such a challenge without looking like a coward or a fool.

But after a few seconds, Mason began to see the upside: this could be the perfect chance to show the lycans—and anyone watching—that wolves could match them, perhaps even surpass them, with a little help… like technology.

“I find your offer quite clever and tempting, Your Highness. I accept your wager,” Mason said smoothly. “Though I’m curious what someone like you, who already has everything in life, could possibly want—or stand to lose—to a mere subject like me.”

The tension in the room was thick.

Anyone who hadn’t yet noticed the simmering rivalry between the Alpha and the lycan had no excuse not to see it now.

And in the middle of them—though clearly standing closer to the latter—was Luna Helena.

It was the prince’s turn to display his wit and raise the stakes even higher.

“I propose something very simple, Alpha,” Leofrik replied, his smile wide and confident.

“If I lose, I’ll owe you a royal favor—if you know what that means.”

Mason’s eyes lit up.

Oh, he knew very well. The benefits of such a thing could be priceless.

“But if the outcome is the opposite—as I’m quite certain it will be,” he said with a grin,

“then you will allow me to invite both you and your wife to my palace, and you will not be permitted to decline under any circumstance.”

The wager caught everyone’s attention for how unusual it was. In either outcome, Mason appeared to win. A personal invitation from the lycan prince wasn’t something one could take lightly—it was a favor in itself. That’s why Mason quickly began to suspect a deeper motive behind the prince’s generous offer.

With cold, piercing eyes, he glanced once again at the way his wife still held onto another man’s arm. There was no doubt in his mind now—this proposal was directly connected to what he was seeing. He had to win, at any cost.

“It’s a generous offer, Your Highness,” Mason replied gallantly. To the onlookers, the prince’s proposal appeared nothing more than noble and magnanimous.

But to the Alpha—keenly aware—it was a poisoned gift.

“I accept the winner’s reward,” Mason continued, “but before the challenge begins, I’d like to clarify something. A hunt, after all, requires a team, doesn’t it?”

Leofrik nodded silently.

“Then I suggest that each of us be accompanied by two assistants.”

Helena immediately recognized the trap in her husband’s suggestion.

Mason had his entire inner circle to choose from—and would undoubtedly pick Milo first.

But Leofrik only had his Beta, since no wolf would willingly join a hunt that required roaming nude through the Alpha’s own territory.

No matter the outcome, any wolf assisting Leofrik would become the talk—and the laughingstock—of every future gathering.

If the Alpha won, the wolf would be mocked.

If the prince won, the wolf would be branded a traitor to his own kind.

Leofrik would be left with just one assistant, while Mason would enjoy a numbers advantage.

Before Helena could whisper her thoughts to Leofrik, the lycan responded coolly.

“That’s a fair suggestion,” he said. “In that case, Alpha, you may choose your first companion.”

Mason smiled with pride, fully aware of the advantage he had just secured.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I choose my Beta—Milo.”

The Beta stepped forward and took his place at his Alpha’s side.

“Your turn, Your Highness.”

As Helena had expected, Leofrik chose Darius, his Beta.

“I now choose Spencer,” said Mason. The selected Gamma stepped forward, proud to serve his Alpha.

Now came the moment when Leofrik would find himself cornered—forced to choose a wolf who would be socially ruined for the rest of his life.

Helena watched, a bit embarrassed, as everyone present subtly averted their gaze, each hoping not to be picked.

But Leofrik didn’t even glance at the crowd.

He didn’t need to.

He’d already seen the trap coming.

“I choose Luna Helena,” he said, “if she, of course, agrees to be one of my companions.”

No one—not even the one being chosen—had expected anything like it.