The air in the gathering space was thick with tension. The entire pack stood stunned, watching Joey and Cameron square off. The weight of Joey’s last words—his claim over my unborn child—hung between us like a blade waiting to strike.

“You have no right to say that,” I said, forcing steel into my voice.

Joey scoffed. “It’s my child, Kelly. You can’t just erase me from this.”

Cameron stepped before me, his muscles coiled with barely restrained fury. “She doesn’t have to do anything. You lost your right to be in her life when you chose Jennie.”

Joey let out a low growl, his golden eyes flashing dangerously. “You think you can just take my mate, my child, my future?”

“You never deserved them in the first place,” Cameron said. “You had everything, Joey, and you threw it away.”

The tension erupted. Joey lunged, shifting halfway into his wolf form as he slammed into Cameron. The crowd gasped as they hit the ground, a tangle of fists and claws.

“Stop it!” I shouted, my voice cracking with rage.

Neither of them listened. They were locked in combat, rolling across the dirt and landing blows that shook the earth beneath them. The pack members formed a hesitant circle, unsure whether to intervene.

Then, a voice sliced through the chaos.

“Enough.”

The Elders.

Elder Meros stepped forward, his silver hair gleaming in the moonlight. “This is not how we settle disputes.” His sharp gaze moved to me. “Kelly, as the future Alpha, this is your decision. What do you want to do?”

I swallowed hard, the weight of my choice pressing against my ribs. I turned to Joey, who was breathing heavily, blood dripping from a cut above his brow. His eyes, still wild from the fight, locked onto mine.

“Leave,” I said, voice unwavering. “You and Jennie have done enough damage.”

Joey opened his mouth to argue, but Elder Meros raised a hand. “She has spoken.”

Joey’s nostrils flared, but he didn’t push back. With one final glare at Cameron, he turned and stormed off.

Jennie was waiting for him at the edge of the gathering. She gasped when she saw his face, but he brushed past her without a word.

Cameron turned to me, breathing heavily. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, though the turmoil inside me was anything but settled.

The following days were a blur of whispers and sidelong glances. The pack was divided—some supported my decision, while others questioned my leadership. After all, I had been intended to be Luna beside Joey, and now I was preparing to stand with Cameron instead.

The Elders were wary. Cameron was strong, but his past as a rogue still clung to him like a shadow.

One evening, as we prepared for the final rituals before the binding ceremony, I stood outside the Alpha’s chamber with Cameron. “Are you sure about this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He reached for my hand, his grip firm. “Are you?”

Before I could answer, the doors swung open, and Elder Meros stepped out. “We need to talk,” he said, his expression grim.

Cameron and I exchanged a glance before following him inside.

“You’ve set a dangerous precedent, Kelly,” Meros said, folding his hands on the large wooden table. “Rejecting your fated mate in favor of another.”

“I didn’t reject Joey. He rejected me the moment he betrayed me.”

Meros sighed. “Regardless, this has caused unrest. The pack needs stability, and right now, they don’t know what to believe.”

Cameron’s voice was firm. “Then let them watch. Let them see that Kelly and I are the right choice.”

Meros studied him for a long moment. “You have a fire, Cameron. But fire alone won’t earn their trust.”

“What will?” I asked.

Meros leaned forward. “You need to prove that your claim to leadership is stronger than Joey’s. You need a challenge.”

I felt my blood run cold. “A challenge?”

“Yes. The old ways. If someone doesn’t want you to be Alpha, they must challenge you. But I must warn you, people will see you as vulnerable. So, there might be more members who would challenge you other than Joey. You must be ready.” The leader warned.

The moment Elder Meros signaled the start of the challenge, the clearing erupted into chaos. My wolf surged forward, eager to fight, but I forced myself to stay grounded. I couldn’t afford to make the first reckless move.

Three challengers stepped toward me. Not just Joey and Jennie—no, three others had decided to try their hand at claiming the Alpha’s title. My stomach tightened as I recognized them—Darren, Tobias, and Lydia, three of the strongest warriors in the pack.

They weren’t fighting for power; they were fighting for Joey.

My jaw was clenched. This wasn’t just a challenge—it was a setup.

Darren attacked first, his massive form lunging at me with a speed that belied his size. I barely dodged his claws as he swiped at my side, rolling out of the way and countering with a sharp kick to his ribs. He grunted but didn’t falter.

Tobias came next, flanking me before I could fully recover. His claws raked across my shoulder, and pain flared as blood seeped into my clothing. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the burning sensation. If I faltered now, I was done for.

Lydia, smaller but faster, struck while I was distracted, delivering a decisive blow to my side. My ribs cracked under the force, and I staggered backward, gasping for air. But I refused to go down. I lashed out, knocking Tobias to the ground before pivoting and landing a crushing elbow to Lydia’s throat. She choked, falling to her knees.

Darren came at me again, but I was ready this time. I shifted mid-air, letting my wolf take over. My claws met his shoulder, digging deep, and with a powerful twist, I sent him sprawling.

One down.

I turned just in time to dodge Tobias’s next attack. We clashed violently, claws and teeth bared. He was fast, but I was quicker. With a final, brutal strike, I knocked him unconscious.

Two down.

Lydia barely had time to recover before I was on her, using my exhaustion and rage to fuel my final attack. She barely let out a yelp before I sent her flying, her body colliding with the ground with a sickening thud.

Three down.

The clearing fell silent momentarily as the realization settled over the pack. I had won against the first challengers.

But I was already breaking.

Blood dripped from my wounds, my breathing ragged, my body trembling from the abuse it had taken. My wolf whimpered, urging me to stop—to rest.

But there was one more challenge left.

Joey.

He stepped forward, a slow smirk curving his lips. He hadn’t even broken a sweat. He had watched as I wore myself out fighting the others, letting me bleed for his amusement.

“You put up a good fight,” he said mockingly. “But you won’t last against me.”

I braced myself, but I knew he was right.

Then he struck.

Pain exploded through me as he landed the first blow, sending me crashing to the ground. I tried to push myself up, but he was on me again, claws tearing into my side. Blood splattered onto the dirt, my vision swimming as my body begged me to give up.

I lashed out, barely grazing him, but it didn’t matter. He was too strong, too fresh. I was already falling before he delivered the final, crushing blow.

I collapsed onto the ground, my body refusing to move. My vision blurred, my breath shallow. Joey stood over me, victorious.

The pack erupted into gasps and murmurs. Joey, the traitor, the liar—he had won.

But just as my consciousness began to slip, another voice rang through the clearing.

“I challenge you.”

The murmurs turned to shouts of disbelief. I forced my heavy eyelids open just enough to see him—Cameron.

Joey turned, sneering. “You? A rogue by blood?”

Cameron didn’t falter. “A rogue stronger than you.”

Elder Meros looked between them before giving a single nod. “The challenge is accepted.”

Joey’s smirk widened. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

Cameron took his stance, eyes locked onto Joey’s. His muscles coiled like a predator, ready to strike.

The air between them crackled with tension. Then, just as my world went black, the fight began.