22. Challenge

After Leon took off, I gestured for the others to follow me back home.

We all shift and dress in what we could find hidden in the forest.

"I'm so proud of you, daughter!" my father said, coming my way.

"Thank you, father! Now let us go; I'm starving!"

All of us got back to the Ballroom to have some food and drinks. I know earlier I was exhausted, but now I feel so reinvigorated.

'You like this, don't you? You know, being a wolf?' Ivy asks me, chuckling.

'The truth is that I do, Ivy!'

"Amaya Ricci!" I heard the annoying voice of Bianca.

Turning around, I see her in a fighting position, ready to bounce on me.

"What do you want, Bianca? Can't you enjoy this night like everyone else? Besides, you can sleep carefree now as you have all of Alpha Mateo for you!" I shout, irritated by her presence.

"Well, while that is true, I wanted to let you know that I would challenge you for your position!" she exclaims with too much confidence in her voice.

'What is she up to?' I thought.

"Then, I shall accept your challenge!" I said in a calm voice.

A smirk appeared on her face.

"Then I shall see you tomorrow, Alpha Amaya!" she replied bitterly.

"You shall, indeed, Bianca! Now get your ugly face out of this room!" I shout, making everyone laugh.

I know she wanted to say something. I could see it in her eyes. She hated me for all her being. But she just turned around and left.

"Daughter, I want to ask you not to let your guard down. Don't underestimate Bianca! She is a warrior, and she is sly." my father said.

"I know that! Do not worry! She will not win this one!"

We went to an empty table after grabbing some food. Anna decided to stick with me.

"Do you think that Leon is ok?"

"I think he is Anna! Stop worrying about him. He is a big boy!" I said, chuckling. But deep inside, I was worried too.

"I can not wait to meet his mate tho! She is so lucky to have him," she said, resting her head on her hands.

"If I didn't know better, I would say you are in love with him, Anna!"

"What?! Oh, no. He is my friend! I care about him as I care about you, Amaya!" she said quickly, blushing slightly.

I burst out into laughter. She was too cute.

'I also think she loves him!' Ivy said into my head with mischief, making me laugh even more complex.

"Yeah, well, I don't know why but I can't believe you, Anna! I saw the way you look at him. Why didn't you tell him how you feel?" I ask in a harsh voice.

She closed her eyes, and I knew it was to stop the tears that were threatening to spill.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't know this is a sensitive topic for you."

"It's ok, Amaya! The thing is, I wanted to. I wanted to tell him. But he always keeps talking about his mate. He even left this pack trying to find her. And he's right! Mates are sacred! I can not, and I do not want to intervene between them. I only want him to be happy."

"I see! I admire you for this! You are a strong woman. But if you do not mind me asking, did you find your mate?"

I could see the pain in her eyes, and I understood immediately what happened.

"Who was him? Who was the bastard that rejected you? Is he a member of this pack?!" I shout, getting up.

"No, Amaya! Please sit down. There is nothing you can do about it, anyway."

I sit down, sighing in relief that I do not need to kick anyone out of this pack.

"He is the Blood Moon's Beta. Anthony."

"What? What the hell is wrong with that pack? Is there anyone who accepted his Mate?"

"I don't know! But I think he didn't want to do that, you know?"

"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.

"Well, I never accepted his rejection. But he has never been with another woman. You now know what happens if your Mate is cheating on you. So I think that it was his Alpha who forced him to do that."

"Mateo?! But why?"

"I don't know! Maybe he was afraid that Anthony would tell me things he didn't want me to know."

I clenched my fists, trying to contain anger. Since my first shift, I start to be more impulsive.

I get angered much faster, and I feel like I want to kill the one responsible for this straight away.

"Amaya, calm down. It's ok, no worries." Anna said, patting my hand.

"How is this ok? I need to pay a visit to the Blood Moon Pack to see what the hell is going on there."

"You should focus on tomorrow's fight. Bianca is a tricky bitch!"

"I think I know that already! But you are right, Anna. I need to stay focused on this as I have this weird feeling that something bad is going to occur."

"Have you ever fought before? Like this, I mean," she asks, a bit worried.

"Yes. I can say I did, even if it wasn't a challenge of any kind." I replied, remembering the fight with Aalto.

My heart starts aching thinking about the friends that I left behind. I only wish that Oren is happy. He must be King by now. And as every King, he needs to have a Queen.

Involuntary tears fall down my cheek. I wipe it away quickly, but not before Anna and my father notice.

"What is wrong, Amaya?"

"Oh, nothing! Excuse me, please! I need some air." I said, getting up.

I was walking through the forest, lost in my thoughts when something pricks the skin of my neck.

Before I could see what or who it was, I fell to the ground, numb.