38

"You can do better than that," my Beta spits as he dodges my strike.

I groan in annoyance and try again only to be knocked on my ass.

"You want to see your mate again? Mate with her? Have pups? Well that will all be lost if you can't land a single strike. You'll be dead within minutes in that arena!"

My gaze sharpens at his words. I've been training since sunrise and my body is sore. I just want to lay down with Natalie in my arms, knowing she is safe.

"Watch your tongue, Ryder. You may be my Beta and best friend but I am still your King."

He rolls his eyes. "Not for much longer if you keep this pathetic fight up."

I charge at him and land a solid blow to his stomach, he doubles over and holds his stomach and smiles wickedly.

"Now that what I'm talking about. Focus all that hate and anger on Desmond when you are in the arena. You'll preform better if you are focused on your opponent and all the wrongs he has done to Natalie and yourself. You want make Natalie proud, right?"

My eyes glow. "Of fucking course I do! She is already mad that I accepted so obviously I want to make her proud and destroy the man who has hurt her so."

"Good, remember that. If you have a plan set in place and actually go through with it, you are more likely to succeed than go in without a plan and clueless."

Taken off guard he lands a strike on me, taking my legs out from under me.

"How is that your mate is training and isn't going into battle and is still doing better than you," he teases.

"Because she has nothing to lose and isn't training hours on end," I bark back.

True I am an Alpha and stronger than all, but endless training hours can take a toll on ones body. Your body becomes weak, exhausted, and sore which isn't good for when you are trying to improve your fighting ethnic. Yet, this is a normal practice in my pack and all around the world for when an alpha or Luna is training for a challenge. As for Natalie they are just training her so she can hold her ground as Luna. This training isn't necessary but it is resourceful for her if she becomes a widow.

This is also readying her body for my challenge so she can take on my pain. You see the Luna has a choice of taking silver or wolves bain so she doesn't feel my pain, this is common. Yet, some Luna's decide to sit and feel what their mate is taking on. Some choose the pain over no pain. Some believe that Luna's take on the pain so they know what their mate is up against and can communicate with the alpha while they are in the arena.

Knowing her she'll not take the silver, but I wish she would. I don't want her to go through that pain just to help me win against Desmond.

"Do you want to take a break," Ryder asks.

"Please," I breath.

Sitting under a tree and going through the cooler Natalie packed me for lunch I find a sandwich. I pass one to Ryder and we watch the females train. Ryder's mate, Thea fighting one on one with Natalie.

I watch Natalie closely she truly is skilled in hand to hand combat. Her dark hair was up in a fishtail braid, she was barefoot, in leggings and a sports bra. Luckily this was normal attire for females to train in, so she didn't stand out and draw attention.

"She's pretty good," Ryder comments. "She should be the one taking on the challenge and not you," he teases.

I roll my eyes. "Whatever."

"I'm only teasing, lighten up. You do got yourself a tough one. She isn't a quitter."

I nod. "Which is why she is going to make a great Queen."

"Indeed."

As the sun hangs high in the sky Natalie and Thea join us for their late lunch.

"Did you eat my sandwich," Natalie barks.

I shrug. "I didn't know you made a sandwich specially for yourself. I grabbed whatever seemed to satisfy me at that point in time. I'm a big boy and a big boy has to eat."

She rolls her eyes and grabs a BLT. "I can't believe you ate my Panini."

Ryder looks at her and quickly looks away. "Ryder," she snaps. "Did you eat it."

In which he responds with a worry look in his eyes and bites his lip. "Maybe."

"Oh, I'm so going to kill you."

I let out a laugh when I watch my Luna tackle our Beta. Thea just sat back and enjoyed the show.

"You know, I've been wanting to do that for a while," Thea tells.

It's good to know though my mate has a little bit of a playful side to her and doesn't get genuinely mad at the little things.

That following evening Maxwell and I stayed in one another's company. My head rests in his lap as he goes through paperwork. Sadly it wasn't only us though, Ryder and Thea were here and helping us with the stacks of paper work. Well, they were helping him, I'm not officially Luna yet so I don't have to do shit. The stacks of paperwork contained processing for the challenge and for Desmond as well as my paperwork for all the ceremonies and once I'm placed as Queen. The amount of paperwork for Desmond was unbelievable, but it draws out the guidelines for if anything were to happen.

As for my ceremonies those were small booklets giving instructions on how to preform everything properly. This is obviously helpful into transitioning of power from one ruler to a pair, a King and Queen. It is inspected for some members to rise up and speak out against a new Luna. A rebellion to rise if they don't see their new Luna fit. There will be a larger number of these people speaking out since I am to be their Queen.

I sit up and look towards the door as does the rest of us when their is a knock. In walks a warrior his clothes torn and his face bruised.

"Warrior, what happened," Max asks and jumps up.

"A scout from Desmond's pack came onto the territory. We were able to contain him but obviously without some blood shed," he tells heavily.

Max stands and starts to walk to the warrior. "Why was he?"

"Isn't it obvious," I chime in. "They are either coming to scout out the pack and see how many troops we have to attack or come they came to break him out."

"And that is why she is Luna," Ryder tells. "She has the brains you lack."

Max bares his canines to his Beta and starts towards the door. Sensing his anger we all decide to be one or two steps behind. The anger was just pouring off of him and I knew how bad this. Desmond's Beta was here to break him out of his cell and only he can tell the chaos he would unleash if he got out. It would a world war between the packs because of Desmond and his hunger for power. That worried me, it gave me anxiety that swallowed me alive. I don't want to live in a world with him as King or my mate.

We all trial behind Max, this drew attention as pack members came out of their homes. Curiosity getting the best of them and soon the street was filled with quiet whispers. None of us were too thrilled about this and I was the least amused by this. For him to go pull such a stunt like this is stupid, especially when the royal pack is involved. He knew what he was doing, but he just wanted to attention on him.

We soon arrive at the prison where they now both reside. Both are kept in far apart cells though and guarded. This is so they can't communicate and plan to escape. Even though that's how we should've done it so we can listen into their plans, but no.

"You really are stupider than I thought," Max laughs at a bloody and beaten Desmond.

Desmond shows a bloody grin and shrugs. "Couldn't say I tried," he rasps.

"I should kill you."

"Why don't you," he teases.

"I am a man of my word and I won't be going back on your challenge. As for your beta he will see to a different fate."

"I see."

Max now switches his attention to the beta and walks to that cell. I jump at the sudden slam of the heavy silver door. Max now squats in front of the shackled up beta.

"So you are the idiot that penetrated my boarder security."

A proud smile crosses his face. "I am."

"Idiot. I am your King and you came onto royal territory without permission."

I squeeze my eyes shut when the beta spits in his face and a loud ring echos in the air. "Are you stupid, boy? That is a death wish that I'll be more than happy to grant!"

"Do it, you won't because you are a pussy and don't deserve your title. So show me."

I cringe when I see Max's nails extend and stretch his chest. Ripping skin and blood pooling down the beta.

The Beta chuckles. "You know, your majesty. I am the alpha now. Desmond has no successors. You just declared war!"