pte

an'

the happiest day of my life. I was the new Alpha of the Moonlight Pack. The title I had fought for, worked for, was finally mine. But the weight of it did

cut deeper than I cared to admit. I tried to tell myself I had made the right choice. Sophia was the

thoughts when I hear

out, "The elders are h

ed Elder Aiden and Elder Darius, both of them looking serious as t

voice grave. "We need to speak t

"What is it?" I asked, though I could already f

e up, his expression just as serious. "We'

he meant. "Injection? Wh

e tampered with the battle. Marcus was injected with

click. My mind raced, and suddenly, the memory of Seraphina's

eraphina. She had helped me. The water in that jug, the way Marcus had struggl

a mix of emotions. Ange

ir and square. I beat him." My voice was tight with frustration. I di

Ronan. The pack will never accept a leader who didn't win fairly. The battle was

n to me yet. This was all I had wanted, everything I h

in check. "So what do you want me to do? Yo

the battle. The pack will never respect you if they think you won by ch

o choice. I had to do this. But the thought of facing Marcus again, knowing ho

going to show weakness. I had to keep my composure. "I

ice, Ronan. The battle will be held again in a week. You will have to face Marcus again

only a week to prepare. Only a week to find a way to defeat Ma

This isn't fair," I muttered, my voice a whisper, that n

next week. You will fight Marcus again, and this time, you must prove you are worthy

I couldn't back down now. I had worked too hard

and prove to the pack I was worthy. But with every passing second, I felt the press

the storm raging inside of me. "The battle wil

"We trust you'll do what's necessary, Ron

drip down my back. The pressure was unbearable. I had

win without Sera