Chapter 8 - Part A

After another sleepless night, I head down to breakfast the next morning. The eerie silence isn't comforting, the pack keep their eyes on their food and their mouths shut, barely uttering a word.

I didn't have to ask them, to know that they're worrying. Despite us all hoping for the best, we all know the possibility that things will go very wrong.

Maddison is as merciless as Alphas come.

After forcing the food down my neck, it's time to face the music. The Elders decided it would be better suited to have the challenge take place on my pack land, knowing that I don't enough protection to keep rogues out if they attack.

"I'm not just fighting for my title, I'm fighting for all of us, those alive and dead. I will give everything that I have today, I promise you that I will protect this pack at any cost." My voice rings with gentleness, and sharp promise.

A vow that even my beast roars to uphold.

Silence greets me. Glancing over my small pack of wolves, I notice Kaine lowering himself to one knee, his head bowed in complete surrender and dignity. His wolf willingly allowing to be put in a vulnerable position, promising himself solely to my cause.

My heart swells with pride, and I stare with surprise as the rest of my pack follow suite. Each of them bowing down, their wolves and human side submitting completely. My beast surges forwards, a newfound bond giving me strength that I haven't felt before. Perhaps I've just never noticed it, it's never been important until now.

Blinking away the tears that threaten to come, I stand tall above my bowing pack members, full of energy, courage, and power.

You can do this, Calliope, for all of us. My mind whispers, promising to never let me surrender to Maddison no matter how much it hurts.

"Rise." I command, voice like silk, gentle, and yet as strong as iron.

"Long live the Queen." Kaine winks as he leads the wolves to the field.

I laugh at his words, recalling the day we met. I had called myself the Queen, I still stand by those words. My land, my people, my home, it's all mine. So the term 'Queen' fits my status, after all, I am the only Alpha Female to ever exist.

The nerves that have kept me agitated for the last two weeks, no longer exist, as if I never felt them. A sense of serenity falling over me, like somehow the packs show of faith in me and my wolf has put us at ease.

I win or I learn, but I will not lose.

I change out of my clothes and into something more suitable, placing all of my scars on show, as every Alpha does during a challenge. It's a show of pride, and honour.

As always, I wear a little red. It's sentimental to me, to carry the colour with me as a reminder. Seeing as I can't wear my red heels to a wolf fight, I've settled on the red ribbon that holds more sentimentality that my shoes.

Running my fingers over the blood red silk, I feel pain fill my heart briefly. Tying it around my right ankle, I take a deep breath and make my way outside, stretching out my body quickly before I get outside.

The quiet chant of music echoes as I cross the field, my pack creating a walkway for me as I pass them, my spine straight and my shoulders back. Grace, power that most spend their entire lives searching for, I step into the large circle formed by both packs, as well as the Elders and three Alpha males here as witnesses.

The moment my feet stop moving, the banging of hands on instruments seizes.

I stare straight into the eyes of Cassius, unyielding, so calm that the Elder eyes me over for a moment. A silent woman, is a deadly woman after all.

"Alpha Maddison has accepted your challenge, if either side step forth from the packs, all will be disqualified and no title will be upheld." Cassius states sharply, glancing directly at my wolves.

"My wolves will not intervene." I speak with only honesty, knowing any other emotion will be used against me.

"State your names." Cassius orders.

"Tate Maddison, Alpha of Bloodmoon." The power that echoes within the mans voice is a mere fraction of what I'm about to see.

Maddison's son is just as deadly as his father, he has absolutely no remorse. I have no doubt that Tate has been training since he could walk, just like his dad. While people assume Tate is a young wolf due to being introduced as Maddison's son, he's easily in his mid twenties.

Yes, they're both Alphas, they split the pack when Tate came of age because they know a challenge between them would end up with them both being dead.

"Alpha Vanzetti." Is my only response, bland of information.

Wolves laugh at my short status, the fact that I cannot give my pack a name unless I defeat Maddison's son somehow amuses them.

"Do you intend to use the ribbon as a weapon?" Cassius questions me, glancing down at my ankle.

My skin bristles.

"It's sentimental, nothing more." I retort sharply. What moron would even ask such a thing?

"This challenge has only one rule, that I remains between Alpha Maddison and Alpha Vanzetti." Eros speaks to the packs, making their place known for the second time.

While I would usually worry about my pack doing something like that, I know Kaine won't allow it.

The Elders step backwards, taking their places as they secure the last space of the huge circle. Each Elder shoulder to shoulder, standing tall as they each stare at us. The air tightens, beginning to sizzle with authority.

"Begin." They command.

I should have been prepared for Tate's immediate attack, like a fool I expected him to fight with some dignity. How wrong was I.