Chapter 6
The Luna's Trial
Nora~
I stared at Alex, gripping the sword tightly in my hands. For some reason, it felt heavier than it should have. My fingers trembled slightly, but Lara's steady growl in my mind helped me hold it firm.
"Look at her," someone whispered from the crowd, their voice laced with disdain. "The Luna doesn't look like she's ever fought before. How can she protect the pack if she's this weak?"
Murmurs broke out among the warriors, their words cutting deep. I could feel Lara pacing in my mind, her fury growing with every insult.
"Let me take over," she growled. "I'll teach them a lesson they'll never forget."
"No, Lara," I whispered silently to her. I couldn't let her out—not now. Every time I allowed her to take control, it only ended in chaos.
Straightening my back, I took a step closer to Alex, forcing my voice to stay steady. "Is this how you disrespect your Luna?" I asked, my gaze meeting hers. "If you want to train with me, fine. I don't see why not."
Alex's smirk widened, her confidence almost palpable. She stepped forward, her sword resting lazily on her shoulder. "I'm a Gamma," she said, her tone mocking. "I've fought alongside the Alphas more times than you can count. Do you really think you stand a chance against me?"
Her words stung, but I refused to back down. I clenched my jaw, gripping the sword tighter.
The training grounds had gone silent, all eyes now focused on the two of us. Warriors gathered in a circle, their anticipation thick in the air. Alex didn't waste time. With a swift motion, she charged at me, her sword slicing through the air.
I barely managed to block her strike, the force of the blow sending a jarring pain up my arms. The sword slipped from my hands and clattered to the ground. I stumbled back, watching as Alex's expression twisted with anger.
"What's wrong, Luna?" she sneered, stepping closer. Her sword glinted menacingly as she pointed it at me. "You can't even hold your weapon. How do you plan to lead us? You're nothing but an omega in a position you don't deserve."
I felt a growl rising in my chest, not from me, but from Lara. Her anger burned hotter with every word Alex said.
"Let me handle her!" Lara snapped.
"No, Lara," I whispered, panic rising.
But it was too late.
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Before I could stop her, Lara took control. My vision blurred as my body shifted, my bones cracking and reforming. When the transformation was complete, I stood in my wolf form, my claws digging into the dirt.
Lara wasted no time. She lunged at Alex, her jaws snapping dangerously close to the Gamma's neck. Alex barely dodged, rolling out of the way just in time.
"Lara, stop!" I shouted in my mind, but she ignored me. Her growls were deafening as she charged again, this time slamming Alex to the ground.
Alex's sword clattered away as Lara pinned her down, her claws pressing against Alex's throat.
"How can a Luna who can't even control her wolf lead a pack?" Alex spat, her voice strained but still defiant.
Lara's growl grew louder, her fury threatening to consume us both. Just as she was about to strike, Alex shifted into her wolf form, throwing Lara off and leaping to her feet.
The two wolves circled each other, their growls echoing across the training grounds. The crowd watched in stunned silence, their expressions a mixture of shock and fear.
"Lara, please stop!" I begged. "You're going to get us both in trouble!"
But Lara wasn't listening. She lunged again, her claws aiming for Alex's side. The Gamma dodged and countered, their bodies colliding with a force that sent dirt flying into the air.
Just as it seemed the fight would spiral out of control, a powerful hand grabbed Alex and threw her across the training grounds. She landed hard, shifting back into her human form with a gasp.
Lara froze, her growls fading as a figure stepped between her and Alex.
Keal.
His eyes burned red with anger, his expression colder than I'd ever seen. He didn't look at me. His focus was entirely on Alex, who was struggling to get up.
Keal strode toward her, his movements slow but terrifying. He grabbed her by the neck and lifted her off the ground as though she weighed nothing.
"How dare you touch my mate?" he growled, his voice deadly.
The crowd fell silent, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on. This was a side of Keal I hadn't seen before. The quiet, calculated Alpha had given way to something darker, something more dangerous.
"Keal, stop!" I shouted, running toward him. "You'll kill her!"
For a moment, I thought he wouldn't listen. His grip tightened, and Alex's face twisted with pain as she struggled to breathe.
"She's not worth it," I said, my voice trembling. "Finding another Gamma won't be easy. Let her go."
Keal's red eyes flicked to me, and for a moment, I thought he might ignore me. But then, with a snarl, he released Alex. She crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.
Killian stepped forward, his expression unreadable. He hadn't moved a muscle during the entire fight, and his silence was almost more unsettling than Keal's rage.
"Grey," Killian called, his voice calm but commanding.
The Beta stepped forward immediately.
"Take her to the holding room," Killian ordered, gesturing to me. "Make sure she doesn't do anything reckless. I have things to handle here."
Grey's grip was firm but not unkind as he guided me away. I glanced back, catching a glimpse of Keal's face. His anger was still simmering just beneath the surface, his jaw tight as he watched Alex struggle to stand.
My heart sank. Whatever had just happened wasn't over—but for a second I felt pity for Alex.
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