LILA’S P. O. V.
I look at this bitch like she must be out of her mind. Did she really just challenge me? My mom is one of the strongest Alphas on the west coast and this bitch thinks she has a chance of beating me. I sneer at her. “I am going to give you one chance to change your mind. You don’t have a chance to win this.”
Mateo grabs my arm. “This is serious Lila. The challenge doesn’t end until the wolf either surrenders and faces death or dies.”
I look at him without a doubt in my mind. “I am not the one that is going to die.”
Alyssa sneers at me. “I am not going to lose. Do you accept the challenge?”
“Damn straight I do. I don’t really care about the Luna crap but I will be damned if some bitch is going to disrespect me and get away with it. That is definitely something that I learned from my mother.”
Mateo stiffens at my side. “Lila you could get hurt.”
I chuckle. “You have never seen me fight. Daddy made sure I can fight just as well as any man.”
Alyssa chuckles. “You still call your dad, daddy. How juvenile.”
“I call him daddy so that he knows I am talking to him and not my other dad.” I point out.
Alyssa might now be seeing the gravity of the situation she is in. “You have two dads.”
“The only wolf on the west coast that does.” I smirk at her.
“So then you are the next Alpha of Black Forest.”
“That’s right nanny. But by all means. Challenge away.” I waved my hand around, showing her how petty I think she is being.
“It doesn’t matter. I will still beat you. Alpha set the Challenge.” She tries to stare me down, not even close to working.
Mateo sighs. “Tomorrow noon. I will not have today’s festivities marred anymore by this. Keep your distance today Alyssa. You have your right. I suggest you put your affairs in order.” Good, he knows she is going to die too.
Callum runs up to me and hugs me. He doesn’t seem upset though. He seems like he is trying to comfort me. I lift him up into my arms. “You want to dance?” He smiles and nods. “Good. Let’s get back to the fun.”
Most of the wolves cheered but it wasn’t as festive as it was before. Alyssa has sent a cloud of doom in the air. Obviously they were happy that they had a Luna, not that I am at all ready to take that role. Still they were happy, now it is marred by uncertainty thanks to Alyssa. I knew she was trouble when I met her yesterday. But this is ridiculous.
The music starts back up and I dance with Callum. He likes it. After he runs off, Mateo takes his place. “I’m worried you are going to get hurt.” He holds me close while we dance. Not that the music really matches the tone.
“I might, but I am not going to lose.”
“I don’t want to see you hurt. It’s going to hurt my heart.” I can feel him tremble a little.
“Why didn’t you get rid of that law?”
“I didn’t think anyone would use it. Things have changed so much in my pack. I couldn’t keep up on all the laws. I honestly thought that everyone would be happy I found my Luna. Alyssa was flirtatious but nothing too aggressive. I fired her for crying out loud, what made her think I wanted her for a mate?”
“It doesn’t matter what made her think that, the fact is that she did.”
“Lila, I don’t want you hurt.”
“I get that. But this is what has to happen. You remember Callum’s drawing this morning?”
“Yeah, but that could be any wolf. Plus you don’t believe in that. If you did then you would accept that I am your mate.”
I smiled. “It’s not that I don’t think that you are. I kind of do. I am scared, so I am not letting myself entertain the idea.”
He cups my face and makes me look him in the eye. “What are you scared of?”
“Of getting hurt. My dad was my mom’s mate too. Remember how that turned out?”
“I am not him.”
“I know that. I just have to know that this is going to turn out right. That might mean that I have to eliminate Alyssa. Not that I want to. I really don’t want to hurt anyone. But my daddy didn’t raise me to be weak.”
“Pet, I am not going to hurt you like that. You are the only wolf for me.”
“You think my dad didn’t say that to my mom like a million times. Even after he was caught the first time. He still said it. I guess it took three times before it sank in that he was lying. I don’t want to be like that. Even now I can see that he loves my mom, but not the way that Daddy does. That’s the love I want.”
“That is what we have, pet. Don’t you feel it?”
“I don’t know what I feel.” I do, but I am not accepting it yet.
He keeps me close. I think he is scared of losing me. Not that I blame him. I’m not headed for a run in the park. It’s a challenge to the death. Either way I die. That’s why I can’t lose. I need to get back to my family again. If anything that is going to fuel me in this fight. I have to get back to my family. I know each and everyone of them is worried about me.
No one else tries to cut into our dance. They must know their Alpha’s need to be close to me, they even keep a little distance. After the dance portion Mateo gets up on stage to address the pack.
“Moonridge. We have proven that we are skilled wolves in all aspects of life, not just in the battlefield. That is what these celebrations are for. Now tomorrow we are being returned to our savage past. There has not been a challenge in this pack since I challenged my father. I hope we do not continue to have challenges after this. I hope that tomorrow will be the end of this bloody history of our pack. As of right now, I am passing the law that there will no longer be a challenge accepted for the position of Luna. Only an Alpha may be challenged, with cause. No longer can you challenge to be the mate of the Alpha. I didn’t change the law before because I figured we were past this, however I was proven wrong today. I have worked hard to make this pack what it is today. If there are problems with this please address this to me directly. I hope that next friday our festival will not be scared by such dealings. Goodnight everyone.”
Mateo stepped down from the stage and there was a massive shift. Everyone in the pack shifted at once. Well those old enough to. They all raised their heads and howled to the moon and Mateo. The wolves turned as an army would and ran for the compound exit.
Mateo joined me with Callum. “Let’s head back to the house.” He sounded somber.
“Does the pack do that every friday?” I asked as I watched them run together.
“Yes, we do a pack run every friday, usually I would lead them, but they understand my need to be here right now. Ash is leading them.” He takes my hand and leads us back to the house.
It’s silent the entire walk. Once we are inside. Callum smiles up at me then runs off. “Good night Callum.” He waves as he runs off. “Well, he isn’t phased.” I chuckle a little.
“Just because he knows you are going to win.” Mateo mutters.
“I know I am going to win. There is no way she can beat me.” I stand my ground. I don’t have a single doubt in my mind.
Mateo pulls me into his arms. “You are spending one more night in my room. I can’t be without you right now.”
I shrug. “Mateo, it is going to be fine. You’ll see.”
“It better be, there is no way I can explain that to your mother. Not after the talk we had last time.” He pulls me even tighter. “You are my mate Lila. I can’t live if something happens to you.”
“If I am your destined mate then I will make it through. I know the goddess will not let me die if you deserve to have me.”
“I killed my own father Lila. What if she thinks I deserve to be alone?”
“I heard about your father, I doubt that she is mourning his loss.”
“I still killed another wolf. What if she wants to punish me by taking you?”
“I am not going to die Mateo. It’s not going to happen.”
“Then you will be a killer. Do you want that on your conscience?”
“No, but if it is her or me, then it will be her. I am not ready to die.”
“Just stay the night with me.” He lifts me up in his arms. “I need you tonight.” He starts to carry me up the stairs, right towards his room. He doesn’t stop when he pushes his door open. He lays me on his bed without further question.
I look for my bags so I can change for bed, I really don’t want to wear a dress. But my bags are gone. “I need to change. What room has my clothes?”
“You are wearing mine tonight.” There is no pause in his speech, he intends for me to wear his clothes tonight. “I want you to go into that challenge with as much of my scent as I can get on you. I want the pack to know who I pick to be the victor. Since I can’t consummate or mark you, this will have to do.” He hands me some boxers and a t-shirt.
I don’t argue anymore, if this will help him sleep tonight then so be it. I know with the training that Daddy had me do there is no way I am losing this tomorrow. Not to mention Anthony, our trainer, he is the toughest in the state. He even had me train with Jay for good measure. If I can pin my vampire bodyguard, I can take down a she-wolf. Granted he wasn’t trying to kill me but I still have confidence in myself.
I step into the bathroom to change and have to roll his boxers to make them fit. I slide under the covers and Mateo follows. He has his chest bare, not that I am really complaining. He pulls me into his arms, burying his nose in my neck. He keeps taking deep breaths pulling in my scent. I feel absolutely comfortable here and drift off to sleep quickly.