Alison’s POV
A month into my studies, I had finally begun to feel comfortable here or as comfortable as I could, given the circumstances. Each day, I’d been learning from Andrew, absorbing lessons on pack history, leadership, and the diplomatic intricacies of being a Luna. While it was no easy feat, I was beginning to see myself as more than just Xander’s mate. I was transforming, piece by piece, into someone who could stand beside him and lead.
Xander noticed my progress, too. Just that morning, he’d suggested we take the next step in my training.
“Alison, you’re doing brilliantly with the studies,” he’d said, his tone filled with pride. “But there’s more to being Luna than just knowledge. You should start physical training, learning to harness your wolf, practicing combat, and immersing yourself in the ways of the pack.”
I nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. I knew he was right. To truly earn the respect of the pack, I couldn’t just learn from books. I needed to show them that I had strength, resilience, and a connection to my wolf that they could respect. But just as I opened my mouth to agree, the door swung open, and a familiar, cold presence filled the room.
“Am I interrupting something?” Katherine, Xander’s mother, stood in the doorway, her expression calm, yet there was a sharpness to her gaze that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. How long had she been listening?
Xander’s jaw tightened, and he took a protective step closer to me. “Mother, we were discussing Alison’s next steps in her training,” he said coolly, his voice carrying a hint of warning. “It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
Katherine raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms in that regal way of hers, as if daring Xander to brush her off. “On the contrary, Xander,” she replied smoothly, her eyes flicking to me. “As Lady of the castle and the former Luna, I am in the perfect position to guide and train any incoming Luna. After all, who better than I to determine if Alison is truly capable of stepping into such a role?”
Xander’s eyes flashed with anger, and his protective stance intensified. “That’s not necessary, Mother. Alison is already proving herself capable. She doesn’t need to be subjected to your tests.”
Katherine didn’t so much as blink. She turned her gaze to me, her lips curling into a calculating smile. “Oh, I’m sure Alison would agree that such training would be beneficial,” she said, her tone sugary sweet, yet carrying an edge of steel. “After all, if she’s to take my place, she must be able to meet the expectations I once fulfilled.”
I could feel Xander’s frustration radiating off him, but a part of me was intrigued. Katherine had always been cold and distant, clearly disapproving of my place beside Xander. But here she was, offering however grudgingly, a chance for us to work together, for me to prove myself in her eyes.
Taking a steadying breath, I looked her in the eyes. “I would welcome your training, Katherine,” I said calmly, my voice steady despite the swirl of emotions beneath the surface. “I want to learn from the best. If I’m to be Luna, I want to earn it, not just in the eyes of the pack, but in yours as well.”
A flicker of surprise crossed her face, though she quickly hid it behind her icy facade. “Very well,” she said, a hint of satisfaction in her tone. “But there’s one more condition.”
I felt Xander tense beside me, his arm brushing against mine as if to remind me he was there, ready to protect me if needed. “And what condition is that, Mother?” he asked, his voice laced with irritation.
Katherine looked from me to Xander, her gaze steely. “I’ll be training Caitlyn as well,” she announced, a glint of amusement sparking in her eyes at Xander’s reaction. “Since both young women seem to be vying for the position, it’s only fair they’re given an equal chance to prove themselves.”
My heart skipped a beat. Training alongside Caitlyn? I’d known Katherine didn’t favor me, but to pit me directly against Caitlyn was a deliberate choice, one clearly intended to put me at a disadvantage. Caitlyn had grown up with these skills, already accustomed to pack dynamics and combat training. She had the backing of many in the pack and, I suspected, the blessing of Katherine.
Xander took a step forward, his voice sharp with anger. “This isn’t a contest, Mother. Alison is my mate. She will be My Luna. No one, especially not Caitlyn will change that.”
Katherine’s gaze didn’t waver. She looked at her son as though he were a child throwing a tantrum. “If you’re so certain of her abilities, then why not let her prove herself?” she replied, her voice calm, almost mocking. “Let Caitlyn and Alison have a fair chance. Or are you afraid of what the pack might say?”
I could feel Xander’s fury simmering, his hands clenched at his sides, his body vibrating with tension. He was about to refuse, I could see it in his eyes, but I touched his arm gently, meeting his gaze.
“I’ll do it,” I said quietly, though my voice held a firm resolve. “If this is what it takes to gain your approval, Katherine, then I accept. I want to prove myself, and if that means training alongside Caitlyn, so be it.”
Katherine’s lips curled into a smile that was almost predatory. “Very well. We’ll begin tomorrow.” She inclined her head slightly, as if to show she approved of my answer, then turned and left, her heels clicking against the floor as she disappeared down the corridor.
As soon as she was gone, Xander turned to me, his face a mixture of frustration and disbelief. “Why did you agree to this, Alison?” he demanded, his voice barely above a whisper. “You know this isn’t fair. My mother’s playing a game, trying to undermine you. You don’t need to prove yourself to her.”
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I understood his concern, but I couldn’t back down not now. “Xander,” I began softly, reaching for his hand. “This is important to me. Your mother has always doubted me, and I can’t just ignore that. If I want to be Luna, I need to earn her respect, even if it means playing by her rules.”
He shook his head, frustration etched into his features. “Alison, my mother is manipulating you. She’ll do everything in her power to make you fail.”
I squeezed his hand gently, meeting his gaze with a steady determination. “I know. But I’m not afraid of her or Caitlyn. I want this, Xander. I want to prove to your mother, to the pack, and to myself that I’m worthy of being Luna. And if that means facing challenges and overcoming doubts, then I’m ready for it.”
He sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as he looked at me, his eyes softening. “You’re stronger than anyone gives you credit for,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “But please, promise me one thing. If it gets to be too much, if my mother crosses the line come to me. Let me help you.”
I nodded, offering him a reassuring smile. “I promise. But I need to do this, Xander. I need to prove it to her, to everyone. I need them to see me as more than just your mate.”
He pulled me into a gentle embrace, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “I understand,” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. “Just know that I’m with you, no matter what.”
As I stood there in his arms, I felt a surge of determination unlike anything I’d ever felt before. Katherine may have been the Luna before me, and Caitlyn might be her chosen favorite, but I wouldn’t let that deter me. This was my chance to earn my place, to prove to them and to myself that I belonged by Xander’s side.
When Xander finally released me, he looked into my eyes with a mixture of pride and worry. “I’ll be there, every step of the way,” he promised.
And as I watched him walk away, I knew this journey was only beginning. Tomorrow, I would face Katherine’s tests, Caitlyn’s challenges, and the scrutiny of the pack. It wouldn’t be easy. But with each step, I would prove them wrong. I would show them that I was more than just a girl from the fringes, more than a former slave trying to fit into a world that hadn’t wanted me.
Deep down, I knew this challenge was about more than just the role of Luna, it was about finding my own strength, about carving out a place for myself. And if I had to win Katherine’s approval and stand my ground against Caitlyn, then I would.
Because I wasn’t here to be underestimated. I was here to become Luna.