“I challenge you to a duel at the Luna games.” The training grounds were gravely silent as soon as the words left Tara’s lips.
June was taking a break after an intense round of training with Zeus who stood behind her with a deathly frown on his face.
“Have you lost your mind?” Zeus advanced towards Tara in a threatening manner.
“She is within her rights.” Georgina stated, backing her right up.
“If you think I will spare you because of our family ties, think again.” Zeus said to Georgina with hostility.
“I love you.” Tara declared. “All my life I have done everything to be your bride, Zeus.”
In one second, Zeus stood before her with his fingers wrapped around her neck in a chokehold.
“It’s Alpha to you.” He roared, brows twitching as his eye color flickered.
“I am more worthy to be your bride, alpha.” She managed to speak, “you need a strong female by your side.”
“I am willing to prove that in the Luna games.” Tara squeaked. “You should let me have this opportunity.”
“You will die.” Zeus said and his eyes turned a permanent shade of red, Tara felt her body heat up and soon, her blood was burning.
June watched with wide eyes as history prepared to repeat. She couldn’t let him kill her. Not on her watch and certainly not because of her.
“Let her go!” She rushed towards Zeus who seemed to be deep in his bloodlust.
One advantage she got from being marked and mated to Zeus was the fact she had his total reverence, attention and loyalty.
These days, Zeus was overbearingly protective of her. She figured it had something to do with the fact that his wolf was obsessed with hers but it also flowed in his actions here and there.
Sometimes she thought he was trying to get closer to Augusta, his real mate, whose presence grew from the faint evidence of her existence to sometimes taking control of her body to see, feel and experience being close to a mate that is dedicated to her.
June was angered at her former mate for the damage he’d caused and if she was given an opportunity to pay him for his evil, she’d take it without a second thought.
“Zeus!” She yelled, dragging him away from Tara.
Zeus begrudgingly let her go and Tara fell on the ground, gasping for breath.
“Why should I not kill her?” He growled. “She dared to threaten my mate!”
“I am fine!” June said, her palms on his face as she tried to help him focus. “I am not as weak as I used to be, Zeus.”
“I can feel my wolf now. I will be able to take her on.” She said confidently but Zeus was not convinced.
“You are yet to transform!” He pulled her closer to him. “Until you can transform at will, she will always have an advantage over you.”
June shook her head. “Then we better get to work, Zeus.” She muttered. “I have no plans of letting her get the upper hand.”
She turned towards Tara who was getting helped by Georgina. “I accept your challenge.”
The rest of the day was uneventful. June spent the following days under intensive training with Zeus who was paranoid.
“You should have let me kill her.” He said for the nth time and June rolled her eyes.
“Believe me, I wish I let you do the darned thing. That way, my ears would be free from your insistent yappings.”
Zeus frowned, and she smiled. “I have no plans of dying any time soon, Zeus. I have to protect you, remember?”
He drew her close to himself. “What happens if she beats you at the useless game?” He queried. “I hate to put my future to gamble.”
“Then you can burn her to crisp.” She said with a straight face. “That way, we win regardless.”
Zeus pushed her away and she smiled.
“I will be fine.” She bent down and tied her shoes. “For as long as we continue in training, two rounds won’t be too bad.”
“Three.” Zeus said. “I want a straight win.”
“What do you bargain?” June asked with a smirk.
“One hour with him.” June stiffened at his words. “Don’t act like you don’t miss him. I see the way you stare at me every morning, hoping it’s him.”
“Good thing that Augusta comes to play at night and I get to see her beautiful grey orbs.” Zeus expressed while June’s jaws hit the floor. “Besides, he’s been yearning for it too.”
“She comes out at night?” June expressed her surprise. “That explains the weakness I feel every morning.”
Unknown to June, during the past few weeks, Augusta took advantage of her sleep and took over control of the body.
One of the days, Zeus caught her in the act, which led to an official meeting and birthed the beginning of a night escapade between them.
“I didn’t know you felt tired.” Zeus said with narrowed brows. “We will do something about that.”
“You better.” June said with a smirk and they continued training.
Meanwhile, Tara was getting her training done in the woods. She had never trained this hard in her entire life. She couldn’t afford to lose and was planning to get that Luna title no matter the cost.
She was determined to prove to everyone that she was deserving of becoming Zeus’ bride. After the Luna games, the others would be history.
She would make sure of that. Augusta would become a mere mistress, forgotten and relegated to the backdrop while she enjoyed her alpha.
For three days, Tara remained in the woods, away from civilization. She trained her wolf so hard it became a wild hunter, ready to take home the price at the tournament.
Georgina visited her everyday to check her progress, not forgetting to leave stimulating information about Augusta and Zeus’ growing relationship which made Tara decide to kill Augusta no matter the cost.
She couldn’t afford to leave any stones unturned this time. It was the second and maybe last opportunity she had to get the job done.
Tara returned to the pack after three days. She met June training at the field alone in the dark. Her anger sizzled at the sight of her.
“Pathetic.” She said from behind. “I could kill you this instant without missing a breath.”
June turned around. She easily saw through the darkness with her heightened eyesight. Her wolf was finally taking up some responsibility.
“I will kill you.” Tara promised, then turned around. “Enjoy your life while you have it.”
Before June could give a worthy response, she disappeared into the dark, leaving June alone in the field with nothing but grit and determination to prove her wrong.