I could see them considering it. A human challenging a wolf? To them, it must have seemed like the easiest victory in the world.I couldn’t shift. Couldn’t match their strength or speed. In their eyes, I was just a weak little human offering herself up on a silver platter.
They didn’t know about the taser on my belt. The knife sheathed at my side. The training Noah and Hunt had given me, the moves Knox had shown me over the months.
They didn’t know that I was fucking done being the victim.
A slow smile spread across Mary’s face. That cruel, satisfied smile that I had grown to hate more than anything else in the world.
“Deal,” she said.
And Mira nodded beside her. “Deal.”
34
— • —
Lina
The moment the words left my mouth, chaos erupted.
“Absolutely not,” Noah growled, stepping in front of me like he could physically block me from doing this. “You’re injured. You’re human. You can’t fight a wolf in single combat.”
“She’s right,” Cole added, his voice tight. “This is insane, Lina. Let us handle this. We have them surrounded. We can-”
“And risk them hurting the babies?” I shook my head, pushing past Noah. “No. This is the only way to guarantee they hand them over safely.”
Ryder moved to block my path, his expression hard. “Knox would never forgive us if we let you do this. He would never forgive himself.”
“Knox isn’t conscious right now,” I said flatly. “And even if he was, this would still be my choice to make.”
Jackson Bennett watched the argument with cool detachment, his arms crossed over his broad chest. He didn’t offer an opinion either way. This wasn’t his fight. His only interest was in dragging his wayward daughter back to Shadowcrest.
Mary and Mira were watching too, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. They thought they had already won.
They were wrong.
“I’m doing this,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “I’m the Luna of this pack. I made the challenge and I’m going to see it through. If I back down now, what does that say about me? What does that say about Ravenshollow?”
The wolves around me shifted uncomfortably. They didn’t like it, but they understood. In their world, backing down from a challenge was the same as admitting weakness. If I walked away now, I would lose their respect. Worse, I would prove Mary right. I would prove that I was just a weak little human who didn’t deserve to stand beside their Alpha.
I wasn’t going to give her that satisfaction.
Noah’s jaw clenched so hard I could see the muscles jumping beneath his skin. But he stepped aside.
“Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “But if things go sideways, we’re stepping in. Challenge be damned.”
I nodded, accepting that compromise. Then I turned to face Mary and Mira.
“Before we start, the babies need to be handed over to neutral parties. They shouldn’t be anywhere near this fight.”
Mary’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “How do I know you won’t just take them and attack us anyway?”
“I gave you my word,” I said, meeting her gaze without flinching. “I’m Ravenshollow’s Luna. Until we end this challenge, you’re protected. Both of you.”
Mira lifted an eyebrow, looking skeptical. But she didn’t argue. Maybe she saw something in my face that convinced her I was serious. Or maybe she just wanted to see Mary tear me apart and didn’t want to risk ruining the show.
Noah and Cole approached slowly, their arms extended, making their intentions clear. They weren’t attacking. They were just there to take the children.
Mary hesitated, her grip tightening on Blake for a moment. My heart stopped. If she refused, if she decided to use my daughter as leverage-
