She took my hand, patting it gently.
“You are exactly the kind of role model young she-wolves need. Brave. Resilient. Kind. Mark my words, you’re going to be an inspiration to little girls in this pack for years to come. Your mother would be so proud, and I couldn’t be happier to have you as a mate for my son or as the one to inherit my title.”
Tears welled in my eyes at her words. I wanted to make my mother proud. I wanted to make Luna Maty proud. She had so much faith in me, and I wouldn’t let her down.
I will do everything in my power to be the absolute best luna that I can possibly be.
***
I stood on the edge of the training field after finishing my tea with Luna Maty, watching Caelan train for the upcoming challenges. I tilted my head, setting the basket I brought with me at my feet as my eyes eagerly followed his every move.
He was so focused on striking the practice dummy that he hadn’t even noticed my presence yet, not that I minded. Seeing him in action was a treat. His movements were fluid and precise, each blow sharp and powerful as it made contact.
Desire pooled in my belly as I admired his shirtless, sweaty body. Moisture glistened across his chiseled back and sculpted chest, droplets running along the hard contours of his form.
I shifted on my feet, wanting those strong arms wrapped around me like they had been on the night of my initiation. I had never felt the urge to be with anyone so strongly, and that need only seemed to be growing the longer we waited.
I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out. It gets more and more difficult not to throw myself at him when we’re alone.
“Shade! Yoo-hoo, Shade! Are you in there?” Taffy chuckled as she waved a hand in front of my face, trying to get my attention.
“Huh?” I mumbled, blinking in surprise as I finally noticed she and Dillon were standing beside me. “Oh! Uh, hey. Did you ask me something?”
They flashed each other an amused glance before turning back toward me.
“Hmm, whatever could you have been thinking so hard about?” Taffy teased, her eyes darting toward Caelan as a knowing smile crossed her lips. “I wonder.”
“Oh…uh…,” I stammered, my blushing cheeks giving me away.
“I’m sure she was just strategizing for the challenges,” Dillon said with a wink. “Isn’t that right, Shade?”
“Yeah, sure,” Taffy chuckled sarcastically. “I always get that dreamy look in my eyes when I think about bloodshed too.”
“Fine. You caught me,” I muttered. “I was thinking about them for a second though, I promise. Then I got…distracted.”
I honestly hadn’t been able to stop thinking about them since I learned about Dark Moon’s challenge.
I already didn’t like the idea of Caelan having to fight my father, but I didn’t consider him much of a threat. My father wasn’t weak, but it’d been a long time since he’d gone into battle personally. He was happier to command his troops from a distance than to get directly involved.
And Caelan was a young alpha in his prime. I had no doubt that he’d put my father in his place quickly and without much difficulty.
Alpha Huxley was a different matter entirely. I’d seen that wolf fight on more than one occasion. He was vicious, brutal, and not above playing dirty. He was the real threat.
“I’m worried about Alpha Huxley,” I admitted. “He’ll do whatever it takes to win a fight, and he wouldn’t hesitate to kill Caelan if he got the chance.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much,” Taffy assured me with a confident grin. “Caelan knows what he’s doing. He’s trained with multiple packs and knows a variety of techniques. He’s well-versed in more fighting styles than I can name. He and Dillon are probably two of the best-trained warriors in the country.”
“You guys trained with other packs?” I asked Dillon.
“Yeah. Caelan and I have trained in packs all over the world,” Dillon said with a shrug. “It was something Luna Maty and Alpha Leal arranged. Kind of like an exchange program. We would go somewhere for a few weeks while two of that pack’s warriors came here.”
“And when they returned to Harvest Moon, they taught all of us what they had learned,” Taffy added, smiling at her mate proudly.
“Wow,” I remarked in surprise. “I didn’t realize that Harvest Moon’s training program was so extensive.”
I probably should spend a little more time getting to know my mate and new pack. We’ve been so worried about thechallenges that we haven’t talked about anything else when we’re together, if we talk at all.
My cheeks warmed at the thought as I watched Caelan dance around the practice dummy. His movements were beautifully fluid but ultimately deadly.
