“What have you done, Huxley?” Caelan snarled.
“Me?” he exclaimed in a mocking tone. “I’m merely being good to my neighbor, but you? Stealing someone else’s chosen mate? Now,that’sdespicable. That she-wolf was mine before you swooped in and claimed her.”
“That isn’t true,” Caelan spat. “You had a claim on Sunny, not Shade. Even so, she is my fated mate, granted to me by the Goddess herself.”
“Funny how that didn’t come out until after the choosing. Doesn’t matter really. Her father gave me his blessing,” Huxley replied, eyes snapping to me. “He’s really looking forward to our union, darling.”
“He would never,” I hissed.
I don’t like where this is going. What has he done to Harvest Moon? Are my father and sister in danger?
“Alpha Butch wouldn’t ally himself with you,” Caelan growled, his body tensing as he faced off against the vicious alpha. “Thatwould be suicide. I’ll ask you again, Huxley. What have you done with Alpha Butch?”
“Perhaps he realized how much more beneficial it would be to be in my good graces. A lesson you will soon learn, pup,” Huxley scoffed. “That she-wolf is mine by right, and I’ll be taking her with me.”
“You’ll do no such thing!” Caelan snarled.
“Then you’ll have to stop me, pup,” Huxley declared with a sinister glint in his eyes.
“Please take my mate to the observation platform,” Caelan ordered, waving for Taffy and Oliver to step forward.
“Caelan,” I started, but he brought his hand to my cheek, running his thumb over my lips.
“Please go sit with my mother and father, Shade,” he whispered. “I need to know you’re safe. I promise, I’ll come for you as soon as this is over.”
“If he’s still alive,” Huxley chuckled darkly. I glared at him, resisting the urge to lash out.This is Caelan’s fight, not mine.
I gave Caelan’s arm one final squeeze before the warriors escorted me over to join Alpha Leal and Luna Maty. I took the chair beside the luna, and she reached over, taking my hand in hers.
“He will be okay, dear,” she murmured.
I nodded as Taffy and Oliver stationed themselves on either side of the platform, their backs straight as they stood at attention. Dillon took position closer to the perimeter, almost as though he were anticipating something.
Alpha Leal rose from his seat as the crowd fell silent.
“Who issues the challenge?” he asked, his deep voice echoing across the space.
“I, Alpha Huxley Balcom of the Dark Moon Pack, issue the challenge,” Huxley roared.
“And do you accept, Alpha Caelan of the Harvest Moon Pack?” Alpha Leal questioned.
“I do,” Caelan confirmed.
My heart dropped into my stomach. There was no going back now.
“It is decided,” Alpha Leal confirmed. “This trial by combat will continue until one of you surrenders or is unable to proceed. At that point, the challenger still standing will be declared the victor and win the right to mate with the she-wolf in question. Let the challenge begin!”
Caelan moved to the center of the arena as Huxley strode forward, peeling off his clothes and tossing them to the side. They both shifted and the fight began.
Huxley rushed at Caelan head-on. They collided in a flurry of fur and gnashing teeth.
He swiped at Caelan, who managed to dodge his claws just in time. Caelan retaliated, snapping his jaws at Huxley’s throat, barely missing his target as Huxley threw his body backward.
He reared, striking a blow across Caelan’s chest as Caelan grabbed a chunk of Huxley’s fur between his teeth. The sight of blood dripping from Caelan’s wolf was jarring, and I had to remind myself these were just scratches. They would heal.
Suddenly, Caelan twisted, the motion a blur as he swung his legs hard into Huxley and sent him flying back into the sand.
Beside me, Luna Maty whooped, her fingers clenched tightly around mine. “Get him, Caelan!”
