CHAPTER 2

Selene's POV

I twirled my blade lazily and rolled my eyes as my latest opponent, a hulking warrior named Darek, stepped back like I was made of glass.

"Oh, come on," I said as I flicked my braid over my shoulder. "Are you fighting me or performing the first steps of some tragic mating dance?"

Darek frowned with sweat glistening on his brow.

"Selene, I don’t want to…"

"Don’t want to what?" I interrupted him, spreading my arms. "Scuff my pretty face? Chip a nail? Goddess above, Darek! If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were one of the old she-wolves from the sewing circle with how delicately you’re acting! I need real competition!"

A few snickers broke out among the gathered warriors, and Darek’s jaw clenched, but still, his swings were careful and measured, like he was afraid I’d shatter on impact.

My patience snapped. I wasn't the spoiled brat of an Alpha's daughter like everyone would have me be. I was Selene Thorn, the only female fighter in the whole of Silverwood Pack!

With a sudden lunge, I knocked his sword wide and then spun and kicked hard against the back of his knee, and he hit the dirt with a grunt, with my blade at his throat, before he could blink.

"There," I said sweetly. "That’s what happens when you treat me like a fragile little doe."

I stepped back, gesturing towards the next warrior.

"Who’s next? Or do I need to start calling you all my sweet little maidens?"

That got them riled up. Good!

For the next hour, the warriors came at me harder, but still not hard enough. Every time one of them pulled a strike or hesitated, I taunted them mercilessly.

"Oh, was that supposed to hurt, Axel?" I mocked as another swing fell short.

Then came Ronan.

Tall, scarred, and built like he could snap a tree in half. Beta Ronan has always been one of the Pack’s deadliest. But even he had that cursed hesitation in his eyes.

"Don’t insult me by holding back," I warned as we circled each other. "Or I’ll start thinking you’re scared."

His nostrils flared.

"You’re the Alpha’s daughter, Selene."

"And you’re a warrior, Beta Ronan!" I shot back. "So fight like one."

Maybe those were my words. Maybe it was the crowd’s growing laughter. Either way, Ronan’s patience frayed. His next attack was brutal, fast, and powerful with no hesitation.

Finally.

Metal sang as I parried with my arms shuddering from the force. I grinned while I pivoted to the counter, but then pain flared across my palm.

I stumbled back, staring at the thin red line now streaking my hand. Blood dripped onto the dirt. He had cut me.

Silence and Ronan’s face paled.

"Selene…"

I burst out laughing.

"Oh, now you look like you’ve seen a ghost," I teased, shaking my hand with a wince.

"Relax, Ronan. It’s a scratch. At least now I know you’ve got the nerve to actually hit me."

The warriors murmured uneasily, but I just wiped the blood on my trousers and reached for my sword again.

"Who’s next?"

I called, but they all hesitated. And then they all suddenly dropped to one knee with heads bowed. Before I could make out what was happening…

“That's what happens when you choose to play with real weapons as a lady.”

I spun around to find my father approaching calmly. My father was Alpha Borin Thorne, Alpha of Silverwood Pack, and as much as he no longer fought, I heard all the tales of his youthful days. He was quite a warrior, too. But like I said, that was way back. There was no way you'd think this man here with a pot-belly was once a warrior.

“Let's not do this again, Father.” I sighed as I sheathed my sword.

“Do what?” His brows shot up. “You know this isn't a ladylike behavior, Selene. You're at an age where you need to start preparing for mateship! But instead, you're out here playing with the warriors and pretending to be a warrior. You'll never be one! And no one wants to mate with a girl obsessed with swords!”

There it was again, the same old argument. I wasn't sure I was ready to hear this all over again.

“Mother would have understood,” I muttered under my breath, but the sharp ears of my father caught the sentence.

“Well, your mother is dead!” Father snapped and then bit his lips as if he was holding back more words. “Leave us!” He waved dismissively at the soldiers, and immediately, they all left the training area.

“You know what you're doing isn't right, Selene.” His voice became softer now. “You're my only daughter. Perhaps the only child of mine that people would recognize.”

A shadow crossed his face as he said this. I didn't like the sound of that!

“I shouldn't have allowed this to continue after your mother's death. I should have put an end to these sparings and arrow throwing and all. You're a lady, Selene. For goddess' sake, act like one!”

“I don't want to be that kind of lady,” I snapped.

 “I want to be a warrior father! I want to be among the men out there on the front lines, risking their lives in the fight against the Ash king of Ash Claw Pack! I want to contribute my quota in the battle against the Ash king!”

“Funny you should mention the Ash king,” Father said in a much calmer voice, and my eyes immediately snapped to his face. Something was coming.

“What do you mean?” I asked curiously.

“I've had a closed-door meeting with the council, and we've all agreed.” He paused.

“All agreed on?” I pressed on with my brows rising questionably.

Father hesitated, but I knew him well enough to guess that whatever he was about to say was probably going to give me a mini-heart attack.

“We've all agreed that you will be sent off to the Ash king permanently as a peace offering and a tribute.”

My heart froze immediately, and my blood ran cold at his words.