Chapter Twenty

Aria’s POV

I stare  at my reflection in the mirror, as I pull my hair into a tight ponytail. Today is the day that I’d have to prove myself to the pack. I’m so nervous, my entire life I’ve been looked down upon and things haven't worked in my favour. But, I refuse to let that dictate my life  any longer. I have been chosen by the moon goddess as Luna for a reason.

I feel a slight pain in my chest, rubbing it subconsciously. Now that I look at the reflection closer my face is rather pale, than usual. I have tan skin making this obvious. 

“Willow?” I call out, she’s been unusually silent of late. Surprisingly, she doesn’t reply.

A loud knock pulls me from my thoughts.

I turn my gaze towards the door, “Can I come in, Kitten.”

A smile pulls at my lips. “Of Course Alpha,” I  tease, the door knob twists open. Kael saunters in.

A lazy smile on his lips making his usually emotionless face radiant. His arms go for my waist, wrapping around it firmly. My eyes widen in surprise, he  is getting more daring each day.

His lips slam against mine, our tongues swirl around each other. After, playing for dominance, I lose my breath and push against his chest. I pant slightly with flushed cheeks and swollen lips, leaning my head against his broad chest. 

A rumbling chuckle resonates out of his chest, “You’re still so shy, little mate.”

I shake my head with vigour, denying the obvious  truth.

He holds me tightly in his arms. “I came to wish you luck for the tournament.”

I peer at him from beneath my lashes. “Thank you, Kael.”

He growls lightly, “I hate it when you call me, Kael.” He says mischief written all over. “Call me  something sweet like, darling or honey or even my love.”

“Maybe after the tournament I will, Kael.”

His fingers go under my chin holding it up, facing him. “I don’t care what the outcome for the tournament is. You are mine and I am yours. No one else's.” 

I nod my head, he rubs his thumb gently against my chin. “Are you okay though love, you look a bit pale?”

I push him off slightly, “Yes I am, it's just my nerves.” 

His eyes flicker round my face, “You’ll tell me if something is wrong right?”

“Yes, I promise,” I say with a smile though my tummy churns at my blatant lie.

“I…..”

“Kael get out of there so I get my turn,” Martha screams outside my door. “You have spent enough time with her already.”

He rolls his eyes at her antics, a sweet giggle reverberates out of my mouth. He let me push him out the door. 

I pull the door open, there is Aldin, Gad, O’Brien and Martha. My eyes widened in surprise.

“We came to offer our allegiance to you, and wish you the best, Luna,” Aldin speaks up on their behalf. 

He bows slightly and says, “I, Aldin Benard, the  Beta of the Cantara Pack, accept you as my Luna.”

Gad follows suit, “I, Gad Leonard, the Head Warrior of the Cantara Pack, accept you as my Luna.

O’Brien comes forward. “I, O’Brien Kegan, the Enforcer of the Cantara Pack, accept you as my Luna.”

Lastly, my best friend steps forward. “I, Martha Klassen, Warrior of the Cantara Pack,  accept you as my Luna.”

Tears uncontrollably spill down my cheeks, I’m so happy. “This means so much to me guys, I promise to do my best,” I jump in for a group hug.

Kael rolls his eyes but he stares at me with so much pride. The world vanishes around me as I get lost in his blue orbs.

“The pack must be gathered by now, we should go before you guys begin to make out once more,” Aldin teases.

My cheeks are on fire, a grunt comes from Aldin. Our footsteps resound on the wooden floor of the packhouse as we walk towards the training grounds.

He rubs his ribs with a pout, “Keep your mate on a tight leash, Luna.” He then gives me a playful wink, “He is so violent, unlike our adorable Luna.”

“Get your own mate and call her adorable, Aldin,” Kael says possessively.

“Well, look at this, our big bad Alpha is already wrapped around Aria’s fist,” O’Brien adds. They cackle at my expense. I thought Martha was bad but these two are way worse.

“Don’t pay attention to them, Kitten,” Kael whispers. 

We make our way to the noisy crowd, mixed expressions are littered on their faces. My palms grow sweaty. I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“I know you can do this.” Kael whispers again in my ears, brushing his lip slightly against it. We walk in the midst of pack members, some offer me encouraging smiles. Kael helps me up the makeshift podium, Aldin, Gad and O’Brien follow. Martha stays in the crowd, giving me a dazzling smile.

“Today, we have some to witness the Luna Trials in respect to the age long tradition held for Lunas. This is to reinstate their place as Luna if they are challenged by other she-wolves to a fight.” My mate’s loud voice resounds round the training ground.

“My Luna and mate Aria will be facing our former Beta’s daughter Jessica Woods, Misty Wardwick, and Anita Miller.” he then stares at the crowd for a while and then mutters, “May the best one win.”

Gad then steps forward and announces, “Let all contestants come forward,” they all step forward from the crowd. 

“For a fair competition the Luna will be facing one opponent at a time, Jessica will be the first opponent then Misty and Anita then will come last.” He addresses the crowd.

“The rules are no use of any weapons, you can shift to your wolf at any point of the fight, and most importantly to be pronounced winner is either by submission or death.” He continues.

“If by any point you break the rules, it would lead to either disqualification or banishment pending on the severity.” He then finishes.

“Everyone, move to the edge of the training grounds,” Aldin announces. “Luna and Jessica please make your way to the middle of the training grounds.”

I walk down the podium, after Kael gives my fist a subtle squeeze. I approach Jessica who sports a smirk as if she knows something I don’t.

“You will go down, little Luna.” She says. “You’re not fit to be crowned Luna or worse officially mated to my Kael.”

I growl at the disrespect to my surprise, Willow is completely silent. She is not even making any attempts to come out.

Now I’m worried, this is a bad time though but what is happening to Willow.

“Fight,” Gad states simply.

“You're going down, Omega.” Jessica taunts, she zips towards me, I’m able to clumsily miss her strike. She comes back on her feet fast and comes hard. She doesn't even waste a second, hitting me left, right  and center. 

“You can do this, Aria,” Martha’s loud voice reaches my ears.

“How are you able to deflect most of my advances, wench.” She says angrily. I am getting rather sloppy and dizzy. My poor state has made me resort to just fending off her attacks. Now, I’m sure something is wrong, I feel sick all of a sudden. 

She goes for my belly, in my attempt to block her, I open my face up. She lands a heavy blow to my jaw, making me crash on the bare floor. She climbs atop me and begins raining blows, I am able to deflect some but she gets most.

“Now this is just a tip of the iceberg, my wolf wants her own pound of flesh as well from you.” Jessica screams.

She stands up and urges me, “Get up, you filthy mutt.”

Blood trickles down my head and my chin, I pick myself up on shaky feet and in no time, a large ash wolf replaces Jessica in her place.

She bounds forward towards me swiftly, before I can get out of her way, I feel blinding pain on my shoulder blades. She waved me around like a rag doll and bit off a full chunk of my skin, throwing me roughly against the floor. Blood rushes out of my shoulders. A pained roar reaches my ears. 

I am losing blood fast, my eyes blurred, I can barely make out anything. My ears are filled with a dull ring, drowning out the noise.  Then, complete silence and everything goes black.