CH4 - Kyla's POV

From the moment he had taken down the two wolves who had attacked me, to when he stared me down, I knew right away who this wolf was. Or at least, knew what he was. He was an alpha and not one I could ever hope to win in a fight. He was large and fast, and his condescending tone made me want to bite his face off.

I studied him carefully, his fur was a dark blackish-brown and his forest-green eyes stared me down in return.

I might have been a luna, but just being there in his presence makes me feel inadequate. I avoided his gaze almost voluntarily from his alpha’s aura. Quickly enough, I realised I had no choice but to fight this man off. I had no one that would come for me. They had separated Dereck from me and I did not know if my pack had escaped or not.

The only thought going through my mind when I lunged at this alpha was that I was going to suffer a slow, painful death, but maybe my pack would be safe for a little longer.

The alpha easily avoids my lunge, which causes me to skid along the ground, but I have practised so much that I easily use my momentum and twist around to snap at his heels. Again, he avoids my attack. What does it take to get this alpha?!

“Luna Kyla!” One of my scouts calls out to me. I can’t believe someone is still here! I can’t take my eyes off of this alpha to see who it is.

“Don’t come closer!” I warn them. I can’t let anyone get hurt just to save me.

The alpha opens his maw in a wolfish grin as he mocks me, “a wise choice to make, little luna.”

As soon as another of his wolves gets closer to him, the alpha shoots him a firm look. This is a fight between leaders and he has accepted my challenge without us ever needing to share a single word between us.

I watch on in anxious silence as he orders his warrior to get rid of the filth and I can’t help but fear he is going after my pack, but there is nothing I can do to stop them. As soon as I move, the alpha will be on me in a flash.

As the alpha circles me, I watch him in fear. I shouldn’t let him see my emotions, but the memories of my parents’ death are still so fresh in my mind that I can’t help but think this is how I’ll find my end, too.

He takes a slow, intimidating step forward and I panic. I don’t want to die! I would do anything to survive this, but what reason does the alpha have to show me mercy? What right do I have to ask him for it? I’m a leader too and for us, a fight is to the death!

Besides, if I even try to flee, he will slaughter my entire pack along with me. This life is survival of the fittest and a weak luna means for a weak pack. If I show my bravery, maybe he will spare my pack and force them to accept him as alpha instead?

“Let’s see what you got, little luna,” he mocks me again, that stupid wolfish grin still stuck on his face. Is he ready to take this fight seriously now?

I lowered my head threateningly, my teeth bared at him as I let out a low warning growl. I can’t let him get the better of me like this. He isn’t the only leader here and I need to act like one!

Lunging at him again, I attempt to snap my fangs at his neck. He laughs, having too much fun with my pathetic attempts to fight him. This pissed me off even more! How could he think so poorly of me he would openly laugh at me like this?!

I growl again as I quickly back away from him to avoid any strikes, but he just watches me. Is this his tactic for winning? Annoying other leaders until they get so mad they make a mistake? Or is it just me he doesn’t take seriously?

I use the only thing that might benefit me in this fight. I darted towards his side, feigning going in the opposite direction first in an attempt to throw him off. He still easily outmanoeuvred me and almost prances off to the side, out of my reach.

“Stay still!” I growl at him as I lunge at him again. Whoever this bastard is, I won’t let him treat me this way!

Surprisingly, he listens and when I lunge at him again; he doesn’t avoid me. However, I have made a big mistake! Using his bigger, stronger body, he knocks me to the ground with a single shove of his shoulder.

I shake my head, stunned at the sudden strike, but before I can get up, he cuffs my head with his paw. I instinctively wince, though he hasn’t hurt me.

He lets me get up as I weigh my options. He is still treating me like I am a child to him, someone to mock and take for granted that he has won.

I shoot him an angry glare and charge at him again. He avoids my lunge once more and trips me up with a sweep of his tail under my legs. As my face lands face-first into the ground, I feel his body stand above me.

“You’re not strong enough to win, little luna,” he tells me. His tone found my poor attempts amusing. It’s not like I am weak, but compared to this alpha? I might as well be an omega!

I push myself up from the ground, but he has had his fun with me, it seems. His larger paw pushes my head back down and his head leans down, his maw stopping right next to my ear.

“You have lost, little luna. Accept you are not strong enough to fight me,” he says, his voice full of joy. I shoot him another harsh glare but keep quiet. He gives me a wolfish grin again before he says, “no? Then you have a choice to make.”

I growl at him and grunt, “a leader would never accept until their death.”

He tsks at me before saying, “you can resist at the risk of your pack’s lives. I have your people pinned down at my mercy right now and the rest of your pack will easily crumble under my power.”

My eyes widened. He would wipe out my entire pack!? What monster is he!?

“Or,” he suddenly adds as I look at him, fearful of what he might do to my friends. “You can submit to me willingly. If you do, I can promise you and your pack will merge with mine and I shall treat your pack fairly, as they will become my own.”

I struggle to get out of his grip, but his paw on my neck pushes down harder, keeping me in place. I squeeze my eyes tightly closed as I consider the options. He will spare my life and that of my pack? And all I have to do is submit to him?

I am under no illusion that he will treat me kindly. I’ll probably be tortured and abused… but at least my pack will be safe. The one law in all of our packs is that if an alpha accepts a rival or rogue into their pack, they are no different to any other pack member.

Some are fairer than others, of course, so it is not granted that this alpha will treat my pack kindly, just no different from his own.

I close my eyes and stop struggling against him. What choice do I even have? There is no way I can resist and send my pack to their death. As soon as he notices me going loose, he chortles.

“That’s my little luna,” he praises me mockingly. “Now say it out loud, so your pack can hear you.”

I grit my fangs in a snarl but quickly relax. His paw slowly withdraws from my neck, allowing me to stand up. My legs are shaky, but I slowly move to stand in front of him.

With my eyes cast down in submission, and my tail between my legs, I lower my head and torso down into an awkward bow as I say clearly, “I luna Kyla of the Moonstone Pride pack submit myself to your mercy, alpha.”