Competition

Chapter 8

Competition

Devin had always loved competition.

Not because he enjoyed winning.

Though he did.

Not because he liked proving himself.

Though that was certainly part of it.

He loved competition because it stripped away excuses.

Rank didn't matter.

Politics didn't matter.

Reputation didn't matter.

The field, the target, the finish line, the opponent.

Those things told the truth.

And today, the truth would belong to whoever earned it.

The second day of the Full Moon Festival dawned bright and cool.

By sunrise, wolves were already gathering near the competition grounds.

Rows of benches surrounded the central field.

Banners from both Silverwood and Blackthorn fluttered overhead.

Children darted through the crowd while vendors set up food stalls and elders settled in to watch the events.

The excitement was contagious.

Even Devin felt it.

Beside him, Todd stretched his shoulders.

"Tell me again why we agreed to participate in every event."

"We didn't."

Todd looked confused.

"We didn't?"

"You volunteered us."

Todd pointed accusingly.

"You could've stopped me."

"You seemed happy."

"I was."

"Then stop complaining."

Todd sighed dramatically.

"No one appreciates me."

The opening horn sounded.

Immediately silencing the crowd.

Alpha Rowan stepped forward.

"Welcome to the second day of Silverwood's Full Moon Festival."

Cheers erupted.

For the next several minutes Rowan explained the rules and schedule.

Then the competitions began.

And Devin forgot about everything else.

---

The morning started with archery.

One by one competitors stepped forward.

Arrows flew.

Some found targets.

Others found trees.

One unfortunate competitor somehow hit the wrong target entirely.

The crowd enjoyed that immensely.

Devin stepped onto the line.

The noise disappeared.

Only the target mattered.

He drew.

Released.

Bullseye.

The second arrow landed beside the first.

Then the third.

The crowd erupted.

"That's my Alpha!"

The familiar voice made him glance toward the spectators.

Sabrina stood near the front of the crowd, smiling proudly.

Several wolves around her nodded in agreement.

"You'll win the whole festival," she called.

Devin lowered his bow.

"It's one event."

"Still."

Her smile widened.

"Some wolves dream about becoming leaders."

Her gaze lingered on him.

"You were born for it."

The compliment sounded harmless.

But it rarely stopped there with Sabrina.

Everything somehow circled back to the future she imagined for him.

For them.

Across the field, Ryker stepped onto the line.

The Blackthorn wolf flashed an easy grin.

Then proceeded to bury three arrows almost directly beside Devin's.

The crowd roared even louder.

Now it was a competition.

Exactly what Devin wanted.

Todd groaned.

"Oh good."

"What?"

"You found someone to obsess over."

Devin ignored him.

Unfortunately, Todd wasn't entirely wrong.

Ryker was good.

Very good.

And Devin suddenly wanted to beat him.

---

By midday, Silverwood and Blackthorn were nearly tied.

Every event seemed to come down to wolves from the two packs.

Tracking.

Archery.

Obstacle courses.

Strength trials.

Again and again, Ryker finished near the top.

Again and again, Devin found himself matching him.

The rivalry was becoming impossible to ignore.

During a break between competitions, Devin finally escaped a crowd of spectators.

Unfortunately, Sabrina found him almost immediately.

"I brought this."

She handed him a bottle of water.

"Thanks."

Her smile brightened as though he'd given her a rare gift.

Around them, several wolves openly watched.

Most of the pack already viewed Sabrina as the future Luna.

She knew it.

And she knew exactly how to play into it.

"The festival is already a success," she said.

"It seems that way."

"The Blackthorn wolves fit in surprisingly well."

Devin nodded.

Across the grounds, visiting wolves mingled with Silverwood members.

Laughter echoed between groups.

Friendships were already forming.

Sabrina's gaze shifted.

Barely.

"So does Jade, apparently."

Devin frowned.

"What?"

Sabrina nodded toward the far side of the competition field.

His eyes followed automatically.

Jade.

Liam.

Ryker.

The three stood together near one of the food stalls.

Ryker appeared to be telling some story involving an excessive amount of arm waving.

Liam looked skeptical.

Jade looked amused.

"Nothing," Sabrina said quickly.

When Devin remained silent, she continued.

"She just seems determined to spend time with the Blackthorn wolves."

There wasn't anything wrong with the statement.

Yet something about her tone bothered him.

Almost as though she expected him to reach a conclusion.

"People are allowed to make friends."

"Of course."

The response came instantly.

Too instantly.

Sabrina smiled.

"I didn't say they weren't."

Before Devin could decide why the exchange felt strange, the next competition was announced.

---

The combat trials were the most anticipated event of the day.

Wolves crowded around the arena.

Cheers echoed through the clearing.

This was what most of them had been waiting for.

Warrior against warrior.

Pack against pack.

Strength against strength.

The matches were fast and brutal.

One by one competitors were eliminated.

Until only a handful remained.

Including Ryker.

Naturally.

The Blackthorn wolf stepped into the arena opposite Devin.

The crowd exploded.

Silverwood.

Blackthorn.

Alpha heir against Alpha heir.

The energy in the clearing shifted instantly.

Across the arena, Ryker rolled his shoulders.

"You've been looking forward to this."

Devin smirked.

"So have you."

"Fair."

The horn sounded.

They collided.

The match was fast.

Every opening was countered.

Every attack answered.

The crowd roared with every exchange.

Minutes passed.

Then more.

Until Ryker finally misjudged a footing change near the edge of the ring.

A tiny mistake.

But enough.

Devin capitalized immediately.

Ryker hit the ground.

The horn sounded.

Victory.

Cheers erupted.

Silverwood wolves leapt to their feet.

Ryker accepted a hand up.

"You're annoying."

"I've heard that before."

"I believe it."

The two shared a grin.

A rivalry had been born.

One both of them seemed to enjoy.

As Devin stepped from the arena, Sabrina reached him before anyone else.

She wrapped her arms around him.

"I knew you'd win."

Devin laughed.

"It was one match."

"It was the match."

She stepped back.

Then her eyes drifted over his shoulder.

Toward Ryker.

Toward Jade.

The timing wasn't lost on him.

Jade was speaking with Ryker while Liam enthusiastically reenacted part of the fight.

Apparently badly.

Because the Blackthorn wolf was laughing.

"So are some wolves," Sabrina continued smoothly, "better sports than others."

Devin followed her gaze.

"Who?"

"No one."

She shrugged lightly.

"I'm just glad the Silverwood wolves remember where their loyalties belong."

Again.

An innocent statement.

With an implication hidden beneath it.

Before he could question it, several pack members approached to congratulate him.

The moment passed.

But the feeling remained.

---

As evening settled over the festival grounds, the competitions finally came to an end.

Silverwood held a narrow lead.

Blackthorn wasn't far behind.

Tomorrow's events would determine the overall winner.

Lanterns illuminated the clearing.

Music resumed.

The competitive tension slowly gave way to celebration.

Yet as Devin stood near one of the tables accepting congratulations, his attention wandered.

Not toward the winners.

Not toward Rowan.

Not toward the scoreboards.

Toward Jade.

She sat beside Liam and Ryker near one of the bonfires.

The three appeared completely absorbed in conversation.

Ryker was dramatically retelling one of the day's matches.

Liam interrupted every thirty seconds.

Jade laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink.

The sight pulled an unexpected smile from Devin.

"What's so interesting?"

Sabrina appeared beside him again.

His smile vanished.

"Nothing."

Her eyes followed his line of sight.

Finding Jade almost immediately.

The pause only lasted a second.

Then her expression smoothed.

"It's nice someone is keeping the visitors entertained."

The words sounded pleasant.

Yet something about them felt off.

Devin couldn't explain why.

Sabrina slipped her arm through his.

"Come on."

Her tone softened.

"Everyone wants to celebrate with you."

She guided him toward another gathering of pack members.

Devin went willingly enough.

Yet before turning away completely, he glanced back one final time.

Jade was laughing.

Ryker was smiling at something she'd said.

Liam was probably arguing with both of them.

The scene should have meant nothing.

Instead, it lingered.

And for reasons he couldn't understand, Devin found himself wondering why Sabrina seemed so interested in Jade Sullivan.

And why seeing Jade with Ryker bothered him at all.