Page 17

Surprise, Surprises?, Shock.

River.

The packgrounds were filled with lycans and wolves, everyone had gathered to witness as my mate ascends to take his place as alpha, I was nervous because as he took up the mantle of alpha, I truly became luna of the Forester Pack, I hadn't gotten used to it.

"Nervous?" Riley asks as he stood next to me with his mate and I nodded.

"Not only was Julian taking his place, so was Kirk, Brent and Clarke, he and I hadn't talked a lot, he was more reserved and he was always busy, I was yet to approach him to work in the medical centre, he was working toward being an independent doctor and his skill as a doctor was only rivaled by a few, its why I had to have him work at the medical centre, but that was a conversation for another day, I'd tackle the whole situation on a later date, right now my mate was getting ready for the ceremony.

"So most of the challengers dropped out.

" Zaya informs me as I look to her. "They did?

" I ask with a tinge of confusion and she nods.

"Apparently your mate is showing some, how do I say it, irregular power.

" She explained and I scoffed, yeah, irregular.

"It's a good thing either way, I don't want to see him kill his own people.

" That was my response and reservation on the matter, I just didn't want him to hurt anyone.

"Sure, so how are you feeling, you'll officially be luna by midnight.

" She asserted and I shrugged. "I don't know, I feel regular.

" I told her and she snickers. "Beings of power, you've already done some incredible things in the pack, they all respect you, luna, so there is no questioning that and no one is dumb enough to challenge you.

" She surmises as the horn is blown three times, the ceremony was to begin.

We all walk toward the sacred place where the moonlight always shined even when it was cloudy, it was a place blessed by the goddess herself, I felt power all around me as I got close, it was a large crater, carved out in the ground, an arena of sorts, faces of past alphas and most recently Khan, had been carved into the rock, it was indeed magnificent, we all descended into the crater, those who would be taking up the mantle of leadership in the pack, Julian was first, followed by Kirk, Brent then surprisingly Clarke, it wasn't a surprise for me though, I knew he was taking over his mother's role as the pack's head healer, chief doctor in modern terms. "River, please descend child.

" Elder Errin stated, and that indeed surprised me but I still followed her instructions.

"These five, shall take up the mantle of leadership, from their predecessors, some of them have yet to prove their worthiness and some have exceeded in showing how truly valuable they are to our pack.

" The elder exclaimed, her last statement she spoke looking me straight in the eye, she smiled before turning away and looking to the crowd.

"According to tradition, it is not just birthright that gives a successor power, it is those of us who are part of the pack, who choose to give them that power, hence why, if there are any who wish to challenge these five, descend now and stand toward the one you want to challenge.

" She further exclaimed and I baited my breath.

Four lycans descended down into the arena and my heart just might've stopped.

Each one stood in front of the lycans at my side and what truly surprised me, was anyone challenging Clarke, his strength was his mind, not his fists, but I guess he would have to deal.

"Any others?!" Another elder called out as silence engulfed the space.

"So then, shall we begin." The elder stated as elder Errin took my hand.

"We shall observe." She muttered as I willed my magic to make us both levitate out of arena, her gasp made me chuckle.

"Magical as always." She commented as we walked on crystal platforms making our way to where my brother, and the rest of my close knit family was.

"Im nervous now, what happens?" I asked the elder.

"They all fight, separately, first up is Clarke.

" She responded as I noticed Clarke and his challenger were the only ones left in the crater.

"May the goddess be merciful, I will not spare your life for being an obstacle to my dreams." Clarke spoke his words with clarity as his opposition just snickered.

"This will be quick." I whispered to Riley who rolled his eyes.

The challenger roared as he shifted into his wolf first and attacked a calm Clarke, his mind was clear just as the wolf leapt into the air to strike him, he side stepped to the right, caught the leg that was to strike him, used it to pull back the wolf and slam it into the ground, everyone flinched at the force of the impact, he didn't waste time dislodging the leg, I could see him using his claws to hit pressure points on the leg rendering it useless, the wolf growled loudly before trying to strike him with the left front claws but he dodged and kicked him away.

Seeing as his arm was useless he shifted into his lycan and charged for Clarke, he didn't move, until he dropped to the ground punched a hole into the ground and threw the dirt from his hand into the beasts eyes.

Unable to see, he couldn't strike, and Clarke lunged for his opponent, he shifted his hands into claws and sunk them into the challengers throat, we all knew it was over when the beast stood motionless and he tore out not only its throat but part of its spine.

He was ruthless, I wasn't I liked it.

"Like I said quick." I spoke as I looked to the next match up, it was Brent and his challenger, it was a surprise anyone would actually challenge any of them, they had been trained to kill since they were children, it was amusing in a way.

"I'll offer you a choice, forfeit now and live with the pride of knowing you chose to live than be humiliated by a match you won't win.

" He stated as his challenger hesitated, I wonder why he even came down to challenge him, with how Clarke killed his opponent, why would he still press on.

"Thank you, but my family's honour must be restored.

" The challenger responded and I sighed, this is why I had hated the fact that they had to fight, and die, was honour that important, more than their own lives, this wasn't the Mulan era, it was pitiful, yet again another death.

Brent's eyes glowed a deep gold before his whole body shifted in an instant, he was larger than the others, he had gotten a lot stronger since the attack in the woods.

His opposer didn't waste time, he shifted as well and lunged for him, unlike Clarke he didn't wait for the first strike, he charged forward faster than his opponent and knocked right into him, the force was unbelievable as he knocked the other beast right into the wall which cracked from the impact, disoriented by the collision the opponent slumped to one knee just as Brent delivered a barrage of attacks on him, he grabbed the beast by its neck and slammed it into the wall, even as it was clawing at the arm holding it, Brent didn't budge, he slammed the beast several more times until blood seeped from its mouth and his arm had been shredded until you could almost see bone, his pain tolerance was amazing.

Grabbing his challenger by the neck he slammed him into the dirt below, his hind leg slammed onto the beasts chest as his wounded arm healed back.

"Stay down and forfeit, live to fight another day.

" Brent pleaded and I saw just how honourable he was.

They stayed like that for a minute more until his challenger tapped out, it made me release a breath, I didn't know I was holding.

"Everyone, we've witnessed why these exceptional young men are worthy of being our leaders, fortunately and unfortunately our beta wont need to prove himself as his challenger forfeited before the time came, he would like to keep his limbs intact.

" The elder explained and everyone laughed at the last part, I was amused aswell when I heard the last part but the amusement vanished as I realized who would be fighting next.

"It is time we see, is our alpha truly worthy of being alpha.

" He further added as Julian walked to the middle of the arena as did his challenger, I could feel the animalistic aura fill the whole arena, it was dangerous, and it came from my mate.

"Unlike the head warrior or my beta, I will not give you the pleasure of forfeiting, running away, just the death.

" He spoke unlike himself, I used the connection we had and I realized it wasn't just Julian on the surface, it was his inner being, he was scary, a lot scary but I loved him, he was such a teddy bear to me, benefits of being his mate.

"I don't need your mercy, just to prove that you're nothing without their support.

" His challenger hissed back as he lunged for Julian, my mate didn't flinch, or move as everyone stayed silent yet on the edge of their seats, as he was to deliver his blow on my mate, Julian moved at a speed not easily achievable, he dodged the blow them switched his attack to roundhouse kick the lycan.

When the lycan hit the wall debris and dust were raised, showing just how much power had been put in the blow.

"What, did anyone see that?" Zaya demanded as she rubbed her eyes, Riley and I chuckled seeing her confusion but we could easily keep track, Julian had just reacted faster than his attacker, it was normal.

The dust settled as Julian stood over his staggering opponent.

"You should've really thought this out." He mumbled looking on at the lycan in pity, he walked toward and punched right through his chest, everyone gasped as he pulled out his heart and the lycan's lifeless body slumped to the ground, bloody.

I knew I'd react to this as did some of the people within the crowd.

"Shawn!" A man screamed as he descended into the arena, he roared toward Julian as he skidded to a stop and knelt by his lifeless son.

"You killed him, you killed my son!" He screamed as more lycans descended into the arena and as it unfolded I knew they were going to attack Julian.

"You killed him!" They accused him as he grolwed loudly, this was blatant disrespect to his inner lycan and the ceremony, they knew the law, they knew he would die if he challenged him, then why didn't they stop him before he even came down.

As I expected, some pulled out knives, others shifted to attack Julian.

"Enough!" I yelled releasing a wave of crystal flakes, my own magic was reacting to whatever was happening as I hovered in the air above them all.

"Enough." I spoke with less force, as they all looked to me.

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Saint_Jay