2: WEAK LUNA

The king’s beta, Derian, told Kaliyah that she was part of the meeting, then led her down a dim hallway to a single door at the end. With the door ajar, the sound of lively chatter filled her ears. Initially, she struggled to figure out their conversation. But as she drew nearer, their words grew increasingly distinct.

“She isn’t fit to be our Luna Queen. She doesn’t deserve His Majesty.”

The resounding words echoed so intensely that Kaliyah halted. Even Derian paused, glancing at her.     

“But she is His Majesty’s mate, Raymond! His mate should be our Luna!”

“But she’s turning eighteen without having ever shifted!”

 “Ruiz,” another voice interrupted. “I understand your point, and I know your strong connection with the Snow family. But Raymond is correct. A wolf that still hasn’t shifted before its eighteenth birthday may never shift. And we can’t have a Luna who cannot shift. It would be too great a disadvantage to our kingdom.”

Kaliyah's heart ached as she listened intently to their debate.

“What is your suggestion, then?” Fenris said, causing Kaliyah to listen even more intently.

After several seconds of silence, one of the men spoke. “Test her capability to be Luna.”

“Are you referring to Luna’s Fangs?” Fenris asked.

Gasps emitted from the crowd, and even Kaliyah took a step back.

Though Luna’s Fangs was a way to assess the luna’s skills and worthiness, and anyone in the kingdom had the right to challenge a luna in such a manner, the mere act of doing so called the luna into question. Therefore, it was considered the most disgraceful act one could commit against a luna. Even the first queen who underwent the ordeal failed to restore her reputation, despite emerging victorious.  

“What madness is this?” one of the elders exclaimed. “How could you disrespect our future Luna like that?”

“What’s wrong with it? I just want to assist her in gaining acceptance among our people!”

“But how can she survive that? You know how brutal that test is. She still hasn’t shifted!”

Sarcastic laughter sounded in response. “You accuse me of disrespecting our future Luna. Yet it’s you who are looking down on her, Elder Ruiz. Luna-Queen Esther was also tested this way, and she won even though she had shifted three days before the test. You should have more confidence in Lady Acalia, Ruiz.”

Kaliyah peered into the room and watched as the elders resumed their seats and all eyes turned to the king. She anxiously awaited Fenris’ reply, despite her desire to escape.

Seconds… minutes…

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Despite appearing lost in thought, Fenris had reached a decision the moment he detected the lingering scent of Kaliyah’s body in the air. It evoked a deep sense of familiarity, causing his nose to twitch as he vividly recalled her sweet and intoxicating aroma the day he marked her.

“In three days, our kingdom will witness the third Luna’s Fangs, a significant event in our history. Luna Acalia will undergo a test to determine if she is worthy of becoming my Luna Queen. Should she emerge victorious, she will ascend to the position of queen without delay. However, if she fails to prove herself, there will be no Luna in our kingdom unless I cease to be Alpha-king.”

Fenris’s gaze shifted to the door, fully aware that Kaliyah was present, even though nobody else could perceive her. He caught a whiff of her delightful fragrance. But it mingled with her tears, and he despised witnessing her crying. Clenching his jaw, he stood and left the room through the side door.

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Fenris stood in the garden with Allison, watching the darkness gobble up the light, when he smelled Kaliyah’s familiar sweet scent.

Wasn’t she supposed to have left the palace by now? Why was her scent suddenly growing stronger in the air?

He turned and saw Kaliyah approaching. Her face displayed determination, and her fists were tightly clenched. As she reached them, her gaze, filled with jealousy and danger, swept sharply over Allison.

“I am your mate,” she said through clenched teeth, “and I will be the only woman deserving of you, Fenris. I will prove that to you and everyone else. In three days, I will prove to you.” An overpowering mix of determination, jealousy, and anger surged within her as she saw him with another woman. She swished she could grab his neck, bring him close, passionately taste his enticing lips, and make it abundantly clear to the woman beside him that he belonged to her alone.     

Instead, she bit her lip and produced a soft moan as she stared at his mouth.

Allison and Derian were shocked by it, but Kaliyah was unfazed.

Fenris showed no emotion but gazed deeply into her eyes. It felt as though they were engaged in a secret conversation known only to the two of them. But then he turned his back, slipped his hands into his pockets, and tilted his face to gaze at her. “I will wait.”

The words were simple, short, and said with no emotion, leaving Kaliyah with mixed overwhelming joy. Could he evoke such emotions within her because he was her mate? As she watched him walk away, Kaliyah clasped her chest and felt her beating heart. “I’ll show you, Fenris. Just wait,” she said under her breath.

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Three days later the arena, resembling a circular colosseum and typically reserved for monthly Full Moon Games, brimmed with people. It reverberated with such intensity that the resounding echoes of the crowd’s yells and cheers were almost deafening.

In her combat attire and shoes, Kaliyah stood in the center, ready to face the challenge. The test rules strictly prohibited using weapons, so her victory depended on her ability to knock out her opponents. The cold air blew hard on her face as she waited, but the heat of the moment prevented her from shivering.

Moments later, an announcement sounded, signaling the imminent arrival of the king. Everyone turned their heads toward the arena’s central, elevated platform.

Fenris entered and approached Allison, who was already seated in the chair next to his. Kaliyah felt her stomach revolt at seeing the woman he had been with three days prior. Though, to Kaliyah, it seemed Fenris’ gaze was focused on her. But the significant distance between them made it impossible for her to be certain.  

As he sat, King Fenris said, “Begin,” with a wave of his hand.

Five people charged at Kaliyah, catching her off guard. Who knew she’d be fighting so many at once? Still, she defended herself, jumping in the air and kicking three of them in their necks in quick succession.

If there was one thing that people’s judgment of her taught her, it was to learn how to fight. They might label her as weak because of her inability to transform, but she refused to accept that label. Instead, she dedicated herself to rigorous training, ensuring she could hold her ground and fight even without assuming her wolf form.    

In seconds, five people lay unconscious at her feet as the crowd stared in awe. She stood tall and looked directly at Fenris. This time, she knew he was looking at her. “I’m going to win,” she murmured.

The attacks continued relentlessly for hours until the crescent moon hung above her head, dirt clung to her skin, and blood and sweat dripped from her body. Despite her inability to transform, Kaliyah astounded everyone by defeating her challengers one by one, never even giving them a chance to shift.

Finally, her knees trembled as she collapsed onto the ground. With a wary gaze, she scanned the surroundings for anyone else brave enough to confront her. However, no further challengers dared to come forth. Perhaps she defeated them all?

“Did I win?” she mumbled to herself, a smile forming on her lips.

The announcer appeared to eagerly await a signal from the king, ready to proclaim her as the winner. Then Fenris nodded, relieving Kaliyah of all her pain and weariness.

“Now, we have all witnessed Lady Acalia of the Snow Clan effortlessly defeat everyone who dared to challenge her. Her undeniable prowess is solid evidence that she truly deserves the title of our Luna Queen. Thus, tonight, under the Moon Goddess’ crescent moon, I hereby announce Lady Acalia as our Queen Luna.”

Another voice rang out. “Who said the challenge has ended?” All eyes turned to Allison, who stood in the arena facing Kaliyah amidst the moonlight’s gentle glow.