Experiemental Luna

- Chapter Six -

The arena surrounding us feels bitterly cold. I bounce back and forth, keeping my eyes trained on my opponent in front of me. She is young, scared, but she knows how to throw a punch. Her brown eyes rapidly shifting between wolf and human.
I throw another punch her way. Although she steadily blocks it, I am able to get her off balance and on the ground. My third victory tonight.

'Anticlimactic,' my wolf whimpers, uneasy by the unfair victory. Turning my back to face the crowd as they chant in excitement.

"NO!" the girl aggressively growls as she shifts into her wolf. She bares her canines and growls at me loudly.

I glance at the side to look at the Doctor, unsure whether or not I could shift. He bares a smirk at me and chuckles.

I curse under my breath, I'm on my own.
She lunges at me and forces me down to the ground. Snarling at me, she begins to snap at me. I cover my face with my arms, only for them to be gnawed at by her.

Tears uncontrollably begin to leak from my eyes, my brain trying to process exactly how
to get this mutt off of me. I can't lose and I can't shift.

I bring my legs up from under me and push against her stomach. Using the split second I have before she processes the situation, I get on top of her. I throw punch after punch until I know this time she won't come back up.

*

My eyes open quickly, and I sit up tense and unsure of my surroundings. Beads of sweat drip down my forehead as my shoulders tense up as if they were made of cement. It takes my brain a few moments to process. It was a dream... no, a memory of the first life I took. My body lets go of the tension, but a cold chill runs up and down my spine.

Pushing off of the bed, I stand to look at myself in the mirror. I trace my finger along the scars I have from that very fight. Large teeth marks engrained in both of my forearms.

I chuckle humorlessly as I stare at my reflection. It has now been a little over a month since the day I was rescued. My face looks more full. My body is starting to receive the nourishment it needs and the bruises have begun to fade; however, the scars still lurk.

Quickly changing and getting ready for the day, I begin to head downstairs for breakfast. Only to spot Kian residing outside my door.

"Good morning," he greets me kindly.

"Good morning, Kian," I smile back. Although the presence of people still put me on edge and wary, Kian made a lot of that anxiety melt away. In the month we have shared together I have really appreciated the patience and compassion Kian has given me.

"We have some things we need to discuss this morning unfortunately with my parents," Kian informs me.

My body tenses for a moment, "Your parents? As in the Luna as well?"

He sighs, "Yes, this is such an unfortunate time for you to meet her but she is usually so busy."

"So what is so important that we have to meet in such tense circumstances?" I try to joke and blow it off.

"The ceremony."

--

The office was quiet. It has a rustic feel to it with mainly wooden furniture. The wall to my right is completely made up of a bookshelf, covered in books that look as old as time. There are no windows in the office, only four lamps in each corner with a yellow tint to them. The floor is a dark hardwood, covered almost entirely by a white and red carpet. The sturdy wooden desk that the Alpha sits behind is just barely in the middle of the room. In front are two black cushioned chairs.

I glance between the Alpha and Luna. He is sitting with a serious face behind his desk, a stack of papers in front of him. Luna, who I haven't personally met yet, stands loyally next to him. Anyone who glances at her can tell she is a proud woman. She maintains her natural beauty as well as maintains her appearance, and she oozes confidence.

"Aylina," the Alpha starts in a serious tone of voice, "It has come to my attention that you have no desire to stay long term in this pack."

Kian cuts me off before I can answer, "It is not that. She has the wish to travel and live the life she was deprived of. We have made a deal-"

"We both are aware of that deal," Luna cuts him off as she crosses her arms across her chest, "However, Kian your father and I are to resign soon. Pack members will start to question why you and your mate have not taken over."

I sit there quietly, unsure of the problem. The inner dilemmas of how a pack was run has never been a problem of mine before. I have not learned that in my studies yet.

Kian takes a deep breath out, glancing over to me with his lips thinly pressed together.

"My apologies but I'm not fully aware of the issue at hand," I chuckle awkwardly, trying to relieve the tension in the room. However, it does not work as it seems to make things worse.

"You have not told her?" Alpha Donovan asks, almost angrily.

"It complicates things, and I value the relationship with my mate," Kian sighs before looking at me, "I did not want you to feel trapped in being here."

His mom shakes her head and focuses her gaze on me, "When the future Alpha finds his mate, he and the future Luna are to undergo the ceremony to become the next leaders. It is completed within two or three full moons."

Nice meeting you too, Luna.

Waif. I have to commit this early? Kian and I agreed on a year. We're already a full moon in!

'He is our mate!' my wolf howls at me angrily.

I purse my lips together as I try to process. Yes he is my mate, but I do not want that to be my only defining feature. In this past month, I have learned so much about the world I missed in captivity.

"Can he do the ceremony alone?" I ask quietly, watching the blood drain from both the Alpha and Luna's faces.

Kian grips my hand tightly, his face looking uncomfortable with such a suggestion.

"No. He cannot do the ceremony alone," Luna grits out angrily, "That is worse than a rejection. You will be a disgrace to our pack and ruin our alliances if he tends to the ceremony alone. Not only that, but the chances of survival in doing so are next to slim."

"The ceremony is in front of all the pack leaders. Both the original Alpha and Luna are to fight the news leaders to determine whether or not they are worthy of such a title or responsibility. To do it alone has happened only a number of times. Most of the outcomes are unfavorable for the opponent," Kian explains to me.

"How did you expect her to fight in that ceremony? Can she even defend herself?" Luna questions me, the anger rising in her while the Alpha remains silent and watching the interaction.

"I can fight, the matter is whether or not I choose to do so." I firmly respond with no intention to back down on my stance.

"Aylina," Kian warns warily.

I let out a deep breath, looking Kian in the eyes and then back at his parents.

"We will discuss it," I say as I stand up, "I mean no disrespect to either of you. I was held in captivity and robbed of my own choices for 15 years. I did unspeakable things to stay alive and fought every day for the things you take for granted. My decision will be my own. I will never let anyone take that away from me again."