The Full Moon Effect

Chapter 3: The Challenge

Only in the

darkness of an ending

does the

New Moon arise.

**********

When I approached the table at breakfast, a steaming cup waited in front of my plate. One sniff told me it was tea. I glanced down the table at Alpha Jones and, when he finally caught my eye, he winked at me. I scoffed in disbelief but my heart warmed at the thought of Jones remembering that I preferred tea to coffee.

"Hurry and eat, Tara," my father's voice carried a sharp knife, and I knew without even looking at him that he'd noticed the interaction between Jones and I.

Castor had also noticed, but most not have realized the significance of it because his smile still remained. He attempted to butter me up all breakfast and eventually the entire table, except Alpha Leyton, laughed at his antics.

I palmed his face away when he neared and rolled my eyes at his grin. "Don't be like that, Tara. You didn't mind me being in your personal space when you were sixteen, remember? I was your first kiss."

"Shall we demonstrate how that 'kiss' ended?" I emphasized, curling my fingers into a fist.

He leaned away, laughing, and said, "If I still get to kiss you, it'll be worth it."

"Worth having a black eye for a week?" Father asked coyly before finishing the last of his coffee. "I believe there's a term for that nowadays, what is it called, Tara?"

"Masochism," I offered.

"Your eye didn't heal for an entire week?" Ryson asked, his eyes widening as he turned to appraise me.

"It healed within a few hours," Castor shrugged.

I smirked. "Which is why I had to hit him again every few hours."

Castor stared blankly past his Alpha and Beta on the opposite side of the table from him. "The worst ones were when I was sleeping."

Even Alpha Jones laughed at that.

Leyton shook his head and stood from the table, breaking the light-hearted mood. I sobered up quickly, thinking of the changes today would bring. Decisions made today would be for a lifetime. If someone challenged for Malra besides AJ, she would be leaving me forever. I wouldn't even let myself go into the realm of my own possible challengers. There was too much that could happen, too much that could change, and if I wasn't careful, I would drown in the possibilities.

I lingered at the table even after all of the others had left and only stood when my father beckoned me. "There's no need to be so worried, Tara."

"Even if an Alpha challenges for me? Against Castor?"

Father's hand dropped from my shoulder and his smile faded. "I have accounted for this."

My head snapped up to his as he led us outside, one arm around my shoulder. "What do you mean?"

"You are my daughter, Tara. I have raised you to be unyielding, yet kind. And you have your mother's beauty. It's only natural for an Alpha to desire you."

I cringed and my father chuckled. "I don't know what to do, Dad."

"Hm. Well, this decision must be made on your own, Tara. For no one else to weigh in on."

The challenges had already begun outside, only one pair of a female's pursuers at a time. One of Alpha Jones's females was challenged for first, and everyone cheered excitedly in a circle around two fighting males.