The Alpha's Rogue

Challenger

The tension was thick and the air heavy. I growled and stepped forward. He met my movements and my stare. "A challenger has presented themselves. I want to make sure you feel my hits so you have a week to heal." He links the pack, including me. "We have a challenger. Next Friday at the pit." All respond yes Alpha. He glares back at me. "Prepare yourself challenger. Now leave." I turn as he walks forward reaching for Ember. "She stays. We have----." I cut him off before he can finish. I had turned quickly in between them and stopped him from touching her. "She is my mate and you will not lay a finger on her. She stays I stay." I growl low. He doesn't move. I stand between them unsure what would happen next, as i feel Ember close behind.

Ember's hand was on my arm, she turned me around. "I'll be ok." She said trying to lead me to the door. I refused to move. "No. That is not what this is about. He's testing." I linked her. Her eyes plead, "You said you'd do anything, even be my Luna if that was what it takes. Please, follow station." "But it will look like weakness. Especially after his display and B.S. challanger crap." Ember walked me to the door. "Trust me." She wisphered, closing the door. I was furious, pushed out into the hall. A growl rumbles in my chest. I stalk off, rounding a corner I run right into Steele. We both gasp, exhale and take a step back. He eyes me cautiously. "What?!" I said louder than needed. Remmy had just rounded the other corner and froze upon seeing me.

"Easy." Steele motioned. Remmy moved slow, visibly shaken and uneasy. "We are not all against you. Alpha rules or not. Ember called us to meet you. Let's go wait for her in a lower level training room." I eye them unsure of who I could trust. Steele walks ahead taking Remmy with him. We wind down some stairs and corridors. It was cool, dank and musty. "These are older less finished areas." Steele said. "Only a few of us know about them and Alpha says they are off limits. We come down here to get away from it all. Also good for training under the radar." I sigh at the sound of that. I run my hand over my ribs and my forearm. I sit against a wall and lean my head back. I hear Steele and Remmy sit next to me.

I think back, I can't believe the way things have gone. I don't know what to think and I fear there is more to the story than anyone knows. The Alpha seems on edge, more than one would think. I don't know who I can trust, what the bigger picture is and how the hell I'm going to reclaim my lands. But all of that seems a distant problem compare to a fight I have in 7 days. Truly only have 5 days to train because I have to let myself heal fully. We sit in silence, light breathing was the only sound. A sudden creak, and rocks rolling across the floor. I snap my head down and towards the door. Ember walks in scanning the room. "This will work." She said nodding. Steele and Remmy get up and greet her, then nod and leave.

Ember walks to me and slides down the wall. I just stare off, she leans over and kisses my cheek. Her breath warm and soft on my skin. "I'm sorry for my father's actions. I can't do anything about what happened. I can't stop him. I told him off after you left. I told him that you better receive an Alpha's Luna's respect while your here. He laughed and said sure but wouldn't matter for long." She winced and choked on those words. "He plans to prove your packs weakness and I believe he planned to kill you but now has an easy way of it by challange fight." She breaths regaining her composure.

"We have to ensure that doesn't happen. My father has been blinded by the loss of our pack and I fear he is hiding things. He is acting different and more paranoid. I can't put my finger on it." I went to speak and she stopped me. "Please, let me finish. I don't want this but I think it might be the only way. You need to gain loyalty and pack members. I feel the only way forward is to defeat my father in this challange. I hate to say it..." she trails off. "Don't," I said. "We will see how it goes. I know now that you will be ok with it. But hopefully I won't have to." A tear rolls down her cheek, I wipe it away and she leans in under my arm and snuggles closer.