Moon Cursed (Book 2 in The Star and Her Moon Series)

A Fair Fight

Raff

'Have you considered the possibility that she may not want to be saved?'

Raff growled, drawing side eye from Lincoln and Thorne as they walked behind the selkies. Valencia's words had been playing on a loop since breakfast. A day ago, he would've said the thought never crossed his mind. Outside of the small fact that his little hellcat may be pissed because the idea that she needed rescuing even crossed his mind. Meribella didn't do damsel in distress well.

But to think she might be content in her current predicament ate away at him until he felt raw and exposed. Even his wolf seemed defeated to think they'd lost their mate- not from death but from choice.

"You okay?" Thorne touched his arm and searched his face. "If you want, I can scout ahead. You don't have to see her yet."

He shook off her hand and stared ahead. "I need this. To see it with my own eyes."

"Raff, you know what Dorea said. Whatever Meribella has done, she did it because of manipulation. They've literally poisoned her to break her bond to you."

Thorne spoke the truth, but it didn't ease his pain. Some small part of him expected more from the one who was supposed to be the perfect match to his soul. 

"You know, I heard her voice while I was being held by Vivian."

"What?" Thorne gasped, drawing Lincoln's attention to their conversation.

"It reminded me of the bond Lincoln and I share as Beta and Alpha, but it wasn't always clear. Like a radio channel you couldn't quite tune in. At first, I thought I was imagining it."

"Can you not hear her anymore?" Lincoln asked.

"Not since," he began but drew in a shuddering breath, "the last thing she said was his name- Caspian."

"Fuck dude. H-how did she say his name?"

"Lincoln."

"What? It's important."

"How?"

"Well, did she say his name the way you say my name in the bedroom, or was it like you say my name in public?"

Thorne shook her head and rolled her eyes, but Raff didn't miss the smile teasing her lips. Gods, this was how they must feel around him and Meribella. His heart skipped a beat. Felt. It was all past tense now.

But the more Raff thought about Lincoln's question, the more sound the logic became. He'd noted the anguish in her voice. It had been a plea. An apology. Fur bristled beneath his skin as he tried to calm himself. There was no use judging her until he saw her. And even then, he wanted to look into her eyes and see that she felt nothing for him.

The heavily wooded area they walked through began to thin, and when they reached the forest's edge, Valencia signaled for everyone to stop. She pointed at Raff and called him to her. The selkies stepped to the side as he approached their matriarch, some watching him with interest, others with barely veiled disapproval. But no one would speak against their leader.

"As one of the clan leaders, I will stand at the north end of the pool, on the ledge, while the fights take place. Everyone else will line up along the cliff edges."

"And what of the contestants?" he asked, scanning the area with the mind of a soldier.

The sea pool was larger than he expected, perhaps half a football field in length and width. Waves crashed against the natural wall, sending white foam cascading over the tops and into the calmer waters of the lagoon. The cliffs were high, but considering the exceptional eyesight of the spectators, the would be excellent. Valencia hadn't revealed how they would accommodate him during the fight, but there was no doubt that this arena was built with the strengths of the aquatic warrior in mind.