One for All and All for One

Chapter 8

I haven’t been getting a lot of feedback on the story so far, so I want to know if people are actually reading this. I’m not going to upload again until I get at least two votes.

I paced nervously over the soft forest ground, feeling leaves crunch under my paws. Sam stood off to the side with a worried expression on his face. I knew the worry was directed at me. I had only challenged my father for alpha position a few hours ago. After that the meeting had broken up and a crowd had gathered in a clearing in a path not far from my home. We were to have a fight to surrender in a few minutes and I was jittery and nervous now that the adrenaline was almost gone.

“Rhani, this was a bad, bad idea.” Sam finally spoke his thoughts.

I shook my head before sitting down next to him and speaking through the link that everyone in the pack shared, even if they weren’t a werewolf.

Well it was less of an idea and more of a reaction.

“Can’t you back out or something?” I dropped my head.

No. And I wouldn’t if I could. Everything I said is true. He’s going to destroy this pack and I won’t let him do that while I’m here to see it happen. Sam gasped.

“Rhani, it’s not a fight to the death! It’s a fight to surrender!” I shrugged.

I know that. If I lose, I’m leaving. I will not stay here and watch the pack die.

He opened his mouth to try to argue with me but when he saw the determination in my eyes; he closed it again, just stared at me in disbelief. He shook his head in resignation and sat down on a nearby rock.

Once he was quiet, I got lost in my own thoughts again. I knew my father was stronger. He was the alpha and he was older and with more experience. We were unable to use our gifts, so I couldn’t use my telekinesis to my advantage, and he couldn’t use his ability to breath underwater. Not that that power would really help him since we were fighting on dry land.

He was also a lot bigger than me, but I could use that to my advantage. The bigger an enemy is, the easier it is to unbalance them. I know I’m a lot faster than him and a lot more agile. Maybe I should target his legs. If I injured one of his legs, he would become unbalanced during the fight and it would make it easier to take him down. But had I ever used that on him in practice fights before? I couldn’t remember. My thoughts were cut off by a howl calling us to the place of the fight. I started panicking.

I couldn’t remember if I had used that strategy before! If I had then he would be able to predict it! What will I do then? Oh my god, what if I didn’t use that plan and he did?! I’m going to lose and have to leave the pack!

No! I just need to focus on the plan and I can win. Oh no, what was the plan?!

By now I was standing and breathing heavy, my eyes were wide and I knew every part of my body screamed that I was panicking. My heart was pounding and I could practically hear my blood rushing. Sam noticed that I was on the verge of a panic attack. Why would I ever have agreed to this?!

“Rhani, you’re going to do fine. Just calm down, focus and think. You can do it, easy.  Breath. Don’t walk in there panicked that will get you nowhere. You know better.” I had finally evened my breathed as he held his hands on the sides of my face and made me look him in the eyes.

When I had completely calmed and knew I could handle it, I nodded.

He sighed. ”Okay. Let’s go” When we had almost reached the clearing, he stopped me to speak.

“Remember, he’s going to try and psyche you out. He knows you can fight a better mental game than him, but he also knows that if you panic, you’ve as good as lost. Don’t let him get to you.” I grinned and nodded, remembering why I had chosen for him to come with me.