Chapter 44: Chapter 44
I woke up knowing today would either make or break me.
No pressure.
Maria was already in my suite with breakfast and combat gear. Her hands were shaking as she laid everything out.
"Maria, I’m going to be fine."
"You’re fighting Jake Stevens. Jake I’ve-never-lost-a-Fight Stevens." She shoved a protein bar at me. "Eat. You need your strength."
"I’m not fighting him with strength. I’m fighting him with strategy."
"Tell that to your ribs when he breaks them."
Super encouraging.
The combat clothes were dark gray, reinforced at all the joints. Professional. Deadly. I looked at myself in the mirror and barely recognized the woman staring back.
"You look like a Luna," Maria said softly.
"I look terrified."
"Same thing, apparently."
Christian appeared exactly thirty minutes before the challenge. He was carrying a small wooden box, his expression doing that thing where he was trying to look calm but his eyes were screaming anxiety.
"This was my mother’s." He opened the box, revealing a simple silver cuff bracelet with Shadow Ridge’s symbol. "She wore it during Luna challenges. I want you to have it."
My throat closed up. "Christian, I can’t—"
"You can. You will." His hands trembled as he fastened it around my wrist. "Fight smart, not hard. Use your empathic advantage. And remember that you have nothing to prove to anyone who matters."
"What about the people who don’t think I matter?"
"Screw them." He kissed my forehead. "You’ve got this."
The training ground looked like a gladiator arena.
Temporary seating surrounded a massive sparring ring, already packed with what looked like the entire pack. Connor was overseeing everything with military precision, barking orders at younger warriors setting up equipment.
Jessica found me in the prep area. "Last-minute advice: Jake’s been training like a demon for this fight. He thinks beating you will boost his pack status."
"Cool. That’s not adding to my stress at all."
"He’ll fight dirty. Technically legal, but dirty." Jessica squeezed my hands. "But you’re smarter than him. Use that."
"What if smart isn’t enough?"
"Then you’re screwed. But I bet everything I own on you, so please don’t make me homeless."
Elder Thompson’s voice boomed across the arena. "We gather today to witness the Strength Challenge of Luna candidate Sophie Turner."
The five elders sat in their places of honor. Elder Sarah looked like Christmas came early. Elder Patricia looked hopeful. The others were unreadable.
"The rules are simple," Elder Marcus announced. "Combat continues until yield, unconsciousness, or inability to continue. Killing blows result in immediate forfeiture and pack exile. Shifter combat is permitted. Alpha Christian may not interfere under any circumstances."
Christian took his seat in the Alpha’s position, his knuckles white on the armrests. His sandalwood scent flooded the arena with barely controlled aggression.
I felt his anxiety through our bond like a physical weight. I had to actively block it to stay focused.
"Luna candidate Sophie Turner will face three opponents," Elder Thompson continued. "The final opponent will be Jake Stevens, our current combat champion."
Three fights. Three chances to fail.
No pressure at all.
My first opponent was Rachel, a lean woman in her thirties known for exceptional speed. She entered the ring with a respectful nod.
"No hard feelings?" she asked.
"None. Just don’t go easy on me."
"I wouldn’t dream of it."
Connor signaled the start.
Rachel moved like lightning, circling fast, testing my reactions with quick jabs. But my empathic ability kicked in—I felt her intentions split seconds before she moved.
Dodge left. Duck. Counter-strike right.
Her fist passed inches from my face. I felt the air displacement.
The crowd murmured. I shouldn’t be dodging this well.
I sensed Rachel’s frustration creating an opening. I landed a solid hit to her ribs.
Rachel’s eyes widened with surprise.
Ten minutes later, she yielded.
"You’re good," she said, bowing. "Really good."
The crowd’s reaction was mixed. Younger wolves cheered. The elders looked unimpressed. Jake watched from the edge with calculating eyes.
Jessica whooped so loud that Elder Sarah glared at her.
Christian’s pride crashed through our bond so hard I staggered.
"Brief rest," Elder Thompson announced. "Then the second trial."
That’s when I smelled it.
Bergamot and something bitter.
Vanessa.
She stood in the back section, wearing expensive clothes that made my combat gear look like rags. Her red hair was perfect. Her expression was cold calculation.
And her scent—it was the same scent from my room. From the black feather.
She’d been in my space. Multiple times.
Our eyes met. She smiled.
Christian followed my gaze. His expression went murderous.
"Second opponent," Elder Thompson called. "David Harrison."
Wait. Thomas Harrison’s relative? The guy who questioned me during my introduction?
David entered with formal respect. "Luna candidate."
"Just Sophie is fine."
"I’ll call you Luna when you earn it." But he smiled. "Let’s see what you’ve got."
David was methodical. Technical. Decades of experience versus my... whatever I had.
But my body responded with techniques I didn’t remember learning. Those Northern Pack moves Connor mentioned.
David’s eyes narrowed with professional interest. "Where did you learn that?"
