Duel

RORY

“How can you ask me that?”

Everett is looking at me like this conversation has ended. He doesn’t want me to bring him back.

But I can’t imagine a world where it’s possible for me to see him hurt, to see him ~die~, and not do anything about it.

“Please, Rory. You have to promise.”

When I look at the man standing in front of me, I see my future. I see us together leading our pack, having kids. The thought of him being gone just doesn’t compute.

I never realized becoming a luna would come with so many sacrifices.

I’ve given up any thought of going to a human college.

I’ve promised to leave my friends behind once school is finished. And now, because of some stupid tradition, I may lose Everett.

He bows his head, his eyes searching mine for an answer, imploring me to make the right choice.

~How could I let him die?~

But then I think back to the past few months. Everett has made sacrifices too. He’s let me continue going to school even though it’s caused problems for him with the council.

He let me bring Freya to the pack to show her our lives there.

There’s been give and take on both sides.

“What are you waiting for, Alpha?” Stefan calls out from where he’s standing on the steps of the pack house. “You aren’t thinking of running away, are you?”

“Please, Rory,” Everett says. “It’s death or my honor.”

I can’t bear it any longer. I dive into Everett’s arms, wrapping mine around his solid frame and hugging him as tightly as possible.

“I promise,” I sob into his chest. “I promise I won’t bring you back.”

He cradles the back of my head and kisses my hair.

“Thank you, little mate.”

I look up at him and there’s a tear rolling down one of his cheeks.

“You better win,” I say in a voice he can’t disobey. “You better come back to me.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Everett sets his jaw and pulls his shoulders back.

He’s got almost a foot on Stefan—he’s broader and more muscular too. He has to win this fight.

But Stefan is sneaky…who knows what underhanded tricks he could have up his sleeves?

EVERETT

I kiss Rory one more time.

“I’ll never leave you,” I say, running a palm gently down her cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Rory lets go of me, and I turn to face my foe.

In front of the pack house is a paved area, like a town square; that is where we’re going to fight.

Stefan is standing on the bottom step of the packhouse, waiting. Amber is beside him, glaring at me.

Surrounding the square are the wolves of the Red Moon Pack.

If I win this battle, I will become their alpha. But from the way they’re glowering at me, I can tell that’s not the outcome they’re hoping for.

Rory, Freya, Ace, and Lucius are the only ones rooting for me. But they’re all I need to win.

Because there’s no way I kissed Rory’s perfect lips for the last time.

Stefan steps toward me, meeting me in the center. He’s already taken off his shirt in preparation for the shift.

His eyes study me, taking in my size and strength.

He’s in better shape than I assumed. He’s lean but well-muscled. This fight might be more of a challenge than I was expecting.

“Give him hell!” Amber calls out, soliciting a chorus of cheers and fist bumps from the crowd.

I turn to take one last look at Rory. She’s come to stand at the edge of the square and is biting her fingernails with fear in her eyes.

This fight isn’t just about who will become the alpha of our two packs.

It’s about protecting Rory.

It’s about finally showing that I am proud to have a human for a mate—that I will stand up for her and her people to any wolf who believes they should be denigrated.

I need to show the world there is a better way forward for everyone.

“The rules are,” Stefan says, pulling me from my thoughts, “no man-made weapons. We fight as the Moon Goddess made us, in our true forms.”

I nod and grunt my acceptance.

“And death is final,” he continues. “The battle only ends when one of us is no longer breathing.”

“Let’s just get this over with,” I say.

“Very well. Amber, would you do the honor?”

She steps forward, raising a red piece of fabric—a scarf or a handkerchief.

“Wolves,” she yells. “Fight!”

She drops the fabric.

Stefan leaps backward, somersaulting away from me, shifting in midair. He lands on four paws, fully changed.

His wolf is black with jagged stripes of gray running down his back. His jaw is long and slender, which will make it easier for him to strike.

But he is thinner than me. That might be my advantage.

Wasting no more time, I bite down and let Chaos loose.

I don’t need flashy gymnastics to make an impact.

As I land on my front paws and howl, the entire crowd flinches.

I stalk to the right of Stefan, who matches my movement. We circle each other until we’ve traded places.

Rory is watching keenly.

~This is it. Time to show her what I meant when I said I would protect her.~

I leap forward, snarling, and Stefan rises to meet me.

We collide in a mess of snapping jaws.

I land the first blow. A swipe to the side of the face sends Stefan flying sideways. He isn’t down for long, however, and quickly counters.

I duck his first swipe, but he catches me with his second. His claws scratch across my face, drawing blood.

The searing pain is only momentary, and quickly, I duck backward, changing my footing and charging back at him.

I go to bite his neck, but he’s too quick and slips away.

The battle continues, both of us trading blows, getting knocked down, and coming back up.

When it comes to brute strength, I have the upper hand. Every time I land a blow, Stefan is thrown to the side.

But he’s quick and graceful and manages to avoid more of my attacks than I’d like.

His speed and agility are a good match for my strength.

After fifteen minutes or so, I’m panting hard, worried he’s beginning to wear me down. But his head is lowered too. We’re both feeling exhausted.

I glance at Rory, who is standing with her arms wrapped around her shoulders. Ace, Lucius, and Freya are by her side, all of them watching on with intense focus.

Rallying my remaining strength, I make one last push.

I charge at Stefan, leaping into the air, opening my jaw…

But he’s too quick.

He ducks, and I miss. But I saw his move coming and swing out my back legs, kicking him in the side.

He hurtles through the air, making a hole in the wall of onlookers and crashing to the ground.

The wolves surrounding him back away as I approach.

He’s having trouble standing. One of his back legs is sticking out at a weird angle.

He lifts his head, searching the crowd desperately.

~What is he looking for?~

~Is he searching for the face of his mate?~

~Taking one last look at his pack before I relieve him of his title?~

He freezes—his eyes have caught something.

In one swift move, he’s up, grunting and wincing, and snatches a hunting knife from the belt of an onlooker.

Even Stefan’s pack looks shocked as he steals the knife, clutching it in his teeth, and runs.

I bark at him to stand down. Weapons are against the rules.

But he doesn’t stop.

He leaps at me, darting to my right, and before I can move he’s landed, stabbing me in the side with the blade.

My howl tears through the pack and, somewhere behind me, I hear Rory screaming.

Stefan watches as my blood flows, a proud look in his eye.

I stumble, my vision starts to blur. Chaos is apologizing, whimpering, fading.

“Everett!” Rory calls, running toward me.

Stefan notices her as well. His lips curl back in a sadistic grin.

~He’s going to kill her too!~

The pain in my side becomes fuel, feeding my anger. I turn and grab Stefan’s neck in my mouth.

I clamp down and twist…until I hear his neck snap.

His falls limp in my jaws—dead.

Amber screams and drops to her knees.

I collapse beside him as more of my blood spills.

Everything is going dark.

The last thing I see is the face of my mate as she kneels beside me.

RORY

I cry out as Everett shifts back into his human form. Stefan’s hunting knife remains in his side like a giant thorn.

I cradle his head. His blood is everywhere. Somehow my hands are already covered in it.

“Everett! Don’t leave!”

I know Ace and Lucius are right behind me. I know the Red Moon Pack is closing in, trying to get a good look.

But I don’t care.

The only thing I can focus on is Everett, heavy in my arms.

“I…just wanted to say…I love you,” Everett stammers before his eyes roll back and his head falls.

I feel his death like a stabbing pain in my heart.

My soul is being torn in two.

A chasm opens in my chest and I cry out to the heavens.

~Are the gods looking down on us?~

~Was this Selene’s plan?~

~No.~

Even though I promised Everett I would let him die, there’s no way I can keep my promise.

Screw custom and tradition. Screw these barbaric and outdated rules.

Everett is my home. The place I belong. Without him, I am completely lost.

Gently, I set him down on the stone so that he is lying flat. I pull the knife from his side.

More blood spills out, but it doesn’t matter, he’s already dead.

And I’m going to save him.

“Rory, stop,” Lucius says, putting a hand on my shoulder. “The rules of a blood duel are—”

“Stefan used a weapon!” I say, spinning around to face him. “The rules were already broken.”

I turn my focus back to Everett. His face is pale.

“If the rules of this world say I need to lose my mate, then the rules need to change.”

I place my hands over his wound and close my eyes.

~I’m going to bring you back, Everett.~

When I open my eyes, I’m surrounded by mist. A chorus of voices calls out to me.

~I’m here. I’ve done it.~

The green door opens on the horizon and I begin to walk toward it. Everett should be revived already and now I simply have to return to him.

We will be together again.

I start to run. I want to get back to him as soon as possible, I want to…

“Aurora.”

~It’s her.~

My feet stop moving. The door is still a little way off. But I turn to face her.

She is standing before me, her golden robes flowing in the unfelt breeze.

“Mom,” I say.

“My darling Aurora.” She steps forward, reaching out a hand.

I want to take it. I want to stay and ask her all of my questions, but Everett is waiting for me.

He’s probably holding my body right now, desperate for me to come back. And terrified I won’t.

“I can’t stay,” I say, stepping backward.

“Aurora, you must wait. I have something of great importance to tell you.”