They didn’t get the person who shot the arrows.
How was it possible that someone had been lying in hiding so close to the manor that they could shoot at Radley, killing him and no one had seen anything? It was a thought that unnerved me. How much more danger was our lives in if someone could do things like this and successfully slinker off without getting caught?
“Luther, I need as many warriors as possible stationed around the manor, tomorrow is the mating ceremony and apparently, we have more enemies crawling through this pack than I realized.” Isla glanced at Amelia.
Amelia stared back at her, a vicious expression on her face. “This had nothing to do with me. Why would I want Radley dead? He was a useless fool who prowled around like he was better than everyone.”
“You mind how you speak about him, Amelia! He was your Beta.”
“Who someone wanted dead, I think it's a waste searching for who did this.” She crossed her arms across her chest, a sneer on her lips. “We should be thankful instead.
She was this bold because Callan had left for the Night Blood Pack and other than Isla, there was no one able to chastise her for her foul mouth against Radley. I, for one, wasn't entirely against it, regardless of being dead, his body still cold, it didn't wash away what he had done - he had fooled Grace into whatever they had together, she was young and I believed he had taken advantage of that. I just wished she would speak up about what she knew. He had been hiding something from Callan and it was evident in how he’d been sneaking around and had been fully against my presence here, I wasn’t even about to delve into how horrible he had been to me.
I glanced towards where Grace was seated quietly, saying nothing, not even with Amelia’s blatant disrespect. She didn't say a word, not even a lid batted but I had a feeling I wouldn't get away with the same which left an eerie feeling with me.
Did Amelia hold something against her? What did she know? What was it that she was scared of that made her not speak on things she knew? Who were the people behind her silence?
Amelia turned to me. “Luna, is it?”
I stared at her wordlessly.
“You hide behind Callan at all times, I would like to see what you can do without him.” She took a step towards me. “Are you really fit to be a Luna?”
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I took many training sessions, Sophia, so many that you can't even imagine and now all for what? A girl who can't fight for herself when the need arises?”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “You’re being childish, Amelia.”
Rage crossed her features, so maddening, so fleeting. “Prove me wrong then.”
“Amelia…” Isla started.
She took another step closer until we only stood inches apart. Her height was an added advantage over me but I only stared back at her with a neutral expression. I knew what she was playing at and even though outwardly, I didn't express it, fears plummeted in my stomach.
She was right, I was untrained. I was unable to call out my wolf and I had not the least idea how to fight so how could I prove her wrong when she was completely right?
“I challenge you to a fight,” she declared, the gloat in her eyes evidence.
I held my breath for the briefest of seconds. “I have no reason to fight you, it's stupid.”
“Weak then? That's how everyone perceives you, Sophia. The very pack you are about to become Luna to does not see you as worthy of it, why not prove them wrong? Prove you are on your right worthy of this.”
“I am not going to fight with you,” I stated calmly.
“It would be a good move,” my uncle said, speaking up got the first time and inserting himself into the conversation from where he sat by the corner where he had been flipping through pages of an old book with torn covers.
I glanced at him in surprise. I couldn't believe he was gearing me up for a fight but it was Silviu, I shouldn't have been so stunned.
He smiled at me. “If you are going to become Luna, you need to prove to your subjects that you can protect them.”
“The Alpha can do the protection, we have warriors and also their commander. The role of a Luna is not a protector!” Isla snapped.
Amelia ran her eyes through me in a belittling manner that I chose to remain unaffected to. I had gotten used to it.
“You are even more of a coward than I thought, aren't you?”
“Be careful now,” I drawled with a small smile on my face. “I could have you kicked out of the manor if you do not begin to mind your speech.”
At once, her face twisted into a mask of rage when the realization of my words dawned on her. She had lived here all of her life, it was the only home she’d ever known. If she was a tad bit nicer, I would have felt sympathy for her but I couldn't… Not anymore.
“You have no right!” she snarled. “I have been here before you and shall continue to remain long after you are gone. Every Luna is replaceable, look at our dear Isla for example.“
I was disgusted. “You have no limits, do you?”
How could she reference Callan’s mother so disrespectfully? Why had no one ever seen this horrible part of her or had they chosen to ignore it too? She was dangerously ambitious and selfish, it was repulsive.”
“Fight for her honor then. I could drone about all of the things she was but I'll leave you with the knowledge that she was weak in every way infuriating.” She wrapped a finger around the loose strands of my hair. “Maybe that is just what Callan likes in a woman. Weak, quiet, meek, and abused just like his mother.”
Without thinking twice, I swung my hand, the back of my palm connecting with her nose. Being the first to strike gave me the advantage to take her unaware and she actually stumbled back a few feet away from me, her hand covering her nose but when she looked up, dropping the hand, I could see the smirk on her lips, the blood that trailed down her nose - this hand been just what Amelia wanted.
“That’s right,” she snickered.
Then she lunged at me.