Chapter 23: One Mark to End It - Callista's POV

The Alpha King’s expression remained neutral as the boy approached, but something flickered in his gaze. Satisfaction, maybe? I thought this was exactly what he’d been waiting for.

"State your name and pack," he commanded the challenger.

The wolf stepped closer to the platform, his confident stride drawing every eye to him. He was built like a fighter with broad shoulders, a muscular frame, and dark hair with cold blue eyes that assessed Riven as if he were prey.

“Derek Thornwood, son of Alpha Thornwood,” he announced proudly as he turned toward the crowd. “I want to challenge the legitimacy of this bond since it has manifested unnaturally. No mate bond ever appears at sixteen. This reeks of manipulation or dark magic.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, with some nodding in agreement. Others watched in morbid curiosity. If we had been older, no one would have contested it.

“The marks are genuine,” the Alpha King said, his voice low.

"Marks can be induced through blood magic," Derek countered. "Everyone knows the Monroe pack harbors a Seer. Who's to say she didn't use forbidden arts to manufacture this bond for political gain?"

Rage flooded through me. “If that was the case, why would I have chosen the Nightshades? If I wanted the most to gain, I would have chosen the Alpha King’s own son.”

Riven’s hand squeezed mine in warning. I shouldn’t have even engaged, but that comment had made me furious.

“That’s a serious accusation, Derek, and she has a point,” the Alpha King observed. His tone suggested he wasn’t particularly concerned about its validity. “How do you propose to test the bond’s authenticity?”

Derek's smile turned vicious. "In the traditional way, of course. If Nightshade can defend his claim in combat, the bond stands. If he falls, then the bond is proven false and the female is released to seek her true mate. No male would ever fail their fated mate.”

"That's barbaric," my mother's voice rang out from the crowd. "The Moon Goddess herself marked them!"

"The Moon Goddess marks true bonds," Derek shot back. "Not convenient political alliances disguised as fate."

The Alpha King raised his hand, silencing the growing arguments from the crowd. “The challenge is valid under pack law. Riven Nightshade, do you accept it?”

Every muscle in Riven's body was tense, coiled like a spring ready to snap. I could feel his wolf pushing at his control and could sense something darker stirring beneath.

It was the demon responding to the threat.

"I accept," Riven said, his voice deadly calm.

“No, you don’t have to do this,” I breathed, gripping his hand tighter. “He shouldn’t have to do this.”

"Yes, I do." He turned to me, his red-gold eyes blazing. "This won't be the only challenge tonight. If I back down now, they'll keep coming. I have to show them you're mine. Don’t worry about me.”

“Combat to first blood or submission. It will not be to the death. Do I make myself clear?” The Alpha King asked, his voice steady. “Begin when you’re ready.”

Riven released my hand and descended from the platform. Derek was already stripping off his shirt, clearly eager to start the fight.

My father appeared at my side, his face grim. “Riven will win,” he said quietly. “His wolf is stronger than most realize. Honestly, Derek is an idiot.”

My gaze found Riven as he stripped off his shirt and threw it on the ground. His wolf wasn’t the only thing that was strong. Fear twisted in my gut. What if the demon got loose?

The crescent marks on his shoulder seemed to glow brightly in the moonlight. I glanced up, watching the crowd as they saw the marks. Most were whispering among themselves with about half of them shaking their heads.

They found this as stupid as I did.

As the makeshift arena was formed, my heart jumped into my throat.

“Shift,” the Alpha King commanded.

Both wolves obeyed, their bones cracking and reforming. Derek’s wolf was massive. He was all brute strength and aggression, with dark brown fur and those some cold blue eyes.

But Riven’s wolf made mine whimper. She wanted to press closer to the surface.

He was bigger than Derek, his fur a distinctive gray that I had seen in my nightmares. But it was his eyes that made my blood run cold. They were still red-gold, but there were shadows lurking in their depths. The demon was close to the surface, feeding off his aggression and his need to protect me.

Please, I prayed to the Moon Goddess. Please don’t let the demon break free.

Derek lunged first, not waiting for any other signal. He went straight for Riven’s throat in a move designed to end things quickly. Riven sidestepped with a speed I had never seen anyone use before. His jaws snapped dangerously close to Derek’s exposed flank, which made him yelp.

When Riven turned, I found blood on his mouth. Derek’s leg was bleeding.

That meant first blood went to Riven, but Derek didn’t submit. He circled, more cautious now and reassessed his opponent.

“Why isn’t it stopping?” I asked, glancing at my father. “Riven has first blood.”

Dad shook his head. “His pride won’t let him. The Alpha King will have to call it off.”

Derek attacked again, drawing my attention back to the fight. This time, he feinted left before going right. His teeth found Riven’s shoulder and tore into it. Riven’s snarl was so violent that it made every wolf in the clearing flinch, including me.

The demon was rising.

Riven threw Derek off with terrifying strength, sending him crashing into the crowd. Wolves scattered as Derek scrambled to his feet, now bleeding with at least two wounds.

But instead of submission, Derek's eyes held only rage. He shifted back to human form, which was technically against the rules, and shouted, "You're not natural! There's something wrong with you! No one moves like you do.”

The crowd whispered, but I noticed several were rolling their eyes.

Riven shifted back, his eyes almost completely black now with just a sliver of red-gold remaining. When he spoke, his voice was layered.

"You challenged me for my mate," he growled. "Now face the consequences."

He moved faster than any wolf should be able to, catching Derek by the throat and lifting him off his feet. Derek clawed at Riven's arm, gasping for air and his feet kicking uselessly.

"Riven!" I screamed, breaking free from my father's hold and running into the circle. "Riven, stop! You're killing him!"

For that one terrifying moment, I thought he wouldn’t hear me. The demon was taking control. Then his eyes found mine just before I wrapped my arms around him.

The bond flared between us, bright and pure, cutting through the darkness. I saw him fighting for control and saw the moment he shoved the demon back down.

His eyes cleared slightly. They were still dark, but more of Riven’s natural shade. He dropped Derek, who crumpled to the ground gasping and clutching his throat.

“Submit to me,” Riven ordered, his voice rough.

"I—" Derek coughed, blood flecking his lips. "I submit."

The Alpha King stepped forward. "While I let this go on longer than it should have, I now see it’s true. The challenge has been answered and the bond stands. Anyone else want to try?”

It went unanswered, but I knew until he said final call, it wasn’t over.

Riven turned to me, and I could see the effort it took him to maintain control. His hands shook, his breathing was ragged, and those shadows still lurked in his eyes.

"I'm here," I whispered. "I'm right here."

His forehead pressed against mine as he inhaled sharply. “I almost—”

“Not here,” I said, cupping his face, making him look at me. “It’s okay. You were just protecting me.”

"No, you don’t understand." His voice cracked. "You pulled me back."

Before I could respond, the Alpha King's voice cut through the moment. "Are there any other challenges? This is the final call.”

For a second, I thought no one else would, that maybe Riven’s display discouraged them from attempting it.

But my heart sank when someone else moved. Of course, there would be more.

This one was younger, maybe seventeen, with red hair and green eyes. “I challenge.”

Another and another step forward until there were five in total.

Riven's grip on my hands tightened. "I can do this," he said, though I could hear the doubt beneath his words. "I can fight them all."

“You might kill someone,” I said quietly. “Or you know who might get free. There has to be another way.”

But pack law was absolute. Each challenger had the right to their fight. And I wasn’t marked, so there was nothing we could do.

Unless… My eyes found his throat. One mark and this could all end.