Chapter 24: Watching from the Shadows

Zak’s POV

When hearing Lilyanna speak against Jake’s authority did I want nothing more than to march my way over to her and strangle her senseless. Ash’s rage now growing alongside my very own.

‘Bitch. She’s trying to challenge Jake’s claim’ growls Ash.

‘I know’ I move to growl back. Lilyanna words now pulling me back to what we were doing. The pack meeting.

“Well Jake? Who’s the wolf?” asks Lilyanna again, her voice now pushing. Jake’s temper soon rising.

“ENOUGH” yells Alpha Chase, Jake’s father and current Alpha of our pack. His aura now flaring slightly as Kodan attempts to come forth.

The pack now quite once Alpha Chase moves to speak yet again. His hand now resting against Jake’s shoulder as if urging him to continue. My focus now back on my Alpha and friend.

Closing his eyes does Jake move to calm his racing heart. Something only I can detect as I was closest to him but also, because I had exceptional hearing. Each of us holding a unique special trait that helped the other one out when needed.

Traits that other’s didn’t have.

My trait being the exceptional hearing and agility while Jake’s trait was strength and speed. Alex bringing up the rear with endurance and smarts.

Alex being one of the select few who were exceptionally good at hacking. And while neither of us knew what traits Tori would have, deep down, I knew his traits were a combination of ours. Speed, Agility and Endurance. Hence why he was always so fast upon his feet.

Jake now moving to address the pack once more.

“For those of you wondering who our wonderful mate is, our mate is none other than Tori Hall” replies Jake, his hand now motioning for Tori who was now blushing as he moves to approach Jake.

A smile now tugging along mine and Alex’s lips as we continued to watch. Murmurs and whispers now filling the air once more as those still standing now watched on in confusion. Unsure if what they heard was real.

Each of us unaware of being watched from the safety of shadow. Eyes a blueish gray like that of a storm as eyes continued to watch. A smirk now playing along their face as if having the perfect view of the house and in some cases they did.

“Wait. Hold up. How can Tori be each of your mates?” chimes a voice now drawing my focus over to them.

“Yeah! Tori’s nothing but a worthless runt”

“Yeah!”

“This has to be some kind of joke. NO WAY did the Moon Goddess bless you three to that freak”

“Yeah, it’s a complete mistake. Tori must be using some kind of magic on them”

Upon hearing all those nasty words now spoken by the entire pack does my blood begin to boil. Ash now trying to come forth while I on the other hand attempt to keep him contain. Tori now shaking alongside Jake as he tries not to whimper.

Austin soon growling at hearing how the pack was treating his son. Austin quick to speak up when nobody else would. “Now that’s enough. Who dares speak so ill manner of my son? For while it might be true that my son does not have a scent, who’s right is it to judge the Moon Goddess and her given choice?”

The pack now silent when Austin moved to speak, no one able to comment with a correct answer nor dare try too. Jake now moving to speak once Austin was done. “Exactly. From this day forth, Tori will become this packs new Luna. And if anyone, and I mean anyone, dares try to hurt him then trust me. Zak, Alex and I will know.”

A nod now rising from both Alex and I as I move to stand closer to my mate. Our mate. The one who completed us like that of a missing puzzle. Jake, Alex and I along with our parents still unaware of the one person still watching us from the safety of the forest.

“Now then, are we all clear?” barks Jake, his voice still firm.

“Yes Alpha. Sorry Alpha”

“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to Tori as he’s the one you all have been hurting. But no more. Anyone caught hurting Tori who isn’t his mate will face punishment. As Tori will be our new Luna with or without this pack’s approval.”

“And I fully back my son’s decision as well” explains Alpha Chase, his gaze stern as if daring someone, anyone to protest.

The pack now hanging all of their heads low. Most if not all of them now embarrassed for how they acted in the presence of their Alpha. My own gaze now filled with amusement or at least, was, until Lilyanna moved to speak once more.

“HA! Tori as the new Luna? What a sick joke. There’s no way Tori could ever be Luna. I mean come on; he doesn’t even have a wolf” laughs Lilyanna.

“Lily…” warns Alex, clearly not happy with her at the moment, Lilyanna the biggest tormentor known.

“No Alex. Don’t Lily me. I propose a challenge. Me against Tori. Winner not only gets to be Luna of Ambersky but the mate of each of you too. Winner takes all.”

Suddenly angry at the thought of Tori fighting Lilyanna do I move to protest my concern. Ready to shoot it all down until suddenly, Tori’s soft voice moves to speak up.

“Okay Lilyanna. If it’s a challenge you want, then a challenge you’ll get”

Smirking at Tori’s reply does Lilyanna move to speak. “Perfect. The loser of the match will become expelled from the pack. A Rogue.”

“Deal”

“Tori” I move to say softly, not wanting Tori to go through with the match.

“No Zak. This is my fight. Lilyanna has been nothing but a big bully towards me. It’s time for some payback” answers Tori, his eyes still on hers. “Okay Lilyanna, since you initiated the challenge, you pick the style. Human or wolf?”

“Wolf form of course, only because you don’t have one”

Now trying to hide my smirk does Ash move to voice his opinion. ‘Oh now she’s in for it. She totally has no clue that Tori finally got his wolf.’

‘And I look forward to seeing that confident smirk faulter once she realizes it too.’