Chapter 24: Trial by Combat

Kai's POV

Derek's claws raked across my ribs before I could dodge.

The void iron collar around my neck felt like it was choking me, cutting off not just my royal powers but making everything harder - breathing, thinking, moving. Without my enhanced abilities, Derek was faster than I thought.

"First blood to me," Derek teased as we circled each other in our wolf forms. "This is going to be easier than I thought."

The crowd of wolves around the fighting circle was dead quiet. I could feel Emma's eyes on me, her fear and love hitting me even through the broken mate bond. She was the only reason I was still standing after that first hard hit.

Derek lunged again, going for my throat. I rolled sideways and snapped at his leg, but he twisted away laughing.

"You're holding back," he said, shifting quickly to human form to speak. "Still trying to be the noble prince? That's going to get you killed."

He was right. Some part of me was still fighting like I had my royal skills to fall back on. But the void iron had made me just another wolf - stronger than normal maybe, but not the silver prince everyone expected me to be.

"Fight like your life depends on it," Emma called out desperately. "Because it does!"

Derek's amber eyes flashed with anger. "The Moon Daughter shouldn't be coaching her present mate. It's almost like she doesn't want to come with me freely."

"Never," Emma yelled back. "I'll never go with you!"

"We'll see about that," Derek growled, shifting back to wolf form.

This time when he struck, it wasn't just claws and teeth. Derek fought dirty, using moves that weren't part of honorable fighting. He threw dirt in my eyes, used his back legs to kick at my gut while we grappled, even tried to slam my head against a rock.

"Dishonorable fighting!" Marcus objected from the crowd.

"All fighting is honorable when survival is at stake," called out Derek's father, Alpha Damon, from across the circle. "My son is simply being practical."

I wiped blood from my mouth and tried to think. Derek was bigger and definitely had more experience with dirty fighting. If I kept trying to match him move for move, I was going to lose.

But then I heard Emma's words, quiet but clear: "Remember who you really are."

Who I really was. Not just the royal prince with magical skills. Not just the outsider who'd been bullied and banished. I was the wolf who'd learned to live in the wilderness. The wolf who'd built a refuge for other outcasts. The wolf who'd chosen love over revenge.

Derek charged again, but this time I was ready. Instead of meeting his strike head-on, I used his own momentum against him. I dropped low and rolled, sending him sliding past me into the dirt.

"Lucky move," Derek growled, getting back to his feet.

"Not luck," I answered. "Experience."

This time I struck first, but not the way Derek expected. Instead of going for easy targets, I used everything I'd learned during my exile. I knew how to fight when I was outmatched. I knew how to turn weakness into strength.

Derek was bigger, but I was smarter. He was faster, but I was more motivated.

For several minutes we were evenly matched, trading blows and circling each other carefully. Derek's confidence began to fade as he realized this wasn't going to be the easy win he'd expected.

"Getting tired, outcast?" he panted.

"Just getting started," I answered, though my ribs ached and my left shoulder felt like it might be dislocated.

Then Derek did something that changed everything.

He suddenly broke away from our fight and lunged toward the crowd - straight at Emma.

"No!" I howled, throwing myself between them.

Derek's claws caught me across the back as I protected Emma, sending me crashing to the ground. But instead of pressing his edge, Derek stepped back with a cruel smile.

"Predictable," he said. "You'll always choose to protect her over winning the fight."

My view blurred from pain and blood loss. Derek was right - I couldn't fight him and protect Emma at the same time. Every time she was threatened, I'd sacrifice my place to save her.

"The Moon Daughter makes you weak," Derek continued, circling me as I fought to get back up. "A true Alpha puts victory first, always."

"A true Alpha protects those he loves," I gasped.

"Love is a luxury kings can't afford," Derek said, raising his claws for the killing blow.

But then something impossible happened.

Even with the void iron collar blocking my powers, I felt a surge of strength that had nothing to do with magic. It was Emma's love flowing into me, her total belief that I could win this fight. Somehow, our link was stronger than the void iron.

I caught Derek's attacking paw and turned, using his own weight to flip him over my head. He landed hard on his back, stunned.

"Love isn't weakness," I said, standing over him. "It's the strongest power there is."

Derek's eyes went wide with fear for the first time. "This isn't possible. The void iron should have cut off everything."

"It cut off my magic," I nodded, pressing my paw against his throat. "But it can't cut off my heart."

"I yield!" Derek gasped. "I submit!"

The crowd exploded in cheers, but something felt wrong. Derek's submission had come too quickly, and his father was smiling instead of looking defeated.

"Excellent performance," Alpha Damon called out, clapping slowly. "Both of you."

Derek suddenly grinned beneath my paw. "Did you really think this was about winning a fair fight?"

Before I could respond, Derek whistled sharply.

The shadow dogs dropped from the trees.

But they didn't attack us - they struck Derek's own pack.

"What are you doing?" one of Derek's wolves screamed as shadow wolves tore into them.

"Cleaning house," Derek said, easily pushing me off him now that I was sidetracked by the chaos. " Father only needed me to get close to the Moon Daughter. The problem was just a distraction."

Horror washed over me as I realized the truth. Derek had never meant to win through combat. The whole fight had been a way to get past our defenses and separate Emma from her guardians.

"Emma, run!" I shouted.

But when I looked toward where she'd been standing, my heart stopped.

Emma was gone.

In her place stood a figure in a dark hooded cloak, carrying something that glowed with sickly green light. Even from across the clearing, I could feel the evil coming from whatever they were carrying.

"Looking for the Moon Daughter?" the figure called out in a voice like grinding stone. "She's coming with us."

Derek laughed as he got to his feet. "Meet my father's new friend - Aldric the Void Walker. Turns out he survived your little trip after all."

My blood turned to ice. Aldric was meant to be dead, destroyed when the Elders defeated him. But there he was, very much alive and holding Emma prisoner.

"The void iron was perfect for keeping you distracted," Aldric continued. "While you were playing hero, I was preparing a special trap for our dear Moon Daughter."

"Where is she?" I roared, but even as I asked, I could see green light flowing from whatever Aldric held in his hands.

"Safe," Aldric said mockingly. "For now. But her safety rests entirely on your cooperation."

Derek pulled off his void iron collar and tossed it away. "Here's the new deal, outsider. You're going to come with us quietly, or Aldric is going to drain every drop of power from Emma's body."

"And if I do come with you?"

"Then maybe she lives long enough to watch you die," Derek said with a cruel smile.

Around us, the shadow wolves had finished killing Derek's pack and were now surrounding my friends and family. Fenris, Marcus, Luna, Sarah - they were all stuck, unable to help without risking everyone's lives.

"You have ten seconds to decide," Aldric called out. "Come quietly, or watch the Moon Daughter's light fade forever."

I looked at the green glow pulsing in Aldric's hands, knowing that Emma was caught inside whatever evil magic he was using. My mate, my heart, my reason for living - all relying on a choice that would probably doom us both.

But as I stepped forward to give myself, I caught sight of something that made my breath catch.

A tiny golden spark flashing in the green light.

Emma was still fighting, even caught in Aldric's magic. She hadn't given up.

Which meant neither could I.

"Time's up," Aldric said, raising his glowing cage higher. "What's your answer, Silver Prince?"