Chapter 26 Pack Challenge

Chapter 26 Pack Challenge
Clara's POV

"I challenge Kael Arden for the right to lead this pack."
Viktor's voice rings across the training grounds. Every wolf present stops what they're doing and turns to stare.
I'm watching from the balcony of the main house, and even from here I can feel the shock rippling through the crowd.
Kael stands in the center of the grounds, having just finished sparring with Damon. Blood drips from a cut on his arm, minor, already healing.
"Say that again," Kael says quietly.
"You heard me." Viktor steps forward, and I realize he's been planning this. His stance is too confident, too rehearsed. "I challenge you for Alpha. Pack law demands you answer or step down."
Elder Thorne moves through the crowd, his face carefully neutral. But I see satisfaction in his eyes. This is what he wanted. What he's been pushing for.
"You just got out of the cells," Damon says. "Kael could have killed you for treason."
"But he didn't. Shows weakness." Viktor addresses the gathered wolves now, playing to the audience. "Our Alpha can't even execute traitors properly. Too distracted by his human pet."
Several wolves murmur agreement. My stomach drops.
"Careful, Viktor," Kael warns. "You're about to make a very permanent mistake."
"The only mistake was yours. Bringing that human here. Letting her weaken you. We've lost good wolves protecting her. Sofia. Reed's arm. How many more before you admit she's destroying this pack?"
I grip the balcony railing, watching this unfold. Part of me wants to run down there, to stop this. But I know that would only prove Viktor's point.
"The challenge is issued," Elder Thorne announces formally. "As per pack law, it must be answered within the hour or leadership transfers by default."
"I accept," Kael says immediately. "When?"
"Now." Viktor is already stripping off his shirt. "Unless you need time to say goodbye to your human?"
The taunt is deliberate. Trying to make Kael look weak in front of everyone.
Kael's eyes flicker to me on the balcony. I see the conflict in his face—stay and fight, or come check on me first.
"Fight," I mouth at him. "Don't come up here."
He nods slightly and turns back to Viktor.
"Clear the circle," Damon orders. "This is a formal challenge. No interference."
Wolves scramble to form a wide ring around the two Alphas. I can see Helena and Samuel in the crowd, watching with barely concealed satisfaction.
This is what they wanted. Get rid of Kael, get rid of me, get rid of the curse problem all at once.
"Rules are simple," Thorne announces. "Fight until one submits or dies. No weapons. No help from pack members. The victor becomes Alpha."
"Or stays Alpha," Kael corrects coldly.
Viktor shifts first. His bones crack and reform as he drops to all fours, becoming a large gray wolf. He's younger than Kael, bigger by maybe twenty pounds.
Kael shifts slower, more controlled. His silver wolf is smaller but moves with deadly grace.
They circle each other. The crowd is silent, tense.
Then Viktor lunges.
The fight is brutal. Teeth and claws tearing. Blood spraying across the dirt. They move so fast I can barely track them, a blur of gray and silver, violence and rage.
Viktor fights dirty. Goes for Kael's throat, his eyes, anywhere vulnerable. He's trying to end this quick.
But Kael is experienced. He's been Alpha for over a decade for a reason. Every move is calculated, efficient. No wasted energy.
I watch in horror as Kael's jaws close around Viktor's leg. Bone crunches. Viktor howls in pain.
"Submit," someone in the crowd yells. "Viktor, submit!"
But Viktor doesn't submit. He twists and rakes his claws across Kael's ribs, opening deep gashes.
They separate, both bloodied and panting. Even from here I can see Kael's wounds aren't healing as fast as they should. The bond is draining him. Making him weaker.
Viktor sees it too. He lunges again, going for the killing blow.
Kael dodges at the last second and catches Viktor's throat in his jaws. They go down together in a tangle of fur and blood.
For a moment, nothing moves. Then Kael stands, Viktor still in his jaws, and slams him into the ground.
Once. Twice. Three times.
"Kael, enough!" Damon shouts.
But Kael doesn't stop. He's lost to the fight, to the rage, to the need to prove his dominance.
Viktor goes limp in his jaws. Unconscious or dead, I can't tell from here.
"KAEL!" I scream from the balcony.
My voice breaks through whatever darkness has him. He drops Viktor and steps back, shifting back to human form. He's covered in blood and dirt, chest heaving.
Viktor lies motionless on the ground. Healers rush forward.
"He's alive," one announces after checking. "Barely. Jaw broken. Skull fractured. Multiple internal injuries."
"Get him to medical," Kael orders, his voice rough. He turns to address the crowd. "Anyone else want to challenge me? Anyone else think I'm too weak to lead?"
Silence. No one meets his eyes.
"I asked a question!" The Alpha command in his voice makes several wolves flinch. "Does anyone else doubt my authority?"
"No, Alpha," they mumble in unison.
"Good." He looks at Elder Thorne directly. "Your son challenged and lost. Pack law is satisfied. This is finished."
Thorne's face is stone. "For now."
The crowd disperses slowly, wolves whispering to each other. I see the division clearly now, some look at Kael with renewed respect, even fear. Others look at him with disgust. And a few look at me with pure hatred.
I meet Kael in the hallway outside medical. He's cleaned up slightly, but blood still stains his skin.
"You almost killed him," I say.
"I know."
"Kael, you can't…"
"Can't what? Defend my position? Prove my strength?" He leans against the wall, suddenly exhausted. "That's what they wanted, Clara. A show of power. I gave them one."
"By nearly murdering someone?"
"Viktor knew the risks when he challenged. He was willing to die to take my place." Kael's eyes are haunted. "And part of me wanted to let him. To end this and make someone else be Alpha."
"You don't mean that."
"Don't I?" He looks at me, and I see how tired he is. Not just physically, tired of fighting, of leading, of carrying impossible weight. "You saw the crowd. Half of them wanted Viktor to win. They want me gone, Clara. Want you gone. And I just beat one of their own half to death to keep a position I'm not sure I even deserve anymore."
"You deserve it."
"Do I? What kind of Alpha lets his pack split like this? What kind of leader can't even root out a traitor in his own territory?" He pushes off the wall. "Viktor was right about one thing. I am distracted. Weakened. Just maybe not in the way he thought."
"This isn't my fault…"
"I didn't say it was. But it's connected to you. To us. To this curse that's destroying everything I've built." He starts walking toward his office. "I need to deal with the aftermath. You should go back to your room."
"Kael…"
"Please, Clara. Not now."
I watch him walk away, and I feel the weight of Viktor's words. The pack is divided. Some blame me. Some blame Kael. Some probably blame both of us.
And Kael almost killed someone today to keep his position.
Back in my room, I take Elara's potion and try not to think about the look on Kael's face when he had Viktor in his jaws. Try not to remember the sound of bones breaking.
He won the challenge. Kept his position.
But at what cost?
The pack is fractured. Trust is broken. And somewhere in this mansion, wolves are plotting the next challenge, the next betrayal.
We're running out of time. Four weeks until the blood moon. Until I have to choose between transformation or death.
But I'm starting to wonder if either choice matters.
If the pack tears itself apart before then, there won't be anything left to save.