Chapter 18: The Duel

Elara

Later that evening, Dawn came to check on me in my new room. Her kind face creased with concern as she examined the bruises from training.

"These will heal quickly," she assured me, applying a sweet-smelling salve. "The baby is doing well too. Strong heartbeat."

I wanted to ask her more questions about the pack, about Alpha Acheron, but something in her manner stopped me. Though she was gentle, she kept our conversation strictly about my health. I got the feeling she'd been ordered not to discuss anything else.

That night, dinner was brought to my room – a feast of roasted meat, fresh vegetables, and warm bread. My mouth watered at the smell, reminding me I was eating for two now. But eating alone in my room, watching pack members walking freely outside my window, made me feel more isolated than ever.

*We are never truly alone,* Snow reminded me. *I am here.*

The next morning, I woke before dawn, my body humming with nervous energy. The guards escorted me to the training grounds earlier than usual. Their faces were expressionless, but I felt their eyes on me from every angle.

"Might as well warm up," I muttered to myself, starting to jog around the perimeter of the training area. The early morning air was crisp, and the exercise helped calm my nerves.

"Hey there!" a friendly voice called out. I turned to see a girl about my age approaching. She had short black hair with purple tips and a warm smile. "I'm Lyra. I saw you yesterday... you know, when you stood up to her."

"Her?" I asked, slowing my pace.

Lyra rolled her eyes. "Scarlett! The red-headed troublemaker." She laughed, a bright, infectious sound. "Don't tell her I called her that though. She'd have my head!"

Something about Lyra's openness made me smile. We fell into an easy pace together as she told me more about the pack – and about Scarlett.

"Alpha Acheron found her five years ago," Lyra explained between breaths. "She was running from some really bad wolves who'd killed her whole pack. He saved her life, and she swore she'd repay him by becoming the strongest warrior in Blackmoon. And she did work hard – she's one of our best fighters now."

I listened, feeling an unexpected pang of sympathy for Scarlett. Maybe that explained her hostility – she'd lost everything once before.

"But lately..." Lyra hesitated. "Well, everyone knows she wants more than just to be his warrior. She's been trying to catch his eye for years. Then you showed up, and he's spending all this time training you personally..."

"I never asked for any of this," I said quietly.

"I know." Lyra touched my arm gently. "And not everyone here is against you. Some of us are just curious about you – in a good way! I mean, a silver wolf? That's pretty amazing."

Before I could respond, a harsh laugh cut through the air. "Well, look who's made a loser friend, Alpha's pet!"

Scarlett stood there with her two friends from yesterday, all wearing matching sneers. But this time, I noticed something else in Scarlett's eyes when she looked at me – not just anger, but pain.

"Hey bitch," she spat, stalking closer. "Stay far away from me, or I swear I'll—"

"You'll what, Scarlett?"

Alpha Acheron's voice made everyone freeze. He emerged from the trees like a shadow coming to life, those silver eyes taking in the scene. Scarlett immediately switched to a bright smile.

"Alpha! We were just greeting our new packmate!"

His expression said he didn't believe that for a second, but he let it pass. Instead, he looked at all of us thoughtfully.

"Since you're all here," he said slowly, "let's make this interesting. A wolf duel challenge."

My heart stopped. A wolf duel? I could barely feel Snow most of the time, let alone control her! I'd be destroyed – and Scarlett knew it. I could see the triumph in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" she taunted. "Scared you're going to die?"

"Scarlett," Acheron warned. Then his silver eyes fixed on me. "Elara? What's your answer?"

I stood there, my heart pounding so hard I was sure everyone could hear it. Snow stirred restlessly in my mind, but she felt distant, unreachable. If I accepted, Scarlett would humiliate me at best, kill me at worst. If I refused, I'd look like a coward.

*We are stronger than she knows,* Snow whispered.

But was that true? Or would this be the last mistake I ever made?

Everyone waited for my answer, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Scarlett's smirk grew wider with each second I hesitated. Lyra looked worried. And Alpha Acheron... his face was unreadable, but something in those silver eyes seemed to be trying to tell me something.

I opened my mouth to answer, knowing my next words could seal my fate...