Chapter 88 The Fight
Lira pov
"Pack law regarding Luna challenges is... complicated." She chose her words carefully. "Most modern packs don't even acknowledge the right exists."
"But Selene said" I started.
"Selene cited ancient law." Aria interrupted. "Law that hasn't been tested in over two hundred years, there is ambiguity about what happens if you win."
"What do you mean?" Dread pooled in my stomach.
"If you defeat Eldric, you don't automatically become alpha." She explained. "You become Luna of a pack without an alpha. Which means"
"A succession challenge." Kael finished grimly. "Anyone can challenge for the alpha position within twenty-four hours."
"So even if I win..." I processed this. "I still have to defend against anyone else who wants power?"
"Yes." Aria's expression was sympathetic. "Unless an alpha claims you first. Then your mate becomes alpha by right of Luna bond."
All eyes turned to Kael.
"I yielded." His voice was flat. "I gave up my claim, i can't just take it back."
"Actually, you can." Selene entered the tent, her ancient presence commanding attention. "Under the same law that allows Luna challenge, a former alpha may reclaim his position by mating bond."
"That seems convenient." I said suspiciously. "Why didn't you mention this earlier?"
"Because it requires something difficult." Her eyes gleamed. "A public claiming. In front of the entire pack. Before the Moon Goddess. Binding yourselves so completely that death is the only separation."
"We're already bonded." Kael protested.
"You're mated." Selene corrected. "That's different from claimed. A claiming ceremony requires both partners to surrender completely. No walls, no secrets, no hesitation. Total vulnerability."
My stomach dropped. "That's"
"Impossible for you two, yes." Selene's voice was gentle but firm. "You still have walls between you. Trust issues, unresolved pain. A claiming ceremony would expose all of that publicly."
"Then we don't do the ceremony." I said quickly. "I'll face the succession challenges alone."
"You'll face dozens." Selene warned. "Every ambitious wolf in the territory will try. You'll fight until you die or they run out of challengers."
"Then I fight." I straightened my shoulders. "I've survived worse."
"Have you?" She moved closer. "Because dying by inches in a cellar is different from dying in an arena while pack members place bets on how long you last."
The image made me sick.
"There has to be another way." Kael's voice was desperate. "Some loophole"
"The only loophole is claiming." Selene interrupted. "Which requires what you two cannot give. Absolute trust."
"We trust each other." I protested weakly.
"Do you?" She challenged. "Lira, can you honestly say you trust Kael not to hurt you again? To choose you over pack duty?"
I opened my mouth to lie but I couldn’t.
"And Kael." Selene turned to him. "Can you trust that Lira won't leave the moment things get difficult? That she won't choose independence over partnership?"
His silence was answer enough.
"I thought not." Selene moved toward the exit. "So you have a choice. Win tomorrow, face endless succession challenges, and probably die. Or perform a claiming ceremony, expose your deepest wounds, and possibly survive."
She left before either of us could respond.
"Well." I finally said. "That's not encouraging."
"We could run." Kael suggested. "Leave Darkfang entirely and start over somewhere else."
"And let Eldric win?" I shook my head. "Let him keep poisoning these territories? No. I'm seeing this through."
"Even if it kills you?" His voice cracked.
"Especially if it kills me." I met his eyes. "Because at least I'll die fighting. Not cowering as some victim."
"You were never a victim." He grabbed my shoulders. "You were surviving, there is a difference."
"Is there?" I laughed bitterly. "Because I spent twenty years being everyone's victim. Time to be something else."
"You're already something else." He cupped my face. "You're a warrior. A Luna, a Moonblood who makes alphas afraid."
"Then why can't we perform a claiming ceremony?" I challenged. "If we're so strong together?"
"Because I'm terrified." The admission seemed to cost him everything. "Terrified of being that vulnerable, of letting you see every dark corner of my soul."
"You think I'm not?" I pulled away. "You think I want to expose every wound, every fear, every moment I considered giving up?"
"Then we don't do it." He said firmly. "We find another way."
"There is no other way." Aria spoke up quietly. "Selene's right. If Lira wins without claiming, she'll face challenge after challenge until something gives."
"Then I fight beside her." Kael's voice turned hard. "Against every challenger."
"You can't." Ryn entered, looking grim. "Former alphas are forbidden from interfering in succession challenges. It's in pack law."
"Convenient." I spat. "Everything's designed to keep me powerless."
"Not powerless." Selene returned, carrying an ancient tome. "Just alone unless you choose otherwise."
She set the book on the table, opening to a marked page. "This is the claiming ceremony. Read it. Understand what it requires. Then decide if your pride is worth dying for."
I stared at the page, reading the ancient text.
"A true claiming requires blood shared, souls bared, and hearts surrendered. Both wolves must speak their deepest truth before pack and goddess. Must confess their greatest fears, darkest shames, and truest desires. Only then can the bond be sealed in unbreakable union."
"That's barbaric." Kael read over my shoulder. "Forcing people to expose everything publicly."
"It's honest." Selene corrected. "How can two wolves lead together if they can't be honest with each other?"
"We are honest" I started.
"Are you?" She challenged. "Have you told Kael how close you came to accepting Darion's offer to stay with the rogues? How part of you still wants to abandon everything and run?"
I flinched, that was too close to truth.
"Have you told Lira about the dreams?" Selene turned to Kael. "The ones where you're back in exile, free of responsibilities, free of bonds?"
His expression shuttered.
"You both have secrets." Selene's voice was gentle now. "Walls you've built to protect yourselves. But walls don't build partnerships they build prisons."
"So our choice is between public humiliation or death." I closed the book. "Fantastic options."