Free Web NovelChapter 9: Chapter 9 Challenge
Abigail’s POV
A gentle kiss to my face wakes me. Tingles erupt everywhere, and I know it’s Matthew.
"Sweetheart, wake up. We are nearly home, and I have something to prepare you for." I’m wide awake now, and Galaxy paces in my head, not liking the sound of our mate’s tone of voice.
"Our neighboring pack’s former Alpha has a daughter named Maria. She has been obsessing over me for years. I thought it was just a small innocent crush, but it developed into something bigger. I have never encouraged her and told her multiple times I was waiting.. Well, for you! But she wouldn’t listen. She told me if I didn’t make her my Luna, she would make her father and brother wage war against us." Kaiden growls at this revelation, not liking at all that his Alpha and brother have been going through this alone.
"I kept my distance in the hopes she would forget it. She didn’t. Right before I left to go to your old pack, she let me know she was to become Luna when I returned. She wanted me as her mate, and that was final. I never gave an answer, which she clearly took as a yes. My gamma just called, and she is at the pack house now. Trying to make people believe she is the next Luna. I have corrected this over the phone. But she will be there when we arrive, which is now." Matt looks ashamed, but he had nothing to be ashamed about. It was not his fault that this girl was infatuated with him, nor that she couldn’t take a hint.
’Oh, she better keep her filthy paws off our mate, or I will raise hell!’ Galaxy threatens in my mind. I giggle and tell the guys what she said.
"I will pay money to watch you put her in her place Luna... Uh, I mean Abby." Kaiden says with a chuckle.
"She has never gotten a ’no’ in her life. Her father and brother have spoiled her rotten, and not healthily; the way we all should with our children and mate. No, she thinks she can have everything she sets her eyes upon. She clearly expects Matthew to reject his fated mate for her, which everyone knows would never happen, especially said mate is absolutely badass. But I didn’t know she had promised war on us?" He looks at Matt, who looks really uncomfortable.
"It doesn’t matter, Kaiden. She is not getting anyway near my mate! If she wants him and the pack, she can fight for it." I tell him sternly. Kaiden bows his head.
"Of course Luna." He answers nervously. I didn’t even realize I used my Luna voice on him.
"I’m sorry Kaiden, I didn’t mean to use my.." He shakes his head.
"No need. I understand where you are coming from. It’s not only the males who are possessive, with mates. I’m not angry at you Luna. I’m proud." Kaiden reassures me.
We arrive at the pack house and all of us climb out of the cars. There are many people here to greet their Alpha and Beta and welcome them home. Pack members look at me in curiosity while a tall, beautiful woman smile at me. The likeness between her and Matthew is striking, and I conclude she must be another sister. She opens her mouth to speak when another woman elbows her way through the waiting pack members, not taking the notice of the irritated glares and growls.
"Let me through, dammit. AAAAH Mattie! I missed you sooooo much." Her shrill voice cut through everything, and her persona screamed ’brat’ loud and clear.
I take a step in front of Matt, and she stops dead in her tracks. frёeωebɳovel.com
"Would you mind? I am trying to get to my mate." She says in an obnoxious tone.
"Well, seeing as you are trying to get to MY mate, then yeah, I actually mind. A lot." I said loud and clear. She sneers at me.
"That is not possible! Mattie, tell her." She whines at my Matt. Instead of answering her, Matthew embraces me in his muscular arms.
"Abby is my fated mate, and the future Luna to the Silver Mist pack." He tells the waiting and curious pack members, not even sparing the angry-looking she-wolf a second glance.
"I have told you many times, Maria. I want my fated mate and you are not it. Never have and never will be." He continues, finally looking at Maria. Maria is now seething with both anger and jealousy.
"I challenge her for the right to be Luna and your mate." Maria screams at Matthew. Before he can object, I answer.
"I accept the challenge." The crowd erupts in murmurs.
"I demand it to be issued now!" Maria yells frantically. I don’t care when, where or why, she will not win anyway, so I nod with a smirk. But the warriors, Matthew, Kaiden, Matthew’s parents and sisters, shake their heads. They all witnessed or have been told how I fought the rouges in the meadow.
"Maria, she fought off over ten rouges, not including the leader. In the rogue attack on Black Moon, she is not to be underestimated. Are you sure about this?" Helena asks her kindly. Maria doesn’t seem impressed, and that was her first mistake. Second mistake; she’s trying to take away the first person, besides my mom, to ever accept me whole heartedly.
Galaxy, who was already sizing her up and was not impressed, either, which I found very ironic.
"Her? She doesn’t have a wolf?! How can they fool you like that? I am the rightful Luna of this pack, and it will be mine! Not some wolfless mutt girl who thinks she can just come at take it away." Maria spits as I shrug at her.
"Just know this Maria, we are fighting to the death, and my wolf, because I assure you, she is there, will kill you without hesitation for trying to impose on her mate." I answer, my voice dripping with ice.
We walk to the borders of Silver Mist and White Moon, where they have a mutual training ground. Her family, who looks utterly confused, meets us there. Maria has clearly summoned them, probably in a mind-link.
"Maria, what is going on? Why are you not planning your Luna ceremony in the Silver Mist pack house?" Who, I would assume to be her father, asks.
"Leo, your daughter has challenged my fated mate for the Luna position and the right to be my mate." Matt answers angrily, his wolf coming forward, making his eyes almost black as the night sky. I take his hand in mine, squeezing it to get him to calm down. He smiles at me, appreciating the effort.
"You are saying my daughter is not your fated mate, Alpha Matthew?" Leo asks bewildered.
"That is exactly what I am saying." Matthew retorts. Leo, whom I now assume to be the former Alpha, frowns.
"Maria, what is the meaning of this? You told us they fated you to Alpha Matthew, and he finally accepted you?" I frown at this. She has even lied to her own family. Wow, just wow. She didn’t look embarrassed at all, and only kept glaring at me.
"Oh, shut up, you old fart. If I had told you the truth, you would never have supported me." She rolls her eyes. I glance at her father and I can see how he was seething in anger at her tone.
My momentary absence of mind is her cue. She shifts into a dark brown wolf and charge at me. But she underestimates how quick I am.
Galaxy and I dodge her attack, ignoring the roars of indignation on my behalf from both her -and my pack members who have gathered here, and concentrate on Maria’s wolf.
"I’m sorry Alpha Leo, but she is trying to take what is mine, and this is to the death. Neither I nor my wolf will show mercy to someone who lies to her own family to get her way." I bow my head and shift into Galaxy.
We hear the awes and surprised gasps at how large and unique Galaxy looks.
Galaxy towers over Maria’s wolf, and she wastes no time in charging at her, relishing her full aura on the wolf. The crowd grows silent when Galaxy’s aura hits them. Some look confused, some impressed and some again with a hint of realisation in their eyes.
Maria’s wolf recognizes Galaxy and cowers low, not wanting to fight us.
’Galaxy, what is happening?’ I ask her.
