CHAPTER 6: Challenge

Callista’s POV

I raised my head to look at the person walking through the door of the medical cabin. I felt the scent from that time in the woods. It is him, my mate. Our eyes locked. 

He is a tall, lean man with shaved hair, piercing blue eyes, and an imposing demeanor. He has short blonde hair, a well-defined jawline, high cheekbones, and a fit frame. 

I peeked at him from head to toe; his biceps were significantly defined. He is around six feet and some inches tall. 

Any lady in her right sense could swoon over him. 

“He is damn hotter than Cassius Ironclaw,” my wolf, Maya, mind-linked. 

“Yes, he is,” I grinned, mind-linking. 

The moon goddess has gotten me the perfect mate. Bingo! 

I diverted my gaze back to his eyes. He looked weary and disturbed. I guessed he was not happy. 

“What’s your name? My Luna,” my mate asked with a small smile at the corner of his lips, breaking the chain of thought that I thought had been going on for over five minutes, but in reality, it was just a few seconds.

I gulped and squinted my eyes. “Callista Stone,” I responded. 

“I am Tristan Logan. The Alpha of the Midnight Mirage Pack” 

My eyes widened as I raised my brow in shock upon hearing the name of the pack. The Midnight Mirage pack is a rival pack to the Wolfsong Dominion pack. 

They are always in conflict with my pack. 

How is it possible my mate will be from here?

This shouldn’t be happening. Why is the moon goddess so cruel?

She always brings something to disrupt my happiness. 

“I will introduce you to the pack members in a few days,” he said, paused, and looked into my worried eyes. “But there is something I want you to know,” he added, sounding very worried this time as he moved closer to me on the bed, where I was sitting with my back resting on the wall. 

“Get prepared to have a duel with my delta.”. 

My heart skipped a bit.

What? Is he mad?

Doesn’t he know I'm an Omega? with no strength to even fight the weakest wolf in the pack. 

“I know you are an Omega, but it's a tradition that I can't defy,” he replied, like he was reading my mind as a matter of fact.

“I’m weak,” I lamented under my cracked voice. 

“Let’s hope she doesn’t challenge you for the position anytime she comes.” 

“What if she does?” I asked worriedly. 

“You will take the challenge,” he replied slowly, not wanting to instill fear in me. 

I could feel he didn't want me to have a duel with the Delta, but there was nothing he could do. 

He cupped my cheeks in his hand. “I will have my beta train you for a few days before she comes.” 

“Will a few days of training make me win against a highly skilled fighter?” I quizzed, not sounding satisfied. 

“It won’t, but I know what to do, Callista,” he responded reassuringly.

I hope he does know what to do. 

Having my mate in the rival pack isn’t enough. Now I will be having a duel with their best warrior. The moon goddess isn't treating me nicely. 

I thought I had found someone I had been longing to meet, only for her to create obstacles for me.

I was deeply in thought when I felt his hand on my chin, cleaning the tears flowing down my soft cheeks.

I can feel my wolf isn’t happy either; she is not talking to me. 

The whole world is against us.

“I will sort it; don’t get worked up, my Luna.” He sounded okay, but I knew he wasn’t; I could feel it within me, maybe because he is my mate. 

He offered me his hands and took my hands in his as he helped me to my feet from the bed. The sparks within us were stronger; I could feel it. If this is how two mates fated together feel, then it is great. I must say. 

He gently helped me out of bed. 

“Careful, okay?” He looked concerned after I almost tripped. 

"Sure,” I replied, giving him a sheepish smile. 

We walked hand in hand from the medical cabin to the pack house, which was some distance away. As we walked closer, I could feel different scents in my nostrils; my heightened senses were in overdrive; I could perceive all the scents, hear their heartbeat, and see clearly through the dark like it was the day. I guessed those scents were from the pack members. 

Even though I was happy to be a Luna after what I had gone through in Wolfsong Dominion Pack, I was sad at the same time because the position wasn’t certain yet. 

A battle for the Luna position. 

***

Five days later, 

I have been having a series of intense training sessions with Tristan's beta, Andrian, and most often Tristan himself. 

Even though I wasn't that perfect, I was able to learn the basics, which I could use to defend myself. 

Learning the basics doesn't mean I have a chance with Delta Elowen, but do I have a choice?

I guessed that's what fate has bestowed upon me—the responsibilities I have to carry and the pains I have to undergo. 

The pack members had gathered in the conference room, where they had their meetings. I will be introduced to the pack members today as their 'Luna Natura'. 

“My Luna,” my wolf, Maya, growled excitedly, even though we both have been going through a lot these days, but I guessed we were happy today. 

Beta Andrian walked up to the podium as Tristan and I stood behind the stage. 

My heartbeat increased, but suddenly I felt Tristan's hand on mine, which sent a tingling sensation from my hand to the whole of my body. I was a little bit at ease. 

“Great people of the Midnight Mirage pack, I can see with the expression on your faces that you all are curious to know why our Lord, Alpha Tristan Logan, had summoned you to this impromptu meeting,” Andrian explained in his usual masculine voice. 

“The reason for this meeting is for the growth of our pack." Andrian continued to ease the stress on the pack members' faces. 

“Let's all stand up for Alpha Tristan Logan, as he will be coming to address us shortly.” Andrian finished his statement and stepped aside for Tristan to come on the podium. 

We were still holding hands; he didn't want to let go, and neither did I. The feeling was intense; I hadn't felt like this in years. 

“Cally, everything will be fine,” he stated before he went to the podium. 

Everywhere was dead silent as the pack members stopped their murmuring when they saw Tristan walk to the podium. 

“Great people of the Midnight Mirage pack, I know, and I can see that you are a bit tensed up as to why I summoned you all,” Tristan paused. “As my beta had said earlier, it is for the growth of our pack.”

“As you all know, I have my beta, Andrian,” he gestured towards him. “My gamma, Alec,” he gestured towards him, who was on the left-hand side. He was standing in between Adrian and Alec. “And you have me as your Alpha,” he said, placing his right hand on his left chest. 

“But there is one position that is vacant and also very important." This made cold shivers run down my spine. “And as you all know, a king without his queen means the position in leadership is not complete, and it is the same for an Alpha without his Luna.” Noises erupted from the crowd as they heard Luna. “As our rules say, once the Alpha can't find his mate, a Delta will assume the position, and we have our Delta, Elowen Dean." A smug look crossed his face as he mentioned the name. 

“I am pleased to announce to you tonight that I have found my mate, the fated Luna, the one chosen by the Moon goddess.” He paused and looked back in my direction. 

My nervousness meter just racked up the scale again. My heart is pounding like it's about to explode. 

“My Luna, you got this; remember, I'm here with you,” my wolf, Maya, whimpered in my head, which calmed me down a little bit. 

“Welcome on stage, your 'Luna Natura', Callista Stone." Tristan finished with a smile on his face.

At the mention of my name, I took a deep breath and walked slowly to where the trio was standing. 

I could see the looks on the pack members' faces; some were happy, some gazed with scorn, and some were confused. 

“You got this, Cally,” Tristan said encouragingly, grabbing my hand as I walked majestically to where he was standing. 

I gave him a small smile and stood beside him, holding his hand tightly. I felt safe beside him. 

“According to our tradition, if there are other she-wolves that are willing to challenge Luna for her position, they should speak now or forever hold their peace,” Tristan said authoritatively in his Alpha voice. 

There was a pin-drop silence for a few seconds, but not until someone stood up among the members. 

"I, Nicole Maxwell, a warrior of the Midnight Mirage Pack, challenge Luna Natura for the position of Luna.” She sat as soon as she finished.

"I, Abigail Tobias, a warrior of the Midnight Mirage Pack, challenge Luna Natura for the position of Luna." Another pack member declared. 

My heart became heavy as I clenched my fist on Tristan's own. 

Warriors are challenging a wimpy Omega like me. 

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I held them, not trying to reveal my vulnerability. 

"I, Elowen Dean, challenge Luna Natura for the position of Luna.” 

The lady's voice broke my train of thought as I raised my head to see the young, petite lady, with waist-length copper hair packed into a ponytail, standing at one end of the room. She was wearing a smiley face. She isn’t tall or too short either; you know that kind of height now? She has a pair of silvery eyes. “How would a spineless Omega be our Luna?” A wicked smirk curled up on her lips. “How is she going to protect the pack?”

Oh, moon goddess! She knows. 

A look of disappointment flushed through the pack members' faces. 

Geez! She knows I am an Omega.

“This isn't going to be easy for us,” my wolf, Maya, growled.

Three skilled warriors are challenging a wimpy Omega. 

It sure is not going to be easy.