I challenge you

Erik’s POV

The members of our court became pale at the mere mention of his name, even I was shaken. Lohki, a figure of darkness from our past, had once harbored perverse ambitions, using witchcraft and dark magic to manipulate those in need.

Our rules back then were clear. Werewolves and Lycans were never to fraternize with sorceresses. It was a sorceress who cursed our kind and made us this way. The Lycans had it worse than the wolves since it was we who were directly afflicted. We didn’t simply shift like the wolves did, ours was accompanied by inexplicable pain and discomfort.

By the time we finally turned, we would hunt villages and those who survived our bites became wolves, meant to serve us. But while the wolves loved the power and strength that came with it, we hated everything we were. We were the bloodthirsty ones…the real monsters, hence why they feared us.

But several years ago, Lohki’s ambitions had led him to seek the help of a sorceress to challenge my father, Leon’s father, and Caden’s father, who at that time were the Lycan Kings. The conflict that followed was brutal, resulting in the loss of countless lives. Together, our fathers defeated Lohki and stripped him of his power, exiling him from Hexon.

It had been two decades since that happened, so hearing of Lohki’s return was shocking news to all of us present.

“ Are you certain that the messenger outside said he is from Lohki?” I asked the young woman who came to deliver the news and she nodded vigorously.

“ The messenger also requested entry into our court to deliver a message,”

Before I could react to this, Leon’s men dashed outside the court and attempted to ambush him, intending to capture him and extract vital information through torture.

To our surprise, the woman returned. Her lips quivered with fear as she summoned courage and said,“ Lycan King Leon…your men are dead.”

Leon’s eyes flashed with anger at the woman’s statement. “ What? All of them?” he asked in disbelief, and the woman nodded.

“ The messenger fought as if he was helped by m-magic,” she said in fear.

“ Where is he?” Leon asked.

“ Outside, still waiting for you to grant him entry,” she replied.

“ I suppose he would like to die by my hands. Let him in,” Leon said, despite the court's reservations. But I knew Leon was begrudgingly impressed by the messenger’s skills. If anything, he probably wanted the messenger for himself.

The hooded figure walked in looking at me, Leon and Caden. Without a bow or even a greeting, he began to read the ominous message. The Alphas began to murmur when they heard a woman’s voice and not a man, but my eyes narrowed as I recognized the voice. It was not a man’s voice but a woman’s. But I was surprised for a different reason. I was certain I had heard that voice before. Interrupting the messenger’s recitation, I spoke with disbelief, “Wait… reveal yourself.”

The messenger tensed, but after a moment complied, pulling back the hood. There, standing before us, was the girl I rejected two years ago. My emotions were in turmoil, caught between astonishment and a burning desire – a desire I didn’t expect to harbor within myself.

Caden managed to voice the question that weighed on all of our minds,“ Maeve, How… How can this be?”

Maeve…so that was her name? I thought to myself as I watched everything unfold. Maeve met our gazes with a determined expression.

“Yes, I have returned - not as your ally, but as your adversary.” She said boldly, looking at the three of us. She had changed. She was no longer the weak girl who begged me not to break our bond. She had a dark aura about her and her expression was as cold as ice.

Still holding Lohki’s message, she cleared her throat and began to read the ominous words aloud again. Tension filled the air as she spoke, “Lycan kings of Hexon, you have two moons to surrender your lands and your people. Refusal will result in annihilation. From King Lohki”

The silence that followed was thick with dread. My resolve hardened, and I spoke resolutely, “We will not bow to Lohki’s threats. Our fathers defeated him and so will we.”

Maeve’s eyes blazed with a fiery determination as she stepped forward. “ In that case, prepare for war,”

We all stared at her in awe. The innocent girl we remembered had transformed into someone far more dangerous.

Caden spoke up, completely driven by emotion, his voice filled with a sense of desperation, “Maeve, we want you back. We’ve realized our mistake.”

But I remained hesitant, suspicion apparent in my gaze. “Why have you returned, Maeve? What are your true intentions?”

Maeve’s demeanor was ice-cold as she faced us, her anger evident. The wounds of my rejection seemed to still be fresh in her memory.

“ Why else do you think she’s here? Obviously, to send a message from the man who must’ve taken care of her when you banished her,” Leon scoffed.

The silence that followed was tense, and it was Maeve who broke it. “Two moons.”

Those two words were a stark reminder of the ultimatum that Lohki had delivered. It was a clear message: time was running out, and we had to act quickly.

I, however, was not willing to let her go so easily. I stepped forward, my voice laced with authority and issued a challenge. “ Two moons? Isn’t that too long? I mean, why wait two moons when you can end this here and now? You’re a formidable fighter now, so I challenge you, Maeve.” I said and smirked as I saw anger flash in her eyes.

It was brief, and she quickly masked it with indifference again, but I knew I had struck a cord. I knew I had planted a suggestion that she would find difficult to refuse. Given that it was me who ended our bond, she must still be angry, and she must be seeking revenge one way or another.

“ A challenge?” She said, folding her hands and giving me a hard look.

“ Yes, a challenge. If I win, you will stay and perform your rites as our mate. But if I lose, Lohki can have Hexon.” I said, and the court became alarmed, but I knew exactly what I was doing. All I needed right now was an answer from her. Would she take the bait or… Will she be smart enough to refuse?

She took a long time to make up her mind before she finally said with unwavering determination,“ I accept your challenge, Erik.”

The news of our impending duel quickly spread, drawing a crowd to the courtyard. I could feel the complexity of emotions swirling within her as we prepared for battle.

As the fight began, it became evident that Maeve had acquired remarkable speed and agility during her time away from Hexon. She moved in a disappearing manner, her movements quick and unpredictable. It was as if the very shadows conspired to shield her from my reach.

In contrast, I possessed special Lycan abilities. I could control fire and water, an ancient power passed down through generations. My flames could consume and incinerate, while my control over water was equally formidable, a force that could douse even the most relentless inferno.

The clash of our abilities created a spectacle that left the onlookers awestruck. Maeve darted in and out of my reach, her speed and agility testing my control over the elements. Fire and water clashed, each element vying for dominance.

Despite her incredible speed, I used my control over water to create a barrier that surrounded her, limiting her movement. The sight of her struggling against the surging water was a testament to my power, but Maeve remained undeterred. With a burst of incredible speed, she broke through the watery confines, her determination unshaken.

As our duel continued, I couldn’t help but admire Maeve’s strength and resilience. The battle was fierce and unrelenting, a testament to her growth and newfound power.

In the end, my victory was secured by combining the forces of fire and water. I used my control over fire to create scorching flames that encircled Maeve, forcing her to a corner. Simultaneously, I summoned water to douse the flames, creating an intense steam that surrounded her. It was a tactic that left her with limited visibility and options, and I seized the opportunity to make my final move. I had formed a sharp sword of ice, and it was already placed at her throat. One move and she would’ve died.

“ Yield,” I said as I watched her eyes widen in surprise, realizing now that she could not defeat me.

“ I yield,” she said with painstaking slowness, and with one motion, I ordered for her to be taken away. I met Leon and Caden’s cold stares as she was taken to my residence and a smile crept on my face. I had won Maeve back, all that is left is to win her heart back.

Lohki will still be dealt with.