Azalea

“No, no, no…” I thought. I knew that voice. Kol couldn't be here. It was impossible. Liam's face registered surprise before he recovered, stepping in front of me. Austin instantly moved to my side, and Damien positioned himself before Lily.

"What's going on, Alpha?" Austin demanded.

"I don't know. Don't leave her side," Liam commanded. I clung to his arm, unwilling to be alone.

"Liam, it's Kol," I whispered.

The voice drew closer, murmurs rippling through the crowd, though Liam's large frame obscured my view. "Thank you so much for coming out here today. I must say, an audience improves things," Kol boomed. Liam growled.

"Now, now, big bad Alpha. We had a challenge, didn't we? And I warned you I'd come for MY mate if you didn't choose the time," Kol continued, his voice escalating.

"You're trespassing. Leave now, and you'll remain unharmed," Liam said, ignoring the taunts. He was treading a dangerous line by not setting the challenge time.

"Tsk, tsk, Alpha. No one needs to get hurt. Just hand over the girl, and I'll be on my way. Then I'll dispose of you later," Kol said, sounding closer.

Liam growled. "You won't touch my mate," he said dangerously.

"I'm sorry, but I'm a man of my word. I told you to pick the time, or I'd come for her. Though, I am running a bit late due to somecomplications."

"Get off my territory before I punish you for threatening my Luna," Liam threatened.

"Sounds to me like your pack isn't entirely sold on that yet," Kol retorted.

Liam's posture stiffened. "Austin, get her out of here, now."

"No, Liam, please don't," I pleaded.

"Azalea, I don't want you here for this," he said.

"Please," I silently pleaded. I couldn't speak. Austin pulled my arm, but I wouldn't release Liam.

"I'm waiting, Alpha. Hand her over or fight me right here, right now," Kol taunted.

"You've threatened not only the future Luna of Blood Eclipse but also the Alpha of White Moon. We won't hand her over, and you have no right to challenge for the title of Alpha. This is your last chance—leave now, or I will take action," Liam said, calm but angry.

"I guess you haven't heard. That complication I mentioned was White Moon. They no longer have an Alpha," Kol said menacingly. I gasped. "Alpha Isaac couldn't keep up. The rumors about his special ability were false. So, Ieliminated him."

My eyes darted to Damien and Lily; their expressions were slightly glazed—they were linking. I saw warriors emerging from the pack house, and other pack members fleeing. They were evacuating. Austin's arms encircled me, pulling me back from Liam but not off the platform.

"Fine, I'll honor your challenge. But there will be no mercy. I will end your life," Liam said resolutely.

"No," I whispered.

"I'm sorry, Luna. There's no other choice," Austin said softly. He began pulling me toward the edge of the platform, back toward the packhouse.

"Ah, ah, ah. She's not leaving, Alpha. She'll watch every moment," Kol said.

"That's not up to you," Liam said. I could see Kol now—shirtless, in athletic shorts. He'd clearly arrived in wolf form. He was dirty but strong. Liam's muscles strained against his shirt. I could sense Gavin's eagerness to intervene.

"Ah, but you forget. Your title isn't the only prize; your mate is as well. So, she must stay for the fight. It's our law, isn't it?" Kol said, smirking. He resembled Liam, but he was utterly different.

Austin stopped pulling me and looked to Liam and Damien. Damien's face was grim, and Liam's teeth were bared. I closed my eyes, swallowing. "I'll stay!" I yelled, drawing everyone's attention. Austin's grip loosened, and I stepped away from him, toward Liam. "I'll stay. No one needs to get hurt," I said.

Liam's eyes were dark. He turned back to Kol. "Ten minutes. At my training grounds. My warriors will escort you," he said.

A wicked smile crossed Kol's face. A darkness in his eyes made my stomach churn. "Good choice," he said, walking away. Liam nodded to the warriors; six stepped forward, surrounding Kol and leading him to the training grounds.

Liam watched Kol leave before turning back to me. His eyes, dark as night, remained fixed on me as he addressed Austin and Damien. "You two keep her safe. If this doesn't go my way, get her out of here. Far away. He'll kill her if he tries to mark her," he said darkly, barely controlling himself.

"Liam" I said softly. He closed the distance and cupped my face.

"He doesn't know you're marked yet. I wanted you out of here because I don't know what he'll do when he finds out," he said, tucking my hair over my shoulder, hiding my mark. "Austin and Damien will keep you far enough away that he can't smell it. I won't let him take what's mine. Azalea, if I fail, I need you to run. Run far away. Okay? Forgive me for failing you, and get away from him." Desperation laced his voice.

My eyes searched his, seeking reassurance. His lips met mine in a desperate kiss. I whimpered. Our lips parted. "Liam, please, don't" I begged.

"I have to, baby. I have to end this, or you'll never be safe," he said.

"But I can't lose you," I thought, tears welling.

"You won't," he whispered. My eyes widened. How did he know?

Liam

I unbuttoned my shirt and wrapped it around her shoulders. My scent would help mask her marking. She was probably cold, and the training grounds were windy.

"If he wins, waste no time. Carry her out of here if you have to," I linked Damien and Austin. They nodded. I took Azalea's hand, and we walked toward the training fields. I felt her fear. Damien, Austin, and Lily followed.

Gavin was ready to strike, but I held him back. Kol stood in the sparring circle, arms crossed, cocky. I stopped at the ring's edge, removing my shoes. I looked at Azalea, clutching my shirt.

"You don't have to watch. Close your eyes and stay with Austin," I said, rubbing her jaw. I kissed her gently, reassuring her. Kol cleared his throat. I looked into her green eyes one last time before facing him. Austin was beside her; Lily watched from the sidelines, while Damien joined me in the center.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Damien linked.

"Yes, I am," I said confidently. Since Azalea's marking, I'd felt power blossoming within me. Gavin was right; we were stronger, now that we'd mated and marked her. We met Kol in the center of the ring. Damien stood between us.

"We are here for the official challenge to the title of Alpha of Blood Eclipse Pack between reigning Alpha of Blood Eclipse, Liam Blackfur, and challenger Kol Blackfur. This challenge will be to the death. The loser cannot beg for mercy. The winner will have the right to the title of Alpha of Blood Eclipse Pack. This challenge will be officially witnessed by myself, Beta of Blood Eclipse, my mate, and the Delta of Blood Eclipse," Damien boomed.

"And don't forget the other lovely prize, the future Luna of Blood Eclipse," Kol interrupted.

"She will not be an official witness," Damien said flatly. "Now, is the challenger ready?" Kol nodded, smirking. "And the defender?" I nodded, stoic. "The challenge begins once I leave the ring. Take your positions," Damien finished. We did. I let Gavin surface. Though rarely practiced, we could share control when needed. We'd done it against rogues, but the stakes were higher now.

Damien moved to Lily, Azalea, and Austin. "Begin!" he shouted, leaving the ring. Kol attacked immediately, but I dodged easily. This was too easy.

"Quit playing," I said. He attacked again; I ducked and spun, kicking his legs out. He surprisingly rolled away. I attacked, landing a punch. He ducked, letting me grab and throw him.

He hit the ground hard. My eyes flickered to Azalea; Austin was protective, she watched, arms wrapped around herself.

"Pay attention to the fight!" Gavin roared. I snapped back to Kol, who was rising. I attacked again, claws extending. His legs caught me in the stomach before I could strike. I fell back, gasping for air.

"Let's shift and bite his head off!" Gavin complained.

"No, we're not shifting first!"

"Fine, the hard way then!"

Kol was up, hair sprouting on his arms. He attacked; this time, I met him head-on. His strikes were hard but slow, allowing me to evade many. His time as a rogue hadn't honed his hand-to-hand combat. I landed blows, but he only grew angrier.

We broke apart; I kicked him. He caught my leg, surprisingly, and used it to throw me down, jumping over me. He rained blows on my face, connecting once, rocking my head. Gavin roared; my fist connected with his jaw, dizzying him. I rolled us over, raining blows with my claws, aiming to draw blood. I felt him restraining himself from shifting; I couldn't let him shift while I was on top.

Suddenly, a sharp pain in my side. Kol held a small knife. Burning pain radiated from the wound as he withdrew it. The wound wasn't fatal, but the blade was laced with wolfsbane, hindering healing and shifting. My eyes widened. He laughed coldly as I fell, clutching my side. He stood, breathing heavily.

I struggled to stand. "How dare you!" I shouted.

"Stop! This challenge is invalidated!" Damien shouted from the ring's edge.

"You think I'd let you win?" Kol said.

Azalea

A burning pain shot through my side. "Ahhh!" I gasped. Austin caught me, preventing me from falling.

"What's wrong, Luna?" Austin asked worriedly. Lily looked away from the fight. Liam was on the ground, clutching his side.

"Stabbing painit burns" I groaned, clutching my side.

"Damien, wolfsbane!" Austin shouted. Damien stepped into the ring to stop the fight. "Wait, don't get close! We don't know what Kol will do!"

"Stop! This challenge is invalidated!" Damien shouted.

I felt Liam's pain and Gavin's rage. The pain weakened my legs. Austin held me up. "Are you okay, Luna?" he asked. I nodded, watching Liam try to rise. Please let him be okay, I prayed.

Kol and Liam seemed to be talking, but we couldn't hear. Suddenly, Kol began to shift. "Liam!" I shouted! If it was wolfsbane, Liam couldn't shift until it was out of his system. The pain in my side lessened, a warmth draining away. Everything spun.

Liam

I struggled to stand, the pain excruciating.

"You never had a chance of leaving alive, Liam. I'd never let you take my mate and rightful place!" Kol said, his eyes possessive and unhinged.

"I'll never let you have her or my pack!" I said, looking at my hand. Purple ooze seeped from the wound.

"You won't have a choice. You can't shift, and I bet you won't be much of a challenge anymore," he said. The pain subsided. I dropped my hand; I was healing. This much wolfsbane wasn't meant to be fatal, only to stop healing and shifting.

"Get ready, Gavin, we need to shift at the right moment and catch him off guard."

"Keep him talking," he said.

"Don't be so sure. I've had worse than a little cut. You'll regret underestimating me," I said, smirking.

"I think you're overestimating. You couldn't even mark your mate. You had to force her to mate with you," he spat.

"Oh yeah? Didn't you notice? Odd, right? Everyone else could smell it instantly," I said, knowing this would enrage him. I wanted him angry and erratic. Angry wolves don't fight smart. He began to shift. The pain was gone; the wound was closing.

"Liam!" I heard Azalea. I wished she wasn't watching.

"Almost" Gavin said. A warm sensation flooded me—the power of two. Kol shifted. His wolf had gray fur, large, but not as large as mine.

He lunged; I dodged, letting him skid past. I glanced at Azalea—in Austin's arms, with Lily beside them. Damien stood defensively. I focused on Kol, who lunged again. I jumped.

"Now!" Gavin said, taking control. We shifted, landing on all fours. Gavin snarled. Kol was surprised. We lunged at his throat. He thrashed, but my teeth pierced his neck. His paw swiped my side; blood trickled. We circled, calculating.

Kol attacked, running at full speed. I leaped, snapping my jaw onto his neck as I landed. We rolled, fighting for dominance, but I didn't release his neck. The strength was immense.

"It's the mate" Gavin thought as we subdued Kol.

With a loud crack, we snapped Kol's neck, dropping his lifeless body. I moved to the ring's edge. Austin held Azalea; she wasn't moving. Gavin relinquished control as we shifted back, and I sprinted to her.