Maya walked towards Dawn as though stalking her prey. There was so much enmity in her eyes that she was almost out of control. She had the look of a mad woman, a murderer.

The one thing that Dawn dreaded was about to happen. She could feel a vein throb in her neck as tension gripped her mind. If she didn't decline Maya, Maya would simply kill her, however, if she declined her, her reputation amongst the pure bloods would be ruined. And then how would she face them as their Luna. They would all see her as a wimpy neotide who took advantage of the fact that their Alpha chose her as his mate.

As Maya went ahead, Andrea called her, panting heavily, "I am going to kill you, bitch! I am going to avenge this." Her nose and lips were bleeding profusely. With the help of two werewolves, she somehow walked out of the ring.

Maya came near Dawn, leaned on the rope of the ring with her elbows and said, "Come on in. If you want to be the Luna of the pack, show us that you have the mettle."

Dawn gripped the side of her skirt with her hands. Sweat trickled down her spine even though there was chill in the air. This was happening for real.

Beside her, Daryn rose up. He glared at Maya. "She won't." His voice was ferocious, almost a growl. "I will accept the challenge instead of Dawn against you."

Maya laughed like a maniac and while laughing she said, "You need to stand up for her? I knew you got a coward with you. She isn't fit to be your Luna." She looked around at everyone around the ring. Some werewolves were already snickering. Maya raised her voice and addressed the audience. "So this is the Luna our Alpha is going to present us with," she pointed at Dawn. "She is so weak that she can't even fight with me? Instead she is hiding behind her mate, the mighty Chief of the Silver Pack."

More werewolves joined the audience. The drumbeats, which had previously charged the air of the Ulfric, subdued. People left their stations, their activities, only to see what was happening. Once again Maya was trying to create a spectacle.

Daryn, Neal and Gayle were angered. As for Daryn, anger as hot as molten lava, boiled deep inside his chest. It made him hungry for massacre, and he was finding it difficult to keep calm. He thumped his chest as if to suppress that fury and said loudly, "What are you afraid of Maya? Can't you handle me?" But rage in his chest was building up fast. He closed his fists until his knuckles hurt. How dare anyone insult his mate and that too in public? Was she inviting death?

Neal bolted in front of them and tried to punch Maya from outside the ring for degrading Daryn. He was furious and was possessed with hatred for her. His eyes were red and every vein in his body popped up. However, Maya deftly dodged his punch and laughed all the more loudly. She slapped her thigh. "There, there! The pet dog comes into action as soon as I threaten the Master."

"Maya!" Daryn shouted. "This is between you and me. Leave everyone aside." Daryn said and walked to the hold the ropes of the ring in order to jump inside.

Immediately, Maya ran to the other side. She knew that if Daryn came inside, he would kill her with one stroke and no one would say a word against him since this was the place where they challenged each other for finding mates. So on a clever thought she ran away from him to the far end of the ring and then shouted from there, "No Daryn, I won't accept your challenge. Why should I? I am fighting for you. My opponent has to be the one who is with you."

Gayle' bitterness for Maya was at its highest. He got up from there and left.

Maya tilted her head to look at Dawn who was still sitting behind Daryn and sneered, "You chicken-livered gutless wimp! If you have even an iota of dignity left, jump in the ring. Don't tuck behind your mate."

A soft rhythmic thump on the wooden benches started which soon turned louder. The werewolves jeered.

"Come on Dawn, show us what you have."

"Yes! Maya and Dawn! Maya and Dawn."

"Pure blood vs the neotide!"

"She is trying her best to find her way in our community. Then show us that you have it."

"She is a dastard!"

"Go into hiding if you can't adjust amongst us!"

Not able to stop himself Daryn roared, "Enough!" Immediately a hushed silence fell upon the crowd.

A flush appeared on Dawn's neck. The entire spotlight was on her. Because of her, Daryn's authority was questioned. She thought how insecure Daryn must have been feeling about her.

Brantley tilted his head towards Dawn and whispered, "Decline it if you are smart."

Daryn was about to jump in the ring, when all at once Dawn stood and held his hand to stop him.

He resisted and ordered her, "Dawn, sit back."

"No."

Maya smiled and slowly started to move towards her prey.

Dawn took a deep breath. Pushing down her anxiety, she removed Daryn's hand from the rope and assured him with her eyes. She had to be in control, she had to take control. Twisting her upper body towards Maya, she poked her tongue in her cheek. Then crafted her sentences carefully, "Maya, why should I take your challenge? You are not worth it." She shrugged. "I am already with my mate, so there is no point in even accepting your dimwit tries of provocation because that would seem that I am contesting for Daryn. And why would I contest for someone who is mine?" She scoffed. "Accept it Maya, Daryn is already mine. So why would I demean his personality, his love and his position by accepting your summons to contest? Also once I accept your challenge, wouldn't it mean that I have a smidgen of doubt about his sincere feelings?" She left Daryn's hand and crossed her arms across her chest. "The Silver Pack werewolves over here already know how you tried to kill me and destroy the Silvers' reputation a few days back. So now tell everyone else also what you tried to do to me."

"You bitch!" Maya shouted. "You liar! You are trying to wriggle out your way. If you have the guts then defeat me. You don't have the right to be our Luna." She knew if she would die, Daryn would simply wither away. And that would be her ultimate revenge. Her breaths became coarser.

"Is your record broken that you keep yapping the same thing again and again?" Dawn replied sarcastically.

Daryn's fury was about to explode and Dawn could sense it. She looked at him, smiled and stepped in front of him. Then she propped herself on her toes and rose to his lips. Staring in his eyes, she wrapped her hand around his neck. She fisted his hair in her hands and pressed a passionate kiss on his lips. Daryn opened up for her. He picked her and a groan escaped his mouth. When she pulled, he placed her on the ground gently and leaned on her forehead. "I am sorry," he whispered.

She shook her head. "No darling, don't be. And now watch me."