I'm in trouble.

Very much in trouble.

After everyone cleared the ball room Lucas let's his facade fall and man am I in trouble. His cobalt blue is hidden by a sea of pure black. His hands clenched into fist just to undo and ball up again.

"Lucas?"

No reply.

"Lucas? Are you okay?"

"NO I'M NOT OKAY! YOU ARE ABOUT TO GO UP AGAINST ONE OF THE BEST FEMALE WARRIORS TO FIGHT FOR YOUR SPOT AS MY MATE AND QUEEN! I'M DEFINITELY NOT OKAY!"

"It will be okay. Calm down."

I walk over to Lucas and wrap my arms around his waist, burying my face in his chest. To be honest I'm surprised he let me touch him.

Lucas starts to rub my back and holds my head to his chest. A slight crack startles me and I want to look but Lucas hand keeps me in place.

"I-I can't lose you. I-I can't. I won't be able to go on without you baby..."

The words coming out of Lucas mouth break my heart. He sounds so broken, so different from the powerful King he usually carries himself as.

We just stand there. Arms around each other as Lucas sobs into my shoulder.

"Hey. Have some faith in me okay? I wouldn't have agreed to her challenge if I didn't think I could win. Trust me okay?"

"I do trust you, but you haven't had proper training and just a couple weeks ago you had wolfsbane in your bloodstream! You still might have it circulating through your body! I won't be able to live with myself if you get hurt."

Lucas eyes have cleared of all black, now all that's left is pure sadness and the redness of suppressed tears.

Footsteps and a clearing of one's throat makes Lucas and I to break apart.

"Alpha. Luna. The fight will start soon and Luna needs to be ready. The twins and Jorgie are in your room, ready to help her get ready. You are needed in the clearing to make sure everything is prepared for the fight."

"Yes of course. Audrey, you remember my Beta Dominic and his mate Jorgie right?"

"Oh yeah! You guys are the ones at the ball that actually acknowledged my presence! It's good to see you again Beta Dominic."

"Please, call me Dom, all my friends do."

"Alright Dom. You can call me Audrey."

Dom drops to one knee and places his fist over his heart before speaking again.

"My loyalty is to you Luna Audrey. Jorgie and I are at your service no matter the hour and will be rooting for you in the challenge."

"Thank you Dom. Now I should probably get ready and you,Lucas, need to go with Dom to set up for the fight. I'll see you guys later."

I go to walk away but Lucas wraps his hand around my wrist, spinning me to face him. Lucas quickly places a kiss on my lips before releasing me.

"I'll see you soon baby."

Walking out of the ballroom I think about how I'm going to win this fight. To keep my throne and my mate.

Lucas said that we are to fight in wolf form. That means that you will have my strength and we both know how to fight like that. Don't worry. Anything that pup will through at us, we will come back at her with 10x the strength and elegance.

You're right Kenna! We can do this!

When am I ever wrong?

Whatever. Love you Kenna!

Love you too Audrey.

Walking into the house a sense of calm washes over me. The trip to the bedroom is full of silence until I open the door. I'm bombarded with hugs and fretful women. Everyone starts talking at once and it takes everything within me to not yell at them to shut up.

I raise my hand up to my shoulder and the room falls into silence.

"Thank you. I know you all are worried but there is no need. I wouldn't have agreed to fight if I didn't think I could win. Now. Help me get ready?"

The twins and Jorgie nod their heads and help me out of my dress and undo my hair.

Kendra is the first to speak.

"Aella will fight dirty. You need to be prepared for cheap shots."

"Thank you for the warning but I learned how to fight whilst in a cage and against wolves three times my size."

Jorgie was next.

"How did you learn to fight?Adaline told me you lived in a cell and all you were allowed to do was chores?"

"I learned by Alpha Jordan teaching me. He didn't like how I would just scream when he came into my cell, so he taught me some defencive moves in human form and wolf so that I could try to fight him off when he came to give me wolfsbane shots every two weeks. It helped up his ego when he would get me to surrender."

"That's messed up."

"Yeah, but it should serve me well today."

Lenna was last to speak up.

"Are you okay?"

"Of course! I'm not going to let some pup try to take my mate from me. I don't care about my 'title'. I only want to be with Lucas and she is trying to force him to mate with her instead of me. That doesn't sit well with Kenna or me."

After talking, the girls helped me pick out a fire colored sports bra and a pair of leggings that look like they are actually flames.

Once I'm dressed the girls put my hair in a messy ponytail.

Deeming me ready, the girls escort me towards the forest. Each one of the girls had changed into black leather jackets and white ripped jeans, with fire red tank tops under their jackets.

"Why are you guys matching? Not that you guys don't look amazing."

Jorgie is the one who answers my question.

"It's an old tradition. The entourage of the fighting she wolf dress to try and intimidate the group for the opposing wolf."

"Well you do look like members of a biker gang."

"Mission accomplished!" Kendra hollars.

When the trees start to thin, the girls and I fall into silence. We can hear the voices of other pack members as we get closer to the clearing.

Dom comes out of nowhere to help lead the girls and I to the clearing.

Once we pass the last group of trees silence falls over the crowd. Aella and her group pass through the last bit of trees the same time we do.

Her entourage is wearing matching black shorts and bright pink tank tops that show a little too much in my opinion. So much for trying to scare us, cause they look like rip off barbie dolls.

Lucas is standing in the middle of the clearing wearing only a pair of black jeans. If I somehow die today, I'm glad I got to see his beautiful abs one last time.

"Audrey. Aella. Come to the center."

His voice rings through the forest and I can't help the shiver that runs down my spine from hearing his voice sounding so demanding.

As I get closer the more adrenaline courses through my body. I'm more than ready to teach Aella a lesson.

Ready Kenna?

I've been ready since this pup made the challenge!

Lucas voice snaps me back to the situation at hand.

"The rules are simple. Whoever surrenders first loses the match. The winner decides the fate of the loser. The fight will happen in wolf form and you will not be permitted to shift back until someone surrenders. Understood?"

"Yes Alpha King."

"Yes Lucas."

A slight grin appears on Lucas face as I use his name instead of his title. Aella on the other hand glares at me with a look of pure hatred.

"Go to your sides to shift and come back to the middle."

I turn to go back to my side when I hear a quiet, almost inaudible voice.

"Good Luck baby girl."

With a smile on my face and a new feeling of determination, I walk to the girls and behind the tree line to shift.

The feeling of my bones snapping and shifting into different places as fur sprouts through my skin gives me a sense of peace, knowing Kenna is going to fight her hardest.

Walking out of the tree line gasps are heard through the crowd along with murmurs.

"A red wolf?"

"I thought those were a myth."

"She's RED?"

I ignore the voices and walk back up to Lucas. Kenna rubs he nose on his leg, a sign of affection we both know she shouldn't do in this situation. Lucas lets out a slight growl before rubbing our fur, sending a million sparks through our body.

A large mousy brown wolf comes out of the tree line with a wolfy smirk on their face. Aella comes up to Lucas and I and goes to rub her nose on his leg. Before I can growl at her to back off, Lucas side steps her muzzle and begins to speak.

"Aella are you ready?"

One over exaggerated howl sounds through the trees.

Kenna rolls her eyes at the annoying wolf in front of us.

"Audrey are you ready?"

I make the mistake of looking into Lucas eyes. All I see is worry in his eyes along with another emotion. Pride.

Kenna lets out a loud howl to signal that were ready.

"One my count the battle will start and won't end till one surrenders. One. Two. Go."

Lucas backs out of the way and Aella goes straight for my neck.

Dumb pup.

Kenna easily side steps the attack and comes at it with one of her own. Kenna aims for Aella's hind leg and latches on before quickly releasing after the taste of metal fills our mouth. A loud yelp sounds from the Aella as she lands and her back leg gives out.

Aella spins around, not liking Kenna behind her. Aella goes for our neck again and Kenna rolls over to the side. As Aella sails over, Kenna swipes at her belly.

She's fighting in anger. Her emotions are clouding her senses. This is going to be over a lot faster then I would like.

Me too Kenna. You want full control?

Heck yeah!

Before I give Kenna control, I see Aella give total control over to her wolf. The shift in stance is what gives it away and I can't help but laugh. Aella's wolf looks bored. A look of determination crosses over their face and I know Aella has never been beaten and her wolf would like to keep it that way.

I give total control to Kenna and watch as the brown wolf starts to advance.

A swipe at Kenna's muzzle ends up with Aella's wolf on the ground with a bloody eye. Kenna prances around the wolf, enjoying the fact that not a single scratch has been made present on her.

Aella's wolf stands up and tries to attack Kenna from behind,yet the attack is useless because Kenna heard the other wolf's paws lift off the forest floor.

Kenna whirls around and meets Aella's wolf in the air. Kenna lands on top of the larger brown wolf, with her jaws wrapped around her neck. One wrong move from this wolf and Kenna won't hesitate to end their life.

Aella recognizes her defeat and howls out. Kenna loosens her hold on her wolfs neck and allows the wolf to stand.

Kenna stands proud and tall. Waiting. The battle is over but no one has moved. They know what Kenna wants. What I want.

Kenna gives me half control and we wait for Aella to either submit and recognize us as her queen or for her to try and defy us again.

Aella gains control of her wolf again and stares into Kenna and I's eyes.

A growl so loud and ferocious, all pack members dropped down in a submissive state. Including Aella.

Howling in victory Kenna gives me full control as we walk over to our clothes to shift back.

Once shifted all pack members are still down, with Lucas the only one left standing in the middle. Walking to the center of the clearing I stand next to Lucas side.

"Rise."

All pack members lift their heads and stand except for Aella, still in wolf form. The pack members have proud smiles on their faces at the fact that I won, made them submit and that I released them.

Lucas looked so proud with a wide grin on his face that I forgot there was anyone else around. A small whimper brings me back to the present and I remember the wolf at my feet.

"Go and shift. Then come back here."

Aella stands and goes back to her tree to shift. As soon as she's dressed she comes and lowers down on both knees with her hand over her heart.

"Aella. You have challenged, me, your future Luna Queen. Do you accept these claims?"

"Yes Luna Queen."

"Do you have anything you would like to say?"

"I'm truly sorry Luna. I only challenged you do to fear of you being an imposter. The Alpha King is one of my friends and I didn't want him to be forced to mate with someone only after the throne. I know now you fought not to keep your throne, but to stay with your mate. I deeply apologize and I am ready to accept whatever sentence you give."

Sentence her to death!

No Kenna! We will be fair and just. Like a queen should be.

Fine. She still was a jerk to us, but I understand where she was coming from.

Alright, leave this part to me but I may call upon your presence to strengthen my voice.

You got It Audrey!

"Aella. I have decided to pardon all actions and offences you have made to me. Your only punishment is to be my personal assistant for three days."

Aella quickly looks up to meet my eyes. A look of hope is in her eyes.

"Permission to speak Luna Queen?"

"Permission granted."

"Thank you so much! I promise to not mess anything up and to do as you ask with no complaint!"

"Now that's settled. Does anyone object to my verdict? If so speak now."

Silence.

"Very well. You are all dismissed."

The pack leaves the clearing, leaving only Lucas and I.

"Audrey. You did it. You won and governed the entire pack with one growl! You treated Aella fairly and gave her maybe too light of a punishment but did so in a Queen like manner! I'm so proud of you baby girl."

"Thank you."

"Queen Luna? Can your mate have permission to kiss you?"

A small giggle escapes my lips at Lucas choice of words.

"Permission granted."

With that Lucas captures my lips with his in a kiss full of emotion that makes my heart swell with an emotion I didn't know I could feel.

Love.