Antiope

I look at the dress that is hanging on the door of my closet and I rub my hands together awkwardly. It is a simple, long blood red dress, with long flowing sleeves adorned with colorful designs at the hem, the same ones it has around the elegant neckline. Per my request, I got a pair of red ballerinas to match. I need to be ready and meet Magnus downstairs in half an hour.

To say that last night dinner and today's breakfast were awkward would be the understatement of the century. I didn't even dare look at him but I could feel that he had no problem looking at me all the time.

I thought I was all logic and mind, my wolf with me on this path. No extravagant emotions, no passionate stupidity, just a goal-driven Beta. But with Magnus... it is getting hard to listen to my logic. And mind you, my logic has a strong case. He is the asshole that forced me here, has my sister captive and is treating all this as a game. Still, my body has an opinion of its own and it's that of protesting my ascetic ways and demanding release. Preferably with that attractive wolf waiting downstairs.

"Goddess, give me strength!" I pray and put on the dress.

I gather half my hair in a series of elaborate braids like I do every day when I train to keep my hair off my face but I do not bother with make-up. I slip the ballerinas on and I get out of my room. I hear him pace downstairs and I bite my lips in agony. When I am at the top of the stairs, he looks up and his jaw drops.

I try, I really try to keep a straight face but to see a powerful Alpha look upon me like that, is a sight that brings a smile on my lips. I dare a look in his eyes but the flood of emotion I see there makes me focus on the steps. This is fucking dangerous game we are playing.

"Antiope," his voice is slightly trembling when I reach the bottom of the stairs.

"Magnus," I reply looking over his shoulder.

"Väldigt vacker, Antiope. You look breathtaking."

I turn to him and stare with a raised eyebrow and I cross my arms over my chest.

"What?" He demands.

"I am waiting for you to suffocate."

I see he too struggles to keep a straight face and a strict look but his full lips lift in a smirk and his eyes form light lines. Damn it! I swear for the millionth time. It would all be so much fucking easier if he was any less handsome than he is.

"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Magnus towers over me.

"You got no idea."

"Oh, I think I do."

He then makes for the door and stops to look back at me when he opens it. I take in a deep breath. I am going out there as the Luna of this pack, ready to oversee the appointment of my Champion. I don't want that, my whole being revolts to the idea but he has promised that I'd see Celia after this.

"Come!" Magnus commands and he extends his hand to me.

If that smug asshole thinks I am going out there hand-in-hand as if we are some happy couple, then he is a bigger fool than I ever thought. I straighten my back and I take wide, decisive steps out to the corridor to the pack-house, completely ignoring his hand.

The moment the door on the other side opens, four guards fall on our sides and Magnus touches me lightly to lead me to his right and out the house. I want to slap his hand and remind him that he needs to ask my permission to touch me but the thought of him on top of me, his strong chest rubbing on my breasts makes me wonder if bringing up body contact is a good idea. So, I follow his lead.

Outside, the whole pack is waiting, holding torches in the dark and damn me if that is not impressive. Magnus's pack is big and disciplined. No one talks but they look at me as we go down the stairs. I hate this! I try to keep a straight face and not show fear in front of this people. Magnus is nodding at everyone but all eyes are on me and most of them are approving.

Well, I am playing nice for the moment, for the sake of Celia. I know that Magnus is going to be seriously pissed if I show him any disrespect before his people. That is the reason I am walking with my head held high and my eyes set forward.

We walk for a while and we reach an opening, defined by stones and torches and on the bottom of a small hill. There are rows of wooden seats on that side of the hill and two elaborate chairs in the front. I glance at the ring and there are ten people, male and female, wearing simple leather armor and looking at Magnus sternly. Thane is among them and he is the only one that looks at me.

Magnus leads me to the two seats and he keeps me on his right. Everyone else walk up the hill and take their seats but since Magnus is standing up, I do too. When everyone is settled, Magnus looks at the warriors and then he starts talking in Swedish. I need to learn that freaking language, I think but regret it. I am not going to be here that long.

"For the benefit of my mate," Magnus turns to me, "your Luna," he stresses that last word, "I will speak in English."

How nice, I give him the fakest of smiles.

"Ten of you stand before us but in the end only one will be the Champion. The couples will be appointed by chance. Remember that your goal is to incapacitate your opponent or force him to submit not kill. Control your beasts or you will be deemed unfit to protect the Luna," Magnus warns.

Good. No certified killers then, I blink ironically.

"Let the fights begin!" Magnus beckons at me to take a seat and he takes his place by my side.

Here we go!

***

If anyone is wondering why Magnus's pack is the most powerful in the world, all he had to do is watch these fights. The warriors fighting are not of rank – Betas, Gammas and Deltas are excluded – but they are the most perfect killing machines I have ever seen. Their control over their bodies, the impeccable concentration and technique is, to say the least, scary.

"The last fight!" Egil announces as he has done for all the fights till now.

The darkness has fallen around us though at the horizon I see a light and I remember it never really goes dark this time of the year. No one has moved but the initially quiet Scandinavians quickly became a roaring group that enjoys the hard, blood spectacle. They were Vikings not so long ago, after all.

The last couple is a female warrior with strawberry blonde hair that has had my support from the beginning, impressed by the cunning use of speed against heavier opponents. The other, damn it, is Thane that has proved a formidable opponent, focused and lethal and the one with the swiftest wins in the small tournament.

Unceremoniously, the two opponents clash and I tighten my fingers. I really want that girl to win, not that asshole. For his sake. I will make it my business to drown him into misery and regret the decision of joining the Luna Championship.

But the goddess has forsaken me. As the girl attempts to go under his arms and do some damage in his torso, he moves swiftly, in a blink of an eye, picks her up and throws her over his head with ease before falling on her and locking her in a death grip. After she struggles for a while to free herself, she submits and the crowd erupts in a deafening roar.

"Thane is the winner," Egil announces.

His victory will be short-lived, I eye Thane that has a triumphant smile on his face when he looks at me.

"You don't seem happy," Magnus chuckles as he gets up beside me.

"While I am sure you are fucking thrilled," I hiss and get off my chair.

Magnus lets out another chuckle and beckons Thane to come forth. For a few minutes they talk in Swedish in what I guess is customary to conclude the ceremony before switching to English again.

"Thane Kron, you are appointed the Luna Champion. Do you swear to protect the Lune with your life?"

"I do," Thane looks at me seriously.

"Do you swear to be by her side whenever she needs you, bound to her will?"

"I do."

Interesting, I give Thane a sly smile.

"Get the silver!" Magnus orders.

Two men come carrying a big bowl filled with burning coal and a branding iron buried in them. My eyes widen as I look at Thane but his face is unmoving. The werewolves heal fast so... When I see a man remove the branding rod, I gasp. Silver! Hot burning silver. I move to protest. That will hurt and weaken Thane for a while and will brand him for life.

"Don't!" Magnus wraps his fingers around my wrist. "It is his duty, his show of devotion to you."

"This is wrong. I am not the Luna! I can't be! Don't let him be branded for nothing!"

Magnus stares down at me and maybe it's the play of the shadows the torches cast but he looks sad and forlorn for a few seconds.

"You are my mate. You are the Luna. You are staying. I am not losing you," he growls in my ear.

I want to say something but the sizzling of flesh gains my attention. The two men are pressing the hot silver on Thane's arm and though the pain must be excruciating, he is looking ahead with his face in a steel expression.

When the iron rod is removed, I see a triple spiral symbol etched on his arm. Only then, Thane is taken by the silver on him and takes a few steps back, supported by the same warriors he was fighting not so long before.

"Come forth!" Magnus orders and Thane takes a few agonizing steps to me.

Thane than takes a knee before me, bares his neck to me and gives me his hand. I glance at Magnus lost and he beckons. I give Thane my hand and the male kisses it in submission.

Well fuck!