Ce ti-e scris în frunte ti-e pus!
He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned.
Vasile motioned for Ion and Nicu to step forward and then looked down at his mate. “Do not leave their side for any reason. Promise me this. I will not be able to focus on my fight if I am worried for you.”
“I give you my word,” she answered. He could see in her eyes how desperately she wanted to stay with him, but he could not risk being distracted or giving Emilian and Serghei the opportunity to use her against him. He had no doubt in Ion and Nicu’s ability to protect her. They were both more dominant than any of the other males present besides himself. Vasile leaned down and pressed a firm kiss to her lips. He decided that if that was the last thing he tasted on this earth then he could die a happy man.
“I love you,” she whispered against his mouth.
“And I am so unworthy of that love, but I will take it and cherish it always.” With one last kiss he spoke through their bond. “I love you.”
Vasile walked away leaving Alin to take over. It was time to get his mind fully focused on the task at hand. His wolf was eager for the battles ahead of them and was in no way intimidated by any of the males present. He was not sure if his wolf was overconfident or if he truly was just that dominant. He headed towards the front of the castle where there was a large gathering of males. As he got closer he saw that Emilian was actually helping direct the contenders to where they should go. When the Alpha looked up and met Vasile’s eyes only to quickly shift his gaze away, he realized that Emilian was not helping for the sake of helping. He had simply been waiting around so that he could see Vasile the moment he arrived.
Serghei stepped up next to Emilian and raised his hands to draw the attention of the males. “The first three challenges are already decided. Those wanting to challenge the winners will need to go and stand next to the fighting circle of your choice. You lose a challenge either by submitting or death. Submissions will be allowed until the final three challenges. At that point, victory must come at the death of the defeated wolf.”
Vasile took one last look at the Emilian and then marched off to the grounds where the matches would be taking place. It was not difficult to locate. The cheering and snarls led him straight to the south side of the castle where three large areas roughly twenty feet apart from each other had been marked around into designated fighting areas. Two of the fights were already in progress and the third one was just beginning. He walked slowly around the three circles, watching each male battling to move onto the next round. They were in their human forms though they could phase at any time; it was up to them. He watched the way they moved and watched which way their eyes shifted just before they would strike. He took note of the tells that most warriors did not even know they had. Some would grit their teeth just before a lunge or punch while others would flex a muscle in his chest or neck. It was usually something they were totally oblivious to, and yet they did it every time they started their attack. This would be the only round where he would get to study his opponents because once he entered into a challenge he would stay there until he lost, which was an unacceptable outcome.
Each of the rounds finished quickly and all of them in submissions. That at least told Vasile that there were some who still had control. The defeated wolves each drug themselves from the circles while the victors called out their next opponent. That was when he heard his name.
“I call Vasile Lupei!”
Vasile turned in the direction of the shout and saw a large man standing in the furthest circle from him. He nodded to the wolf acknowledging his acceptance of the challenge and headed towards him. He stepped just outside the circle because he knew once he crossed over the line the battle would begin.
“I would like to know the name of the man who challenges me,” he told the wolf that he did not recognize.
“I am Ivan, Emilian’s Beta.”
Vasile was surprised that Emilian would allow his Beta to fight the one wolf he wanted dead so badly. He figured that Emilian would want to kill him by his own hand. Without another word Vasile stepped into the circle and towards the destiny of his life with Alina and their pack. The next hours or days would determine whether he was truly capable of being their Alpha. It would reveal whether he was worthy of such an honor. There were so many things that he was unsure of, but one thing that rang true was that he knew that his heart beat, his blood flowed, and his lungs breathed for two reasons―to love his mate and to lead his pack. He was destined to be Alpha and not just any Alpha, but one that would eventually see their entire race reunited. If he was asked how he knew such a thing he would not have an answer. As the first charge was made Vasile side stepped his opponent and turned with lightning fast speed bringing his elbow down on the wolf’s neck just as he passed him. Vasile heard the crunch of bone. He had broken the man’s neck, but it was not a killing blow. He looked down at Ivan who bared his neck to him.
“Do you submit?” he asked him.
The man would have nodded had he been capable, but no matter, Vasile could see the defeat in his eyes. Vasile looked up and motioned for some of his wolves who had been watching to help the wounded man from the circle. He turned in a slow circle, taking in the crowd around him, waiting to see who would speak up next. He would only call out two men, but protocol demanded everyone must be challenged according to their rank. It would be a long while until he could call out Serghei and Emilian’s names.
Finally the next wolf stepped forward. Vasile knew this man and hated that he now had to fight him, all because his wolf was out of control. So be it, he thought as the man attacked.
One after the other Vasile took down his challengers. Each of them submitted to him once he had incapacitated them. He had not kept count of how many there had been, but it seemed they were now becoming less willing to challenge him. Night was beginning to fall and he was waiting on the next wolf to step forward.
“You are fighting well, Alpha mine.” His mate’s voice was like cleansing rain as her love poured into his thoughts. She did not say more and he knew it was because she did not want to distract him but just having that little connection renewed his strength. That was why having a mate made a male stronger. Her light, her love gave him something unmated males did not have―the ability to control the wolf and focus his deadly rage. Concentrated rage was much more powerful than out of control chaos.
The challenges continued. More wolves stepped forward and each one fell at his feet. Night enveloped them, rain poured over them, and still they fought. Vasile and his wolf were merged as one utilizing the other’s strengths, working in harmony in a way they never had. He was tired, but he was far from weak or impaired in any way. For the first time since his parents’ death, he truly felt like the Alpha he had been born to be.
It was well into the second day when he noticed only six wolves remained left to challenge him. These, of course, were the most dominant of the traitorous wolves, two of which were Serghi and Emilian. From here on out, the challenges would be either submission or death. Vasile fought in one circle while Serghei and his opponent occupied the next, and past them in the furthest circle, Emilian engaged his opponent.
Vasile could tell a marked difference in the wolf he faced now compared to the wolves he had fought earlier. This wolf’s skill was much more honed and he was faster. Regardless, he was still no match for the Alpha. In less than fifteen minutes, the wolf was on his back conceding.
Vasile’s muscles shook with exhaustion and sweat coated his skin. His breathing was faster than usual but he was not yet winded. He had only minor slashes on his skin, most of which were already healing. Other than being tired, he was more than ready to take on his next rival. Serghei’s voice ringing in his head had him smiling. The wait was over, and justice was about to be served.
Alina’s stomach twisted as she heard the voice that she truly never wanted to hear again.
“Vasile Lupei, I challenge you.”
She looked over from where she and her two guards stood. Ion had managed to secure her some crates to stand on so that she could see because they were not about to let her get any closer. Serghei stood at the edge of the circle that Vasile occupied. He looked tired, and blood ran down his arms and legs from the wounds others had managed to inflict. Her mate, on the other hand, looked as though he could fight another day and night without stopping for a rest. He truly amazed her.
She watched as Vasile held up his hand to stop Serghei from entering the circle, and then his voice rang out strong and powerful. “Serghei, son of Sain and Theris, brother of Sisily, I sentence you to death. You need to know that whether or not you enter this circle you will die by my hand. For the murder of my mate’s parents and for the violation that you inflicted on her body and mind, I will rip you limb from limb.” He lifted his hand and motioned for the wolf to step in, to accept his fate.
“And if I kill you?” Serghei asked, still on the outside of the circle.
“Then hell has frozen over.”
Alina’s lips turned up slightly at her mate’s reply, but the smile faded as soon as Serghei moved forward. Vasile struck hard and fast. He leapt across the circle closing the distance between them and raked his claws down Serghei’s face. Deep gashes immediately began to gush blood, and one split his left eye, rendering it useless. Serghei staggered but quickly recovered and darted towards Vasile attempting to run his own claws across the larger wolf’s abdomen. Alina was surprised at how quick Serghei was. Both men were utilizing their wolf’s assets without fully phasing; their punches and kicks much quicker and more powerful than that of a human. They circled one another and Serghei managed to land a couple of blows to Vasile’s face and one to his stomach, but neither seemed to slow Vasile down. The longer the fight went on the more focused he became. Meanwhile Serghei appeared to become sloppier with each blow exchanged. His movements were jerky and inaccurate. It was during one of those uncoordinated punches that Vasile made his move. He grabbed Serghei’s arm and turned quickly moving behind the wolf and bringing the arm with him. There was an audible pop and then a shout of pain from the man held in Vasile’s deadly hands. The rage in Vasile’s eyes would have any smart wolf backing down, and the power rolling off of him in waves was making it hard for everyone to breathe. With a loud snarl, he jerked Serghei’s arm and ripped it from the wolf’s body.
“You should not watch this, Luna,” Ion urged her.
She shook her head. “I have to. He is my mate and to look away when he has been victorious would show weakness on my part and could be interpreted that I did not approve of his actions. I will not give either impression to our pack.”
Both wolves looked down at her and she felt their admiration. She could not respond because her eyes were glued on her mate who was doing exactly what he promised. He had ripped Serghei’s other arm off and the wolf was no longer struggling, only screaming. Blood flowed from his body like a river and she knew he would be dead in a matter of moments. But her wolf was not done. He took Serghei’s head in his hands dragging his body up from the ground as if it weighed nothing. Then Vasile’s eyes met hers. His wolf stared back at her and she felt her wolf responding. She was in awe of their mate―in his ability, his power, and his confidence. He stood before them with his prey at his mercy and yet he was waiting for her approval. Alina looked at the man who had killed her parents, touched her in a way no man other than her mate had a right to, and even bitten her, stealing her blood and leaving her skin marred for life. She looked back up at Vasile and knew that whatever she chose he would concede. Even in his fury he kept control. She thought about the consequences of both―whether he tore Serghei’s head from his body or simply broke his neck. Some would find the latter as weak. The Canis lupis considered their females precious, and to touch the true mate of another was an action for which mercy was not given. Alina knew that in order to lead dominant males, in order to control their beasts, it was imperative that they have a healthy fear of their Alpha. That fear allowed them to keep their wolf in check, especially those without mates. It gave them security and peace, both of which were needed for a thriving pack. Decision made; she nodded.
No sooner had he ripped the wolf apart, Alina saw a glint of silver moving fast behind her mate. She screamed both through their bond and out loud for him to move but it was too late. Emilian had plunged a dagger deep into Vasile’s back.
Vasile heard Alina’s gut wrenching scream just before he felt the air rush out of him and the cold steel bite deep into his back. His wolf howled, enraged at the cowardly action of his enemy. Vasile could not have stopped his wolf from taking over at that point even if he had wanted to. He phased, jumping out of reach of his opponent at the same time, and though the knife was pushed out by his power, the wound was still bleeding and badly enough that it would take some time to heal.
As he lowered his body, his muzzle pulled back in a deadly snarl revealing canines over two inches in length, he met Emilian’s eyes. He too had phased to his wolf. He foolishly believed he had a chance now that he had injured the larger Alpha. Vasile knew better. Vasile flew at the cowardly wolf in a rage, running straight at the Alpha and plowing his head into his ribs. Emilain’s claws dug into the ground, attempting to stay upright so that he didn’t end up on side with his vulnerable soft stomach exposed. He managed to keep his feet and bent his head around to clamp his powerful jaws on Vasile’s shoulder. Vasile immediately dropped and rolled. The unexpected move caused Emilian to release him. They circled one another, now both fully aware of the other’s strength.
Vasile watched Emilian step slowly to the right, his ears pinned down tightly to his head and his fur puffed up to make him appear larger. He could tell that the traitor was weary and probably would not be able to fight much longer. And as Emilian lunged forward fast and hard, Vasile knew that the other Alpha’s plan was to attack as hard as he could moving with quick in-and-out motions in hopes that Vasile would somehow make a mistake. He dodged the snapped jaws and whipped around just in time to take Emilian’s claws on his flank instead of across his ribs. No sooner had Vasile lowered himself to the ground then the usurper was coming at him again. This time when Emilian lunged, Vasile was ready. With lightning quick speed, Vasile jumped under Emilian’s snapping jaws and clamped down on one of Emilian’s front legs with bone crushing strength. He released it just as quickly and jumped out of the reach of Emilian’s own muzzle. The traitorous Alpha stumbled as he tried to put weight on the broken leg and quickly pulled it back up. Vasile’s wolf sensed victory as his prey weakened. It was time he show Emilian why he was the rightful Alpha for the Eastern Romania pack. He drew on the power of the wolves who had sworn fealty to him―something only an Alpha with a loyal pack could do. It fueled his own magic and strength. Then he felt something he had never felt, his mate’s magic and power flowing into him. It was warmth and light and goodness. He imagined that if he could see inside of himself it would appear as if the sun was shining brightly, chasing away the darkness.
Emilian sensed the change and Vasile saw the cowardice in the other wolf’s eyes just before Emilian turned and started to run. He made it two steps before Vasile landed on him his back, crushing the other wolf’s spine. Emilian collapsed and Vasile latched onto his neck and in one smooth motion jumped off of him and turned him so his stomach was exposed. He met the wolf’s eyes and as soon as Emilian dropped his gaze, Vasile buried his teeth in his neck and ripped his throat open. He waited to see if his prey was indeed dead, and then he threw his head back and howled.
Alina fell to her knees along with every wolf present as her mate declared his victory over his enemy. The howl that he sang out into the silence called to each of them. They joined him in one accord as they sang together. As the howl died she watched Vasile turn in a slow circle regarding his pack as one by one they bared their necks in submission. Finally, he was in his rightful place. He was where he needed to be in order to help their species thrive, to become the mighty wolves that the Great Luna desired they be. He met her eyes last and she alone among all of those kneeling could hold his gaze.
“Come to me.” His voice was gravelly, the wolf still in control.
She obeyed, standing and walking through the crowd. As she walked she heard the murmured words of her pack as they addressed her, accepted her.
“Luna.” Over and over it was repeated until she reached Vasile’s side. He looked at her, and she saw the adoration burning in his eyes.
“You must address our pack now, Luna of Mine.”
She turned and looked out over them. Some she knew very well, others she had yet to meet, but for every single one of them she held love in her heart.
“Vasile has taken back what was his by right. He is our Alpha. I am his mate and his Luna. Today we vow this to you as your Alpha pair. Never again will you live in fear. Never again will you be unprotected. Those of you who are dominant, never again will you battle with your wolves. Your Alpha is strong enough to control the beast raging inside you. We are pack; we will love each other, support one another, sacrifice for those who need us, and we will stand united. Declare your fealty to your Alpha and let us once again thrive under his care.”
Vasile released them from his power and the howls and cheers were deafening as they rejoiced. From here they could begin to heal, to grow, and to face a future as a united pack with an Alpha ready and willing to do whatever was necessary to see them thrive.