Heart of the Moon

Kieran’s POV ~

I was shocked. Calista had no sooner accused me of being naive, that five women stepped out from the center of the pack. Amaris shouted “We challenge you! You are no different than us! We have the right to be Luna, too!”

Calista laughed and said “By challenging me.. you realize that I choose the method.. the form.. and the order, in which I fight you! Are you also aware that, should you lose, it is MY choice what happens to you? And, did you know.. that even if you won, it is still Alpha’s choice.. whether he accepts you, or not. He can choose to do with you what he wants. That is in the werewolf by-laws.. He can accept you won the challenge.. then give you to the warriors as a pack slut. You were aware of all that, when you challenged me, right!?”

I saw the women whispering amongst each other.. and I thought they would back away from the challenge. Nope! Still naive, I reckon!

Amaris smirks and says “We still challenge you!” Calista looks at me and then, back at the crowd.. “Well.. White Satin.. today is the day you learn what your Luna is made of. After today.. and heed my words.. the next person to lay a hand on one of my sons will die.. no questions asked! After today, there will be no more challenges for my title.. I will simply kill you! Every single one of you have wanted to play hardball since I set foot in this territory. All I can say is careful what you wish for!”

She jumps off the platform to go inside.. I presume to change clothes, but I’m not saying for sure. I’m still naive! I look out at my pack.. looking each one in the eye.. and told them “I have always put you first. Always protected, provided, and defended you. Right down to being willing to reject my Goddess given mate because I mistakenly believed a mate would weaken me.. weaken us, as a pack. But! In accepting her.. in choosing my true mate, I find myself disappointed in each and every one of you! I am ashamed of what I have done with the she-wolves in this pack.. I am More ashamed of how my pack treated my mate and my sons! You are dismissed for one hour! Then you are to have your asses on the bleachers, in the arena! You will all bear witness to the humiliation of our pack!”

I hopped down and went in search of my mate and children.. I found them all in Calista’s room. She was braiding her hair tightly.. and wrapped it in a bun. The boys were using her bed as a trampoline.. both singing “Mommy’s gonna whup some ass” Over and over. Calista said “Butts, boys! You can say butt! Not ass!” They both fell down on the bed laughing like she just said the funniest thing in the world.

I looked over at her, and she grins “Yeah.. I know! It’s a game they play. They can’t say big boy words.. so I give them alternative words to use. They find it hysterical. Like shit.. they are allowed to say shishkabob.. which, in itself is funny. They struggle with it. For fuck.. they are allowed fudge.. or fork. Bitch is slag.. and so on. We have made it a game.”

I pulled her into my arms and said “I am so sorry. I wish I could go back and change what I did. I don’t deserve you.. but I promise to strive every day to be worthy!” She sighed and responded “Listen, Kieran.. I am in the process of forgiving you. I will never throw the other women in your face.. I am certainly not going to make you pay for the rest of your life. I will also not allow those bitches think they run the show!” And the boys yelled “Slags!” I couldn’t help it.. I had to laugh when Calista rolled her eyes!

We walked to the arena.. each with a toddler in our arms.. they both started yelling for Cole, as soon as we walked in. I kissed Calista’s forehead.. asking “Do you want me to address the pack, and announce the challenges?” Shaking her head, she jumped the ropes of the ring and landed square in the middle.

She loudly says “The challenges are one on one.. no wolfing out.. no weapons. No tag teaming me.. you won’t like how that ends.. The fight is to submission.. If you shift your hands to claws, I will kill you. If you pull a weapon.. I will kill you! If you tag team.. I will kill whoever is involved. Remember.. White Satin… I did not ask for this. Nor do I want it! I call Lydia as my first challenger.. That is only because she thought it was her right to hit my son with a hot spatula!”

I watched all five of the girls.. they were whispering and nodding. Seems like they worked out a plan.. not good! I stepped up to Calista and said “Be careful, baby. They seem to think they have a plan” She laughed and whispered “Of course, they do! They plan on all of them rushing me, as soon as my back is turned. More’s the pity. I didn’t want to kill anyone today!”

She turned back, just as Lydia stepped into the ring. Calista deliberately kept her back to the other four.. she was lulling them into a false sense of security. Lydia faked a left and Calista countered.. knocking her out in one hit. She spun on the little group and said “Bring it! You planned on bum rushing me. Let’s not waste any more time!”

All four of them jumped into the ring, and I got nervous. I haven’t really seen Calista spar.. the fight at Alec’s was over too quickly. I linked Axel to be ready to step in.. we are not losing our Luna!

Calista backed up a few steps and kept her eyes on Amaris. My smart girl.. she knows to always watch the group leader. Amaris shot her eyes to her left, signaling to the girl farthest away from her. Calista never deviated.. as soon as the girl lunged, Calista throat punched her. She sprung in the air and landed behind Amaris.. saying “When you tag teamed me.. you signed your own death warrant” as she snapped her neck.

She looked at the three left standing and said “Your choice.. Your funeral!” They all three knelt on one knee. She loudly asked “Do you submit?” They collectively said “Yes, Luna!” She shook her head and asked “Why? Why would you force me to do this? Alpha is not your mate.. why would you try to take something not yours? What is wrong with this pack? You should all be ashamed!”

She jumped out of the ring and came straight to me. I wrapped my arms around her.. and then I felt it.. The dampness of her tears. My poor little healer is heartbroken. And I am pissed!

I linked Axel to come hold his Luna.. once he had her, I stepped up into the ring. I addressed the pack… trying desperately not to let Onyx out.. he was clawing at my brain.

“White Satin.. today, you have disappointed me greatly! A little something you need to know about my Luna. She is the most powerful healer to have been seen in a century! Our pack will be blessed to have her! As a healer, it goes against her very nature to cause harm to another living being. Yet, today, this pack.. MY pack.. forced her to do exactly that. Now her heart is broken and she is in tears. She is struggling to forgive me, for the grief I caused her. After today, I know how she feels. I, myself, am struggling to forgive you! The five women who challenged my Luna are no longer part of my pack! Amaris is to be buried in Pauper’s Cemetery in town. The other four of you.. have one hour! Say your goodbyes and get gone! If you are still here in an hour.. you are rogue! And subject to death!”

I jumped out of the ring, just as a man yelled out “All due respect, Alpha.. that’s a little harsh.” I turned and faced him “Ah! Tom, is it? You think it’s a little harsh? Attacking my mate four on one.. That’s harsh! Hitting babies.. That’s harsh! Things are going to change. Either you… as a pack.. change with them.. or you leave! My mate and my sons will NEVER be disrespected again! What’s it going to be, Tom? Stand down.. Challenge Me.. or be banished. Ain’t nothing standing in your way, but air and opportunity! Make your choice!” He sat back down!