His Defiant Warrior Luna

3.

"Begin" Alpha repeats a little louder, with the hint of a growl.

"Let them come to you" dad's voice whispers into my mind. A sentence he has repeated to me thousands of times.

I breathe deep, watching Weston's awkward movements as he slowly comes towards me.

I've seen Weston spar dozens of times. He's strong beyond measure, smart and great at not letting you go once he has you, but at least he's not fast.

Weston goes to grab me, but I quickly dodge, and when he attempts it for a second time, I add a kick to his ribs.

Wes pauses, taking a step back, giving himself time for a deep breath as his eyes connect with mine.

His eyes flash darker, Weston shakes his head as he fights Ryker for control. My steps falter as I watch the internal battle, some stupid part of me wanting to yield just to stop his torment.

"Weston" Alpha barks, gaining his son's attention and breaking whatever spell was coursing between us, "Continue".

Weston wastes no time, his movements now fluid as he makes a third move towards me.

This time there is no time, his hand grasps into my shoulder like a vice, turning me as he pulls so that my back slams against his chest, the wind rushing out from my lungs as his arm presses against my neck.

I can feel his warm breath tickle down my neck, my eyes closing on their own accord to record the moment.

"Yield" he orders quietly, almost a plea.

"No" I manage to reply through gritted teeth as I begin to struggle against him.

My efforts, however, are in vain as his arm only tightens around me. His deep growl now vibrating through me as his chest rumbles behind me "yield".

The world starts to spin, my vision going blurry as I again huff softly "No".

My eyes search the surrounding crowd, which seems to have grown, to find my dad, worried but still sure that I will find a way.

"Michaela don't make me hurt you" Weston groans, his arm now providing some slack.

With a burst of energy I raise my foot to slam into Weston's knee, once, twice, three times before his grip loosens. My elbow then aims high, catching his last rib, once, twice before his grip is loose enough for me to escape.

Once out, I waste no time swinging around to slam my entire weight into the back of Weston's knee. I am about to attempt another when he again grabs me, both arms now wrapping around my torso and raising me from the ground.

My forehead now resting against his chin as he whispers "Mish... please just... just this one time".

"Don't call me that" I growl, rearing back for my eyes to connect with his.

Weston's eyes go to his father before returning to mine "Michaela" he corrects ".... just once".

"No" I reply firmly, my hands pushing feebly against his chest.

Weston huffs out his annoyance before throwing me over his shoulder.

I know this move.

I know his arms are about to tighten around me like a vice.

I know all this except my mind is still at a blank of how to stop it.

I've seen him do this on others.

On grown men twice my size.... and yet I have never seen one escape.

"Okay.... okay" I whisper.... "I yield".

Weston takes a deep breath before lowering me gently to the ground,

"thank you Mish" he whispers.

"Don't call me that" I reply automatically before turning and bowing to the alpha, only to see the crowd around us still unmoving where they would usually be celebrating their young alphas victory.

Alpha's eyes tighten on me and do not leave mine as he calls "Pete".

One of the victors from earlier appears beside him, down in a deep bow as he answers "yes alpha".

"Spar" Alpha orders, but as I go to step out of the ring, Alpha corrects, "Spar with Michaela".

I stare back, trying to see the meaning behind his words but I'm distracted by Weston's outrage beside me "Dad she already yielded, there's nothing more to prove here! Can't you just let this go?!".

"Quiet!" his father growls viciously, and even though he fights it, Weston can not help but submit.

Weston may submit, but his feet don't move until his father's orders ring out, "Weston, take a seat beside me, Pete. In".

Weston follows the orders begrudgingly, but as Pete moves across the mat, Wes' shoulder bumps harshly into his causing Pete to gasp and then fall to his knees, holding his shoulder.

"Great" I whisper before moving to help Pete back to his feet, his shoulder definitely not looking right.

"Leave" Alpha says, pulling my attention back to him.

Weston's hands are now curled around the arms of his chair, his knuckles pressed white as he awaits his father's next words, not a glimpse of remorse on his features.

"Leave" Alpha repeats as he scans the crowd surrounding the mats, adding a warning growl for incentive.

My father comes to stand beside me as the wolves surrounding us scatter, Pete's friend aiding him to adhere to the order. I go to walk away too, but my father holds me in place.

Once only the four of us remain, Alpha looks to my father, to me and then back again before speaking to him directly.

"Quite a young lady your daughter has become".

Dad nods his agreement, his eyes still quizzical at what is running through his former best friend's mind.

"How long have you been training for?" Alpha asks as he looks back to me.

I'm still thinking of how to answer best when he answers himself.

"Ah" he says as he stands "I'm going to guess it was after your father's resignation, after you moved from the packhouse out into the outskirts.... after.... after your loss".

Alpha begins to pace back and forth along the stage as he continues "Yes, I'm going to guess your father, my former beta, began training you at first so he would never have to lose you too. The part I don't get is why enter the trials? Why not just keep your skills as your little secret to defend yourself?".

Alpha pauses his pacing for a moment, looking between our silent figures to find his answers.

"Because you are nearly of age" he says pointing to me as he finds his answer.

"And you.." Alpha says, his point going back to my dad "...didn't want to lose her that way either. Because you both concluded that as a warrior, Michaela would gain standing in the pack and would therefore not be transferred to another pack, even if she were mated. Of course, these same privileges are provided to the beta's daughter but..". He ends by giving dad a pointed look.

"Alpha", my father begins.

"Alpha!" Alpha says with a laugh "Alpha!!" he repeats as he stares down at my father "When did I stop being Weston and become Alpha to you, Henry? The day you resigned, or the day Misha died?".

"Don't" my father warns, his eyes connecting with our alpha with zero fear... zero hesitance.

"No Henry I will" Alpha says as he leaps down from the podium, walking swiftly towards my father.

"You trained your daughter Henry.... you trained her because... because you didn't trust us... trust ME!".

"No" dad says with no hesitation "after Misha I trust no one... not even myself".