The Wicked Alpha's Star-Crossed Luna

1.3 | GAMMA RAVI

Gamma Ravi idled by our platoon, his warm terra-cotta skin shining bronze in the early morning sun. His black hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, otherwise it would have brushed over his broad chest. He was the perfect specimen, the ultimate example of an excellent warrior and a fine gamma.

“We’re going to start with a little playful competition,” began Ravi. “Each platoon will be pitted against the other, but only one team will represent the entire platoon. This can be an existing team or one curated by your COs. Teams will consist of no more than four warriors and a single CO. Delta Connor will decide who your team fights, and from there you will have to work together to bring down your opponents. No firearms, only knives, your wits, and your beast forms are allowed. Last team standing, along with the platoon they represent, earns dinner with our special guests tonight from the capital.”

I fought to maintain composure at the mere sound of his voice--I couldn’t have my warriors witness their leader swooning over a man, no matter how delicious he looked in just gym shorts and a tight-fitting muscle-tank. His arms were crossed over his broad chest, and I wanted nothing more than to feel them hold me tightly against his body.

My cheeks flushed at my distracting thoughts. What the hell is wrong with me?

I know, right? Juliet teased me. It’s almost like you’re head over heels for him or something.

I bit back my remark and instead mulled over the terms of the games they presented. On the one hand, Carina, Callisto, Tara, and most likely Jacob would already be joining Ravi and I for dinner as usual, so we would all be with the delegates regardless. It seemed selfish to take that from another platoon whose warriors didn’t have that opportunity.

Juliet huffed. Don’t you dare think about throwing in the towel on behalf of your platoon! Thirty-plus of this pack’s finest warriors shouldn’t be denied the chance to dine with royalty just because a handful of you get to go even if you lose. You owe your wolves that much.

My eyes passed over my warriors; while they all remained in position, I could tell by the shine in their eyes that they all were eager to show the other platoons what they were made of. I was accustomed to the comments I overheard from the other lieutenants, how I was only promoted so quickly because my father was the alpha, and how I wasn’t worthy of leading my own section, let alone a platoon. I could only imagine how bad it was for the privates, who were undoubtedly being picked on for even being associated with me. I couldn’t rush in and defend them, though--not every time. That could only make it worse for them, and I needed my warriors to know that while I had their backs, they needed to be able to fend for themselves.

This is our chance to show the other platoons that we’re not some ‘nepo-baby’--we earned our rank, earned our seat at the table, Juliet puffed out her chest. Show those assholes how wrong they are… And show our people that we won’t ever just direct them into battle, but lead them to victory!

Despite her dramatic pep talk, Juliet and I had the exact same idea--and I knew just the team to help me pull it off.

“You have ten minutes to pick the team representing you,” Gamma Ravi interrupted my thoughts as he stormed past, his eyes darting throughout the throng of warriors. “Starting now!”

Then he offered me a single nod, causing my heart to skip a beat before he continued without pause.

“Sergeants!” I called out, returning my deadpan expression to my warriors. Callisto, Jacob, and Mina all jogged forward, meeting me at the front.

The training fields were alive with an energy that felt almost staticky, and I could tell I wasn’t the only one who could feel it. The other platoons broke formation easily, privates crowding around their commanding officers as they clamored for a chance on the representing team. My warriors hung back, still in formation, and I gave them the go ahead to take five.

“Alright, so who do you have in mind?” asked Mina, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

“Me, right?” Jacob grinned, his eyebrows wagging up and down. “Giving me a chance to finally prove myself to my old man?”

I rolled my eyes, but smiled all the same. “Delta Connor knows how great you are, Jake--you don’t need to prove yourself to him.”

Jacob was one of the best, the only one to have beaten me, Cal, Tara, and his own father, Delta Connor. Even so, he still felt like he had to prove himself. I’ve considered that it could be because deltas are chosen by the alpha, not by birthright, so Jacob might have felt like he had to work twice as hard to earn a role that would have to be bestowed on him by none other than the future alpha--me.

Boy, can I relate to that. Before I could break the news to them, Callisto cut me off.

“Nah, the princess is gonna go out there herself,” he revealed, grinning from ear to ear.

“He’s right,” I said, my tone resigned. “It’s the only way that I know to get the other platoons to leave all of us alone. They can’t say that I didn’t earn my rank if I show them all how good I really am.”

Jacob blew out a breath. “Damn, and only one CO per team… Then I think you should take Carina with you.”

If I were in wolf form, the scruff on the back of my neck might have bristled. “What?! Are you crazy? Not only is Cari only a reserve warrior, but if my parents find out that she took part in something like this, they will never let her do this again. And if they find out that I gave the order? Then they’ll make me eat s**t--literally. Probably.”

“Hear me out, Ren!” he insisted, using a nickname only he had for me. If it were anyone else calling me Ren, I probably would have knocked them on their ass, but he and I had a kinship since we both started our warrior training together. “Cari is a skilled warrior, great speed and agility, and on top of that she’s a healer--that’s something no other team has. You’d be an i***t not to put a specialist like her in play.”

I ignored his jab and scoffed, though I was already convinced. I just didn’t need him to know it. “She’s not a specialist.”

“Only because she’s technically not enlisted,” he pointed out. He’s got me there.

I nodded. “... Okay. Me, Cari--who else did you guys have in mind? Think of the best of the best in your sections.”

“Chan-Yeol kicks major ass in mine,” Callisto offered. “He’s light on his feet and his level of patience is beyond scary. He just has a way of getting into his opponent’s heads and predicting their moves. It’s fascinating.”

“He’s on the team,” I approved without argument. Even I had to admit that he was an asset, even though he was a fox.

Chan-Yeol’s family moved here from the fox kingdom five or so years ago, so we did not have long to get to know him, but he seemed to be just as diligent and hardworking as any wolf, even though most treated him like an outcast. We invited him to outings and get-togethers often, though it was rare for him to accept. Carina was worried that he thought we only invited him out of some sick sense of entertainment--”let the outsider join in and maybe we can make him do things,” or something to that effect. None of us had even a semblance of a thought in that regard, though, so I assured her that Chan-Yeol was probably just a loner before he even moved here.

“My vote's on Tara,” Mina chimed in. “I know that people are going to try to say that she rides on your and Ravi’s coattails, but we all know that that’s not the case. Not to mention that we don’t have a lot of female warriors to begin with. Let the girl represent!”

Her words had me grinning. “Tara’s on the team. That’s four--I need at least one more.”

“Dare I make another radical suggestion?” asked Jacob, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Let’s add another guy, balance things out. Someone no one will expect.”

"Who?"