Chapter 3

Elara Vance POV:

I stared at Kael Sterling, his offer hanging in the cold morning air between us. To my left was Blackwood, a territory of lies and heartbreak. To my right was the unknown, an enemy pack led by an Alpha whose reputation was as fierce as the winter storms that swept through his lands.

There was no choice. Not really.

Without a word, I took a step forward, my boot splashing into the icy creek. I walked through the shallow, rushing water, the cold seeping into my leather boots, and emerged on the other side. On Sterling land.

I had accepted.

Kael gave a curt nod of approval. He didn't press for details or ask for my story. He simply turned, his broad back a silent invitation to follow. There was a quiet confidence in his stride that was strangely reassuring.

As we moved deeper into his territory, the very feel of the forest changed. The air was crisper, the woods wilder, less tamed than Blackwood's manicured forests. It felt more real, more primal.

The Sterling Packhouse came into view, and it was nothing like the ancient, stone fortress I had left behind. This was a modern structure of dark wood, steel, and vast panes of glass that reflected the surrounding wilderness. It was a statement of strength, not of age.

My arrival did not go unnoticed. As Kael led me across the wide training grounds in front of the main building, Sterling warriors stopped what they were doing, their eyes locking onto me. They smelled Blackwood on me, a scent as offensive to them as theirs was to my former pack.

A wall of muscle and suspicion blocked our path. A tall, powerfully built warrior with a shock of red hair stepped forward, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes were hard. "Alpha," he said, his voice a low growl. "Who is this?"

"Gavin," Kael said calmly, his voice never rising. "This is Elara. She wishes to join us."

Gavin let out a short, harsh laugh. "Join us? She reeks of Blackwood. How do we know she isn't one of Zane's spies?"

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the assembled warriors. Their hostility was a palpable force, pressing in on me from all sides. They were right to be suspicious. This was the reality of defecting to an enemy.

I had expected this. I met Gavin's hostile gaze without flinching. Lyra was coiled tight inside me, ready for a fight, but I kept her leashed.

Kael didn't use his authority to silence them. Instead, he turned his amber eyes to me. "In the Sterling Pack, respect is earned, not given. Are you prepared to earn it?"

"I am," I said, my voice quiet but firm.

A grim smile touched Kael's lips. He raised his voice so all could hear. "Then we follow the old ways. A trial by combat. Elara will face my lead warrior, Gavin. If she wins, her place is here."

Gavin's face split into a cruel grin. He cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. He clearly saw an easy victory, a chance to make an example of the Blackwood stray.

I shrugged off my light jacket-the same one I had been wearing when I left Blackwood-leaving me in a simple, sleeveless tunic that allowed for easy movement.

. For seven years, many in Blackwood had seen me as little more than Zane's companion, a future Luna to be protected. They'd forgotten that before him, I was a fighter. They'd forgotten that I was the one who trained the pack's new recruits, that I knew how to fight smarter, not just harder.

Zane had forgotten.

Gavin didn't waste any time. He charged, a roaring bull of a man, his fists raised to pummel me into the dirt. I didn't try to meet his charge head-on; that would be suicide. Instead, I sidestepped at the last second, his momentum carrying him past me.

He was strong, but he was slow. And he was arrogant.

I stayed light on my feet, evading his powerful but clumsy swings. I used his own size against him, weaving and dodging, landing quick, sharp kicks to the back of his knees and jabs to his ribs. They weren't knockout blows, but they were irritating, designed to throw him off balance and fuel his frustration.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Kael watching, his expression unreadable but his focus intense. He wasn't watching a brawl; he was analyzing my strategy.

Gavin roared in frustration, his attacks growing wilder. He overextended, leaving himself open for a split second. That was all I needed.

I dropped low, sweeping his legs out from under him with a powerful, spinning kick. As he crashed to the ground, the air rushing from his lungs, I didn't hesitate. I was on him in an instant, my knee pressing into his back and the edge of my forearm pressed firmly against the side of his neck, right over the carotid artery. He was immobilized.

The entire training ground was silent. The Sterling warriors stared, their mouths agape, at their fallen champion and the lone she-wolf who had taken him down without receiving a single scratch.

I released the pressure and stood up, brushing the dust from my pants. I looked directly at Kael. "I've won."

A slow, genuine smile spread across his face, and his amber eyes shone with undisguised admiration. He began to clap, a slow, steady rhythm. One by one, his warriors joined in, their initial hostility replaced by a grudging, then genuine, respect.

Kael stepped forward, his voice ringing out across the training ground.

"Welcome, Elara Vance. From this day forward, you are a member of the Sterling Pack."