Chapter 4 4. CHAPTER THREE

Twenty-five wolf years later, Luna Ivory ruled the Blood-Moon pack in the stead of her only brother, Alpha Ripp. It was unconventional, but has become the way it worked for the good of the pack.

Ivory enjoyed being the Luna and has been at it for twenty-five years. Shortly after her mother, Luna Sheryl went recluse because of Alpha Arch's death, she'd stepped up in her duties.

These obligations hadn't been fun at first. She had just been sixteen at the time, weak and hurt with no-one to give her moral support. But, when she'd clocked twenty, and met her mate at one of her vacation up at Carli-City, her life had remotely transformed. The weak girl she'd been melted into the surface, and her strength had pushed forward like a hurricane, stunning her and her people.

Now, she was nothing but a force! With that mindset, she walked into the war-court in widely cut-out martial pants and a small crop top, that highlighted her toned stomach, and flat breasts. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, letting her dark hair, roll down her back in reckless abandon.

Luna Ivory could make out the frail features of her brothers as he sat away from the young wolves, holding a black scroll. The man loved to read. It was rumoured that he had taken after their father in being a bookworm. But, still, reading was not all it took to be an Alpha. You needed to learn how to defend yourself in battle and fight for your people.

That was where she would step in. She had to train this kid, so when he found his mate, he wouldn't be useless. She couldn't allow him keep being a laughing stock. It hurt her more than it hurt him. She knew this, because he wasn't putting in efforts.

She walked in the middle of the troop, blowing the whistle that hung on her slender neck. The teens and young adults quickly stalled the conversations and practices, looking up to her. They bowed low as they caught whiff of her scent. Out of her mind eye, she noted that her brother took his precious time, bowing to her. He was so naughty and absentminded half the time.

She let the whistle fall back on her chest, then placed her hands on her hips. That one move screaming authority. "It's Friday! We can't help but gather here to train. It's a fight for our safety, as well as our pack. We can't wait until we're harassed to train. We start early!" She addressed them. "Today, the weakest of the pack would be squared with the strongest. Let me see how well you've learnt your moves." She said easily.

A cacophony of sounds broke out, as all the wolves pointed at Alpha Ripp as the weakest, and battled amongst themselves about who was the strongest within them. No-one wanted to submit to the other.

Luna Ivory smiled as she looked at them. She knew who she wanted to pair her brother with. It was her beta, Craig's daughter. He'd naturally pledged his alliance to her after the death of her father. His daughter, Tania, was one of the strongest youths in the Blood-Moon pack. She was the right fit for her brother and could teach him some moves.

"That's enough!" She rang out. "Your indecisiveness is going to make me choose myself. Now, the weakest wolf, Alpha Ripp and the strongest wolf, Tania Harvester would square off right now! Step forward now!" She said with her inner wolf authority.

They all submitted themselves to her, bowing down quickly. The two wolves called ran to the centre of the field. Tania was openly ridiculing Alpha Ripp as was the norm in such settings, while Alpha Ripp cowered, looking at everywhere but his sister's and Tania's face.

"This is going to be fun! Now, you're fighting in your human forms. As you know, Alpha Ripp hasn't turned yet, so we will make do with this." She said sternly.

A coupled of boos shot out. Then, Luna Ivory whistled once more, bringing normalcy to the field. She hoped her brother had learnt a thing or two about fighting. If he hasn't, it may spell a tough fight for him.

"You may start!" She announced,

Tania circled Ripp, trying to gauge his move. But, there was no moves. Instead, he shrieked from her in fear. She stuck her leg out knocking him down on his butt. A mirage of laughter shot out from the spectators.

Tania pulled him back to his feet, annoyed that she had to fight with such a weak man. Absent-minded, she was taken aback when Ripp threw a weak punch on her lips. That made her see red, and she lounged at him, hitting him across the face and shoulder-blades. He barely resisted, simply Pulling his hands as a cross across his face. She kicked him again, stronger this time.

Ripp cried out in fright, but Tania wouldn't stop. Instead, she jumped on him, hitting him fiercely and spitting out curses while the rest of the wolves cheered her on.

"Cut it out!" Luna Ivory yelled.

Tania resisted, hitting Ripp more on his collarbone. The laugher had died off by now, at the rage that was spewing of Luna Ivory in waves. She walked over to Tania, gripping her by the neck and tossing her aside like she was a rag doll.

Tania snuggled to get to her feet, her eyes moving from amber to black pretty fast. Her head was bowed low and she realised then that she had disobeyed her Luna.

"When I give orders, I expect that you obey them! That's one of the core aspects of your training! If you don't, the enemies would surely take advantage of your disobedience." Luna Ivory yelled once more.

"Yes, Luna," Tania said softly.

"That's all right. Beta Craig would take over now for the time being. Go to work!" She barked.

The wolves reluctantly shifted their eyes from their Luna and Alpha Ripp, focusing on Beta Craig, who was already spitting out orders in quick succession.

"Don't touch me," Alpha Ripp screamed at his sister.

She sighed as she touched his bruise. He healed worse than the omegas. It would take him 3 hours for his bruise to be healed completely and that broke her heart. Worse, his screaming was likened to a child's. It didn't scare anyone.

"Ripp! Don't act like a child. Let's go inside, we would talk better there. Everyone is paying attention to you," She scolded softly.

He looked at her, his eyes beading in pain. "Why are you acting like you care? It must make you happy that they are all here watching a weak man! If you cared so much, you wouldn't have allowed Tania to hit me!" He wailed.

She pinched him through his jean. Her nose flared wildly, not in anger, but pain. If only their father had controlled himself and his mouth, all these wouldn't be happening.

"If you don't train, how would you be strong? Why don't you remember any tactics and tricks I've thought you? Fighting is not just about strength, its about mental resistance and how well you can knock your opponent off. If you paid attention, you wouldn't be so weak." She said softly.

Alpha Ripp threw her hands off, rising clumsily to his feet. "Oh, Moon goddess! I'm tired of all your lies, dear Luna! You do not care about me, and please don't blame me for not being able to fight! We both know how that came about. If you cared about me, you wouldn't call me Alpha in front of everyone. You wouldn't pair me up with that witch! No, you don't care!" He shouted angrily.

He turned and fled from the court, into the thick of the forest. He couldn't turn into a wolf yet, but he had the mannerisms of one, and that made it easier for him to run into the deep of the forest.

Behind him, Luna Ivory sighed in frustration as she called out his name. It was no use for whoever didn't want to listen wouldn't. She only prayed that his sense would come back to him in time. He needed to learn to be a man for how long would she be able to protect him?