Filed to story: When The Moon Hides Crown
The arena buzzed to life as Alphas spread out across the training ground. I stepped onto the dirt-packed center and cracked my knuckles. Across from me, my opponent-a cocky Alpha from the West pack-flexed his neck like he was already celebrating.
His mistake.
A loud horn blew, signaling the start of the first round.He lunged. Sloppy. Predictable.
I dodged his fist, twisted behind him, and drove my elbow into his spine. He staggered, then I swept his legs out from beneath him and pinned him to the ground in one fluid motion. A gasp rippled through the crowd.
“Winner: Alpha Seth Darven!” the instructor shouted.
I stood and dusted off my hands, breathing evenly.
As I made my way back to the line, I felt them.
Eyes.
I didn’t need to look to know who they belonged to.
Dante.
He stood in the shade, arms crossed, his gaze burning a hole through my skull. Cold. Curious. Possessive.
But for some reason my eyes went to another figure just behind the railing, Ronan.
His eyes weren’t cold. They were sharp. Focused.
Watching me like I was something dangerous… or something…
1 swallowed hard and turned away.
“Hey!” Finn’s voice rang out as he jogged toward me, a grin splitting his face. “We won at almost at the same time.”
I laughed, bumping his shoulder. “Of course you did. You’re secretly terrifying.” I had seen the silent and shy type Finn portrayed for who he really was. He was actually incredibly strong and powerful.
“Shh. Let them keep underestimating me,” he winked. I laughed only tofeel a pair of cold eyes drilling a hole in the side of my face. I followed that feeling and found Ronan glaring at me.
“What’s his deal?” I said in my mind. “Is he crazy?”
Phina frowned as well, “Yeah, what crazy mood swings this Alpha is having as if we have done him wrong in some way?!”
Ignoring him, I stood side by side with Finn on the winner’s side, sharing a moment of quiet pride before the second round was called.
Finn said, “I’m gonna hit the men’s room before the next match.”
“Be quick,” I said.
He quickly jogged off.
I stood alone for a while, watching others still locked in combat. Time passed. My nerves began to settle again. But as the second round contestants were being called… Finn didn’t return.
I glanced toward the dorm building. No sign of him.
“Alpha Seth Darven,” soon my name was called.
I stepped forward and my opponent was a crazy Alpha with insane physical strength and height! He was close to seven feet tall. When facing that kind of opponent, we needed a brain to defeat them as it was not a real life and death fight. So I finished it by catching him off guard and slamming his head against the ground. He was knocked out and I won.
I stepped out of the ring catching my breath when-
“Alpha Finn Hart, to the arena!” the instructor called.
Heads turned.
My pulse stuttered. He was still gone.I scanned the crowd. Nothing.
Five seconds passed. Ten. Still no Finn.
A quiet warning crept into my thoughts. Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The second round was already underway.
More and more victors were returning to the winners’ side, bloodied and breathless, while Finn’s name still echoed unanswered across the combat ground.
The Alpha instructor’s jaw ticked as he crossed his arms, scanning the group. His patience was unraveling fast.
“Alpha Finn Hart,” he called again, louder this time, voice sharp with authority. “Final warning.”
My chest tightened.
Where the hell was he?
I didn’t even think. I sprinted forward, pushing through the crowd and toward the instructor before logic could stop me.
“Alpha!” I called, breathless as I reached him.
His eyes narrowed on me, expression unreadable. “Yes?”
I forced calm into my voice. “Finn… he’s not skipping. His stomach, he’s got a stomach ache. Something he ate earlier. But he’ll be back. He just needs a moment.”
The instructor raised a skeptical brow. “Convenient.”
“I swear it’s not an excuse. He’s not the type to back out. He’s probably doubled over in pain somewhere.”A beat passed
Then, with a reluctant grunt, he nodded. “Fine, but listen closely.”
I stilled.
“From this moment on, he’ll face whoever is left standing. That means the stronger the opponents, the worse it’ll be for him. If he delays too long, he’ll be up against the best.”.
1 nodded quickly. “Understood. Thank you.”
He waved me off without another word, turning his attention to the next bout.
I backed away and returned to the winners’ line, anxiety buzzing in my bloodstream. I scanned the area, still no sign of Finn.