Calliope's Wolf - Book 1
Chapter 4

A warm morning greeted the games day of the Moon Festival. Today would be a show of strength and skill. The strongest wolves from each pack will compete throughout the day, eagerly trying to be the top wolf. Some do this for prestige in their packs: like an omega who wants more respect and honor. Others do it for the thrill, for the adrenaline. But a few do this to get seen by the Great Alpha.

After many years of being mateless, some she-wolves believe that the Great Alpha can choose his own mate; that he is looking for a wolf as strong as he is. But others just want to join the Royal Moon pack; it was an honor to be asked to join. Typically, those who join are mates to someone born into the pack, but to join the pack based on one's strength? It was a gift indeed.

Calliope sat in Nova's tent, watching her teacher as she prepared to join the games. Nova was giddy with excitement, her hands trembling as she braided her hair. For the first time in her life, she was able to compete. There was a rule that those in the Royal Moon pack couldn't participate in the games. They were needed as judges, border patrol, and peacekeepers. But it would also be considered an unfair fight since the warriors of the Royal Moon pack were considered the strongest of all wolves.

"Why do you want to fight?" Calliope inquired curiously.

"I like to show off," Nova admitted with a sly smile. "But you can only show off so much in the Royal Moon pack. It's the same people, the same ranks, the same training, the same strength. Out there in the arena, though, it'll be all new people. I can see if I need to improve my training or change my fighting style altogether. Plus, I need to get better to make sure I train you well, Little Luna."

"When do I get to learn to fight?" Calliope questioned, intrigued at the prospect of fighting.

"Not until you're older, Little Luna," Nova chuckled as she knelt in front of Calliope. "You still have some growing to do."

Calliope pretended to pout, but when she looked at Nova, she couldn't help but smile.

"Little Luna," Nova stated seriously. "I cannot ask you in public, so I ask you now: may I have your blessing for the fights? Even if I fail, I'll know I did well because of you."

Calliope thought to herself for a moment. How does she give a blessing? As she wondered, she felt her arms begin to twitch. Calliope looked down at her hands, watching as her fingers flexed on their own. Everything suddenly felt warm and familiar, but everything that was happening was all brand new.

Take her hands. Was it her voice she heard? Her wolf's? Calliope didn't know but did as she was instructed, scooping up Nova's hands into her own. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Calliope could feel a warm, tingling sensation passing from her hands to Nova's as she exhaled. When everything stopped, she opened her eyes, her mouth curling upwards into a smile. She did it! Or... she did something. She looked at Nova and noticed a tear falling down her cheek.

"Why are you crying?" Calliope inquired as she wiped the droplet away.

"You are just something to behold, Great Luna," Nova responded, choking back tears.

"You called me Great Luna?"

"Your power, no, your presence is overwhelming for me," Nova sniffled as she smiled. As Calliope reached out, stroking her teacher's cheek, a horn blew outside.

"We'd better get going," Calliope stated as she stood. "You can't be late for your first competition."

Nova nodded and led the way out of the tent. Wyatt and a few other warriors from their pack were waiting by the front of their little tent city. The Alpha was giving everyone instructions and words of encouragement.

"Are you ready?" He questioned as Nova and Calliope approached.

"I am, Alpha."

"Good. You and the others head to the arena to be assigned to your groups. We will be cheering you on."

Two young warriors howled loudly, showing excitement for what was to come. Nova gently squeezed Calliope's shoulder before she went off with the others.

"We should get some breakfast in you before we go to the arena," Wyatt insisted as he led his daughter back to their tent.

The warriors from the various packs were split into groups in the arena. First, they were separated by gender; then, they were divided into groups by age. Once all the groups were assembled, the games were set to begin. The first part involved hand-to-hand combat. The top two scoring individuals from each group then proceeded to the second part, weapons combat. Those who were crowned the top wolf needed to be skilled in all aspects of combat, not just fighting in their wolf form. It showed an ability to learn more than one fighting style; it showed discipline.

The weapons combat included fighting with short swords, halberds, and other weapons. All dulled down, of course, and all made from impure metals. The goal was not to cause severe harm to your opponents. However, striking and causing blood to spill did add to one's scoring. At the end of part two, only one individual from each group remained. The final stage of the games would finally take place in the evening. This is when the eight remaining people would fight in their wolf form—the four women against each other and then the four men against each other.

Theo finally appeared before the start of the third round. He stood on a platform at the front of the arena, surveying the crowds as they cheered for him. After a moment, he walked to the end of the stone platform and raised his hands for silence from the crowds.

"Welcome everyone to the final part of the games at the Moon Festival!" He shouted, causing the crowd to cheer with excitement.

"Congratulations to the eight who remain in the games. Your packs should be proud of all that you have accomplished today!" Theo stated as he addressed the competitors. "This final round will be you in your wolf forms fighting until all others have submitted. These fights shouldn't be to the death, so know when to show strength and when to show restraint. That is an important quality that every top wolf should have."

The competitors nodded as Theo talked, taking in his words and listening intently.

"I am sorry, ladies, but your fights are over once your winner is declared," Theo continued as he gave a quick glance at where Calliope sat. "Until I have a mate up here with me, there shall be no Great Luna challenge. But, for the men, once you have a victor, you shall have the right to challenge me! A fight to the death! Or... until one submits."

Laughter came from the crowd at his words. Theo, in all of his years, has never killed a competitor. Neither had his father before him. Every wolf knows when to submit, but Theo also knows when to let up, allowing them to be beaten, but not severely so. Only their pride would be wounded, but only temporarily.

"Ladies, shift! Let the fights begin!" Theo commanded before he took his seat.

He looked down at the arena as the ladies shifted. His eyes quickly found the dark red wolf near the back of the arena. She hid in the shadows purposefully - Nova. He frowned at the sight of his niece. Theo knew she was strong, but... he could tell that something was different.

He watched as she quickly overpowered a grey wolf, the oldest of the women competitors. The grey wolf submitted within a minute of their fight, unable to continue on. Nova then turned her sights to the other two wolves fighting: the youngest and the second oldest wolves. The youngest wolf was quick but not methodical in her movements. The other wolf, a tan wolf, pinned the youngest she-wolf until she submitted.

Nova growled and ran at the tan wolf. This woman was strong, but Nova knew she was stronger. She tried to pin the tan wolf, but each time, the other wolf was able to get out from under Nova. The she-wolf roughly rammed Nova in her side, causing her to fall over.

"Submit!" It was Theo; he had mind-linked Nova. It wasn't a request but a command, and she couldn't go against him. Rather than get up, like she tried to do, she laid there, submitting to the other wolf.

"What did you do?" Theo demanded her over mind link.

"I asked for the Great Luna's blessing," Nova answered him as she remained on the ground.

Theo sat back in his seat, shocked by her response. Did Calliope use her gifts on purpose? This would be the first time, and it was a surprise that it was a blessing, not one of the gifts they were trying to focus on. As Theo thought to himself, the tan wolf shifted, and Owen declared her the victor—the female top wolf. The crowd cheered with excitement as the other female competitors entered the stands and returned to their packs.

Nova returned to the Riverbed pack, taken aback to replace them cheering for her. She may not have won, but they were proud of her nonetheless. Nova smiled sheepishly as she sat in the back of their group. Asher moved up to sit with her, and they began to speak quietly.

Meanwhile, Theo congratulated the female victor. She was a strong wolf, and had Nova not been in the fights, she would have probably won on her own anyway. When the female victor returned to her pack, the men came out. The crowd had been loud with the first fight, but now their cheers were thunderous. The men shifted and paired up for their first fights. It took under two minutes for the last two men left standing to fight each other. And within 5 minutes of the men fighting a top wolf was declared. He was the youngest of the men, barely nineteen. The crowd was fired up as he paraded around the arena. He shifted into his human form and looked at Theo.

"I, Mason of the Crystal pack, challenge you, the Great Alpha, to a battle of the death!"

The ceremonial words of the challenge. Theo smiled, his wolf eager to be free - to fight. The Great Alpha jumped from the platform and landed in his wolf form in the arena. Challenge accepted.

The younger wolf laughed and shifted back into his dark brown wolf. The two circled each other in the arena. Calliope wiggled in her seat, trying to fight back the anxiety that she felt from her wolf. Evelyn took her hand, trying her best to ease her discomfort.

"I can't watch," the girl whispered to Evelyn. "I need to leave."

Evelyn nodded. "Calliope is tired and needs rest," she said aloud to Wyatt and anyone nearby who might have been listening.

It wasn't as if she was doing anything unusual; it was getting dark, and Calliope was only six. These were her first games, after all. So Evelyn took her back to their little tent city away from the arena. She fed her a quick dinner and tucked her daughter into bed. It did not take long before Calliope fell asleep. But she didn't stay asleep long. She awoke some hours later, her wolf stirring within her soul. It was quiet outside, but she could smell Theo. He was approaching them.

Calliope quietly walked by her sleeping parents and stepped out of their tent. Nova was sitting outside, sitting by the fire as she played with a dagger. Calliope put her finger to her lips. A silent command; Nova nodded, understanding the message. The little girl walked a few minutes away from her little tent city, far away from the others. Theo stood by a small patch of trees, waiting on her. Calliope walked up to him, embracing him tightly. He knelt to get on her level and hugged her back.

"I brought this back to you," he whispered as he offered the stuffed wolf to her.

Calliope took it from him and sniffled it. She was happy with the scent, but her heart was still hurting from the games. "I'm sorry I left before your fight. I knew I couldn't watch."

"I'm glad you knew your limits. That was very smart of you," Theo assured with encouraging words. "But I know you did something else today. I know you used a gift."

Calliope nodded with a wide smile. "I heard a voice, and I did what it said."

"A voice?" Theo inquired curiously. "Interesting... Make sure you let Nova and Asher know. Now, I need to return to the palace. I don't think I'll see you again until the next Moon Festival. Behave, little wolf."

"You behave, too," Calliope scoffed as she rolled her eyes. Before heading back to her pack, she took one last look at Theo. He looked so stoic, and his face was soft as he watched her. With one final wave, she hurried back toward her family. Theo stood frozen in place, not daring to move until she was out of sight. With a heavy sigh, he returned to the palace.

A voice...how curious