The Last Royal Luna
(Book 3) – Chapter 23

“Come on, Dad! There has to be a rule or law or loophole making it so we can fight the challengers instead of her,” Knox stressed as his father, Jared, closed yet another book without replaceing anything in it. “It’s a challenger a day for the past week and a half. Her and Blue are worn out.”

I really was but I hated knowing that my mates noticed how wore down I actually was. I wondered why they let me sleep in the last few days and fed me extra protein each meal. Blue had a bit of a b***d l**t thing going on but every time I brought it up she denied it. Sometimes she would just growl before blocking me out. That made me a b it worried so hopefully we can replace a way to quit killing so many wolves.

“Dad, have you looked through all the books or just the ones you had on hand?” Kane asked pressing his phone to his ear. “A few of my friends parents and grandparents have some books that might help. They are going to look through them. Also, Ryder’s witch mom had two or three and is going through them now.” He looked hopeful and I prayed his hope wouldn’t be shattered.

The door slammed open and in came my parents with my sisters trailing behind. They all looked so excited, and it gave new life to my hope. Oh, please goddess let this be a way to get a break and stop killing your wolves.

“I found something…well two somethings!” She dropped a huge slightly tattered book on the table. “This was in your father’s family for years and I forgot I had borrowed it before they lost their lives.”

She carefully opened the book and in the middle of the page she turned to was some of the smaller writing I had ever seen. I leaned it to read it but co0ldnt make it out. I looked at my mom and nudged her toward the text.

“Oh, sorry. I used a spell to help me read it,” She giggled before saying a quick spell to make the text bigger. “If there are back-to-back challenges spanning of the span of weeks than that wolf can appoint another to test the challenger, the chosen royal warrior.

There is no fight to the death but to test the strength, cunning, and wits of said challenger. If they pass, then a fight with the royal for their position will follow the next day unless the one who just won the fight wants to fight that same day.”

Huh, so I can chose something to take on these guys to test if they are even worth me fighting. That would of probably saved me several fights. A few of the wolves were so weak it took a leap and bite to break their neck.

“How do we decide if they won or if they aren’t up to par?” Koda asked pulling me into his lap. I let out a sigh of comfort and relief.

“I am still finishing up this book. It takes a bit of time since the writing is horrible,” My mother stated as she took up a spot at the table and began reading. “For now we can hold any other power hungry Alpha’s at bay. Ryder, you need to choose your warrior. It can’t be your mates.”

Everyone looked at me and boy did the pressure get added to my already heavy shoulders. It can’t be my mates and I sure as s**t was going to chose another leader. Maybe I should take a closer look at the training and ask about some of the tougher warriors.

“How about Alistair?” Asher asked instantly knowing it was the wrong thing to ask by the sight of my scowl.

“Bro, that was a stupid question. You know our mate,” Andrew scolded. “I am going to head out to do some perimeter check. Anyone want to go with?”

All my mates went with them minus Koda and Edgar. My mother headed back home to study while my dad and my sisters took the twins to play at the pack playground. I was so stinking lucky to have such a close family group. I don’t know what I would do with all of them and the others who have stepped up to become part of my wolf made family/pack.

“So…. I need to let my wolf out. He is screaming to see Blue and says that a week is too long to keep her hostess!” Edgar teased as he unbuttoned his shirt.

“Blue says he better get ready to run. She is ready to win yet another battle of wills and strength with his tiny butt.” I teased. Koda laughed causing him to shake me.

Edgar growled and ran out the front door. I stood up and looked back at Koda. He winked and pushed me down into the next empty chair and ran after Edgar. What a bunch of cheaters!

‘Get your a*s up! They are both gonna get it before taking me to new heights in the bedroom.’ Blue yelled. ‘I hope they run fast enough that they actually have a chance at this game of cat and mouse.’

It didn’t take long after shifting to catch up to them. We took Koda down first but that was always going to happen. He is such a softy at heart and loves being caught. Him and his wolf basically heard us and rolled over. Blue just licked his face long enough to make him smell like us. We may be a bit territorial…

Now catching Edgar is a whole different story because he’s a hybrid and he uses both of his natures. He could be up in a tree or on top of a building or covering his scent with fresh animal b***d. I tell him all the time that’s cheating but blue really likes the extra chase so every time we are running in the forest, and we smell b***d her ears perk up and all she can think about is getting to Edgar.

In this case we didn’t smell any b***d or see any light anywhere. Koda had joined us to replace him and even he was a bit baffled. I couldn’t smell him nor could I see him anywhere and the forest was silent except for some birds and some other small animals.

‘Okay Edgar give us a hint because we’ve never had to chase you this long and it’s never been this silent in the woods,’ I gave in and linked him. Blue was stressing that something was wrong.

‘I got a link that someone was at the gate but then I got another link that someone was at the back gate.’ Edgar replied with a bit of anger mixed with sadness in his tone. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I had this bad feeling in my gut and I was correct by the feel of this group.’

I stopped running and looked back at Koda to tell him what was going on. I had stopped super-fast and he wasn’t pay attention so he almost ran my furry butt over. He had to jump over me and ended up rolling a few times. Whoops. His wolf turned his head toward me and rolled his eyes at me. Butt head.

‘Who was at the gates? Where are you? Let Asher and Andrew handle the other gate and we will come give you back up.’ I nodded at Koda to follow me and took off as fast as I could. I hate it when his gut makes him feel uneasy because he’s been 95% right every time that happens and that doesn’t bode well for any of us right now.

‘I’m at the back gate and there’s someone here that you know who wants to challenge you. I am guessing you didn’t have enough time to figure out who the royal warrior was going to be because this guy smells like trouble and looks even worse.’ Edgar wasn’t making me want to get there any faster.

Someone I know? I’ve met a few packs and their pack members but they were all with my mate so they would know them too. Only a few members of this pack were missing and that was because they were either dead or traitors that ran off. Melanie’s parents are dead, good riddance. Could it be Richard’s dad or even Richard? if they’re trying to step foot on these pack lands again after the s**t they pulled I’m going to rip them apart. I had to tell myself to concentrate so I didn’t run head long into a freaking tree.