Moonborn: Rise of the Wolfless Luna

She looked around the room at all the faces staring at her.

"If I'm going to be part of this pack, I need to prove that I deserve to be here. Not because I'm pregnant with your child, not because you saved me from Roland, but because I'm strong enough to stand by your side."

Lydia clapped her hands together. "How noble! But strength isn't just about having a brave heart, sweetie. You need actual power to be a Luna."

"Maybe," Bella said. "But I won't know unless I try."

Alfred ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "This is madness. You could get seriously hurt."

"I'm already hurt," Bella said softly. "Every day I spend knowing that people see me as weak and worthless hurts me. At least this way, I have a chance to change that."

Doctor Martin stepped forward. "If you're really going to do this, you should know - you're pregnant. Fighting could put the baby at risk."

Everyone went silent again.

Lydia's eyes lit up. "Pregnant? Oh, this is even better than I thought!"

"What do you mean?" Bella asked.

"Don't you see?" Lydia said, practically bouncing with excitement. "A pregnant woman who can't even shift into wolf form, fighting against a trained warrior? It's going to be a massacre!"

Alfred's face went dark with rage. "If you hurt her or that baby, I'll kill you myself."

"Now, now, Alfred," Elder Marcus said. "You can't threaten a pack member for participating in a legal challenge."

"I can if she tries to murder an innocent woman!" Alfred shouted.

"Murder?" Lydia put her hand to her chest in fake shock. "I would never! I'm just going to fight until she submits. If she gets hurt, well... that's what happens in combat."

She leaned closer to Bella. "Of course, you could always submit right now and save yourself the pain. Pack your things and leave quietly. I might even let you keep your life."

Bella felt anger building inside her. This woman thought she was so much better than her. This woman had thrown her in prison, humiliated her in front of the elders, and now wanted to force her out of the pack.

But more than that, Bella could see how much this was hurting Alfred. The man who had saved her, who had brought her here to keep her safe, was now watching helplessly as his pack's laws put her in danger.

"When?" Bella asked firmly.

"When what?" Lydia asked.

"When is this fight happening?"

Lydia smiled triumphantly. "Tomorrow at sunset. In the main courtyard, so the whole pack can watch."

"Fine," Bella said. "I'll be there."

Alfred grabbed both of Bella's hands. "Please, Bella. Don't do this. There has to be another way."

Bella looked into his eyes, and for a moment, her determination wavered. She could see how scared he was for her.

But then she thought about the way the elders had looked at her in that prison cell. Like she was garbage. Like she was nothing.

And she thought about her baby. Did she want her child to grow up with a mother who was seen as weak? Who had to hide behind others for protection?

"I have to do this, Alfred," she said gently. "For me, for our baby, and for us."

Alfred closed his eyes in defeat. "Then I'll train you. We have until sunset tomorrow. I'll teach you everything I can."

Lydia laughed. "One day of training? Against someone who's been preparing to be Luna her whole life? Good luck with that."

She turned to the elders. "Make sure everyone in the pack knows about the challenge. I want them all to see what happens when someone tries to take what doesn't belong to them."

The elders nodded and filed out of the room.

Lydia paused at the door and looked back at Bella.

"I hope you've made peace with your gods," she said sweetly. "Because after tomorrow, you'll be meeting them."

She left, her laughter echoing down the hallway.

Doctor Martin finished his examination of Bella. "You're in good health, but I strongly advise against this fight. The stress alone could cause a miscarriage."

"I understand the risks," Bella said quietly.

After the doctor left, Alfred and Bella were alone in the medical room.

Alfred sat down heavily in a chair, his head in his hands.

"Why?" he asked, his voice muffled. "Why are you doing this to yourself? To us?"

Bella sat on the edge of the examination bed and looked at him.

"Alfred, what did you see in me that night by the pool?"

He looked up at her, confused by the question.

"I saw a strong woman who had survived seven years of hell and still had the courage to keep fighting," he said.

"Then trust that strength now," Bella said. "Trust that I can do this."

"But what if you can't?" Alfred asked desperately. "What if something happens to you? I can't lose you, Bella. Not now."

Bella slid off the bed and knelt in front of his chair, taking his hands in hers.

"You won't lose me," she said firmly. "I promise."

But even as she said the words, Bella wasn't sure she believed them herself.

Lydia was right about one thing - this was going to be an uneven fight. Lydia had her wolf, years of training, and the support of most of the pack.

Bella had... what? Determination? Love? The memory of that strange warm feeling from earlier?

But it would have to be enough.

Because backing down now would mean living the rest of her life as someone who ran from challenges. And she had done enough running.

That night, Alfred took Bella to the training grounds behind the pack house. The moon was full overhead, casting everything in silver light.

"Show me what you know about fighting," Alfred said.

Bella looked embarrassed. "I don't know anything about fighting. In the Wolfsbane pack, I just tried to avoid getting hit."

Alfred sighed. "Okay. We'll start with the basics."

For the next several hours, Alfred taught Bella everything he could. How to throw a punch, how to dodge, how to use her smaller size to her advantage.

But they both knew it wasn't enough. One night of training couldn't make up for years of experience.

As dawn approached, they took a break. Bella was exhausted and covered in sweat.

"I'm going to lose, aren't I?" she asked quietly.

Alfred wanted to lie to her, to tell her everything would be fine. But he respected her too much to give her false hope.

"Probably," he said honestly. "Lydia is a skilled fighter. She's been training for this her whole life."

Bella nodded, surprised that his honesty didn't make her feel worse. Somehow, it was better to know the truth.

"But," Alfred continued, "you have something she doesn't have."

"What's that?"

"You have nothing to lose," he said. "Lydia is fighting to keep what she thinks she deserves. You're fighting for the chance to build a new life. That kind of desperation can make you stronger than you know."

As they walked back to the pack house, neither of them noticed the figure watching from the shadows.

Someone had been spying on their training session. Someone who now knew exactly how unprepared Bella was for the fight.

Someone who was already planning to make sure Lydia won.

But they also hadn't noticed something else.

During their training, every time Bella had been pushed to her limit, every time she had been knocked down and had to get back up, that warm feeling from earlier had stirred inside her.

It was getting stronger.

And while Bella still couldn't shift into a wolf, something else was awakening inside her.

Something that even she didn't understand yet.

Something that might change everything.

The day of the challenge passed quickly. Word had spread throughout the pack, and by evening, it seemed like every member had gathered in the main courtyard.

Bella stood in a small room off the courtyard, trying to calm her nerves. Alfred was with her, along with Sarah from the kitchens, who had volunteered to help her get ready.

"You don't have to do this," Alfred said for the hundredth time.

"Yes, I do," Bella replied, just like she had every other time.

Sarah finished braiding Bella's hair back so it wouldn't get in her way during the fight.

"There's something you should know," Sarah said quietly. "I've been listening to the kitchen gossip all day."

"What kind of gossip?" Bella asked.

Sarah looked nervous. "Some people are saying that Lydia has been taking special supplements to make her wolf stronger. And there are rumors that she's not planning to fight fair."

Alfred's jaw tightened. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know exactly," Sarah said. "But my friend who works in Lydia's household said she's been meeting with some suspicious people. People from outside the pack."

Before anyone could ask more questions, there was a knock on the door.

"It's time," a voice called from outside.

Bella took a deep breath. "I'm ready."

But as they walked toward the courtyard, none of them knew that Sarah was right to be worried.

Lydia had been planning something. Something that would ensure Bella never had a chance to win.

And the mysterious people she had been meeting with were already in position.

This wasn't going to be just a challenge between two women.

This was going to be a trap.