As much as I want to disfigure Axel's pretty little face with a knife, or maybe a sword, Onyx needs to know how to do hand to hand combat first. So, when I charged at Axel, I used my bare first to connect with his cheek.

He was probably expecting me to go for his ribs or ankles (his weak spots I always target), which was why he left such an easily guarded spot open.

Axel growled and tried to throw a punch in my direction, but I had already hopped out of the way.

If I were you, I wouldn't use my face to block a punch. But hey, that's just me, I cockily mindlinked Axel, who's eyes darkened until they were black, and canines showed as he smirked at me.

"It's unfortunate for you that Cain isn't here to reprimand me for beating the crap out of his mate," Axel said, his voice rough and low.

I waited for him to attack next, which he did. I was expecting him to go for the head, like I had done to him, but he sent a punch towards my ribs, which I blocked. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to dodge the kick that went to my ankle, sending me to the floor.

Knowing that a small kick wasn't enough to keep me down, he quickly put his knees on both sides of my torso and tried to grab my arms to pin me.

If he was able to restrain my wrists as well as my torso, I didn't stand a chance. I had to get out of this, and quickly because he was closing in on my hands.

I poked his eyes with two of my fingers.

Not too deep, just enough to make him groan and grab his face. I sent a hard punch to his sternum, which sent him flying off of me.

His vision must have been distorted, because after he stood up shakily, he completely missed blocking a kick I sent to his ribs.

All I had to do was push on his shoulders after he hunched over in pain, and he went falling to the ground.

I straddled him and pinned his arms down for a few moments before laughing victoriously.

You almost had me for a minute there, Axe, I said, partially proud of my Beta and partially concerned. Was I becoming too predictable?

Axe groaned. "I'll get you next time, Ares. Count on it."

I snorted before turning back to Onyx and Clover. So, what did you learn? I asked Onyx.

Her wide blue eyes blinked twice. "Umm... You fight dirty?"

I cocked my head to the side as Axel shouted from the ground, still rubbing his eyes, "THANK YOU!".

It's not fighting dirty. It's using every weapon in your arsenal. You'd be stupid to think that in your battle, the female won't do whatever it takes to end you, I responded matter-of-factly.

She inhaled sharply as she looked down in submission. "Yes, Luna," She mumbled.

I stalked over to her and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at me. Her eyes were wide, what, did she think I'd snap her neck right here and now?

Do not submit to me. You are my equal, I told her, trying my best to sound somewhat soft, but my voice constantly had an edge in it that simply was unfixable.

She nodded, but I could see that she didn't believe my words. That's fine. She will see. Lunas are never weak.

I summoned a knife. I held it out to her, and she accepted it, her hand shaking slightly.

I hadn't originally wanted her to train with a weapon since she wouldn't get one for the challenge, but I think it would help her feel more confident fighting me if she was armed and I wasn't.

Let's spar. I want you to do whatever it takes to hurt me, I tell her, and her eyes pop out of her head.

"Luna, with all due respect, I can't stab you," She protested. It was cute that she thought she could.

"No, you can't," I agreed. No point in lying. "But you should try."

Onyx looked at Axel, who had finally stopped being a baby and got up. "She can't be serious. The Blood Alpha would have my head on a stick," She pleaded to Axel, begging him to agree with her.

I rolled my eyes and took the knife back. I slashed it harshly against my cheek, sending blood pouring out. It wasn't a silver knife, so it wouldn't scar. Even if it did, it's not like one more scar on my face would make a difference.

Onyx gasped and covered her mouth with her hand in shock. I rolled my eyes, and used my cloak to clean the blood off of the blade, and then my cheek.

The wound had already closed.

Onyx sighed in relief. "You are absolutely insane, Luna."

I shrugged, hanging the knife back.

Show off, Axel mindlinked me, making me glare at him. He winked in response.

She took the weapon more confidently this time, and followed me to the center of the mat.

Seriously, Onyx. Nothing is off limits. I'll be disappointed if you don't hurt me, I tell her, and I mean it. If she was able to even land one hit on me, there was no way she was losing to her challenger.

She nodded hesitantly, eying the blade in suspicion.

Axel counted down, and when he said "Go", I was disappointed to see that Onyx didn't attack first.

Attack your opponent first in the challenge. She'll expect you to be too timid and scared to strike first. You'll catch her off guard, I tell her, and she nods solemnly.

She lunges with the knife, and I side-step away, slow enough to where she definitely could have stabbed me in the stomach if she was a little bit quicker.

Faster attacks. Be decisive. Don't overthink. If even one of your motions is hesitant, you're dead, I warn her.

I kick slowly aiming for her wrist, hoping she'll move it in time. She doesn't, and the knife clatters out of her hand.

She clutches her wrist and I can see that I might have kicked a little bit harder than she was used to.

Too bad.

To her credit, she swings at me again despite her injured wrist. It was too slow, so I grab her fist with my hand and spin her into me so that her hand is pinned behind her back and she is turned away from me.

Boom. You're dead, I taunt her.

I release her and she turns around to face me. I can see her eyes darkening. Good. That means her wolf is angry and wants out.

Unfortunately, just as soon as I see the fire in her, it's extinguished as her eyes return to electric blue.

She's panting slightly, but throws two more punches at me, which I dodge effortlessly. I punch her in the ribs, not hard enough to break them, like I would with Axel.

She gasps as the wind is knocked out of her. I kick her shin hard enough to send her crashing.

I get on top of her, pinning her arms to her side roughly.

Boom. Dead.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

After the training, Onyx opened up considerably. I was somewhat concerned that she would cry and whine to Thane that I had hurt her too badly.

She had some fairly dark bruises here and there, but even pups in Blood Lake walked away from training daily with more severe injuries.

She seemed more comfortable with me, which was surprising to me considering that I fought her.

Axel stuck around to train with Clover a little longer. Something about feeling fat or whatever. Yeah right. That guy was completely shredded. Maybe he had a little crush on the warrior. They obviously weren't mates, but it's not like people had never been attracted to someone besides their mate before.

Obviously, or else I wouldn't have been born.

Sigh.

Onyx and I made small talk while walking back to the Pack House. She told me about how Thane and his men stumbled across her old cabin, which she shared with a close friend named Grant or Grey or something.

Were you guys dating before Thane found you? I asked, being nosey.

Her cheeks flushed and heartbeat quickened. "It wasn't like that."

I smirked. I'm sure it wasn't. I was surprised that Thane didn't tear him apart though.

Is he here in Blue Moon? I ask as we step into the Pack House and head towards the kitchen.

She shakes her head. "I'm uh... actually not sure where he is at the moment," She says, frowning. "He said he wanted space."

He should be careful. You never know what kind of danger lurks in unclaimed territories, I warn her. Danger like me, I think, but don't say.

"He can handle himself. He's a strong wolf," She reassures me with a smile.

I shrug, and was about to question just how strong when I crash into someone.

The small blonde girl who ran into me clattered onto the floor. "Watch where you're going, bitch," She says, her voice so high pitched I feel like a dog that heard a whistle.

Although technically...

She stands up and brushes herself off. She finally looks at Onyx, and then me.

"I see you finally found someone creepy enough to be friends with you," She sneers at Onyx, and I want to rip off her upturned nose.

Not that I particularly mind being called creepy. With all of my scars, white eyeball, cloak, and dried blood splattered randomly on me, it technically wasn't wrong either.

But I don't like the way she talks to Onyx, who looks down in shame.

"Unfortunate that she'll be all alone once I kill you in three weeks. Who are you anyways?" She glares at me as she scans my full body in disgust.

Ahh. So this is the lovely lady Thane boned. The lady that Onyx will be fighting to the death in three weeks.

Onyx opens her mouth to respond, but I tell her not to.

I smile at the shewolf in front of me.

"Hello? I asked you a question," She waves her manicured hand in front of my face, which I grab. I squeeze hard, crushing her fingers. She screams as I twist her wrist, snapping it quickly.

To cut off her screaming. I grab her by the throat and pin her against the wall. My hand latches around her throat so tightly not a single molecule of air can get in or out.

Her face goes from spray tan orange to red in an instant as she sputters, weakly slapping at me and trying to kick.

You have no idea who you're fucking dealing with, pup, I snarl at her.

She's terrorized. I loosen my grip on her neck slightly enough to where she's able to breathe. Can't have her passing out before I introduce myself.

I've killed more men than you've blown, which is saying a lot, I taunt her, letting my canines drop. Due to my Alpha blood, my canines are much larger than the average females, and even bigger than most men's.

I'm the fucking Blood Luna, bitch.

Her body freezes at my words. "I'm... sorry... Luna," She gasps out, tears running down her face.

You will be, I promise her.

I throw her by her neck onto the floor. She grabs her throat, gasping for air and coughing.

I stand over her, both of my feet on opposite sides of her torso. I bend down and pull her upper half up slightly by her shirt collar.

If I wasn't positive Onyx would kill you herself in three weeks, I would end your shit right here and now, I snarl, and she cries harder.

That was, of course, a bluff. Truth be told, Onyx is such a poor fighter I'm not sure she could beat a 7 year old up.

Consider this your one and only warning, pup. I release her shirt and uncrouch from my position. She's frozen as she looks at me. Pathetic.

Get out of my sight. Your perfume is nauseating, I spit out, and she flees, clutching her broken hand and wrist.

I turn to Onyx, who's clearly shaken. Why do you let her talk to you like that? I snarl, and I'm furious that the future Luna tolerates such disrespect.

"I- She..." Onyx mumbles and I can't understand her. "She's hurt me before. Once. When Thane wasn't around. I can't say anything back."

She hung her head in shame.

I ponder her words, before grabbing her hand. She looks up at me, her eyes shining.

Don't worry, Onyx. By the time I leave, you'll have torn her throat out, I reassure her. I can only hope that's true.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The rest of the day was highly uneventful. Axel came back from training with Clover a few hours later, and him, Onyx, and I watched what she calls "Marvel Movies".

I had never watched any before, but I vaguely recognized some of the character names from Carter's random tangents. I couldn't help but feel like if he was around, he would know what to do about Onyx.

Onyx wore clothing that covered her bruises and we had dinner with Thane, who listened intently to Onyx as she told him about the training. Of course, leaving out all of the times I bruised her.

I was exhausted by the end of the day, so Axel and I went to our separate guest rooms fairly early. He was staying in the room next to me as a precaution.

I had showered and changed into sweatpants and one of Cain's t-shirts when I heard three loud bangs on the door.

I was about to open the door when it flew off of the hinges to reveal Thane, who's eyes were completely black.

He was shirtless, only wearing a pair of sweatpants that hung lowly on his hips. His muscular arm lifted as he flicked his wrist, summoning one of his magic photon balls.

He launched it at me, sending it square into my stomach and knocking the wind out of me. I wasn't expecting it, and doubled over in pain.

I flinched as he sent another one in my direction, but this one, just like the second one he sent at me when we first met in the woods, dispersed into a thick fog around me, immobilizing me.

"We need to talk," He snarled, his canines descending as his entire body shook in anger.

Extra long chapter! Don't worry, ONYX will be the next book updated!

PLEASE VOTE/COMMENT/FOLLOW. (seriously lmao I spent like 4 hours on this chapter).

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