Celia was not one to give into provocations, far from it. Even when nasty rumors about her spread in the Academy, she minded her own business. She was accustomed, from years of living in her pack, with people having wrong assumptions, so she never fought back. She never bothered to do so.

But now this woman, who she did not remember wronging, was not only provoking her, she was even colluding with her sister to ridicule her.

She knew for certain that her sister wanted to harm her, because she was forced to participate in the battle at the order of the Luna, but her sister was not obligated to nominate someone else to participate in her stead.

Brianna could have simply refused the battle royale and that would have been the end of it, so from her sister's side it was intentional. But she could not understand what Yvonne had against her.

What could have been the problem, when they had not discussed at all after the initial greeting?

Either way, she considered it would be better to just go through the battle and be done with it. There was no point in thinking further. She also could not make a ruckus, even if she wanted to, as she did not want to embarrass his highness. She was his partner for this evening, and most likely the two had already prepared and informed the officials of the battle, so it could not be retracted.

Later she will rescind her place in her previous pack, so another situation like this would not occur. This was her oversight, her fault for not cutting the ties clearly, whether it was with Rayan or her pack.

Looking a bit more scrutinizing at Yvonne, she could tell from her appearance that she was quite a high ranking werewolf, but the aura Yvonne was releasing, did not scare her. It was only tingling, like someone was tickling her.

For as long as she could remember, she never felt frightened by another werewolf, never felt the need to submit to anyone. She only showed her neck in submission, when her parents did at pack meetings. Even towards the council members, she did not submit. The only werewolf she was not certain of was his highness, he never released his aura directed towards her, and so she wasn't sure.

"Alright miss Yvonne. Let's hold the battle royale. I assume you and my dear sister already picked the wish. When do you want to battle?" Celia asked resigned to the situation, but still retaining anger in her voice.

"How about now? In fact, in the ballroom they are already clearing the center of the dance floor. We also have some more comfortable clothes prepared in the bathroom!" Yvonne said smiling, satisfied with the results. Although, she had begun to be slightly wary of Celia, seeing her darkening eyes. It made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

She had hurried the timing of the battle to ensure that the king was not informed by someone of who would participate. If Celia went back and told him, perhaps saying she was still injured, he would prevent them from battling, and she could not afford for that to happen. It was her moment to shine, stepping on Celia's body or corpse, if she had it her way.

They really thought and planned everything  thoroughly. Celia thought. When did they manage to find the time to plan such things? It was only a couple of hours since the beginning of the ball.

Well Yvonne did indeed leave the table multiple times. At first she had tried to participate in conversations, especially addressing his highness, but gave up when her questions remained unanswered. And her sister was a social butterfly, she could discuss with anyone. A "remarkable" friendship had blossomed in this short time.

***

Salas had begun to worry about Celia. It was already more than a quarter of an hour ago, when she left with her sister. His eyes started darting everywhere to check her current location, but he felt she was not in the ballroom, as her strawberry scent was beginning to lessen.

He did not look for long, when a side smaller door of the ballroom was opened.

Recognizing her specific scent, he looked in the direction of the door, but frowned when he noticed her changed clothes. She was wearing tights and a slim t-shirt, clothes meant for training.

He was notified moments earlier, that there were two werewolves that wished to hold the battle royale, it was even approved already by Emery.

The cleared dance floor and her changed appearance, gave him a bad feeling, which became certain, when the other woman emerged with a similar appearance, following Celia inside.

"She dared to ..." Salas said, and a low growl rumbled his throat.

Gabriel, who was seated on his right side, immediately heard him and followed his line of sight. At this point Salas was trying to rise on his feet.

"Stop it. Don't go!" Gabriel stopped him quickly, using the mind link.

"She is still injured!" Salas replied angry, with Sky approving his words.

"She has already healed, and you are also forgetting her rank. She handled that many hunters on her own, do you think she isn't able to handle a single werewolf?" Gabriel reasoned with valid facts.

"But ..." Salas still wanted to resist.

"Salas she is a watcher student. She is a born fighter. Have some faith in her!" Gabriel used a reason which Salas could really not refute.

Salas was still angry, but Gabriel was right, her first rank wolf, even if she did not show herself, her strength should still be far greater than that woman's wolf. He was also here, if the other woman made one wrong step, then he would just break her neck in a heartbeat.

Both Celia and Yvonne went each one on a side of the dance floor, and in the center of the floor, an announcer stood.

"Can I have your attention gentlemen and ladies?" The announcer said with a loud clear voice. And everyone looked towards him. They had guessed, when the maids had asked them to clear the dance floor, that a battle royale would follow.

They were already talking and murmuring before, about who would take part. Now they were looking with interest and, seeing the two women, everyone was even more curious.

By this time Brianna had already returned to her seat satisfied.

"Brianna why did you go to the king's table? You are not allowed to do so!" Her mother asked anxiously, using the mind link.

"I did not go to the king's table, I went to see my sister. Now let's watch the fight it should be interesting!" Brianna said, then closed the link, not letting her mother nag at her.

"Now then, as you might have guessed when the dance floor was cleared, we have a battle royale tonight. These two lovely ladies will be fighting for a wish from the king. I already have it written on this piece of paper and you will find out what it says exactly after the fight." The announcer informed, also showing the folded paper.

After a brief remainder of every rule the opponents must follow, the announcer retired on a side and said only one word.

"Start!"

The two approached a little more the center of the floor, while still keeping a wary distance. By this time, the applauses, which had started after the announcer retreated, had died down.

"Would you like to attack first miss Celia?" Yvonne said complyingly, with the sweet voice she had used at the table. It was nothing like the voice she had used with Celia moments earlier.

Celia stood as aloof as always, she did not even bother to reply. Her silence meant that Yvonne could do as she pleased. She wanted the fight so she should be the one to lead it.

Seeing her lack of emotions, that also implied that a fight with her was nothing, Yvonne grew angrier and she started to get impatient. She would show the young pup what the experience she had could do in a fight, how easy it was for her to defeat Celia, even though they held the same rank.

With swift movements she was already on one side of Celia, and taking advantage of the weakness her lack of guard had opened, she rose one foot in the air, intending to strike her head.

The force behind her move was so great that it should have gotten Celia on the floor, so great that she did not think of another move after. in fact it was a deadly move, but the expected recoil that Yvonne should have felt did not come.

It surprised her as her foot actually landed on the floor, cracking the marbled tiles and making her lose her balance. In fact, now was a perfect opportunity to be hit. And her heartbeat rose up, expecting just that. But in the half a second she looked up, Celia was already on the other side of the dance floor. She was once again waiting.

She did not take advantage of the failed strike to fight back.

This made Yvonne angrier, it was like saying that Celia did not need any advantages, and could take her full strength face to face, even though just now she moved away, avoiding her first blow.

With her claws already extended, she again moved near Celia, trying to scratch her face with her right hand and the other her abdomen.

She did not use her feet again, as she realized that Celia was even faster than her. The time it took for her to strike was an unguarded moment, what if Celia decided to hit her, rather than retreat the next time. With both hands attacking, Yvonne was certain there was no chance for Celia to retreat, as she would have scratched her, before she could.

Yvonne's mouth smirked, as Celia grabbed the hand that was trying to scratch her face. Just as she thought, any woman would protect her face first, so almost at the same time, she extended her other hand, but not to scratch Celia's abdomen. No, she was trying to use her claws as a dagger, to stab it.

Her cruelness could clearly be seen, even by those watching, but she was left with no choice. At first she did indeed want to just scratch her, but the aura Celia was releasing and the strength, with which she was holding her right hand, scared her. Celia was almost on the point of literally tearing her wrist apart from her arm.

She had heard from her grandfather that Celia killed many hunters on her own, but seeing the actual person in front of her when she came in the ballroom, she did not think she was capable of such a feat. 

She must have gotten hold of one of the hunter's weapons, that was how she managed to defeat them, she thought. But Celia now, without meaning to, was proving capable of truly ripping her hand away.

Yvonne was the same rank as Celia, she should be almost equally matched, the only difference being her experience, which should have been the deciding factor.

Celia let go of Yvonne's right hand, which was numb by now and could not be used, at least for a few seconds. Having both her hands empty, she grabbed the hand that was inches away from her abdomen. Her move was so fast that, even the high ranking werewolves in the room, had trouble following.

Salas was the only one who could actually see her perfect counterattack and thus did not move to intervene. She was proving to him her first rank.

Yvonne was surprised, as this move was even faster than the first time. She did not have enough  time to figure what Celia did, or the fact that she let go of her right hand. The only thing she felt was the force with which her body hit the nearby wall.

She yelled in pain as she slid down, revealing the cracks the hit left on the wall.

By this time she was truly terrified. She felt several bones in her body had broken, and the hand which Celia held sending her to the wall, was even dislocated from her shoulder and her elbow.

Her body started to heal itself the moment the wounds appeared, but she still felt the pain, and she would still be feeling it until her regeneration was completed.

Celia walked towards her relaxed, her body was not at all tired, she was not even wheezing because of the workout.

Stopping a few steps away from Yvonne, Celia looked down at her.

"Would you like to try again? Or is it enough?" There was no mocking in her voice, it was like she was asking a random question.

But the wounded and disheveled Yvonne, felt exactly just that, mockery. It filled her heart with hatred. How was the woman in front of her a third rank? Her blows were few in number, but each of them could not be stopped with a single hand.

She had fought even men with the same rank as her and defeated them. But Celia had not even one little scratch, not even one blow landed on her.

Hearing her question, she was still thinking of fighting, her regeneration was halfway done by now. She wanted to try other moves. Because she had underestimated Celia and did not fight with her full strength from the beginning.

"I advise you to stop here. The next time you try and attack, I will not only defend." Celia spoke again, when Yvonne stalled for time, to complete her healing.

Yvonne flinched at her words, it was true Celia had only defended. How would she be when she was attacking?

She also started to tremble when Celia released an even greater pressure directed to her. Unbeknownst to her, Yvonne bowed her head, showing her neck in submission.

"Well then ladies and gentlemen we have our winner." The announcer intervened, making the crowd clear their minds. Never a battle royale had ended so soon, never an opponent showed that much difference in strength while holding the same rank. All the guests started clapping.

"So then your highness, please grant our winner her wish!" The announcer continued, after the sound died down.

Yvonne was already carried away by her grandfather at this point, with only Celia remaining in the middle of the dance floor, near the announcer.

Salas nodded and waited for the announcer to unfold the paper and read its contents.

"Our winner's wish is a date with his highness!" The announcer spoke loudly. He had raised his volume not only because he wanted to be heard by all, but he was surprised as well.

Salas flinched a little, but it was unnoticeable, as did Celia.

What kind of a wish was this? Would his highness think that she had fought just for a date with him? Celia thought.

"Alright!" Salas almost immediately permitted, earning the gasps of all in the room. A date with the king of all werewolves was something no one had expected, for the wish to be. And even less for the king to agree to it.

The swiftness of his reply satisfied the councilman, who had his mouth in a smile from ear to ear. Gabriel did not say a thing, but he was chuckling, even Maria was slightly smiling.

Celia blushed red, because he had agreed so quickly. She thought the king would only agree with reasonable wishes, would a date be a reasonable wish?

"Then I declare the battle royale finished. May your highness and miss Blair have a wonderful date!" The announcer said smiling and then retreated.

Celia also immediately darted towards the bathroom to change her clothes, not wanting to be the center of attention anymore.

"Your highness, I object!" Brianna's voice resonated in the ballroom, just as Celia left.

"Celia has participated in the battle royale for me, her Luna. I am the winner of the date!" Brianna confidently informed. Her mother and father were silently trying to make her sit down, but the latter ignored them.

"Did you fight yourself?" Salas addressed Brianna for the first time, but even now he was not looking at her.

"No, but Celia fought in my stead!" She tried to reason.

"The winner is the person who fought. No one else!" Salas affirmed expressionlessly and rose on his feet.

Brianna still wanted to reason with him, but Salas walked towards the door Celia had exited from, not looking back.

Celia was briskly walking towards the bathroom to retrieve her clothes. She had one hand on her face, shielding the redness. Perhaps she should have just suffered a blow and then surrendered, but then Yvonne would go on a date with him. She would hate that. Wait, why was it her problem?

A date with the king, a date with the king, these were the thoughts roaming her mind. She was so immersed in thinking, that she did not even notice the person in front of her.

She did not see Rayan blocking the door of the women's bathroom.

Only a few steps away from reaching him, did she finally regain her senses and recognized him.

"Celia we have to talk! I gave you enough time already. You must return to the pack and assume your rightful place!" He said decisively.

"Alpha, please move away from the door. I need to change my clothes." Celia said, not bothering with him. This was already the third person this night who seemed to have an issue to discuss with her, why was she so unlucky today?

"But we need to talk. I missed you! I missed my mate!" Rayan raised his voice getting more aggrieved by the second. His mate did not react in the slightest to his presence, he could not find a shred of longing in her expression.

"Alpha, if you missed your mate she is in the ballroom. My heavily pregnant sister is waiting for you at your pack's designated table." Celia calmly replied, no emotions in her voice.

"But I love you Celia. Please, we can wait for Brianna to give birth and then we can raise the pup together!" Rayan pleaded, but his voice kept getting louder.

"I am the baby's aunt, alpha, not his mother. I cannot raise the pup, nor do I wish to. You have already made your choice. Live with it!" She concisely denied and wanted to leave. But then realizing that this was as perfect a moment as it could be, as she could avoid seeing her parents in private, she continued.

"I, Celia Blair, alpha of the Red Blood Moon Pack, reject you Rayan Damon, alpha of the New Moon Pack, as my mate!" Celia formally informed him.

Feeling the bond breaking, made Rayan lose his breath and his heart felt like it was pierced by countless needles. He looked towards her surprised, as he did not expect her to reject him at this moment. He thought that she would also feel wretched like him, but she was still looking fine and calm.

In fact, Celia did not feel anything when she said those words, although she also thought she would feel a little bit hurt.

"Why are you alright?" He asked with heavy breathing and a hand on his chest.

"Why are you not suffering as I am?" He asked again, when she did not show the smallest of emotions.

"How could you do this to me? Why? Is it because of the king?" Rayan asked almost yelling and did not wait for her to answer, because only when he said the last two words did her eyes waver. Only then she showed a little emotion, but it was not directed to him.

Angry, his eyes darkened and his claws extended.

He was going to hurt her, he wanted for her to be at least physically hurt because of him, as he was incapable of hurting her emotionally.

He jumped towards her with his clawed hand, attempting to harm her, but he was stopped. He did not even get near her, when a shadow stepped in front of her.

Salas's rage and alpha aura could be felt even in the ballroom. His deadly aura was leaking everywhere, making those present at the ball hold their breath and bow in submission, even though they were not present in the same room as him. His normal blue eyes were now as black as night and his fangs protruded his mouth.

"She is mine!" Do not put your dirty paws on her again, if you do not want to die!" He raged, through his protruding canines, strengthening his hold on Rayan's neck with his clawed hand.

Rayan was at this moment, held by the neck in the air, not touching even with his