Page 64 of Alpha's Hated Mate

The chamber erupts into chaotic movement. The council members rise as Aydan and Ellis are escorted out by the Elders. The crowd flit toward the exits. I’m swept along, dazed and terrified, as we’re all herded toward an open field behind the main building.

My mind races with worry. A dominance challenge? I’ve only ever seen one when I was very young. The Alpha of my pack nearly killed his challenger. Not something that a young girl soon forgets. Dominance challenges are fairly rare in modern packs. Nearly all Alphas are determined by lineage and diplomacy. Any uncertainty is clarified by a blessing by theMoon Goddess through the pack seers. But here we are. And now Aydan has to fight for his position because of me.

The field is dusty and wide, ringed by wooden benches already filling with eager spectators—they’re treating this like entertainment. I’m directed to a front-row seat alongside the other council members.

A couple of mages work quickly to prepare a ceremonial ring in the center of the field, sprinkling black sage in a perfect circle before lighting it. The flames flare briefly before dying down, leaving a ring of ash that will contain the fight.

My breath catches when Aydan emerges from a tent at the edge of the field. He’s stripped to the waist, revealing a torso mapped with old scars that I’ve already become familiar with. His eyes find mine across the field, and he gives me the slightest nod, trying to reassure me.

Ellis appears from another tent, also bare-chested and ready for combat. My stomach drops at the sight of him. He’s older than Aydan, yes, but he’s also larger, with the thick muscled build of someone who’s spent decades training for battle. His body bears even more scars than Aydan’s—evidence of fights won and experience gained.

Elder Greenwood steps forward with a ceremonial staff. “The challenge has been issued and accepted. The victor will lead the Vaultmore pack as Alpha. The defeated must submit or face death.”

Face death? Fuck.I don’t remember that part when I was a kid. If Aydan gets seriously hurt because of me, I’ll never forgive myself.

“Begin.” Greenwood strikes the ground with his staff and backs out of the ring.

Aydan and Ellis circle each other, careful footwork raising small puffs of dust. Ellis’s lips move continuously, though I can only catch fragments of what he’s saying.

“ . . . think you deserve to lead us . . . tainted bloodline . . . your Scarlet whore has you bewitched . . . ”

Something flickers across Aydan’s face—a momentary break in his composure. I want to break Ellis’s fucking neck but I know that in the eyes of the pack, having his Luna fight his battles will only bring embarrassment to Aydan.

Aydan attacks, launching forward with impressive speed. His first strike catches Ellis on the jaw, snapping his head back. He follows with a series of precise blows that showcase his formal training.

For a moment, Ellis seems surprised by the ferocity of Aydan’s attack. He staggers back, blood trickling from his lip. Murmurs of approval rise from some spectators.

But Ellis recovers quickly. When Aydan comes in for another strike, the older wolf sidesteps, grabs Aydan’s arm, and uses his momentum to throw him off balance. Ellis’s counterattack is brutal—a knee to the ribs followed by an elbow to the face that opens a cut above Aydan’s eye.

Blood drips down Aydan’s face as Ellis presses his advantage, landing blow after blow. Aydan blocks some, but many find their mark. Ellis fights with the assurance of someone who’s done this many times before, each movement calculated to wear down his opponent.

With a powerful sweep, Ellis takes Aydan’s legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. Aydan rolls, narrowly avoiding a stomp aimed at his chest, but he’s breathing hard now, blood staining the dust beneath him.

Fuck! Get up!!I don’t dare yell out loud.

Ellis circles him with predatory confidence, letting Aydan struggle to his feet. “Is this really the Alpha you want?” he calls out to the watching pack. “A weakling who can’t even defend his position?”

Whispers spread through the audience. I catch fragments—”inevitable,” “always knew he wasn’t strong enough,” “what happens to the Scarlet now?”

Several pairs of eyes turn toward me with renewed hostility. I grip the hem of my shirt so tightly my knuckles turn white, the scent of Aydan’s blood in the air making my heart race with fear.

Aydan regains his footing, wiping blood from his eyes just as Ellis lunges forward. The blow catches Aydan in the chest, sending him staggering backward, dangerously close to the ash boundary.

Chapter Twenty-Six—Aydan

Ilie on the ground, tasting the metallic tang of blood in my mouth. I’m not feeling the pain yet from Ellis’s blows yet but I know it’ll kick in at any moment. I need to end this quickly or I won’t last.

Ellis towers above me, bruised but standing, a smug grin splitting his face as he turns to face the gathered pack.

“Behold, I am your true Alpha,” Ellis bellows, arms spread wide. “Under my leadership, I will cleanse our proud pack and restore its rightful glory! Together, we will usher in a new era!”

The words echo in my mind, eerily familiar.Now where have I heard that before?My thoughts drift to Nadia, her twisted ambitions, her plan to “make the royal line pure again.” The same toxic ideology, just a different mouth. What is with everyone and ushering in new eras?

“Do you submit, Vaultmore?” Ellis’s boot presses against my ribs. When I don’t immediately answer, he grinds his heel deeper. “Answer me! Do you submit to me as your Alpha?”

My eyes find Saffron in the crowd. She sits rigid among the council members, chin held high despite the hatred surrounding her. Her face wears a mask of confidence, but I know her well enough to catch the fear she’s desperately trying to hide in her blue eyes.

I’m not done fighting. Not for my pack. Not for her. Not for us.

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