Page 50 of Once You Go Pack
Her shoulders relaxed slightly, but he could still sense the undercurrent of worry flowing between them. As the car wound through the mountain roads toward the castle, Mila’s hand found his, her fingers intertwining with his in a gesture that was both seeking comfort and offering it.
“I’m scared about the duel,” she admitted quietly, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine. “Not about whether you’ll win—I know you will. But what if Zarik tries to hurt you seriously?”
Cade turned to face her, his eyes burning with fierce intensity. “Look at me, beautiful.” When her gaze met his, he continued with unwavering conviction. “I have something now that I’ve never had before in any fight. I have you.”
Their mate bond pulsed more intensely, carrying his protective devotion. Mila’s eyes widened at the raw emotion flowing through their connection.
“Besides,” he added calmly, “Zarik’s arrogance has always been his weakness. He’s so focused on appearances that he forgets strategy wins battles.”
Back at the castle, Cade changed into his training gear and headed to the outdoor training grounds where Martin was already waiting. The Beta had set up a series of tactical scenarios, but Cade’s wolf was too restless for structured drills.
“I need to shift,” Cade announced, already feeling his control splintering. “I need to feel my wolf’s strength before facing Zarik.”
Martin nodded, understanding immediately. “Good idea. Work out the tension, but don’t exhaust yourself.”
The transformation rippled through Cade’s body like liquid fire, his human form dissolving into the massive brown wolf with the distinctive golden crescent marking on his belly. In wolf form, every instinct sharpened to razor clarity—the scent of pine and snow, the distant sounds of pack members going about theirdaily routines, and underlying it all, Mila’s scent that called to his very soul.
He ran the perimeter of the training grounds with supernatural speed, his powerful muscles eating up ground as he let his wolf nature burn away the civilized restraints. When he finally shifted back to human form, sweat glistened on his muscled torso despite the mountain cold.
“Better?” Martin asked, tossing him a towel.
“Much.” Cade wiped the sweat from his face, feeling centered in a way he hadn’t since his father’s death. “Now let’s talk strategy.”
For the next hour, they reviewed Zarik’s fighting style, his preferred tactics, and potential weaknesses. Martin’s analytical mind proved invaluable as they dissected past duels and territorial skirmishes.
“Zarik fights like a berserker,” Martin observed, sketching attack patterns in the dirt. “All fury and overwhelming force. But that leaves openings for someone with patience and precision.”
“Like my father taught me,” Cade agreed, memories of countless training sessions flooding back. King Drake had always emphasized that true strength came from discipline, not just raw power.
As they wrapped up the tactical planning, Martin’s expression grew thoughtful. “I have to say, Cade, your mate impressed the hell out of me today. The way she handled that interrogation from the council—especially Zarik’s manipulation—showed real steel.”
Pride swelled in Cade’s chest at his Beta’s words. “She’s stronger than she realizes. That wolf guardian bloodline runs deep.”
“She’s going to make a great queen,” Martin continued, his brown eyes serious. “The pack needs someone who can bridgethe old ways with new thinking. Someone who understands both compassion and strength.”
The validation from his most trusted advisor meant everything. Martin had served the Ice Moon pack for fifteen years. His opinion carried weight that few others possessed.
“I’m glad you see it too,” Cade admitted. “For a moment there, I worried the council might reject her completely.”
“Are you kidding? Elder Grimm looked ready to pledge his sword to her service after that ancestry revelation. And did you see King Thornberry’s demeanor the whole time? Even some of Zarik’s pack members seemed impressed.”
As they headed back inside the castle, Cade knew that in a few short hours, he would face Zarik in formal combat—not just for his own position, but for his father’s legacy and Mila’s security.
If I fail, she becomes vulnerable,the thought sent his wolf growling with protective fury.Zarik’s obsession with her isn’t going away. If anything, learning about her bloodline today will only intensify his desire to probably claim her for himself.
The image of Zarik’s glacial eyes assessing Mila during the council meeting made Cade’s jaw clench with rage. He’d seen that predatory calculation before—Zarik didn’t just want the High Sovereign position. He wanted to take everything that mattered to Cade.
“I need to get ready,” Cade announced as they reached the castle entrance. “The duel begins at sunset.”
Martin clasped his shoulder with firm loyalty. “You’ve got this, Your Majesty. Zarik may have brute strength, but you have something he’ll never understand—the power of fighting for love instead of conquest.”
Three hours later, the ancient Ice Mountains outdoor arena stretched before them like a colosseum carved from living stone and ice, its towering walls reflecting the amber light of thesetting twin suns. Cade surveyed the massive crowd—hundreds of wolf shifters from all three packs filled the tiered seating, their voices creating a thunderous din that echoed off the glacial walls. Council elders sat in their ornate viewing box, their ceremonial robes billowing in the mountain wind, while King Thornberry of the Blue Moon pack watched with careful eyes from his royal section.
I’ve never seen this many wolves in one place,Cade thought, his wolf restless beneath his skin. The collective energy of so many shifters created an electric atmosphere that made his muscles coil with tension.
“Breathe,” Martin said beside him as they approached the arena entrance. “You’ve trained for this your entire life.”
Lyra squeezed his shoulder. “Show them what Ice Moon royalty looks like, big brother.”
