Page 39 of Luna Cursed

"Petra, she has done nothing to me. She's my friend and a part of Odin's family through marriage. We are sworn to protectallin the All-Father's family," Tor replied. There was a flicker of alpha in his voice despite how much he was trying to hold it in.

Petra snarled, her eyes turning wolf. "I call aholmgangon Ciara Ironwood, the Wolf Slayer."

"For fuck's sake," Tor muttered. Everyone was looking at Ciara to respond to the challenge.

"What are the terms?" she asked, feigning boredom.

"To the death. That's the only way to remove a bond for certain," Petra declared.

"And if I refuse to fight you?" Ciara asked.

"Then you will be forced to relinquish the bond with Torsten of your own free will and never step foot into wolf lands again."

Ciara growled low, an utterly wolf sound that had the other wolves suddenly on guard. "Looks like you'll have to try and kill me because I will never give up my bond with Tor. You'll have to tear it from my soul, bitch."

Tor's expression shifted to surprise before his gray eyes heated and Ciara had to look away. She couldn't go into a fight being emotional, and what was hammering at her through the bond wasn't something she could acknowledge just yet.

The female elder cleared her throat. "Is that your official acceptance of theholmgang, Miss Ironwood? It is to the death."

Ciara smiled the cold bitch Ironwood smile and let the Wolf Slayer flood her eyes. "Let's do this. I don't have all day."

20

"You don't have to go through with this, sis," Lachie said ten minutes later.

The whole village was in an uproar over the challenge. They were all gathering at a stone circle on the edge of the village that was the traditional place forholmgangchallenges. Ciara and Petra would each be given a sword and a single wooden shield to battle it out. A few wolves had jeered at Ciara, telling her to back down and save herself.

Ciara was in no mood to back down. "I do have to do this, or she'll never stop."

"You aren't a wolf. Petra had no right to challenge you at all," Layla hissed.

"If it was Arne, would you walk away from it? Give your bond up?" Ciara demanded.

Layla drew back as if she'd been struck. "That's different, and you know it. Arne is mymate. A few days ago, you couldn't wait to get rid of the bond with Tor, and now you're going to fight to the death over it?"

"A lot has happened in the last few days," Ciara admitted. Realization seemed to hit Layla and Lachie at the same time. Ciara had finally caught feelings.

Lachie exhaled loudly. "Fuck."

"Don't…don't say anything to anyone, okay? Especially not Tor. I need to figure myself out, but Varg has to come first. Petra needs to be dealt with so the wolves will take the threat seriously," Ciara hurried to explain.

"Somehow, I think Tor already knows, especially now that you're going to fight his ex for him," Lachie replied.

Tor hadn't been allowed to speak with Ciara since the challenge had been accepted. Only family was allowed to talk with the challengers, so they could work out final wills and other arrangements in case of death. Ciara could feel Tor watching her. She refused to look at him. She needed to be calm and focused.

"If you die, I get all your stuff, right?" Lachie asked. He was trying to be cheeky, but his deep blue eyes betrayed how worried he was.

"Sure, if you want it. It's going to be okay, little brother." Ciara pressed her forehead to his. "I'm so proud of the man you've become, and I know our parents would have been too. I love you."

"I love you too," Lachie whispered, his voice breaking. "Now go kick that bitch's ass."

"I will." Ciara stepped back from him. She winked at Layla before picking up her sword and shield and walking into the stone circle.

Petra was standing with her family across the other side of the ring. Her parents looked furious at her. She noticed Ciara was ready and picked up her weapons. She strode into the ring, haughty as a queen.

Ciara cracked her neck. "You ready?"

"I'm more than ready. I'm going to enjoy killing the famous Wolf Slayer," Petra snapped, circling Ciara. "I will free Tor and mate with him on your grave."

---