The Challenge

"Dad!" Helena called out as soon as she spotted Raul approach. "You have to stop them."

"Worried your current lover will lose, Helena?" Ash said with a sneer on his lips.

She glared at the Alpha, and to his surprise, she smiled.

"I'm not worried about Romeo, Alpha Ash," she said, her tone dripping with poison. "I know just how powerful he is. I'm asking Alpha Raul to step in for your pack's sake."

Ash glared at her, his gaze fiery and full of anger.

"My pack's sake?" he asked, his voice rising.

"Do not raise your voice at her!" Romeo growled.

"I will speak to her the way she deserves to be spoken to," Ash said as he taunted Romeo.

Helena prayed that Romeo wouldn't let his anger get the better of him. He needed to remain focused.

"You know what," Helena scoffed. "Your pack will actually be benefiting from Romeo winning the challenge."

"Why you—" Ash charged toward Helena before he was blocked by Neil and Kade.

"You will not touch our Luna," Kade said in a deep voice as he looked up at Romeo and gave him a nod.

"Your Luna?! Your Luna?!" Ash spat. "They aren't mated and their siblings, how sick are you people."

"Stepsiblings," Rae chuckled as she appeared next to Helena. "And it's not like Romeo has ever looked at Helena in a brotherly way."

'Well, she isn't wrong,' Hera teased.

Helena rolled her eyes thinking of how horrible her wolf's timing was.

Helena could feel the heat rising up in her cheeks as she blushed.

She knew people were aware of how she and Romeo saw each other, or at least about how Romeo felt about her, but it was the first time people were saying it out loud in front of her.

"Let's take this outside," Romeo said as he gave Neil and Kade a nod, telling them they could release the Alpha.

Despite letting go of Ash, both wolves stayed near.

At first Helena though Ash would turn and attack her, but to her relief, he didn't and walked out of the dining hall right behind Romeo.

"I can't stop this, Helena," Raul said as he walked next to Helena and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "You know the laws. If Romeo issued an official challenge, then it stands."

"This is crazy," Helena sighed. "He shouldn't be challenging Alphas for speaking the truth. I'm no virgin."

"Okay, I don't want to hear about your sex life, Helena, especially the one you're having with Romeo," Raul said as he fake gagged while they walked out the doors.

Helena's face paled at her stepfather's statemnt.

"We're not— I mean—" she stuttered as she tried to come up with an answer.

"Relax," her mother said as she joined them with Rebecca quietly walking next to Alyssa. "Your dad is just teasing you."

"Yeah, we'd definitly know if thsoe two were fucking," Rae teased.

Helena sighed and shook her head.

"This is very inappropriate conversation to have around a kid," Helena told them as she glanced at Rebecca.

"Do you really think she hasn't heard worse from our parents?" Rae laughed. "Our parents who had an oopsie baby that's young enough to be yours and Romeo's if you didn't keep running."

"Ugh, eew, please don't give me that image," Helena told her best friend as they waited for the other wolves to spill out into the open space in front of the pack house.

Helena's gaze went to the two men at the center.

Romeo was studying Ash, probably thinking of ways to take down his opponent in the most efficient and least brutal way. Ash on the other hand was cockily jesting with some of the members of his pack.

Helena could see the elders of Ash's pack shaking their heads.

They all knew that this match was already decided before it even began.

Ash was too full of himself to realize just how powerful Romeo was, something Helena had only heard about.

She knew Romeo was holding back with her that morning, but tonight he wouldn't.

Tonight, Romeo wouldn't hesitate to teach Ash a lesson.

"I guess it's only fitting for Helena to state the rules and terms of this match," Alpha Ash said, his voice carrying over the crowd. "It is because of her, after all, that we're having this challenge."

Helena knew other wolves were gathering as well.

Unlike the Dining Hall that had limited space, the open space outside the pack house was big enough to gather a good number of wolves.

She could see as some stood on the roofs of their cars or on the beds of their trucks to get a better view.

Helena cleared her throat as she stood between the two men, Neil and Kade at her side ready to protect her in Romeo's place.

"Loser will be the first Alpha to yield or to the death." When she said this, everyone went silent. "The losing Alpha will relinquish his pack, his power, and his wealth to the winner."

"I want to add my own terms," Ash announced.

Helena nodded. She knew he would lose.

"Winner gets you," Ash said with a disgusting smile on his lips.

"She's not property that can be owned!" Romeo growled.

"It's fine, I know you won't lose," Helena told Romeo with a bright smile.

"Then I get to add my own terms as well," Romeo announced as he kept his eyes on Helena.

"Sure, you'll lose anyway," Ash shrugged.

"When I win and you aren't dead, you will get on your knees and beg for Helena's forgiveness."

"Sure, why not," Ash said, grinning as he crouched down, ready to fight.

'He won't lose,' Hera told Helena as she walked away. 'They're too powerful to lose.'

Helena couldn't help but agree with her wolf, she was sure Romeo would come out victorious.

'If I win,' Romeo said through the mind link. 'Will you go out on a date with me.'

Helena stopped and looked at him.

"Win first," Helena said loudly.