Needed A Fix

As Aiden and Lucian walked toward the field, they looked like a president and his deputy, one with an air of dominance, the other with an aura of quiet defiance.

Lucian moved with the confidence of someone who had nothing to prove, while Aiden, despite his frustration, held his head high, determined to make a statement.

The moment they stepped onto the field, the murmurs of the crowd quieted, all eyes locking onto them. The tension was thick in the air, and then...

"Oofs, finally, you come back. I almost thought you ran," Dave sneered, arms crossed over his chest as he smirked at Lucian.

Aiden's steps faltered for just a second. Did this boy just...?

His fingers curled into fists at his sides, his jaw clenching. How dare this guy speak like that to Lucian?

The audacity.

He tried to control the irritation bubbling inside him, but it took everything in him not to snap. He bit down on his tongue, forcing himself to breathe through his nose.

But until Dave went too far,,

"No, no, absolutely not. I'm not fighting the kid! That's like a sin, and I refuse to sin." Dave suddenly exclaimed, laughing as if the thought alone was ridiculous.

And that was it. Aiden had enough.

His sharp gaze cut to Dave, his voice laced with cold amusement as he spoke. "I know, I know my body doesn't really match my age, so sure, enough, I get why you'd think I'm a kid. But it doesn't matter if I am or not. Actions will speak, and then we'll see who's really the kid here."

The sneer on Dave's face wavered for just a split second before he recovered, opening his mouth to retort, but Aiden wasn't done.

"And one more thing," Aiden added, stepping forward slightly. "We never run away from whatever. So you're absolutely wrong to say you thought he ran."

The silence that followed was brief but heavy. For a fraction of a second, Dave's eyes flickered with something unreadable, as if thrown off by Aiden's boldness.

Then unmistakable voice cut through...

"Lucian," the Luna's sharp voice cut through the air. Her face was tight with disapproval as she crossed her arms. "Why did you bring him here? Don't tell me you're letting him fight Dave! This isn't a game. He's only good at talking!"

'Ugh! Not again!' Aiden muttered to himself.

Laughter erupted from the Ironwolf pack at her words, loud and mocking.

Aiden's teeth ground together, his nails digging into his palms as he swallowed down the sharp retort threatening to spill from his lips.

Lucian, however, didn't even spare the Luna a glance. He stepped closer to Aiden instead, his voice steady but quiet. "You ready?"

Aiden lifted his chin slightly, masking his anger behind indifference. "Yeah."

Lucian hesitated, then lowered his voice even more. "Okay. But if it gets tough, you are free to surrender. No one's saying you have to die trying."

Aiden stilled.

A slow, humorless chuckle left his lips before he shook his head, his face twisting in disbelief. "You seriously saying this to me?" He turned his head, eyes narrowing at Lucian. "You still don't trust me. You still don't think I'm good enough. Or did you bring me here with the intention of humiliating me!"

Lucian's brows drew together. "That's not what I meant. I was try..."

"No, forget it." Aiden cut him off sharply, turning on his heels and walking away before Lucian could say another word.

Lucian exhaled, rubbing his fingers against his temple.

Before he could even process what had just happened, the fight was starting.

Aiden and Dave stood opposite each other, the tension thick between them. The second the signal was given, both wolves lunged.

Aiden moved fast- faster than anyone had expected. His body was a blur as he dodged Dave's initial strike, pivoting on his heel and delivering a sharp kick that Dave barely managed to block.

That was just anger, caused by everyone and everything.

The crowd stirred, murmurs of surprise rippling through them.

But Dave was experienced, and he wasn't going to let Aiden have the upper hand, whatever it took.

He retaliated quickly, using brute force to overpower Aiden, landing a blow to his side that sent him skidding back a few feet.

Lucian's heart leaped into his throat. His fingers twitched at his sides, itching to intervene, but he forced himself to stay put.

Aiden coughed but wiped his mouth, eyes blazing with determination as he pushed himself back up.

And he fought back.

He was relentless, weaving through Dave's attacks, countering them with surprising speed and precision.

He anticipated moves before they came, adjusting fluidly in response. He wasn't just blindly attacking, he was thinking. Calculating.

Even the Luna had fallen silent, watching with an unreadable expression.

But still, Dave was strong. Experienced. He knew when to strike, how to bait an opponent, and soon enough, he got to Aiden again, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Lucian felt his pulse pounding in his ears. Not because he was afraid Aiden would loose, but because he thought Dave was being brutal to him. Was hurting him.

Aiden groaned, shaking his head as he slowly got to his feet, breathing heavily. He was drained, but so was Dave. The fight had dragged on far longer than anyone had expected.

Dave was using more brutality because he had just tell that Aiden was not as clueless as he thought...

The fight went on until Aiden seemed like he was giving up, even though Dave was totally drained too, he still attacked Aiden, and Aiden seemed like he was at the end.

Suddenly, "Aiden!"

Lucian's voice rang out, the first time he had called Aiden by his name ever since they met.

Aiden's chest tightened.

"I really meant it when I said you're good enough!" Lucian's voice was raw, unguarded. It wasn't calculated, wasn't forced, it was genuine.

And that only, the genuineness in it, made Aiden's body moved before his mind could catch up.

He shifted, fast. Faster than anyone had ever seen. One second, he was human, the next, wolf. Then back again. The transition was so seamless, so rapid, that it left everyone, including Dave, momentarily stunned.

Dave didn't know how to attack that...

And Aiden used that moment.

He swept Dave's legs out from under him, knocking him off balance. Memories of Lucian's training echoed in his mind, every criticism, every lesson, he used all of it.

He held Dave down, and he couldn't even raise his head, and that's how Aiden won that.

Silence.

Then... Clapping.

A slow, deliberate clap from the late Alpha Noman. He smiled, nodding in approval.

Jackson practically tackled Aiden in a hug, cheers erupted from the pack, lifting Aiden up in celebration.

He grinned, but as he was hoisted above the crowd, his gaze locked onto the Luna's.

And he smirked, just as he had planned.

Lucian, on the other hand, watching, felt something unexpected flood his chest, something that sent him spiraling, overwhelmed by emotions he couldn't quite place.

Without another word, he turned and walked away, needing to get himself together.

He needed a fix.