The Arena novel Chapter 23

When I return from trying to find Tana, we instate Galen as my Gamma. It’s an important ceremony. Being that I am a Lycan, my ranked members gain strength from being appointed to their positions. Drinking my blood during the ceremony doesn’t make them a Lycan, but their strength will far outmatch that of a regular werewolf.

After Galen takes his oath and we get him established, Bastian and I begin the tour of the packs. We start locally, and I can tell right away that it’s going to be a problem. Apparently, since my parents died, no one has taken charge of the packs, and they seem to have gone astray. That’s about to change.

As we pull up to the packhouse, I can see that there is a very small contingent of pack members here to greet me. This is either a purposeful slight, or the pack was recently decimated. Since I haven’t heard of any recent attacks, I have to assume it’s an insult.

As our driver pulls up, Bastian growls. I look at him, and I can see he and I are on the same page. As the car comes to a stop, Bastian and I get out of the car.

“Alpha Koden,” I say, making a point of looking around at the small number of people in attendance. I can see that a woman, too young to be his mate, but she probably is, has the decency to look uncomfortable. Obviously, someone here has some intelligence or at least a sense of preservation.

“Alpha Cedric. I heard you were dead.” I take my time, looking over his packhouse and the surrounding area before returning my attention back to him.

“You heard wrong,” I say.

“Obviously, he’s right here in front of you. Or are you blind?” Bastian says, intentionally goading the Alpha. If he’s going to be rude, apparently Bastian is going to return the favor.

“And who are you?” Koden snarls at Bastian.

“My Beta, so watch your tongue before I rip it out,” I snap at him.

I watch the woman give him a side-eyed glance and flinch as his hands turn into fists. So, he’s one of those Alphas.

“Is your pack struggling?” I ask, my voice betraying nothing of the furious anger boiling inside me. I see Bastian glance at me and watch as he reins himself in. He’s going to follow my lead. I made the right decision by giving him the Beta position.

“What makes you say that? My pack is doing well,” Koden spouts off.

“Is that so?” Bastian asks, leaving the question open and giving Koden the rope to hang himself with his answer.

Koden, however, isn’t as dumb as he looks. “Well, I mean … it’s been a tough year. My men are working, protecting the pack lands.”

“So you have been attacked recently? I didn’t hear of any attacks in this area.” I turn to Bastian. “Were there any reports of attacks in this area, Bastian?”

“No, my Alpha, nothing came in from this area.”

I turn back to Koden, and I can see that he’s starting to sweat. “Alpha Koden, you’ve either been derelict in reporting attacks in your area, thereby putting your neighbors in danger, or you’ve chosen to insult me by not having a full contingent of your ranked members in attendance for my announced arrival. So, which is it?" Either one is punishable, one more so than the other.

"I ... I ..." He turns, grabbing the hair of the woman beside him and pulling her to him. “Ema, you bitch, didn’t you send that report like I told you?”

He turns to me, pushing the female, Ema, to her knees. “I’m sorry, My Lord, I will punish her for this mishap. I thought,” he yanks on her hair, “that the report was submitted.” I watch as the female grits her teeth against the pain he is obviously causing.

“Let her go,” my voice is quiet, but my tone is venomous.

It takes him a moment, but he releases her, and she falls onto her hands. “Come here, Ema.”

She looks up at Koden, but he is watching me. She stands and comes over to me. She stands in front of me, and I have to admire that she stands tall, her head held high, even though her eyes are lowered in submission of my rank.

“What is your rank, Ema?”

“Luna, My Lord.”

“Luna?” I say, and I feign surprise and look at Bastian. He raises an eyebrow and shrugs as if saying, ‘To each his own.’

“Ema, how long have you been Luna of this pack?”

I nod as if I’m deep in thought. “So, what’s it going to be, Alpha Koden? Loss of title or death? I’m a caring Lycan. I’ll let you choose.”

“What? That’s preposterous! You can’t do this!”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m within my rights, and you’re a lying sack of shit that is willing to literally throw not only your pack but your Luna and mate to the wolves. You choose, or I will.”

I watch as his eyes glaze over, and I see Luna Ema in front of me tense. I look at Bastian, and he nods. I push Ema behind me just as 20 pack members come running around the side of the house. They take a stand in front of Koden.

“Do you really want to do this, Koden?” I ask him.

“Time for a change in leadership,” he snarls, and his pack members attack.

I shift immediately, as does Bastian. It doesn’t take long before we’ve torn down Koden’s warriors. I stand in front of him, slowly walking toward him. His eyes are wide, and he’s looking around like he can’t believe that Bastian and I were able to take out 20 of what I’m assuming were his best warriors.

No one knows what being in the arena is like. When every fight you’re in is a fight to the death, you learn how to take out your opponent quickly. Bastian may not have been in the arena, but he’s been fighting against Troy’s oppression as long as I’ve been fighting in the arena. Neither of us knows how to lose.

“Please,” Koden begs.

I grab him by his neck, lifting him off the ground. “Please, what?”

“Please … spare … me,” he chokes out.

“No,” I snarl, and I take off his head. I turn, facing the group that has assembled. “Anyone else?” I turn my head, looking at every member of the pack.

“Spread the word. The Alpha of Alphas has returned. And the penalty for disrespecting me is death.”