The Challenge Two Alphas, One Girl

Friday’s POV

Thaddeus looked so broken all of a sudden. I pulled his head down towards mine, pressing my forehead against his. He touched the tip of his nose to mine.

How could I have thought this was a prank orchestrated by my cruel brother? My brother, Fang, was a Beta not a supreme being. He could not command two Alphas to behave like this.

A knock on the door broke us apart.

It was Astrid, Fang’s mate. She despised me. She stood there in a matching yellow tube top and short shorts. Her makeup was expertly contoured and her hair was in an elaborate bun.

or M

attention and before she discovered she was my brother’s mate, she had already thrown herself at all the alphas, betas and gammas she had encountered. She loved being high up in the pack hierarchy and she hated me, the wolf-less lowest ranking she-wolf. She would be livid that two Alphas had challenged each other for me. That was probably her dream. I really just wanted one mate who truly loved me and I hoped Thaddeus or Maze could be that one.

“I have to steal Friday,” she drawled. “She has to be properly attired for the Celebration so she can look she like the prize two Alphas would compete for.”

Thaddeus stiffened, picking up on her thinly veiled insult regarding my looks. I grinned. Thaddeus was such a cool alpha, so perceptive and considerate.

“She already is that,” Thaddeus said. “But, I’ll let you dress her up, even prettier.” He winked at me. I kissed his cheek.

Astrid led me to a room in the pack house I had never seen or even heard of before on the same Alpha floor. It was a walk-in closet filled with formal wear for a woman. Gorgeous gowns lined the walls. There were also headpieces, crowns of jewels, flower crowns and wreaths.

“This is the dressing room for the future Luna,” she said, eyeing me as though I was clearly not the future Luna. Her drawn-on eyebrows did not match her angry expression.

She put me in a dress that was short in the front but long in the back. The material was a pastel pink but was laced with gold thread so it would sparkle in the moonlight tonight. My hair was really wavy, almost curly. She curled it into loose ringlets and actually loved it but I did not say anything because she looked so p*****d off. She put a huge beautiful flower crown on my head. I marvelled at it. The pink and gold roses matched my dress perfectly. I was given heels that were clear as though they were made of glass. They were surprisingly comfortable. She did my makeup a lot less heavy than hers but it suited me. I was shocked at how pretty I looked. I could scarcely believe it. I really looked like a Luna two Alphas would be fighting for.

Thaddeus’ POV

After that scantily clad woman with the strange eyebrows took my little Luna away to get dressed, I also got ready for the ceremony. The men would wear blazers and shirts with trousers. The women would be all decked out in flowers and beads and whatever else.

imet my Beta, Theo, downstairs in front of the packhorse. There was a huge bonfire and the entire Marigold pack was gathered on the grounds, all chattering excitedly. She-wolves were eyeing me hungrily.

I looked around for my mate. Alpha Maze came into view. Ugh that son-of-a-b*tch. If it weren’t for him, 1 would be heading back home with my Luna tomorrow. I had to stay in Marigold two more weeks and then   Maze’s Beta, Fang, was leading the most beautiful woman i naa ever seen towaras us. It was my Luna, Friday, all dressed up, crowned with flowers for the Celebration and Challenge Announcement.

Even though Fang was my mate’s brother, she seemed extremely uncomfortable around him sol didn’t really care to get close to him. He would not be that sort of brother-in-law. They seemed to have a terrible relationship which I was sure was mostly or rather entirely his fault as the elder and more influential of the two.

Fang led Friday to Maze and myself. I linked my arm with Friday’s right arm and my challenger, Maze, was on her left.

Maze‘s POV

I drew a sharp intake of breath. There were gasps from my pack members as they recognised Friday, the shunned wolf-less she-wolf, adorned in flowers and shimmery fabric like a queen. She looked so beautiful. I sighed, noticing Thaddeus immediately linked his arm with hers. Her left arm remained at her side, where I stood. I took another deep breath. I still was not sure why fate had aligned me with this wolf-less girl but it was now or never.

looked up at me, her eyes wide. I remembered how crest-fallen she had looked when I had rejected her and felt a pang of guilt. If I had wrapped her in my arms and marked her immediately, Thaddeus would have missed his chance and I would not

said softly. Her doe eyes grew even wider with shock. “I take

to our conversation. “You look like a goddess, Friday,” he said. “I can’t wait to worship you!” Friday blushed and looked at the ground,

most powerful Beta voice, “Welcome,

The visiting warriors hooted.

from the Berryndale Pack, Alpha Thaddeus Hawthorne and Beta Theodore Rosewood,”

were deafening. Many she–wolves in scantily clad festival outfits were whispering. I could tell they had heard that

night, not only do we celebrate our allies but we also welcome a peaceful challenge

to mate Friday Fenestra,” Fang said. The crowd gasped collectively. The shock

Friday, sympathy for me, agreement

Berryndale discovered he was fated to mate Friday Fenestra, her

Thaddeus’ POV

his rejection of Friday, also accepting her as his mate and Luna,” said Fang, enjoying the rapture of the crowd though his sister was caught in the middle of

think a brother would be much more protective and frankly disgusted that his sister was being fought over like a delicious piece of meat or a desirable woodland territory. My heart went out to

in uproar, all wondering what the conclusion

the crowd to quiet down

have a month to win Friday’s heart and allegiance as Luna. The first two weeks of the challenge, including this very ceremony, will be held in Marigold

of disappointment that they were hosting the beginning ceremony, and not the ending ceremony, where they would learn who Friday chose, but they knew the gossip would reach Marigold at the speed of lightning so they

down. She seemed uncomfortable. “You ok, Friday?” I asked her. “I wonder if I could sit down,” she said softly. “In a moment,” said Maze gently. “She sits now,” I said dangerously. Maze glared

from the bonfire. The crowd parted for us. Maze followed us. I helped Friday into the middle chair

I whispered in her ear. She blushed and

house twice, once by the beta, my own brother, and then by the alpha, my own mate who rejected me on the spot. I was an emotional wreck but I had no time to process

• surreal. The auras of the two alphas were overwhelming me. I felt something stir inside me. Thaddeus’ rainforest smell mingled with Maze’s orchard smell. I smiled a little.

dreaming of, Friday, tell me so I

whispered to him. He chuckled. The pack members were dancing to the beating of drums now. The feast was being set up, buffet style, in the field and light refreshments were being served on huge platters for the while.

lives. The platters came our

politely, smiling at the server who was holding out a

looking at me strangely. “Same as last night,

mumbled, trying one. I didn’t like it. Thaddeus finished it for me. Alpha Maze was looking a

whispered in my other ear. “Your brother was too harsh and I agreed with your ban only because…I couldn’t handle being near your smell

Thaddeus accepted me immediately. I had thought that it would be impossible for an alpha to be proud to have

Alpha Maze,” I whispered

bathroom. I realised I did not even know where that was. I was

really need to use the bathroom,” I whispered to no one in

Maze, rolling his eyes. “Of course I do, my bathroom is adjacent to my room,” said Thaddeus simply. “You’re taking her all the way to the alpha floor to use one of the master bathrooms?” Retorted Maze. “Which other bathroom would the

did indeed both wish me to be their Luna, I should be allowed to use the alpha

the stairs, baby. It’ll give us