AUTHOR'S NOTE
This chapter was supposed to be chapter 69. Sorry for the mix up.
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Miranda's POV
My heart starts to beat like crazy. What did I just hear her say?
'Where she comes from, they chall enge their Luna to a duel all the time!?'
What the fuck!
I just can't comprehend, like what kind of a place did they came from?... In North America, duels are only used to settle serious disputes, not for the fun of it, and certainly not to take positions away!
'What the hell have I gotten myself into!? What's the essence of getting a position that I won't be able to keep? What's the essence of getting a position that would get me disgraced or killed in front of thousands of shifters and humans?' I ask myself again while imagining myself fighting in front of the kind of crowd that came to watch the duel between Thor and his brother...
I'm naturally not a violent person and I never get myself involved in any dispute that I'm sure wouldn't be to my advantage. Celine never warned me about this, otherwise, I'm not sure I would have agreed to it. I would never have agreed to get beaten and torn into no matter how mouth-watering the offer is. I would never! I need to talk to Celine as soon as possible
"Are you scared?!" Her voice startles me out of my thoughts when she whispers in my ears.
"You should be. Who knows, it might be a fight to the death kinda duel." She says again so casually with a smile one would think we are discussing something as simple as the day's weather.
Suddenly, the smile on her face vanishes and her eyes widen as if she's going insane. She looks so fearsome with her canines peeking out, I automatically take several steps away from her.
She growls
"We are Vikings! Fighting is important to us. War is in our blood. Back in the day, we attacked and raided settlements to find treasures, slaves and take control of more lands. Now, we just fought wars as a way of taking control of more packs and positions and I'm coming for yours, Luna!
Pussies like you who like to reap where they did not sow make me sick to my stomach. You made the biggest mistake of your life by stealing my Luna's mate. You will die! So if you care for your miserable life and know what's good for you, then run. Run now and never look back!"
I'm about to run as she advised
"What's going on here?" A voice asked behind us and I let loose the breath I had no idea I was holding. I turn with relief and my spirit that just soared takes a nosedive when I see Thor's friend.
His eyes are trained on me like a hunter who doesn't want to lose sight of his prey as he advances toward us. I slowly backed away from them. I know from the look in his eyes and his elongated canines that he wants nothing but to kill me right there
My back hit a strong wall and I immediately turn to see Thomas the driver, also baring his canines at me in a deadly smile. I feel cornered like a frightened mouse. They just want to scare me. They wouldn't dare harm me or would they? I weakly thought
"What's going on here Ella?" He ask again with his cold eyes still fixed on mine.
"She lied against me, Beta. She accused me of fucking the General! Her accusation could cause my mate to reject our mate bond and divorce me. I feel wronged by her lies and because of that, I'm challenging her to a duel! A fight to death duel!"
"Oh, is that so?... Thomas, can you confirm what Ella said? Did this woman truly accuse Ella of having an illicit affair with the Alpha?"
"Yes Beta, I heard it all. I was shocked when I heard her accuse Ella of sleeping with the General. Also called her so many bad names; uncouth, barbarian, and many more..."
"Hmmm, Is that right?..." He ask me with a raised brow
"I - I just thought... I didn't know... I - I..."
"That was not a rhetorical question!" He interrupts my stammering. "I asked you a question that required just an answer. A 'Yes or No answer. Did you accuse Ella, an Omega of this pack, of sleeping with the Alpha?"
"Y-yes!..." The truth slips out of my mouth like I was magically compelled to say it. "I only accused her of that because..."
"I don't need to hear anything else. The 'yes' is all I need... So do you have any evidence?"
"Huh?..." I ask, wondering what I need evidence for. I said what I said out of jealousy not because of anything. If he'll only allow me to explain what made me accuse her then there'll be no need for him to be asking for evidence. We can just settle everything right here in the parking lot.
"I ask if you have evidence to support your accusation?" He says again
"No, I don't have any evidence to support my accusation but if you'll just allow me to explain my reasons then you'll understand me better," I say in desperation but he just smiles coldly
"You just accused an Omega that's already mated and also legally married to one of the Alpha's closest men of having an illicit sexual relationship with the Alpha, your supposed mate without concrete evidence! How stupid can you be!?" He spat out in disbelief, his voice feels like a sharp whip on my skin
"I'm sorry but no amount of explanation can fix this, princess, because this is not the Night Howlers pack where daddy and mommy can give you whatever you want and make you get away with any injustice you mete on others.
Your baseless accusation could cause a rift in the relationship between the Alpha and Ella's husband who is one of the Alpha's most fierce warriors. Hell, it could even lead to internal war within the pack"
"I'm sorry! I'm not aware she's mated and legally married. I just..."
"No! Sorry doesn't cut it! You heard Ella, didn't you? She feels seriously wronged by your unjust accusation that could bring an end to her mate bond and she demands justice through a fight to the death duel. A duel is what she wants and that is what she will get. I'll make sure of that.
I'm literally shaking with fear. The finality in his voice makes me feel faint. I sway on my feet, wrapping my arms around myself as if embracing myself can shield and protect me from the problem I brought over myself.
"Are you scared?" He asks mockingly. "You don't have to be scared, you know. If you're truly Ash, the Alpha's fated mate then fighting with Ella to the death will be like child's play to you. Your sorcerer should have known that if he or she was truly a sorcerer and not just an ordinary magician..." He says then turn to Ella
"Take her to the mansion and show her to her room. Make sure she doesn't leave the mansion. I'll speak to the Alpha about this and a day for the duel will be picked and announced all over."
As they led me to the car Thomas was driving, my mind keeps thinking...
'Find a way to get in touch with Celine. It's actually a good thing that they're going to leave you alone inside a room and not under their watchful gaze because that's an opportunity to get a call through to Celine. She's the only one that can help you right now.'
The Silver Moon's Alpha mansion is grand. The architecture and decor are breathtaking. I've had the opportunity to be invited for dinner here with my parents twice and I wished then that the place belonged to my parents so I would inherit it one day as the Luna of the pack.
Now as I step inside the mansion, I can't even admire the decor as I did before. My mind is busy thinking about how I can save my life. They take me to a random room and I hear the key turning in the lock.
Immediately I hear the heavy booted feet of Thomas walking away, I look inside my backpack for my phone
"Luna. When is the inauguration going to be?" Celine happily asks me in greeting.
"There's not going to be any inauguration, Celine?" I reply to her regretfully
"What do you mean by that!? Don't joke around with me, girl!" Celine says snappishly. "They had people watching you and I was told he not only accepted you, but he also happily embraced you!"
"Yes, he did but..." I say, explaining everything I did to her.
"I'm sorry for spoiling the whole plan, just please get me out of here!?" I plead after I'm done explaining but Celine just laughs.
"Don't be sorry because you're right to do what you did. The problem is you didn't go about it the right way... The seer told you to get rid of Ash first or have you forgotten? If she dies today then everything about her will be forgotten and they will have no other choice than to love and accept you..."
Celine and I talked and my troubled mind eased after she taught me what to do and how to go about it. Thor will be mine for good when I finally take Ash out of the picture.