Moonborn: Rise of the Wolfless Luna

Alfred carried Bella quickly through the halls of the pack house. Her body felt heavy in his arms, and he could feel his heart beating fast with worry.

"Stay with me, Bella," he whispered to her as he walked.

The pack doctor's office was at the end of the medical wing. Alfred kicked the door open with his foot since his hands were full.

"Doctor Martin!" Alfred called out urgently.

An older man with gray hair and kind eyes looked up from his desk. "Alpha Alfred? What happened?"

"She collapsed," Alfred said, laying Bella gently on the examination bed. "Something strange happened back there. Everyone felt some kind of power, and then she just fell."

Doctor Martin moved quickly to check Bella's pulse and breathing. "Her vitals seem stable. Let me run some tests."

As the doctor worked, Alfred paced back and forth like a caged animal. His mind was racing with worry and anger.

How dare Lydia do this to Bella? How dare the elders treat her like a criminal?

But his thoughts were interrupted when the door burst open.

Lydia walked in, followed by three of the pack elders. Her face was flushed with excitement, like she had been running.

"Alfred," she said breathlessly, "we need to talk."

"Not now, Lydia," Alfred said without looking at her. "Can't you see Bella needs medical attention?"

"That's exactly why we need to talk," Elder Marcus said. He was the oldest of the elders, and his voice carried authority. "What happened back there was not natural."

Doctor Martin looked up from his examination. "What do you mean?"

"The girl released some kind of energy," another elder, Elder Thomas, explained. "Everyone in the room felt it. It was... unsettling."

Alfred turned to face them, his eyes flashing with anger. "So what? Maybe she was scared. Maybe it was stress from being locked up for no reason!"

Lydia stepped forward, and Alfred could see the calculating look in her eyes. She was planning something.

"Alfred, honey," she said sweetly, "I know you care about this girl. But the pack comes first. You know that."

"Get to the point," Alfred said coldly.

Lydia smiled, and Alfred didn't like that smile at all.

"I'm challenging her," Lydia announced. "For the right to be Luna of this pack."

The room went completely quiet.

"What?" Alfred said, his voice dangerous.

Elder Marcus stepped forward. "It's within her rights, Alpha. According to pack law, any female member can challenge for the position of Luna if the Alpha has not yet made his choice official."

"This is ridiculous," Alfred said. "Bella isn't even conscious right now."

"She will be," Lydia said confidently. "And when she wakes up, I'll be waiting."

Doctor Martin cleared his throat. "Actually, she's waking up now."

Everyone turned to look at the bed. Bella's eyes were fluttering open, and she was trying to sit up.

"Take it easy," Doctor Martin said gently, helping her sit up slowly.

Bella looked around the room, confused. "What happened? Where am I?"

"You're in the medical wing," Alfred said, moving to her side. "You collapsed back at the prison."

Bella's memory came back slowly. The elders, the talk about curses, and then that strange warm feeling in her body.

"How do you feel?" Doctor Martin asked.

"I'm okay," Bella said, though she still felt a little dizzy. "Just tired."

Lydia couldn't wait any longer. She stepped forward with a big smile on her face.

"Well, well. Look who's finally awake," she said in a fake sweet voice.

Bella looked at her warily. She remembered this woman from earlier - the one who had her thrown in prison.

"What do you want?" Bella asked quietly.

Lydia's smile got bigger. "I want to give you a chance to prove yourself."

"Lydia, don't," Alfred warned.

But Lydia ignored him. "I, Lydia Whitmore, daughter of Beta Marcus Whitmore, challenge you, Bella White, to a trial by combat for the position of Luna of the Moonshadow Pack."

Bella's eyes went wide. "A what?"

Elder Marcus stepped forward to explain. "A trial by combat is an ancient pack tradition. Two females fight to determine who is worthy to be Luna. The winner gains the right to stand by the Alpha's side."

"And the loser?" Bella asked, though she was afraid to hear the answer.

"The loser leaves the pack forever," Lydia said happily. "And can never return."

Alfred exploded. "This is insane! I won't allow it!"

"You don't have a choice," Elder Thomas said firmly. "The challenge has been made according to pack law. It cannot be withdrawn."

Alfred turned to Bella. "You don't have to do this. You don't have to prove yourself to anyone."

But Bella was looking at Lydia with a strange expression on her face. Something was stirring inside her - not her wolf, but something else. A kind of strength she didn't know she had.

"What are the rules?" Bella asked quietly.

"Bella, no," Alfred said urgently. "Don't even think about it."

But Bella kept looking at Lydia. "I said, what are the rules?"

Lydia's eyes gleamed with excitement. "It's simple. We fight until one of us submits or can no longer continue. No weapons, just our natural abilities."

"Natural abilities?" Bella repeated. "But I don't have a wolf."

"That's your problem, not mine," Lydia said with a cruel smile.

Elder Marcus looked uncomfortable. "Perhaps we should reconsider. It doesn't seem fair-"

"No," Bella said, surprising everyone. "I accept the challenge."

The room erupted.

"Bella, what are you doing?" Alfred grabbed her arm. "She has a wolf! You'll be fighting at a huge disadvantage!"

"I know," Bella said calmly. "But I have to try."

"No, you don't!" Alfred was getting desperate. "I'm the Alpha! I can choose whoever I want as Luna! You don't need to fight for it!"

Bella looked at him with sad but determined eyes. "Yes, I do."

"Why?" Alfred asked, his voice breaking a little.

Bella stood up slowly from the examination bed. She was still a little unsteady, but her voice was strong.

"Because if I don't fight for my place here, I'll never truly belong," she said. "Everyone will always think I'm just some weak girl you took pity on. They'll never respect me as their Luna."