*Casually sips my tea as my readers go absolutely ballistic from my Chapter 28 in Lethal update* Nice day outside, innit?

Lol but seriously go read the two Lethal updates cause... LOL. There are no words.

Anyways, here's an update before y'all tear me apart.

I couldn't sleep.

Who would be able to in my position? I was about to either get killed or possibly kill someone. The anxiety over the threat left my stomach in knots. Not even having Thane hold me through the night was enough to quell my anxieties.

I could barely stop my hands from shaking as I pulled on a pair of black leggings and a black crop top, trying to channel some of Ares' brutality.

"How do you feel?" Thane asked quietly from behind me as I braided my hair in the mirror. My hands were shaking too badly to make tight braids, and I made a frustrated sound as I decided to just leave them loose.

"How do you think I feel?" I muttered sourly.

Thane sighed. "I know, little one. I know. I'm so sorry. It'll be over soon."

Hopefully he doesn't mean my life, I thought bitterly to myself as we went downstairs, where Ares and Luke were sitting, eating breakfast.

Ares didn't look up, her concentration fully on her smoothie. Luke looked at me in curiosity.

"I have to go help set everything up for the challenge," Thane told me apologetically. "I'll see you there, okay? I won't be able to talk to you because... well, you'll see. You'll do great, little one," Thane said as he pressed his lips against my forehead. "Everything will be fine. See you soon."

With those words, he left the pack house, and I realized that it could potentially be the last time I ever felt the touch of my mate. Everything I do could technically be the last time I do it, and the thought made my stomach plummet.

I ate a bowl of cereal, barely able to swallow, and everything tasted like dirt. Lucas went to sit on the couch, and called me over. I went over to him, my legs feeling like Jell-O.

"Sit down, I'll fix your braid," Luke said quietly. At the look of confusion on my face, he said, "My mom taught me how to braid hair. Said my mate would appreciate it."

I nodded, swallowing thickly. His hands were gentle as he undid my crappy braid, and replaced it with a much tighter one.

Ares sat across from me as he continued working on my hair. Her face was completely blank, a serious mask that sent chills down my spine. She really is the most lethal wolf I have ever met. "Attack first," She reminded me, repeating the same words she had beat into me over the last few weeks. "After you first injure her, do it again. Don't wait for her to strike back. Go for the throat. If she's protecting heavily there, which I'm assuming she will be, go for the legs. Incapacitate her quickly, however you can. If you get injured, don't show any pain. Don't show any fear, it'll just encourage her wolf and the next attack will be more brutal and assured than the last."

I nod, completely numb. Luke reassuringly squeezes my shoulder. I heard a knock at the door, and Ares practically sprinted to answer it.

Alpha Cain and Axel came for the Challenge, and were going to take Ares back to Blood Lake later that night.

Ares threw herself into Cain's waiting arms, and they shared a passionate kiss as Axel greeted me. "Onyx," He said, no traces of humor or friendliness in his tone, as he grasped the seriousness of today.

We wasted no time with pleasantries as we started heading for the clearing that Ares showed me beforehand, where we had been training me in wolf form.

I wanted to throw up from how many people from the pack were gathered. I couldn't even see the center, where I would be fighting Brenna.

As we got closer, Ares said quietly, "Pick your head up. Shoulders back. No fear."

Easy for her to say. As she pulled up her black mask, only her eyes showing as her dark fur cloak concealed herself, she looked downright scary. Even more so with the Blood Alpha at her side, looking as threatening as ever, only wearing a pair of worn jeans. His muscular chest and back were covered in tribal tattoos, and it just made him look all the more dangerous.

Wolves parted as Alpha Cain and Ares walked in front of Axel, Luke, and I. Power swirled around them with such ferocity a few wolves were unable to help themselves from falling to their knees in submission.

As we got closer to the center, I was surprised to see Leo standing next to Thane, who had silver chains wrapped around himself, tethered to the ground.

"Oh my god," I whispered in concern for my mate.

Ares' voice penetrated my mind. It's so he can't interfere with the Challenge. His wolf will be going crazy trying to save you, the silver chains will stop him.

My mouth went dry as I responded, and if the chains aren't enough?

Ares gave a half smile. Cain and I will restrain him, if necessary.

I nodded weakly, meeting Thane's apologetic gaze. I looked away, unable to see my mate so helpless.

Brenna stood on the other side of the center of the clearing, her eyes burning through me.

Leo's booming voice echoed through the clearing, commanding all of the attention of the wolves. "As you all know, we are here today for a Luna Challenge. Brenna Lockheed has challenged Onyx Knight, Thane's mate," He emphasized the last word, making Brenna scowl. "For the Luna position. Once the challenge begins, no wolves are allowed to interfere, regardless of what happens. The challenge will only end once either wolf submits or dies. If there are no questions from either challenging wolves, please step to the center of the clearing, and we will begin."

Brenna and I silently stepped to the center, a few feet away from each other. Her eyes were emotionless, and I hoped mine mimicked hers. "Wolves, shift," Leo ordered.

We both shifted into our wolves, and I tried not to notice that her tan wolf was slightly larger than my black one. Ares had warned me that she might be, and not to let that get to me. I felt reassured that Ares, one of the smallest females I've ever met, had taken down so many larger wolves.

"When I say begin, there is no turning back, and the Challenge has officially commenced," Leo declared, and his voice was the only sound I could hear. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Begin."

As soon as he said the word, I launched myself at Brenna, who as Ares predicted, was unprepared for the immediate attack. I was able to latch my teeth on to her shoulder before she shook me off, and I snapped my canines again in the same area, but she was better prepared now, dodging the bite.

We continued snapping at each other for awhile, and as Luke advised me, I let my wolf take over, controlling every attack, every defense. I couldn't deny that we were evenly matched. Every time I was able to sink my teeth into her, she was able to do the same to me. She had been able to rip out a piece of my leg, an injury that had begun to slow my attacks, making me slightly off balance.

I could see why Ares had pushed for such brutal training, why she had no qualms with sending me back to Thane bloodied and bruised. It had made me stronger, more capable, more resilient.

Brenna didn't seem like she was used to such brutality. She had whined loudly when I had torn out a chunk from her neck, and had begun to sway.

Like Ares taught me, I showed no mercy, using her unsteadiness against her. I pounced, and she was too slow to defend herself. My wolf was on top of hers, my canines latched around her throat. I could have torn it out right then and there.

I would have, but I stopped when I heard another whine from her. Her eyes had closed, and her wolf stopped struggling from underneath me. Her neck extended, the ultimate sign of submission.

"Brenna, if you are submitting to Onyx, you need to shift into human form," Leo stated clearly, and in the next instant, she was back in her naked human form. I still had my teeth in her neck.

I hesitated, feeling at war with myself. Ares told me to kill her, no matter what. But then I remembered Lucas. How he showed me that I didn't have to be a brutal monster, how I could be different.

I wasn't Ares, and I never would be. I didn't even want to be, I realized as I shifted back into my human form.

Nudity was a non-issue, especially among werewolves, so I didn't feel embarrassed. My primary emotion, as stupid as it sounds, was concern for Brenna, who had blood seeping from her neck at an alarming rate.

Nobody moved until Leo's voice bellowed, "Onyx Knight is the winner of the Luna Challenge. Brenna Lockheed, if you survive, you will live the rest of your days as a rogue, forever banished from the Blue Moon pack and territory."

My eyes never left Brenna's bloodied body, twisted at an unnatural angle, even as a blanket was wrapped around me. Arms wrapped around me. Thane.

I continued staring at Brenna, as nobody made a move to help her. I was going to go up to her when Ares' voice resounded through my head. Last lesson, Onyx...

Ares was suddenly in front of Brenna, leaned over, the picture of Death in all black. I didn't see her next action, unable to make myself scream even as I saw Ares carelessly throw Brenna's heart to the side.

Never let someone who tried to kill you live.