"You're sure you want to do this?" Karano asked Eliza as they stood on the edge of the volleyball pit with Kenzie and Hazel. They finally understood why they had an indoor beach volleyball pit, instead of an outdoor one. The weather had turned rainy, and while wolves might not mind too much, it was still cold, and other supernatural creatures would rather be indoors in this kind of weather.

Oh, and the sand would soak up the blood from any other duels. Nicholas had mentioned that this wouldn't be the only battle here today, so they assumed more duels were coming, be it a peaceful meeting or not. While they didn't want people to attack each other, it was natural that not all wolves would get along here.

Eliza nodded quickly, hoping lightly in place. She'd already stretched, and Cobium was panting excitedly in her head. "Yeah. I realized it isn't just Kenzie. Everyone else in that pack needs a change. They shouldn't all be afraid to lose their mate because someone can't keep it in their pants. I knew it was weird growing up there, but I never knew how wrong it was until my mother got us out. If I can be with Kenzie, we could do a lot of good. But I've never even thought about being an Alpha, so that will be something to get used to."

Hazel sighed, then hugged her. "And you're okay if you have to move up here?"

That made Eliza frown at the thought of leaving the South Glades pack and especially her two moms. "We'd visit a lot. We could come there in the winter. And you could come up here in the summer. I wish we could all live together, but maybe it's my destiny to come up here and help a lot of other wolves."

"And the snuggling is nice in the winter," Kenzie said with a grin.

"I can't argue with that." Karano liked the idea of Eliza taking control of her destiny for a good cause. Providing a safe home for the members of her old pack could be just the goal she needed. "You'd make a great leader, and having a mate that supports you will be a huge help too."

"So, now I just have to win, right?"

"You better!" Hazel said with tears in her eyes. No matter how confident Eliza and Karano were, she was still terrified. Even if she won, there could be an injury.

Kenzie pulled Eliza in for a hug. "If you win, you better mark me tonight," she whispered while nipping her ear. "You're everything I ever wanted in a mate, and I need you to live. Please? Never turn your back on him, he's a dirty fighter."

"Are you ready?" Nicholas called over to Eliza, interrupting their chat. "Your opponent seems quite eager to start."

Eliza looked over at Rodney, who was standing on the opposite side of the sandy court next to his packmate. He had already stripped down to his boxers, and was pacing back and forth, his eyes trying to drill a hole in her head. So, she gave him a little finger wave.

Other wolves had packed in the stands until it looked like everyone attending the conference must be here to watch. They were all murmuring excitedly, eager to see a challenge like this. Eliza looked around, breathing deep as she started to strip down too. "Yeah, I'm ready."

Kenzie leaned in for a quick kiss, trying not to stare at the newly exposed body of her mate. This was not the time to ogle her, but she couldn't help but notice the corded muscles all over her chest, back and arms, along with the prominent abs above the waistband of her boxers. Tonight though, if all went well, that body was all hers.

"We'll be right here waiting for you." Karano clapped her shoulder, then the other three stepped off to the side. "And cheering you on."

Eliza handed her the sweats and hoodie she was wearing, then turned to face Nicholas. "Ready when you are."

Nicholas nodded, and then turned to Rodney who gave him a thumbs up while licking his lips in anticipation. Walking to the center of the court, Nicholas flipped a switch on a belt transmitter and started talking to the audience. "On behalf of the Spring Shadows pack, welcome to the Farwell Resort, and to this year's conclave!" The audience cheered as he paused to let them get it out of their system before getting back to the speech. "Now, I know you were expecting to see some rogues be judged, but first we have a little bit of a treat."

In the corner, Hazel and Karano shared a worried look at the comment about the rogues. Most of their pack had once been rogues, so they had a much different view of them. Were they going to have an actual trial here? It didn't bode well for the rogues with all the sand.

"This morning, we have a duel scheduled for you to enjoy. On my left, is Beta Eliza Vera of the South Glades pack, who has challenged Alpha Rodney Day of the Black Tooth pack for the right to keep her mate. Since Rodney is an Alpha, and has demanded it to be a battle to the death, the leadership of the Black Tooth pack is also on the line in this match." The murmurs grew into a roar as the stakes were revealed, and soon the whole building was cheering.

Standing between Karano and Hazel, Kenzie started to tremble in fear and gripped their hands tightly. "She looks strong, but is she a good fighter? Please tell me she'll be, okay?"

Karano pulled her into a side hug. "Since we were attacked by your old Alpha, we've all been training, and she's the best of the bunch. If he just tries to brawl, he's in for a rude surprise."

Kenzie breathed a little easier at that. "What about her wolf?"

Hazel snickered at that. "You might be in for a shock at that, just like Rodney will be."

Kenzie didn't understand that but looked back at Eliza as she stalked forward a few steps. As much as Rodney looked as though he was raring to go, Eliza wasn't looking even a little scared.

"Now, with no further ado, let's get this duel started!" Nicholas yelled as he backed away. "Begin!"

With a roar, Rodney rushed across the sand in hopes of grabbing Eliza and preventing her from moving around, as he knew she was quicker than he was. Eliza had settled into a stance and eyed the large man charging her with a grim smile. She knew he wanted her in his clutches, but she wasn't stupid. She also had to be aware of him transforming into his wolf, because she had to make sure that if he did, she countered immediately. But for now, she just sidestepped Rodney and ducked under his arm before delivering a spinning heel kick to the back of his head while he tried to stop his momentum.

He let out a bellow of rage as she danced away, keeping her hands up and loose and ready for his next attack. He slowed down this time as he took steps to close the distance again before he threw a powerful roundhouse punch at her with his right hand. Unfortunately, that was something that Eliza had hoped for, and she grabbed the arm before she leapt up and wrapped her legs around it as she pulled him down in a flying arm bar. She stretched Rodney's arm out as he shrieked, and she knew she could dislocate it any second.

Instead, the wrist she was holding grew brown fur, and the hand in her grip started morphing into a paw. Eliza rolled away, getting a gash on her calf, even as she let Cobium change her into their bipedal form. The familiar shock of her body rearranging didn't hurt any more, and she stood up as a spray of sand pelted her hips as Rodney tried to throw sand into her eyes. If she was in her wolf form, it might have worked, but she wasn't. No, she was much larger, and the crowd gasped at the sight. Her remaining clothes had shredded, and she dropped them in the sand as she gazed down at the stunned wolf in front of her. Cobium was a gorgeous wolf, covered in white fur with black ears and forepaws, and they looked down on Rodney, who had a wolf that barely came up to their waist.

She wasn't sure if Rodney was hesitating because of the size of Cobium, which was almost seven feet tall, or the fact that she was assuredly not a female wolf. She couldn't see Kenzie behind her, but Kenzie noticed as well, and started blushing furiously while biting her lip. Rodney had already tried blinding her with sand, and was unsure what to do next, not having fought an opponent who wasn't in their wolf form. Hoping that a fast attack would catch her off balance, Rodney pounced, flying through the air to try getting her neck.

He never made it.

He was in midair when Eliza backhanded his jaw, sending him tumbling through the sand. She launched at him as he shook his head in pain, and landed astride his back, digging her claws into his ribs. Rodney let out a howl of pain, and blood fountained out of his side.

Eliza drew her hand back for another slash when she was bowled over by a mottled grey wolf, who tore at her bicep to keep her from attacking. Yes, Rodney's packmate had shifted and attacked her, a clear violation of the duel. She grabbed him by the throat with her left hand and ripped him off her arm just as Rodney jumped on her. She roared out at him, catching him by the throat as he scratched at her belly with the other wolf. Both of their jaws were snapping down at her, but the long arms of Cobium's form kept them at bay.

"No! That isn't fair!" screamed Kenzie as she saw the two of them teaming up on her. The crowd was on its feet at the treachery as well, though nobody made a move to help. Karano and Hazel wanted to, but they weren't sure if that would cause issues. Over on the side, Nicholas just stood and watched the events unfold. He had seen many duels in his day, and treachery or not, he knew this fight was over and it would give the young woman a chance to prove herself.

Eliza, for all the cuts and scratches that were appearing on her torso, was incensed at the second wolf attacking her. The duel should have already been over if not for their cheating, and yet she was hardly shocked by it. She squeezed both of their throats, and watched as their eyes grew panicked as their airways were closed off. But Cobium was roaring now. He wanted their blood. Eliza let him have more control, and Cobium ran with it.

With a loud growl, he slammed the two wolves together, dazing them, before throwing Rodney a good ten feet away. With a hand free, he stuck his claws into the other wolf's mouth, gripping the lower jaw before he moved the other hand to the upper jaw, and then flexed. There was a horrible ripping sound, and then a high pitched whine as the wolf rolled away, blood spurting from its mouth as the lower jaw was tossed aside.

Eliza rolled to her feet, facing off against Rodney who had also struggled to his. She could tell he was weak from blood loss, as there were still large drops of the viscous red fluid dripping onto the sand below him. She looked down at her own belly, and could see a lot of blood matting the white fur too, but nothing felt too deep, and she knew it would heal. If anything, more of the blood was from the other wolf who was still twitching in the sand. Looking up at Rodney, she could see the fear in his eyes. He knew death was coming for him, but this was all on him. He could have been a good leader, and let people live their mates in peace. He could have run the pack properly, and respected the people that looked to him for guidance to make the pack prosperous.

Now it was time to own up to it.

But Eliza was kind, and she made it fast and relatively painless. She charged him, feinting low before she vaulted over him while his jaws snapped at nothing. As she flew through the air, she gripped the back of his neck with both of her massive claws, and twisted, snapping his spine and leaving him crumpled in a heap. The crowd went wild at her victory, but she only had eyes for Kenzie, who was beaming at her from between her moms. A hush fell over the crowd as a warm glow suffused Eliza's form, and she looked about in confusion.

"The moon goddess approves of us being the new Alpha," Cobium whispered in awe. "I don't think she liked Rodney as an Alpha, or he would have had a larger wolf."

"What does that mean?" Eliza wondered as the glow started to fade.

"You'll be stronger, and the pack will obey you more readily. The goddess sees you as a true and worthy leader of the pack. We've done well."

Eliza felt even better about the victory and looked up into Kenzie's tear filled eyes with a big smile. As soon as the glow was gone, her mate ran across the sand and gave her a hug on the side and away from the belly scratches and hurt arm, though both were starting to fade along with the glow. Hazel and Karano followed right after her, their eyes bright with proud tears.

"You did so good, cachorro," Karano said while looking over her daughter's wounds. The bicep looked the worst, but she had little doubt that it could be patched up and would heal fast with their werewolf healing. "Or should I start calling you Alpha?"

"Speaking of which," Nicholas interrupted. "That was quite the display. Let me make a quick announcement, and then we'll have the pack doctor look you over, though I think you're in good shape." He gestured to a kindly looking woman with grey streaks in her black hair who was waiting patiently for her to be free. He triggered the box on his belt once more before making his announcement. "Ladies and gentlemen, that was quite the battle! But your winner is Eliza Vera, the new Alpha of the Black Tooth pack!"

There were a lot of cheers, even if there was also some grumbling at the fact that a female would be the Alpha, but times were changing, and several other packs besides the South Glades and Black Tooth packs had female Alphas as well. Plus, nobody could deny her fighting ability during that battle, nor the glow of approval afterwards.

"Come on, young lady," the pack doctor said in a calming voice. "You look to be healing quickly, but let's get you patched up so you can celebrate without making a mess." She put her hand on Eliza's waist and propelled her along while Karano handed Kenzie the pack of spare clothes for afterwards.

They were watching their baby grow up, and now she was Kenzie's to take care of. Not that they wouldn't still be there for her.

"Why don't you get seated. We have one more show for you," Nicholas said to the older pair. "If you enjoyed this last battle, then you might like this next one."