One year later

And the Champions of Archery tournament starts... now. Fran directs the mindlink to the pack as we are distributed through the woods, with our blunt arrows and bows clung to us.

The winner will be crowned as the champion of 2023.

A new tradition we have vowed to do every year because the pack have fallen in love with archery as much as I have. That warms my heart more than I can put into words.

Fran releases the loud horn, signalling that the tournament has begun.

I glance around the woods, my eyes scanning through the trees. Silently I draw one of my arrows and aim behind the tree, trying my hardest to blend in. Someone flies between the clearing and I release my arrow, the end hits their leg with red spotted paint. The person glances down and exhales a long sigh.

Three hits and you're out.

I'm already smirking to myself because they'll probably say that it's unfair but I want to join in because it's fun, not because I know that I can beat each and every one of them. Including Everett who has got incredibly good over the last few months, despite how bad he was at the start. He put in the hours and got the skill in return.

I hear running in the distance and then someone else shouting in frustration. My feet take off in the opposite direction, defending my back by turning around as often as I can. Then I plant myself behind a large tree trunk, the whole thing covering my body with ease.

My eyes spot my mate from across the clearing, he's trying to hide but he's far too big to disguise himself. I applaud him for the efforts though.

I duck down and walk through the trees, tailing him closely. He takes an arrow and releases it into the forest, hitting someone in the arm. Just as he turns around to face me, I quickly draw an arrow and hit him square in the chest.

Everett blinks once and then twice, exhaling a devastating laugh.

"Wow," he shakes his head. "Really?"

I shrug and let my lips fall into a smirk. "Don't hate the player. Hate the game."

He narrows his eyes. "You started the game, actually."

"Oh, yeah..." I plant a hand on my hip.

Everett glances behind me and then takes my wrist, dragging me behind a tree. "What?"

"Look," he says deeply, pointing across the clearing at Milo who is struggling with his bow. Unlike Everett, Milo never really managed to pick up on the skill but he still tries. "Let's go gang up on him."

I turn to my mate and gawk. "You're so mean."

He grins back at me devilishly. "But funny."

"True," I nod and draw an arrow. "Let's go."

Everett chuckles deeply. "Knew you'd back me."

Before I know it we've sprinted across the clearing and ducked behind the trees when Milo turns around, luckily he doesn't see us but he's got an arrow between his bow to attack whenever. I glance at Everett and he signals for me to move in. "Go."

I inhale a breath and run through the dirty ground, Milo's back is towards me. Everett right behind me. I aim and point the arrow just as Milo turns, my arrow hits him in the stomach and Everett hits him in the shin.

"What the fuck?!" He bellows at us both. "You can't gang up on me."

I glance at Everett and he's grinning. "Sure can, brother. Don't hate the player. Hate the game."

My eyes turn to him and I scowl for using my phrase. "I hate you both," Milo growls and draws back his arrow again, only for it to clang to the ground.

I pull an arrow from my bag and line it up against the string of my bow. "Come on," I beckon to him with a smile. "Let's go gang up on someone else to make you feel better."

Milo tuts at the both of us, flicking his eyes between our own. "You guys are so fucking mean but I'm in."

We all smile at each other and take off into the woods, deeper into the centre. "Is this even allowed? Like with the rules."

"No one said anything about making alliances."

"True," he nods. "But you made this tournament."

"If other people don't think outside of the box, then tough shit."

Everett is now grinning at me. "So evil."

"Whatever," I brush off. "Ohh. Ohh. Look. Jesse!"

Milo snaps his attention to Jesse as he runs in the distance. "I got him. I got him."

"Do you?" Everett quirks an eyebrow.

"Shut up and back me, alright? I need the support."

I suck in a breath as Milo draws back his arrow and aims it towards Jesse who is now slowing down. "Breathe, focus and aim. He's pretty much stopped now, so do it. Do it now!"

Milo inhales so sharply that I think he almost goes tumbling backwards, he releases the arrow and it flies through the air. I squeeze together my hands, praying that he hits him. Praying with everything I have inside.

The arrow just about reaches the edge of his arm, paint splashing against the fabric over his bicep. Jesse jumps back and Milo cheers loudly. I lean over to clamp a hand over his mouth. "Shhhh," I say with wide eyes. "Don't draw attention to us."

"Sorry," he mumbles underneath my hand.

I pull back and notice that Jesse has three paint marks on him, meaning that he's out. He curses loudly and strolls towards Fran who is keeping those who have been hit too many times and need to sit out.

"Now what?" Milo asks.

As I turn around, Everett releases his arrow and it hits me right in the stomach. I gape at him. "What the hell?" The blue paint splattered across my black sports top.

He quirks a lip. "Pay back."

Milo fumbles with his bow and arrow and I manage to raise mine quicker than his. "Don't even think about it." I warn him.

"Oh shit," Everett grumbles as we watch a stampede of people running towards us. "Guess they did have the same idea, except they're ganging up on us specifically."

I hear Milo squeak from beside me. "Take cover." I mumble.

We rush to the trees and attempt to hide whilst drawing back our arrows, firing them off into the distance but there are far too many of them. They knew what they were doing, smart bastards.

Before I know it we're being completely ambushed and the three of us are covered head to toe in paint, more than three splodges each. "Looks like we got you guys," one of the pack members drops their eye into a wink. "Alpha, Luna, Beta, all eliminated."

"Smart," I smirk at them. "I'll give you that."

Everett drapes his arm over my shoulder as we stroll back to Fran. "Ahhhh. Better luck next year?"

"We're going to win next year," I take his hand and grin at him. "Milo will be a pro by then."

Milo snorts. "Yeah and pigs will be fucking flying."

Everett presses a kiss to the crown of my head, squeezing my hand gently. "A successful first year of the tournament, I say."

I nod with a confident smile. "Me too. It's only going to get bigger and better with time."

His eyes sparkle at my enthusiasm. "Even if the pack continue to gang up on their Luna."

My eyes roll gently. "Maybe I taught them too well."

"Maybe, angel," he chuckles before kissing my hair away. "But at least you know they learnt from the best."

I guess that is true.

THE END

♦ ♦ ♦

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Author's Note

I can't believe it's over. I'm about to sob my eyes out!!!😭😭😭😭😭😭

This epilogue might be different to the marriage/kids/serious future but this fits Reign and Everett so well. They said they wanted to take their time, so they are!❤️

This little tradition is Reign's stamp on the pack and I'm so here for it!

What did you guys think?👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼

I would love to hear your comments!

THANK YOU FOR BEING THE BEST!🥹🥰🫶

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