The duel began with a roar that shook the earth.
I'd spent the entire day dreading this moment. Trying to find a way to stop it. Talking to teachers, to the council, to anyone who would listen.
No one would help.
"Tradition is tradition," they all said. "The challenge has been accepted. It must play out."
So here I was. Standing at the edge of the arena as the sun set and the moon rose, watching as the entire Academy gathered to witness two Alphas fight over me like I was a prize to be claimed.
