The challenge two alphas one girl
Chapter 79

Fang's POV

The sun had set on the twenty-fourth day of the Challenge and the Berryndale pack house was buzzing with activity. The h.uge dining area had been transformed. The Berryndale pack colours of gold, red and silver had been replaced with baby blue, pastel pink and lavender. There was a huge cake taller than me with seven round tiers each crammed with modelling chocolate made into rattles, cribs and alphabet blocks. The dining table had several centerpieces with dozens of light pink roses and baby's breath. All the place settings, cutlery and napkins were in paster colours. There were glittery pastel macarons and glittery cupcakes. Streamers made to look like baby mobiles hung from the ceiling. It looked like a cross between a barbie magic dream house and a preschool's nursery. Astrid would love it. I hated it but I was happy for her and excited to see her face. It was a bit difficult...ok...wait let me stop lying so much...it was EXTREMELY difficult to enjoy myself when my fate was so uncertain.

I spotted Friday coming down the stairs arm in arm with Thaddeus and Maze. We had all been forced...I mean encouraged to wear either baby blue, pastel pink or light purple or some combination of those three. I was in a baby blue shirt with navy pants. Raelynn eyed my navy pants distastefully. The rules applied to every article of clothing. I smirked at her, daring my new sister to say something. She smirked and walked away. The party decorator was world-renowned apparently. He had been beseeched to come here by Raelynn and Maze. He happened to be a talented wizard. I liked the fact that in Berryndale I could meet creatures other than werewolves. Raelynn whispered in the wizard's ears. He came over to me with a big smile on his face. He was all in light purple with a pointy hat atop his head and a long white beard that almost touched the floor. His whole look screamed wizard. There was no question about it.

"Great ensemble!" He said, smiling and winking. He had an Australian accent which I had not been expecting. For some reason, I had thought he'd be British. I nodded stiffly. "All matching," he added as he walked away. I glanced down and growled a little. My navy plants had been turned baby blue! I looked at Raelynn and she was stifling her laughter. Whatever, it was Astrid's Day.

"Time to go get Astrid," said Maze, coming over to me, not meeting my eyes. The whole we were brothers now because our parents are getting married bullsh!t from Maze had flown out the window when I'd revealed my almost betrayal of Friday. I walked away from him and headed up the stairs. I found Astrid sobbing in the bathroom.

"Astrid!" I exclaimed, alarmed. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong? My husband, mate and the father of my child will probably be executed soon and I'll be all alone raising this baby," she said softly. That stung, but she was right. She had even more to worry about than I did. At least my worrying would be over soon enough.

"Astrid, I'm so sorry I put you through this," I murmured, scooping her up. I had told her I was taking her out to dinner tonight so she had dressed up in a red mini dress. Like I said, the colour theme wasn't important to me so I wasn't going to trick Astrid into wearing it like Raelynn had specified. "Let's get some food in you! That would help. You haven't eaten all day. Hardly eating and seldom sleeping had become Astrid's new norm. She dried her tears as I carried her down the stairs. The wizard was in the entrance room. Ugh! Raelynn had probably sent him. He winked and the red dress became pastel pink. Astrid was too distraught to notice but at least she'd stopped crying.

We entered the dining room.

"SURPRISE!!!" Yelled everyone jumping up from their hiding places.

Astrid sniffled and then her face broke into a small smile. She wiped her eyes again. "Thanks everyone," she said, hiccoughing.

I saw Friday nudge Thaddeus and Maze simultaneously.

Thaddeus cleared his throat, stepping forwards. Maze also stepped forwards.

"Good evening everyone! Welcome to Astrid's surprise baby shower. Her husband and mate is my Beta and this is their first child! Said Maze, pausing for everyone to cheer. "Before we get this party started," said Thaddeus, "Maze and I have an announcement to make.

"Concerning the fate of Fang Fenestra," said Maze, electing gasps from everyone. The atmosphere instantly became test. "I am happy to announce that Fang will not be executed."

I swayed on the spot a little. Astrid clutched me so I could balance against her. She was trembling. Everyone gasped. Cheers erupted throughout the room. The Berryndale warriors I had fought with at the Vampire Manor were whooping. My mother began to sob into Malachi's shirt. Friday was dabbing her we.t eyes. Raelynn was sniffling. The twins h.ugged each other and then h.ugged an elated Katrina. "However," said Maze. The celebration stopped.

"He will serve a one year term imprisonment," said Thaddeus, making everyone fall silent again. I nodded. That was more than fair.

"This is to be served under house arrest."

More cheers. Yay for house arrest. I grinned, not believing my good fortune. I wouldn't miss out on anything with my baby. I held back tears. Astrid was sobbing openly now.

"Therefore, he'll need to be fitted with an ankle bracelet for taking purposes which will only be removed if I am satisfied with his deportment during the house arrest."

I nodded.

"As per the post of Beta, Fang will be on probation for one year, under intense scrutiny by me. The ankle bracelet allows him to still shift. He will also attend anger management classes and sensitivity training which he must complete to my satisfaction," said Maze.

There were murmurs of agreement and then a deafening round of applause.

I dipped Astrid and kissed her passionately, making several girls squeal and giggle. The rest of the party was a blur. I had a few celeb.ratory shots regarding my pardon, then I had a few congratulatory shots as I was to be a new father and lastly a few more festive shots because it was a party. I slow-danced with Astrid who seemed delighted despite how drunk I was. When we got back to our room, I held her to my c.hest and we soon fell asleep peacefully.

Maze's POV

I woke up when the sky was a pale blue as the first few rays of sunlight streamed through my window. I could scarcely believe it was the twenty-fifth day of the Challenge. On the thirtieth day, there would be a h.uge ceremony held outside under the light of the full moons and my everything, my Friday, would give her official answer, her choice, the victor of the Challenge. I sighed. No one knew that both Thaddeus and I were comfortable with sharing our Luna. No one but Theo. There was a knock on my door. Friday? I practically flew to the door to unlock it. It was Katrina.

I stared at her, shocked.

"May I speak with you a moment?" Asked Katrina hesitantly.

I nodded groggily and went to sit down in one of the chairs by the table. Katrina sat across from me.

"I need to come clean," said Katrina. "It's about the plot to kidnap Friday."

I sat up straighter. I felt wide awake all of a sudden. "Yes?!" I prompted her. She took a deep breath and then sighed.

"Fang and I met in a bar and then he brought up the idea of getting rid of Friday. He never wanted her murdered. He negotiated that she be kept as a servant by Ezekiel. Of course, Ezekiel planned to double- cross Fang because k!lling Friday would weaken both you, Maze, and Thaddeus, leaving both Berryndale and Marigold vulnerable." Katrina said all of this in one breath. She paused to catch her breath. "So you knew that all along?" Maze asked blankly.

"I suspected as much but Fang wanted the kidnapping plan called off just a few days after we made the plan so I got Ezra to protect Friday from any vampires tailing her. Fang never knew about the possible k!lling. Also, back then, Ezekiel must have thought that the experiments on Friday and Raelynn had been unsuccessful so they would've been expendable in his eyes," explained Katrina.

"So what you're saying is I can't fully trust you yet either? You were in cahoots with Fang at one point and knew your stepfather might have Friday killed," I said. Repeating it all made it sound all the more treacherous but in all fairness, Katrina was a vampire so it made complete sense that her loyalty would have been to her stepfather, the so-called "Vampire King." Nevertheless...

Katrina's POV

The Berryndale pack warrior was kneeling before me. I stretched my foot out sighing. I winced as the anklet bracelet clicked around me. It didn't hurt but the metal was cold and the echoey-sounding clatter, the clasp as it closed was daunting.

It evoked feelings of melay

Next to me, Fang's more

complicated ankle bracelet was being placed on his left ankle. His was adapted so that it would change shape when he shifted to remain on him. Fang smiled at me. I smiled back. We brought a whole old meaning to the term "Partners in crime."

The twins were standing in the hallway leaning against the wall, waiting for me. We were supposed to be going for brunch. I had to admit my ankle bracelet did not match my red ensemble. I got up and followed the twins. Maze had put that sentence on me so fast. He actually had to wake Thaddeus out of bed to agree to it. The twins and 1 got into a car belonging to either- Timothy or Titus. My twins had borrowed it. Fargo sped off. The brunch place we went to was called Nymph. I gasped when I spotted them! The booths were arranged around a huge circular pool. In the pool were Hydriads, known more commonly water nymphs. They did not have scales or fins. They looked just like ethereally beautiful human women. They swam in the water as though they were scaled, as though they were fish. I was mesmerised by them. I felt eyes on me. The twins had been staring at me while I stared at the Hydriads. I blushed. The twins grinned at and I returned to poring over the menu. My ankle bracelet was made to beep and alert the authorities if I set foot (literally just one foot) outside of Marigold or Berryndale.

"I wanted to say sorry," I told the twins, feeling nervous about their reactions.

"Huh, for what"asked Fargo.

"For endangering Friday, your sister," I said with a deep sigh, my eyes wide and glistening with tears.

"We forgive you, Katrina," said Fallon, reaching over with a napkin to dry my tears. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Friday's POV

Today was Maze's day and we were nearing the finish line of the Challenge. Maze said both he and Thaddeus had a surprise for me. I was so curious about what it was. I showered quickly and got all dolled up with the help of a very cheerful Astrid. I was so happy for her. I was so happy for me. I could not bear to lose another family member. My father had never really been a part of my life and now he never would be. I was relieved for Fang and my future niece or nephew.

I was wearing a floral red and white mini sund.ress. I went to the Alpha Dining Room to find both Maze and Thaddeus waiting for me, looking rather nervous about something.

"Hey Baby, how did you sleep?" Asked Maze, rubbing my shoulders.

Thaddeus made my coffee and kissed my forehead. It was just the three of us at the dining table this morning.

"I slept ok," I lied. I was tossing and turning. My body was restless and my wolf impatient. She was finding thirty days seemed to stretch on forever.

Thaddeus rubbed my cheeks and the bags under my eyes with his thumbs looking at me disapprovingly. He could tell when I was lying so easily. Maze gave me a suspicious glance too. Both of my alphas seemed sleepy today also. It had been a stressful last couple of days.

I ate a minimal amount of breakfast to the chagrin of both of my alphas but I could not stomach anymore. I was anxious to find out what my surprise was. A limousine was waiting for us outside the pack house. I squealed in excitement. I sat between my alphas and Thaddeus popped a bottle of champagne. He poured three glasses.

"To Luna Friday," toasted Maze, clinking glasses with Thaddeus and me.

I sipped the champagne. I was so happy with Maze's fresh clean orchard smell and Thaddeus's earthy alluring rainforest smell filling the limo. I put my head on Thaddeus' shoulders and my legs on Maze's lap. I wasn't sure how I was going to tell everyone on Ceremony Day that I was in love with both Alphas. What would the reaction be like? Thinking about it had my stomach in knots so I usually pushed those thoughts aside so they would not burst my bubble.

We arrived at the venue of my "surprise". It was an incredibly luxurious looking women's clothing store. There was more champagne on offer as soon as we walked in. The shop girls all wore designer uniforms and designer heels. The owner was a glamorous older she-wolf. She could be in her fifties

or she could by one hundred years old as werewolves looked younger than their ages indefinitely. She had straight silver hair down to her shoulders, angular features and perfectly arched brows. Her makeup was impeccably done. She extended a manicured hand to shake mine.

Her uniform was an all grey skirt suit while her shop girls wore black skirts, black blazers and white satin shirts. Everyone had a unique colourful scarf tied either around their neck, wa!st or in their hair.

"Welcome Luna Friday! My name is Madame Delilah DuPont! This is my humble boutique!" She said indicating to the large, high-ceilinged room with chandeliers above us, marble below us and haute couture

gowns lining the walls. She spoke English with a thick French accent.

"Madame dresses Lunas," explained Maze.

"Especially for their coronation day which will be soon after the end of the Challenge," explained Thaddeus.

Madame winked. "I am ze best!" She said. "My family has dressed Lunas for their coronations for centuries!" She added.

I blushed. Coronation? I had forgotten being a Luna was akin to being a Queen. I would be on display for everyone again like the opening ceremony. I felt a bit self-conscious.

"Are you ready to try on some fabulous dresses?" Asked Madame. "But of course, you are!" She answered her own question. "Come, come," she said stepping delicately towards a row of dresses. Thaddeus

and Maze were seated by the shop girls who were swooning over them to my annoyance. The girls offered them Champagne and macarons and other little pastries. My stomach started to growl. I really hadn't eaten much this morning.

"Wala!" Exclaimed Madame, pulling out a red velvet gown with jewel encrusted sleeves and a beaded bodice. It looked immensely heavy.

"Do you like? Of course!" She said, answering herself again.

I tried it on. The dressing room was h.uge and lined with mirrors on all four walls and the ceiling so I could see myself from every angle. I really did look like a queen in this. I wanted something other than red though, gold or pink maybe.

I came out and showed my alphas whose faces lit up. Thaddeus whistled at me and Maze blew me a k!ss. "Bravissima!" He exclaimed.

I blushed. I asked for the colours I wanted. I tried on the gold one first and it dazzled my eyes. I could scarcely look at myself with the dress so covered in shimmery beads. The dusky pink gown was a fast favourite. It was covered in Swarovski crystals and the material itself glittered beautifully. I loved it. It had see-through loose sleeves with rosette appliqués on them. The neckline was sweetheart. It was a

ballgown, fitted at the wa!st with a pouffy skirt.

"Gorgeous!" Said a voice. I jumped.

It was a little girl. Where had she come from?

"Hello. What are you doing here?" I asked her.

She smiled slyly. There was something very not child-like about her expression.

"I'm looking for you!" Said the girl.

"Me?" I asked, confused. I had signed autographs before since the Challenge for little girls who were fascinated by royalty. They had been a lot less off-putting than this girl.

"Would you like an autograph?" I asked trying not to seem cocky or presumptuous.

She snorted with laughter. Ugh.

"No, thanks," she said.

She was a little rude. "What's your name?" I asked, eager to find her parents.

"They call me Prophetess," said the creepy little girl.

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