Page 67 of The Moonborn's Curse
She had just beaten the future Fang.
The yard went silent.
Seren stood over Dain, her breath coming in hard, measured bursts, the pulse in her ears louder than the noise around her. She offered him a hand.
Dain was still on the ground, staring up in disbelief, his chest heaving. He looked less hurt than shaken—not just by the loss, but by the fact that he'd underestimated her. He ignored her hand and got up on his own.
Seren stood tall, brushing sweat off her brow. Her eyes swept the circle, daring anyone to call it luck. She could feel the bruise that was going to form on her right cheek. Her left side hurt.
And then—
And then the whispers began.
Not spoken aloud, but flickering along the tribelink, and Seren felt every one of them like heat crawling under her skin.
"She beat Dain?"
"Hagan's not going to let this go."
Hagan, leaning against the rail, arms crossed, said just loud enough for all to hear:
"Someone check her pockets for charms."
Snickers followed.
Seren turned her head slowly toward him, eyes like steel.
"I don't need witchcraft to beat a weakling like you, Alphason."
A fresh wave of murmurs surged through the air like the stirrings of a coming storm.
Even Garrik stiffened.
"Seren," he warned. "That's enough."
But the gauntlet had already been thrown. No alpha born would back down.
Seren didn't look away.
But Hagan's pride had already taken the blow.
His eyes narrowed. "You want to challenge me?"
"She didn't say that," Garrik started—
But it was too late.
Hagan uncrossed his arms, pushing off the post he was leaning against. His gaze was cold. Focused.
"You sure you want to find out what it takes to beat me?"
Her silence was all the answer he needed.
Her refusal to back down was answer enough.
And so — the Alphason stepped into the circle. Seren could see Lia's sly smile over his shoulder. The whispers in the wind restarted.
"He'll put her in her place."
