---Jason's POV---

Man, that girl knew just what buttons to press. I cringed, hesitant to touch my aching nose after it had impacted with the door.

At first I had hoped I had scored, had manage to seduce the new she-wolf and succeeded in making her fall for my charms and good looks.

It wasn't just vanity that made me say that, as I've had several she-wolves stumble over their feet in an attempt to please me. It didn't hurt to know that you were handsome, right?

The way she had walked towards me, smiling kindly, I had been sure that I had hit the jackpot and would at least get a nice kissing session for my efforts.

One moment I was leaning in, already anticipating to lock with those luscious lips and the next the door had slammed shut with such a force that I was surprised my nose wasn't broken.

A chuckle broke the silence as I squeezed my nose, could feel the heat of the blood trickling down my face. "Shut up, Eric." I grumbled, glancing at the doorway where Eric stood with a smug grin on his face.

"You deserve it Jason." He snickered, shaking his head. "I told you that she wouldn't fall for your silly tricks. Hell, you jumped with both feet in the trap she set up for you." He snorted out a laugh while adding, "Some self-professed playboy you are."

Rolling my eyes at the comment, I growled back "Give me a break man. None of us have found our mates yet. It doesn't hurt anyone if I try to get to know people better, to see if there's a connection."

Eric smirked slightly, barely muffling the laughter behind his hand as he pointed between myself and the door. "Oh, there was a connection alright. I'm surprised there isn't an imprint of your face on the door."

"Well, what about you, Mr. Suave and smooth? Tripping over your words the second she batted her eyelashes in your general direction." I teased, watching his face fall as my own grin intensified.

"Anyways!" Eric interrupted, waving my words away and changing the subject. "Ryan and Blake called through the link a while ago but someone was too distracted, so I came looking for you."

Raising an eyebrow, I waited for him to continue before drawling, "And... ?" hoping I didn't need to drag the information out of him.

"Alpha Blake wants to offer her a position in the pack."

I blinked, eyes flitting to the closed door behind us before I wandered down the hallway in case she was listening in.

"So? Just gives us more time to check her out. I don't see why you're so serious about it." I commented, watching a glare form on Eric's expression as he rubbed his hand tiredly over his face.

"It means, dipshit, that she'll have to undergo testing to see where she ranks." Eric explained through gritted teeth. My jaw dropped as shock spread through my system.

"WHAT? But why? Who's idea was that?!" I exclaimed, cringing as Eric shushed me, dragging me by the arm down the stairs and further away from Lyra's room.

"Ryan's, of course." He scoffed. "He was pretty pissed off when Alpha Blake proposed the idea, so he pointed out that none of the pack knew Lyra's ranking." Eric sighed tiredly, though there was an excited little grin forming on his lips.

New arrivals would usually retain the rank they held within their former pack. But in the case of rogues, nomads and outcasts, they needed to be tested, to undergo a series of trials in order to determine their position.

"So, think we'll get to have a go at her? I can't wait!" I snickered, stretching my arms above my head with a groan. "It's been ages since there was a newcomer, plus it'll be a perfect excuse to look at her for a perfectly fine reason."

Eric snorted before both of us erupted into laughter, making our way back to her room to remain on guard.

---Lyra's POV---

A soft knock on the door leading to my room pried me out of my slumber, making me huff and groan as if felt I had just fallen asleep.

My body protested as I wanted nothing more than to ignore the knock and the person patiently waiting behind the door, and just sink deeper in the covers and sleep.

Instead I groggily pushed myself up from the bed, clearing my throat before calling "Come in." I was still rubbing through my eyes, trying to wake up properly when the door was slammed open and, much to my surprise, Ryan barged his way in.

Closely followed by a woman that shared some kind of resemblance to Ryan, instantly scolding him. "Ryan! Where are your manners? You just don't force yourself into someone else's room!"

Ryan had the good grace to look apologetic, though I nearly cringed the second he shot me a venomous look when I so much as moved on the bed.

"Stop that." The woman added, slapping the back of Ryan's head while she admonished him thoroughly. "Apologize to this young lady for barging into her room uninvited. I've told you before that I am not in danger from her, or anyone in this house."

Jason and Eric both popped their heads in the room curiously, snickering when Ryan reluctantly apologized on his mom's orders.

I could already tell based on Ryan's tensed form and the quick, calculative glances he shot between us, that I would be a fool to disrespect the pack's Luna.

Quickly combing my fingers through my hair in an attempt to tame the wild case of bed hair, I smiled gently as she approached the bed.

"Pleasure to meet you darling. I'm Christy, Pack Luna and mother of this stubborn fool." She added while pinching Ryan's ear between her fingers.

I resisted to grin at his surprised squawk before he rubbed at his ear. "As you can clearly see, they are a little overprotective."

As they should. The entire pack's hierarchy and mental wellbeing was balanced on the power of the Alpha pair. If any harm befell onto her, the entire pack would suffer.

"Anyways," she waved her hand at the slightly grumbling wolves behind her. "I've arranged for clothes and a residence to be allocated after the testing has been completed. That may change depending on how well you do though."

"Testing?" I questioned blandly, noticing how Ryan's previous bad mood suddenly turned quite a bit brighter, aiming a smirk my way.

What did they want me to do? Find and kill some rogues to prove my loyalty? Join on border patrol to protect their territories?

Ryan grinned at my confusion, eyes sparking vibrantly as he averted his face for a moment as if to hide his amusement. He cleared his throat before speaking up.

"Alpha Blake decided to test your skills. You'll be required to fight in both human and wolf form in order for the pack to analyze your strength and give you a proper ranking." The amusement and glee was blatantly obvious in his tone, not to mention that I could smell the lie in his voice.

Most likely Alpha Blake wasn't the one to decide on this and instead, a certain young Alpha-to-be had insisted on this event.

But, that put me in quite a spot as well. Alphas were genetically more powerful than other wolves, not to mention extremely protective of their position.

"Who will I be fighting?" I asked tensely, knowing that if I were to fight a highly ranked member, like a Beta or Beta-in-waiting, my wolf's instincts would make sure that the fight was ended with absolute submission from the opponent.

He smirked, crossing his arms while he leaned against the wall behind him. "You'll work your way up the ranks, if you can win in a fight."

I felt physically ill, wanted nothing more than to lay back down as ice flushed through my veins.

In order to join this pack and gain some security in life, I would need to do my best in these fights and prove my worth. But by doing so, I would reveal myself to be an Alpha-female without a pack.

The second my birthright would be revealed, people would treat me differently. The same way they've treated me my whole life. As if I was a revered being instead of one of them.

For once, I just wanted a pack to see who I was, and not for my perceived rank and status.

"If you'll make it to the final three fights," Ryan continued, completely oblivious of my growing panic, "you'll have to fight us." He said, motioning between Jason, Eric and himself, all of them wearing identical smirks.

At that, a spark of anger and annoyance hit me. The reason they were smirking with amusement, was because they assumed that a she-wolf would be frail and weak.

They didn't think I'd ever make it through the first fights, let alone fight them. Most females wouldn't. Normal females wouldn't.

But I wasn't normal. I was an Alpha, that just got insulted. Unknowing to them, they just told a born Alpha, that they were considered weak.

My wolf mentally growled at that, eager to put these brats in their place. These pack-wolves have grown too used to their everyday patterns that they couldn't think outside of them.

To these three, their rankings were already set in stone; they would be top dogs within the pack.

"And that's where they're wrong." My wolf sneered, baring her teeth eagerly as I agreed wholeheartedly. These three were overconfident to the point it was insulting.

A taste of humble pie would fix that.

Looking around the room, I smirked, realizing these brats thought I would back away from the challenge. That I would refuse and prefer to go back to living life as a rogue.

"Lead the way, Sir." I mocked, smiling as Ryan stood frozen for a moment with his mouth ajar before he managed to collect himself. Shaking his head, he turned on his heel, stepping out of the room without waiting to see if I'd follow.

---Ryan's POV---

I just...couldn't believe how calm she seemed about the tests. Any other female would've quivered in their boots with fear, knowing they had to fight for their ranks within the packs.

Most would outright refuse and take whatever rank was assigned to them. Which is honestly what I had expected as a reaction; fearful, stressed perhaps.

Not glee and excitement.

"Hey, who knows we can actually show her a thing or two. Learn her some moves." Jason smirked, biting his lip even as he spoke over the mind link.

Eric and I blinked rapidly at the sudden flood of unwanted images that leaked through the link.

"Uh, Jason, we're going to fight Lyra, not... you know-" I drawled slowly, trying to suppress the mental picture of a barely dressed Lyra, knowing she was following not too far behind us.

"Fucking pervert." Eric added with a shake of his head before all three of our heads snapped around as my mother shook her own with a sigh.

"Boys will be boys in some ways. But please Jason, keep your ... excitement, to yourself? And respect the girl instead of observing her as a piece of meat." She advised with a pointed look to Jason, who looked absolutely horrified when he realized he had broadcasted his fantasies.

Eric and I roared with laughter as Jason tripped over his words, desperate to try and find a decent excuse to come to his defense.

Lyra just shot us a confused look, raising an eyebrow as if waiting silently for an explanation. I just shook my head, knowing there was no way Jason would have me come to his defense over this mess before I walked out the door.

The entire pack was already waiting, most of the teens as eager as the three of us. The adults were more reserved, smiling to themselves as they all stared at the woman behind me.

Father approached us with confidence and a slight chuckle under his breath, making me tilt my head in curiosity. "Are you ready?" He directed his question to Lyra, who shrugged a delicate shoulder and pushed her hair out of her face.

"Yes," She replied dryly before a grin parted her lips. "but I'm sure this fight for ranking will be very... interesting." Blinked at her response, feeling as if something unspoken was being shared between them.

I jolted in surprise when father slapped me on the shoulder with a head-motion in my direction. "Thank my son, after all, he was the one who pointed out that your rank was undefined according to our pack standards."

A sense of unease tickled in my stomach as once again, they shared a look before my dad turned around, this time addressing the public.

"Welcome everyone and thank you for gathering on such a short notice. " he started, letting his eyes flit over the crowd as he wet his lips. "As you all may know by this time, our pack has received a visitor, a Nomad that I offered a place in our pack."

None of the adults seemed surprised, speaking softly to one another as their eyes flitted between the gathered teens and Lyra with...amusement?

"Of course, like my son has reminded me energetically, she cannot gain entry to the pack without gaining a rank of her own. As such, Lyra will now be tested, where she will have to prove her endurance, speed, strength and cunning in a series of ten fights."

I smirked, eyes flitting to the rogue who just... stood there, taking it all in with a slight smile on her lips. Not at all concerned that she'd have to fight ten of us teens, not to mention two of those fights would be against the Beta and Alpha in line.

The crowd simply agreed in cheers while Blake roamed around the teens, hand selecting the other eight of our fighting group, gathering us all close.

"I want to remember both parties, that there are no severe injuries allowed. No broken bones, no deep lacerations and no intent to kill. Your objective is to pin your opponent down and force them into submission."

His eyes flitted to Lyra, who smiled wider and nodded as Dad continued, "Submission will be shown by licking the opponents throat, or if either party is unable to fight any longer."

Motioning the crowd back, father guided the remainder of the fighters to the opposite side of the field to avoid interference. "Vince, you are first to fight with Alex as second. Travis, you-"

I drowned out the remainder of father's instructions, seating beside Jason and Eric as Vince jumped on the ball of his feet, warming up with excitement.

"First of the four human fights begins now, good luck!"