---Lyra's POV---

As we slowly circled one another, I had to fight from rolling my eyes as Vince decided to be a so called gentleman. Smiling warmly as he teased, "You know, normally I wouldn't fight girls, but since the Alpha commanded it, I have to abide by the rules."

His eyes flitted over my body, which in a fight normally meant he was looking for an opening to strike. However, I simply felt unease with the way his gaze lingered in the obvious places before he stood upright.

"I don't feel it is fair that you need to fight ten guys back to back. How about I give you a free shot darling?" He grinned as he stopped circling while I paused in surprise.

Head tilting to the side, I smiled before innocently asking, "Really? I'm flattered by the offer. Are you sure I can get a free shot?"

"Yup." He popped, grinning as he held his arms open in clear invitation. "Give me your best shot sweetie."

"Oh, we will." My wolf snarled venomously, more than insulted by this brat.

Poor Vince never saw it coming. One moment he was letting his eyes scan the crowd, as if asking for approval of his gentlemanly behavior.

The next second, my fist plowed straight into his cheekbone, sending him off his feet and staggering back before he flopped on the ground boneless.

Not a single twitch came from Vince as I walked over leisurely before crouching to check his pulse. Still alive and breathing but out cold from a single punch?

I don't think I hit him that hard...

However, when I looked up, everyone in the crowd shared the exact same expression; slack jawed, stunned surprise. Glancing over my shoulder, Blake was barely suppressing his own grin while Ryan and his cronies all shared the crowd's stunned shock.

"Uhm....is he out or is someone going to start counting?" I asked, poking a finger in Vince's direction, much to Blake's amusement.

"Oh, he's out." Blake smirked, motioning the pack doctor to the side to gather Vince.

I grinned at that. "Sweet." My amusement only continued to grow when Emilia was going crazy, being her hyperactive self simply because I won.

"Calm down, you crazy pup. It's only the first fight."

She grinned, baring her pearly whites as a mischievous twinkle sparked to life in her eyes. "But I know! I know what he did wrong!" She sang, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

The crowd watched her with amusement as I approached, biting back my own amused smile. "Reaaaaaally?" I teased, motioning towards Emilia when she nodded eagerly, "Let's hear it then."

"It's simple really, the first rule you told me. Never, ever underestimate your opponent." She stated, raising her little chin proudly in the air as I smirked.

After all, during the brief time we spent traveling alongside one another, I had tried my best to teach her basic survival rules, instincts that she needed to hone.

"Correct," I grinned, winking as she crowed in victory. "I'm glad at least some of my lessons came through."

The people around us gave her a suddenly wary once over, as if expecting the young girl to be a capable fighter. I tilted my head in Vince's direction when there was an audibly pained groan.

With the aid of the pack doctor, he was slowly sitting up, hand gingerly reaching for his undoubtedly sore jaw. "Man, that was one wicked right hook. I never saw it coming! Just, Wham! Lights out!"

"No hard feelings?" I questioned as I approached, amused by the slight awe within his voice. He jolted with sudden awareness, the rapidly forming bruise contrasting against his skin.

Vince gave me a grin before shaking my hand, slowly pushing on his feet and shaking off the pack doctor. "...Still don't know how she managed that..." He muttered as he headed towards the other fighters.

A chuckle escaped me as I replied over my shoulder "You gave me a free shot, remember?" Vince blushed at that, ears running red with embarrassment as I turned to face Blake once more.

The Alpha knew as well as I did that I had a good chance against most, if not all of the fighters. The only one I was slightly worried about was Ryan, simply because he too was born to be an Alpha.

However, the next fighter was called forth and at least had the intelligence to not give his opponents a free shot. Instead, he assumed it would be a good idea to try and wrestle me to the ground, most likely hoping that his pure physical strength would force me to submit.

Instead, when he lunged forwards with the intent to grapple me around the waist, I simply sidestepped him when he was too close to abort his actions.

He quickly realized his mistake but before he could react, I grabbed a hold of his throat and allowed his own momentum to work against him.

Shoving back, his feet slid out underneath him before I slammed him on the ground.

A wet whisper of a gasp escaped him as all the air was knocked out of his lungs, leaving him momentarily stunned. From there, it was relatively easy to put him in a chokehold, pressing my knee into his armpit to prevent use of said arm while my arm was wrapped around his throat.

He only struggled for a moment before tapping out, admitting his defeat. I instantly released him, smiling apologetically as he slowly rolled on hands and knees, still trying to catch a breath.

"Sorry about that." I murmured, cringing in sympathy when he managed to push on his feet, revealing his reddened throat.

I could only assume his throat would be sore as hell for a few days but he should be able to breathe normally. Then again, the pack doctors figured it wouldn't hurt to give him a check up, as they fast approached the unfortunate man.

"S fine." He managed to wheeze, rubbing over his throat before adding a weak, "Where did you learn that?"

Turning away to focus on the next fight, I simply shrugged. They didn't need to know how my parents had taught me basic self-defense, had started on the physical training that any Alpha got.

They would learn by themselves soon enough.

---Ryan's POV---

I couldn't believe my eyes. All ten of my friends that I had selected for this test had excellent fighting capabilities. After all, they were already doing their part in the border patrols!

And yet, here was this, this frail little girl who easily tripped them up and pulled them from their high horses.

From her entire posture, the way she calmy walked back towards the middle of the yard and even had to suppress a yawn, anyone could tell she was bored.

I shot a glance at Mark, her next opponent, only to find him nearly trembling on his feet.

"Come on Mark, she's an untrained girl! Just get in there already!" I snarled through the link as he eyed her warily.

His blue eyes widened in shock before they darted towards me. "Are you fucking insane?" He hissed, returning his gaze to the patiently waiting Lyra. "Didn't you just see what she did to Alex? That doesn't scream untrained whelp to me!"

"Just watch her closely and remember our training. She-wolves don't ever reach the same altitude of training as the men." Jason smirked, never taking his eyes of Lyra. "Of course, perhaps we could offer her a lesson or two after the fights."

I rolled my eyes as Mark slowly approached for the next fight, watching the slightest twitch in Lyra's expression.

She responded to every step he made, placing her feet without hesitation, all the while observing Mark closely.

Clearly he lost his cool and started lunging towards her, movements becoming more panicked as Lyra dodged and weaved with cheeky ease.

Finally, she had enough and reacted after Mark's next attempt. When he lunged past her, she spun on her heels and bolted after him.

The moment Mark turned to face where Lyra would've been standing, she already slid between his open legs before grabbing a firm hold of his ankles.

"Damn, that's a hot move right there." Jason murmured over the link as Lyra slid over the grass, yanking Mark's feet out from underneath him.

"Dude, you've got a lil something-" I murmured while gesturing to the corner of my lips.

Jason hurriedly wiped over his lips only to scowl when he didn't find any trace of drool. "Fuck you. I wasn't drooling over her!"

I chuckled just as Mark let out a startled shout before slamming harshly into the soil. The group cringed with sympathy at the impact while Lyra yanked his arms back, sitting on Mark's back and stretching the joints painfully until he surrendered.

As she moved off of him, she was quick to aid Mark back on his feet whilst apologizing for his undoubtedly sore arms.

Huh...Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea from dad to invite her to the pack... I mean, she could clearly hold her own in a fight.

Still, that didn't mean that my emotional struggle was any less. A part of me still saw her as a skilled rogue showing off her moves but another part of me was intrigued.

"What kind of Rogue helps up he defeated opponent and apologizes for any hurt feelings?" My wolf retorted to the thought, making me snort and shake my head.

"A calculative rogue, one that knows that we'll let our guard down sooner or later and waits to strike." I responded to the wolf before sighing. The pack had trusted rogues before, had held them on their word.

And look how my sister ended up.

The wolf growled and retreated deeper in my mind, leaving me with my thoughts. A sudden shout made me look up, head snapping to the fight just to see Lyra's opponent flying through the air, rolling on the ground before slamming in a nearby tree.

He stood on legs shaking with anger, letting his emotions overtake him as he raced back towards her. Before she stunned everyone as she elegantly dodged his punch, pushed off the ground and landed a solid kick to his jaw.

"And another knock out." Eric stated as we watched David drop like a sack of potatoes. "Seeing how well she's fighting in human form, I'm dreading her capabilities in wolf shape."

The pack link was overwhelmed by the younger population shouting often useless tips to the remainder of the fighters. It honestly felt like we would be cheating if we considered following on these tips but Lyra was seriously handing our asses to us!

"Five minute break!" Father's voice rumbled over the crowd, releasing some of the building tension in the group. Lyra simply rolled her eyes before dropping on the floor without so much as a flinch.

One of the girls from the crowd laughed with elation before darting towards her. A smile forced its way on my lips before I cringed in sympathy when the kid accidentally kneed Lyra in the ribs in her excitement.

"Ouch! Easy Em, I need these ribs intact for breathing!" Lyra scolded playfully as Jason, Eric and I started towards her. I remained a few steps behind the two, listening into their conversation as Emilia laughed, pointing at the dust and grime that had settled upon Lyra's blond hair.

"You're filthy! You really need a bath!" The little girl crowed with amusement, wiping at the dirt before she pointed out a few tears. "And your clothes are torn."

Lyra sat up at that, head snapping towards the visible rip in her hoodie before she groaned. "Ugh, just great!" She scoffed, flopping back on the ground with a grumbled, "I really liked this one."

Eric and Jason stopped behind her, their shadow cast over the young woman made her angle her face back. Blonde curls fell back out of her face, revealing clearly irritated yet slightly hopeful eyes.

"Any chance I'll be able to get another one?" She inquired while smiling at all of us, tilting her head slightly. The grin on her face combined with the completely vulnerable position she was in was utterly disarming.

Surprisingly, my own wolf thought back to our own wardrobe...we had a few hoodies to spare, hoodies we didn't wear that often, if at all...

Before I could even entertain this idea and imagine her in my clothes, Eric grinned in return. "Sure! I have several to spare, you can come pick one out once the fighting is done."

My neckmuscles protested from the speed at which I snapped my face towards Eric, watching as Jason had a similar equally annoyed and disappointed look on his face.

"Sweet!" Lyra grinned, kicking off from the ground before dusting off. Much to all of our surprise, she bounced towards Eric and gave a quick peck on his cheek. "Thanks Eric, I owe you one."

My lip curled in annoyance, teeth aching as a hot flush worked itself up Eric's face, utter glee shining from his expression. As the growl escaped between my clenched teeth, I saw Lyra starting to turn in my direction before I spun around, stalking over the field and back to where we had been seated.

"Maybe, just maybe, if a certain someone hadn't been so hesitant, that kiss could've been yours." My own wolf remarked teasingly, barking in amusement when I simply growled back at it.

Even though it was right, I was too pissed to acknowledge that fact. As I flopped down, trying to calm myself to the best of my abilities, I soon realized that Lyra was going to easily make it to the finals.

Which also meant, she would ultimately have to face me. That would give me a window of opportunity, a chance to perhaps my own chance at improving my standing in her view.

A slow smirked pulled at my lips, body calmed and wolf eager to observe the fights and wait for my chance.

She was still busily observing the tear in her hoodie, ripped at the edges. I wouldn't be surprised if it tore when her last opponent held on for dear life as she flung him through the air.

Though observing her from a distance, it was odd. There were so many questions that arose when observing her fighting style. While I expected a rogue or even a nomad to be capable of fighting, she acted as if she was trained.

But where would she have gotten any training to begin with? It didn't make sense for a pack to allow a rogue entry and train them, just to send them out into the world once more.

Compared to the remainder of the she-wolves within the pack, Lyra was much stronger than average. Even if she wasn't jacked with muscles, her body showed the signs of a life full of hardship and struggles.

My eyes flitted from Lyra to my father, curiosity sparking to life when I saw a glint of worry in his gaze before he started to approach her.

--- Lyra's POV---

It was odd to feel a sudden surge of melancholy during these fights. Each fight where I successfully won with little to no effort only reminded me of the times where I had cried and pouted as a child because I had to undergo Alpha training.

Mock fights against my dad, who didn't let me use the excuse that I was just a girl to dip out of training. He had always stated that me being a girl had nothing to do with strength, even though I would encounter more challenges on my path because of my gender.

There were long days filled with runs across the pack's territory, days filled with fighting training both as a human and a wolf. Mock fights against my parents and brothers to make me stronger than the average she-wolf.

Unintentionally preparing me for the hardships of the life as a Nomad. There was a reason why most surviving Rogues were male after all; females were seen as the weakest link, something to target and toy with.

Even if there were plenty of strong females in the world, strength meant nothing when you were outnumbered ten to one.

A sudden hand on my shoulder made me jolt in surprise, even if the gesture was gentle. My shocked gaze found Blake's before I let out a soft sigh, to which his worry only grew. "Are you alright?" He asked softly.

Sighing once more, I nodded while making a slight hand gesture towards the battlefield. "Just, reminiscing. I never got to thank my father for the time and patience he gave me, for all the training he put me through."

Alpha Blake's smile faded but I interjected before he could stir the sensitive topic of my late parents, or my past. "So, I take it that we've reached the wolf fights?"

A knowing look flitted through his gaze but he thankfully relented, nodding as he silently accepted my boundaries. "Indeed. My wife has assembled some spare clothes so you don't need to worry about being forced to walk around with a ruined outfit."

At that, a genuine warm smile bloomed on my face, my eyes instantly searching out the Luna's before I mouthed my thanks in her direction. She merely smiled and waved the gratitude away.

Well, since my clothes were ruined anyways, I didn't bother getting undressed before shifting. The clothes drooped around my form but after years of practice, I was quite handy at crawling out of them, flicking them in an unstable pile.

The first shifts always were painful, almost as if you ran a marathon after years without practice. But the more you shifted, the quicker and less painless the shift became.

And once again I felt gratitude flood my system, gazing at the sky above to send a small thought of thanks to my parents. As I lowered my head, I managed to catch a glimpse of myself in the reflection of the sliding doors.

I looked like any regular wild Timber wolf, fur a mix of greys, blacks and creamy white, though my legs and paws had a noticeable tinge of soft brown on them.

Fighting in my wolf form would be interesting, as my inner wolf would be more dominant than myself. I had no qualms with handing over the reins as long as she respected my own boundaries and the rules provided with this fight.

The wolf snickered slightly, "Yes yes. No killing, no serious injuries or broken bones. Should be an easy victory." Shaking out her fur, she added "I'll prove to them that we are not the weak wolf they have made us out to be. You've already done your part in that, little one. You fought well."

I bit back a chuckle and shook my head, correcting her silently. "We fought well." Her approval made me grin as I observed the other fighters, knowing all too well that we had garnered more attention than desired.

Especially so from a certain Alpha-to-be, who couldn't keep his eyes to himself.

Perhaps he was thinking back of the chase not too long ago, where I had managed to outrun several of the pack, with a child in my arms.

And that was in human form. Now they could see my wolf in action for the first time, without being injured, and it was clear they had to adjust their mindsets.

A frustrated grumble from Ryan made my ears perk before I turned my attention to him. Naturally, he pretended as if he hadn't been looking in my direction, though several of his friends didn't bother to pretend.

If only I was capable of listening into the pack link. Undoubtedly I was the current hot topic among the youngsters, judging from their surprised yet inquisitive stares.

---Ryan's POV---

"Aren't rogues supposed to be crazed, vicious killing machines?" I wondered sarcastically to nobody in particular. Just seeing how Lyra's smaller, slender wolf was darting around the opponents and defeating everyone with cheeky ease was frustrating to say the least.

"We don't know of her past." Eric pointed out as he gave me a look. "Ever thought about the possibility that perhaps she once belonged to a pack?"

I scoffed at that but Jason interrupted before I could speak, "Wait a second, Eric you're right! Remember that Erica mentioned that she knew Lyra before! She did live in a pack!"

"A pack she left to become Rogue." I added, even though there was an annoying feeling gnawing at my stomach. I didn't need both Jason and Eric's pointed stares towards Lyra to know she wasn't rogue.

No rogue would let their opponent take the initiative, nor striking them without drawing blood. In fact, Lyra always made sure that none of her bites and lunges caused any damage.

A sudden yelp drew everyone's attention to the battlefield, where Kale had managed to graze Lyra's sensitive paw pads with his teeth. At the sound of her yelp, he froze on the spot, giving her an opportunity to recover and attack.

I snorted at that, shaking my head. Intentional or not, she was using her gender as an excellent weapon against the males. We were used of fighting man against man; the slightest sound of discomfort coming from one of our she-wolves would instantly halt any of us in whatever we were doing.

As retaliation, she lunged and snapped at his own unprotected paws, tripping Kale up before he was pinned on his back. Yet another victory for her and a defeat from the team I had picked to make sure we would win.