I rushed through a dark forest. Packed, icy snow was on the ground, but I kept my footing using the blunt claws on my toes for balance.

I had a nagging feeling of dread, and my heart pounded in my chest. Although I could not remember, I knew that I had run this way many times before. Somehow I still knew that every time before I had been too late.

But maybe. Maybe this time I would get there in time to stop...

What, I could not remember, but the chills that slipped down my spine from the back of my neck did. They nagged at me, pushed me on.

My worry centered around those I loved. My parents, my brother, Matthias, Serge, the people of both my packs, the fighters of the Trifecta. Everyone was in danger and I had to hurry.

I panted as I crested an exposed ledge of lichen covered rock and surveyed the scene before me.

I had expected to see a fierce battle raging in the flat area below me, but it was oddly empty.

But not quite empty. Through a thick fog, I could see the shadows of a pair of wolves fighting.

Heart in my throat, I leapt down the ledge and cautiously made my way closer to the fight. I recognized only one of the wolves, large and covered in grey and white fur.

I had run through the forest with Serge more than once. I recognized his frosted grey appearance, his scent, and even the sound of his vocalizations, although he never used such an aggressive tone with me.

I whimpered as the unfamiliar wolf crushed him to the ground with his teeth around Serge's throat. I jumped forward and tried to throw myself between Serge and his aggressor.

I was too late. Serge's neck was little more than a ripped gap of sinew and meat. His body crumpled limply to the ground.

The snow beneath him turned red.

It hurt and I howled.

* * * * * * * * *

I woke, covered in sweat with my heart pounding frantically.

The images of the dream slipped away, leaving me only with vague impressions of terror and pain.

There was a knock on my door. "Elise?"

Matthias? "Y-yeah?"

"Can I come in?"

"S-sure," I agreed. I had slept in my clothing from the previous day so I was well covered.

The door opened and Matthias walked in. "You were whimpering," he said.

"Oh."

"And you're crying. What were you dreaming?"

I wiped my cheeks and my fingers came away wet. I looked at Matthias. "I d-don't remember. I n-never do."

Matthias' eyebrows were still drawn together. "Maybe you should try to go back to sleep."

I pushed off my covers and exhaled. "I d-don't think I can. There's too much today." My heart was still beating like it thought I might die.

Matthias frowned. "Breakfast then?"

"Yeah," I agreed.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, stood up shakily and walked out to the coffee scented kitchen with Matthias. My legs felt unstable, but Matthias would catch me if I fell. I took comfort that he was with me.

* * * * * * * * *

I considered trying to cook eggs again with Matthias there to save the house from burning down, but I decided to hold off since I was still taking a break from intentionally aggravating the curse.

After Serge won his fight, my nervousness would decrease and I could start trying to flex my muscles again.

And if he did not win...

No, I believed in him.

Matthias and I sat at the island counter and ate cereal. He had two bowls while I struggled to finish one. He took care of the dishes afterwards and I did not even bother to try to help. My mind kept drifting forward to the coming fight.

I was terrified and it was not the work of the curse; it was oddly subdued this morning. Perhaps it had lessened its harassment because I had stopped challenging it, or because I was suitably upset in my own right, or because the tightening of the curse was nothing in comparison to my own troubled emotions.

Whatever it was, I was thankful that I was not experiencing a full double portion of fear. Even my relief only resulted in a shiver down my back.

* * * * * * * * *

Serge was largely absent for most of the morning, although I knew he had to be nearby. I spent my time with Matthias in my room while I tried to go through the motions of my day. We took turns using my bathroom to get ready. Once we were both dressed I sat on the couch, trying to leech Matthias' warmth.

We tried playing crazy eights, but my focus was so scattered we quickly gave up and went for a run, but my anxiety prevented it from having the playfulness of our previous chases.

It was not until it was nearly time to go that Serge made his presence known to me. I felt a twinge at the idea this might be the last time I would be with him. If he died, I would never see him again. If he lost but survived, I would fall into the power of the new leader.

The only acceptable resolution was that he survive.

* * * * * * * * *

We drove to the training grounds with a full hour to spare. I opted to sit in the back of the cab and let Matthias have the front seat. With the curse on me, I rather preferred the back and I knew he liked the front. He would have come sit back with me, but it seemed cruel to make Serge play chauffeur.

My heart was in my throat as we parked. Matthias helped me out. I noticed he was being extra solicitous, probably because he could tell that I was a mess.

I knew that he would never like Serge, but at least Matthias' fury had died down enough that his attitude did not constantly raise the curse's hackles.

I bit my lip as we walked to the area that was roped off for the fight. There were already quite a few people around, either working or claiming good views. I noticed some seemed to have carnival like attitudes and I felt a shiver go through me.

There were bleachers on three sides of the field and Matthias seemed intent to go to them, but I shook my head.

"I want to watch at the front," I whispered.

He nodded. He understood the import of this fight.

I picked a spot on the outside of the roped off area and I sat down in the dirt and wrapped my hands around my legs. I was sure I looked degraded, but I just could not care. What could people expect of a thrall. I felt like my life was being shredded again and thrown to the four winds right after it had just finally began to settle.

Matthias crouched behind me as if he were my guard dog.

We waited.

* * * * * * * * *

The wait was excruciating, broken only occasionally by someone periodically coming and speaking to us. Jodi stopped by briefly and then Karen and her family came and stood beside me. I was surprised that she had brought her children, but perhaps it was important for them to witness the deep brutality of the intersection of our human and werewolf nature.

Macy especially looked really nervous. The little girl clearly had some idea of the severity of what was to come. Other children running about, completely oblivious to how serious the day was. I shivered.

I spotted some people I knew in the crowd, people as random as Matthias' and my seventh grade teacher and the two friends in my picture, Lily and Jill from Austin's pack. It seemed that many people wanted or needed to witness this moment.

I was a ball of nerves by the time I heard other familiar voices. "Elise," my father said as he crouched down beside me. I released my death grip on my legs and wrapped my arms around my father.

"Dad. I d-don't want h-him to d-d-die."

He paused for a long second. "He's a great warrior, Elise."

But that did not mean anything. Even great warriors were mortal. I released my father and he stood up. Moramay greeted me and Sean said "Hey," without messing up my hair in the slightest.

I did not need my phone to know that it was almost time. A still expectation came over the crowd when the moment was upon us. Leah walked into the centre of the roped off area and I managed one quick glance in her direction. She was wearing a headset microphone. Two large wolves stalked in behind her and took their places at opposite ends of the field.

"We are gathered as witnesses to the conclusion of the challenge of Landon Stokes against Serge Eckstein. The battle will continue until either submission, or death of one of the participants. Leaving the designated roped area or causing injury to any observer will result in disqualification. Intervention by anyone on behalf of a participant shall result in the match being voided and subsequently resumed at a later date."

She stopped talking and walked to the edge of the field. "Commence," Leah said and she slipped gracefully under the rope marking the boundary.

For a long moment there was no sound and no movement as the wolves stared each other down. I forced my burning eyes to look directly at the combatants. I recognized Serge easily, his light grey fur raised as he kept his eyes on the challenger.

Landon's wolf form was brown mixed with white and black fur, rendering him almost beige from a distance. His canines were barred as he stared back at Serge.

My eyes slipped away.

Then so fast it might have been difficult for a human to follow, the fight began. Landon rushed Serge, snapping his teeth towards his neck. Serge moved swiftly and struck in return.

The two dodged and attacked, neither seemingly able to overcome the defenses of the other. I clasped my hands as I watched the blur of their bodies from the corner of my vision. It felt like time had stopped and the fight would last forever.

"How is he?" I asked Matthias.

"He's not losing yet."

It could be worse.

Though the curse refused to let me properly watch, the sound of growls and snarls met my ears. I flinched at a painful grunt Serge made and I could smell blood.

I forced my eyes to the fight and I felt the curse shake me, but I held on to my resolve. Both wolves had bloody wounds. The worst seemed to be the nasty rip in Serge's side that painted his grey fur red and Landon's brown hind leg was dripping blood from a cruel wound.

Still, I prayed that Serge would bring Landon down.

But perhaps my prayers were ignored, because instead of Serge overcoming, Landon knocked him to the ground.

A vision flashed before my eyes; I remembered Serge with his throat savaged and his blood painting the snow of a cursed field.

I yelped and instinctively slipped under the rope to intervene. I could not stand by and watch any longer.

Before I got far enough to make a difference, muscular arms wrapped under mine and restrained me, pulling me back.

"You can't interfere," Matthias hissed.

"But Matt, S-Serge," I whimpered and I tried to struggle from his grip to no avail.

"There are things we can't control, Elise."

Landon pounced onto Serge and his teeth sunk into Serge's flesh.

I gasped and could no longer control my tears.

* *  *   *   *   *   *  * *