The council's summons arrived at dawn, delivered by a stone-faced messenger who wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Trial by combat," I read aloud, scanning the formal document. "To prove loyalty and capability as Alpha mate. Tomorrow at noon in the grand arena."

Darius grabbed the paper from my hands, reading it twice. "They can't be serious."

"They're very serious." Caleb appeared in the doorway, already dressed for training. "I just heard the proclamation being read in the main hall. The entire ...