The cheers were still echoing through the night when Damon hit the ground.

The scent of dust and blood clung to the air; the moon above seemed to flinch at the violence it had just witnessed. Around him, boots scuffed the packed earth, the crowd already surging toward the victor.

Lucas had won. The pack was chanting his name.

Damon tried to move. Every muscle screamed. Somewhere in the blur of faces, he saw Octavia fall. For a heartbeat he thought she’d simply fainted. Then he felt the ...