Wolves of the third circle were picked at random, to challenge the men and women who wanted the gift. The number of men who wanted the gift was always far more than the number of women. This was for a few reasons. One, there were simply more men overall. Two women didn't always have the proper makeup to handle the initial shift.

That first shift was a bitch. Women's bodies didn't seem to recover as well. Your entire makeup was changed over that month, leading up to the full moon. Your body bent and broke under her soft glow till it finally succumbed to a pain that was out of this world.

And three, which was the main reason most women never even thought of wanting the gift, being the Luna. There hasn't been a Luna for hundreds of years. Well before they started to decline in numbers.

A luna was equivalent to an alpha wolf. The title held a great respect but an even greater command. If a luna were to come again, she would sadly be seen as nothing more than something to breed if Crash was honest. She alone would be looked upon as the one to produce more natural-born offspring.  

It would be a complete shit show; all the top alphas would be after her. Status put aside. All would be gunning for her.

Brandon looked nervous to Crash. He could tell from the way he kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Tonight was a big deal for him. Brandon needed to prove himself and also come out alive.

Man versus wolf wasn't an easy feat. The rules were bent in their favor, however. When numbers weren't an issue, battles like this would be to the death. Defeat the wolf to become one. Now it was a battle to submission.

As expected, Crash was challenged by their chapter's third. He knew it was going to happen. He had been anxiously awaiting for it. Crash has been challenged every year he's held a spot at the table. There was always someone trying to rip the title he had away from him.

Thus far, he's proven himself worthy and has never been knocked down. He didn't plan for this to be his year to be defeated, either. Crash smirked to himself as he took his stance in the center. His front paws ground hard into the already torn-up earth from the fights before him. Everyone was fired up as well. 

All the table members were challenged first to get the business out of the way before they could partake in the honor of adding new members. Crash was very much looking forward to seeing Brandon get the honor that he wanted to make quick of his fight, but Crash also had a hell of a lot of fight in him that making quick of it would be no fun on his part.

Skoll was younger than Crash, wanting to prove himself just as much as Crash needed to, both of relativity the same size. So it would be a good fight. It was a few moments in when Skoll started to fight dirty, kicking up dirt in Crash's face in hopes of throwing him off by blinding him, growling as he shook his head. Skoll got the upper hand on Crash with the move, getting Crash down on his back. Skoll's front paws pressed hard against his chest, pinning him for a moment before Crash used all of his strength to roll the two of them. Crash on top. Skoll hit him in the face hard, cutting him, making it difficult for him to see as blood started to pour down over his ash-colored fur. But the move gave Crash his opening, quick with his bite as he lunged forward, striking Skoll dead center on his throat. Sharp teeth to both sides, pressing just hard enough to make his point. Maybe a little too hard, getting carried away in the moment.

The bite was a kill bite, making Crash the winner and allowing him to remain second in command of his chapter.

* * * * *

Brandon could feel the lump in his throat that had been there all week grow larger as he was called up. He knew his life wasn't on the line, but it might as well have been. He, much like Crash, didn't do well with losing. Brandon couldn't face the shame that came with losing tonight. He would be able to try again next year if he got the nod again, but he didn't want that. Brandon waited this long to take the plunge. He had to come out on top tonight.

He looked to Crash as he took his spot. Like any man wanting the gift, he went to someone who already had it. He went to Crash for pointers, but pointers only went so far. This fight was about heart. He had the heart. Just had to prove it to the rest of them.

Nodding to his opponent as he leaned forward on all fours, mimicking. Brandon charged once the signal was given to start. Swiftly, he was tossed to the side with the large head of Eyolf, rolling as he hit the ground. Brandon scrambling to get back to his feet as Eyolf came after him, gripping his fur as tight as he could to get ahold of him, but was shaken off. Brandon needed to get on his back, blocking as Eyolf swung at him, feeling a hot pain as his forearm was slashed.

Unlike some beliefs, being scratched by a wolf didn't make you become one. You had to be bitten. Depending on how good your immune system was people did experience some illness in the weeks after being scratched, but it was no worse than that of a common cold.

When Brandon got pinned to the ground, he heard bone in his shoulder pop he thought he was in for. He wasn't going to be able to get out of this. Crash growled out of anger at the sidelines, knowing Brandon was better than this. With his shoulder popped out of place, Brandon pulled up, hooking his good arm around Eylof's neck, twisting his weight around with the help of his legs to get on top of the beast. Brandon clinged on for dear life. He tightened the neck lock he had squeezing the front of Eylof's neck into the croak of his elbow to the point he started to cut off his air supply. Brandon kept that hold long enough for Eylof's front legs to drop and knock him out.

Brandon stood up slowly, holding his arm close to his side with the biggest fucking smile Crash had ever seen from the man on his face. He did it. He won. The sense of pride that ran through Brandon put him on a high he's never been on. He fucking did it.