Caitlyn's POV
"When is it going to be your turn to question my decisions? Do my words as an Alpha carry so little weight in your eyes?" Zed's face filled with anger as Karma challenged his authority.
"Zed, don't be so fierce; I don't mean that," Karma quickly responded, attempting to diffuse the tension. Seeing Zed's anger, Karma adopted a pitiful expression, which elicited sympathetic looks from the young werewolves around him.
"I just want to point out that we've had several returning clansmen before, which is a positive development. However, they all underwent rigorous tests or made significant contributions to our Fullmoon Pack before being qualified to join. If Caitlyn bypasses these processes and joins the pack directly, it would be a bit unfair to the others."
"And," Karma shifted his gaze to me, who stood on the sidelines with a hint of a smile. "This wouldn't benefit Caitlyn in the long run. I'm doing this for her own good." Karma's words were emotionally charged, making it difficult for anyone to find fault.
Even Zed, momentarily speechless, could only glare at her with anger. The others exchanged glances, and a murmur of discussions circulated among them, presumably from those werewolves who had undergone testing to join the pack.
"Although I'm not very interested in joining the pack, I'd be willing to engage in a friendly fight since some individuals seem unconvinced," Karma declared with an assertive stance, prompting me to push Zed aside and confront her.
"Nonsense! Without an ounce of respect for the pack, how can such a person be allowed to join?" Kayn, standing behind Zed, couldn't hold back his indignation, drawing voices of agreement from the crowd—clearly, these were his men.
"You're so arrogant; it's the first time I've seen someone daring to talk to me like that."
Karma clasped her hands to her chest and looked at me playfully.
"Since you said that, let's have a match. Just in case people say I'm bullying you, I won't transform into a wolf. If you can beat me, I'll count you as the winner."
Karma took a step forward onto the raised platform, scrutinizing me condescendingly with disdain in his eyes.
"Karma!"
Seeing this scene, the surrounding werewolves shouted for Karma. At first, just a few, but by the end, almost everyone followed. They all wanted to see if I was worthy of the title "Strongest in the Pack" that Zed was talking about.
"Caitlyn, do you have confidence? Karma's strength is really not bad. It's fine if you refuse. When you master the method of turning into a wolf, she will definitely be no match for you."
With the scene getting out of control in front of his eyes, Zed frowned and whispered.
At once, my heart warmed, and I gently shook my head.
"Don't worry; I'm in control."
Zed froze for a moment when he heard what I said, then slowly pushed back a step, but there was still concern in his eyes.
"Daring to take on a werewolf as a human—this courage is just like your mother's back then," Azir said softly, a small smile of relief on his face as he watched my back.
Azir's voice was not loud, but it instantly caused an uproar as well.
"A human? How is that possible?"
"Isn't she coming straight to death?"
"It's so self-absorbed—just wait for the joke."
...
The crowd's murmurings had reached my ears, but these queries had no effect on me, as I had long since ceased to be that ignorant young girl who came out of the town.
"You're really seeking death now. Son't blame me if something happens later."
Upon hearing my human identity, Karma displayed a hint of shock, but quickly regained composure. A smile crept onto the corners of her mouth as she looked at me with an unexpected amount of pity.
I turned my head to Azir, who didn't speak for me. This didn't surprise me at all because I instantly understood his intentions. Despite being Gwen's child, I had just returned from the outside world. Forcing my entry into the pack would inevitably invite criticism.
If I could pass the test in front of me, it would naturally resolve a lot of trouble. Azir deliberately disclosed my human identity because he expected that if I were to accidentally lose, everyone would perceive it as natural for a human to lose to a werewolf, sparing me from embarrassment.
With that in mind, I put on a smile and nodded toward Azir.
"You'll soon regret"
Upon seeing me in this state, Karma couldn't help but shout at me. Unmoved, I slowly walked up to the high platform, extended my hand, and provocatively raised a middle finger at Karma. "Come on," I said coldly.
This scene shocked the surrounding people. Accepting a challenge as a human was remarkable in itself, but daring to provoke Karma was unexpected.
"You'll meet an ugly death," Karma grimaced, lowering her body. The wolf within her erupted into an astonishing roar, freezing the air around him in that instant.
Karma's foot slammed down, and a black figure lunged straight towards me. The incredible aura hinted at Karma's anger, and almost everyone had already predicted my outcome, wide-mouthed in astonishment.
Even Zed clenched his fists, staring at the center of the high platform, ready to be the first to rush in and save me in case something happened.
I watched calmly as the hideous Karma lunged towards me, an amazing aura sweeping through my entire body. It was as if a famished wolf, starved for a long time, appeared before my eyes, lashing out and pouncing towards its prey.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly closed my eyes. Despite my composed state, Karma's speed didn't decrease. The corners of her mouth turned up, as if she had already envisioned me falling off the stage in a state of disarray.
"Go to hell!" Karma growled, extending his palm just before making contact with me. At that precise moment, my eyes snapped open, locking onto Karma as my other hand reached up.
Snap!
With a crisp thud, Karma swept past me, hurtling down the raised platform before collapsing to the ground in a heap. The onlookers stared incredulously at the unexpected scene, unable to comprehend what had transpired.
"You...I'll kill you!" Karma, lying on the ground, shouted hysterically while covering her face with her hands, a bright red slap mark gradually emerging on her white face.