Mating Season: Luna Trials

As the game begins, Aspen recognizes Alpha Derek on stage as her father's murderer. Torn because Derek just saved her life, she struggles between vengeance and gratitude before drawing her weapon against him.

Derek summons Aspen and praises her record bear takedown. He announces Blood Moon Pack has been invited to the mating games, with his son Trenton representing them and Stefani accompanying him as a Luna contender. Derek then assigns Aspen as a second contender, leaving her stunned.

Aspen refuses the mating games, but Derek insists she become a weapon disguised as a Luna. He reveals her father was killed by Alpha Ranger McCall, not humans. Trained for years for this moment, Aspen agrees to join the game and seize her chance for revenge.

On the way to the Mating Games, Aspen clashes with Stefani, who mocks her orphan status and questions her motives. Their tension escalates until they arrive, where Stefani is announced as Blood Moon's first Luna contender.

Blood Moon's heir Trenton makes his entrance while Aspen is mocked as prey from the countryside. She declares she came to kill the traitor Alpha. Then Nightborne's Alpha Ranger McCall arrives, and Aspen recognizes him as her father's murderer.

Aspen stumbles into the arms of her father's killer, Alpha Ranger McCall, in front of the gathered crowd. They trade pointed words about bloodlines before she pulls away. The first claiming of the Mating Game is announced moments later.

After Aspen falls into Ranger's arms, the crowd speculates whether it was a rescue, a rivalry, or the fastest claiming in Mating Game history. Aspen declares that catching her is not enough for an Alpha to claim her. Ranger then orders a covert investigation into why Derek sent her.

Stefani confronts Aspen for humiliating her and threatens to expose what she really is. Ranger's men uncover Aspen's real record as a Blood Moon Corrections Hunter with 585 captures and no misses. Convinced Derek sent his best weapon, Ranger resolves to eliminate her the next day.

The first challenge, Cupid's Arrow, requires Lunas to shoot blindfolded at their Alpha's heart target. Ranger uses the selection rule to call Aspen as his shooter, over Stefani's objection. Aspen grips the silver arrow and realizes this is her chance to avenge her father.

Blindfolded, Aspen draws her bow while Ranger taunts her. She follows his voice and releases the silver arrow, striking him in the heart. Silver is poison to shifters; Ranger dies on the spot and Aspen is eliminated.