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When he reached the dirt road, he met my gaze and stopped walking. Some distance apart, he took up the opposing side and wore a smug grin.
“As you claimed, I want Jane back on my side. Ever since I heard about how strong your Luna really was, I couldn’t help but feel like she had been holding out on me all along. Or, I just didn’t realize her potential. That’s my bad. But I wouldn’t mind having that kind of power on my side again. I could use someone like her,” he said, doing his best to rile me up. “Since you took one of mine without my permission, I think it’s only fair for you to return Jane. I did offer her to you out of good faith, remember.”
“It’s not going to happen,” I growled at him, feeling as my inner wolf tested the seams of its boundary within my body.
“Let’s put it this way, then. Both packs and Jane are up for grabs. The wolf left standing gets it all, and the other can’t even show their face again—if the loser is even still alive. Sound fair?”
Even if his fear had been evident from the jump, it seemed the talk of power and mates got under his skin and triggered those instincts of his own. The challenge and game of fighting for assets were no surprise, given that Sam was willing to jump at the first opportunity to gain more strength.
But remembering Jane’s premonition, I held on to whatever was left of my clear conscience.
“On one condition,” I forced through grit teeth before my wolf could fully take over. However, I was beginning to slowly lose control as my fangs elongated, and long, sharp nails grew from my fingertips. “This is strictly between the two of us. Nobody else interferes.”
On cue, the guys growled in warning as they encircled us, keeping a wide berth to give us enough space. During a fight between two shifters, it was advised not to get in the way.
They stood there stoically, acting as a perimeter for the fight. Meanwhile, some of Sam’s betas moved forward as if to step in.
Even as a spark of fear moved through him again as his confidence slipped for a moment, Sam put a hand up to stop them. “All right then. Just me and you at last. Let’s do this the old-fashioned way.”
Sizing him up, I knew his strength was somewhat bolstered by his numbers, but he wasn’t a true alpha. He seemed to know that the last time I challenged him, given that he didn’t even give it a chance. Although, I found myself surprised by his willingness to engage.
Despite my confidence in my abilities, it reminded me to stay alert and not leave any openings for him to take advantage of.
Sam may have had numbers and support, but he controlled them with fear, not respect. Even if he had that to his advantage, it was a weak leg for him to stand on.
In his fashion, Sam pulled another cocky smile. “Soon enough, Jane will be mine, and I’ll be done with you.”
That being the last straw, I surrendered all control over my wolf and allowed it the chance to work with every ounce of anger I stored up over the last few years.
While I shifted, I considered everything I stood to lose if I didn’t win, and that was all the motivation I needed.
Chapter 28 - Jane
The air was so full of tension that I was afraid of choking on it as Levi and Sam circled one another, both in their shifted forms.
They growled at one another, baring their teeth and taunting each other to make the first move.
Even if they were similar, the sheer wrath surrounding Levi made him seem even bigger, along with the sharp gleam of his fangs every time he snapped.
Levi clacked his teeth together as he lunged at Sam’s legs, forcing him into a defensive position. Their mutual circling collapsed as the latter lost momentum, and Levi found himself in the more dominant position. Sam was forced to watch carefully, maintaining his guard against him.
Even if my mate was in the better position, I couldn’t do anything about the nerves as they swam in my gut, keeping me on high alert for any possible movement from either of them.
Then, without warning, Levi lunged. As Sam growled defensively at him, he met him halfway, blocking his initial attempt at biting his neck.
In retaliation, he swiped at Levi, only for him to drive his jaws closer to Sam’s.
They went back and forth, looking for any opportunity to sink their teeth into one another.
The sound of their snarling and snapping teeth had me completely on edge, holding my breath for the outcome.
As quick as a viper, Levi grabbed hold of Sam's neck scruff, only for the latter to squirm out of it and return with an attempted bite at his left shoulder.
Despite how time seemed to stand still as they fought, they moved so quickly that it was almost impossible to catch every bite and scratch in the mess of their fur and limbs.
Before long, they had both inflicted significant damage on one another as blood dripped into the worked-up dirt beneath them. Occasionally, they'd yip and yelp whenever a bite would land, but not without those ferocious sounds that quickly followed.
Despite the mutual blood loss, there was no mistaking the disparity of stamina and strength between the two as Sam pulled back for the chance to catch his breath and re-evaluate. He did a lazy circle with his eyes firmly on Levi, limping on an injured leg.
