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Levi, with his looming form rigid with anger and the need to win, didn't let up as he charged him and clashed their teeth together as Sam tried to shove him off.
Even if he had the occasional streak of renewed irritation, Sam was losing his momentum. He didn't have the same drive that Levi did, and he certainly didn't stand to lose the same things that helped propel Levi forward.
As the fight continued, Sam snapped back at Levi, forcing the ring of shifted wolves to move out of the way. I noticed a small break in the barrier to the one side.
Not far away, a small child stood there as he watched, eyes wide with concern. Tracking the movements of the fight, it was obvious they would find themselves in that direction soon.
Without the chance to overthink it, I hurried over before Sam and Levi could catch the little boy in their scrap and scooped him up. I ran out of the way with him in my arms just as the wolves rolled over one another a short distance away from where the boy had been. Dust kicked up around them, and I did not doubt that he would've been pulled right in.
Those snarls and snaps continued as the little boy clutched onto me for support, fearful of what was unfolding around him.
Out of harm's way, I glanced around and found a terrified-looking woman with recognition pooling in her eyes, and from the way she looked at me attentively, I knew it had to be his mom.
Immediately, I recognized the young mother.
Her name was Rebecca, and while I didn't know her well, I had seen her around the pack grounds during my time there.
We never spoke to one another, but I empathized with her, given how scarred and worn down she seemed from being in Sam's pack.
Cutting the distance between us, I handed the little boy to her, and Rebecca flooded with relief.
She seemed afraid to speak to me, but she softened and gave me a tentative nod as she collected her toddler.
"The Goddess will pick the just winner, and we will all have to live with the outcome," she said, skin pale and sunken in from stress. "I hope for everyone's sake it isn't Sam."
It was apparent the toll Sam's leadership had taken on everyone, which seemed to have accelerated since I left.
I knew that woman wasn't my enemy, as many individuals in the pack weren't. Many of them were terrified and lost, and it was more evident than ever before that they needed Levi. Everyone did.
"I agree," I said quietly, guiding her and the child further away from the fight.
One of Levi's friends cast me a look for moving out of their sight, and I could sense that it was Ezra, given his colder demeanor, but I didn't care.
That woman wasn't a threat to me, and if Levi meant to regain the pack's trust, then we had to start somewhere.
We were in different packs, but our interests were the same: safety and prosperity. We desired to have a supportive, loving community that didn't operate on abuse and drastic power dynamics.
Even if Sam seemed to be growing desperate by then, trying to sink as many dirty shots as he could, he put up a surprising fight against Levi, whose dominance and strength were undeniable.
While Levi certainly had the upper hand, he seemed to be pulling back somewhat, as if trying to calculate his next moves to anticipate any possible tricks from Sam. He was being cautious, even if it meant dragging the fight out longer than it needed to be.
Uneasiness seemed to fall over everyone, spectating, unsure of what to expect. I could only imagine that some still harbored those preconceived notions about Levi, and I so badly wished I could let them know how wrong they were about him. I wished I could show them the life they could have with Levi as their leader.
Despite his caution, Levi went to block a bite from Sam, only to be swiped with those sharp claws, catching it in his chest.
That hit stunned him for half a second—long enough for Sam to overtake him with a second wind, and their positions were reversed.
My heart was in my throat, and I was afraid that Sam might further throw him off and manage to land more brutal blows.
Regardless, Levi held his own, blocking his jaws from doing any serious damage.
All the while, I couldn't help but look at all the lost followers as they watched, seemingly hopeful for change yet afraid to admit it. While they had reacted to every hit Sam took initially, the tide shifted, and they started empathizing more with Levi. I had the feeling their allegiances had changed, whether from Levi's display of power or because they desired a life different from the one they were used to with Sam.
Seeing how nervously they watched the confrontation unfold, favoring Levi's success, sparked an ember of pride within me.
Desperate to see him come out on top, I reached out to our line of telepathy and spoke as urgently as I could.
You have to win this for everyone's best interest. You need to win for me and for our baby, I said, hoping to lend him whatever strength I could. You're wearing him down. You just need to finish this. Prove you everyone you are the alpha they need. I know you can.
