Page 47 of Plug and Claim

She’d been right—he was everything an alpha should be.

“You can’t have her,” Mark growled. “She is ours. We’ve just initiated her.”

Nathaniel’s lip twitched. “Liar.”

“I’m not lying,” Mark said, puffing out his chest. “Kira belongs to the Poplarin Pack.”

“Then you won’t mind if I bite her—just a little.”

He took a step forward.

All the wolves tensed, growling. But to Kira’s shock, they retreated, almost clearing the path between her and Nathaniel as he advanced. Even Mark looked unsure as Nathaniel took another step forward.

“Stop. Let Kira decide who she wants,” Mark said. “It’s only fair.”

Nathaniel paused, tilting his head as a smile spread across his face. “Oh, no, I don’t think I will.”

“You’re just afraid she won’t choose you,” Mark said, his voice edged with nervousness.

“Perhaps,” Nathaniel agreed, regarding Kira with a calculating expression, “so I’m taking the choice out of the equation.”

His eyes darkened, paralysing her as he advanced. She looked at Mark pleadingly.

“Mark?”

Why wasn’t he moving?

At the sound of her voice, Mark came to life. “Stop,” he growled.

Nathaniel halted. He was just as tall as Mark, but leaner in physique, and he regarded Mark with polite surprise. “Are you still here? Very well. I’ll give you one last opportunity to fight for her. If your precious virgin means so much to you…prove it. And if you win, I promise I’ll leave her alone.”

“If I fight you, you’ll be dead,” Mark said.

“If you fight me?” Nathaniel asked. “I must say, I’m disappointed. I didn’t expect you to give her up so easily.”

His words were like a slap across Kira’s face. Seeing Mark hesitate hurt even more.

“Well?” Nathaniel asked. “I’m waiting.”

When Mark still didn’t move, Nathaniel laughed softly. “All bark and no bite, aren’t you?”

Without warning, Mark pounced, shifting so quickly that Kira nearly missed it. Dark fur and fangs erupted, and a large, muscled wolf landed on Nathaniel.

The vampire was ready for him, hissing as he dodged the attack, his sharp fangs bared as he leapt at the wolf’s throat.

Before the vampire could bite him, Mark twisted in the air and closed his powerful jaws over Nathaniel’s head.

Kira gasped, waiting for blood, but Nathaniel caught the wolf’s jaws in his hands and held them open with a strength she would not have expected. His face contorted with effort as he shoved Mark away.

The wolf pounced again. Nathaniel threw a punch at its head, aimed right at the wolf’s snout. At the last second, Mark’s jaws opened.

Kira winced as Mark’s jaws snapped shut on Nathaniel’s arm, but the wolf’s mouth sprang open almost instantly and Mark fell back, howling and making a raspy retching sound. Nathaniel had punched Mark in the back of the throat.

“Had enough?” Nathaniel asked coolly, wiping drool against his trousers.

Mark snarled in between raspy breaths.

Nathaniel turned slowly in one spot. “Anyone else?”