Page 20 of Druid Dreams

I risked a peek around the table and judging by their looks, everyone was definitely wondering what we were talking about. I don’t even care. I threw my hands over my face as she slid images into my mind. It was my new favorite kind of foreplay. It made me wonder how she could possibly be everything that we all desired. She had a brilliant mind with a sarcastic mouth, an athletic body with a spontaneous streak, and a grounded nature with elegance that rivaled a queen.

That last thought just sealed the declaration I made shortly after we arrived. I wasn’t letting go of this one. Briggs could be a dick and push her away if he wanted to, but I was making this one mine.

Briggs

Saturday Late Morning

“I don’t want to hurt her...” I left the statement hanging, hoping someone could talk her out of it. They were all gawking at her, except for Jack and Grim. They kept whispering back and forth while looking between the two of us. She was grinning like the cat who caught the canary. I didn’t know if I was excited for a challenge or horrified about walking into a fight that I knew I could possibly lose. Because, yeah, I’ve never fought in an alpha fight where my opponent smiled at me like she was. I’d also never fought in an alpha fight against a female, or a hybrid. I was stubborn, not stupid. I was also getting a little nauseous about what was fixing to happen.

Jack looked me up and down before he scoffed. “Please.” He disagreed with thick condescension, like I’d offended him somehow, “If you go easy on her she’ll know. You better give it all you’ve got. I mean, she’s gonna win either way, but,” he stopped dramatically before bobbing his head, “I’d go man to man if I were you. That way you have height and weight as an advantage. Sloane as a wolf is beautiful, but frightening. The bitch that’s standing there now? She’s still gonna give you a run for your money, man. She won’t kill you, but you will submit.” He clicked his tongue at me.

What the fuck? I did not want to hurt her. I couldn’t even think about swinging at her, much less actually landing a punch. That felt like the opposite of what the mate bond was begging for. I needed to protect her, not harm her. I could shed my skin and fight as a wolf though. The bond would be stronger with my animalistic side, but so would the challenge she just threw me. A wolf didn’t back out of an alpha challenge. They fought until they submitted or were killed. I had to have a hundred pounds on her in my skin. I would guess I had even more weight on her as a wolf. I knew she-wolves were small, quick, and agile. I’d have to be smart about my movements and keep some distance between us. Hope my wolf doesn’t go bat shit and hump her in front of everyone. That’d be embarrassing.

“I bet she ends the fight in her skin either way. I’d even bet money on it. She’ll fight you skin to skin if she’s given the decision to choose.” Jack’s matter-of-fact tone piqued my interest. I stared at her from across the yard, trying to figure out what she was hiding. There was no way she could beat my wolf in her skin. Was he insane? Had he never seen wolves fight before?

“Any time now,” she sassed at me while tapping the imaginary watch on her wrist. “I have a couple jobs to do. I can’t wait all day for you to make up your mind.” Fucking brat.

This is stupid. Why did I feel like I was going to lose? I was always confident when it came to fighting. I’d never been taken down by a she-wolf in practice and I wasn’t about to let it happen in real fight. But, I had also never fought the Supreme Alpha’s daughter either. This is a hard fight to walk away from. Damn it. I sighed and ran my hand over the back of my neck, thinking about my options.

“I’ll take that bet,” Novak perked up more at the prospect. “I bet she starts the fight as a wolf and finishes as a woman. You won’t catch me challenging her. I know when there’s a bigger predator around.” He coughed trying to cover up the laughter in his voice. It didn’t work, so he just gave me a jovial smile and slapped a hundred dollar bill on the table. Jack matched him.

Grim was looking worried. For me? For her? Or for the betting? Probably for me. Did I mention this is stupid? I may be an alpha by nature, but it wasn’t my smartest move to show even the slightest signs of a challenge to her. I should’ve known better the moment I found out who she was.

“So, what’ll it be mutt?” She taunted me. The dig was just what I needed to accept, and damn if she didn’t know it. She really is a brat.

“Alright, she-wolf. What form are we fighting in?” I’d leave that up to her.

“Whatever you want,” she snapped her fingers and was back in those amazing booty shorts she was wearing when we walked up the path to the back patio. Damn it. Why was she so distracting?

“You won’t get mad when I win, right?” I questioned myself as much as her. Would I be mad if she won? I wanted to think about that, but mostly I stared at her for longer than necessary. I didn’t think about strategy at all. I thought about throwing her over my shoulder and trotting off into the trees surrounding her house. Finding a nice wide trunk to fuck her against until she was so hoarse from screaming she couldn’t talk back. Fuck me. It would be difficult to fight her with my dick hard. Head in the game, Briggs. Head in the game.

“My Dad may have trained you, but my wolf is one of a kind.” She jeered at me and shrugged a bare shoulder. I bit my cheek so hard I tasted blood. My wolf wanted to bite her, mark her as his own. His feelings of lust were fueling my own. What should I do? Stop thinking about sex for starters, you fucking horndog.

“Both,” I drawled confidently. “We’ll fight as both.” I grabbed the back of my t-shirt and jerked it over my head in one smooth motion. I unbuttoned my jeans but left them hanging on my hips. I kept an extra pair in everyone’s vehicles, just in case. So, when I shredded these it wouldn’t be a big deal.

“Okay,” she conceded. “Whatever you want.”

Wait, what? Why did she agree to that?

Fuck.

Shit.

That was when I knew I’d clearly fucked up. Stand tall and take your beating, Briggs. There was a first time for everything.

In a split second flash of bright light, she shifted and stood across the yard as a wolf. She was the same height as my wolf but thinner, all lean muscle to my bulk. It was the difference between an MMA fighter and a bodybuilder. It was also crystal clear at that moment that I was going to lose before we even began. A smart wolf would have submitted before they got injured. I wasn’t a smart wolf though. I was stubborn. She gave me the wolf equivalent of a grin. She charged me at a speed I had never seen any wolf move in before. Her attack gave me no more time to look her over.

I rushed forward to meet her and shifted mid-jump. We both lunged for the other and slammed together in the air. The momentum pushed us back, allowing me distance once again. She snarled at me, and I returned the favor with a low, warning growl. We were all teeth, claws, and tangled limbs on display for the watching audience seated safely on the patio.

Her shiny silver-blue coat reflected the sunlight. I took a second to notice that her fur was the same color as her hair. She almost looked like a powdery-blue wolf. Her body was hard and her muscles are long, lean, and coiled for her next attack. She was ready to pounce on me, but she played cat and mouse as she circled my bulky body. I’ve never been a mouse in this game before. I had to twist to keep her in my line of vision. I did not want her at my back.

Jack was right. Her wolf was beautiful, terrifying, and deadly. She stalked me gracefully on her paws as she continued to move counterclockwise. It was a sight I wanted to memorize, but she didn’t give me another second. She dove for me. I barely missed her as I adjusted to my left, out of her circle. Her claws tore up the grass when she came to a stop where I was just standing. She glared down at the grass with her large, cold eyes and huffed her distaste. She didn’t like messing up her yard. That’s kind of adorable. I didn’t wait for her undivided attention though, I took the distraction as a chance to attack.

I charged full speed at her and she looked at me keenly but didn't move. I opened my jaws to grab her by the throat, but when I snapped them shut there was nothing but air.

She was gone.

No. Not gone.