Page 79

Caleb’s voice boomed across the common area. The other pack members were settled on the couch, the armchair, and even on the floor. Clover sat at my side, her hand on my knee. She was the perfect picture of supportive of her alpha.

“Yes,” I said. “To attend to needs that will help the pack.”

“You’re needed here.” Caleb rose from the couch and pinned me with a callous stare. “I don’t think your needs and wants align with the pack’s. You shame the memory of your father, of your brother. You want to change the way things are⁠—”

“For the better.” I remained seated, staring up at him.

“It’s not in need of fixing, and I’m tired of the bastard brother telling me what to do. I don’t think you’re fit to be alpha.”

“Caleb,” his brother and Evander called at the same time.

“Think carefully before you say something you regret, Caleb,” said Evander.

“I have this pack’s best interest at heart, and the bastard doesn’t. He won’t even lay an official claim on our omega. He’s a fucking coward.” He tugged his grasp from Evander’s as the shorter lycan tried to intercept him. “Don’t you agree, Clover?” he said, looking at her.

“Don’t involve her in your idiocy,” I snapped.

“I think I can prove to her who’s the bigger wolf.” His voice dripped with a crude mixture of disdain and innuendo. Clover shuddered beside me. “I challenge you, Alpha, for your title.”

A chill ran through me, and Clover’s hand tightened on my knee. I didn’t let fear or discomfort bleed into my scent. I steeled my resolve, meeting his gaze squarely as my hand pressed over hers. I gave it a squeeze before removing it from my leg and standing. Evander’s eyes were wide with panic.

“Challenge accepted,” I said. I tugged my shirt off and tossed it onto the couch before stepping backward, never taking my eyes off Caleb as I walked to the door. My trousers were shucked off just outside the door before I leapt from two feet to four. I waited, canine eyes trained on the door as the sable wolf stepped out of the house.

There was no official beginning of such a duel, no judge or jury. Caleb and I circled each other. He was brawny in wolf form, just as he was in human form. His first pounce was powerful, but I was quicker. I jumped out of the way, circling back and snapping at his flank. His claw came at me, striking out and catching my snout.

I didn’t dare let out any sounds that could pin me as powerless, even as his jaw closed around my flank, and he shook his head, tearing at my fur and flesh. The searing pain sent sparks into my vision. Then it wasn’t Caleb that I was fighting, but Antoine. His venom-tinged breath, mere centimeters from my face, the promise of death in his eyes. Panic shot down my spine, leaving the wolf’s body almost numb.

I’d defeated a monster once before—one I loved with all my heart. I wouldn’t be bested by this sadist. Not this way. I needed to defend the pack. To defend Clover. I could feel her fear from the door, and that shoved my panic aside. We weren’t in love, but I did love her as any family member would. I couldn’t let Caleb lay a claim to her as an alpha. He would destroy her.

I kicked out with all four legs, fighting my way from beneath him and knocking him onto his back. We grappled, rolling through the dirt, fighting for who remained in the position of advantage. Caleb was strong but blinded by his bullheadedness and anger while I kept my composure.

I took a few scratches, but from the fear drifting to me from the door, I knew I needed to end this quickly. I pinned him in the dirt and clamped my jaw around his throat. Not enough to maim him, but one wrong move, one attempt to free himself, and I would have to act. I didn’t want to kill him, but to my relief, the fight left him. His limbs relaxed, and he let out a small whimper. Releasing his throat, I stepped away.

He shakily stood on all fours, his head lowered, snout nearly touching the ground. I turned my back on him, shifting from four legs to two and walking right past the other pack members. Evander and Clover followed while the others cleared a path. “You’re hurt,” came Clover’s gentle voice. “Do you want me to⁠—”

“No.” My voice came out firmer than I intended. I closed my eyes and released a breath before turning back to her. “I’m alright.” My gaze looked past her to the other pack members while Caleb limped toward the house, as naked as I was. He couldn’t meet my gaze, and from the blood leaking from his face, neck, and other parts of his body, he would hopefully not dare to challenge me again.

I didn’t press my hand against my side, though I could feel the blood leaking down my hip. My vision was hazy, and my cheek and nose stung. “Let that be a lesson,” I said, fighting against the shake in my voice. “I showed mercy tonight. Next time I won’t. If anyone should take over as alpha, it would be because they proved themselves to be worth it—not through combat, but through service. Through emotional strength. And that person, who will take over in my place, is still Evander. Do you understand?”

All heads nodded. I met Evander’s eyes. His lips were pressed firmly together, but he held three fingers against his chest and gave a small bow. An acceptance of an honor. “Caleb, tend to your wounds and get some fucking sleep,” I mumbled.

I was almost at my room when Clover’s voice reached me. “That doesn’t look good.”

“It’ll be fine. No venom this time.” I laughed darkly, realizing too late I’d just admitted to being bitten.

I met her wide gaze. “But Antoine didn’t … did he?” I only looked at her, and she gasped, a hand over her mouth. “Oh, gods, he did?”

I held my finger to my lips and opened the door, letting her in. “You’ll tell no one about this,” I said with enough firmness it might as well have been a bark.

“Yes, Alpha,” she said as I closed the door.

“It seems I’m immune. Aura says—” I paused, realizing my slip. Godsdammit, I clearly couldn’t keep it together tonight. “The alchemist I was working with says my immunity might be the key for a cure. That’s what we were trying to figure out.”

“Mm-hmm,” she said. “So, an alchemist, yeah? Aura?” Her jaw dropped, realization funneling in. “As in the vampire that showed up here a month ago?”

My heart raced. My gut told me I could trust Clover, but still. I didn’t want to put Aura in greater danger. I slipped into some trousers and grabbed a handkerchief from my drawer to press against my side. My blood seeped right through, and I tracked Clover’s concerned look. I didn’t want to see the pity in her eyes as she bandaged me like after Antoine’s death. I didn’t want to feel her soft touch or hear her tender words. I needed to let this one hurt for a moment.

“I don’t understand this world,” she said quietly. “Why do we take it upon ourselves to decide who’s allowed to fall in love or be intimate with each other? I’ll never forget this story that my grandmother told me, probably because she made a point of repeating it over and over again. About a lycan from the Lucerin pack who fell madly in love with a Primal Born vampire.”