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I knew I was right. Werewolves responded to power and authority. I could see it even now in the room. Pax could, too. He sensed me gaining some grip over his pack and punched his chest with a closed fist. “I don’t need to honor a challenge from an outsider.”
Aranelle seemed to be ignoring Pax. He was showing weakness, and his authority was already dwindling by the moment. She addressed me. “What makes you think we would want you back?”
“It doesn’t matter what you want. I’m Silverback. I have as much right to challenge Pax as anyone else in our pack.”
“You stopped being Silverback when you abandoned us to go throw yourself a pity party,” she countered. “You abandoned us when we needed you most. That’s not an Alpha. That’s a coward.”
Her words stung, but I didn’t let it show. “Is this what you want, Pax? Do you want your legacy as Alpha to be that you were the first Silverback Alpha to refuse a challenge?”
Pax took a step closer, muscles tight. “Do it, then. Challenge me if you will. Don’t talk in half measures and what you might do. Fucking do it.”
“Riggs,” Sylvie said quietly, even though I thought we both knew all the werewolves in the room could hear every word. “I don’t like this plan.” There was something in her eyes, too. A question she wanted to ask, and I didn’t doubt it was about the way I’d casually mentioned she would be my mate. I tried not to grin at that. No doubt it had come as a little bit of a shock to Sylvie. Truthfully, it had shocked me, but the moment I said it, I felt how much I wanted that like fire in my chest.
I imagined us side by side. Mates. Free to be together without being pursued by The Cleaners or worrying about the meddling of The Rebels.
Kyla nodded. “That makes two of us. This was your plan?”
“All the good plans went out the window when Lazarus killed Victor. This is what we have, and we’ve got to do what it takes. Right?”
Sylvie met my eyes, a thousand questions swirling in the silent space between us. A few days ago, Sylvie would’ve fought me on this. I knew she would’ve. But this time, she held my gaze, then nodded. “I trust you,” she said.
Kyla shrugged her assent. She’d known me long enough to know my mind was already set.
“Then let’s do it now,” I said, standing, which caused everyone in the room to flinch. They could talk all they wanted about betrayals and hurt feelings, but I knew werewolves. I knew our ways. So long as I could best Pax, I could take back the clan for myself. And if I could take back the clan, I’d have the backup needed to rescue the others.
As far as the other part of my promise… The part where I’d casually implied a union between Sylvie and I to unite the rebels and werewolves? I wasn’t sure what Sylvie would say when I explained the full implications of what that would mean. But for now, I needed to focus on surviving this challenge. If I failed, none of it would matter, because the Silverbacks would follow through on their threats. We’d be locked up at best and executed at worst.
“Then let’s fight.” I projected my voice, taking on the tones of ceremony that came with a challenge of leadership. “I question the strength of Pax and demand a test of combat.”
Pax’s lip curled. “I accept.”
The room had been quiet, but it seemed like the silence went thicker. “Choose the place.”
“The West Woods,” Pax said.
I nodded. Fights between the Alpha and challengers were never watched by the pack. Two werewolves would go into the forest. Whoever was still strong enough to shift to their wolf form in the end and emerge in one piece was the new Alpha.
I gave Sylvie a nod, trying to convey my confidence. The truth was I knew Pax was strong and vicious. There was a reason he’d risen to take my spot and protected it all this time. But I had to win. There was no other option.
41
Sylvie
I was led to the edge of the woods where I waited with the rest of the werewolves and Kyla. They kept her far enough away from me that I couldn’t really ask her questions without shouting them for everyone to hear. I wondered if they were worried about us working together to fight them off if Riggs lost. Probably.
Gravy Boat tried to follow Pax and Riggs as they walked into the forest together. Both men had taken off their shirts like some warrior ritual. It seemed like everything they were doing was part of an old ceremony everybody but me was familiar with.
I didn’t know what it was, but I hated it. I quietly wondered if any of my newfound vampire abilities would be enough to rush in and help him if it sounded like he was losing. But I had no idea how far into the woods the men planned to go. Instead of some sort of spectator arena match like I’d been expecting, it seemed like it was a private affair.
