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“She’s clean,” Victor retorted, and the human in me managed to grab control of the wolf, ready to leap. He hadn’t found her hidden weapon. Savannah had some hope against him. And I’d hunt Victor down if he dared harm a hair on her head. I’d castrate the fucker and end him.
Will coughed into the night, eyeing his niece. “Go Savvy,” he croaked. “All will turn out okay. I promise.”
Savannah took a step toward him, but Victor took her by the arm and dragged her away. I went to go after them but Harrison and Kyran held me tighter.
“Keep your wits,” Kyran whispered in my ear. “Let Max handle it.”
Max addressed Gideon, maintaining his cool as I burned in flame and fury. “Ready for the challenge, old man?”
“Old man?” Gideon growled. “Boy, I might have had a few more hot dinners than you’ve seen the moonlight, but I’m not that much older than you. I’m also not an easy wolf to take down. I accept the challenge. But know this,” he said to me. “If you cheat in any way, or try and get someone to kill me while my back is turned, then not only will my wolves here set upon your people, but Victor will snap your precious whore’s neck. Got it.”
“Like you did with your own daughter?” I retorted.
“You dare,” Gideon’s eyes shifted into those of his wolf. “I’ve waited years to take you down, boy.” He removed his Stetson and placed it on the ground, his hair, once thick, now combed over his baldness. The years had filled his gut, and he didn’t look good on it. But the human packaging of a wolf didn’t matter. The wolf never changed from human habits, only from age. Gideon didn’t seem phased about that either. He removed his jacket and threw it to the ground, stripping off his shirt, his vest, and then his white pants. He kicked off his boots last. “I agree to the challenge!” he bellowed, clenching his fists, ready to shift. “The town is mine if I win. The bitch of a hunter is yours if I lose.”
“The terms as I said them, Gideon,” Max warned.
“Fine.” He shrugged. “Donovan,if I lose, I leave Savannah and her piss-poor excuse of an uncle with you and leave the town, never to be seen again. But if I win, you walk, leaving this place forever, and the people can do whatever the hell they please.”
Max glanced at me. “Do you agree to the terms of the challenge laid before you?”
“Yes.” I bit out, my eyes never leaving my prey. I could barely speak, needing to take out Gideon and save Savannah.
“Good. Then you fight in wolf form until one of you either turn human—which we will take as you conceding the challenge—or one of you dies. Are you both in agreement?”
“Yes,” we said in unison.
“Then step forward. Both of you.”
I removed my clothes, then obeyed him.
Gideon was my only focus as the crowd watched on in silence.
Max put up both of his hands, letting the tension roll over everyone before shouting into the night, “Then let the challenge begin!”
