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Jess, I thought urgently, keep Nicky out of sight. I sensed her agreement as I blanked the connection once again. I kept it open in case she needed to reach me, but with the fight about to start I didn’t want to be distracted. Normally, I would have closed the link but after the Hanleys attempted attack the day before I wasn’t taking the risk.
“For those unfamiliar with the challenge, Frank Hanley has challenged the Navarre Alpha, Caleb Bradshaw, for right to lead the Pack,” my father announced, stepping forward between Caleb and Frank. “No interference will be tolerated during the fight,” he stated, never raising his voice as he listed the rules, and everyone quieted to hear. “No weapons may be used or it will be considered an immediate forfeit.” He paused, his expression solemn. “This is a fight to the death.” He tilted his head respectfully to both men and then stepped from the ring.
Eagerness dripped from the Hanley Alpha as he watched the men strip down and shift. Caleb’s sandy blond fur stood in stark contrast to the dark markings on Frank. Caleb was also smaller than Frank, which I knew from experience was an advantage for Caleb. He’d brought me down on more than one occasion because of the agility afforded him by his smaller stature.
I forced my tight muscles to relax as they circled one another, neither making the first move as they sized up their opponent. I scanned the Hanley side, keeping track of them in case one of them tried something while we were distracted by the fight.
A low snarl drew my attention back to the fight as Frank darted toward Caleb, snapping at his foreleg. Caleb danced out of reach, and I nodded. He could do this all day and would eventually tire the bigger wolf out, if he could stay in control.
My gaze followed their movements as Frank tried to get close and Caleb stayed just out of reach of his snapping jaws. Frustrated, Frank lunged and managed to sink his teeth in the fur at Caleb’s back. Caleb let out a yelp but quickly recovered, swiping his claws at Frank’s underside. Frank released him as he tried to protect his flank and Caleb took advantage, darting forward to snap one of Frank’s legs.
Frank predicted the move and scrambled out of the way. A broken leg would be a death knoll, giving Caleb the advantage. Movement along the sidelines shifted my gaze back to the Hanley pack as one of their shifters crept closer to members of the Navarre Pack. I followed his path as he sniffed the air, tensing when I saw his gaze lock on Jess.
Trent, I pushed the mental thought down the link I wasn’t technically supposed to share with Trent since he wasn’t part of my Pack. You have eyes on Jess?
I can see her, he answered carefully. I’m not close.
Why, I growled, my eyes locked on the young shifter inching closer to my mate.
She told me to keep an eye on Anna, he replied hesitantly, flinching at my instinctive snarl. You told me to keep an eye on both of them, he defended himself. That would be a lot easier if they were together, but they’re not.
No, Anna is standing next to me so you should be standing next to my mate, I reminded him, fighting back the urge to force his obedience. I refused to dominate him, fighting the inherent desire to stake my position.
Going, he acquiesced, his easy acceptance calming my wolf. I kept my gaze locked on the Hanley shifter taking such an interest in my mate until Anna gasped.
“Caleb,” she murmured, her hand reaching out as he fell, and my attention snapped back to the fight. Frank had managed to use his size against Caleb, his brute force catching Caleb unaware as he locked his teeth on Caleb’s leg. We all heard the snap as Caleb tore his leg loose from the cage of Frank’s jaws and limped back. Frank lost no time as he took full advantage of Caleb’s weakened state, charging at him as Caleb braced himself.
“Die, you fucking bastard!”
The scream broke Frank’s focus as he faltered, his head swinging toward the sound of my sister’s voice and Caleb reacted instantly. He used the moment of distraction to launch himself at Frank’s unprotected throat, latching on as his weight rolled Frank on his back. Caleb clamped down, shaking his head as he held Frank immobile, blood soaking through fur and into the ground below them.
Silence cloaked the clearing as Caleb finally released Frank’s throat, dropping his dead body as he backed away limping.
“NO,” Nicholas Hanley roared, grief transforming his face as he realized his son had fallen. He charged toward Caleb, rage and revenge filling his eyes, as Caleb stilled, standing his ground against the Hanley Alpha. “You will pay for taking my son’s life,” the Hanley Alpha promised, about to shift into his wolf when the sound of a gun being cocked froze him in his tracks.
