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Theo is desperate for his prize. I can see it in the curve of his spine as he forces himself to his knees, broken hand hanging limply at his side. The bones will start to knit together immediately, though there’s no way that hand will be functional during this fight.
His hand won’t be. But a paw?
In the blink of an eye, Theo goes from skin to fur. In a re-run of the challenge where Shane gave up fighting in his human form, Theo goes wolf right before he starts loping toward Ryker.
My heart lodges in my throat.
In an explosion of his black clothes, Ryker shifts just in time for Theo to sink his fangs in the meat of Ryker’s foreleg.
I gasp.
Ryker throws him off. As a human, the two were of a similar size; as a wolf, Ryker is notably bigger. Theo lunges at him, hoping to get in another lucky bite. My mate dodges him, using his muzzle to flip Theo up and over and onto his back.
With his jaws snapping and his dark gold wolf’s eyes determined, Ryker goes for Theo’s exposed belly. A single whimper tells the spectators that Ryker did some damage—not to mention the blood that fills the air—but Theo kicks out, sending Ryker flying.
My mate lands on his side for a single bounce before he’s up again, going for Theo’s throat. He locks his legs around his opponent while Theo does the same thing to him. After that, I can’t really see what happens, though Luna knows I can sense it in so many other ways.
Fur flies. Canines gleam in the setting sunlight. The grumbles that began the close-quarter battle die out, the only sound claws scraping against bone as the two of them attempt to eviscerate each other.
When the air suddenly stinks of expelled bowels, I know that one of them has.
Suddenly, it’s over. Two wolves might have entered the fray, but only one wolf limps away from it.
My heart sores even as the familiar dark wolf separates himself from the body of the wolf he put down.
“Ryker—”
“Will fight another challenge,” Walker says, cutting me off.
No, he fucking won’t.
“Ryker!” I yell again. He’s limping, but he’s already making his way closer to me.
“Christian, don’t let him out of the pit.”
I don’t even have to look to know that Christian has pulled his trusty gun out.
“No—”
It’s the only word I get out before Walker gets up from his seat, gesturing to someone in the crowd. “There’s more than one wolf willing to fight for the privilege of having you. I won’t let him win.”
What?
Relief subsides as anger overwhelms it.
“The challenge is over,” I snap at him. “Ryker’s the victor. Deal with it.”
“No, Ruby. I won’t.” He points a shaking claw at me. “If you don’t want him to fight for you, then we’ll do it the hard way. Elizabeth. Take her bond.”
He’s furious, but so am I.
“You can’t do that,” I snarl.
“Do it!”
I sense Elizabeth shifting in her seat. I spin on her, just in time to see her hand reaching for me.
“Don’t you dare.” I lace my voice with all the power of my wolf. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
