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“I’m going,” Perdita. “Albeit slowly.”
Evelyn offered an arm. “Let me know if it gets too exciting, and I’ll walk back with you.”
“No chance of that,” Perdita scoffed. “I have to make sure you three newbies see how it ends.”
Evelyn looked at me. “Are you nervous?”
I nodded. “I don’t know what to expect. What about you?”
“Same,” she admitted. “This is the first time I’ve been part of a pack that needed challenges.”
Needed. It was an odd word to use, but I supposed it fit. Just like Victor needed the alpha around to stay calm and the pack needed to run and hunt together to stay whole. The pack had lots of unique needs that I was trying to understand because being with Dorian meant being with the pack. I’d learned that much from spending time with Perdita.
The four of us walked together to a large space behind the houses where some of the pack had already begun to gather. They moved out of the way for Perdita, making sure she had a bench to sit on.
“Oh, it’s cold,” Perdita said, easing herself into the seat. “I hope this doesn’t take too long.”
The rest of us joined her, squeezing together to fit.
“What happens if Byron loses?” I asked nervously.
“Then there’s a new leader,” Perdita said matter-of-factly. “And things will change.”
“Not too much, I hope.” Evelyn’s knee bounced up and down. “I’ve only started to get used to this.”
“Dorian thinks Nathan should be next,” I said.
Perdita rubbed her stomach, but I caught her grimace. “Some people agree.”
Dorian came jogging over to us. “They’re on their way.” He sat on the ground in front of Perdita and me, but he kept fidgeting. If he was nervous, then I was extra scared. But could Perdita watch the challenge if she thought it would end badly? I didn’t know what to think.
We had a clear view as Byron entered the space, accompanied by Nathan and Ryan. The pack formed a wide circle around them, but nobody got in our way. Byron was topless and barefoot, the hair on his chest a contrasting mix of black and silver. He looked strong, which seemed like a good sign. He patted Nathan on the shoulder then said something to him, smiling. He didn’t seem nervous at all. Nathan replied, they both laughed, and then Nathan approached us.
He greeted us before standing behind Perdita, his hand on her shoulder. She reached up to cover his hand with hers. Dad nudged me, making sure I was okay, so I forced myself to smile.
Evelyn leaned forwards. “I’m suddenly extremely nervous.”
“Everything will be okay,” Nathan said in a reassuringly confident tone.
Evelyn visibly relaxed, Dorian stopped fidgeting, and even my shoulders stopped hunching up.
Ryan protectively paced around Byron, looking far tenser than the alpha. The crowd whispered excitedly. Some, like Victor, seemed unable to keep still. The atmosphere reached me and pulled me in, transforming my nervousness into excitement.
Byron addressed the crowd, dismissing Ryan. “Nobody is to interfere. No matter what happens. This is a legitimate challenge. Jorge and I will meet as wolves and deal with the consequences alone.”
Something in the tone of the alpha’s voice sent a thrill down my spine. I glanced at Dorian. As though he sensed me looking, he patted my calf.
The crowd separated to allow a completely naked Jorge to approach Byron. Dad and I avoided looking at each other. Everyone else seemed nonplussed, but I wasn’t sure where to look. I snuck a glance at the women beside me. Evelyn was full-on staring at Jorge, while Perdita didn’t react, although she looked away when Byron stripped off.
I assumed there would be some kind of warning or countdown or something, but I blinked and suddenly both were shifting into wolf form. The shift looked painful and ugly, but the wolves that grew out of the misshapen forms were beautiful. Byron was large and black with a couple of silver streaks. Jorge was as tall, though less bulky, his chocolate brown fur glinting red in the sun. Byron’s fur was more coarse and curled compared to Jorge’s straight, sleek fur.
Dad gaped at them as though he would never grow used to the sight, but when he met my gaze, he mouthed, “Aren’t they amazing?” which made me laugh, given the circumstances. I couldn’t imagine Mam ever having that same reaction. Something was amazing about the werewolves though. They made me feel like a child reading fairytales, able to believe that anything was possible. At the same time, some hidden part of me recognised their otherness as something akin to my own.
A growl drew my attention back to the wolves. They circled each other, Jorge meeting the alpha’s gaze. Byron bared his fangs in answer. They glinted in the bright daylight, a reminder of the danger I was about to witness. Jorge abruptly pounced on Byron, forcing a gasp out of me. Dorian gripped my leg and held on.
The werewolves tussled for a moment before Byron shook Jorge off. He waited while the younger wolf panted and backed up for a moment. Soon, he took a second try, almost immediately finding himself on his back. I blinked a couple of times, unsure of how Byron had gotten the better of him.
Byron again backed off, and Jorge scrambled to his feet. They circled again, but this time, Byron was panting a little, too. My insides curled into a tense ball. I hadn’t realised I was biting my nails until Dad tapped my knuckles to stop me. Jorge was a good person, but I couldn’t bear the thought of the alpha losing. I wasn’t quite sure why, only that the idea made my insides squirm.
