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Raine nodded. “True, but if you wish Dannika to change the rules, to be the catalyst for our evolution, then you have to take her concerns under advisement. You can’t choose these changes to your liking.”
Ryder waved his hand dismissively. “Enough. We are here to assess the bear newling.”
Stern turned to Raine, pointing at Ryder. “Did that asshole just call me a greenhorn?”
“Yes. Our version of one.”
Stern turned to Ryder. “Fuck you.”
He shifted to his bear form. The roar echoed against the mountains as birds squawked, fleeing the nearby trees. Stern rose on his hind legs.
Ryder’s smile was that of the devil. He shifted into a bear the size of a small elephant, his fur thick and luxurious as his muscles flexed beneath the chocolate coat. He rose on his hind legs, dwarfing Stern as he roared.
Stern didn’t hesitate. His claws shot out, swiping at Ryder’s chest. Though large, Ryder possessed the agility and skills of an alpha. He evaded the attack before lunging at the newest member of his clan.
The attack knocked Stern to the ground, but he recovered quickly, circling the larger bear. He lunged to the left, then dodged to the right and swiped Ryder’s side. The thick fleshy gash welled with black blood as Ryder growled. The maneuver wasn’t that of Stern’s bear. It was that of a trained soldier.
Stern used similar tactics to score several hits on Ryder. It wasn’t until Ryder’s form rippled that Dannika realized he was testing Stern. The soldier made his next attack, but Ryder dissolved and reformed behind him, shifting to a shadow warrior and wrapping his arm around the bear’s neck.
Stern squirmed, attempting to use his powerful back legs to dislodge his attacker, but Ryder was much stronger. He held the bear as if it were a family pet.
Ryder dropped his lips to Stern’s furry ear. “I commend you. That was an invigorating fight. What is it you humans say? All good things must come to an end. Say goodbye, greenhorn.”
The growling echoed before Stern roared.
CHAPTER32
Dannika rushed to Stern’s body, attempting to dislodge Ryder’s grip from his throat. “Let him go!”
Her shadow burst from her body. Black waves rolled off her shoulders as her claws erupted from her knuckles. She had trusted Ryder, believed him a better man than Maddock, but his actions proved he was just as power-hungry as the wolf leader.
Ryder hissed as her claws slashed his shoulder, and he dropped Stern.
Stern shifted to his human form, gasping for breath. “That fucker hits like a freight train.”
Dannika crouched beside Stern, putting her hand over his shoulder. Her eyes rested accusingly on Ryder as she resumed her human form. “I thought you were better than this. Killing a fledgling is beneath you.”
Ryder held up his arm, watching the silver leech from his wound before it healed. “That stings like a bitch. Almost as bad as a reaper blade.”
“Well, you deserved it. Stern is my responsibility.” She glanced at the men. “This is what the reapers want. They already have the means for our destruction. If you’re going to fight amongst yourselves, you might as will hand the clans over to Killian now.”
Ryder dropped his arm when his skin healed over. “What is she talking about?”
Dannika hissed. “The end of the shadow clans. We’re trying to stop it, but you’re more interested in killing each other than uniting against a common enemy.”
Raine cleared his throat. “Dannika, honey, Ryder wasn’t trying to kill Stern.”
She glanced between Ryder and Colton. The cougar was clearing his throat as Ryder smirked. “He told Stern to say goodbye.”
Raine nodded. “He used the term greenhorn. A human term. He was telling Stern to say goodbye to his human life. Ryder never unsheathed his reaper blade. He never bit Stern. Choking him, breaking his bones is training. Nothing Ryder did would do permanent damage to Stern. He was in complete control, even when he was allowing Stern to score him.”
Stern fell back onto the grass. “I haven’t been this whipped since I was in training.”
“That’s because you’re in training again. Everything you learned in the military will aid you when you fight for the shadow clans, but the reapers are stronger and venomous. You have much to learn about your abilities and how to defend against a stronger enemy.”
Dannika sat on her knees. “Now I feel like a total ass hat.”
Ryder looked her over. “It takes a bigger man, or woman, to admit when they are wrong. Now tell me about Killian. Why do you think he can destroy us?”
