AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Kai, don't," Rosie protested. "It's okay, I can handle him."
I didn't respond or assure her that I could do it. I didn't allow my focus to wander anywhere else except on Reginald. I had yet to really contribute to Rosie and our pack since becoming her mate. It was time I stepped forward and did my part to protect Rosie. I just needed to be cautious of my wolf's berserker side. No matter what, I needed to make sure I didn't lose control. I couldn't spend the rest of my life avoiding confrontation over fear of being overpowered by the Blood Moon's effect on my wolf. Not if we were going to have to fight an army.
"As Co-Alpha, I will accept the challenge in Rosie's place. Unless you think you're not strong enough to handle someone like me." I quirked a brow, baiting him to shift his focus on me instead of my love.
Reginald snorted. "Not strong enough to handle you? Oh please, I've been looking for the day I get to put you in your place and show you what a real wolf can do. You've had it easy for years because of your brother and Joaquin coddling you, but nobody can save you now, pup." He paused for a second, then announced, "I accept your challenge. If I defeat you, your little pack will rejoin Pierce, her majesty will face the alpha's wrath, and I'll get to kill you nice and slow until you beg me to put you out of your misery."
I felt my wolf reaching closer to the surface, snarling as his anger slowly began to rise. He didn't like the way Reginald was speaking to us, and more importantly, our mate. The effects of the berserker rage slowly seeped through. The desire to rip Reginald open and feel his blood traveling down my throat was uncharacteristically enticing.
Keep cool. Don't lose control.
"Kai." Rosie gripped my arm and yanked me back. "Are you crazy? Why would you do this? What if he kills you?"
"What if he kills you?" I fired back, reminding her that her death would be worse for everyone else than mine. "At least if he kills me and steals the gift from me, you'll still have a chance to stop him from hurting others."
"That's not what I'm concerned about Kai," Rosie said through gritted teeth. I'd never seen her this mad at me, and it had my heart constricting. Her face softened as she added, "I'm worried about you."
"So am I," Kao said. "What if it becomes too much for you?"
With the way my twin eyed me intently, I knew what he was referring to.
"I can handle it," I tried to assure him, then turned back to Rosie, cupping her face and making her look up at me. "And what would happen if he killed you, should concern you. The pack needs you far more than they need me."
"But I need you," Rosie pleaded, her eyes squeezing shut as her emotions were getting the best of her.
I wiped a wandering tear away with my thumb before leaning forward and pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. "I won't lose, my love. I promise. Kai rak Rosie na krap."
Rosie's lips pressed together to prevent herself from arguing further. There was no point since Reginald accepted my challenge. With a nod, she took a deep breath, then chocked out, "I love you too, so you better win, Kai Trivinij. I'll never forgive you if you don't."
I beamed at her. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Are you done saying your final farewells yet? I'm getting bored over here, and I'll need to get her majesty to Alpha Pierce as soon as possible," Reginald said snidely.
I pulled away from Rosie, looking from Kao's fear-stricken face to Byron, who seemed both worried and intrigued. I regarded the rest of the betas that made up our little pack, most of which I never had the chance to have a connection with back when we were part of Alpha Pierce's pack. Now they were relying on me to make sure they wouldn't have to follow him anymore. I then faced Roxanne, who regarded me with narrowed eyes. I didn't have to be a psychic to know what was on her mind either. She knew of my curse, of the Berserker Wolf inside me. The advice she gave me a few days ago came back to me.
"Your fear of lacking in control is your biggest weakness, Kai. You didn't harm your brother back then because you willed yourself not to. You have the strength within you but only if you stop being so afraid to let it loose and show your wolf that you're the dominant one."
That was what I was doing, not being afraid to take a stand. I needed to remember that I was in control. I could do this. I looked back at Reginald and scowled at him. "Sorry, but the only thing you'll be giving Pierce is your regret and your plea for mercy when you tell him you failed. Because I can promise you one thing, Rosie won't be going anywhere near you or Pierce."
Reginald snorted. "We'll see."
Discarding my clothes, I held them in a bundle and passed them over to my brother. It was best to disrobe now before fighting, that way we could shift immediately if needed. Everyone else backed away, making sure Reginald and I had enough room to maneuver. We met in the center, shaking hands in show of good sportsmanship for the challenge, but Reginald tried using it as an opportunity to show how tight his grip was compared to mine. Fucking tool.
I yanked my hand away and put myself at a far enough distance to get myself into a fighting stance. The fight began when Reginald ran for me with a fist pulled back. He swung, but I ducked low and side flipped to my right. He came for me again with another swing of his fist, but I blocked it and decked him in the gut. The crowd began hollering, both mine and Reginald's names coming out of their mouths. The only voices I cared about came from Rosie and the rest of my pack. I allowed my wolf to heighten my senses just as Reginald went on for the attack again. I leaned back to avoid a blow to the face, but he faked it then struck my head on with his other fist. I stumbled back, crying out from feeling my nose cracking. Blood was gushing out of my nostrils. Reginald took the opportunity to land two more hits, one to my gut and another to my cheek. I crumbled to the ground, my face and chest sore.
"Come on Kai, get up!" I heard Rosie shout.
"Come on, Kai! You got this!" Kao's voice came next.
I preferred their voices over Reginald's chuckling that followed. "Is that all you got, pup? Huh?"
I spit out the blood that was pooling in my mouth before lifting my head up with a sneer. "Not even close, asshole."
He made to kick me on my side, but I rolled away avoiding his foot before standing back up. Reginald charged like an angry bull and tackled me to the ground. We rolled around trying to overpower the other. Unfortunately, that was Reginald who managed to get me under him and kept swinging punches like crazy. One landed on my left eye, another against my temple, my cheek. Anywhere he could get me. Before he could hit me again, I knocked his fist away from me, then grabbed hold of his face and slammed my forehead against his nose, cracking it like how he cracked mine. I managed to push him off me then and shakily got to my feet, though the many blows to the head were making me see stars. The sounds of cheering were melding together, making it difficult to tell who was shouting what.
One voice did stand out, but his was one I was most afraid to hear. "Kill!"
"No,"I shouted to my wolf via mental link."No, we will not kill him. We have to stay in control."
