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He took a few steps toward her, but Benton lifted an arm before he got too close. He curled his lip up at him, growlingly low. Normally, her tiger protested at being protected as it was a sign of weakness, but she enjoyed it this time.
Troy bared his teeth, snarling. "I will never step down. I will never move aside. Bring whatever files you want, but there is nothing you or any human can do to change anything here. This is my land and my people, and I will do what I want."
Her stomach twisted, almost as if she'd lost. She knew it wasn't going to be easy. Neither of them would care what she wanted. They just wanted power. It was something every shifter wanted, and none wanted to lose.
"The only way anything is going to change is by battle." He started to laugh again. "And both of you are too meek to be leaders."
A spark bloomed in her mind, and she glanced at Benton. They never spoke about them taking over. They had talked about the authorities coming in and handling everything, but what about the pack? What about them?
They would need a leader, and the position would be open. Was that something they wanted? She didn't know.
"Fine, a challenge it is then," Benton spoke up, and it surprised her. She looked at him, seeing how calm he was. "But just know, you had a chance to leave."
“You're an idiot," Reba growled at Benton. "To follow a girl with a pathway like hers. I won't feel bad for you when your blood is on my hands."
Benton snapped his eyes at her. "Does it feel good to sleep at night next to someone that sucks the life and money out of others to gain things?"
Reba growled at him, rushing forward. Opal moved, stepping in Reba's way. She snarled, stopping Reba in her tracks.
"Touch him, and that will be the biggest and last mistake you ever make."
Reba inhaled through her nose and looked at Troy. Troy looked at Benton. "You want a fight. Fine, a fight is what you will receive. An alpha fight to the death."
Reba turned on her heels, walking back to Troy. Then they both pushed the doors open to head outside. The sun was starting to set, just coming out of the horizon.
Their garden was beautiful, and they walked down a wide pathway toward an open field just a quarter mile from their house. She kept her eyes locked on them, taking in the area around them.
Servants watched, and guards stood in their spots watching. Everyone seemed to be waiting. Troy turned, and Reba looked at him. The wind seemed to freeze, waiting as well.
They stood just a few feet away, and Reba said something to Troy. She frowned, unable to hear it.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked Benton, looking at him. "You don't have to stay and fight."
"I'm not going anywhere." He looked at her, giving her a gentle smile. "This isn't just your battle anymore."
She took a deep breath in, allowing his words to float over her. He was right. It wasn't just her fight anymore.
"They will play dirty," she said, looking around. There were more people coming to watch. She knew who some of them were. She felt her stomach twist. "And they will kill."
"We will play just as dirty then." He grabbed her chin, pulling her gaze to him. "And we are going to win." He looked deep into her eyes. "Because this isn't just for us. Opal, this is for everyone here."
It seemed to ignite a fire in her stomach. He was right. This was for everyone.
She looked back, worried that some people might lean toward the Jacobs’s side. They might want them to win.
She took a deep breath seeing a crowd gathering. Word spread fast that there was a fight for the alpha position. She shouldn't be surprised. She figured someone would catch onto the situation as soon as she got there. She tried to push their voices out, wanting to focus.
She curled her hands into fists, looking at Troy and Reba. They had both turned to them now. Reba stood in front of her, and Troy stood in front of Benton.
Troy would go against Benton. She knew Benton could handle him. Benton knew he would play dirty. She would go against Reba, and she was aware of just how bloodthirsty the woman was.
Reba would gladly spill blood to prove a point. She'd remembered her doing so when she was younger. Reba would purposely slice someone if they looked at her wrong.
Reba growled at her, and she pulled her shoulders back. Opal inhaled, slowing her heart. She could do this. She was ready for this.
Troy and Reba shifted, and she looked at Benton. He gave her a nod, and they shifted as well. She pulled her legs into a good stance as the match began.
NINETEEN
