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BENTON
After they shifted, the air grew quiet all around them. No one made a sound, not even the wind. He took a deep breath, watching Troy across from him, searching for a weakness, something he could use to his advantage.
Opal said they would play dirty, and he needed to find his approach before Troy could get the upper hand.
He knew Reba was looking Opal up and down, looking for a weak spot as well. Troy was doing the same to him. But he refused to give him anything to make him seem weak.
He was strong, and he was fast. He wasn't going to lose. He had so many people to fight for. He didn't think he could lose.
And as quickly as the area fell quiet, it became loud. It was like an eruption of sound went off around him.
Troy rushed forward, snapping his jaws at his front legs. He reared up, stepping backward. He heard a snarl to the left of him and could see Reba slam into Opal.
Opal snapped at Reba, and they growled loudly at each other as they rolled in the dirt. Reba seemed to have the upper hand with Opal.
He quickly moved back, just seconds before Troy could get his teeth around his neck. He missed him by a split second.
Cheering and growling erupted around him from the crowd. This was a battle to the death. Someone wasn't walking out of this fight alive. And he didn't know where everyone stood.
Troy rushed at him once more and slammed into him. They went spiraling back into the grass. He pushed Troy up as he heard his jaws snapping violently at him. He tasted the saliva as he growled.
"You're dead!" Troy said, shoving his paw and his claws into his side. "You think you can defeat us? Really? You have no idea. I've been the alpha longer than you have been alive. And you aren't going to take it from me."
He growled at him, shoving him back just enough to swipe his claws across Troy's chest. Troy yanked free, wincing just slightly. He fired back once more, pinning him to the ground.
He heard Reba growling, and he smelled blood. He couldn't tell if it was his own or whose it was. His mind was too focused on Troy.
"You were supposed to protect these people!" he growled. "That was your job. To protect them, but you've failed in every area. You are not fit to rule. You were never fit to rule."
Troy snapped his jaws around his shoulder, and fire coursed over him. He howled in pain, trying to shove him off. The injury would leave a mark.
"You don't see everything. These people. They aren't worthy. And the seniors? They are just near death. What does money mean to them? They don't need it after they die."
It angered him. It filled every part of his body with fury to hear those words. He was supposed to be looking after these people, but instead, he was using them. These were living, breathing people that he screwed over, and to him, it was another check on his list. He didn't care about anyone. He just wanted what they had to offer him.
He pulled his back legs and wedged them behind Troy's. He then flung him off and rolled onto his feet. He winced from his shoulder but forced himself to move past it.
He could see Opal had Reba pinned, blood coating her fur. She looked infuriated, and he knew Reba was trying to get into her head just like Troy was doing to him.
She bit down on Reba's shoulder, making Reba growl in pain. He turned his attention back to Troy, who was now stalking him.
They circled each other, and he studied Troy. He hated how the alpha walked with such confidence still.
"These people depended on you, and you used them like pawns in your own game. You use them to advance yourself in life. It makes you the lowest of the low."
Troy growled at him, and he had clearly struck a nerve. Troy charged, and he noticed a slight limp in his back left leg. He would have missed it if he wasn't looking.
He ducked as he charged, and he went for his back leg. He grabbed his leg with his teeth and dug into his bone. He tasted blood, and Troy clawed at him, trying to break free.
He let go, stepping backward. Troy looked at his leg, seeing his blood seeping into the dirt. He found his weak spot.
The thunder rumbled above, and he watched as Troy looked at him with fury. He shook his fur, adjusting his stance. He needed to stay strong.
He watched as Reba threw Opal, and she slid just a few feet. His heart twisted for her. He looked at her, noting she was covered in marks. She had blood coating her fur, and she winced as she landed.
"I'm fine," she said, pulling herself up. "Focus on him. I have her."
He knew she did. He could see it in her eyes. She felt confident, and she threw herself forward straight onto Reba's back.
