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Kodiak finally moved in and clamped down on the back of Shota’s neck. He’d barely shaken his opponent when there was a sharp crack.
He knew it was done. Shota had forced him to finish the fight.
Kodiak let go of Shota’s body, horrified, then changed back into human form before collapsing from his exhaustion and wounds.
Shota was dead and he’d killed him.
31
Tamaska
Horror filled her.And her eyes swam with unshed tears.
For Olcan, Shota, and the other who were killed.
For Kodiak who sat on the ground, bleeding and a look on his face like shell shock.
Like he couldn’t believe he’d killed his friend.
But he had to, that’s what Ash said. It hurt, and what she felt was nothing to what he would fee.
Tamaska rushed over to Kodiak, not caring a bit whether she broke some pack protocol. Watching two wolves who were supposed to be on the same side fight to the death had been beyond disturbing.
How could she fit in, even if they let her, when she couldn’t understand their ways?
This man was someone she’d hated and clashed with until recently. And now her heart broke at the sight of him sprawled, hurt, and bleeding.
Their feelings for each other had exploded into something she was still trying to work out, and the more she poked and prodded, the more it felt like…love.
Was that also bonding?
Love that slammed down from nowhere? A thing that lived and breathed on its own, went down deep into the bones?
“Kodiak,” she whispered, her hand resting on his shoulder as she dropped to her knees beside him. “Are you…I thought…Oh, God. I don’t want to lose you. When will this constant violence end? And now….” She swallowed. He was alpha. “Are you hurt?”
“I’ll live.”
But he didn’t look at her, didn’t touch her back, and beneath her hand his muscles tensed like he was going to get up and do more. He needed an infirmary. He needed to sleep.
She needed him.
And she couldn’t do a damned thing.
Slowly she became aware of the faces staring at her. Some with anger, others with exasperation and disgust. Some she couldn’t read and a couple, like Ash, welcomed.
Ash’s expression told her to get up and move away.
Swallowing, she looked at him again and he didn’t look back.
Kodiak shook his head. He pushed Tamaska away and stood. She moved then. Tried to melt into the crowd. Ash came over to stand next to her, but she didn’t say a thing.
Onai stepped up as Kodiak came out to the middle of the circle of shifters, just outside the ropes. The other shifter went down on one knee to inspect Shota, though it was obvious he was dead.
Her stomach turned at that.
Nodding, as if someone had said something, the shifter rose and turned slowly in a circle, taking in each person in the crowd. “He’s dead.”
“Outside the circle!” someone said.
