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“I’d be up for the challenge,” a man from the alley next to the bar said.
Slowly, I swiveled in the direction of the voice and watched as a man with short dark hair came toward us, dressed in all black. His hands hung loosely at his sides, but there was a tension in his stubble-covered jaw that I hadn’t missed.
“Kinsley, right? I’ve heard quite a bit about you this week.” His grey eyes appraised me. “Seems there were a few exaggerations.”
I smirked, not falling for his attempt at getting under my skin. “Pity. Too bad I don’t give a damn.”
Our eyes locked in a stare-down that had my wolf perking up in interest. The drunk idiots had held no interest to her, but whoever this asshole was, he was a challenge that could get our blood pumping.
“What do you want, Dylan?” Ryder asked, and I was honestly a little surprised this guy was the third faction leader.
Dylan glanced around me. “Don’t play stupid, Ryder. It’s not a good look on you.” He met my gaze again. “You’re here for a position you have no right to. Just because Mathis’s blood runs through your veins doesn’t mean you have a claim to our House.”
I stepped closer to him and squared my shoulders. “You’re right. Mathis has nothing to do with this, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a claim here. I’ll be the Alpha Supreme of this House before long, and I’ll do whatever I have to in order to make that happen.”
He shook his head slowly and smirked. “You’re so out of your league here that I almost feel bad for this.”
Dylan moved to strike, and Grayson tried to warn me, but I didn’t need the assist. I was prepared for an underhanded move and easily dodged the first punch.
“So, you’re quick on your feet,” Dylan taunted. “That doesn’t mean you can beat me. How about we settle the matter right now?”
“I think that can be arranged,” I replied calmly. “And when I win, you’ll shut down your faction and I’ll claim Alpha Supreme.”
He threw his head back and laughed hauntingly. “So much confidence for a naïve woman who didn’t even know she was a wolf shifter until a few weeks ago.”
I nearly flinched at the comment. I hadn’t realized anyone would know where I’d come from, but I managed to hold in my reaction. Though, Dylan wasn’t done trying to get a rise out of me.
“Did you think people wouldn’t talk about a female showing up here and trying to lay claim to a land she’s never been in before?” he goaded. “When I win, there are no options for you. You’ll be dead, and that will be the end of this absurdity.”
“Are you requesting a fight to the death, then?” Ryder asked.
Dylan’s hardened gaze didn’t move from my face. “If you need formalities, then yes. I am. Right now.”
We’d barely made it into town, and I was already getting what I wanted. Well, sort of. I didn’t want to kill Dylan. I hadn’t wanted to kill Ethan, either. But that didn’t mean I wouldn’t take Dylan’s life if it meant keeping myself alive.
“I accept your challenge,” I said confidently. “A fight to the death at a location of your choosing.”
There was a flutter of hesitation I could sense from him. I doubted that he’d expected me to agree so easily, but being underestimated was more than okay with me.
I glanced back at Grayson, Lia, and Markus. My mate was standing completely still, almost as if he’d stopped breathing entirely. His eyes were nearly black, aside from the dark-green flickers I could see within them.
Lia and Markus both nodded tensely at me. Hopefully, they’d keep an eye on Grayson for me. I needed to beat Dylan on my own, or I was going to continue being challenged for Alpha Supreme, wasting time and lives.
When I gave Dylan my attention again, his eyes were stuck on Grayson and a vein was now pulsing in his neck. “Nobody interferes. This is just about you and me.”
I smiled triumphantly at the sound of unease in his voice. “I agree.”
“Follow me,” he said gruffly, then he turned, shifting into an espresso-colored wolf that nearly rivaled me in size. Still, I wasn’t worried.
This was why I’d been led to Fire and Fluorite. I would beat Dylan, give him the option to surrender, or end him if he chose to remain stubborn.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Chapter30
KINSLEY
Instead of immediately following Dylan, I reached for Grayson, pulling him close and needing to feel him once more before the impending fight. “Shift with me?”
