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“We can certainly fix that,” Jolon challenged, stepping closer to Dason. “Submit,” he ordered, letting the alpha power he wielded flow from him in waves. It prickled along my skin, but I had enough alpha inside of me to stand my ground.
Kota and Axel lowered their eyes and subtly craned their necks to the side, exposing the columns of their throats. Syler moved to flank Jolon while Chayton looked torn. He rightfully belonged to Jolon’s pack now, and didn’t officially hold the title of beta any longer, but his loyalty was deeply ingrained to lie with Dason, to be his second. Old habits were hard to break, and he appeared as if he wanted to step up to Dason’s side and support him as his rightful alpha.
Just as he went to move, however, Dason held up a hand and stopped him, unwilling to put Chayton in a difficult situation. Loyalty was everything in a pack, and as much as Jolon liked Chayton, that kind of disrespect would be hard to overlook as an alpha.
“I think you know I’ll never submit willingly.” Dason stood strong against the wave of power that threatened to take everyone else to their knees. Both my alphas were strong leaders, and it broke my heart to see them fight each other like this.
One of my biggest fears was that this battle between them would divide the pack, and I couldn’t have that.
“I chose to go into the Shadow Realm, Dase. Jolon couldn’t stop me once I was through the gated ward. He tried to come with me, but it didn’t grant him access. It must have been a Veil Keeper thing.” I tried to reason with him, but his jaw tightened and he refused to glance toward me.
My fingers dug into the book until they bled white.
“You were almost killed,” he finally said in a low voice, but I caught every word.
“But I wasn’t,” I told him, reminding him I was right here, in one piece, thanks to Kota’s healing.
Dason just shook his head, refusing to listen. Focus glued to Jolon, he let all the hurt and pain he was feeling bleed into his condemnation. “I trusted you with her life, and you almost lost her.”
“Nothing I would have said would have stopped her. Maybe if you pulled your head out of your ass, you would understand why she did what she did,” Jolon stated harshly. “Maybe if you weren’t so goddamn selfish, you would have joined the pack and been able to go with her. But, no. As you’ve already stated, you’ll never willingly join my pack. But I’m just as alpha as you are, and I will not relinquish my position because you won’t yield.”
Wetness welled behind my eyes, threatening to break free as I watched two of my mates forcefully stand off against each other. This was the day I’d been dreading, the one where they set aside their friendship and faced each other as power hungry alphas.
“Then relinquish it because you almost got our mate killed tonight. Relinquish it because deep down, you know this is my pack to lead.” Dason took purposeful steps forward with each declaration, his own alpha power swirling around him to press down on anyone standing too close. “I’ve been training for this position my entire life, Jolon. I don’t begrudge you your power, but I cannot accept a position under your rule in a pack I feel is rightfully mine. You might be an alpha in your own right and one of Lorn’s mates, but that doesn’t mean you’re the right leader. The packs must unite, and I will not step aside.”
I gasped from the strength of Dason’s power as he stared down Jolon and issued a single word order. “Submit.”
Sweat beaded across Jolon’s forehead as he fought off the command, his jaw jumping from the force he used to grind his teeth together.
“No.” He forced the word out.
“Then you leave me with no choice.” Dason’s shoulders grew impossibly bigger as his puma threatened to break free at any moment. The taste of his magic was heavy in the air, and his eyes went impossibly yellow. “I challenge you for the position of alpha.”
My heart dropped straight through my feet at those uttered words.
“No,” I cried hoarsely.
None of the guys seemed to take this latest development well. Axel winced while Kota glowered. Chayton looked pained, and Syler? Syler glanced toward me with sorrow written across his face. My big teddy bear knew what this would do to me and to our pack. An official challenge? Was Dason crazy? Whoever won would leave the loser feeling alienated at best, angry and inadequate at worst. A challenge could rip our family apart.
I moved to intercept them. “No,” I stated again. “I don’t want this.”
Jolon turned to me, and his eyes softened just a fraction. “Are you willing to make the choice for the pack, Lorn? Are you willing to name an alpha to rule at your side?” It was a dare, a challenge, an impossible ask.
“You know I can’t do that.” I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. Whoever I chose would live happily, but what about my other alpha? Whichever man lost his position would never forgive me. Choosing meant losing one of them, and I couldn’t bear the thought.
“There has to be another way.” The words were barely audible, lost in the shuffle of men who were creating a makeshift ring with their bodies.
Dason tugged his shirt over his head, placing all his sexy golden skin on display. But I couldn’t even appreciate it. This was a shit show.
Jolon growled and reached behind him, pulling his shirt over his head as well, baring his tattooed chest. The jeweled tones of his artwork bunched and shifted with every movement, and his eyes flashed from light blue to nearly white with the presence of his silver fox.
“You can’t be serious,” I growled as Syler came for me and tugged me out of harm’s way. He was ready to wrap me in his arms and be a balm for my frustrations.
Usually, it worked. But not this time. I held up my hand and pushed off his chest just as he pulled me close.
“You can’t condone this.” I gestured toward the guys who were limbering up, ready to kick each other’s asses.
Syler sighed and began signing, but it was too fast for me to make out more than a few words.
