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“You never earned the position of alpha,” Ajax snarled. “You stole it from these people.”
“You never earned it, either,” Luther countered as he stepped closer. “It was given to you by your father.”
Kenji rolled his shoulders, listening to his vertebrae crack. “Why don’t we do the challenge now?” he asked. “Right in front of your loyalists. Whoever wins is alpha, and whoever loses leaves town and never returns?”
Kenji had no intention of becoming alpha. If he won, he’d find a person who would lead their people with kindness instead of cruelty. With understanding instead of indifference.
“Your flunkies are to stay out of this,” Kenji said.
“As are yours,” Luther said. “Ajax or his friend can’t intervene.”
“I don’t need them to.” Kenji eased Tido toward Mason, grateful his mate didn’t argue. “Wait.” Kenji smirked. “If I’m going to fight for the alpha position, then I need the current alpha. Which isn’t you.”
“I’ll stand in for Kramer,” Luther said. “You’re not fighting my son.”
“That’s not how it works,” Ajax interjected. “Either produce Kramer or we kill all of you.”
Just then Kramer eased out of the woods, looking at each one.
“Son, you’ve been challenged,” Luther said.
“Father?” Kramer looked as if he’d be sick at the idea of fighting.
Luther strode over to Kramer, gripped him by his nape, and shoved him forward. “Fight or I’ll kill you myself.”
Kramer hesitated for a moment, his eyes wide with fear. “But Father, I don’t want to fight.”
“Well, you have two options,” Luther said, his voice low and threatening. “Either you fight and prove your worth as an alpha or I take over as the pack's leader and end your cowardly life.”
Kenji would have felt sorry for Kramer if Kramer hadn’t been a nightmare as alpha. The guy had preyed on people, had thought himself too good for the pack, and had shown indifference toward the town.
As soon as he defeated Kramer, Kenji was killing Luther.
Kramer looked around, the fear still visible in his eyes. He glanced back at his father then took a deep breath and stepped forward.
“Okay, okay,” he muttered, “let’s just get this over with.”
Kenji smirked, sizing up his opponent. This was going to be easy, and he was looking forward to defeating the jerk. He shifted into his wolf and let out a low growl.
Kramer shifted as well.
The wolves surrounding them tensed, their eyes fixed on the two wolves about to fight for the alpha position.
Kenji charged at Kramer, his teeth bared and his muscles coiled like a spring. Kramer met him, their bodies colliding in a flurry of fur and snarls.
To Kenji’s surprise, Kramer could actually fight.
It was a fierce battle, neither of them showing any sign of backing down. They rolled, they bit, they growled, but neither gained the upper hand.
Finally, Kenji sank his canines into Kramer’s hindquarter. Kramer let out a desperate howl, and Kenji watched in shock as the guy shifted back into his human form.
“I yield!” Kramer cried out, his voice hoarse.
Kenji backed away, stunned that the weasel had given up after five minutes of fighting. He’d expected the fight to last longer.
“You get hurt and you yield?” Luther snarled before he kicked Kramer. “I should have killed you as a welp and saved myself centuries of heartache raising such a spineless coward!”
Kenji dove for Luther when the guy bared his claws, driving them toward Kramer. I’ve lost my mind defending that spoiled brat. But if Luther was going to kill his son, it should be in a fair fight, not a brute attacking a wimp. Or Kenji killing Kramer would have been acceptable.
