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I throw another punch and miss. I try again with a right hook, and it glances off Darius’ side.
My sisters.
Jab. Jab. Cross.
The pups.
I feint right, but Darius doesn’t fall for it.
Get rid of her.
With a roar, I rush forward and smash Darius’ face. There’s a crunch, and he staggers back, blood pouring from his nose. My wolf snarls, wanting to chase him down for the kill. I force myself back to my corner.
Darius sets his long fingers on either side of his nose and snaps the cartilage back into place. The blood has already stopped flowing. Shifters heal quickly, and if we don't set our broken bones immediately, they'll heal wrong. Nothing worse than breaking your leg, limping back home only for your dad to chew you out while the pack healer breaks it again.
My father knew I had to be tough and strong. He knew that I'd be in an arena just like this fighting for my life everyday. I just didn't realize I would have to fight my best friends.
You need to get rid of her.
Billy only said what needed to be said. I did my duty and had him send Madi away. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still want to go after her and destroy anyone who stands in my way.
“Dude,” Darius calls. “I don't know if you realize this, but your eyes have been glowing for the past five minutes. Your wolf is showing.”
Fuck. I turn away and run my tongue over my teeth. My canines are dangerously sharp. I brace myself against the ropes and force my wolf back down. He snarls and retreats, but I don’t feel any calmer. There’s an empty ache deep in my gut.
“You want to go another round?” Darius asks.
I shake my head and glance at the giant clock fixed to the wall, a reminder that I have tens of thousands of people counting on me every second of every day. I can forget myself for a few minutes, but that’s all.
Duty. Honor. Pack. I was raised to uphold my pack’s legacy. And now I want to throw it all away. Chase after my human assistant like a smitten puppy.
And I hate myself for it. I can't be weak like this. The fate of my entire pack rests on my shoulders. They need a strong alpha to lead them. One wrong move, and the Adalwulfs will be at our throats.
Mating a human would be seen as weak. Doing so would let down my pack and my entire bloodline. My children wouldn’t inherit the throne. But at worst, Aiden would exploit the weakness, poach my pack members, and leave the Blackthroat line, including Auggie and April, exposed for a kill.
So while I’m alpha, I could never claim a human mate. And right now, things are too precarious to consider a regime change. If I stepped down, the Adalwulfs would take it as a sign of weakness, and come after us with everything they have. We barely survived my father’s death. We lost the company and only held onto the pack because my inner circle rallied around my leadership. Together we were an impenetrable force.
Things are still not stable. Right now, I’m the only one who can lead us. It’s the role I was born for. I can’t just walk away.
No matter how much I’m tempted.
Whenever I waver, I imagine my nephew Auggie. Laughing, running from his mother, tumbling down a snowy hill. If the Adalwulfs attacked, they wouldn’t be merciful. They’d slit his throat and leave him dead in the snow.
They’ve done it before. They’ve wiped whole packs off the map. My father told those horror stories around the campfire so we’d remember why the Adalwulfs are our enemies.
They’re completely ruthless, and if they see me as weak, they’ll come after us. Aiden Adalwulf could challenge me for the alpha position in another form of hostile takeover. This one with more disastrous consequences than losing billions of dollars and control of the company.
My wolf hates that I sent Madi away, but he understands. He’s as torn as I am.
At least I will still see her at work. Unless she actually did quit. After the way Billy hustled her out of the manse, I wouldn’t blame her.
“I need to get into the office.” My voice comes out a growl. The sign that my wolf is close. I dip out of the ring and trot to a nearby table stacked with clean white towels. I grab one and rub my face with it.
Darius follows.
“Good fight,” I say, and my voice sounds better.
“Thanks. You were distracted.”
