Chapter 7 #3
“I feel better now.”
“It won’t cover other risks. You still
need to be watchful. We’ll all be careful and see what
happens.”
Duroc looked at the circle. They had
big rocks spaced every three feet around the circle except where
they had a place for the judge and the spectators. He bet the rocks
were local and had been here since not long after the pack was
established. The ground was packed so hard it resembled
concrete.
He glanced at the crowd seeing someone
else he’d not seen in a while. It was the southern Washington
Alpha, George, and he cast ugly looks at Duroc and those with him.
That alpha also kept to himself staying away from everyone else but
his two guards. Change was in the air and George clearly didn’t
like it. Maybe he worried that he might be next.
“Alpha Allen and Duroc please take
your places.” Damon announced. With Tramp, his father, and George
there, it covered the witnesses.
They both entered the circle, and a
shot rang out. It bounced off the shield the witches had made. Some
people gasped, they had not expected that. He had and it had
shocked him anyway. Damon spoke about the history of the challenges
and other fights that took place in the circle. Then he paused and
said begin and his fist slammed into his palm.
Both of them moved closer to each
other circling. It was clear to him this alpha was stalling. There
was another plan that Duroc needed to be on the look outlookout
for. Pushing Al into doing something, he crowded him. Al tried to
push him back. Did this guy even realize this was a
fight?
Duroc lashed out and got first blood
by hitting Al in the nose. It dripped blood for a minute then
healed. He hit him again this time in the jaw then the chest. Al
stepped back. He followed him and hit his belly hard three times
fast. Duroc moved up pounding him in the face until it was a bloody
mess. Al changed to his wolf, and he followedfollowed, turning
fast. The alpha had not planned things out well. His wolf was a
vicious one and was tearing the challenged alpha up with his
claws.
Things were going well for him and
there was no doubt he was going to win. Two wolves were running
toward him. A male in front and a female hanging back some. It was
clear they were jumping into the circle. In a second, Bindi changed
and took out the female, but it was too late to take out the male.
Al had his back to the wolf that was jumping into the circle, so
Duroc crowded him, and Al moved directly into his path.
The newcomer landed on Al and they
both crashed. He was now fighting two wolves, but he felt an
incredible surge of power running through him. His wolf was angry,
and he foamed at the mouth, so that might be part of it, but it
didn’t explain it all. There was no way he’d put up with this.
Duroc went nuts. Both wolves in the circle with him tried to escape
him so he concentrated on Al first. He jumped and his mouth wrapped
around All’s throat. He tightened his grip and the wolf tried
desperately to get away.
This pack alpha was tapping out and he
could end it right now. Should he? He stepped back and let him go.
Duroc wasn’t bloodthirsty. The other wolf recognized the surrender
and lay in the corner whimpering. He’d wanted to do as his alpha
had asked but now, he’d went against the new alpha. No one was
moving even though the fight was done.
Duroc refused to move until Al did
because he didn’t trust him. Finally, Al moved as if he was leaving
the circle then turned as fast as he could to go for Duroc’s neck.
He missed, but Duroc grabbed his and shook him like a ragdoll. When
he finally stopped, it appeared Al was dead. This was the only way
it could have ended. Duroc left the circle and made his way to
Bindi and hugged his mate tighttightly.
“Thank the goddess you are
okay.”
“I am and now the real work begins.”
Duroc observed.
“What of the wolf who jumped into the
circle and his mate?”
“They’ll have to be punished. I’m just
not sure how. Not yet anyway.”
He saw a couple males arrive and they
took the body away. That was the cleanup crew the council had. It
was good they’d removed itit, and he wouldn’t have to worry about
it.
“Who is the beta?”
“I am.” A male said.
“Are there other betas?” Duroc
asked.
“Yes, but none of them
came.”
“What’s your name?”
“Finley. He picked me to do most of
the work. Al never liked me much.”
“Where is his family.”
“Al’s family? You won’t hurt them,
will you?”
“I’m not like that. I want to talk to
them and see what they want to do.”
“There’s a small house at the edge of
our pack lands that his mate’s parents owned. She’s
there.”
“If she wants to, she can stay there.
Would you ask her if she knows anything about Bindi’s mom?” Duroc
asked.
“Who is your mate?”
“Her father is the alpha’s
brother.”
“I remember her. She was banished at a
young age.” Finley said.
“Sent away with no money or
anything.”
“I didn’t know that. Alpha was cold
and cruel. We need a new packhouse. The one we have now is
terrible.”
“I agree. Let’s go through the money
and see what we can afford. A few can move into the house for now.
Any females or children? Those we need to take care of
first.”
“Thank you. It will help them. How
many rooms in the house?” Finley asked.
“How many are empty?”
“Four, right now.”
“Then three rooms. We need to leave
one for emergencies.”
“Okay, I’ll see what I can
do.”
“Maybe you should take Bindi with
you?”
“Yes, I’d like to go.” Bindi
agreed.
“Where is the wolf and his mate who
entered the circle?”
“I’m here.” The female
said.
“You are mates?”
“We are.”
“What do you do?”
“I run the househouse, and my mate
does repairs.” She explained.
“What should I do with
you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why did you do it?”
“We have pups. He was going to kill
them if we didn’t.”
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Lois and my mate is
Harvey.”
“I’m Duroc and my mate is Bindi. Why
don’t you take your mate home and see to your pups?”
“Thank you, Alpha.” Lois hurried over
to her mate and dragged him away.
Bindi came back to him. “All the spare
rooms will be full plus we’ll have extras in other places. That
building is as bad as I remember it being.”
“I can’t imagine why he’d do this
unless the pack is broke.”
“The pack isn’t broke.” Damon said as
he approached. “There is money in a frozen account. You need an
accountant and fast.”
He needed a lot of things fast. Right
now, places for people to stay was on top of the list. This was
going to be crazy. Thank goodness he had Bindi and others to help
him. Bindi seemed to be taking control of getting people as settled
as she could. Much of that work,work would be Bindi’s and he
couldn’t deny he was glad. This pack owned several businesses, and
he would have to check into all of those.
Hierarchy was also his problem among
the males. Bindi would handle females. Her area would also cover
food. He felt almost guilty over all the stuff she had to handle.
But he would have his hands full too.