A New Kind of Family #6
Taffy didn’t answer, moving the warriors into place as we proceeded to step onto the arena.
I frowned as they led me toward Caelan. I desperately needed the calm his touch brought, but if they had to surround me at all times, would that even be possible?
At least I’ll get to speak with him.
“Alpha Caelan,” Taffy said, her voice uncharacteristically stern. “We present your mate.”
Oliver and Taffy stepped aside, and there he was. My heart felt like it would fly out of my chest as I gazed at him.
He wore only a pair of loose-fitting sweatpants slung low across his hips, his muscles deliciously on display. Desire spiked within me as he looked up, his hazel eyes going wide as he caught sight of me.
“Goddess,” he breathed, awestruck by my appearance.
I could feel the blush burning its way across my cheeks as his gaze traveled along my body. His arms were wrapped around me in an instant, and I sighed contentedly.
“You’re breathtaking, Shade,” he whispered in my ear.
I sank against him, hugging him tightly. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
“I wanted to wish you good luck tonight,” I said as I leaned back, staring into his eyes. “I know you can win this, and when you do, I’ll be waiting for you.”
“That’s all the motivation I need,” he assured me with a wink before moving to kiss me on the cheek.
I turned at the last second, cupping his face as my lips met his in a passionate embrace. I put everything I had behind it. I wanted him to know how much I believed in him and how strongly I felt for him.
His hand threaded through my hair, deepening our kiss as he gripped me tighter. I didn’t care that everyone was watching, and neither did he, it seemed.
We were gasping when we separated, both our chests heaving as we struggled to catch our breath.
“Finish this,” I whispered, pressing my forehead to his.
“For you…anything,” he murmured, placing his lips against mine once more.
“Well, isn’t this nice,” someone snarled from behind us.
Caelan and I turned to see who would be so bold as to interrupt an alpha and his mate, though I was certain I recognized that sinister voice.
“Alpha Huxley?” Caelan asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. “What are you doing here?”
A dark sneer wormed its way across the alpha’s face. “The challenge, of course.”
Unease rippled through me. I didn’t like where this was going.
“A date for your challenge hasn’t been set yet. I’m meant to fight Alpha Butch tonight,” Caelan countered, his tone harsh as he glared at the intruding alpha and his warriors.
“Plans change,” Alpha Huxley said menacingly, holding his arms out as his wolves stormed into the arena.
I gripped Caelan tighter, glancing around anxiously. Where’s my father?
Dirty Tricks
SHADE
Before us stood the delegation from Dark Moon, but my father and Thunder Moon were nowhere in sight.
Something is wrong. Very wrong.
If my father wasn’t coming, then Caelan was going to have to fight Huxley sooner than expected.
Huxley was formidable not just because he was an alpha, but because he was evil. Unlike my father, he didn’t mind getting a little blood on his hands. In fact, he seemed to relish in it.
I’d heard my father liken him to a rabid dog on more than one occasion. Once he got going, he couldn’t be stopped.
“Where is Alpha Butch and the delegation from Thunder Moon?” Caelan demanded, stepping in front of me.
“Something came up,” Alpha Huxley mused, picking something out of his teeth. “Alpha Butch sends his regrets, but he won’t be able to attend tonight’s festivities. I volunteered to come in his stead. It was the least I could do for a friend.”
I knew this wasn’t true. My father and Alpha Huxley had never been on friendly terms.
“What have you done, Huxley?” Caelan snarled.
“Me?” he exclaimed in a mocking tone. “I’m merely being good to my neighbor, but you? Stealing someone else’s chosen mate? Now, that’s despicable. That she-wolf was mine before you swooped in and claimed her.”
“That isn’t true,” Caelan spat. “You had a claim on Sunny, not Shade. Even so, she is my fated mate, granted to me by the Goddess herself.”
“Funny how that didn’t come out until after the choosing. Doesn’t matter really. Her father gave me his blessing,” Huxley replied, eyes snapping to me. “He’s really looking forward to our union, darling.”
“He would never,” I hissed.
I don’t like where this is going. What has he done to Harvest Moon? Are my father and sister in danger?
“Alpha Butch wouldn’t ally himself with you,” Caelan growled, his body tensing as he faced off against the vicious alpha. “That would be suicide. I’ll ask you again, Huxley. What have you done with Alpha Butch?”
“Perhaps he realized how much more beneficial it would be to be in my good graces. A lesson you will soon learn, pup,” Huxley scoffed. “That she-wolf is mine by right, and I’ll be taking her with me.”
“You’ll do no such thing!” Caelan snarled.
“Then you’ll have to stop me, pup,” Huxley declared with a sinister glint in his eyes.
“Please take my mate to the observation platform,” Caelan ordered, waving for Taffy and Oliver to step forward.
“Caelan,” I started, but he brought his hand to my cheek, running his thumb over my lips.
“Please go sit with my mother and father, Shade,” he whispered. “I need to know you’re safe. I promise, I’ll come for you as soon as this is over.”
“If he’s still alive,” Huxley chuckled darkly. I glared at him, resisting the urge to lash out. This is Caelan’s fight, not mine.
I gave Caelan’s arm one final squeeze before the warriors escorted me over to join Alpha Leal and Luna Maty. I took the chair beside the luna, and she reached over, taking my hand in hers.
“He will be okay, dear,” she murmured.
I nodded as Taffy and Oliver stationed themselves on either side of the platform, their backs straight as they stood at attention. Dillon took position closer to the perimeter, almost as though he were anticipating something.
Alpha Leal rose from his seat as the crowd fell silent.
“Who issues the challenge?” he asked, his deep voice echoing across the space.
“I, Alpha Huxley Balcom of the Dark Moon Pack, issue the challenge,” Huxley roared.
“And do you accept, Alpha Caelan of the Harvest Moon Pack?” Alpha Leal questioned.
“I do,” Caelan confirmed.
My heart dropped into my stomach. There was no going back now.
“It is decided,” Alpha Leal confirmed. “This trial by combat will continue until one of you surrenders or is unable to proceed. At that point, the challenger still standing will be declared the victor and win the right to mate with the she-wolf in question. Let the challenge begin!”
Caelan moved to the center of the arena as Huxley strode forward, peeling off his clothes and tossing them to the side. They both shifted and the fight began.
Huxley rushed at Caelan head-on. They collided in a flurry of fur and gnashing teeth.
He swiped at Caelan, who managed to dodge his claws just in time. Caelan retaliated, snapping his jaws at Huxley’s throat, barely missing his target as Huxley threw his body backward.
He reared, striking a blow across Caelan’s chest as Caelan grabbed a chunk of Huxley’s fur between his teeth. The sight of blood dripping from Caelan’s wolf was jarring, and I had to remind myself these were just scratches. They would heal.
Suddenly, Caelan twisted, the motion a blur as he swung his legs hard into Huxley and sent him flying back into the sand.
Beside me, Luna Maty whooped, her fingers clenched tightly around mine. “Get him, Caelan!”
But Huxley recovered quickly and managed to catch Caelan by his tail, yanking it so hard that I heard a snap. It drooped awkwardly behind him, and I knew it was dislocated. But it wouldn’t be enough to slow him down.
He spun and rushed toward Huxley, his powerful jaws catching the alpha’s leg. His sharp canines shredded into the flesh as Huxley yelped, blood pouring from the wound and matting his mud-colored fur as he limped away.
Caelan stalked toward him, snarling as he knocked the alpha on his back. I allowed myself a grim smile. Caelan has him. Huxley will have to forfeit or die.
The ten other wolves from Dark Moon suddenly rushed into the arena, shifting as they sprinted across the sand.
“Caelan!” I screamed as Luna Maty and I jumped from our seats, both staring anxiously at the scene unfolding before us.
Shouts of protest rose from the crowd as the wolves surrounded Caelan, their jaws snapping as they lunged forward.
“We have to help him,” I hissed, stepping away from Luna Maty.
I hurried down the steps, brushing past Taffy and Oliver. The only thing on my mind was getting to Caelan.
Strong hands wrapped around my arms, keeping me from crossing into the battle arena.
“No, you don’t,” Dillon grunted as he held me. “You can’t interfere, Shade. It isn’t allowed.”
“They interfered! We have to stop this, Dillon!” I cried as I struggled against him. “Eleven wolves versus one?! Caelan will be killed! This isn’t what he agreed to!”
“Doesn’t matter, Shade. Caelan accepted the challenge. I can’t let you go out there no matter what. I promised him I’d keep you safe,” he argued, refusing to let me go.
“Then you go help him!” I demanded as I turned to face him. “He’s your friend and alpha. Stop this, Dillon!”
The snarling on the sand reached a fever pitch as the wolves darted forward, trying to take chunks out of Caelan’s fur. He did his best to fend off the multiple attacks, but he was outnumbered.
“I can’t,” Dillon sighed, his shoulders slumping. “If any wolf sets foot on the arena, they’d be undermining Caelan’s status as alpha. We can’t intervene physically. This is up to him. The only way for him to end this is either to win or concede.”
“Don’t you see what’s happening here?” I yelled. “Huxley is trying to kill him so he can get control of me and the pack. He’s not playing by the rules, Dillon. I won’t lose Caelan because of some stupid tradition! He won’t tap out and you know it. He’d rather die than give me up.”