Chapter 9 Max #2
Before he could even stop and think about what he was doing, Max was chasing the trail of the unfamiliar alpha’s scent out of the park and down a street leading toward the financial district.
He ran past people on the sidewalk, weaving between them, only knocking into a few of them, before he caught sight of his prey.
The guy was big, wearing a suit that showed off his wide shoulders and the strength in his arms, but Max could take him.
Not slowing down, Max darted across the street – cars honking furiously as they swerved to avoid him – and tackled the other alpha to the ground.
Max opened his mouth, baring his teeth in preparation for using them on the other alpha’s throat, his claws extended and ready to do some damage.
Instead of landing beneath him as Max had intended, the other alpha rolled as they both went down, twisting his torso and grabbing Max by the throat and slamming his head into the ground before lifting him up and putting him in a chokehold.
Max scrambled to get his bearings, his head ringing as the alpha he’d attacked dragged him off the sidewalk and into the building next to them.
It was a tea shop, Max realized, glancing around with wild eyes and clawing at the arm holding him. A little old lady cried out in alarm at the sight of them, but the alpha dragging Max through the store ignored her, taking Max into a storage room in the back and slamming the door shut behind him.
Then there were claws inside Max’s throat, piercing into his skin and making him bleed, and then he was being slammed down headfirst onto the floor again.
Max didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t win this fight, and his wolf was freaking out and panicking.
“Submit.”
The word was spoken quietly, a low growl, the other alpha’s claws twitching where they were embedded in Max’s throat.
The word penetrated Max’s panicked haze, his wolf freezing inside of him and forcing Max to do the same.
“Jesus, finally.”
The alpha pulled his claws out of Max’s neck, resulting in a few seconds of profuse bleeding before he clamped his hand down over Max’s neck and waited for his healing to kick in.
“Do you have brain damage?” the alpha asked, crouched down next to him. His hand was drenched in Max’s blood, but other than that he looked completely unaffected by the fight. His tie was still tied, his hair was gelled neatly back, and he wasn’t even panting.
Max, heaving for breath and gurgling, the taste of blood in his mouth, stared at him with wide eyes.
“Is that a yes?”
Max shook his head.
“And you thought you would survive challenging me because…?”
Max started coughing. He doubled over from the force of it, and when he lifted his hand to his mouth, there was blood all over it.
“I don’t even know who you are, you psycho!” Max cried, wiping the blood away. He reached up and felt at the ragged edges of the wound where the alpha had torn into him. “I think I bled down my throat. I think there’s blood in my lungs!”
Max tried to push himself up, but the alpha slapped him back down to the ground.
“You’re fine. Now, who the hell are you and what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Look, I’m sorry I attacked you. I don’t know what came over me.” Max scooted away, moving out of the alpha’s range before he could pull him back. He sat up. When the other alpha looked like he was going to pounce, Max held up his hands. “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean it. Can I leave?”
The alpha stared at him, incredulous, before shaking his head.
“You actually are brain damaged. Fuck.” He pulled out his phone, and Max watched with bated breath as he made a call.
“William, hi. I need you to talk me down.”
Max listened as the person on the other end of the line started rambling about what he’d done that day. Apparently, the mystery person had been shopping, had visited several stores, and then he’d hooked up with a human he met on a dating app.
“I did not need to know that,” the alpha said, rubbing his eyes.
“Feeling better?” the person on the phone asked.
“Yes. Meet me back at the hotel and have Bruce cancel my dinner.” He hung up and looked at Max. “Are you healing okay?”
Max touched his neck, the wound already closing up, and nodded.
“Good.” The alpha rose up from his crouch and slid his phone into his pocket. “Did you intend that as a challenge?”
Max shook his head. He knew that challenges were how alphas determined the hierarchy within their pack, but since he wasn’t in this guy’s pack, he didn’t know why the alpha would think that he’d challenge him.
“Do you have a pack?”
Max was about to shake his head, but then he hesitated. The lack of an answer made the other alpha huff out an impatient breath.
“Do you have an alpha?”
Max nodded.
“What’s his name?”
“Harland Hill. He’s a vampire.”
The other alpha looked at him, his eyes narrowed. He crossed his arms and firmed his stance, his expression coldly furious, and Max scooted back in alarm.
“Do I look like the kind of alpha you fuck with?”
Max shook his head, holding out his palms in a placating manner. He couldn’t believe that he’d ever thought he could take this guy on. He was so far out of his league – it was like a puppy against a primordial wolf.
“No, you don’t. I’m not fucking with you.”
“Your alpha is a vampire.”
Max nodded.
“He used to be a werewolf, before he was turned. His instincts have… woken up, I think?” Max swallowed. “Recently, I mean.”
“I recognize your scent.” The angry alpha took a step forward. “You were with Warren.”
The statement felt like a condemnation and a warning all rolled up into one.
“I was.” Max licked his lips, hoping that his honesty wouldn’t get his throat ripped out again. “I met him on Tuesday, after Harland had fed on him, and then I ran into him again yesterday.”