44. Shane
Chapter 44
Shane
H ow did I get here?
I watch as Kaycia is roughly pulled to the side of the yard and guarded by Caleb. I could tear his throat out for his blind loyalty to Colton. She’s crying, but her tears blend with the rain as she favors one leg. She’s hurt. Her soaked blouse is torn and dirty as she shivers. I’m certain I’d smell the tang of her fear if the rain wasn’t masking it.
This is my fault. All I want is to wrap her in my arms and comfort her. But I can’t go to her. Not until this is over.
Tonight, the guilt will fuel my rage.
I’ve done everything I was supposed to. I honored my exile. I’ve suffered without my pack for a decade. I’ve tried to forget what it was like to lose control. I learned on my own how to channel my emotions—good and bad—into more productive pursuits. And for what? To be facing off against another Ross wolf on a night that can’t possibly end well.
But I can’t dwell on the past. I lost my family once; I’m not going to let Colton take my new one away from me.
Max remains in his falcon form and still hasn’t regained consciousness. Concern for him tugs at my attention while Colton circles me, removing his holster with the pistol still in it. Raquel is at Max’s side, stroking his feathers and whispering while Lana stands guard, her eyes glow golden and intense as she watches me. Caleb still guards Kaycia, his expression somber when he glances at her crying on the ground. The remaining Ross pack members observe Colton and me with interest, but they won’t interfere now that the gauntlet is thrown. Raquel and Lana won’t intervene either.
The rules of a challenge are ancient. Any wolf can challenge any alpha for their place. Whoever wins, whether through death or surrender, is the new leader. No questions. It’s one-on-one and the strongest wolf wins.
Colton may have a grudge to settle, but he’s also the one with the most to lose. If I take his place, he loses more than his pride. He loses his feud, his family, and his pack.
If I lose… I look toward Kaycia, my sister, my friends.
I won’t lose.
I strip off my soaked shirt and unbutton my jeans, then let the shift take me. Colton does the same, dropping his holstered weapon along with his shed clothing. Our eyes glow in the stormy night as we snarl, lips curling from fangs. Our decade of pent-up rage rivals the thunder. Tattoos stepped forward as Colton’s second, just like I did for Ethan ten years ago. Tonight, I don’t claim a second, but Lana’s canny gaze is fixed on me. Max is the only spectator not in human form.
With one final growl, the challenge begins.
I let Colton circle.
Wear yourself out trying to figure out an angle, fucker.
Despite being an alpha and having more bulk on his frame as a human, Colton is still slightly smaller than I am in his wolf form. I ignore the jeers from his men and the higher-pitched shouts of encouragement from Lana and Raquel through the rain as I watch him, waiting for a tell or an opportunity to strike. Colton makes the first move, leaping forward in an attempt to latch his jaws around my front leg. I avoid the snap of his teeth just in time. As he passes me, I bite into his flank and the metallic taste of blood coats my tongue before he pulls lose with a yelp.
With first blood drawn, the shouts around us rise higher. I wonder if Kaycia is handling it well, but I can’t risk looking away from Colton as he lunges again and again. His third strike is unavoidable; he sinks his teeth into my shoulder and knocks me to my side where I slide across the muddy ground. I fight it, but a harsh whine escapes from the searing pain.
“ Shane! ” Kaycia shrieks.
Struggling under Colton, I manage to free my shoulder with a snarl, fur and blood flying as I snap and lunge repeatedly at his throat. He retreats, giving me time to regain my footing, but he was right earlier. It’s been a while since I’ve sparred. And after everything that’s happened this evening, I’m tiring quicker than I’d hoped.
My only option is to win. I’m under no illusion that I’d walk away from a surrender. Just because I’m not in this to the death, doesn’t mean I’m naive enough to think he's playing by the same rules. Colton will happily rip out my throat and say he won the challenge fair and square if I yield.
Somehow, he’s gotten behind me. As I twist to find him, I’m knocked off my feet again. Blood runs freely from the bite on Colton’s neck, but he’s not flagging as much as I had hoped.
“I’m going to kill you, you sorry son-of-a-bitch. I’m going to make your bitch of a sister and little human slut watch while you bleed out.” Colton’s voice comes through loudly in my mind, cruel and full of excitement at the prospect of my pain. “Your girl sure is pretty, McKinley. Maybe I’ll lick her wounds after you’re dead. She’s obviously developed a taste for wolf.”
“Fuck you,” is all I have time to think in reply before he’s torn into my shoulder again, ripping fur and flesh as I struggle and bite back a whimper.
This can’t be it.
He can’t have bested me. I struggle, panic starting to set in as I scrabble on the slick ground. The storm has let up and only a faint drizzle falls now, but the blood and mud prevent me from gaining purchase to throw him off. For a moment, I consider shifting back. It would surprise Colton to find me in human form and it might give me an advantage, but he doubles down, releasing me before biting down harder into my shoulder.
A pathetic whine echoes in my ears before I realize it’s me making the sound.
“Gods damn you, brother. If you die tonight, I’ll never forgive you.” Lana is in my mind, pleading in her own way. She’s never been one for tenderness, but I can sense her fear even in her thoughts.
I manage to look toward her, finding her in wolf form at the edge of where we fight, her whine reaches me as the rain eases. Next to her, Kaycia is on her knees sobbing, her blouse ripped and her hair plastered around her face. She looks so pitiful that Caleb isn’t even looking at her anymore. My gaze continues around the clearing quickly, Max is finally back in human form, covered with Raquel’s jacket, while Raquel eyes the enemy shifters warily.
If I lose and they decide to attack my friends, Raquel and Lana could do some damage. But not enough to protect Kaycia or Max with his injury.
Meeting Kaycia’s panicked gaze once more, I inhale sharply and surge to my feet, throwing Colton off me.
This ends now.