Orsen
The entire horde had gathered in the large clearing a few yards into the forest at the edge of our territory. The moon hung high overhead, and the crisp air whispered over my skin, waking more of me up as I stood facing the entry to our lands with my clanmates.
“You ready for this?” Greylen spoke, his stare pinned on the distance in front of us where Byron would appear at any moment.
“Yeah.” I shrugged, keeping my tone light. “It’s just a fight to the death. No big deal.”
Turning, I smiled at her, cupping her cheek. “Noted.”
“Here they come,” Bastian called out, lifting his chin at the approaching mass of dragons. The entirety of Birch Creek was here, Byron and his enforcers leading the charge. “I can still go out there.”
“Nah, I’m looking forward to it.” I met Bastian’s eyes, clapping his arm in a brotherly shake. “It’s time to end them. Here and now.”
Nix stood on Rowan’s other side, and he leaned forward, shooting me a smirk. “Break a leg.”
I rolled my eyes. “Hopefully not.”
“Kill the fucker?”
“That’s better.”
Lassar stepped in front of the crowd, pushing into the wide circle the hordes created, Byron following after him. I nodded at Bastian, and we both did the same, walking out to meet them.
“A challenge to the Alpha of North Oak has been issued and accepted,” Lassar declared, turning this way and that, like he was a damn pro wrestling announcer. “Byron, Alpha of Birch Creek, steps forward to fight to the death for the right to lead North Oak. Put forth your Alpha.”
Bastian moved toward me, but when he reached Lassar, he turned, sweeping his arm out in a wide arc as he said, “Orsen, Alpha of North Oak, accepts your challenge and in turn challenges the leadership of Birch Creek.”
“What?” Byron shot forward, glaring furiously beneath drawn brows. “No. No, it’s Bastian. He’s the true Alpha of North Oak.”
I walked up, stopping a handful of inches away from Byron, looking down into the man’s dark eyes.
“He isn’t, as it turns out. Not only is this a horde of five Alphas…
” I shot a look out over the crowd, my heart hammering.
This was it, and I had to assume Cyrus was in the mass of dragons, hiding.
“…but I am the son of the rightful Alpha, Edmond, the late elder brother of Cyrus.”
Murmuring rumbled through everyone gathered, and I kept my eyes pinned on the line of Birch Creek dragons.
There.
Just poking out his head, I saw him—Cyrus. He glared out over the clearing, a fire in his eyes that I could feel from where I stood. He disappeared into the bodies in a blink, however, retreating into the darkness like the damn coward he was.
It didn’t matter, not right now. We had Griffin out looking for him, and I needed to focus on Byron.
“This… this is unacceptable. You have no proof. You—”
“Cyrus was seen murdering his own brother in a desperate attempt to gain control of North Oak,” I interrupted, leaving Byron speechless. “So, it’ll be me fighting you, or you can surrender now. It’s up to you. Death or banishment. What’s it going to be?”
Tension hung around us like a string held tight, ready to snap at any moment. Byron glared at me, knowing he had no choice, given what I’d just said. I stared at him, a low growl rumbling as he sneered.
There’s no way out of this, old man.
“So be it.” Byron nodded once, stepping backward, his skin shimmering as Lassar got out of the way, and fast. “You’ll die, just like he would have. Like they all will when I’m crowned champion.”
Byron didn’t waste any time, and I appreciated that much about him. I nodded at Bastian, and he hurried toward where Rowan was standing with Greylen and Nix.
Calling up that flame of power inside me, I allowed my dragon to come forward, pulling my shirt over my head. I was already shifting by the time it hit the ground.
The crowd rumbled, cheers and dissent rolling through the people in equal measure.
I lost focus on Byron for a moment as I completed my shift, scales rippling to life over my body as I grew, wings stretching out from my back.
A flicker of light later, and the world solidified once again, instinct and fury taking over as my thoughts became wholly focused on eliminating the threat before me, bent and determined to tear him limb from limb for so much as vaguely hinting at my mate’s demise, for threatening my horde.
In front of me, Byron’s dragon form stood, huge and imposing.
I had to hand it to him—there was a reason he’d been Alpha of the Birch Creek horde for so long, but his reign had run its course.
It was time for the old bastard, so consumed with the past, just like Cyrus, to meet his end.
He was a threat to my mate. I couldn’t allow him to live.
Deep emerald scales reflected the low moonlight as he roared, rushing toward me.
Lowering my head, I growled, letting the sound grow into a massive roar as Byron’s body closed in, preparing to smash into me.
But I was quicker than the elder dragon, and I swiped my tail under his legs, taking him out at the knees.
Byron collided with the ground, forced to pull in his wing as he fell, and the impact reverberated through the forest.
Cheers screamed around me while boos hissed just as strong.
I shoved it all away, focusing on the threat, who was already recovering from the hit.
I forced myself to stay still, to watch my opponent before going for a wild strike.
I was a hothead, rash, and typically one to go straight for the offensive.
But I’d learned my lesson.
Now, I waited, assessing before I jumped into action. I wasn’t looking to get stabbed or caught off guard again. I needed to win this, and I wanted to do that without injuring myself. Rowan would not appreciate having to patch me up again.
Come on, you old bastard. Give me an opening.
Byron hurried up, lashing out with his own tail as he moved around on the ground. I jumped, flapping my wings hard to boost the leap. The swipe missed me, and I hovered for a moment, a deep rumbling in my throat.
I wanted to use my fire, but there were too many people nearby. That was the thing with challenges. You couldn’t win with a quick blast of fire, because you’d risk injuring the crowd, and that was a huge no-no.
Unless you took to the air, but that would present a whole other host of issues.
If possible, I wanted to avoid using dragon fire. Yes, it was my best weapon, but I didn’t want Rowan to see that.
Instead, I pushed myself through the air, getting to Byron’s other side.
I touched down behind him, slicing across his back leg with my claws.
He bellowed. I internally celebrated, all too pleased with the sight of blood this early in the fight.
Unfortunately, that celebration went on for a hair too long, and I couldn’t dodge as Byron spun around, purposefully going low.
He snapped at my leg, his teeth clamping down on the scales. They protected me somewhat, the pain a dull ache in my lower limb, but Byron held on, and I looked down to see his throat glowing slightly as he summoned up dragon fire, ready to unleash it right into me.
He was going to risk hitting anyone behind me to ensure he landed a death blow.
I couldn’t get out of his hold without tearing a chunk of my leg out of his teeth.
Rowan and the others were behind Byron, visible over his back, and my stare landed right on my mate, our eyes locking onto each other.
If I hit him with my own blast, I could catch Rowan in the perimeter. I wouldn’t do that.
Well, shit.