“Don’t fight,” he said. “Do you hear me? Don’t fight.”
He was the wrong person to tell her that.
She wanted Brett, dammit.
Then her body bowed and wrenched itself apart again.
The urge to spin the car around and return to Colby ate at him, but Brett packed it away. He had to. He knew nothing about the wolf challenging him other than he came from Sutter Butte. That pack held Arizona, pieces of New Mexico, Nevada, and southern California. Dangerous lands bred dangerous wolves. His wolf had zero interest in leaving their mate in the care of an unmated male even if said male was Luc when she didn’t wear their mark.
Brett understood the desire, yet the pack came first and if he didn’t go to the fucking challenger they’d come to the house. Then their mate would have to see the fight and it would scare the crap out of her. Watching the realization shimmer across her eyes and elicit tears from a woman who’d snarled him down and made him laugh in the middle of a temper left him ripped. He would not allow his world to scare her anymore than it had.
And Luc would protect her. Before he even knew what Colby was, he’d known she needed to be with the pack. He’d chosen to meet the challenger, Landon Templeton, about five miles from the house. Plenty of distance even if the fight spread out.
Unsurprisingly half his pack awaited him. They’d been arriving for two days and the gathering was scheduled for the following night. Word of an Alpha Challenge spread. What he hadn’t been expecting was to see his parents. Parking, he pulled his phone from his pocket and tossed it onto the passenger seat before exiting. His mother said nothing as she walked to him and gave him a hug. Then his father embraced the two of them. As if by cue, the closest pack members joined, one after another until he stood in the center of them.
His wolf’s satisfaction echoed through him, dislodging his shock. As they released him and stepped back, they spread back out into a loose circle and revealed his challenger. The wolf waiting for him matched him in height though he didn’t seem to carry much bulk.
Striding forward, Brett carried the image of Colby’s stern face ordering him not to die. He’d refused to lie to her. Anyone could lose. Only fools went into a potential fight to the death believing they were invincible. Buoyed by his pack surrounding him and the love pouring into the pack bonds, he didn’t plan to share his caution with his opponent.
“Landon Templeton?”
The other man inclined his head. “Brett Dalton. Alpha of Hudson River. I claim Alpha Challenge.”
“Why?” Though not allowed to interfere, his pack murmured amongst themselves. They, like his opponent, was surprised by the question. Folding his arms, he awaited the answer.
“I don’t understand.” Landon took a step toward him. He’d stripped down only to jeans. Bare chested and footed, he looked like a wolf ready to shift for battle. Most wolves handled an Alpha Challenge in wolf form, Brett had fought four. Twice as a wolf, twice as a man.
“You claim Alpha Challenge. Why?” Relaxing his posture, he schooled his features into one of curiosity. “You’re from Sutter Butte, which makes you one of Cassius’ wolves. Did you win the right to challenge him and run before you pissed yourself in battle?”
The other wolf gaped and his features took on a sickly cast. Damn. He got it in one. Cassius did not suffer fools. To win the right to challenge him meant take the challenge or be ready to fend off all comers over the next cycle.
He laughed. “No, I’m close but not quite.”
Despite his rise through the ranks of a pack where dominance battles were waged every day, Landon hadn’t mastered his expression. Of course, Brett seriously doubted anyone in Cassius’ pack had a conversation before they ripped into each other.
“No, you’re here because you won the right to challenge Cassius and he told you to come for my pack instead. Didn’t he?” Fucker. Cassius liked to stir shit up and he’d paid very close attention to Brett during the summit in Willow Bend. Though he’d never approached Brett directly, he’d watched, supposed, and now he’d made his move. Of the five packs, he’d deemed Brett’s weakest. Or at least Brett. Otherwise Landon Templeton would be in Three Rivers.
Clearing his throat, Landon shook his head. “It doesn’t matter why I challenged you. I claim Alpha Challenge. You have to fight…or do you yield?”
Silence blanketed the wolves around him. Did he yield? Did this dumbass have any idea how much shit he’d gone through for his pack? How much he would continue to go through? Laughter, he’d learned, proved a freeing emotion. His chuckle sent a wave of nervous energy through the wolves ringing them. Landon’s confusion turned to irritation, then when Brett continued to laugh, he stomped forward another two steps.