The Birth of an Alpha(8)

“On this night of the Summer Solstice, we gather as the sun sets on the longest day of the year,” Talon began, looking out over the pride. “Four males have come of age, expressing their desire to join the ranks of our Guardians.” Talon paused, nodding toward Dane, Winter, and Savage, letting them know he was ready to begin.

“Lucky Cooper and Diesel Monroe,” Talon announced. “Come to the circle.”

Both males stood, keeping their heads bowed toward their alpha. At this point, they were considered some of the lowest ranking of the pride. Talon watched the two men as they were escorted by Winter and Dane to their spots. Savage took to the center of the circle as a referee of sorts. If one of the males became unable to fight, Savage would be the one to separate them if the opponent became too heated to control his beast.

“If one of you should lose consciousness,” Savage warned, his eyes flashing amber. “I will stop the fight. If you resist me, you will be sorry. The first fight is in human form. Your main objective is to stay within the circle for fifteen minutes. The first one to be pushed out will forfeit the first round. If you are both standing after fifteen minutes, you will tie for the next round. You will have fifteen minutes to regain your strength before shifting. Your beasts must play by the same rules. Good luck.”

Talon waited for Savage to move from the center before giving the command, “Fight!”

Lucky, Storm’s brother, shifted into a fighting stance with his fists held up in defense. The young male had cut his dirty blond hair short enough to make it spike wildly on top of his head. Talon made note that the male was dedicated enough to not care about himself when it came to the pride.

Diesel Monroe was the only child of an older mated pair in the pride. His mother looked on from the sidelines, her hand held over her mouth in an attempt to keep from crying out for her son. The male took on the same stance as his opponent, but his eyes kept watch over Lucky’s entire body, waiting for the other male to make the first move. Talon was sure that if Lucky flinched in the slightest, Diesel would be ready to defend himself.

Lucky made the first move, rushing forward, clasping Diesel by the shoulder. His hold was knocked loose as Diesel grabbed the male’s forearm, twisting it painfully to the side. Both males exchanged blows as the rest of the pride watched on. Females would gasp when one male took a hit that drew blood. At one point, Diesel’s father tucked his mate’s face into his chest to try and calm her from the brutality of the fight. Lucky fell to one knee when Diesel punched him in the temple, but the male was quick, regaining his footing.

“Time!” Savage called, stepping between the two males. Thankfully, they separated without incident. Their eyes were completely glowing amber with their panthers at the surface. They were not only amped up from the fight…their panthers were pushing for release. This was a test to see if they could hold their human forms under stress and anger from battle.

The pride relaxed as one when the males took to their knees at Talon’s feet by the platform.

“Taze Malone and Axel Coleman to the circle,” Savage announced, taking his place back in the center. Winter and Dane escorted them just as they’d done with the first two males, stepping out of the red ring painted on the ground.

Axel, Ranger’s brother, stood tall as he waited for the signal to fight. Taze Malone, on the other hand, was tense, his icy blue eyes looking wild. A wicked smirk curved up at the corner of his lip when Savage gave the order to fight.

“Come on, pretty boy,” Taze goaded Axel. Talon folded his arms across his chest as he waited to see how this fight for dominance played out. Taze had always been known as a bit of a wild child. He reminded Talon of a younger version of Savage.

Axel was quiet, but smart like his brother. When Taze rushed him, the male slid to the right, letting his opponent rush past him. In a move that even Talon was surprised at, Axel wrapped his long, skillful fingers around Taze’s wrist and pinned the male’s arm behind his back, taking him to the ground.

“Who’s the pretty boy now?” Axel growled, pushing his knee into the male’s back. “Do you give up?”

“Never,” Taze snarled, flipping over and taking Axel to the ground with him. They tangled up, fists flying. The sound of bones breaking caused the pride to flinch. Ranger leaned forward, his eyes fixated on his baby brother. Talon kept an eye on his Guardian to make sure he didn’t interfere and was proud that the male held back. Axel regained his footing and jumped backward, staying inside the circle by only inches. Taze’s eyes glowed with his panther so close to the surface, but the male did not shift.

“Time!” Savage called out, rushing to the center to hold his hands out so both males knew to stop. Taze and Axel returned to their kneeling position.

“Lucky and Diesel,” Talon announced, waiting until the males rose from their position. Their accelerated healing had already kicked in and the few cuts and scratches they had were already starting to heal. “Take your places and shift. Your panthers will know the rules. It is in our nature to fight for dominance. Good luck.”

The males did as they were told, and within a few seconds, two massive black panthers stood tall and on alert. Savage moved out of the way and the animals collided in the middle. Their panthers weren’t as reserved when fighting, not like when the young males were in human form. The beasts instinctually fought for dominance.

Diesel’s panther was the first one to falter, blood oozing from a wound on his shoulder. Lucky’s beast honed in on that area, clawing and nipping at the bloody spot, hoping to weaken his opponent. Talon was surprised at the stamina of all four males.

A feminine cry sounded as Diesel’s panther fell to his side, his large chest moving up and down rapidly as it tried to regain its breath. Diesel’s father wrapped both of his arms around his mate, holding her back from running to her son’s aide.

“He’s fine, love,” his father whispered. “Do not dishonor him or this pride.”

When Savage called time, Talon used his alpha powers to force the males to their bellies, demanding they shift. Both men were covered in dirt and blood, but walked proudly back to their spot at his feet.

Taze’s panther was larger than Axel’s by about thirty pounds, but that did not stop Ranger’s brother from making his position known. The male’s panther was a strong and steady fighter. Axel’s claws slashed at Taze’s hind leg, sending the panther to the ground.

Axel’s beast circled his opponent, waiting for him to either rise to his feet or close his eyes in defeat. Talon leaned forward, waiting for the same. He was about to have Savage stop the fight when the panther twisted and jumped to his feet as if he’d been struck, wasting no time in rushing Axel.

Snarls and yelps sounded as the two fought again, neither one of the males giving up so easily. These were the type of fighters Talon wanted at his side. All four males had shown excellent fighting skills, although each one of them were different in their own way.

“Time!” Savage called. “Shift and return to your alpha’s feet.”

Talon waited until the four males were back in place before stepping from the platform. His decision had been made. His panther pushed forward, causing his eyes to glow amber.

“Males, rise to face your alpha,” he ordered. The males stood, but did not lift their eyes. “You have pleased your alpha. I have made my decision on this year’s pick for Guardian of my pride.”

“Taze Malone, step forward and lift your eyes to your alpha,” Talon ordered, waiting until the male did as he was asked. “You have demonstrated excellent skills, pushing you into the higher ranks of my pride. Congratulations, son. You are now marked as a Guardian of the Shaw Pride.”

“It is my honor to serve you and protect our pride.” Taze bowed, taking to his knee again.

“Lucky Cooper, step forward and lift your eyes to your alpha,” Talon ordered to the next male. “You have shown your alpha that you have exceptional planning when you are faced with an attack by your enemy. This has raised your status within my pride. Congratulations. You are now marked as a Guardian of the Shaw Pride.”

“It is my honor to serve you and protect our pride.” Lucky smiled and bowed, mimicking the same position as Taze had taken.

“Diesel Monroe, step forward and lift your eyes to your alpha,” Talon called out. “You have proven to your alpha that under dire circumstances, you pushed past your pain and possible defeat to come back and fight until the end. You will now be held at the highest esteem within the Shaw Pride. Congratulations, you are now a Guardian.”

“It is my honor to serve you and protect our pride.” Diesel bowed, taking to his knee again. He was a little slower due to what Talon was sure to be several broken ribs. The male did not flinch or complain.

“Axel Coleman, step forward and lift your eyes to your alpha,” Talon ordered, his eyes glancing toward the older Coleman. Ranger was still standing at attention and showing no emotion toward what was about to be told to his baby brother. “You have please your alpha. The skill and quickness with which you defend yourself in the heat of battle could be the one thing that saves you so you can continue on in protecting my pride. You will now be marked as a Guardian. Congratulations, return to your spot.”