“You hanging in there?” Shelley crossed her arms and looked at Ethan.
Dani licked her lips. “Yeah.”
“This won’t end up like the last
challenge…with your dad.” Shelley turned and gave her an understanding smile. “He’ll be all right regardless if he wins or loses.”
“He’ll win.”
“I’m just saying…” Shelley reached over and gave Dani’s shoulders a pat. “I’m going to go stand with Brad, but if you’d like to come with me, you’re more than welcome.”
Dani gazed over to her left. Stan Jenson and Keith Pegrow stood beside Brad talking. Her wolf growled and she covered it with a cough.
“Thanks, Shelley, but I’ll stay right here.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you afterwards.” All quiet conversations stopped. On the opposite side of the clearing, the cluster of werewolves parted. A large tan wolf led Greggoire's woman—Dani refused to call her Greggoire's life mate since he claimed two females—toward the edge of the grass. Her heart quickened. Greggoire had arrived, but where was the other woman? Had Greggoire found Jordan?
Was the human woman at his home caring for Dani’s baby brother?
Glancing around the circle, she spotted no one with a small child. She raised her hand to rub the base of her neck, stopped, and lowered her arm. Everyone’s eyes were either on Ethan or her, and she damn well wouldn’t give them any sign that showed her not one-hundred-percent confident that Ethan would walk away the winner.
The alpha and the challenger slowly walked toward the middle. There was no whistle, no bell, and no giant red flag that waved in the air signaling the start of the fight. It came down to the wolves. She stared at Ethan and sent all her energy to him. Unable to speak with him or distract him in anyway, she hoped that her obedience and support would empower him.
The two animals circled each other, stopped, and picked up their path around an invisible barrier that neither one of them were willing to break until the moment was right. Ethan kept his head lower than his shoulders, and never broke his gaze from the tan wolf.
Greggoire trotted toward Dani’s side of the field. Muscles rippled along Ethan’s back and he lunged between Dani and Greggoire. Her breath caught in her throat. Her nerves threatened to snap.
Ethan growled and surged forward only to stop before making contact. She fisted her hands at her sides. This was too much to take.
Greggoire changed directions. Ethan lunged, this time toppling the tan wolf. She gasped and covered her face before quickly removing her hands. Not knowing was worse than hiding away from the action in the circle.
Jaws snapped shut with a spine-tingling clink. Lips curled back, the white canine teeth gleaming in the moonlight. Blood flew in the air as both wolves fought to get the upper hand. Her stomach seized. She swallowed the bile crawling up the back of her throat choking her. She’d never realized how much her mother must have suffered watching her dad fight Greggoire. Then she’d had to face life without her mate.
Ethan rolled with Greggoire on his back, broke away, and flipped to his feet. He snarled, saliva dripping from his mouth. She gazed over his wolf form. He had a bloody spot near his shoulder and another one near the paw on his back left leg. He’ll heal.
He’d barely recovered his breath before Greggoire attacked again. Ethan turned, grabbed Greggoire’s neck in his mouth and flipped over onto his back. He strained, trying to break through the wolf’s spinal cord with his teeth. He blew out his mouth to keep from drowning in an odd, bitter taste. Proof that Greggoire used Jordan to build up his strength as a werewolf lay on Ethan’s tongue. The normal flavor of blood was absent, replaced with a vile mixture of sickness.
Whipping his body upright, he kept his clutch on Greggoire’s throat and forced the tan wolf to the ground, holding him in a death grip.
One strong snap and he’d sever the head of the alpha. In years past, it was at this point that the challenge was called. He’d be declared the winner…and the Drover pack’s new alpha.
“Come on…unless you’re scared.” The voice momentarily stunned Ethan. Only mates were able to throw their thoughts to each other.
“As you can tell, things are different now. You no longer qualify as an alpha.” Greggoire squirmed, but Ethan held on. “The pack needs someone strong enough. My abilities make life easier for everyone.”
“Give it up, Greggoire.” He bit down harder.
Greggoire struggled to break the hold.
“Never.”
“You leave me one choice, cousin.” Ethan slid his hind legs back, giving him enough stability to kill.