Page 13 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha

When I step closer, I can see how Eugene leans into a kiss.

“Then why didn’t you say so immediately instead of making promises you can’t keep?” I ask coldly, stepping towards them.

Eugene and Olive basically jump apart. If it weren’t so serious, this would actually be kind of funny, but it isn’t. It’s not funny at all.

“Marc…” Eugene takes a step closer, while grabbing Olive’s arm and pulling her behind him. Something about this gesture pisses me off further. In my mind, Amos is already baring his teeth. “We didn’t mean to… and we didn’t sleep with each other. We just couldn’t stay apart.”

Before he can even grasp what’s happening, I’ve approached him and punched him hard. Olive screams in shock. Eugene scrambles to his feet, his eyes flashing, indicating that his wolf is on the surface and didn’t take this attack lightly. Well, neither do Amos and I! Eugene dashes towards me, knocking his head against mine. I didn’t expect this type of attack, my mind spinning momentarily. Enough for Eugene to tackle me and push me down.

I can hear Olive yelling something, but I don’t care what she has to say. Eugene doesn’t either. I don’t know how long we fight like this, but suddenly I hear a voice booming through the garden.

“Enough!” Dad growls, using his alpha command on us. “Apart!”

Eugene and I can’t do anything else but obey, stumbling apart.

“Goddess, boys,” Mom gasps, shocked.

Olive is standing next to them, looking terrified. She must have alerted them. My gaze wanders towards Beta Floyd, who has accompanied them. I expect him to look disappointed, but he just looks sympathetic.

“Are you crazy?” Dad yells. “You can’t do that. Not like this.”

“I can’t accept him taking the woman I love,” Eugene blurts out. “I can’t accept it!”

“And I can’t accept him taking my mate,” I growl.

“Then let’s battle it out,” he demands.

“Fine!”

“What?!” The shock is evident on Dad’s face. “Are you serious? Are you aware of what that means?”

“Fully,” Eugene snarls.

“Yes,” I huff.

“Don’t do it,” Mom begs. “Please don’t do that. This is not worth it.”

“I disagree,” I snap. “It is worth it to go against this betraying scum.”

“My own brother is mates with my girlfriend,” Eugene hisses. “So much about scum.”

“Brother,” I laugh without humor. “Funny that you say that. I didn’t sneak around behind your back.”

“Let’s settle this once and for all,” Eugene demands.

“But you can’t fight over me,” Olive yells. “Don’t do that! Please don’t do that!”

“She is right,” Mom tries to reason. “She… she made her choice. No matter what we think about that. Even if you fight, we can’t force her to mate with the winner. It’s her decision.”

“We are not fighting about Olive,” I say darkly. “I am not that stupid. I know we can’t force a mating.”

Eugene nods grimly. “Marcellus, I challenge you to a fight for our rank.”

“I accept.”

Mom has been crying nonstop for days, and for the first time, I can also see Dad being emotional. The only thing he did convince us to do, though, was to keep it a private family matter. We won’t make this a huge pack event. I prefer it like that anyway. The last thing I need is to be the main topic of next month’s gossip. Beta Floyd and Gamma Caleb are going to oversee the fight and act as witnesses. They have decided to hold the fight in the early morning hours to make sure the other packmembers are kept away. The later in the day, the more pack members are usually active in the pack.

I don’t need this to be a huge spectacle, so I approve. I don’t know about Eugene, but if he is at least in a small part still the same person he was before our fallout, then he won’t want a huge spectacle either.