Page 44 of Brutal Reign (Shadowed Heirs #5)
44
N o matter how much I prepare for this challenge, I’m still nervous to take it on. So much is riding on this one night; this one fight. The future of my pack and my family’s legacy hinges on the outcome, and it’s up to me and me alone to beat Jake and secure my rightful place as Alpha.
The pressure is starting to get to me. I’m wound up tight, my muscles tense and my mind racing as I sit alone in my childhood bedroom, trying to meditate. When I came up here, my goal was to do deep breathing exercises and try to find some semblance of inner peace. Instead, I’m just overthinking every aspect of what’s to come, considering all the ways it could go wrong.
I must look anything but calm right now, because when Seb barges in to check on me, his playful expression shifts on a dime. He clocks the anguish in my eyes and the anxious bounce of my knee, his brow furrowing.
“I’ll go get Ace,” Seb murmurs, turning to leave.
“No, wait!” I gasp, punching my fists against the mattress and shoving up to my feet.
Seb immediately pivots back around, his dark eyes locking with mine.
“I don’t need Ace right now,” I grumble, stabbing my fingers through my hair as I advance a step in his direction. “I need you , Seb.”
“ Me? ” he repeats, wrinkling his nose in confusion.
I jerk a nod, holding his stare. “You and I both know that if Ace comes in here, he’ll just give me a pep talk, and that’s not what I need right now. I need someone to be honest with me and not sugarcoat things just to make me feel better. Someone who will give it to me straight even if it hurts my feelings. That’s you .”
He dips his chin in affirmation, pushing the door closed behind him. Eating up the distance between us in long strides, he steps right into my space, so close that I have to tip my head back to maintain our eye contact. “Ask me anything,” he prompts, trailing his palms up my arms and resting them on my shoulders.
I swallow thickly as I stare up at him. “Do you really think I can win this?” I ask, forcing the words past the lump in my throat.
He cocks a brow. “ That’s your question?”
I nod.
“Fuck yeah I think you can,” Seb scoffs, his lips turning down in a frown. “In fact, I know you can. We’ve sparred together how many times now, and even though my wolf’s a beast, yours can knock him on his ass. There’s no doubt in my mind that you’re capable of winning against Jake fucking Decker.”
I release a long exhale, the conviction in his response soothing my jangling nerves. It probably doesn’t hurt that his mere presence calms me. In hindsight, ditching my mates to meditate might’ve been the wrong call.
“Get out of your own head and just focus on the challenge,” Seb continues in a softer tone, rubbing his thumbs against the marks at the base of my neck on either side. “Your wolf is integrated now, so you’re in control. You don’t have to worry about her going off script or hurting any innocent bystanders. All you have to do is get out there and show Jake what you’re made of. He fights dirty, but don’t stoop to his level. Fight clean, as an Alpha should, and you’ve got this in the bag, baby.”
Every word he speaks is like a brick added to the wall of my confidence, his grounding touch the mortar. He’s right. I know I can win this. I just need to trust myself and do what needs to be done.
“You good?” Seb questions, arching a dark brow.
“Yeah, I think so,” I sigh, a smile curving my lips. “Thanks, Seb.”
“Anytime.”
“I guess you can send Ace in for his pep talk now,” I chuckle.
He leans down to capture my lips, stealing my soul with a filthy hot kiss. His arms band around me as his tongue writes promises against my own, making my heart race and my toes curl. Seb always kisses me like it’s the last time he’ll get to, and I hope that never changes.
He grins against my mouth as he breaks our kiss, pulling back to gaze upon me with wicked intent. “Can’t wait to celebrate your victory tonight,” he drawls, sliding his hands down to squeeze my butt. “I get your ass this time.”
A shiver of anticipation ripples through me, my heart stuttering a beat.
Seb winks as he turns on a heel and heads for the door, leaving me panting for more. As if I didn’t already have enough motivation to crush Jake beneath my heel, that just solidified my resolve.
I’m only alone for a few minutes before Ace makes his appearance, an easy smile stretching his lips when he saunters into the room.
“Hey, babygirl,” he drawls as he heads straight for me, my gaze snagging on a black smear on the back of his palm.
I catch his hand as he reaches out, pulling it closer for further inspection. “Is that engine oil?” I question suspiciously.
“Yeah, I was talking to your dad and he roped me into helping him with his bike.”
“Of course he did,” I snort, rolling my eyes as I let go of his hand. “What’d you two talk about?”
“You, mostly,” Ace replies with a casual shrug. “He read me the riot act about what’ll happen if either of us hurt you, which was basically just a list of all the ways he could get away with murder. It was impressively long, actually.”
I heave a sigh, scrubbing a hand over my face. “Sounds like my dad.”
“You should go talk to him.”
“I don’t know, we’re both pretty stressed right now,” I mutter. “It’d probably just turn into a fight.”
Ace takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tipping it up until I meet his eyes. “I think both of you will feel a whole lot better going into tonight if you clear the air,” he reasons, trapping me in his ocean-eyed stare. “Give him a chance, he may surprise you.”
I roll my lower lip between my teeth, blinking back at him for a long moment. “Yeah, okay,” I finally concede. “But if this goes to shit, then I’m definitely gonna need that pep talk.”
He grins, leaning in to smack a kiss on my lips before sliding an arm around my shoulders and guiding me toward the door. As apprehensive as I am to face my dad right now, it’s about time the two of us have a long overdue conversation. Though we exchanged pleasantries when the boys and I showed up here at the packhouse this morning, aside from that, I’ve been steering clear. If I’m honest with myself, I’m not sure which I’m afraid of more– somehow losing this challenge, or disappointing him .
Ace stops off in the living room to join Seb in front of the TV, while I continue down the hall to the garage, my heart thudding harder with every step. As soon as I open the door, I spot my dad bent over his bike, tinkering away. He swivels on his stool to glance my way, the corner of his mouth ticking up when our eyes meet.
“Hey, kiddo.”
“Hey, Dad,” I greet, closing the door behind me and advancing toward him. “Can we talk?”
He tosses the wrench he was using down into his toolbox, wiping his palms off on the legs of his jeans. “Of course,” he replies, tipping his head to indicate the workbench. “Grab your stool.”
Should’ve guessed he’d put me to work.
I cross the garage to retrieve my stool from beside the old workbench, bringing it back over and popping it up.
“You nervous about tonight?” he asks as I take a seat.
“Aren’t you?” I snort.
He shakes his head. “Not about the outcome. I have complete faith in you.”
“How?” I scoff, flinching back disbelievingly. “You’ve never even seen me fight.”
“You think I haven’t been keeping tabs with the squad leaders?” he remarks, giving me a pointed look. “Your cousins tell me you’re a force to be reckoned with.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “So now you’re suddenly on board with me becoming a warrior? Thought you didn’t want me to learn how to protect myself.”
“River,” Dad sighs, resting his elbows on his knees and hanging his head.
“What?” I huff. “Tell me I’m wrong. You did everything you could to prevent me from joining the squad.”
I know I said I didn’t want to fight with him, but this is what always seems to happen– his words strike a nerve, and I go on the defensive.
Rather than popping off in response like he usually does, my dad grips the bottom of his stool and scooches it closer to mine, reaching out to take my hand in his. “Listen, kiddo,” he rasps, his hazel eyes meeting on my own. “The day you came into this world, I almost lost you. You were this tiny, helpless little thing, and all I wanted to do was protect you from harm. When you and your mom pulled through, I swore that I’d continue doing whatever it took to protect my girls. Not because I don’t think you can do it on your own, but because that’s my job.”
I swallow thickly, my chest tightening. “But you can’t protect me from this challenge,” I whisper.
“I know, and it fucking kills me,” he growls, jerking back and burying a hand in his hair. “It makes me feel useless, like I’m back in that room with your mom bleeding out and your tiny life hanging in the balance. How the hell am I supposed to just sit back and watch while Jake tries to take you down?”
I’ve never seen this kind of vulnerability from my father before. It makes my heart ache, my throat turning scratchy as I reach out to rest my hand atop his.
“Dad, I can do this,” I state confidently, his eyes returning to mine.
“I know you can, but that doesn’t mean you should have to,” he mutters. “I should’ve seen the signs with Jake, should’ve seen what he was up to…”
“ Dad ,” I interrupt with a shake of my head. “This isn’t your fault.”
He takes a measured breath, dropping his gaze to his lap and nodding slowly. “I know. We’ve had our share of differences, and I know you think I’m overbearing sometimes, but it’s only because I love you so damn much, River. You’re my daughter, and you’ll always be a part of me. You and your mom are the best parts.”
“Mom’s the best parts of both of us,” I tease, chuckling.
“Don’t sell yourself short, kiddo,” he replies solemnly. “You’ve grown into an amazing young woman, and I’m so damn proud of you. I’m so proud to be your dad.”
My throat tightens, the sting of tears pricking behind my eyes.
“Those mates of yours better take care of you,” he adds, his lips turning down in a frown. “If they ever give you any kind of trouble, you know you can always…”
I bark a laugh, rolling my eyes. “Yeah, I know. Trust me, so do they.”
He nods in satisfaction.
“I love you too, old man,” I say quietly.
“Hey,” he scoffs, cracking a smile. “Who you callin’ old?”
I smirk back at him, leaning over so I can reach into my back pocket for my chapstick. Uncapping the tube, I swipe it over my lips, rubbing them together.
“You can do this, River,” Dad murmurs as I re-cap the tube and slip it back into my pocket. “Not just because you’re my daughter, but because you’re you .” He reaches for my hand again, lifting it and pressing a kiss to the back of my palm. “Now, rest up and get ready for tonight. Show that little prick why he should never mess with a Jacobsen.”
Jake is late. The rest of my pack is here, eager to witness this challenge for Alpha rank, but the man who declared it hasn’t even bothered to show his face. Pretty fuckin’ rude, if you ask me.
It’s probably too much to hope he just gave up and ran off– especially because his parents keep casting shifty glances toward the front door, like they’re expecting him to walk in at any moment. Cory stepped down from his position as our pack’s Beta shortly after Jake declared his challenge against me, probably in an attempt to save face since it was only a matter of time before my dad removed him. Dad chose a friend of my mom and aunt to fill in as interim Beta until I eventually ascend to Alpha rank and choose my own, and Davis has assumed the role like he was born for it.
It's just an added bonus that he’s my best friend’s dad.
Hayden has been glued to my side all night, much to Seb’s chagrin. Then again, the members of my pack have been keeping him busy with the way they’ve been swarming around him and Ace, introducing themselves and congratulating us on our mating. They were understandably surprised to find out I have two fated mates, but rather than balking at our unusual situation, they’ve embraced it as double the cause for celebration.
It's a shame I can’t relax and enjoy it with the challenge still hanging over my head. Jake should’ve been here half an hour ago, and the fact that he’s drawing this out only adds insult to injury. I glance over at my parents for what feels like the millionth time, and right as they smile back at me, I hear the front door of the packhouse swing open.
“Sorry I’m late,” Jake announces as he struts inside with an arrogant swagger.
I freeze at the sight of him, my breath catching and my pulse taking off at a gallop. Because while I fully expected to see Jake walk through that door, I definitely didn’t expect Chandler Stetson to be on his arm.
“What’s she doing here?” I snarl, my hackles raising. “She’s not part of this pack.”
“After tonight, she will be,” Jake quips, holding his head high and pulling Chandler in closer to his side. “I’ve chosen her as my mate, we just sealed our bond under the full moon.”
My mouth falls open on a silent gasp as my brain short-circuits.
I should’ve expected him to pull something like this.
Ace slides a hand up to the base of my neck, massaging my tense muscles as he leans in to murmur in my ear. “He’s just trying to rile you up, Riv. Don’t let him get in your head.”
Easier said than done. I’m completely blindsided by Chandler’s unwelcome presence in my family’s home, thrown off my game as I struggle to process what the hell is happening.
“I’ll need a Luna, right?” Jake remarks smugly, obviously getting off on my visceral reaction to his news. “Who better than one of the top new recruits for the squad?”
“You’re late,” Dad snaps, clearly just as over Jake’s bullshit as I am.
He swings his gaze over to my dad, paling slightly when their eyes meet. “I know, but I had good reason to be,” he replies, nodding to the blonde at his side.
As I watch their standoff, the pieces finally slot together in my brain, realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. Sealing mate bonds strengthens our wolves. Mine got stronger when I bonded with my boys, and in mating with Chandler, Jake just leveled the playing field.
Then again, he’s only got one bond. I’ve got two .
“Everyone’s anxious to run, so let’s get right to it,” Dad bites out, jerking his head in the direction of the back doors. “River, Jake, go warm up.”
My heart stutters in my chest, my mouth running dry. Seb and Ace immediately close in on either side of me, whispering quiet words of encouragement as they guide me toward the back of the packhouse.
“Give him hell, babygirl,” Ace coos as Seb pulls the door open and ushers me through, the chilly air smacking me in the face and resuscitating my constricted lungs.
“Remember, this is your pack, your birthright,” Seb murmurs. “Show them how much you want it, prove to everyone that nobody will be able to take it away from you.”
I nod numbly as the three of us make our way across the lawn, shoring up my resolve. Jake tried to rattle me by bringing Chandler here tonight, but I won’t let him succeed. This is my fight to win.
My mates each steal quick kisses, then I strip down and shift to my wolf, leaving them behind as I sprint off into the forest. Settling into my animal’s skin, I limber up with a quick jog while remaining all too aware of Jake’s presence nearby as he does his own warmup.
By the time I return to the packhouse ten minutes later, a crowd has formed on the back lawn, a wave of excitement rippling through them when they see my white wolf emerge from the treeline. As I’ve said before, nothing gets a crowd going quite like the promise of violence. The heady sense of anticipation is palpable as I stride confidently toward the center of the lawn, where Jake is already waiting and my pack has formed a large circle around him to spectate.
“Jake Decker has declared a challenge for Alpha rank, and my daughter has accepted,” Dad announces, his booming voice echoing as the crowd hushes. I step over to take my place across from Jake, my dad turning his head to meet my eyes as he adds, “May the best wolf win.”
‘ I plan to ,’ Jake sneers, his voice filtering into my head through the mind-link.
I ignore his jab, throwing up my mental barriers to block out any further taunts. Grinding my paws down into the dirt, I curl my lips in a snarl, showing him my fangs as a low growl rumbles from my chest.
He drops his head, baring his teeth and growling back at me before charging in my direction. I spring toward him, our wolves crashing together in a flurry of snapping jaws and tangled limbs.
His approach is all wrong. Jake’s wolf is no match for the size or strength of my own, so the use of brute force won’t get him anywhere. I easily shove him down into the dirt, pouncing on top of him and sinking my teeth into the flesh of his shoulder. He latches his own jaws around one of my front paws, forcing me to relent and retreat, but this is far from over. The moment he’s back on his feet, I lunge at him again, knocking him to the ground and wrestling for the upper hand.
Distantly, the sound of cheering registers, our pack members egging us on. It takes me a second to realize that most of them are chanting my name, whooping with excitement in response to every blow I land. It’s far louder than the cheers in support for Jake from his mother and friends. As much as I doubted my pack’s support for my leadership, it’s clear that I’ve got them on my side in this fight.
My confidence soars, my wolf and I working in perfect synchronicity while equally sharing space in my brain. Our movements are fluid, our maneuvers seamless. I get Jake underneath me again, pinning him down with my blocky front paws, and while I could end this right now, Seb’s words echo in my mind.
Show them what I’m capable of.
Show them I’m the best and only choice to lead this pack.
With that in mind, I shove off of Jake, slinking back a few steps and allowing him to get back to his feet.
While my boys and I practiced wolf sparring this week, Ace taught me the art of toying with my prey. Employing his techniques, I let Jake make the first move to come at me, dancing out of the way and throwing my weight into his side. He stumbles a step, tumbling down to the dirt while I trot around him in a show of dominance, daring him to come at me again.
He does, and I artfully dodge him over and over, showing everyone exactly how outmatched he is against me. Predictably, he tries to go for a few cheap shots, stomping down on my feet and slashing at my eyes, but I don’t let my agitation get the best of me. I keep my side of the street clean, as Seb instructed. I fight like an Alpha.
Jake becomes winded, his movements growing sluggish and the swipes of his paws getting sloppy. Rather than risking any accidents, I decide to end this once and for all. The next time he jumps toward me, I launch myself right back at him, fur flying as the two rear up on our hind legs and clash together.
Throwing my weight forward, I take Jake down to the dirt, pinning him beneath me securely and latching my jaws around his throat. The rusty taste of his blood slides across my tongue as my fangs pierce his flesh, applying enough pressure to warn, but not seriously injure.
‘ Yield ’, I command through the mind-link, tightening my grip around his throat.
He growls and writhes beneath me, struggling in vain to fend me off.
He can’t , though. He’s pinned. This is checkmate.
‘ Yield ’, I repeat, plunging my fangs in deeper.
The air suddenly begins shimmering around Jake’s body, his bones snapping and rearranging as he shifts. His wolf’s thick neck shrinks beneath my jaws, prompting me to let go and pull back. My paws keep him securely pinned as he retakes his human form, blinking up at me with a look of resignation in his eyes.
His chest heaves as he turns his head, showing me his neck in submission. “I yield,” he rasps defeatedly.
I tilt my own head in question, not letting up until I hear him say it again. I refuse to back down until every damn person gathered on this lawn hears those words fall from his lips.
“I yield!” Jake repeats, spitting the words out like it pains him to utter them.
Satisfied, I ease back, allowing him to squirm out from beneath me as I hold my head high and glance around at my fellow pack members. All but a few are beaming at me, no grins as bright as the ones on my mates’ and my parents’ faces.
It’s over.
I did it.
The air around me shimmers as I shift back to my human form without an ounce of resistance from my wolf, pride unfurling in my chest as I rise to the cheers of my pack. They hoot and howl, chanting my name, and I swear the euphoric feeling that overtakes me is almost on par with how it felt to seal my bonds with my mates.
Tears well in my eyes as I soak in the moment, hardly believing that this is my life. I have two mates I adore, I’ve secured my pack, and I’ve even mended fences with my dad.
All is right in the world, and the future has never looked so damn bright.