Page 71 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha

NIGHT

Ipaced in the living room of my cabin. Both Dom and Mom were there with me.

I’d just finished telling Mom about the meeting and the details of Troy’s deal.

I was waiting for her to digest the information and give her opinion, but in the meantime, I couldn’t sit still.

My wolf was the same, treading back and forth inside me, just as eager to get out and do something.

Mom was sitting in the armchair, her fingers rubbing absently at the bandage that covered the Alpha wound. She was still dealing with the effects of it on the fifth day since Troy’s attack, but according to Dr. Stan, she was doing better than all of his best predictions.

Suddenly, she burst into a string of curses and launched out of her chair.

I stopped pacing to watch her take up my rhythm, walking back and forth between the walls.

Dom moved away from the wall and reached for her, but she waved away his helping hand.

I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for her to say something that wasn’t just a curse on Troy’s head.

Finally, she said, “Night, you can’t do this. It’s suicide.”

"I don’t want to do it, but he has Bryn and Tavi.”

“But you won’t survive it.”

It stung to hear her say that, but she was right.

Agreeing to the plan meant agreeing to die by Troy’s hands.

If I was being honest, I would have told her that I’d never felt weaker or more sluggish than I did then.

I was sure that I could have killed Troy yesterday in a one-on-one fight—I was certainly angry enough to do it after seeing Bryn and Tavi—but I wasn’t as confident now.

“I don’t have a choice at this point. I have to bring them home.”

“But you know that Troy isn’t an honorable man. He’s not going to give them back to you even if you lose.”

“I know. That’s why fighting him is only part of the plan.” I glanced at Dom.

He looked away from me, his face pinched tight with fury. I had already discussed this with him, and he hated my plan.

“I’ll show up for the challenge,” I explained, “but I’ll have wolves searching for the girls. I’ll stall during the fight. I’ll let Redwolf believe that I’m falling in line with the plan. But when I get word that they’re safe, at that point, I’ll kill the fucker.”

Mom frowned. I could see the questions already forming on her brow, and I let her ask them. “What if you die during the fight? What if you end up killing each other? What then?”

“Then Dominic will take over the pack,” I said, nodding to my beta. “If I die, I die.”

Dom said nothing, just continued to scowl at the ground.

Mom was quiet as she considered my plan. After several moments, she let out a long, deep sigh and seemed to release most of her anger. She reached up for my face, and I bent so that her hands could touch me. Her fingers were warm, rough with age and with work, and soothing against my skin.

“My boy,” she said gently, “it’s really, really not easy hearing you say these things.

When you were a little boy, it just about broke my heart every time you came home with a bruise, though I knew you had to experience those things to grow up.

When you fought Peter and the other wolves to become Alpha, I wished I could feel every blow in your stead, so that I could keep you safe.

” She ran her fingers through my hair. “I know I haven’t been the most tender of mothers to you, that I had to raise you to be strong to face the struggles that I knew were headed your way, but I’ve only wanted your happiness. ”

I briefly closed my eyes. Her words penetrated deep in me, achingly sweet. “You are a great mother,” I assured her. “I wouldn’t be the man I am without you.”

“And don’t I know it.” She smiled and ruffled my hair.

“I know how far you will go for Bryn. It would be stupid of me to fault you for choosing her life over yours. There’s no shame in fighting for love, but remember that Troy is evil, and evil men never fight fair.

He’s definitely up to something more than you or I can see. ”

When she lowered her hands, I stepped back. I glanced at the wall clock. In about ten minutes, I was due to explain my plan to the rest of my team. “I agree. I’ll be as careful as I can be, and we’ll have backup plans in place to make sure Bryn and Tavi are safe.”

“I suppose that’s all I can ask for.” She gave me a sad smile. “I love you, Night.”

“I love you, too.” I hugged her tight, and then left with Dom to head over to the conference room.

We entered the mess hall and walked to the conference room door. The table I’d broken had been removed from the room and converted to a pair of benches. Our current table was unvarnished oak. The surface was sanded, but it would need to be treated with wax to be of any long-term use.

Dom, who had remained uncharacteristically quiet during the conversation with Mom and through most of the walk, turned to me once he’d closed the door behind us. We were alone for now, but the others would be arriving soon.

“Night, I just want you to know that I’ll be with you to the end. I swear it.”

“No.” I looked at him. “I’m sorry, Dom, but you’re too important to the plan. You need to be the one who goes in to get the girls.”

He shook his head, but I started speaking again before he could argue.

“I’ll keep Troy and the audience busy. I’ll give them a show.

You’ll only have to deal with the sons of bitches who are holding the girls.

When I get the signal that they’re safe, I’ll complete the plan.

If the worst happens and Troy kills me before I can kill him, you need to be alive to make sure he’s dead. ”

Dom’s lip twitched. “I hate this. Everything about this makes my skin fucking crawl. What if you need me?”

“Dom, listen to me. The moment Troy and I start fighting, I won’t matter to you anymore.

You’ve been a great friend, and an even better beta; I know it goes against everything in you to leave me to the fight, but you have to do this.

Bryn and Tavi are more important. You’re the only man I can trust to do this. You know that.”

I knew that Dom felt the truth of my words, but I also knew that it wouldn’t make the situation any easier for him to accept. I didn’t like forcing this on him, but the stakes were too damned high.

“How will I ever live with myself?” Dom asked quietly. “How can I be the Alpha after you?”

“I won’t lie and say that it’ll be easy, Dom, and I’m sorry about that. But you’ll manage because you have to.” The path that every Alpha takes is hard and bloody. Every one of us has to live with the memories of the people we kill or leave behind. Some of us deal with the pressure more easily.

Dom closed his eyes. I wanted to say more, but the door opened and the others began filing in. We would have to save the rest of the conversation for later, but as far as I was concerned, this was final.

Once everyone was seated, I explained the plan. When I finished, I let the group consider in silence until Redford spoke up.

“Alpha, this is too risky,” he said. “There’s so much that could go wrong. We should come up with something better.”

“I’m not ready for you to stop being Alpha,” William added. William had been injured in the initial siege on the Kings, when I’d first rescued Bryn. “I’ve seen how other packs are, I’ve seen their Alphas, and frankly, I don’t see how anyone could replace you. No offense, Dom.”

Dom chuckled. “No offense taken, Will. I’m right there with you.”

“I agree with William,” Frankie, a female wolf, spoke up.

Since Troy killed Iggy weeks ago, she and Rachel were the only women in my inner circle.

I hoped more female wolves would feel comfortable stepping up after the packs merged.

“Losing you would be a huge blow to the pack. Most of us remember what it was like before you. Many of us won’t want to risk a return to old times.

In other words,” she looked at me pleadingly, “you’re too much of an asset, Night. ”

It warmed me to hear them say all of these things. Their words were a kindness that I struggled to feel like I deserved, but in the end, they wouldn’t change my mind. I placed my hands on the table and looked from face to face.

“I understand your concerns, but we’ve run out of time. If any of you have an alternative strategy, speak now.”

The room was silent. That was the real issue.

I knew that my plans weren’t as thorough or as well thought out as they normally were, but with only twenty-four hours, this was the best I or anyone else could come up with.

I didn’t want to die, and I definitely didn’t want to lose a fight to a prick like Troy, but my plan required endurance and strength—two things I had in short supply.

Putting on a show for the crowd and letting Troy think he was winning would likely sap what little power I had left.

I’d have to be an idiot to think that I might survive the fight.

“So, then,” I said, “with that settled, I want word sent to Troy that we are accepting the challenge. While that’s happening, I want trackers to start scenting for Bryn and Tavi around the cave. Focus not on their scents, but on Troy’s. That should lead us right to the girls.”

“I’ll oversee that myself,” Dom said. “When they have the location, I’ll tell them to hold.”

“Good. The only thing we’ve got working in our favor is Troy’s arrogance.

He’ll want everyone in his pack watching the challenge take place; that means there will be fewer wolves paying attention to what’s going on outside the ring, and there will be a minimum of guards keeping watch over Bryn and Octavia. ”

Dom nodded. “I’ll take a dozen of our best fighters with me. I don’t want another surprise waiting for us like last time.”

It was nice to hear that Dom was starting to get more comfortable with my plan, that he seemed to be accepting (albeit reluctantly) his role in it.

A hand shot up, and I focused on its owner. Jasper, the boy who had tried to court Bryn when she first arrived, stood up.

“I volunteer to stay with Alpha Night,” he said. “I’ll signal to him once I get word that they’re safe.” He hesitated, glancing at me. “If that’s alright with you, Alpha?”

I had to fight back traces of jealousy and annoyance when I looked at Jasper.

My wolf still seethed when he was close.

I was tempted to refuse because I knew the boy was still interested in Bryn, but that interest would work in her favor.

The more people who cared about my mate on my team, the safer she would ultimately be.

“That’s fine with me.” I nodded. “Alright, everyone, if there are no more questions, I want you all to get home and get some rest. We’re hours away from go time.”

Everyone began to disperse, murmuring quietly to each other, but I motioned for Dom to stay behind for a moment.

“Dom, I need you to promise me that you’ll get Bryn and Tavi back to Wargs’ territory. I don’t care what you have to do or who you have to kill, understand?”

He hesitated at first, but ultimately, he agreed. “I give you my word as your beta that I will get Bryn and Tavi home safe.”

I pulled Dom in for a brief hug. “Thank you.” When we separated, I sent Dom to his cabin alone so I could walk home by myself.

In sharp contrast to the darkness of the situation, it was a gorgeous day.

The sky was a creamy, azure blue, the clouds were fluffy and white, and it was the perfect temperature for a long walk.

I took in the sounds of the pack—the chatter of adults and the delighted squeals of children.

The air smelled of sweet mirth and joy and simple pleasure.

At present, the Wargs pack was happy, and I tried to savor that.

For all I knew, it could be one of the last times I experienced it.

I arrived at my cabin and headed straight to my bedroom. Mom wasn’t there; she’d probably gone to speak to the Elders or check on her garden. Either way, I was grateful for the time alone.

I sat on the bed and picked up Bryn’s favorite pillow. I held it to my face, inhaling her scent. My wolf sighed, calming for the first time in hours. Her scent did wonders for my peace of mind, but it wasn’t anywhere as good as having her with me.

“I’ve only wanted your happiness,” Mom had said. But it was what she hadn’t said that stuck with me. The truth was, I had found happiness. With Bryn. She was my mate, the only person I could see myself being happy with, my dreams made incarnate.

I’d accomplished so much in my life, including finding my soulmate.

I still wanted to do so much more, but I had very few regrets about the way I’d lived my life.

The thing that haunted me most was losing Bryn and Tavi, and the thought that I might die before I got to see them one more time.

I wasn’t afraid of dying, and I wasn’t scared of losing my life.

I was confident that I could kill Troy even at the cost of my own life.

But I’d accept that price as long as I made my pack proud and saved Tavi and Bryn.