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Chapter Thirty-Three

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like my brain was vibrating. The leaves and foliage rustled as the wolves emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming in the moonlight. They formed a semi-circle around us, blocking any path to escape, unless I was able to slip back inside and lock the door. But I wasn’t about to leave Ryder outside alone, completely surrounded by them.

From behind the wolves, Kellan stepped out, fully dressed in jeans and a dark jacket. Unlike the rest of his growling pack, he hadn’t shifted. His face was set in a cold determination as he strode forward, stopping several yards from where Ryder stood near my front porch.

“I challenge you, Ryder Black,” he shouted, raising his hands to the sky. “I challenge you for your pack and for your territory.”

Ryder stood in front of me, his body tense. “What’s this about Kellan? I thought you were giving me three days? You gave me your word.”

“Plans changed,” Kellan replied with a dismissive wave. “Paul informed me that not only have you imprinted, but that you weren’t actually going to step down.”

“What would Paul know?” Ryder asked, his jaw tensing.

Kellan laughed, the sound lacking any real humor. “From what I heard, he found you. He said he could tell things had changed and, of course, he told me all about it. Said he could smell the change in Ryder. Something about an imprint?”

My blood ran cold. “If he told you what you wanted to know, then why did you kill him?”

Kellan turned to me as if he had only just realized I was there. His amber eyes narrowed slightly as he studied me.

“Well, he didn’t tell me because he wanted to. Apparently, his loyalties had shifted, and I had to get it out of him, but it was far easier than it should have been,” Kellan said, brushing something from his jacket. “You can’t trust someone who will hand over information that easily, can you?”

“You’re a monster,” I spat.

“Careful,” Kellan warned, his brows raising. “Think about it. What’s to say that he wouldn’t do the same thing to Ryder? For all I know, Paul came here to beg for a place back in Ryder’s pack. That Ryder wasn’t actually going to step down. Oh, wait, that’s exactly what happened.” Kellan paused, looking from Ryder to me and then back to Ryder. “He didn’t want to tell me about the imprint. In fact, he only mentioned it after I pulled out one of his teeth.”

My stomach lurched at the casual way he mentioned torturing poor Paul. I hadn’t known him well, but the thought of him suffering that way before being killed made me feel sick.

“To be totally honest, he begged for his death,” Kellan said, drawing in a breath through his nostrils. “It was what he wanted.”

“Holy shit,” I whispered, grabbing Ryder’s arm.

Kellan’s eyes flashed. “I did what was necessary to protect both of our packs. Ryder wouldn’t want someone he couldn’t trust in his pack. He would do the same to someone who was disloyal in his own pack, too.”

“I would not!” Ryder roared. “I was going to let him prove himself. Everyone makes mistakes.”

“Mistakes?” Kellan asked, smirking.

Ryder growled. “Being tricked by you.”

Kellan’s eyes narrowed. “You consider betraying one’s pack to be a small mistake?”

“It depends on the circumstances,” Ryder hissed, his hands clenched even tighter.

Kellan clicked his tongue. “Oh well, then it’s no wonder why I had to be the one to step up. Besides, information has a price, and now that I know about this imprint business and the lying about stepping down.” Kellan shook his head slowly from side to side. “Sheesh, Ryder! I’m not sure what you’re doing, but it’s going to end in your demise, which, to be honest, makes me very, very happy. Honestly, I should thank Everly.”

“For what?” I snapped.

“You’ve completely distracted Ryder and made him pathetically weak,” Kellan said, wearing a smile that was half a sneer.

“You’re an idiot,” Ryder said, sucking in a short, angry breath.

“Now it’s time to get down to business,” Kellan said, cocking his head. “Leadership has a price, too, Ryder. Are you prepared to pay for it?”

“This is not how you go about a challenge,” Ryder growled, his hands clenched. “You know the rules. Challenges are announced?—”

“Is that not what I just did?” Kellan asked, smirking.

“And witnessed by both packs and done on neutral territory,” Ryder said, gesturing toward the house. “Not near humans.”

Kellan scoffed. “Rules? Please. You only obey them when they suit you. Others you ignore… like letting humans know about us.”

The wolves in the yard growled in agreement as they inched closer. I counted at least ten of them, but there were probably more hidden in the trees.

“This is between you and me,” Ryder said firmly. “Let Everly go inside, and we’ll go deal with this the proper way.”

Kellan tilted his head, considering. “I don’t think so. She’s part of this now.” His gaze slid to me. “Besides, she should see what happens to wolves who don’t follow the rules. It’ll be… educational.”

One of the wolves flanking Kellan—a massive gray beast—snarled and took another step forward. I recognized the aggression in its stance, the way it lowered its head, ready to charge.

“Stop this!” Ryder roared, his voice sharp.

“I’m not giving you a choice,” Kellan replied. “Either fight me now, or my pack and I will take it by sheer force. This land should rightfully be mine, and we are all ready to fight. Is your pack ready?”

The threat in his voice was unmistakable. A deep rumble started in Ryder’s chest, and I could feel waves of fury radiating off him. Through our new bond, his rage crashed into me like a physical force.

“We are not doing it like this! My pack isn’t even here,” Ryder said, taking an aggressive step forward.

“Call to them,” Kellan said, shrugging. “They’ll all come running for their leader, will they not?”

I felt my breath catch. The reality of my situation hit me like a ton of bricks. To these wolves — to Kellan’s pack — I was nothing more than a liability, a weak human who knew too much. It was almost like I could feel their hatred toward me.

“Ryder,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “What’s happening? What exactly is a challenge?”

But Ryder didn’t answer. His entire focus was on Kellan, his body coiled tight like a spring ready to snap. I could feel something changing in him — a shift in energy that made the hair on my arms stand up.

“Last chance, Kellan,” Ryder warned. “Take your wolves and leave. We can settle this properly because you’re right about one thing…”

“And that is?” Kellan asked, his brow raised.

“That it’s time to end this,” Ryder said, his shoulders rising and falling with quick but controlled breaths.

“No,” Kellan said simply. “I’m done waiting. I’m done playing by your rules.”

Ryder growled as his hands jerked. “They are not my rules! They are THE rules.”

Kellan rolled his eyes. “What’s it going to be, Ryder? Will you fight for your pack? For your territory? Or will you submit to me like you should have years ago?”

The wolves around us began to pace, their movements agitated and eager. One of them — a smaller brown wolf — snapped its jaws in my direction.

“Get inside,” Ryder ordered, turning briefly to meet my eyes.

“I don’t want to leave you,” I said, my words spilling from my lips as I took a step back.

“Now, Everly!” he barked, his voice carrying an authority that sent a shiver down my spine.

I took another step back. I was technically inside the house, but the door was still hanging open wide enough to see my front yard.

Kellan wagged his finger. “Uh, uh, uh. She stays. She wants to be part of this world, then she can be your witness.”

Ryder ripped off his shirt, letting it fall to the porch. His muscles were already shifting under his skin.

Kellan laughed and started to remove his clothing. “Wasn’t sure you’d have it in you. Thought you’d back away from a real challenge.”

“This isn’t a challenge,” Ryder said through gritted teeth. “This is an ambush.”

Kellan shrugged, standing in just his jeans. He laughed as he reached for his belt, whipping it off in one quick, fluid motion.

“Call it what you want. The outcome will be the same,” Kellan said confidently.

“What is going to happen?” I asked.

“It’s a fight,” Kellan said, his lips curling as he let his pants drop to the grass. “To the death.”

I gasped. “Ryder, no!”