Page 12 of Spirit Walker Pack (Kingdom of Wolves #5)
Balaclavas and gloves are handed to us both so no skin-to-skin contact is made. It’s a safeguard so the mating bond does not activate. It feels strange to wear, but it will stop any issues regarding the bond so I can suck it up.
“You will fight for ten minutes or until one of you concedes. If, after ten minutes there is no clear victor, Alpha Falan and I will act as tie breakers. If we cannot agree on a clear winner, you will fight again until one of you concedes. Death is not an option. If Alpha Falan and I see that one of you is in a position of danger of death, and that you refuse to concede, we will step in and make that choice for you. On release, the contest will be deemed over and there will be no retaliation or recommencement of hostilities. Is that understood?” Glen looks to both of us and we nod.
“You will respond vocally, so there is no mistake that you are fully aware.”
We both answer with a clear yes and I slip my jacket off once again.
Stepping into the impromptu arena, I do some warm-up exercises.
My opponent however, chooses to stand and wait.
As a trainer, I know she would not have let her students enter a competition without warm-ups.
Good, she is overconfident or nervous. Forgetting or ignoring something so basic could be to my advantage.
Seeing Glen nod to Falan, I take it he will be the timekeeper for this foolishness. I recognize my own stubbornness in what we are doing here. I could have just laughed it off or ignored her boast, but no, I couldn’t!
Falan raises his arm and calls out, “Get ready…BEGIN!”
Fenya attacks immediately and I only just have time to hop over the sweeping leg move she tries.
Spinning quickly, I lash out with a leg that should have taken her at shoulder height, but she isn’t there.
After ducking quickly, she then sails over me and I just manage to make contact with her back, forcing her to over shoot her landing and fall to her knees.
Stepping back, I wait for her to stand before slowly advancing.
The next two minutes are almost a boxing match as we trade blows.
I have to admit that when she lands a blow, they more than smart.
A particularly hard jab to my right ribs has me gasp.
Watching her slight grin, I decide to play on that blow and begin defending my right side.
Taking the bait, she concentrates on that side and I let her get through my defenses a couple of times to encourage her.
Bowing lower, as though as in pain, I lure her to bend with me.
Waiting for the right time, I gasp as one strike grazes my ribs and I drop my guard.
As she takes the bait and lunges forward, I move to my left and grab her in a headlock.
Pulling her quickly to the ground, I nod to Glen and Falan.
I know that she cannot get out of this and want them to know it too.
I admit she comes up with some very clever moves to break the hold, but I am not going to go through life with a mate that bested me on our first meeting. Eventually, she relaxes and I wait for her to concede.
Falan tells us that it is over, the contest is done, but I feel her tense at his words. Standing, I lift her with me and when we both have a firm stance, release her. Expecting a blow of some kind, I step away quickly.
She is breathing hard, and I don’t think it is all to do with the exertion of the fight.
She is angry that I won, or more precisely she sees it as she lost. Although I am pleased with the outcome, I firmly believe she could have been a much more formidable opponent had she not given in to her emotions.
We both take off the balaclavas and gloves at this point, and I stand at the ready. I can see Fenya is not happy.
“My boast about being able to beat you was premature. Next time…” Falan steps forward and this time Fenya flinches, his move was so sudden.
“Fenya! Enough. I will hear no more of this foolishness. You were beaten before the contest began. If you return with me to Wolfsong Pack, there will be repercussions and consequences for your actions here today.” Turning to me, Falan sighs.
“Alpha Lyle, I was hoping for a better introduction than this, though I knew it was never going to be hearts and flowers. A public introduction was only ever going to cause embarrassment for the both of us. Fenya, apparently, is incapable of feeling embarrassed.”
“Alpha Falan, if I accept her as my fated mate, which isn’t a given at this time, I would expect her to be herself and I would never want a fawning, silly female as a mate. Maybe her forthrightness will win me over?”
From the corner of my eye, I see Fenya gritting her teeth and clenching her fists at my words, spoken as though she wasn’t present.
“On the way back to the packhouse, Alpha Lyle, perhaps you would divulge what caused my Head Warrior to make her ‘idle’ boast.”
“No, I think not. I think that honor should be left with Fenya to explain.” Wondering how she will explain her wolf leaving her naked has me grinning, and if I’d taken the time to look, I’d have seen that my grin was outshone by the scowl that Fenya had produced.