Page 22

Briggs

I stood at the threshold of the master bedroom, watching Ivy as she unpacked the few items she’d brought down from her room upstairs.

After I'd vowed to never lock her behind a door again, she’d agreed to move into this space with me.

But my heart was heavy, weighed down by the words I couldn't bring myself to say.

I wanted to tell her I loved her.

That she was my everything.

I couldn't, not like this. Not when I was about to walk straight into a fight to the death and she was worried I might not return.

I stepped into the room and pulled her into my arms, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. She melted against me, fitting perfectly, like she was made for me.

Because she was.

"Caleb and Emery are bringing over some of your things, from your old cabin," I said softly.

Surprise flickered in her hazel eyes as she looked up at me. "You're allowing them to visit?"

I nodded.

“Took you long enough.”

“You can thank me later, in very creative ways.”

Her eyes rolled, but she didn’t shoot me down. I liked how we bantered. How my mate wasn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with me.

It made me want to crush her to me, to pour all my love into a searing kiss. Then strip her naked.

I held back. If I gave in now, I wouldn’t be leaving this room anytime soon.

She still carried the pain of my actions, only now the burden wasn’t quite as heavy as before. It would take time, I knew.

I was willing to work everyday for the rest of my life to put every piece of her back together until she was whole. Maybe then I would be whole, too.

"It’s almost time for me to go," I forced myself to say.

Her smile faded. Shadows flickered behind her eyes.

I cupped her face, absorbing every precious detail. The golden flecks in her eyes. The way her lips parted slightly when she leaned into my touch.

“I don’t want you to face him alone.”

“Ivy—”

“I know. You’ll have Baylor and you’re already aware Turner will probably try something.”

Wrapping my arms around her, I kissed the top of her head. "The others will keep you safe until I return."

"Promise me you'll come back," she whispered.

The request squeezed my chest. “Always.”

A knock sounded at the front door and I reluctantly pulled away, lacing my fingers with hers. We entered the living room, seeing Baylor had already gotten the door.

“I’ll wait outside, Alpha.” He brushed past the two wolves he’d let inside.

“I’ll be there in a minute.”

I caught Colten's eye.

He gave a subtle nod, his expression grim.

I’d ordered him to stay here with Ivy instead of acting as my second for the challenge.

He didn’t want to agree, but he understood what was at stake.

I pulled him aside as Ivy rushed to embrace Caleb and Emery.

"Keep her safe," I said in a low voice.

"No matter what happens."

"You have my word." Colten clasped my shoulder.

"But if you don’t come back in one piece I’ll kick your ass."

I glanced at Ivy, my heart clenching.

She was laughing at something Emery said, but I could see the worry in her eyes.

“One more thing," I said, turning back to Colten. "You and Emery? Whatever the issue is between you two? It stops right now. I won’t have that bullshit touching my mate, not today."

Colten glanced at the redhead who so easily got under his skin.

My friend was quiet when it came to his personal life. When it came to that particular female, he completely shut me down when I asked questions.

I understood his frustration, I just didn’t understand why they couldn’t figure their shit out.

His jaw worked back and forth. “I can handle it.”

“Can you?”

Colten's eyes flashed with defiance, but he gave a curt nod.

I turned to find Ivy watching us, her brow furrowed. I forced a reassuring smile, but I could tell she wasn't buying it.

Ivy rushed over to me. I caught her in my arms, breathing in her scent, memorizing the feel of her body against mine.

It was doubtful she’d be this affectionate this quickly if she hadn’t been so concerned about my life.

I pressed a final, lingering kiss to her lips, then stepped back. "I’ll be back before you know it.”

Her lips twisted.

“Okay.”

"Do not leave her," I said to the others.

Caleb nodded, his face grim.

Emery stepped forward, her arm snaking around Ivy.

"Kick his ass, Alpha."

Lila opened her mouth but Colten clamped his hand over it, holding her in place.

“For the last time, you are too young,” he told her irritably.

A flare of amusement passed through me.

Lila and Emery were likely going to prove too much for the formidable male to handle.

I drew in a deep breath.

Then, with one last look at Ivy, I turned and walked out the door.

Baylor, who’d been waiting on the porch, fell into step beside me.

If there was anyone other than Colten that I trusted to have my back, it was him.

The drive to the edge of our territory was tense.

Baylor's eyes drifted over to me from time to time.

“Are you nervous, Baylor?”

His head slowly swiveled to look at me for longer than a glance. “Should I be, Alpha?”

“No.”

“Are you?

“No. I’m confident I’ll beat him. I just want it over with so I can get back to my mate."

Baylor nodded. I tried to picture the cold-blooded male with a mate. It was too hard to imagine.

Then again, some of the same things said about him had also been said about me and I had a huge soft spot for Ivy.

We parked near the border, a few minutes ahead of schedule. The truck's engine ticked as it cooled.

Baylor pulled out his cell phone and typed out a message. When his phone vibrated, he held it up. “Everything’s in place.”

We exited and started the last of the short journey. He kept close, slightly behind and to my left, covering my weaker flank.

Three Blood Fang wolves came into view as we approached the border. The air shifted, volatile and thick.

Phelps stood there grinning, baring his teeth in a feral display of dominance.

"Look boys, the Alpha actually came," he drawled, his voice dripping with contempt. "I was starting to think you wouldn't show."

I stared, cold and hard. “You mean you hoped, yet here I am.”

His grin grew into something maniacal. "Eager to die, are we? I can't say I blame you. Who would want to carry all that guilt over killing your own pup? ”

The words struck a nerve buried deep, down where I held my grief on lockdown. He wanted to throw me off kilter.

Instead, I let the anger wash over me, let it sharpen my focus and hone my instincts.

"Get on with it," I growled. “Name your witness.”

Turner snapped and a young male, no more than twenty, came forward. “My nephew, Gerald Fikes, known as Grunt.”

Unfortunate name for the wolf. The poor male was already looking a little green. My hand moved behind my back and gave a thumbs down to my enforcer. I trusted he took note as he stepped up to my side.

“My head enforcer, Baylor Byrne. Known as Baylor.”

Grunt swallowed and my enforcer snorted.

“Cute,” Turner remarked.

My face remained impassive. “Skin or fur?”

“Skin,” he answered immediately.

Fur was my preference and that was probably why he chose skin. Luckily, skin didn’t mean we couldn’t use teeth or claws.

The Alpha smiled, the expression twisting his scarred face into something truly grotesque. “I’m going to enjoy killing you, but I’m really going to enjoy forcing your mate onto her knees.”

Onyx snarled.

Turner lunged. We clashed in a flurry of rage and muscle. Unable to take me to the ground, he put some space between us.

I ducked beneath his swinging fist, my own hand darting out to catch him in the ribs. He grunted but showed no other sign of pain.

"Is that all you've got, McClellan?" he taunted, circling me like a shark scenting blood in the water. "I expected more from the great Alpha of Darkwood."

Phelps relied too much on brute strength and aggression, and he let his temper get the best of him. It was something I could easily use against him.

I feinted left, drawing his attention away from my true target. Then, with a burst of speed, I lunged forward, my fist connecting solidly with his jaw.

Phelps staggered back. He shook his head like a dog trying to clear its ears of water.

I pressed my advantage and unleashed blow after blow with relentless aggression. Still, the bastard didn’t go down.

“What about you, Turner?”

Punch.

Kick.

“Finally figure out what happened to your bitch of a mate?”

Turner roared and barreled towards me. I spun away and brought both hands down onto his back.

But even as I gained the upper hand, I could feel the toll the fight was taking on my body. My muscles burned with exertion.

If I was in wolf form, I’d have ended this already.

Finish him! Onyx commanded.

I threw myself at Phelps once more, the tips of my claws raking across his chest and drawing blood. He howled, his own attacks becoming more frenzied and desperate.

An especially hard kick sent him flying. He immediately popped up, his one good eye gleamed with malice.

We circled each other, panting and bleeding, and I knew that the end was near.

“Ready to yield?” he smirked.

“I’m not the one losing.” I clearly had the upper hand, not nearly as damaged as him.

"Very well, Briggs," he said, his tone dripping with contempt. "But remember, you're the one who brought this upon yourself."

Phelps let out a piercing whistle.

Grunt’s brow slanted down. “Uncle? What—”

Before I could react, the first arrow struck, its razor-sharp tip piercing my side. The pain was immediate and overwhelming.

I stumbled, another arrow whizzed past my ear, missing me by mere inches. More came flying out from the trees.

"Alpha!" Baylor lunged towards me.

Before he could reach my side, several Blood Fang wolves appeared out of nowhere, launching themselves at him. My trusted enforcer was forced to engage them, leaving me alone and vulnerable.

Our own reinforcements should be here any second. We’d anticipated something like this.

So where the hell were they?

“Pathetic,” Phelps taunted, taking advantage of my momentary weakness to land a blow to the side of my head. "And you thought you could win."

I snarled through gritted teeth, using every ounce of my strength to stay upright.

Pain radiated from my injuries, but I couldn't let it slow me down. Ivy's safety was at stake. If I failed, Phelps would go after her next.

"I’m really looking forward to getting to know your mate. To make her mine. I’ll breed her and rule both packs.”

A surge of protectiveness coursed through me. “You won't lay a fucking finger on her."

"Big words for someone who can barely stand," Phelps mocked.

I spat blood, drawing on strength from Onyx. “And you still haven’t been able to put me down. What are you waiting for? An arrow to do your job for you? You have no honor, you piece of shit. And everyone will know it as soon as I carry your carcass back to your pack.”

The scarred male shook like a volcano about to erupt. He charged forward.

Anticipating the move, I let the momentum carry us backwards and spun him around. I hit him as soon as I had enough space then kicked him in the gut.

Phelps staggered backward, surprise and fury etched across his face. The first hint of doubt began to creep into his expression, so I kept going.

Just as my clawed hand lifted to tear out his throat, another arrow hit me in the back.

I arched, having trouble breathing. Shit. It had hit my lung.

Phelps sneered. "I’ll be sure to tell sweet Ivy how you begged for your life like a coward while I’m plowing into her tight ass. It makes me hard just thinking about it.”

The world around us died. All I could focus on was the man before me. The man who threatened what I held most dear.

I went at him with everything I had left. It had to be enough.

It had to be.