Page 8 of The Alpha’s Rejected Arranged Mate (Bluebell Valley Wolves #3)

The challenge fight was arranged quickly. Finn was surprised when Seth’s warriors came to the house to announce everything was set. When Hayden challenged Monroe—or rather, the archdemon Zealuv possessed Monroe—it took weeks before the challenge fight actually took place. It seemed as though Seth was a much more honorable Alpha.

And that was what gave Finn his first sense of doubt.

The fight would occur in the sports arena in the town center. It was a large building with stadium seating all around. Given the tall plexiglass barriers, this place was more used to seeing hockey matches than true fights. It seemed as though the entire pack was here, gathered and watching with anxious eyes.

“There’s Mrs. Johnson,” Christine breathed, pointing across the stadium.

Finn glanced over. A handful of the caretakers from his time at the orphanage sat around Mrs. Johnson, wringing their hands. Derek gripped his shoulder, jerking him back to the present.

“Be strong and careful,” Derek murmured.

Finn nodded. He turned to Elin. What could he say? She met his eyes, and he found his second doubt reflected in hers. Not because she doubted him but rather because she didn’t. He reached out, hesitated, then let his fingers trace across her cheekbone. Probably giving her the wrong impression yet again. But he was unable to stop himself.

He spun on his heel and stepped out into the arena. Seth was already there, waiting for them. Both wore stretchy boxers and nothing else, ready to shift to wolf form. Scars ran crisscross over Seth’s body. He was still strongly muscled, though he was showing the signs of age-related atrophy. Over his shoulder, Rosemary held both her hands over her mouth, her white hair a stark contrast to the dark heads of the warriors surrounding her.

“Before we begin,” Finn said, stopping, “the children from the orphanage. They got here safely?”

Seth’s eyes narrowed. “The humans have always been welcome here.”

“Just not me,” Finn whispered.

He doubted Seth heard him. The old Alpha shifted to wolf form and leaped forward, his jaws snapping at Finn’s throat. Finn sidestepped and shifted to wolf form. He rammed his shoulder into Seth’s ribcage, knocking him off balance. Seth stumbled over his own feet, exposing his flank. Finn lunged into the opening, but rather than biting down on Seth’s haunches, he slammed his weight into the older Alpha again.

Seth regained his feet and whirled, tearing at him with his claws. Finn ducked beneath the attack and snapped his teeth just shy of Seth’s ear. A scream rang out—Rosemary. A handful of the pack jumped to their feet, hands clenched into fists. Finn withdrew, padding back. Seth shook himself as though surprised that he wasn’t bleeding.

He probably was. It was clear he was trying to inflict real damage—and also clear that he was old and had suffered too many injuries in the past. He must have been a fierce fighter once. And the pack loved him. It didn’t take more than the odd glance to see real worry on their faces.

Seth came at him again. Finn waited until the last moment, then shifted into human form. He caught Seth around the neck and flipped him to his back. In one easy motion, he shifted back to wolf form and clamped his jaws over Seth’s throat. Screams rose as Finn held there. Seth struggled, then went still.

Finn waited half a beat more before he backed up and shifted to human form again. “The rules don’t say I have to kill you. It’s enough, Seth, former Alpha.”

Seth staggered back to his feet. He growled, his fur standing on end.

“I don’t want to kill you,” Finn told him coldly. “I want you to stay in Moon Lake. I want you to help facilitate a peaceful transfer of power. So, it’s up to you. If you keep pushing, I will kill you.”

Seth shifted to human form. He panted, breathing hard. Down on one knee, he glared up at Finn. Finn didn’t move, waiting for the Alpha’s answer. As he waited, his gaze swept over the Alpha again. He was much older than Finn expected his father to be. Maybe he was wrong about this. Maybe he was looking at his grandfather rather than his father.

“What are you after?” Seth hissed as he pushed himself to his feet. “I won’t let you have this pack. I won’t let you subjugate my people to hell.”

“Will you step aside for a peaceful transfer or keep fighting?” Finn demanded, his voice carrying.

“I won’t give—” Seth cut off at the sound of footsteps in the arena.

Finn growled, sinking into a crouch. But it wasn’t Seth’s warriors charging in. It was Rosemary. She grasped Seth’s arm, shaking.

“Let him be Alpha.” Rosemary pressed one hand to Seth’s face. “He can kill you. He’s choosing not to, my love. Please.”

Seth closed his eyes and leaned into Rosemary’s hand. Finn watched, unable to prevent a fresh surge of anger. They knew who he was. They had to! And Seth wanted to kill him anyway. It was only because his mate was begging him to change his mind that he wasn’t going to die for it. If Seth was so certain he was evil, why not just kill him as a baby? Did it ease his conscience to kill the man raised in loneliness instead?

“Finn.” Elin’s soft voice broke him from his thoughts. He turned toward her. She took his arm in her hands and quietly bandaged a large scrape along his bicep. When had that happened?

For that matter, there were fresh injuries on Seth, too. Finn hadn’t thought he had gone that hard. He thought back, but the fight was a blur of fury and fangs. He breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of blood. It wasn’t strong. Both of their injuries were superficial.

Good.

It had been a long time since Finn lost himself in the battle haze. But it seemed he’d been able to control himself even so. There would be no more bloodshed today.

The arena looked on in silence as Elin and Rosemary bound their mates’ injuries. Seth’s shoulders slumped in defeat, his head hanging.

“I acknowledge your victory,” he said, his voice thin but loud enough for the arena to hear. “You are now Alpha of the Moon Lake pack.”

Alpha.

Finn sucked in a breath as the word crashed down on him. He’d been so consumed with Seth and the knowledge that this was his father who abandoned him that he hadn’t thought past this moment. His gaze flickered around the arena, taking in the hostile looks from the pack. Even the orphanage caretakers watched him with revulsion.

I’m the Alpha, he thought. And I’m fucked.

***

“I’ll need a copy of your records,” Finn said, trying to ignore the way his wolf paced restlessly in his chest. They were in the Alpha’s house, Seth and Rosemary facing him and Elin. Derek and Christine had taken a handful of warriors to return to the human village to try to collect their gear.

Mostly, they wanted the salt they left behind. It wouldn’t do much good against the rogues, but it would help defend the town against demons. It was his responsibility now. This was no longer a simple alliance, but rather… Finn shook himself. He needed a sense of how the pack was doing and their current situation. Not just when it came to the demons and rogues but also their finances.

“My people and I will stay in the Alpha’s house until I have a new one built,” Finn continued, not letting his doubts seep into his tone. “You and Rosemary will find other accommodation and remove any personal necessities until that time.”

Seth squinted at him, frowning. It wasn’t usual for a new Alpha to build themselves a new house and let the old Alpha keep the one he’d had before. “Is there something wrong with this house?” he demanded.

Finn shrugged, attempting to look careless in the same way Hayden did. “It doesn’t suit my needs.”

“We will get our things at once,” Rosemary murmured.

But Seth ignored her, instead turning toward Elin. Finn had the instant urge to step in front of her, to shield her. But Seth made no move toward her and showed no sign of hostility except that fierce glare on his face.

“Do you know what he is?” Seth demanded.

If there was any chance Seth didn’t know Finn was half-demon, that erased it. Finn wasn’t sure why he was so disappointed. Nothing the former Alpha had done thus far had shown any sign of fatherly feeling. Nothing to indicate he had ever had any sort of compassion for the son he abandoned. It made his wolf snarl the way it would when its foot was caught in a trap.

He shouldn’t be here. He should have gotten those records from the orphanage and left again. He wasn’t meant to find this out. It was supposed to lead him to answers, not more questions. What the fuck was the Moon Goddess thinking?

Elin’s chocolate eyes were calm. In the past, Finn had been the one protecting her, calming her down from the pressure of demons on their doorstep. Now, there weren’t any demons, yet he felt as though he was about to burst. She was the grounded one, the steady one.

“I know what Finn is,” she said, her voice cool. “He’s a strong warrior. A wolf who defends those weaker than he is. He’s a kind man with a good heart and generous hands. He’s everything an Alpha should be, and your pack is fortunate to have him.”

Was that really how she saw him?

His cheeks went hot.

“I take it you don’t,” Seth said, his tone scornful and dismissive.

Finn’s gaze snapped back to him. “Oh, she knows exactly what I am,” he said roughly. “The question is whether your mate knows what you are. Are you the man who betrayed her and slept with a demon only to abandon your son? Or did you simply murder my mother for being a rogue before tossing me into that orphanage?”

Seth’s eyes widened.

“I can’t quite tell,” Finn continued, his voice shaking. “Whether you did the same thing to Derek or not. Did you kill his parents, too?”

“You bastard,” Seth seethed.

Rosemary pushed her way between the two men. She put both hands on Seth’s chest, narrowing her eyes at him. “Enough. This isn’t going to help anything. Either of you.” She glanced over her shoulder at Finn. “This isn’t how you want to start your rule as Alpha.”

She was right. Finn forced himself to take a step back. He would prove that he was a better man than Seth was.

“We will leave now,” Rosemary continued, now taking her mate’s hands. She tugged him toward the door, but her eyes never left Finn. There was fear in her gaze… and pity.

He didn’t want her pity. She knew about him. If she didn’t, then his accusations would have shocked her. Rosemary abandoned him just as much as Seth did. Maybe she should fear him. Maybe the whole fucking pack—

No.

No, he wasn’t going to punish the pack for their Alpha’s actions.

He was a good man.

He wasn’t a demon, even if one of his parents was.

Elin slipped her hand into his. Her skin was soft and warm. He clutched her hand as though it was the only thing keeping him from spiraling into orbit. And it was that simple action that showed him how off-balance he really was.

“I’m half-demon,” he said. His gaze bored into Seth’s. “And you put me in that orphanage. So, what’s the story? How did you end up fucking a demon?”