Chapter 1
When the fist smashed into his jaw, Liam figured he probably deserved it. As this wasn’t the first time he’d been punched in the face, he didn’t move back at the impact, didn’t stumble, didn’t even budge from his spot. In fact, his body stayed exactly where it was. His wolf, on the other hand, wanted blood. It scraped along his skin, the ache a familiar burn; its claws ready to attack. He didn’t let the wolf have control. He never did.
That’s what made him as strong as he was. He wasn’t the Alpha of his Pack. However, he was damn well close in terms of dominance.
Of course, he had to prove it before he could flatly state it. It wasn’t as if any of his Packmates could just let things go and let everyone breathe without bloodshed.
Hence the fist to his jaw.
“You’re weak,” Michael spat as he shifted from foot to foot, his fists at the ready in front of his face as if they were in a boxing ring and not in the middle of the den. They weren’t even in the Pack circle, prepared to do an actual dominance fight that would lead to title recognition. “You don’t deserve to be the Beta. Just because you’ve licked the boots of our Alpha since birth, doesn’t mean you can rule.”
Liam sighed. He might be best friends with the Alpha, Hunter, but he didn’t lick the other man’s boots. Not even that one time when he’d been so drunk that he’d actually fallen at Hunter’s feet. Of course, Hunter and their other friend, Alec, had fallen right next to him since they’d been just as intoxicated. They’d been young, celebrating a recent mating of one of their other friends, and not on duty for the following twelve hours.
“You don’t want to go there,” Liam said slowly. His wolf pushed at him. Still, he didn’t let his inner beast out, not when Liam could take Michael down in his human form alone. Of course, the other guy didn’t know that, or if he did, chose to ignore it. So many people underestimated Liam and would likely continue to do so.
If Liam were to become the Beta of the Pack, he wasn’t sure the preconceived notions would change. That was if he even wanted to become the Beta. His wolf was taking its time deciding if the position fit him. As for his human half, Liam wasn’t sure he wanted the responsibility.
He was a council member and helped rule his Pack’s governing body. However, his duties were mostly performed through his family. They had been one of the original five families that had representatives on the council. Being second in command to Hunter would be a giant leap in everything, though it wasn’t something he was ready for, let alone something he truly wanted.
Liam ducked under another punch and kicked out, forcing the other wolf to the ground. Michael didn’t stay down long, and Liam hadn’t put too much force into the kick anyway.
He needed to get his head in the game so he didn’t end up with too many bruises after this. He didn’t want to deal with Alec’s glares because he’d let the fight go on too long and was in his head the whole time.
Liam wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with Alec at all.
And because he thought of his friend and didn’t have his mind on the battle in front of him, Michael got in another lucky punch. The impact forced Liam back a step this time, and he tasted blood. He pressed his tongue to his teeth, grateful when none felt loose. The only two wolves who had ever almost knocked one out had been Hunter and Alec. He’d be damned if this little pup in front of him would be the third.
The gasp from the crowd surrounding them forced a growl from Liam’s throat, his wolf just that much closer to his skin. He let his claws slide from his fingertips, done with this pointless fight. Did the others around him think he’d lose to this wolf that was nowhere near his dominance level?
Well, he’d show them. He had to.
“Michael, boy, one day, you’ll be a wolf worthy of the strength you possess. For now?” Liam shrugged. “Grow up.” He slashed, his claws digging into Michael’s shoulder. The other wolf cried out, going to his knees. Liam punched the man in the face for the comments he’d made about their Alpha, his friend, and then Michael was down for the count.
Dominance battle won.
However, it wasn’t a true dominance battle as they hadn’t fought in the circle, nor had it been sanctioned. The others would know where Liam sat in the ranks if they didn’t already. The actual choosing of the Beta, fight or not, hadn’t happened here.
Given what had happened in the months since their former Alpha, Josiah, had stepped down due to his age and power level, Liam wasn’t sure the choice would ever be made. Hunter needed not only a Beta but also a Tracker. He’d been taking his time in choosing because it was his right as Alpha, and he couldn’t just pick his two best friends.
It didn’t matter that Liam and Alec were the next two on the dominance scale right under their Alpha. Things were never quite as easy as they should be. Hunter needed to make a decision, but he couldn’t even begin to start that process until the necessary dominance fights were complete within the circle itself.
Others had already done their fighting within the sacred stones that had once made their original Alpha’s home. Neither Liam nor Alec had stepped foot inside. He wasn’t sure why Alec was hesitating, and that only made Liam want to wait that much longer.
That was par for the course for them.
Alec hesitated while Liam waited, and neither of them ended up satisfied in the end.
Liam pushed those thoughts from his mind and rolled his shoulders, wincing as he did. Michael’s lucky punch hadn’t been Liam’s first in recent weeks, and now he could feel the aches and pains from not using his full strength in the match. He needed a hot shower and a beer, and then maybe he’d get over what had happened today. He still couldn’t bring himself to think about what a fight like this would mean, and what he would have done if the battle had been sanctioned.
As he turned towards his home, he froze at the sight of Alec standing at the edge of the crowd—close enough to watch, yet far enough away that no one could touch him.
That was Alec in all ways lately.
Alec’s jade green eyes darkened when they met Liam’s. The other man’s jaw tightened, tension evident in even his breathing. A breeze caressed them both, slipping through the dark brown strands of Alec’s hair. The other man’s biceps bunched as he moved his arm up to push the hair from his eyes. The action caused his scent to catch on the wind, and Liam inhaled.
Mistake.
The heady scent of man and wolf knocked Liam back so hard, he almost ended up right on his ass. He did his best to hold back from growling or letting his wolf come too close to the surface. He couldn’t let anyone else find out what exactly went on with him when he was in the presence of his best friend.
It wasn’t that he was ashamed of being attracted to another man. As most of the wolves in his Pack were bisexual, Liam wanting Alec bent over in front of him wouldn’t be frowned upon.
It was the fact that Alec hadn’t shown any signs of wanting to be with Liam that killed him a bit inside and kept him from reacting in the way everything inside him wanted him to. And that was something Liam had to learn to deal with, even if part of him broke every time he caught sight of his best friend.
Another scent carried on the breeze, and Liam turned to see his Alpha striding towards them. Hunter had always been a badass wolf, large and scarred from countless dominance fights on his way to becoming their leader. He’d changed in the time he’d spent in the hell realm.