“I will accept your challenge on two conditions. One, the vampire is chained up. He doesn’t belong on our lands, and he can’t be trusted not to interfere with the challenge.”
Wyatt started to take a step forward and bark that Bel had every right to be there after Albert’s attack on their home, but Bel placed a restraining hand on his shoulder.
“Accepted,” Bel replied. Wyatt’s head whipped around, and he glared at Bel, who only shrugged at him. “It’s not entirely surprising. And I’m not worried. You’ll win.”
Wyatt could only snarl and give a sharp nod at Albert. He didn’t like it, but if Bel was willing to accept the stipulation, he had no choice.
“And the second condition is that if you lose, the rest of your pack doesn’t leave here alive tonight.”
That Wyatt had expected. Albert couldn’t leave them alive and still save face. No, he’d lost too much now that the truth of his actions had come out.
“So be it.”
The two men standing beside Albert peeled off and crossed the field, heading straight for Bel. The vampire gracefully slipped out of his black wool coat and folded it over before handing it over to River. The younger wolf’s face was completely expressionless while Bel tried to manage a reassuring smile. River knew better than Bel what to expect. Or at least what they should expect.
Of course, when it came to Albert, all rules and sense of honor were thrown out the window.
The vampire somehow managed to look regal as he was escorted over to the whipping post. He lifted his arms above his head and smirked at the two wolves, as if this was a normal bit of evening entertainment for him. Maybe for Bel’s twin, Rafe, but definitely not for Bel. Wyatt had lived with him for more than two months. A normal evening for Bel was several hours bent over his lab table, a pint of blood, and maybe some time stretched out on the couch with a good book while snuggled against River.
Fear clenched Wyatt’s heart as the first manacle was locked in place. The vampire looked past his jailors and winked. Fucking winked at him with the cheekiest grin.
If being tied up was something that excited Bel, he was going to look into elegant silk scarves to tie his naughty vampire up with the second they got through this mess.
The moment the second manacle was locked into place, one of the wolves punched Bel hard in the stomach, doubling him over as much as he could while still having his arms stretched over his head. River shouted at the two wolves and started to run toward them, but Wyatt grabbed his arm. It was a low, dirty blow, but Bel would heal quickly. River attacking the wolves would put them on even more dangerous ground than they were already on.
The only benefit they had right now was that the rest of the pack outnumbered Albert and his men. To maintain even a modicum of control, Albert had to defeat Wyatt in open combat.
An ugly laugh from Albert drifted across the open square. “I’m going to kill you tonight, boy.” Albert shifted his gaze from Wyatt to River, his evil smile growing. “And then I’m going to leave that one alive long enough to watch the vampire fry in the noonday sun still chained to the post. Then my wolves are gonna tear that little bitch apart.”
A low growl rumbled from River, and Wyatt tightened his hand on his lover’s shoulder. Albert was trying to get in their heads, but Wyatt wasn’t going to allow it to work. He would fight and win. He was going to protect his pack.
When River grew quiet again, Wyatt stripped off his clothes and carefully folded them up before handing them over to River. His eyes never wavered from Albert, who was standing on the opposite side of the field undressing. The open field was ringed with the rest of the pack. He could feel at least three dozen shifters gathered around them. The pack was bigger than Wyatt had initially thought.
At least Albert wasn’t attempting to enforce his curfew, which would have been to his benefit since it would be easier for him to cheat if everyone wasn’t watching.
But Wyatt didn’t need to worry just about Albert cheating. The wolf might be considerably older than Wyatt, but there was no doubt that he was strong. Wyatt had a considerable fight ahead of him without Albert’s potential dishonesty.
As soon as they were both undressed, Wyatt shifted into his wolf. He’d always loved this form. His wolf was very impressive both in size and coloring. Properly intimidating with his midnight-black coloring and massive paws. A low growl rumbled from his chest and some of the darker, more blood-thirsty instincts of his wolf rose to the forefront. In all his decades, Wyatt had never allowed his wolf off its leash. He’d always been afraid of hurting someone. Even hunting was done under his watchful human eye.
Tonight, Wyatt would let his wolf run free. His sister, his blood, had been hurt. His mates had been hurt. His home had been destroyed. These attacks would be repaid with Albert’s blood.
Albert’s wolf was as big as his own, but cinnamon-brown in color with a little white speckling the muzzle. He threw back his head in a long howl, but only two others answered his cry. No, he did not have the support of his pack.
Muscles flexed and tensed as he slowly cut a wide circle around the field, matching Albert step for step. He readied to launch himself at Albert when River cried out sharply in pain. Wyatt’s head snapped up to see that River was now struggling against the two bastards who had locked up Bel. One pulled a long blade out of River’s stomach before the other dropped him on the ground. The one holding the knife stepped on River’s head, pressing his face down in the dirt, holding him in place.
A heavy weight slammed into Wyatt, knocking him to the ground. He rolled, trying to escape the flurry of claws and teeth as Albert attacked. The bastard had used River’s attack as a distraction, allowing him to take the advantage over Wyatt. And like a new pup, Wyatt fell for it.
Snarling, Wyatt regained his feet and attacked Albert. He was going to make sure it was the last time Albert surprised him.
That motherfucker!
Bel strained against the metal shackles, swearing loudly at the assholes who had hurt River. That had to be breaking the rules or something. Not that Albert or his minions cared about rules.
He didn’t trust those aligned with Albert to release him even if Wyatt won.
No, when he won. Wyatt was going to win.
The vicious snarls and growls coming from the field kept drawing his eyes, but Bel had to look away again. Both wolves clashed and separated again and again. Their heavy fur coats were slick with blood. There was a tear in Wyatt’s right ear, while Albert was starting to favor his left hind leg, but they didn’t look any closer to a victor.
Bel needed to get free. He’d promised Wyatt that if something happened to him, he’d get River safely out of pack territory no matter what it took, and he meant to keep that promise. He wouldn’t leave Wyatt behind if he could help it, but Bel knew he couldn’t accomplish a damn thing if he remained locked up.
“You know, you’re going to look like a fucking torch when the midday sun hits you.” Winter’s voice was low and just behind Bel. He started to twist around to look at his younger brother, but Winter pressed a hand to the middle of his spine, holding him in place. “Don’t. Rather not be noticed.”
“I need out of these damn things,” Bel snarled in a whisper.
Fingers touched his and carefully pried them open before pressing a long metal sliver against his palm. “I didn’t see either of your jailors use a key. This is the best I can do. Assuming you can still pick a lock.”