Our conversation came to a halt because Lucian himself approached from the opposite direction with Nick at his side. Matt shocked a giggle out of me, scooping me up and double-timing it to catch up with his friends. As I relaxed into the powerful arms holding me so close, I said a quiet prayer for tomorrow… and all the tomorrows hinging on his success.
And then I said another prayer for forgiveness when I realized I was literally praying for my father's death. But he'd left me to die, and besides, the safety of my brothers and every member of both packs depended on Matt winning. I doubled down, praying twice as hard for Matt's success. I even reached out for my secret weapon… the one person I knew who might have an ‘in’ with the big man upstairs.
If you're listening, Papa, please put a good word in for Matt. You know better than anyone: he's the best option all the way around. I'm prejudiced because he’s my true mate, but if you've been watching, then you already know my mate is a good alpha. Watch over him for me tomorrow, if you can.
Nine
Matt
Any nerves I had over the past week building up to the moment were gone. I was riding in the lead position with my buddies directly behind me in pairs.
As for the convoy of ragtag vehicles following us… I was doing my best not to think about them. I'd tried to convince Elisha to wait at home, but he was determined to be here today. When he shared his plans with me over breakfast this morning, my wolf and I both wanted to deny his request.
I had no doubt about my ability to win any fair fight, but I wasn't cocky enough to think I couldn't be bested by an alpha known for fighting dirty. While I wasn't enthused about killing his father in front of him, I couldn't deny Elisha the right to bear witness.
I still wanted to fight him on it until Tucker took me aside, after he'd walked into the kitchen and felt the tension in the room. Once Tucker gently reminded me how devastated Elisha would be if the worst happened, it took no more than a few seconds for me to agree.
Not merely his reminder, but I'd made my own backup plan with Tucker. While they wouldn't share a true mate bond, if Monty beat me, Tucker would jump in and immediately challenge Monty on the spot in order to save Elisha from the same fate he'd faced nine short days ago. And the pup as well.
With Elisha standing there visibly pregnant, Ash would have no reason to refuse a challenge to save him. And even better, Monty would be worn out from the fight and easier to kill. My backup plan hadn’t thrilled Elisha, but he'd given me his word to choose life and allow Tucker to claim him.
I might've used the pup to plead my case, but he'd only agreed because he had every faith I would walk away the winner today. And I shared his certainty. Mostly. As my grandma liked to say, the only certain things in life were death and taxes. So while I was betting on me, I wasn't ignoring the other possible outcome.
But right here and now, with the sunshine on my face, the wind at my back, and the powerful Harley engine between my legs—I was liking my chances. I might have had ninety-nine problems, but fear wasn't one. Letting go of the handlebars, I held my arms straight out and let my wolf come forward enough to howl, riding between two rows of delta wolves at parade stance.
As we drew close to the large crowd of people waiting around the fighting ring, the other guys receded. I gripped my handlebars again and revved my engine before swerving to a stop, bringing my bike sideways with a flurry of pure desert dust. Alpha Whitetail caught a face full, which was a pleasant bonus.
I was off the bike with my helmet and gloves removed before Monty could make his way over. I was never letting him have the upper hand, even if it was merely perception. As he stalked toward me with an ugly look on his face like he smelled something bad, I sized him up, standing my ground.
I'd seen him in passing when I was a kid, and my memory hadn't been wrong. A head shorter than me and with far less bulk, he was one of those scrawny types who made up for physical lacking with pure meanness. Still, I wouldn't count him out. While on the smaller side, he gave the impression of sinewy muscles and tightly coiled strength. He might not have been the biggest alpha on the block, but he would strike like a cobra if given a chance.
I'd gone shirtless under my leather cut, putting my tattooed arms and bulging biceps on display when I crossed my arms over my chest. My WCW members walked up behind me, but I kept my attention focused on Monty. Despite the crowd of witnesses, I knew better than to look away. A shiv to the gut would save time in the ring. At least, most men like him would think so.
He walked so close we were nearly toe to toe, looking up at me with the ease of a lifetime of being a shorter alpha. "So you're Bob Longclaw's kid, huh? You look different than I remember. But I guess you would, wouldn't you? Probably don't like folks remembering you as the scared, sniveling pup hiding in his daddy's shadow. At least your uncle had the balls to look your father in the eye when he challenged him for the pack."
"Horace didn't have to concern himself with saving the Alpha Mate's life. He saw a pack he wanted and took it. I chose to save a life and accept the pack along with it. As for looking you in the eye, I'm here now, and I'm definitely looking. Not for nothing, but you seem like the kind of narcissistic prick who would leave his own son to die after killing his mate."
Monty spat a foul wad of tobacco on the ground. "Sucker deserved killing. Thieving bastard took my property. If the fool kid didn't know how to escape, he's obviously no son of mine. I thought I'd washed my hands of him, so imagine my surprise feeling a loss in the pack bond. Sure, it wasn't more than a chunk of weaker pack members left to hold down the fort in Lucerne, but they wasn't yours to take. Neither was my kid. He shoulda faced his fate like a man."
I knew Elisha was approaching, but Monty hadn't been paying attention to anyone but me. At Elisha’s sharp gasp, he jerked. Anger coiled in my gut at the hurt etched on my sweet little wolf's face. When Monty started talking again, it was all I could do to clench my fists and remember these were the words of a dying man. Monty was going down.
"Speak of the devil and here comes my runt. Stand up straight, boy. Don't embarrass me any more than you already are by being here." Monty glared back at me. "What kind of an alpha doesn't know to leave the omega at home? Especially one so fat with a dead man's pup. I don't know what to make of you, son. But if you're gonna let your omega boss you around, maybe I'll be doing you a service helping you find your way out of this world today."
My teeth were clenched so tightly I could barely speak properly. "I'm not your son, thank fuck. As for the single person present who actually is? Elisha is my equal, not my property or a thing to be hidden. You don't get to talk to him. Hell, I don't want you even looking at him. He might be my equal, but Elisha is also mine to protect. And avenge. If you think I'm challenging you because of Horace or the pack you stole, think again. Reclaiming the Lucerne Valley pack members is secondary to repaying you for nearly causing Elisha's death."
Monty’s answering smile didn't reach his cold, flat eyes. "Mighty brave words from a dying man. Maybe someone will carve your lofty bullshit on your tombstone. Yeah, the part about you thinking an omega could ever be equal to an alpha will look mighty poetic until your grave marker fades and crumbles under the desert sun, like the bones of you and that omega you're so hell-bent on protecting."