Page 19 of Alpha Exile

Good luck and godspeed to them both.

I've got a patrol to go on, and warriors to speak to about getting my mates back. We went on a meager half-patrol this morning, our numbers decimated by the vampire attack, but didn't catch any of my mates' scents. Now that more of the warriors are rested up and feeling better, I want to stretch out our search party, and hit a few key places.

I have a few hunches about where that bitch may have taken my men.

* * *

"What's this?" When I stride into our meeting spot in the middle of town, shifting back to my human form after running across Juniper as my wolf, I find myself walking into a battle zone. "We're supposed to be fighting the vampires, not each other."

Kayla and Taryn, two of the new female warriors, are sparring in the center of the town square. Their hands lash out to hit against shoulders and necks fast enough that their movements are nearly a blur. Taryn is much taller, with dark hair and a severe expression, but Kayla is bouncy and light on her feet, her jaw set and her teeth gritted.

Both were wounded only this morning, but there's little sign of their wounds now, despite the strange infection the feral vampire claws left in their skin and blood. I remind myself to thank Kerry for that, knowing her abilities help them. Then I stride towards the center of the square, determined to stop this fight before someone gets hurt.

A strong hand on my shoulder brings me up short.

"It's a show of strength," Barry says, his voice a deep burr in my ear. I glance back at the seasoned warrior, and he shrugs, not apologetic at all. "They were feeling a little down on themselves after last night. Losing the pack alpha in a battle isn't exactly what a warrior dreams of. They kept insisting it should've been them, or they should've died protecting Roarke. So I told them to go through their paces and practice sparring on each other. I figured a little heat in their blood would help. Didn't think you would mind."

I want to contradict him, to tell him he shouldn't have done anything without my authority, but that's the sort of thing a paranoid and self-conscious alpha would do. Instead I decide to give him a nod of approval, telling him, "We should all be on high spirits for tonight. There's every chance that we'll have to fight again, and so soon after the last battle. Anything that helps them get in fighting form will help."

Barry studies me for a long moment. "If that's the case, then having a show of strength from their alpha would help."

"What do you mean?" My pulse races, and I have a sudden vision of myself in the middle of the town square, jeering faces all around me as the pack screams at me for being an abomination, a hybrid, a monster. But I shake it off, pointing out to Barry, "I don't think it would make me look good if I punched one of my warriors in the face. Most of the packs with that kind of alpha didn't fare well in the pages of history."

His mouth twitches in a smile, and he squeezes my shoulder, slapping me on the back and pointing me towards the square. "Sure, but most of the alphas we're taught about in history aren't wolf-witch hybrids. At least as far as I know. Don't you think it would help them to see some of your abilities? They want to know that they're following the strongest werewolf into battle. And they knew Roarke well. You, on the other hand..."

I'm new to them. Some of the warriors have patrolled with me, others were there the night of the Summit, but many have seen only small shows of my hybrid strength. The newest recruits have seen almost nothing.

I have to show them that I'm capable of holding my own in a fight. Especially because I wasn't eventherefor last night's battle. The shame and fury of that fact sticks in my throat, making it easy for me to find the words to answer Barry's challenge.

"I'll show them something they won't soon forget," I promise him, making his brows climb. I swallow my nervousness and add, "First, though, let's get all the able-bodied warriors we can to spar off with each other. How about a tournament? We can place wagers on them. Niall too."

My father's right-hand man has arrived on the scene, ready to prepare for the patrol, his truck parked across the street. At first he's skeptical about the idea of a tournament, but once I pull him aside and explain my plan to him, he jumps onboard. So does Wally, who promised to spar with Barry in the finishing around, and so do Josie and Lionel, our two other new, young warriors.

It'll be good for the pack to feel strong again. They may have been overwhelmed by the battle last night, but that's to be expected when facing an impossibly strong and unexpected threat. A sparring tournament will not only help raise their spirits, but also help integrate some of our newer members, who I've noticed are splintering off from the main group in pairs.

I stride forward to announce the tournament, Kayla and Taryn breaking apart at the sound of my voice. "Last night, we were defeated. But we won't stay down for long. All warriors learn to take a hit and keep going, and all must rise to the occasion." I glance over at Ian, who's watching closely, Josie hanging near him with a smile on her face. "Tonight, you're going to show me your strength, and I'll show you mine. Face off with a competitor for a round of sparring. The winners will fight each other, and then those winners, until we have a champion."

"What does the champion get?" A voice calls out. I spot Peter, the new warrior with a pregnant mate, in the back of the crowd holding his mate Maura's hand.

"The champion will receive honor," I answer him, scrambling for something else, "as well as..."

"A gift card to Toni's!"

The answer comes from the crowd. Grinning at Toni, the woman who owns the pizzeria, I repeat her answer. "A gift card to Toni's!"

"And the Ron's Tool Shed!"

"Throw Bea's Toy Shop in there too."

It isn't just the warriors here, I realize. Or werewolves. There are humans in the crowd who've joined to watch, attracted by the presence of the warriors. Their faces are just as worried as the faces of the werewolves, maybe even more worried. Some no doubt saw the flames spread last night and had to flee their homes. Or worse, they have loved ones at the urgent care center right now, their burns and wounds healing at a human rate instead of a supernatural werewolf rate.

Each of them deserves to see my strength tonight, as well as the strength of the pack. Their faith in us buoys me. It reminds me that our world isn't a separate one—just another world, one my father built to welcome humans and werewolves alike.

Wally calls out, "So the champion will be able to eat some pizza, shop for tools, and buy some toys for their kids. Oh, and you can place your bets with yours truly. Let's get this thing started!"

The tournament is underway quickly. I watch from the sidelines with Niall, each of us choosing our warriors to back and shouting encouragement to them. I whoop when Josie beats Lionel; Niall cheers seeing Ian kick Sasha's butt. Barry gets one over on Wally, and Peter manages to take Marcus down. Taryn and Kayla have a rematch that sees Kayla on top, with Taryn grudgingly giving her a nod of respect.

Then the second round starts, and it's more intense. The fights stretch on. Blows are exchanged and moves are made. Josie slips out of Barry's grip at the last second. Kayla punches Peter in the throat hard enough to make the crowd hiss. On the sidelines, money exchanges hands, and in the end Barry, Kayla, Ian, and a few other warriors come out on top.

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