Page 110 of Midnight Moon
The shifter’s magic washed over Tyler, halting his next move. I, too, froze in place.
Time sped back up.
Before I could blink, Tyler’s neck lied between Asher’s jaw.
Alarm pierced my protective haze, and I yelled, “Asher, no! Don’t—”
The black wolf clamped down and jerked his head once. A resounding snap traveled through the combat ring, resonating over the crowd.
Then, Tyler went limp.
Twenty-Seven
Shock and horrorrippled over the crowd. We all stared at the deceased shifter with various degrees of disbelief.
The gnawing and twisting in my gut had eased, but a new fear clouded my mind. Asher won the match, but no one who saw him snap the Coastal shifter’s neck would believe it was an accident. I’d researched all past Alpha Games, but I couldn’t remember the last time a shifter had died during the competition. I didn’t know what would happen now.
The horn finally sounded, signaling the end of the game.
Asher rose and threw his head back. He howled into the night sky while blue magic poured off him in uncontrollable waves. Now that he’d tapped into his power, it was like he couldn’t reign it back in. I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
Then, a violent, heart-wrenching roar emanated from within the crowd.
I tore my eyes off Asher. Alpha Orlando pushed and shoved away any pack member who tried to hold him back as he barreled his way through the crowd.
His hate-filled glare locked onto Asher. “You killed my son… my heir!” He shouted as he closed the distance between them. “You will pay with your life!”
Five Badlands shifters intercepted the alpha before he could make good on his promise.
Alpha Kurt’s voice boomed from on top of the podium, “Stand down, Orlando.”
“He killed my son!” The Coastal alpha yelled. His eyes flashed yellow, revealing how close his wolf was to the surface. “These fights are not to the death. I demand retribution.”
Alpha Kurt lowered his voice, but he spoke with authority when he said, “My council and I will be the ones to decide what happens next. For now, you must stand down.”
Alpha Orlando seethed. I’d never seen such loathing.
Movement from the corner of my eye drew my attention to the Badlands alpha. He stepped down from the podium and tipped his head to the shifters in front of Orlando.
The crowd parted as the five shifters guided the Coastal alpha back. Spittle flew from Orlando’s mouth as he continued to shout, demanding justice for his son.
I didn’t like the male, and I doubted he was unaware of his son’s plan to murder Asher, but my heart broke for his loss, nonetheless.
Alpha Kurt approached Asher. Chase had arrived at his side, looking far better than his partner. His and Jasper’s fight hadn’t been nearly as violent.
Alpha Kurt lifted a hand in the air and snapped his fingers. A Badlands’ shifter appeared with a pile of blankets in his arms.
Alpha Kurt grabbed two blankets and threw them on the ground.
“Shift,” he commanded.
I stared at the ground when Asher’s black fur began to recede.
I counted to ten before lifting my gaze. Jasper had joined the trio. He wrapped the last blanket around his waist and stared at his fallen packmate with a resigned expression.
Alpha Kurt crossed his arms, lifted his chin, and surveyed the crowd. “One of the Wilds Pack competitors has been accused of intentionally delivering a killing blow to an opponent.” His attention moved to Asher. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
Without an ounce of fear, Asher replied, “I acted to save my own life.”
