Page 15 of Challenged Mate
“Keep talking shit, Stanley,” Chase snapped. “Our alpha’s patience with you is running thin. I’d love to see him put you in your place in front of the whole pack.”
“Or maybe I’ll put him in his place and claim Blair for myself.”
“No one claims me.” My voice was low and full of threat, strengthened by my wolf’s anger.
Stanley moved his eyes to mine. A derisive smirk pulled the corners of his lips—stoking my anger. “Unfortunately, you don’t have a choice, babe. We all know the details of our pack’s victory in the Alpha Games.”
Now, I understood why Kayla spewed her insult so easily.
I crossed my arms and purposefully let my gaze travel over the male in front of me.
Clearly, he had an ego—and apparently a wish to challenge his alpha. But he didn’t have what it took to become his pack’s alpha. If he did—he would’ve done so already.
No. The male in front of me was nothing more than a power-hungry, cocky ass. And I wasn’t going to let him get away with treating me like a piece of property he could claim.
“Two things,” I said, my eyes moving up and landing on his face. He wore a smug grin. “First, don’t call be babe. Second, your pack’s victory requires I mate your alpha, but it doesn’t say a damn thing about what comes next. If you, or anyone else, so much as crosses me—I swear, you will get an up close and personal look at just how powerful I really am.”
The bluff rolled off my tongue with ease, landing its mark.
Stanley’s cronies shared an uncomfortable look while Stanley’s jaw tensed ever so slightly. I might not know much about the supposed power within me, but what little I knew said my mother was a formidable sorceress—and I was enough of a threat to warrant an attack by other members of the magical race.
It took Stanley a moment to come up with his response. No surprise, it was just as arrogant as I’d expected.
“You’re a born leader, Blair Hemmings, and the power in your veins should only mate with the strongest from our pack.”
“That’s our alpha,” Kayla snipped. “Not you.”
“You know my wolf rivals our alpha’s, Cousin,” Stanley snapped back.
Cousin?
“You’re delusional,” Chase jumped in. “But even if you were right, everyone in this pack knows your magic doesn’t hold a candle to our alpha’s. Challenge him for the right to mate Blair, and you will regret it. That is a guarantee, and you know it.”
I struggled to maintain a blank expression as the newest information swirled in my head. The alpha’s magic is powerful—meaning he’s part-sorcerer. And Stanley and Kayla are cousins. Does that mean…
“Glad to see you’re still as disloyal as ever, little brother,” Stanley addressed Chase, revealing their familial link.
Mother Moon… is everyone in this pack related?
“My loyalties lie with the pack, Stanley, as they always have. Now, get out of our way. Our future alpha-mate wishes to see town.”
Stanley didn’t move. His eyes flashed with desire—desire to fight.
I wondered if he would follow through on the impulse when, abruptly, he stepped back. His companions followed his lead, shuffling back several feet.
Stanley stared at me as he moved backwards. “Enjoy your tour, Blair Hemmings. I’ll see you soon.”
Not if I can help it.
I bit my tongue.
My stance remained rigid until Stanley and his cronies finally turned around and walked down the next cross street, disappearing from sight.
“I am so sorry, Blair.” Kayla whirled towards me. Her lips were pulled down into a deep, regretful frown. “Cousin Stanley is arguably the worst Wilds Pack member you could have met today.”
“Not ‘arguably’,” Chase corrected her. “My brotheristhe worst our pack has to offer.”
My arms fell to my side as I allowed myself to relax. “I take it there’s no love lost between the two of you.”
