Page 13 of Rebel for Claws
Kieran stepped forward slightly, his diplomatic instincts clearly engaged. "Perhaps we should?—"
"No." Alaric's voice cut through the suggestion with commanding authority. "If Vivian has concerns about my character or my intentions, she should voice them directly."
The challenge in his tone made Vivian's spine straighten with predatory grace. "My concerns are based on documented evidence of your enforcement of Council directives that resulted in hybrid and human persecution and death."
"Then you're operating on incomplete information." Alaric's defensive response carried an edge that suggested her accusations hit closer to truth than he preferred to acknowledge.
He's angry because I'm right, or he's angry because I'm wrong and he can't prove it. Either way, this conversation is heading nowhere productive.
The silence that followed his defensive response was thick with mutual distrust and something else—an undercurrent of awareness that neither seemed willing to acknowledge.
"You know what?" Alaric's voice dropped to a dangerous level. "If you're so convinced of my character, then let's settle this properly. With a challenge."
Vivian's eyebrows rose in genuine surprise. "You want to fight me?"
"If you win, I'll leave you alone. You won't have to speak with me ever again." His eyes held hers steadily. "But if I win, you'll give me the courtesy of an actual conversation before passing judgment on me."
The arrogance of the proposal should have insulted her. Instead, she found herself intrigued by his recognition that she was capable of presenting a genuine challenge to him. Most men either underestimated her completely or misunderstood her enough to avoid direct confrontation.
"You're serious." It wasn't a question.
"Completely," he replied firmly.
Vivian studied his face, searching for signs of condescension or dismissiveness. She found neither. Instead, she saw the calculating assessment of one warrior evaluating another as an equal opponent.
"Fine, I accept your challenge."
"Very good." Alaric's voice carried the unmistakable authority of an Alpha who'd never doubted his own power. "Follow me."
He turned toward the back door with fluid confidence, and Vivian found herself irritated by how naturally she fell into step behind him. The December air bit at her skin as they stepped outside, but she welcomed the sharp clarity it brought to her senses.
At least out here I'll have room to move. And if this arrogant bastard thinks he can intimidate me with his reputation and his Alpha posturing, he's about to learn otherwise.
Logan's ten-acre property stretched before them, the back section bordered by towering pines that cast long shadows in the dying light. The snow crunched beneath their boots as they walked toward a natural clearing perhaps fifty yards from the cabin.
"This should provide adequate space," Alaric announced, turning to face her with that same calculating assessment she'd noticed earlier.
Kieran stepped closer to Maya, his protective instincts clearly engaged despite his confusion. "Father, what exactly are you?—"
"Teaching her that assumptions based on incomplete information can be dangerous," Alaric replied without taking his eyes off Vivian.
Logan and Zoe positioned themselves at the edge of the clearing, their expressions a mixture of fascination and concern. Vivian could feel their collective uncertainty, but she pushed it aside. Whatever game Alaric thought he was playing, she intended to win it decisively.
"Wolf form?" she asked, beginning to remove her jacket.
"Unless you prefer to be at a disadvantage," he replied, already pulling his thermal henley over his head.
The arrogance of this man. Does he think I've survived thirty-five years by being delicate?
Vivian stripped efficiently, folding her clothes with practiced precision while Alaric did the same. Even in the fading light, she couldn't ignore the powerful lines of his body—broad shoulders, defined chest, and the kind of muscular frame that spoke of decades of physical combat and Alpha dominance.
The shift came over her like liquid fire, her bones lengthening and reshaping with the familiar rush of transformation. Her white fur caught the last rays of sunlight, the silver patterns across her belly seeming to shimmer with ethereal light. Her wolf form was smaller than his would be, butshe'd learned long ago that speed and agility could overcome raw power.
Alaric's transformation commanded attention in an entirely different way. His wolf was massive—easily the largest she'd ever seen—with black fur shot through with silver streaks. His bright grey eyes held the same intelligent calculation in wolf form that they'd shown as a human.
He's impressive. I'll give him that. But impressive doesn't mean unbeatable.
They circled each other slowly, each testing the other's movement patterns and looking for weaknesses. Vivian's enhanced senses cataloged everything—the way he favored his left side slightly, the controlled power in his gait, and the absolute confidence that radiated from every line of his body.
