Page 64 of Secrets and S'mores
My mother’s face pales, but if I reject his challenge, I’ve already lost. He’ll kill Onyx. If my mother tries to stop him, he’ll use it as a reason to depose her. I’ve made this so muchworse.
“Fine.”
Onyx
After Ember is taken away, two ugly fuckers give me a beating until the world goes dark.
When I come to, it’s light and I’ve been stripped of my gear and weapons.
Shit.
No one speaks to me, but the entire pack has gathered. Far more wolves look at me with hatred than I would have expected. Things are worse between my pack and Granite Ridge than I realized.
The crowd’s noise drops as Sienna approaches, followed by Ember and the huge man from last night. The Beta, Orion.
With great effort, I press my back against the pole and push myself to stand so I can follow their progress. They stop in the training ring which is just paint on concrete, without even mats for safety during sparring.
“Beta Orion would see the trespasser executed as a dangerous stray,” a man with graying hair and beard says, “and Heir Ember wants him freed. A challenge has been issued.”
No.
My heart drops. He is three times her size and twice her age. Without a weapon, I doubt I could take him. She’s vicious, but this is insanity.
“Stop, let me fight,” I yell, my voice giving out. “I challenge for myself!”
A nearby man thumps me in the stomach and I barely stay standing, sagging against my restraints. From the needle-like pain in my side, I suspect they broke a few of my ribs earlier. Shifter healing is fast, butnot that fast. It will take a few days before I’m back to normal.
Shoulders close in, and despite my height, I can’t see the ring. But I can guess when the fight starts. The crowd roars to life, crying for blood and yelling disgusting, suggestive taunts to my girlfriend.
A growl rumbles low in my chest as I listen for the sounds of strikes landing or pained gasps. Through a gap in the crowd, I see Ember darting out of Orion’s reach, landing a kick against the side of his knee. He falls to one knee, but the crowd closes in before I see her next move.
She’s holding her own, if the noises her packmates make is any indication. I want to cheer her on, but it hurts to breathe.
A deep masculine grunt echoes through the space, followed by a feminine yelp. It’s killing me not being able to see. The distinct noise of a fist connecting with flesh sounds, once, twice. Two wolves snarl.
Legs part for a second and I see Ember on the ground, scrambling for a hold on Orion. He’s gotten above her.
A whimper from her throat hurts me worse than the injuries I’ve received. I’ll make his death slow for daring to hurt her. The crowd closes in and I pray she finds a way to knock him down and make him wish he was dead.
“Beta Orion is the victor!” A voice calls out.
No, no, no.
How is she? Black edges my vision as I strain to see her.
People part, and Sienna, Orion, and Ember stand in front of me. Ember’s lip is split, and she holds her side. From the tension in her muscles to the way her posture covers that side, I have no doubt she’s nursing broken bones. Her cheekbone is red and has started to swell.
Orion is leaning all his weight on one leg, but otherwise looks unharmed. He grins at Ember.
“Alpha, if I may?” he asks, bowing his head to Sienna.
“Yes, Beta?” She picks at her nails like this boring to her.
“Although I still believe he should be executed, I will offer his life to Ember as a gift. A mating present.”
Who does this asshole think he is?
Ember clears her throat. “I’m flattered, and I will consider your proposal only if you set him free. I could never be mated to a man who kills someone I’ve asked to be spared.”
