Chapter 181
Lynette's POV
Kael's hand clamped around my wrist before I'd taken three steps.
Not hard. Never hard with me. But firm enough that I felt the warning in it.
"You're insane." His voice was low. Dangerous. The kind of tone that made other wolves back down immediately.
I turned to face him. His amber eyes were burning into mine, and I could see everything he wasn't saying written across his face. Fear. Anger. That protective instinct he tried so hard to keep buried.
My chest tightened.
God, I hate worrying him.
But this was bigger than us. Bigger than whatever this thing between us was becoming.
I placed my free hand over his, felt the heat of his skin against mine. "Trust me. I know what I'm doing."
"Do you?" His jaw clenched. "Because from where I'm standing, you're about to get yourself killed proving a point."
"I'm not going to die." I kept my voice steady. Calm. Even though my heart was hammering against my ribs. "And I need to do this."
Something flickered in his expression. Understanding, maybe. Or resignation.
His grip loosened, fingers trailing down my wrist before he let go completely.
"If it goes wrong—"
"I'll forfeit." I cut him off before he could finish. Before that protective fury could build into something he couldn't control. "I promise."
He didn't look convinced. But he stepped back.
I turned toward the platform, feeling the weight of every eye in the room following me.
My wolf stirred restlessly. Showtime.
The distance to the platform felt longer than it should. Each step echoed in the sudden silence. I could hear my own breathing, the rustle of fabric, the whispers starting up behind me.
"Is she serious?"
"She's going to get destroyed."
"Stupid bitch has a death wish."
I blocked them out. Focused on the massive figure waiting on the platform.
Up close, he was even more disturbing. That mottled purple-black skin had an oily sheen to it under the lights. No visible veins. No pulse point at his throat. His chest barely moved when he breathed.
What the hell did they do to him?
The researcher in the white coat hurried over, his professional smile strained at the edges.
"Miss, I appreciate your... enthusiasm." He glanced nervously at the guard, then back at me. "But perhaps you'd like to reconsider? As you saw, even an experienced Alpha warrior—"
"I don't need your concern." I kept my voice flat. Cold. "You said anyone could challenge. Or were those just empty words?"
His smile twitched. "Of course not. But I'll need to register your information. Name, Pack affiliation—"
"No."
He blinked. "I'm sorry?"
I met his eyes directly. Let him see exactly how serious I was.
"My identity is earned, not given. If your soldier defeats me, then you can ask. Until then?" I gestured dismissively. "You don't deserve to know."
The crowd erupted.
Gasps. Shocked laughter. Angry muttering.
"Who does she think she is?"
"Arrogant bitch."
"She's with Harrington, isn't she? That's why she's so cocky."
I felt Kael's presence behind me like a physical force. Steady. Solid. Ready to intervene if I gave him the slightest signal.
But I couldn't look back. Couldn't let myself be distracted.
Because somewhere in this crowd, Rezar was watching.
I scanned the faces quickly. Looking for that particular shade of cold calculation. That hunter's focus I'd recognize anywhere.
There.
Back corner. Half-hidden behind a support column.
Rezar's eyes locked onto mine, and I saw the recognition hit him like a physical blow. Saw the fury twist his features before he schooled his expression back to neutrality.
Yeah. That's right. I'm alive. I'm here. And I'm not hiding anymore.
My wolf snarled with satisfaction.
The researcher cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with how this was playing out.
"Very well. If you're certain..."
"I am."
I reached down and slipped off my heels, handed them to a hovering staff member. The cold platform felt solid under my bare feet. Better grip. Better balance. The tight dress I wore wasn't ideal for fighting, but at least it wouldn't restrict my leg movement as much as those damn shoes would have.
I climbed onto the platform.
The guard watched me with those empty eyes. No curiosity. No concern. Just... nothing.
It was like looking at a machine wearing human skin.
I circled slowly, keeping my distance, observing. The way he tracked my movement was mechanical. Precise. His head turned to follow me, but his body remained perfectly still until I crossed some invisible threshold.
Then he shifted. A minute adjustment of his stance.
Interesting.
"You can still surrender," he said. His voice was wrong too. Hollow. Like it was coming from the bottom of a well.
I didn't bother responding.
Instead, I attacked.
Two quick jabs to his ribs. The spots where even in wolf form, the bone structure left small gaps. Vulnerable points I'd exploited a hundred times before.
My knuckles connected with his torso.
Pain exploded up my arm.
Fuck.
It was like punching a steel wall. The impact jarred my bones, sent shock waves through my wrist and elbow.
The guard didn't even flinch.
I danced back, shaking out my hand. My knuckles were already swelling.
The crowd's murmurs grew louder. Excited now. Bloodthirsty.
"She's done for."
"Give it up already!"
I blocked them out. Focused on what I'd learned.
His defense was insane. Whatever they'd done to him, his skin had been transformed into something almost impenetrable. But his movement...
I feinted left, then darted right.
He turned to follow, but there was a lag. A split second where his body couldn't quite keep up with the command his brain was sending.
There. That's the weakness.
I started moving faster. Circling. Testing his reaction time from different angles.
He tracked me, but that delay was consistent. Maybe half a second. Not much, but enough.
If I could stay mobile, if I could avoid letting him land a solid hit...
Maybe I had a chance.
The guard lunged.
I dropped and rolled, came up behind him. Drove my elbow toward the back of his knee.
The impact sent numbness shooting up my arm, but I saw him stumble. Just slightly. Just enough to confirm what I'd suspected.
His joints were still vulnerable. The transformation hadn't reinforced everything equally.
"Interesting technique," the researcher called out. He sounded genuinely curious now. "Most challengers try to overpower him directly."
I didn't answer. Didn't waste breath on words.
The guard was already recovering, turning with that mechanical precision.