Chapter 298 CLAIMING DOMINANCE
Percival
Promoting her to lead female warrior might not have been the best decision after all. She was my top fighter, having trained hard before I stepped in, but now I was left questioning my judgment. We didn’t have an expert on board yet, and Jazz’s ambition made me wary.
She tucked a loose, curly strand behind her ear, looking up at me with her big green eyes, her skin a lovely shade of creamed coffee. She was undeniably pretty, but just not my type.
“Hey, Percival... what if we tried something different with the ladies?” She edged closer, taking a deep breath as if to check out my scent.
It might sound wild, but the night before last, after showering and snuggling up in bed with Edeline, I had rubbed against her, soaking in her scent. Waking up without her made me skip a shower yesterday—or maybe even today. I just wanted to hold onto that connection a little longer. Jazz caught a whiff of Edeline’s scent, and her eyebrows shot up.
“Hey, is Edeline back?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
I looked down at her, noticing the way her expression shifted to something bummed out, even as she forced a smile.
“Luna is totally back! She’s right where she should be,” I replied, keeping my tone serious.
I could see her jaw tighten slightly, her fake smile barely hiding her disappointment. “Awesome!” she said, though the enthusiasm didn’t quite reach her eyes.
I sensed that Jazz craved power, and while I hadn’t confronted her about it, she could probably tell I was onto her. I had no idea when her crush on me had begun, but it might have started the night I first showed up. Her dad had been a tough warrior, but now it was just her and her mom. The thought crossed my mind that maybe she was struggling with some unresolved daddy issues.
Something tickled my nose, and a buzz of electric energy coursed through my skin, keeping me on my toes. I sidestepped Jazz and scanned the trees in the clearing, just taking it all in.
That’s when Edeline burst out of the bushes, her curves accentuated by the fabric that clung to her legs like a second skin. I was totally into that just yesterday.
I found myself checking her out when she suddenly stopped, glancing around as our eyes locked for a fleeting moment. For an instant, I thought I saw her blush before she looked down, hurrying over to the group of girls.
Jazz strolled past, her demeanor casual, but I could practically smell the jealousy radiating off her.
Sighing, I followed after Edeline. I didn’t want Jazz stirring things up with my friend. This was ridiculous; Jazz didn’t own me. Nixx had always been her best buddy, and Edeline felt like her little sister. There was no way she would make a big deal out of this—if she did, I’d get mad. People didn’t like me when I was mad.
I watched as Jazz wrapped Edeline in a hug, and Edeline flinched slightly—probably still sore. Jazz leaned back, flashing a grin and nudging her toward the other girls.
Taking a break, I leaned against the climbing wall, observing as the girls tilted their heads toward Edeline without a second thought, recognizing her as their Luna. Pride surged through me, puffing out my chest.
Edeline looked a bit uneasy, but her eyes lit up when they approached the fighting ring, eager to check out the ladies sparring inside.
She frowned slightly, glancing my way before Jazz leaned in and whispered something in her ear. I called out to the group, seeing who wanted to practice with Edeline.
Biting my lip, I rubbed my bare chest absently, watching as Edeline removed her hoodie, revealing a neon sports bra that definitely caught the guys' attention. A serious look settled on her gorgeous face as she stepped into the ring.
She entered alone, the other women instinctively holding back from her power. They just weren’t strong enough yet. Her gaze landed on the symbol on her arm, and the girls gasped in surprise while Jazz regarded it with disdain, clearly sizing Edeline up.
Edeline caught Jazz’s reaction, and being the clever girl she was, she walked up to her with furrowed brows, raising an eyebrow and asking what was wrong. She made it clear that she wouldn’t hesitate to throw down if Jazz didn’t chill out.
Jazz’s lip twitched, revealing a flash of teeth for just a moment. The intensity of her emotions was palpable; I couldn’t believe she was acting like this toward Edeline, whom she had always admired.
Out of nowhere, Edeline snapped, clearly fed up with Jazz’s vibe. Jazz whispered something I couldn’t catch, and the other girls backed away as Edeline’s gaze darkened, her wolf beginning to stir.
I perked up, feeling my fists tighten and my wolf itching to break free, but I held back. Edeline had this under control. If I stepped in, it would only undermine her strength. I couldn’t bring myself to hurt Jazz, no matter how much I wanted to.
Edeline shot me a look, her big green eyes narrowing into a glare before she focused back on Jazz.
“Are you seriously kidding me, Jazz!? You’re after my freaking mate!?” Edeline exclaimed, her voice fierce.
Jazz faced her head-on, refusing to back down. Her tattoo was significantly smaller than Edeline’s, and while I hadn’t seen her fight, if Maxim allowed her to finish that tattoo, there had to be a reason.
“You ditched your so-called friend, Edeline,” Jazz taunted, skipping over the Luna title. Her expression hardened, and I quickly realized that she needed to leave. This was turning into a hassle. “I’m calling you out for your title as Luna!” she shouted.
Edeline chuckled lightly, eyes sharp and unwavering. “You can’t just challenge a title like that, you little brat.”
Jazz shot her a challenging look. “Then I challenge you for your title as the top warrior,” she said, her words biting and sharp.
Edeline wandered around with an energy that was hard to miss. My mate had this wild look in her eyes, her movements smooth and confident as she cruised over the familiar ground. “Get ready to face the moon, pup,” she said, her voice low and serious, sending a thrill down my spine.
I raised an eyebrow, surprised. I was not entirely sure who this girl standing in front of me was. This… was an incredible sight. Here was a woman with a fierce spirit that demanded attention. My wolf swelled with pride, and I felt the same way. At that moment, I wanted her more than anything else.
Then, out of nowhere, Edeline let out a fierce roar. Her wolf's eyes sparkled with a mesmerizing mix of silver and gold as she charged at Jazz, who was getting ready to make her move. The other guys quickly rushed over, their curiosity piqued as they scrambled to see what was happening.
Warriors filled the field, surrounding the circle in a powerful wave. One hundred fifty wolves, all gathered, but I could no longer spot my buddy amidst the chaos.
I really hoped Edeline taught Jazz a lesson she would not forget anytime soon.
As I dashed forward, the wolves parted for me, instinctively making way. I found myself right at the front of the circle, my heart racing as I stared straight at the unfolding fight.
I could not believe what I was witnessing.
…
Percival
I was completely amazed as I watched Edeline hold Jazz by the scruff like a little puppy. With a swift motion, she tossed her down to the ground. Edeline moved with such grace, like water flowing effortlessly. Just when I thought Jazz was down for the count, she sprang up from the ground and lunged at Edeline.
Jazz swung back fiercely, landing a punch on Edeline's jaw that made her head snap to the side. But Edeline quickly turned back to face her, undeterred.
The sweet, beautiful face my partner usually wore was now replaced with pure, raw malice. I felt a mix of concern and a strange thrill as I wanted to step back and rush over to her all at once. It was an expression not easily taught, one that came naturally.
It was a look of control.
It was obvious that Jazz was not going to win this fight.
Jazz seemed to understand that as she took a small step back, just as Edeline’s fist came crashing down toward her face. The sound of bone cracking filled the air with each powerful strike.
Solid hits.
Jazz spat blood, determination in her eyes as she tried to go after Edeline again, but Edeline was having none of it.
Hit after hit, kick after kick, Jazz threw everything she had at Edeline, even landing a few glancing blows. But nothing fazed the fierce demon standing in front of me.
Edeline had Jazz pinned to the ground, mercilessly pounding her face until it was bruised and swollen. Just when she was about to deliver another blow, Jazz kicked out her legs, trying desperately to shake Edeline off.
When Edeline was a few years younger, she had completely owned this fight. I could not look away from the scene unfolding before me, completely mesmerized by the way Edeline's toned muscles flexed as she rode out Jazz's struggles. Then, with the speed of a striking snake, she grabbed Jazz's wrist and slid off, positioning her legs to trap Jazz beneath her feet.
Edeline pulled with all her might, and the sound of bones cracking echoed through the air. Jazz let out a loud cry of pain, her eyes wide as if they might pop out of her head.
With a graceful backflip, Edeline sprang up and landed in her fighting stance, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. She glanced at me for just a moment, and her smile vanished as she turned her attention back to her opponent. Jazz was gritting her teeth, panting through the pain, and she stood up to face Edeline, clutching her injured arm.
Edeline was just playing around. If she had truly wanted to eliminate Jazz, I was certain she could have done it by now. Or perhaps she was just not into the whole killing thing now that she was back here with us?
Dark Moon, there seemed to be no other option.
"You think this is funny?!" Jazz shot back, her voice strained. "You have not done anything even close to being badass yet, Edeline."
Edeline let out a low growl, and the next question she asked made my heart race for her.
"What do you want with my mate, Jazz? Just tell me, and I will make it quick for you." Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and she referred to me as her buddy once more.
I relished the sound of that.
A broken chuckle escaped Jazz’s lips. "You ditched him, Edeline! He is the Alpha now. Why would I not want him? Those marks? If one of you kicks the bucket, they vanish, right?" She smirked, but there was a tremor of fear beneath her bravado.
Edeline let out a fierce roar, her claws extending from her fingertips as she turned her body slightly and advanced on Jazz, who was preparing herself for the next round.
But Jazz was not clever enough to keep up or to notice the danger she was in.
In a flash, Edeline swiped out her hand in a backhanded move, forcing Jazz to lean back just in time to avoid the tips of her claws grazing her throat. But then Edeline dug her claws deep into Jazz's neck, pushing outward. The four sharp claws pierced Jazz’s flesh, and I felt a wave of dread wash over me.
It was a long and brutal way to go.
Jazz's eyes widened as she hit the ground, wheezing from the damage to her windpipe and artery. Blood spilled from the wounds as Edeline bent down closer, a playful grin on her face.
"I totally lied," she said, her tone laced with mischief.
She had completely lied about keeping it simple if Jazz shared what she wanted with me.
With a casual motion, Edeline tapped Jazz’s chest with one foot, sending her sprawling backward, her eyes wide in disbelief as she fell to the dirt. Then Edeline strolled over to me, her fists tightening as she prepared for whatever might come next.
Everyone just stared at the scene unfolding in front of them. This was the first challenge, huh? The first kill any of them had witnessed out here.
Awesome. Now they understood how it all went down.