Chapter 91

Chapter 91
I heard Malcolm's lips moving, his voice too low and distant to hear him, but whatever he said had triggered something in Toby, and he let out a feral roar, charging towards him with fury.

The side of his palm cracked down on Malcolm’s head in a terrifying hit that caused him to stumble, a cry leaving his mouth, and he held his head in his hands. But Toby wasn’t done because he dove his fist into Malcolm’s throat, delivering blow after blow.

He grabbed him by his hair, landing a kick that brought him to his knees and another one that made him crumple to the floor.

With a final powerful kick, Toby sent Malcolm flying across the field to where I was, a trail of blood following him as his body skidded across the ground, and we all held our breaths, waiting.

When there was no sign of movement from him, the announcer stepped forward, raising Toby’s hand high. “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner!”

A roar of approval erupted through the air, and a relieved smile broke across my face as the tension drained from my body.

He won; Toby won.

I dug my heels into Malcolm’s wounded side, moving it around, my smile getting bigger as his groans increased. “Listen well and help me deliver this to your father. I have a mate that I love so much, and I am never going to leave him. If your father is not ready to accept me, then he can kiss the alliance goodbye. I will be coming in some week to review this alliance and make sure to tell him to receive us well.”

And just for effect, I raised my heels and brought it down sharply, his sounds of agony, a pleasant music to my ears. “Cash, Theo,” I called out to the warriors closest to me. “Take him to the infirmary and get his wounds treated, and when he is through, make sure to dispose of him outside the gates!”

“Yes, alpha!” The men replied, a little too eager to do the bidding of their alpha. I watched as they carried him rather roughly, not caring about the injuries he had sustained, and I watched until they were out of sight before I went to meet Toby.

He had helped himself up, and even though he was currently covered in blood, his upper lip swollen like a bee had stung him. Yet, I have never seen anyone that would capture my heart like he had done. 

I wrapped my hands around his neck, pulling him closer for a hug. “You won.” I whispered in his ears, not caring for the crowd that was watching our display. 

“I know. I told you I would win.” Toby smiled despite the blood that was pouring out from the side of his eyes where Malcolm had been determined to pluck his eyes out, and rage filled me yet again; my body itched to go back there and demand a fight. “That means you are mine now.” Toby continued in a soft voice, his finger reaching for mine and interlacing with his, and I let out a small smile, my body completely relaxing from the small gesture.

“I have always been yours, Toby,” I told him as I released his neck, and I made sure to look him in the eyes. “I don’t need you to fight to prove that because you will always be number one for me, and I don’t care what others think.”

“Maddie.” He sighed as he pulled me in for a kiss, his free hands wrapping around my waist and pulling me in. Pleasure trumped my body, and I held his neck tighter, moving my lips against his and tasting the blood and all.

But someone cleared their throat rather loudly, and we reluctantly left each other, although his hand refused to leave my waist. Toby’s eyes still gleamed with pleasure, and I knew we were barely just starting, and suddenly the night seemed to be too long.

“Before we all go, I need to address something.” I began, even though I could notice Toby shaking his head in a bid to dissuade me. “It has come to my notice that there have been rumors about my choice of mate, but I decided to play deaf ears, thinking you all would be reasonable and move on to other things. Yet I keep hearing all manner of absurd things flying around.” I could see some people from the corner of my eyes, lifting from foot to foot, their eyes cast down. “I would let you know the moon goddess had chosen us to be together, and she doesn’t make mistakes. Toby is more than capable of leading this pack with me, and I hope you have all seen it yourself, so I would advise you all to keep your opinion to yourself. I will not hesitate to cut such a tongue out of anyone that I hear spreading such rumors.”

“Yes, alpha.”

“Good. I will expect us all to gather here tomorrow to properly welcome him.” As if Toby could sense that I was through, he held my hand and tugged me gently towards the direction of our room.

Toby sat down on the bed, and I padded to the bathroom, where I had a small box of first aid that I kept around. I stood between his open legs and brought out the cotton wool, gently cleaning them.

“I never imagined you could do this.” Toby said with gritted teeth, trying to distract himself from the pain.

“When you have spent most of your teenage years getting injured, you become used to this.” I simply told him and continued cleaning up his wound.

“Hmm.” He swallowed whatever answer he was going to give me, and he watched as I helped him up, making sure all of the wounds were looking less horrid and well wrapped.

I returned the box to the bathroom, and we took a shower together, where I helped him wash his back.

“So, it is tomorrow?” Toby asked me as we lay down on the bed to sleep.