Chapter Fifteen

James was right where Leo expected him to be, sprawled in his customary seat at Horatio's, surrounded by sycophants. Leo strode into the bar, Raj and Emmett at his heels, just like he'd done a thousand times before, and his ease with what he was about to do was almost unsettling. He'd come to terms with it, with the risks inherent in his actions. He wished he'd been able to tell his mother he loved her once more before coming here. Just in case. In case he lost and was thrown from the pack, and she spent the rest of her days being punished—ignored, socially isolated, looked down upon—for bringing him into the world. In case he lost, and he never got the chance to again.

He couldn't think like that, he told himself, the same lesson he taught in pack training sessions. Go into a fight with the wrong outlook and you're already setting yourself up for failure.

He steadied himself, accepted the pats on the back from his friends, and moved to stand before James' chair. The table separated them, but he could feel the arrogance radiating from James like the light of a small sun. Usually, when Leo was forced to interact with James formally in a public setting—receiving instructions from the Alpha or making a report when his orders were carried out—he did his best to maintain an air of at least respect, since he could hardly manage deference. Tonight, would be the first time he'd ever allowed himself to let that mask of public courtesy slip, to show his true contempt for the man and the way he led the pack.

"Leo," James greeted him with some gusto, presumably thinking he was here in his usual capacity. "Did you have something you needed to tell me?"

"Yes," Leo said, bracing himself. "And it's long overdue. For too long, you've led this pack like the world belongs to you, with no repercussions for your actions. For too long, I've allowed myself to be part of the brutality you've used to keep our people in line. But that ends here."

"If you're got something to say, Beta Tyler, get on with it," James ordered, his eyes flashing silver. His face was hard. Did he know what was finally coming?

Leo took a deep breath. "I, Leo Tyler, Beta of the Blue Crescent pack, hereby challenge you for the position of Alpha."

The room, despite its many occupants, was so silent you could have heard a pin drop.

James laughed. "You know, Tyler, I've thought you had ideas above your station since you took over from your father. But I'll bet the old man is rolling over in his grave to hear you disrespect your Alpha like this. I'll give you one chance, son, to retract that challenge, and I'll even let you stay in the pack—stripped of your position, of course, but surely it's better than being a packless Omega with the stain of 'oath breaker' against your name."

Murmurs echoed through the room as James rose from his seat to stand at his full height. Leo so rarely saw him out of that chair that it was easy to forget the Alpha could stand almost eye-to-eye with him. James was no longer the muscle-bound young man he had been, but there was bulk to him that showed that giving up the pack's training sessions and spending his days drinking at Horatio's might not had disadvantaged him as much as Leo had been thinking.

"Well, son?" James asked. "What'll it be?"

Leo tried, and failed, not to picture Della's face as she walked out on him that night. The man I gave myself to would find a way to change things, so he didn't have to hurt people on someone else's whim.

This is me being that man, Leo told the vision of her face. This is me making a difference, being better. For you. For us. For them.

"Choose your Second," Leo said simply. "I will not back down to you again."

The door to the room slammed open, and suddenly every person in the room was on their feet as a man Leo vaguely recognized stormed through the door, blood on his face from a cut on his forehead dripping down to soak into his massive beard. Behind him were no fewer than five werewolves, all looking similarly battered, and—

Holy shit.

Della.

Della and another witch he didn't recognize, who stood among the wolves as though they belonged to their pack. Della, here in front of him, looking somehow tired and yet energized at the same time, her hair breaking free of its tight braid to frame her face with dark tendrils. Her hands were clenched into fists, like she was steeling herself for this encounter. Or preparing to have to use magic to get out of it.

Instantly, James' demeanor shifted, from angry and threatening to a kind of nauseating lazy welcome.

"Is this a bad time?" Beard Man asked.

"Never," James drawled. "You know you're always welcome, Alpha Simon."

"I felt significantly less welcome when you sent your wolves to invade my territory tonight," the man replied, keeping his tone impressively calm. "For the record, Alpha James, under the diplomatic treaties that govern Mystic City, if you or your wolves harm me or mine on this visit, the might of all the city's forces of justice will be arrayed against you. And considering what my pack did to yours with the assistance of just half a dozen witches, I don't imagine you particularly want the might of the combined covens arrayed against you." He folded his arms over his chest. "I'm sure your emissary will be back to give you a full report of their defeat, just as soon as he can limp home."

For the first time, James looked slightly uncomfortable. "Politics isn't personal, Simon."

"It felt pretty fucking personal tonight," Simon shot back. "I came here to give you one chance to explain before I take this before the City Council."

"This is wolf business," James snapped. "Those government assholes have no place in our affairs."

"They do when you threaten my people," Simon said coldly. "One chance, James. Give me a good reason not to take this further."

Leo had never seen James look so scattered. Not that he was really looking at his Alpha; not when Della was standing so close, he could smell her sex-and-spices scent. He was barely capable of noticing that there were even other people in the room.

She had fought with Apex River? Every part of him rebelled at the idea of Della in any kind of combat situation, any kind of dangerous situation. Fighting wolves who were out for blood, the wolves of his pack. But clearly, his woman had held her own, if a smaller pack like Apex River, with the assistance of only six witches, had been able to take down the bulk of the Blue Crescent fighting force.

James had started speaking while Leo was fixated on Della. "—be glad to have this conversation, but first I'm afraid there's something of an insurrection around here that needs to be put down. My Beta here was just explaining that he thinks he's better suited for the top job."

Leo felt Della's gaze snap to him like she'd run her fingers up his spine. He tried to drag his attention back to the situation at hand, but it fought to remain focused on her. He clenched his jaw and fixed his gaze on James and Alpha Simon's conversation. The other Alpha was looking at him.

"Leo Tyler, if I've heard right," Simon said with a nod of acknowledgement. Leo returned the gesture but said nothing. He could feel Emmett and Raj as tense as stone statues at his back.

"So, you'll forgive me if I take care of this before engaging in your conversation," James added to the Apex River Alpha before Leo could reply, rising from his chair once more. The change in position revealed a man perhaps slightly beyond his prime, but his body had far from sunk into the shameful state Leo had expected. Apparently, even sitting in a chair for the vast majority of every day wasn't enough to make an Alpha lose all his muscle; not that Leo had any similarly sedentary wolves to whom to compare him. James was still a threatening sight as he rose to his full height. Leo had been a fool to discount him as an opponent, not to mention whoever he chose as his—

"Seconds," James announced loudly, clearly enjoying the degree of attention focused on him and his role as master of the show. The sycophants surrounding him seemed to swell in their places, jostling for attention. Whoever James picked as his Second, after all, had a fair shot at being named Beta if Leo was evicted from the pack. Even the risk of getting beaten up by someone like Leo was a small price to pay for such a chance—especially since it was something many of them were already familiar with from pack training.

"But first, to run the show…" James continued. "Simon, would you be so kind as to adjudicate? We'll pair you with one of our wolves as well, of course. How about… Emmett O'Neill?"

Leo tried to keep his surprise off his face. So, James must have thought he was going to pick Em as his Second and was taking him out of the running. Well, he couldn't allocate Raj to adjudication as well, and more fool James, since the three of them had already decided that the bigger wolf would be a better choice for Second anyway.

Emmett broke away from the miniature pack the three of them had formed before James' chair with a clap on Leo's shoulder and went to stand beside the Apex River faction. Leo caught a brief glance of his friend's face, looking as though he was picking up a strange, unfamiliar smell, and tamped down on his immediate anger response that he might be catching Della's intoxicating scent.

"I hereby name as my Second," James continued, interrupting Leo's thoughts. He followed the traditional script unheard of for decades now—though if Leo remembered correctly, didn't the challenger usually name their Second first? And then James took a deep breath and switched his cocky smile from Leo to the wolf behind him and said, "Rajesh Lewis," and Leo felt his eyes go wide.

He swung around in time to see Raj's face completely lose its color, and then returned the see James' deeply self-satisfied grin that he made no effort to hide, even from the disgruntled followers still surrounding him. Oh, the Alpha was good. He'd seen right through Leo's strategy and shot it straight in the heart. In addition, he'd put one of the pack's fiercest fighters—and one against whom Leo had lost as many times as he'd beaten him—in his own corner.

Plus, he'd all but isolated Leo on his own. Who the hell was he going to name as his Second now?

"Leo," Raj said from behind him, sounding desperate.

"I know," Leo said, clapping a hand on his massive friend's shoulder. "Good fighting, buddy. You'll need it." He forced a smile on to his face. "Don't cry too hard afterwards."

Raj managed something of a rictus grin of his own before slowly stumbling over to join James' side of the room.

"And your Second, Tyler," James asked pointedly, clearly reveling in the way he'd upset Leo's plans.

Scanning the room and still completely undecided which of these wolves he judged good enough in a fight to hold up against Raj, Leo started, "I hereby name as my Second—"

"Me."

The voice that came from behind his was not loud, but it carried through the entire room. Even without looking, Leo would have known it in his sleep, in a coma, from beyond the goddamn grave. And even if he hadn't, the hush that ensured would have told him what had just happened. Told him that Della had moved into position to support him, his challenge, and declared herself his Second in a fistfight against James and Raj.

Ignoring the myriad watchers, Leo turned to look at her. She was dirty, sweaty, worn from the fighting alongside the Apex River wolves. She was beautiful, beyond anything he'd ever seen before. More precious than the most valuable treasure. There was no way he could put her in danger like this.

Della had moved forwards to stand behind him, quietly supporting him. Well, as quietly as she could in a room full of people now staring at them.

"Leo," she said, and every one of his muscles tightened. How long had he been waiting for her to say his name? It felt like forever. Forever since he'd heard her voice, heard the way she said his name. Forever since he'd held her in his arms. Since he'd felt her breath against his skin. Every instinct he had was telling him to grab her, hold her close, use his body as a shield to protect her from the coming conflict. How could he force himself to allow her to put herself in danger on his behalf?

"Della," he breathed into the silence between them. "You're here."

"I'm here," Della said. Her eyes were wide as she took him in. "Let me help, Leo. I'm powerful. I've just proven I can take on a ton of your wolves and win."

"You've just fought in a territorial war," Leo protested. "Della, you must be drained. I can't ask you to put yourself in danger for me—put yourself in front of Raj for me."

"You're not asking," Della said evenly. "I'm telling you, Leo. I can do this—better than Emmett could have, better than anyone else. I still have more than enough magic in me to take down a wolf or two. Don't make me prove it on you."

Leo reached for her hand, and to his surprise, she wrapped her fingers around his and held tight.

"What kind of man would I be," he asked quietly, "if I let you put yourself in danger over me?"

"The same kind who knows you never would have made this challenge and put yourself in danger if it wasn't for me," Della said. "The kind of man who won't force me to endure that from the sidelines. One who will let me help you make a change, here, today, now."

Awe ribboned through Leo in bright streaks. How had he ever lived without this woman? Every inch of his life before her seemed so dark and meaningless compared to the sensation of having her back in front of him. This was Della, putting herself on the line to change the world for the better. Putting herself on the line for him.

"Tell me something first," Leo demanded. "Is it just because you don't want to feel guilty over me getting hurt? Or is this because if I can do this differently, if I can make changes in the pack so no one's getting hurt unnecessarily—maybe, someday, you could see a way to forgive me for living with it for so long. To give me a chance to make this right. To be with me again."

Della's eyelids dipped to cover those beautiful eyes and he wanted to shout at the loss of her gaze. "Leo," she breathed, and then met his eyes again. Was he imagining it, or were hers wet? Was she tearing up because she was about to tell him there was no chance for them, no matter how he tried to fix all the damage James—with Leo's help—had done to this pack?

"It's because I can't watch you put yourself in danger and do nothing," she said, her voice as soft as if they were completely alone, back in that sunlit afternoon by the waterfall. "It's because I am done being too scared to embrace my power and make the world better. It's because I protect what's mine. So let me protect you, Leo."

There was no fraction of a second for processing. The moment she said the words, Leo's wolf was howling, roaring, wanting to rip open his chest and hold his beating heart out to her in his hands in offering. She already owned it, after all. Owned every part of him.

That's why she was doing this. Because she knew he belonged to her—and wanted to fight to protect him. Because Della Greenbranch was done being scared, and Leo had never loved her as much as he did in that moment, as she stood before him with bright eyes and power flickering over her skin.

He straightened his shoulders and turned back to face the impatiently waiting Alphas. Well, James looked impatient. Simon just appeared vaguely amused. Where Leo's own Alpha was clearly spoiling for the fight to begin—and the upset he'd forced upon Leo's plans to come to fruition—the Apex River Alpha just seemed content to watch this unexpected turn of events play out.

"If you're finished with this truly heart-warming reunion," James drawled, "Perhaps we could get on with it? Some of us have things to do, and," he added, drawing closer to Leo, "I've been waiting a long time to pummel you into the ground, Tyler. I'm going to enjoy every minute of bringing you to heel and casting you out of the pack in front of your little witch bitch girlfriend."

All Leo said in reply was, "Bring it on, old man." His head filled with memories with James telling him to get Della "out of his system," whatever it took, and the rage simmering beneath his skin began to boil.

"I hereby name as my Second," Leo said, looking directly into James' eyes, "Delphinia Greenbranch. And when she wipes the floor with you, maybe it'll finally teach you some fucking manners."

James snarled, moving as though to lunge at Leo, his fingernails already extending into claws, when the nervous-looking proprietor of Horatio's stepped between them.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen!" he said, the joviality in his voice clearly forced. "Perhaps we could take this outside? There's a lot of furniture in here that might get in the way… and my paintings… and the crockery…"

James visibly reined himself in with a nod, his fangs retracting slightly on a growl. Knowing he was only taunting the beast, Leo turned his back on James to exchange nods with Emmett and take Della's hand, leading her out of the restaurant into the street beyond.

"This will get messy," he told her quietly. "They'll call in the Seconds only if the primary fighters are beyond continuing. The fighting is done half-shifted, teeth and claws only, but it could get bad, Della. I need you to be safe, no matter what. Raj is, like, three times your size. Don't let him get his hands on you."

"Don't worry about me," Della said softly, as the rest of the inhabitants of Horatio's spilled out into the empty street, James at the back like the most anticipated float in a parade. Raj walked beside and behind him, looking pale and sickly. Leo had no doubt that his friend would fight to the best of his considerable ability, though; called upon by the Alpha, he really had no choice. If Leo wasn't on his A-game, Raj alone could grind him into dust.

"Very well, combatants," Alpha Simon said, stepping forward into the circle of onlookers and easily slipping into the role of adjudicator. "This contest is to decide the outcome of the challenge issued by Beta Leo Tyler against Alpha James Norfolk of the Blue Crescent Werewolf Pack, with Seconds Delphinia Greenbranch and Rajesh Lewis. The fight will involve natural weapons only. No full shifting. The Seconds will be called in only if their fighter is unable to continue or at risk of death. We are not aiming for casualties today, people," he added with a stern look at James, who only grinned, showing his elongated fangs. Simon continued, "We'll call it when the Firsts are down, or they can tap out, and the same for the Seconds. Any outside interference," he glanced at James' small group of rowdy followers, "will not be tolerated. Are we clear?"

"Clear," Leo muttered.

"Clear," James said loudly, stripping off his shirt.

Simon stepped back so he was standing next to Della as Leo and James moved into the empty space in the group's centre. "Good fighting," the Apex River Alpha intoned. "You may begin."

James lunged for Leo's throat.