Chapter 27: You Lost

"You lost!" my wolf yelled to Simone, growling in happiness. It had only taken me 20 seconds to tackle her.

"Get off of me," her wolf pleaded in irritation.

"Lila!" I heard Jorah's stern voice coming towards us.

I knew what that meant - I immediately shifted back to human form and got up to my feet. "Sorry, Jorah," I dusted myself off and looked for a shirt to throw back on. "We were just messing around," I pulled my jeans back on.

"Don't let it happen again," he hissed, helping his daughter back up.

I had a chuckle and ran to her house, my father standing on their porch, yet another disappointed look in his eyes. "Sorry, Alpha," he admonished. "It won't happen again. Those are the words you say, Lila."

I pursed my lips in irritation and said nothing as I passed by him into the house.

"You're fifteen. You should know better by now," he talked to my back.

"I don't call Alpha someone who isn't just that," I whispered to Dione, seated at the Emerson kitchen desk.

He lifted a shoulder, nodding in agreement. "Obviously. We all know James could eat all the three top leaders for breakfast," he commended our fifth in command. Dione and I were fascinated with wolf fighting - we used to attend sparring sessions and training as people enjoyed sports matches when we were kids.

"Quiet, you two," my dad reprimanded us once again, and we continued eating in silence. It didn't matter - the mischievous gleam in our eyes told each other exactly what we thought anyway.

...

As Darius and I enter a clearing inside the woods, we stop, turning to face each other. The tension is so tense in the air.

"Ready, my love?" he teases as he takes off his shirt and pants, throwing them next to a nearby tree trunk.

He raises a provocative eyebrow, waiting for me to take off mine.

I lift my head and slowly unzip my jeans, then throw them next to his clothes. Then I pull my shirt off and smirk. "Whenever you are, sweetie."

He laughs, utterly enjoying this, and shifts into his big black wolf.

I followed suit.

Now to ensure a fair fight, I first need to reject you as my alpha, so we can't share thoughts.

Sure, he agrees. It wouldn't last long anyway.

Our wolves circle around an imaginary circle as if marking our fighting territory.

Then she attacks his wolf, lunging onto him in medium force. I ain't giving away that easily.

But he doesn't even stagger.

He accepts us onto his front legs and throws us onto the ground somehow, then gently bites our neck fur, holding the she wolf trapped.

I growl in anger and use all my strength to set myself free. But I made it just in time.

We're opposite each other again, snarling.

I ain't making the first move again.

Now he's the one to attack.

And as he does, his head knocks the breath out of me, but I don't give up.

I jumped back to my feet and jumped around him with caution.

He really was telling the truth. He didn't go full that night.

That means nothing, my wolf protests. If he's stronger, we gotta be smarter.

I know. I know that in real life, smarts can out win strength. But in Wolfpack... strength is the only thing that counts.

He lunges once again and I jump over him to see him hit the tree instead.

I laugh. I know it's uncustomary to do alpha fights, but I gotta admit it's satisfying as hell.

He doesn't laugh, though.

He only looks at me and even though I can't share thoughts with him anymore, I can tell what he's thinking - you can run forever. All it takes is one time I catch you.'

The reality of it angers me. But it also makes me curious. Could I? Could I really be alpha?

I didn't even know I'd like that.

But I need to know.

Now more than ever.

I snarl with vicious canines as I attack him once again. This time, in full force.

He tries to dodge my teeth, but he isn't fast enough and I bite his shoulder a little, which takes him by surprise.

But instead of pushing me away like a normal fighter would do, he uses the fact I sunk my teeth to grab me into a deadlock, tackling me down to the ground, holding me beneath him.

I tried to wiggle out, even simulate biting him, but it was obvious he could bite my neck in that position.

Oh my God...

I was wrong.

Damn, my wolf gives in. He really is stronger.

He is... I realize. He's our Alpha.

And at that moment, I heard his thoughts again.

Hello, again, mate. I've missed having you under me, he says.

I guess I'm back in his pack.

He stared at me in surprise. I take it he didn't expect I'd accept him as my Alpha.

I didn't, he admits. And I was wrong about you. You're a damn good fighter.

I know. Everyone's been saying it ever since I shifted.

But you won. Fair and square. My wolf bows her head professionally. Something we've only done once before - also to him.

Then I shift back into human form, still underneath him.

He follows my lead, and finds himself naked on top of me, watching me with irresistible passion.

"I was wrong," I admitted. "I'm the alpha in most relationships, but not in this one. Not between the two of us."

He narrows his eyes in suspicion. "Does it bother you?"

My heartbeat accelerates and my nipples harden at once. I feel wet between my legs and I don't even try to fight it.

There's no point - he is my mate. And my Alpha. And I've never been more turned on in my life - this is the first time someone beat me in a wolf fight. I feel... conquered for the first time. And I fucking love the feeling.

"No," I say, "surprisingly, it doesn't..."

It would bother me to accept an alpha inferior to me, but when you meet someone stronger than you, it's only fair to accept that. It'd be childish not to. Dione and I always talked about it. But we had never met someone who we'd follow.

Up until now.

His eyes shut half-way as his eyes watched me in desire. But he doesn't make the first move. He just lay there over me, holding me in between his arms, breathing ruggedly, eyes dark from excitement consuming him.

I feel like I've been a Luna my whole life, looking for her alpha, but no one ever ticked all the boxes. Until now. I've found him.

Flawed, nonetheless, but I really shouldn't judge given my past and recent deeds.

I ran my hand down his back, grabbing his hip muscle, breathing ruggedly.

He keeps his eyes shut, jaw clenched, as if fighting this. Why doesn't he want to give in?

"What's wrong?" I whispered, my other hand running down to his erection.

He exhales a strained breath.

"I need to know, Lila," he pants, staring into my eyes. "Are you here to stay?"

I see. He still thinks this is only a temporary stop for me.

The way I see it is, I have two options - start a fight about him not having faith in me or... prove to him that I'm worthy of his trust. Just like he was willing to prove to me that he was worthy of being my alpha.

He wasn't insulted by me calling him out. He went out of his way to prove it.

So I'll give him the same courtesy.

I put my hand over his sharp jaw and narrowed my almond eyes. "Your Luna's finally here, Alpha," I shut my eyes, leaning onto him, allowing myself to inhale his scent fully. "And she's here to stay."

He lifts me on top of him, then kisses me like there's no tomorrow.

"I knew she would be."