Chapter 30 CHAPTER THIRTY
CAIUS
"Have you seen the havoc you and Maeva are causing across the world?" Clayton asks.
"Don't exaggerate. You know I don't like it."
He laughs and slows the car down. "I wish it was an exaggeration. I've been getting calls since morning. People who don't even live in America want to talk to you. Leopard shifters want to talk to you."
I sit up and turn to look at him. "It can't be that serious, can it?"
"That's what your mate don't understand. The minute you both found out you were mates, it stopped being about the both of you. This is bigger than you and it's going to crash hard on her when she realizes that she doesn't have a choice in this."
I nod and lean back on the headrest. I wonder how she's doing. It couldn't have been easy to wake up this morning to the news of the councils decree. I want to go see her but she's probably in a fighting mood and I have more pressing issues that demand my attention.
"When we return to the pack, you'll probably have neighbours who want an audience with you."
"They know I don't want them in my pack, why would they think I'd want them in my pack to discuss my mate."
"I don't think you'll have much of a choice. Refusing to meet with those Alpha's could breed more trouble than we want to handle right now, considering what's going on with the rogues."
"Speaking of the rogues." I say, changing the subject. "They've been quiet and I'm getting uncomfortable with their silence."
"They're no longer nesting in the forest near Alpha Maeva's pack. At this point, we can't do anything but wait for them to strike."
"No one else has seen or heard anything? Other shifters, witches, nobody?"
"Victor, Alpha Dave's Beta, said the vampires near their pack saw something."
"Why wasn't it reported to the Council?" I ask, interrupting him.
He grits his teeth before responding. "They went to check it out and it was a practical joke the vampires were playing."
Clayton keeps his finger on everything going on around us. He has a network of Beta's that he communicates with. He's the reason why we communicate with other packs. Left to me, we would be a segregated pack. It's one more thing I have in common with Maeva. My mind wanders and it's filled with thought of Maeva.
Thirty minutes later, Clayton parks the car in my second pack. They don't know I'm coming today. I never tell them I'm coming. I just show up to make sure everything is in order and then I go. With the way things are going, it's dangerous to leave a pack without a Beta for so long so I am here to fix it.
The moment I step onto pack grounds, they feel it. Slowly they start filling into the square and forming a circle around Clayton and me. Some greet me while others watch in anticipation. I don't say anything to them and just wait as others join the wide circle.
I know most people would have gone about their day but I take note of the people I'm looking for. The wolves who declared interest in being Beta the last time I came. The she-wolf is the first to arrive and after she does, the others start arriving one after the other. Once they're complete, Clayton calls for silence.
"I won’t waste time," I say, my voice carrying easily across the grounds. "The challenge is today but it won't be a fight to the death. Too much is happening for us to lose strong wolves. This challenge will be a fight untill one person gives up. And then they fight the next person untill they're the only one left standing."
That earns a few glances between them.
“This is not a challenge to determine strength alone. It's a challenge to see how your mind works. If you try to win this challenge by using tricks, I will kill you myself."
I turn around the circle, letting my power be felt. "Step forward if you still want to fight."
Three males and one she-wolf step out into the centre of the circle.
"Good. The challenge will be in two rounds. You'll pair yourselves and the two wolves who win from that round will fight untill one person comes out victorious."
They all nod in agreement.
"Choose your opponents."
One of the wolves grabs the she-wolf's hand and pulls her towards him causing the other two to move to each other. I step back.
"Begin."
The she-wolf tries to move and her opposition holds her in place. He's obviously stronger than her. This fight will not be an easy one.
The two wolves step forward and slam into each other with enough force to shake the ground beneath them. Claws flash, teeth snap, and growls roar like thunder. No hesitation. No restraint.
They fight with everything in them. Blow after blow, strike after strike. One werewolf gains ground, then loses it. It drags on, minutes stretching into an hour. They're strong wolves who obviously do not want to give in. I study how they fight. Either of these wolves could be Beta. There's honour and dignity in the way they fight.
The broader one falters for a second and the other one brings him down, pinning him. The broader wolf snarls and struggles untill he sharply exhales and taps the ground. The winner steps back immediately and turns to me. I nod once and he steps back into the crowd.
"Next." Clayton says.
The she-wolf doesn’t wait. She moves first. She closes the distance before the male can fully brace himself, striking low. He recovers quickly. and hits back harder. Each hit from him carries weight and each strike from her carries intent. They’re evenly matched.
The fight stretches longer than the first. At the point where I think it's over for her, she recovers, Feigns high, drops low and sweeps him down. He hits the ground hard and she’s on him instantly, pinning him to the ground and holding him there. He barely struggles before he taps out.
The crowd cheers and she releases him. She doesn't step back, she's breathing hard and heavy. She calls the other wolf forward and I fold my arms and watch. If she thinks she can fight the other wolf in her current state and win, then she's crazy.
"Alpha, I won't fight her like this." The wolf says.
The she-wolf's hackles rise and she dives for him. Clayton pulls her back.
"Fight me." She screams.
She's definitely crazy. It's mostly pride. Pride that could get her killed.
"Why won't you fight her?" I ask.
"I've had a chance to rest. She hasn't. I won't have it be said that I only won because she was exhausted."
I nod once and turn to Clayton. He nods in agreement and I turn to the she-wolf.
"What do you say?"
She clenches her jaw and looks away. She's tired but she won't admit it.
"I'll see you all tomorrow." I say and start walking toward the car.