Alpha Jaxon POV
Callum looked unrepentant as he swung back at me and I dodged. Our anger was visible on both our faces now. I could see the shocked look on the crowd as we began to fight, our bodies a flurry of punches and kicks as we began to fight against each other with both of us determined to injure the other one. I split Callum's lip with a well-placed punch to the side of his face and I felt my knee almost buckle beneath me when he attempted to kick it out from beneath me.
My anger grew. Callum's disrespect had gone beyond the bounds of a Beta who should know his place. I shifted, my bones cracking and breaking to form the transformation of my large black wolf that snarled at Callum who was unfazed, doing the same, although his wolf was a plain silver in comparison to mine and although large, was still smaller than my impressive Alpha wolf.
I snorted, my fur standing on end. The idiot. There was taking it too far and then there was Callum who had leaped past the barrier and continued on recklessly. I sideswiped him and felt my paw connect with his midsection, my claws drawing blood as he neatly darted sideways and turned to stare at me challengingly.
How far was he willing to take this? How far did his anger extend? We had fought before but this was different. This was a whole new side to Callum I had not seen before. He was beyond pissed at me. As though I had done something to personally offend him. I didn't understand what he hoped to gain from this, other than a few broken bones and a brutal hit to his pride. He had no hopes of winning this fight. At the very least he would do some damage, minor to me. He tackled me and I bucked him off, sending him sprawling to the floor, my lips curled back in a sickening grin.
He circled me warily. The other warriors watched silently. Nobody had the nerve to try and break us up. They weren't that foolish. None of them wanted to lose an arm or a limb in the attempt. Callum rushed me and I kicked out with my leg, sending him rolling backward. This was stupid. This was a monumental waste of time and energy. Why didn't he just give up and admit that he'd lost? Was it pride? It was expected that you would lose to your Alpha. I cocked my head and watched him rush me again, neatly swerving and whacking him with a large paw that made him stumble. This was getting old now.
"What the fuck" I heard the shout and turned my head, my eyes seeking Cody who stood there looking outraged as he glowered at the both of us as we fought each other. "What the fuck do you two think you are doing?" he shouted, shaking his head "shift back to human form right fucking now" he exploded "Jesus christ you two are meant to be friends" he roared.
I glared at Callum's wolf daring him to shift first. He snapped his jaws at me and then bowed his head, shifting back to human form and standing there uncomfortably, large gashes on his midsection which were slowly beginning to heal thanks to his wolf. Cody glared at him. "What?" he snapped "Jaxon started it" he protested.
I snarled at him. He folded his arms and looked away, clenching his jaw. Cody looked like he was ready to put both our heads together and whack them. His eyes were narrowed. I reluctantly shifted, glowering at my Beta who had sorely tested my patience.
"Explain what the hell the two of you were fighting about" Cody shouted, while the warriors and those watching began to subtly move away. "You're best friends for heaven's sake" he added exasperatedly.
"I'm not the one who initiated this" I growled while Callum continued to stare at me in defiance.
"Callum?" Cody said, running a hand through his hair and disheveling it further "what the fuck man?"
His lip curled back in disgust "I'm not the one treating my mate like shit and keeping her in some damn dungeon like she's a fucking dog" he shouted, gesturing wildly as Cody took a step back in shock "he finally finds his fated mate and look what he's doing! What we're all letting him do" he thundered angrily "that girl deserves better. The friend I knew wouldn't be such a fucking coward and would have the guts to reject her than keep her here on a darn leash!" he exploded.
Cody sighed and turned to me as I clenched my hands into fists, ready to tear into Callum again. "What you're doing is disrespectful against the Alpha Callum" he said quietly as Callum gritted his teeth and bowed his head "and I understand where you're coming from. I don't agree with Jaxon's decision either" he said turning to me as I glanced at him in surprise "but he is still my Alpha and I have to respect that however much I don't want to."
"You've never said a word" I objected "not one word until now Cody. Why are you suddenly against it?"
He sighed. "That girl's been abused her whole life and we're only adding to it. It would be far kinder to reject her and let her find somebody who loves her."
"She could kill us" I argued back "do you not understand the danger she puts us all in?"
Cody looked at me with sympathy "you fear her because you don't know her. Maybe if you bothered to learn more about her and what she's like, you wouldn't see fit to treat her the way you are."
"So you're just like Callum" I sneered, my eyes glancing between the both of them "acting like I'm being some kind of monster instead of trying to think of the pack and the jeopardy we could be putting it in."
"No one is saying that" Cody yelled as I began to stride away from them "but so help me god" he warned as I swung back to look at him in disbelief "has it ever occurred to you that either I or Callum could take her as a chosen mate if we so chose?"
Silence. The sentence hung in the air. I swallowed hard. What Cody had just said was the ultimate betrayal and yet, by the looks on both their faces, neither one of them was joking about it.
"You wouldn't dare" I hissed.
Callum's eyes were unblinking "Try me" he said folding his arms "if you take a chosen mate and try to keep Riley as well, I will take her for myself" he said as I growled at him and my nails dug so hard into my flesh that blood began to drip down my hands "or Cody will. You're being too greedy Jaxon. You're not thinking straight. I'm not going to let the girl in the dungeon remain down there forever to suit your selfish purposes."
I looked at Cody who was nodding in agreement. "You would both betray me" I said in disbelief "for the sake of a girl. A girl I might remind you that is a dangerous siren?"
"A girl who is kind and loving" Callum interjected "and who has done nothing to deserve the fate you intend to give her."
"I'll kill you before I let you do that" I said breathing hard.
"You won't have a choice. She can still reject you."
"I won't accept her rejection" I snapped.
"It won't matter if she decides to take a chosen mate," Cody said quietly "Rethink what you're doing Jaxon. We're your friends but this is something neither of us agrees with. You are abusing your power and abusing the mate bond."
"You would be giving up the chance to find your own fated mate" I blurted out in desperation.
"That's a decision both of us are willing to make."
"Bastards" I roared "the both of you are going to regret this" I added, glaring at them hatefully.
"We've told you our decision Jaxon" Callum said looking me straight in the eyes "Now it's time for you to make yours. If you take a chosen mate at the party, be prepared for Callum or me, to take Riley as our chosen mate. You don't get to have two, it doesn't work that way."
I said nothing, my anger so high by then I could feel the blood rushing through my ears. I couldn't speak. I couldn't move for a minute. All I could do was stare at my two best friends who were betraying me for the sake of that thing, that siren. I was repulsed. I shook my head and then began to storm towards the pack house. They might think they could convince me to change my mind, but I wasn't averse to using my Alpha tone on them if it came down to it. It was harder to persuade the Beta and Gamma but not impossible.