Chapter 165: CHAPTER 165

The guard laughed so hard he had to hold his stomach.

"You hear that?" he called over his shoulder to another guard leaning against the gate post. "Another lost daughter is here to reclaim her Pack."

The other guard squinted at me, then at Hunter behind me, then at the cars filled with warriors.

"You sure you want to be laughing at this one?" the second guard muttered, suddenly less amused.

But the first one couldn't stop himself. "Girl, do you know how many people have shown up here claiming to be Cane's daughter? Micheal throws them out every single time. You're just the prettiest one so far."

"Then go get Micheal," I said flatly. "Let him throw me out himself."

Something in my tone cut through his laughter. He looked at me again, properly this time, and whatever he saw made him take a step back.

"Wait here," he said, all humour gone, and disappeared into the compound.

"You okay?" Hunter asked through the bond.

"I'm fine."

"Your heart rate says otherwise.”

“I have to be fine Hunter, otherwise I'll focus on the guilt I feel for not listening to you that first time you came behind the trees. I could have done something to help the people that my parents died because of. My people. And…” I took a deep breath as he squeezed my hand, “I'm fine.”

“That you are,” he said with a smile. “Quite dashing and beautiful if you ask me.”

His attempt at humour relaxed me a little bit so I could focus.

Gradually, the Pack compound started filling up. Wolves emerged from different buildings, drawn by the commotion at the gate. Everyone of them thin, tired and their eyes hollow. The state of them made my stomach turn. These weren't warriors, they were survivors. Barely.

The guilt came again but I shoved it out of my head.

For now.

Then Micheal Junior walked out.

His parents flanked him, Michael senior on the left, his mother on the right, and behind them more Pack members who looked very different from their fleshy, fed selves.

I recognized him immediately.

Same face from Alpha Zenith's Pack, same cocky stride, same eyes that looked at women like they existed for his entertainment. He'd filled out since then but the arrogance hadn't changed. If anything, playing Alpha had made it worse.

He recognized me too.

I had been so scared he'd go and rattle off to his father about seeing me and eventually he did, leading to the death of my warriors. My children.

"So you're the little bitch with two mates who thinks she can come here and take my Pack?”

"Yes, I'm here to challenge you for Full Moon, Micheal."

“You know when you stepped out to make your claim at the Council, I was shocked for a second but then I watched you lie and try to manipulate the Council. It's one of the reasons that crap is dismantled, it's –”

“Can you just shut up and respond to the challenge issued to you?!” Hunter growled, cutting off his rambling.

The grin stayed but his eyes changed. Something flickered behind the bravado.

His mother grabbed his arm. "Don't entertain this nonsense."

"Nonsense?" I looked at her. "Your husband murdered my father and had my mother run over like an animal in the street. The only nonsense here is your family sitting on a throne that was never yours."

Micheal Senior stepped forward, his face darkening. "Watch your mouth, girl."

"Or what? You'll kill me too? Oh I forgot, you tried. Several times and still failed!”

“You need to get out of my Pack or I'll be forced to finish what my father started.”

I snorted.

"I'm issuing a formal challenge," I said, loud enough for every wolf in earshot. "Alpha to Alpha. Traditional rules. Unless you're too scared to fight a woman, Micheal."

"Scared?" He laughed but it was hollow now. The wolves around him were watching. Listening. A formal challenge couldn't be ignored without forfeiting the title. He knew that.

I knew that.

It's the one thing I've been scared of ever since the Council meeting but I've done some research, the weasel before me will fall.

"Fine," he said, cracking his neck. "I accept. But when I break you, don't cry about it."

"Make sure you maintain that confidence when I force you to yield,” I retorted.

He turned and walked toward the back of the compound. His parents followed, his mother whispering urgently, his father's jaw set like stone.

Hunter caught my hand before I followed.

"Hey," he said softly. "You don't have to kill him."

"I know."

"But if you have to, don't hesitate."

"I won't."

"And if it goes sideways—"

"It won't."

"Cassie."

I looked at him. Really looked. Behind the calm, his eyes were burning.

"I know you need to do this yourself," he said. "I respect that. But I'm right here. Yeah?"

"Yeah, I know and I'm grateful. You're doing a lot by just being here,” I whispered, squeezing his hand before letting go.

The challenge ground was behind the Pack house, a wide circle of packed earth with old trees standing guard around the edges. These trees were ancient. They'd watched my father train here.

Now they'd watch his daughter fight for it back.

Full Moon wolves crowded the edges, some in wolf form and most in torn clothes, staring with an odd look in their eyes.

Did they hope for me to win or were they loyal to their Alpha?

It was hard to tell.

My warriors stayed near the cars but I could feel Hunter through the bond, taut as a wire.

Micheal was already in the circle, rolling his shoulders, surrounded by his boys who were gassing him up like this was a sporting event.

"Let me know when you're done warming up Princess," he called across the clearing. "I've got dinner reservations."

"The only reservation you should be making is at the rogue shelter."

Some of the wolves snickered. Micheal's face hardened.

We shifted at the same time.

His wolf was big but Red towered over him, her aura far stronger. His was a mutt with dark brown with a thick neck built for clamping down and not letting go. The evidence of stubborn male ego.

He charged. Heavy, direct, no finesse.

I dodged left and Red's jaws found his flank, tearing a strip before he could turn. He snarled and swung a paw that caught my ribs and sent me tumbling across the dirt.

I tasted blood. My blood.

I reached inside for the Moon-Born power on instinct and found nothing.

Stephan was hours away. The third point was cold. No light, no fire, no divine intervention.

Just me and Red and fists and teeth.

Shit.