Chapter 55

Gilbert’s POV.

Callie won’t look at me. I know she’s nervous about the challenge, but I’ve been working with Toby and his inner circle every day. I’m confident, but not cocky. I know Julian has skills when it comes to fighting. I also know he fights dirty. He has the pack strength behind him and that’s something I can’t compete with.

I tip Callie’s chin up. “I have to go, Sweetheart. Are you going to come watch?”

Her eyes are moistened with unwashed tears. “I don’t want the kids to see you get hurt.”

My heart sinks, but I feel how worried she is. “I love you, Callie,” I whisper then kiss her forehead.

She shakes her head. “Stop it. Don’t do that.” A tear falls from her right eye and she quickly swipes it away. She grips my charm with the same hand as her tear and her eyes go white as she begins to chant. Tingles of energy creep over my skin giving me chills and goosebumps, but I feel strengthened with a natural energy, like I’ve downed a six-pack of energy drinks. Her eyes return to their natural lapis lazuli. “Hurry back.” Her eyes finally meet mine. “You better win, Gilly, or I’ll curse your ass with fleas and make you sleep outside.”

I can’t help but smile. “Bratty little witch,” I call her then kiss her hard and she wraps her arms around me. My kisses migrate to her jaw then her neck. Before she can protest, I sink my teeth in, marking her as mine. She wails a high-pitched cry, but her essence fills me up and I feel her more completely than ever before.

“Stupid mangy mutt, that couldn’t wait until after you get back?” I hear her through our half-established link as I lick the mark to heal it.

“No way, sweetheart. I need you with me. If you’re not going to be there, then this is the best alternative.”

She smacks my arm. “Damn it, Gilly! You weren’t supposed to hear that.”

“You’re the one that screamed it at me.”

“How was I supposed to know? I haven’t had a link since my dad.” She hangs her head so I pull her into me, hugging her tight.

Her emotions change from annoyance and worry to mischief only seconds before she bites my neck as hard as she can. Our mate bond snaps into place and I have never felt so indestructible in my life. It’s like her power is mine to wield. I hold her closer, resting my forehead to hers. “Thank you, Callie. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Xavier and Little Callie are watching our exchange with smiling faces, oblivious to what awaits me. I tear myself away from my mate and give my kiddos each a hug and a kiss. “Bye, daddy.” Little Callie says as if I’m just leaving for a normal day of work.

“Look after each other.” I look pointedly at Xavier and he firmly nods. “Good boy.” I pat his head and Little Callie’s then steal one more kiss from Callie and force myself to leave.

A crowd is already gathered in the center of town with Toby and his inner circle at the very center of the horde. I’m surprised to see Annie is at his side holding his hand. I give them all a nod as the crowd parts to let me through. “No Alpha A-hole yet.”

I smirk at her nickname. “We still have a few minutes. It’s not like he’s wearing a watch in wolf form.”

“Regardless if he shows or not, he won’t be the Alpha anymore,” Jeremiah reminds us.

“I could've easily punished him, you didn’t have to challenge him, Gilbert,” Toby chimes in with an annoyed glare.

I look to Annie’s angelic face as a reminder of my vow. “Yes, I did.”

Annie opens her mouth to speak, but a deep growl pulls everyone’s attention to the edge of the gathered bodies. Julian is breathing hard, his hands opening and closing, and his muscles tensely coiled. I’ve never seen him so full of rage. “My traitor Beta. I hope you’re ready to die because I will not give you mercy, cousin.”

“Likewise.”

I remove my shirt and Julian’s eyes drop to my charm. “The bitch gave you a charm. Are you so weak that you can’t take me without her help?”

My lips tick up into a smile. He may have the strength of the pack behind him, but I have my mate behind me. I take off the charm and the little buzz leaves me. “Annie, would you mind holding this for me?” She reaches out to take it. “I don’t need a charm, I have a purpose.”

“So do I. I’m going to make an example out of you. Traitors don’t have a place in my pack.”

“That’s exactly my point. I’m fighting for every person whose life you’ve destroyed.” Flora and the orphans all tilt their heads up to show their support as do several others in the pack.

Julian growls and rushes me. He shoots for my legs, but I kick out, connecting my boot to his face. “That’s for calling my mate a bitch.”

He wipes his bloody nose on his arm. “I’ll give you that cheap shot.” The blood stops and he spits to the side then grins at me as if he’s hiding a secret. I crack my neck and step into the center of the circle. Julian sidesteps and brings his arms up, ready to strike. I study every muscle he’s using. When his left leg moves slightly forward as he steps, I brace myself for his right arm to swing. He’s fast, but I move out of the way just in time and counter with a fist to the jaw. He’s caught off guard and I follow up with a left and another right before he is able to block and step back.

Only the slight tick to his jaw shows his surprise at my skill. I’ve always held back, but with Callie as my mate, I’m more powerful than ever. Though, I know he’s also holding back, I know what he is actually capable of.

Julian swings blindly and I block with my left arm and land blows to his abdomen. He quickly pulls away, but doesn’t give me a chance to recover before swinging his left hand, claws extended. Cuts grow across my jaw and cheek, narrowly missing my throat and eye. I flinch away narrowly avoiding his other clawed hand.

Shit just got serious and Julian isn’t playing around anymore. I hear a startled gasp from the back of the crowd, my lying little witch, she said she wouldn’t be here, but I can’t focus on her right now. I can reach for her energy, though, and I can feel her. I know exactly where she is in the crowd, against the tree far behind me.

Julian swipes at me and I send a boot into his abdomen just to give me a little space, but it only lasts a second before he cracks me in the face with a fist and I go down. I have only a moment to blink away the haze as a boot aims for my face, I quickly roll away and hop to my feet. My fist connects with his face, but he remains standing. I swing again, but he blocks and hits me in the kidney before I can move away, and holy Goddess it hurts like a mother fucker.

“Callie, come closer where I can see you.” I take a second to catch my bearings.

“Why? It’s bad enough I’m here and those cuts might scar.”

Julian smirks, he knows I’m hurting, but he doesn’t know everything. “Just do it, brat. I don’t exactly have time to argue right now.”

I charge forward and he braces himself for the impact, but at the last second, I change up and kick at his leg connecting with his knee, causing him to drop. I land a kick to the back of his head and he goes down. It would be an excellent time to take him out, but I wait for him to look up at me. I want him to think I’m hesitant. I want him to think I’m weak. Callie steps through the crowd and I steal a glance.

He laughs at the look on my face. “I guess you know you can’t kill me.” And there it is, he truly believes he’s indestructible.

“Can’t? Are you sure about that?”

He chuckles. “Not unless you want your mate to die too.”

I look to Callie again as Julian gets to his feet. Her face gives nothing away, but I see a glint in her eyes that tells me all I need to know. Fast as a flash, I throw my clawed hand into Julian’s throat and his eyes go wide. I look at Callie who hasn’t moved. “Looks like you can be killed.” I pull my claws free from his throat and blood oozes down his body. He struggles to breathe until the wounds slowly begin to heal. I didn’t cut anything vital, except his windpipe, but as it heals, he begins to catch his breath. “It’s a funny thing about life debts, there's a way to get around them.” I spot Ellen in the crowd and stare straight at her. “By creating a child together, the life debt was paid.” Ellen’s mouth drops open, but Julian just glares at me still catching his breath.

Julian looks at Callie. She lifts her chin and a satisfied smirk etches her lips. She gives me a wink, then turns to leave. “Hurry up, Gilly. I’ll be making lunch for the kiddos.”

“Bratty little witch.” I softly chuckle.

I guess Julian’s windpipe is healed, he growls and stands to his full height, though not as sure as he was before. He throws some Alpha vibes at me, but I barely feel them with Callie’s power flowing through me. I give him a grin in defiance and he sneers. I wait for him to move which proves a bad idea as Julian’s temper has been unleashed. His blows are fast and wild. I’m stumbling backward while blocking all that I can. He lands a few blows but doesn’t stop. My back hits a wall, but Julian doesn’t relent, his strikes still quick and powerful.

Julian’s blows begin to slow down, only slightly, but it’s enough for me to see an opening. Between swings, I throw a shot to his face, breaking his nose. I use that moment to ground my stance and begin my tirade of strikes. I connect more to his body and face than he was able and Julian is breathing heavily. He kicks at me, but I block and land another shot. He stumbles back and shifts.

His wolf is large, but not as large as the ones I’ve been working with. He jumps at me and I catch his throat as Toby had done to me. Before I get the chance to cause serious injury, Julian’s hind leg catches mine and I drop him, hissing at the sting from his claws. He recovers quickly and aims for my now injured leg, but I shift faster than ever and catch his shoulder in my teeth. He squirms so I tighten my hold, but he pulls away, tearing his pelt in the process.

I spit out the chunk of flesh. “If I have to take a piece at a time, I will still kill you.”

“You’re the traitor that only wants power.” He growls as he rushes me.

I maneuver away so he narrowly misses my face. I quickly toss him to his back and though he manages to turn back over, I still sink my teeth into his throat. “No. I’m after justice.” Julian thrashes and squirms, but there is no mercy for him, only mercy for my pack and mercy for Anna. I bite down and feel his blood coat my teeth and tongue, his life force weakens as my teeth sink deeper. He stills. “You can beg for mercy at the feet of the Goddess, it’s not coming from me, cousin.” I bite down and twist ensuring his death.

Power.

It’s almost overwhelming as every single life force penetrates my mind and my heart. I raise my head and howl to my Goddess, thanking her for the gift of each individual in my care. My pack howls in support of me as their new leader.

Laurent steps forward with a pair of shorts and I quickly shift and slip them on. Looking over the pleased faces of everyone, I take a minute to gather my thoughts then address them. “Oakridge Pack. I am humbled to be your new Alpha. I know most of you are confused by what has transpired. Let me just say that Julian Woodard abused the role of Alpha and has been punished for his crimes.”

Annie hands me my charm and my pain subsides and healing kicks in twice as fast as soon as I slip it on. The buzz leaves and I feel a hundred times better. Even the cuts on my face have healed.