Filed to story: The Alpha She Chose Instead (Serena & Ethan)
Besides Ethan, I’m the only one standing. I catch sight of Annie, Kennedy, and Old Noreen at the window in the kitchen door. I bet Mari’s in the back, hiding her eyes.
Is he going to exile me now?
But he’s not focused on me. He stalks right up to Lochlan Byrne, whacks the back of his head, and grunts, “You. Me. Now.”
Then he goes to stand in the middle of the open floor.
Lochlan shrugs and smirks across the table at his buddy Finn as he pushes back his chair, feigning unconcern.
Of all the males, Lochlan is built most like a human fighter-wiry, slightly bow-legged. He has a quick walk and a buzz cut. Between the two of them, Annie and Mari have crushes on all the lieutenants, but neither of them like Lochlan. Kennedy says he smells like entitlement and drug store body spray.
However, Eamon is his uncle, so he comes from beta stock. He’s won titles on the circuit. He’s in the same weight class as Ethan. And the fight with Tye was closer than it should have been. He’s a contender.
The entire pack holds its breath.
Is this an alpha challenge?
It feels like it as they face off, steely-eyed, expressions unreadable. They don’t tap fists. One moment, they’re staring at each other, the next, Lochlan swings.
It’s an obvious shot, not really meant to connect, just to start the action. It’s not surprising when Ethan sidesteps the blow. I expect a counterpunch. I don’t know a whole lot about fighting-I’m not interested in the slightest-but you don’t grow up in Quarry Pack without developing a sense for how these things go.
Ethan keeps his fists up, protecting his face. He bounces on the balls of his feet.
Lochlan swings again, this time launching into a combination. Ethan ducks and sweeps Lochlan with his leg at the exact moment Lochlan throws a right cross. Lochlan wobbles, almost staggers, but he’s too good. He recovers instantly.
Ethan bobs and weaves, fists in guard position. Lochlan lands a series of jabs to Ethan’s torso and a right hook to his face.
Both males are sweating now, their chests vibrating with the growls and snarls of their pent-up wolves. Blood trickles from the edge of Ethan’s eyebrow. Lochlan smirks. You can see the confidence swelling in him. He thinks he has a chance.
He doesn’t, does he?
My muscles are so tight they ache. My good leg is taking all my weight, and my thigh is so tired, it’s a knot. At least no one is looking at me anymore. Everyone is riveted by the show on the floor. The alpha is getting his ass handed to him, and he doesn’t seem the least bit fazed.
Lochlan lets an uppercut fly. Ethan ducks, sweeps his leg again, this time driving an elbow into the side of Lochlan’s knee at the same time. There’s a crack. Lochlan stumbles. Weaves.
He’s not smirking anymore.
But Ethan – Ethan’s grinning now. His eyes are bright gold with pale blue rims.
“Get off on tripping lone females with bad legs, eh?” he pants.
Lochlan’s a good fighter. He ignores the taunt and goes after Ethan with a vengeance, throwing combination after combination, driving him to the edge of the open floor. Ethan takes blow after blow to the face, the ribs. He’s jerking back and forth like a rag doll, but he never loses his balance, not for a second.
He spits blood on the linoleum. “Rules don’t apply to you, eh?”
Lochlan raises his fist, and Ethan sweeps his leg again, this time with so much power, Lochlan collapses and rolls. He jumps back to his feet, showing no pain, swiping his nose with his thumb.
He doesn’t launch immediately into another attack. Lochlan studies Ethan, the wheels turning. Ethan’s stance hasn’t changed. He’s still bouncing lightly, fists in guard position, cool and collected despite the blood and sweat streaming down his face.
My wolf is riveted. The twisted little monster is into this. She wants popcorn.
Lochlan glances behind him at the A-roster table. Finn and Alfie are grinning at him, barely containing their glee. They still think Lochlan’s winning.
Behind me at the elder table, there’s a hushed murmuring. They know better.
Lochlan lunges. Ethan kicks, driving his foot into the side of Lochlan’s knee. There’s a crack. Lochlan slams into the floor.
Panting, Lochlan slowly raises himself. He has to do it like me-awkward and step-by-step. When he’s upright, Ethan lets him land a few more shots.
Now Lochlan understands what’s happening. His face is twisted with frustration, and he starts fighting dirty, aiming for the throat, the groin. Ethan flip-shifts for split seconds at a time, easily avoiding the below the belt blows.
The murmurs become a whisper. “That youngster better watch himself. Alpha will kill him.”
“He shouldn’t have tripped the female. Alpha won’t stand for that.”
My wolf strains forward in anticipation.
Lochlan throws a haymaker. Ethan snaps a kick, slamming his bare foot into Lochlan’s other knee. It crunches. Lochlan topples to his side, and this time, he stays down, teeth grit, neck bared.
“Get up,” Ethan snarls.
Lochlan bares his neck further.
“Get up!” It’s a command. Lochlan has no choice.
He slowly rolls to the knee that isn’t bent at an unnatural angle, his neck still exposed, face blanched and sweat dripping onto his white shirt. Unlike Ethan, there’s no blood splatter on his chest. It’s his jeans that are soaked red.
Lochlan stands there, broken but unrepentant, waiting. Cheryl, his aunt and the alpha female, sidles up behind Ethan. She reaches out to touch his arm. He snarls over his shoulder, the message so powerful and clear that even I trip back a step.
“We do not harm females,” Ethan says, voice meant to carry through the lodge.
“Yes, Alpha,” Lochlan mutters resentfully.
“Or the young.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Or the defective.”
I can hear the pack’s heads turning to stare at me. Oh, ouch. He’s talking about me.
“Yes, Alpha.”
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?