Book 1 - Page 55 (1/2)

This time, Volan paced along the edge of the wolf circle, his black fur glistening with sweat except for the patch of blood at his shoulder. He paced like the reds who couldn’t beat her mate.

Devlyn stood still, watching him, wary of the next move, but seemingly in complete control. His chest heaved with exertion, but she sensed he wasn’t tired yet. Not with the adrenaline coursing through his body. Not with the knowledge that he wanted her more than he wanted anything else in the world.

She glanced over at Vernetta, who was watching not the fight, but her, as if to say it was Bella’s turn next. Bella lifted her head higher and turned to face Devlyn.

Volan conserved his energy this time. He didn’t jump into the fray but instead trotted across the circle and again attempted a frontal a.s.sault.

This time he managed to bite Devlyn’s cheek. The blood dripped from his face and Bella bolted into the circle. Instantly, Vernetta charged her. Before they could clash, several males forced them back out of the circle. The position of alpha male had to be determined first. The females’ fight would follow.

Now Bella wanted to pace, but she couldn’t unless she did so outside of the circle. Then she couldn’t see the fight. She forced herself to sit.

Devlyn and Volan had separated again, like boxers returning to their own corners of the ring.

Volan charged Devlyn again, not waiting such a long while in between this time. His action disheartened her. Worse, when he struck at Devlyn, her mate fell. She nearly died. Intent on protecting her mate, she dove into the battle, risking the grays’ wrath.

Devlyn’s cousin, Tanner, slammed into her from the sidelines, knocking her off her pads. The brief distraction allowed Devlyn time to get to his feet, and at once he lunged at Volan. Tanner snapped and snarled at Bella to get her to move to the outskirts of the circle. She growled back at him, the lowest, angriest growl she could manage, and then trotted back to her place.

The grays were too big for her to handle. How could she even think she could deal with Vernetta successfully?

Devlyn had managed to catch Volan’s cheek with his canines and ripped a chunk from his face, the fur-covered skin hanging loose, covered in blood.

Devlyn lunged again. He grabbed the gray’s thick neck and held on for dear life. Volan snapped his jaws in an attempt to get loose. He finally shook Devlyn off. The two parted company.

But this time... Devlyn paced.

By jumping into the ring, she’d shaken him. Seeing his cousin tackle her and the powerlessness she had against the grays... undoubtedly, Devlyn worried about her ability to fight for the place of the alpha female.

Her heart sank. She couldn’t help it. When he was hurt, she had to protect him. She had to.

Okay, she wouldn’t do it again. Just quit pacing, Devlyn, d.a.m.n it!

Volan leapt through the air and knocked Devlyn down. She could almost hear the breath in his lungs whoosh out. She waited, breathless, while Tanner watched her. She gave him the evil eye. Apparently, he thought it his place to keep her in line, but she wasn’t having any part of it.

When Volan dove for Devlyn’s throat, Bella went for Tanner’s. She couldn’t hurt him, and he wouldn’t risk harming her or face whoever was the victor as the alpha male, but for the moment, she would be the distraction.

As soon as she sank her teeth in Tanner’s neck, he yelped. Volan snarled at them. He wanted the show centered on him, but she wouldn’t release Tanner’s neck despite his attempts to break free from her. Another of Devlyn’s cousins bit at her backside. That did it.

She swung around so fast, he didn’t have time to retreat. With her teeth snarling, she quickly bit his leg. He yipped and scurried off.

Devlyn made it to his feet and attacked Volan again, but instead of trying for his throat, he jumped against his back. With a powerful snap, he bit into the back of Volan’s neck, crus.h.i.+ng the bone instantly. Volan didn’t make a sound, and his body fell to the pine needle-carpeted floor. Volan was the alpha leader no more.

Vernetta didn’t waste anytime in attacking Bella, but Bella’s blood still boiled from Devlyn’s cousins having attacked her. She wasn’t in the mood for giving in to threats from anyone. Least of all from a female who l.u.s.ted after Bella’s mate.

Bella grabbed Vernetta’s leg, biting only enough to make the female bolt away and limp off. Bella didn’t want to kill her, just show her she wouldn’t take guff from any gray female, not now or ever.

She hadn’t even time to see how Devlyn fared.

Vernetta turned and bolted for her. Bella jumped out of her path and bit her broader backside. Vernetta yelped, but she turned around and charged again. There was no waiting it out, no resting between bouts.

The image came to mind of the black bear that Bella had faced years ago when she’d run away from the pack. She didn’t back down then, and she wouldn’t now. Vicious perseverance was the key.

Vernetta hit Bella this time with her canines, slicing her neck. The throat. If Vernetta got hold of her throat...

Bella swung her head around and grabbed Vernetta’s neck and bit hard, not enough to kill her, but enough to show her that she was someone to respect. Vernetta tore free and then whipped around and lunged again.

d.a.m.n, the b.i.t.c.h wouldn’t yield.

And Bella was quickly wearing out. The size of the gray overwhelmed her, and fighting with Devlyn’s cousins hadn’t helped.

Still, she wouldn’t give up. Devlyn was hers... her heart soared with the realization. He was the alpha leader now!

Vernetta slammed into Bella again, and both rose on their hind legs with the impact, only Vernetta’s bigger size forced Bella down first. This time, Bella aimed low. Get the lower parts, like a wolf pup would do when tackling his mother.