by Tigertalez
The two struck out at each other and grappled. Both had training, and Gale couldn’t possibly root for one over the other, so she sat there, on the edge of her seat, with her heart thumping hard in her chest, as she watched them wrestle, dodge, swing, and even drop kick. Sweat started to shine on their skin, and it soon became mud when they had fallen to the ground and rolled a bit.
Around the “challenge arena” she could see and hear others shouting and yelling encouragement or their gasps of shock for a particular move. The two stirred up the dust, and soon the small clearing was slightly hazy with the amount they had disturbed.
Gale heard skin slapping against solid bodies and grunts that would be thumped out of each of them. She cringed and jerked with each hit they each took from the other. Several times, one or the other would be caught in a hold, where she would have thought the challenge was over, but then be shocked and amazed with how they maneuvered their way free.
The challenge felt like it dragged on for a long time. The tension was building, and the volume of shouting rose around her. She found herself rooting for both of them. Each time one would get hit, or downed in some way, she would shout an encouragement to them.
Gale was on her feet now. She hopped up and down and shouted, what seemed like incoherently. Slate flipped Matteo onto his stomach and followed him down. He had his arms in a painful hold that made Gale grimace, sure the position would break his arms. Matteo’s face was filled with pain, and he howled. He looked like he tried to move but only howled again, and then he yelled his submission. Gale stood there shocked for a brief second as everyone around her went a bit crazy laughing, and hugging each other and the winner, or slapping him on the back. Seamus and Slate helped Matteo up off the ground. The challenge was over, and the battle had been dramatic and brutal.
Alphy held up his hands out toward the crowd and lightly patted the air. Everyone slowly started to calm. The two combatants came forward and stood in front of Alphy.
“That was a battle to remember. Congratulations to both of you for such an impressive display of skill. Both of you are my enforcers, but only one will be lead enforcer. Congratulations, Slate, for winning the challenge and the rank and title of lead enforcer.” Alphy placed one hand on his shoulder and the other he used to shake Slate’s hand. Then he turned to Matteo. “That was a great fight, Matteo. I am proud of you; you should be proud of yourself as well.” Matteo nodded his gratitude to his alpha.
Everyone started making their way back to the house. Alphy kept an arm around her, holding her close on the walk. “So what did you think of the fight?”
“I think,” she said, “that we have a pretty special pack. It all started with a pretty special alpha. I’m so very proud of you, and I love you so very much.”
He leaned down and sealed their lips with a heated kiss. Their heat built, and suddenly Gale felt her world tilt. She let out a squeak as Alphy swung her up into his powerful arms. He pulled back, breaking the kiss. “I love you, too, my honey-bear, with everything in me.”
The End
www.tigertalez.com
Evernight Publishing ®
www.evernightpublishing.com