by SJ Himes
The body was at last removed from the pit, nothing remaining but some tufts of fur and blood that pooled and froze along the edges. The greater alphas who had been acting as guards withdrew from the pit and disappeared. Royrick stood and gestured to Kane, “It is time, Kane of Black Pine.”
Ghost gave him a small lick across his muzzle, a small shiver racing through his slender frame. Ghost backed away until he could lay between Burke and Sophia who put their hands on his shoulders in support. Kane looked away from his mate after one long look and met the eyes of the foreign alpha. There was no emotion in those eyes, only calm acceptance for what was to come.
Kane wanted his words to be heard by all and did not want to waste the energy casting his mind to all those present, so he reached for his human form and changed swiftly. He stood as a man, naked and bare as Roan. “I have no quarrel with you, Roan of Sorrowfields. I will not take your life unless I am forced to do so. This fight can end with either one of us yielding to the other. Agreed?”
“Kane of Black Pine, I accepted the tribunal’s request to fight on one condition. If you die or if you yield, I take your place as heir, and all that you own and all that you treasure will be mine. If you do not yield, I will kill you.”
Growls and angry muttering came from the Black Pine wolves at his back. Kane tightened his jaw and let the anger wash over him and he let it go as best he could. “Same conditions as a traditional challenge, then?”
Roan gave a decisive nod, his eyes and hands already giving in to his wilder nature. His gaze landed on Ghost and it took Kane a moment to realize; never in any challenge had Kane had a mate to lose if he lost the fight. “Ghost and I are soulbonded—if I die Ghost may die with me. If I yield, he will still be my mate until the day we both die. I do not know what lies or misconceptions you may have believed, but Ghost is not someone you can win. You can take my place as heir and win all that I possess, but you will never win my mate.”
“I have my doubts that what you share is a soulbond. When I win, we shall see just what the nature of your bond is when I have the little gray wolf in my bed.”
“He can’t be that dumb. Roan heard the shamans’ testimony. He’s goading you, don’t believe a word he’s saying,” Burke whispered urgently behind him. “Don’t get angry.”
Kane looked over his shoulder at his best friend and gave him a wide grin. “I’m not that worried. Stay with Ghost—I’ll see you all in a few minutes.”
With that Kane took a flying leap over the pit, and faster than he had ever changed before he landed on all fours in the mud and snow as a great black wolf. He lifted his head and howled to the sky above, a deep resonating call that urged replies from all that heard him. Answering cries came from Red Fern and Black Pine wolves in attendance and a few smattering responses out amongst the trees. He dropped his head and set his feet, eyes locked on his opponent.
Roan gave a slight tilt of his head and cracked a tiny smile. He was changing into his wilder form before he even left the ledge, transforming in the air to land opposite of Kane as a vibrant red wolf. His eyes glowed bright blue as if ice had been set on fire. His fur was longer than Kane’s but his teeth were just as white and his claws dug deep into the earth.
Kane dropped his head further and spread his front legs to give himself better balance, eyes tracking his opponent. Roan mirrored his actions. This alpha was accustomed to fighting. Most of them were— a greater alpha fought more than a lesser alpha or even a beta. The shamans didn’t fight at all except for self-defense or the defense of those they protected.
He watched Roan’s eyes waiting for the attack to come— and it came, but not as he was expecting. A swell of power rose from the red wolf, sweeping across the dozen or so feet between them and Kane had but a second to bolster his mental defenses when Roan’s gift crashed over him. He had never fought with the Voice before— but he had been a devoted student of Gray Shadow and knew his history. Greater alphas of the past had fought first with the Voice and then with fang if equally matched.
Kane grinned wolfishly and pushed back with his own gift. He unleashed it with a single target—Roan. Those watching could see nothing but two wolves snarling at each other, but they could surely sense the roiling power that crashed like two rivers joining. It was all mental though; his body felt the strain, muscles quivering as he held his ground, pushing outward against the invading mental presence that was attempting to stifle his free will. He had never felt such an overwhelming and oppressive sensation before, not even when he was a youngster and Caius was teaching him how to use the Voice.
He had never faced an equal.
He refused to buckle under the intense mental pressure. It came at him like a storm, powerful winds pulling at his willpower and trying to shred his determination. It was an assault he almost did not know how to counter— a weaponized version of the Voice. He used his gift to protect, to heal, to lead—no part of him ever wanted to use it to cause harm.
Yet he must.
Roan of Sorrowfields snarled with victory, thinking he had Kane outclassed. He took a small step forward to match the mental push at Kane’s defenses, and Kane took the cue and made a small matching step backwards. Gasps came from those watching in the seats above, and there was a deep satisfied laugh that came from the direction of the tribunal. Kane ignored all of it, and laid his trap.
Kane stopped pushing back with the Voice. He pulled it back in, letting it coil within his mind like a snake hidden in the grass, ready to strike. Roan took the bait, pushing forward with his mind even as he took several steps in Kane’s direction. Kane made himself small, hunkering down to the ground until his belly touch the mud and the underside of his chin grew wet from bloody snow. He withdrew himself mentally, until not even a hint of the Voice or his gift dwelled outside of his personal boundaries.
Ghost was concerned—he could feel intense worry along their bond. Yet he could not spare a moment to reassure his mate. He would not die nor yield in this pit.
Roan was now standing over him, premature victory and triumph cut in every line of his muscular form. The red wolf made the mistake of lifting his head, his ears pricked forward, and his throat exposed. Roan did not increase the weight of his gift but kept it steady, convinced he had already used it to the point of forcing Kane to capitulate.
Bait taken, and Kane struck.
He unleashed his gift at the same instant that he leapt upwards, his head tilted to the side with his jaws wide. The shock of their minds meeting, hitting like two boulders toiling in the white waters of a raging river, was enough to startle Roan. Kane’s jaws closed around the vulnerable underside of Roan’s neck, and Kane continued his leap all the way through. The pressure of Roan’s mental attack dissipated almost instantly as they flew together through the air, Roan landing on his back with Kane atop him. Kane dug his claws into the red wolf’s underbelly deeply enough to draw blood, even as he tightened his jaws on Roan’s throat.
Roan gave a choked gasp when Kane closed his jaws further. His teeth just broke the skin, warm blood pooling on his tongue, but he went no further. Roan tried to buck him off, but all it took was the tiniest shakes of his head for Roan to still. The red wolf froze, his head thrown back, face obscured by snow and mud.
*YIELD.* He shouted it mentally. His mental voice reached the minds of all those present and watching, a wave of surprise and nervous fear rippling across the crowd.
There was no response from Roan. The red wolf was in shock, both his mind and body confused. He went from eminent victory to utter loss so quickly that he couldn’t fathom what had happened.
Kane let his fangs dig in just a little bit more, determined to make Roan yield. Despite the red wolf’s rude taunting, he had no quarrel with Roan.
“Do you yield, Roan of Sorrowfields?” It was Caius who spoke at long last. Kane twitched an ear in the direction of his clan leader but kept his focus on the wolf beneath him.
Roan tried to scramble away; Kane sliced in deeper with tooth and claw. Roan stilled, and finally went limp.
*I yield,* he whispered, though Kane had no doubt all could hear. He waited, but Roan said nothing more, submissive in his loss.
Kane dropped Roan’s neck and stepped away, leaving Roan where he lay. It was over in a matter of minutes.
“No! That’s it? A few snarls and then Roan gives in? I refuse to accept this!” Heromindes shouted, gesturing wildly from where he stood next to the tribunal. He was human again, covered in mud and blood.
“He yielded, Hero! Silence! It’s over!” Royrick chimed in, and Julian started laughing, enraging Heromindes even more.
“Utter bullshit! He must pay for his crimes. Kane must pay for what he did to me!”
Heromindes jumped into the pit, people were shouting. Caius and Mercuriel chased after him, but rage and frustration made Heromindes faster, and he took his wilder form with a thought, charging at Kane before he even finished transforming. Hero slammed into Kane, and they tumbled head over tail through the slush.
Their tumble halted when they crashed into the stone wall, and they broke apart for a second before Hero came at him with snapping, foaming jaws. All higher thoughts were gone from the clan leader—he was a frustrated animal ready to kill.
Heromindes’ claws raked down his shoulder, separating flesh. Kane roared and snapped at the offending limb, catching Hero’s paw in his teeth. Bone crunched as he crushed and yanked hard. Hero pulled away, causing even more damage to his paw. Kane charged Hero and slammed his uninjured shoulder into the other alpha, trying to knock him off his feet. Even down a paw, Hero was still deadly and withstood Kane’s momentum.
Kane didn’t want to kill Hero. If he could disable the other wolf enough, then even if Hero wanted to keep fighting, he would be incapable.
No matter how hard he tried Hero could not topple Kane. With one of his front paws useless, Hero’s ability to maneuver was reduced. Hero resorted to lunging as best he could, trying to rend and tear whatever he could reach. Kane danced out of range and avoided the worst of it.
Heromindes’ frustration grew to be too much and he suddenly broke away, leaping upon the nearby Roan, who yelped with surprise and pain. Kane chased after Hero just as Caius and Mercuriel joined the fray. The three of them converged on Hero as he tore at Roan, who was in no position to defend himself or fight back. Mercuriel was still in his human form. He reached down with clawed hands and grabbed Hero around his muzzle and twisted enough to make the Ashland clan leader release Roan.
Mercuriel might be shorter than any of the other clan leaders but he was by far the strongest in his human form. He wrestled Heromindes into submission, all but sitting on him and smashing his muzzle into the mud.
“Stop fussing, laddie. I’m not letting you make a fool of yourself anymore. Be quiet before I knock you out.” Mercuriel growled down to Hero, who wisely refrained from answering. Hero struggled for a moment but went limp when Mercuriel refused to let him up.
Kane quickly regained his human form and went to see how badly Roan was hurt. Caius had reversed his change as well and knelt as a human beside Roan, who in the few short seconds Hero had been attacking him, bore a multitude of deep lacerations along his side and belly. One gash in his stomach was deep enough to show internal organs. Kane was sickened, and he put a gentle hand on the red wolf’s ribs to keep him from moving.
The pit and the surrounding arena had devolved into chaos. Julian still sat in his seat, laughing like a madman. Royrick clocked him upside the head and Julian shut up with a yelp. Red Fern wolves were disappearing quickly while the Black Pine tactical team hovered at the edge of the pit, worried.
“Don’t move—we’ll get a shaman down here to help you.” As if Ghost read his mind, his little mate appeared like magic at his side, changing swiftly from wolf to young man in a rush of silver and white glittering smoke. Caius and Kane were gently nudged to the side while Ghost leaned over the injured alpha.
“Please hold still.” Ghost, without any hesitation, placed his glowing hands over the worst of the injuries, and as he had not even a couple weeks before, healed Roan like he healed Burke. The wolf glowed to match the young shaman’s hands, and Kane was forced to look away when the light grew too bright.
Fury of the White Wolf
Ghost healed the red wolf, who stared him the whole time with bright blue eyes full of surprise and wonder. The one they called Roan was not his enemy, despite trying to defeat his mate in combat. Like many greater alphas, they relished a fight they could win. And if they couldn’t win, then they would treat the loss like it never happened.
He had trouble understanding his own kind and their motivations for doing the many contradictory things that they did and said. What need did they have to have things, money, and wealth when they had their pack, clans, and families?
Ghost pulled his hands away and let the light fade. Where there were once deep wounds, now was unblemished skin and fur. Ghost sat back on his heels, looking ruefully at the mud in which he knelt. He was soaking wet and stunk like earth and blood. He made a face of disgust and exhaled in annoyance. He got up and took a few steps away, trying to shake off the worst of the mud.
Suddenly he was wrapped up in strong arms. Kane lifted him off his feet and hugged him tightly. Ghost laughed and hugged his mate in return, looping his legs and arms around his mate as tightly as he could. Kane smelled of cold air, mud, and sweat. And home. Home was in his mate’s arms. Ghost hoped with everything he had that this long nightmare was over.
Kane tipped his chin back with a finger and smiled at him before lowering his head and kissing Ghost. He opened his mouth for his mate’s tongue and enjoyed Kane’s taste. It had been too long since he was able to kiss his mate like he wished. Any time not spent in Kane’s arms was somehow painful and deeply frustrating. He wound his arms around Kane’s neck and tilted his head to the side to let his mate kiss him deeper. He had no need for air nor any thought of anything or anyone aside from his mate, and he whined in need. He didn’t care who watched or heard his whimpers— he needed to reconnect with his mate and quickly.
“Thank you.”
Ghost broke the kiss at those two quiet words. Kane pressed his face into Ghost’s long hair as Ghost looked down at Roan, who was once again a man. He too knelt in the mud, just as dirty as the rest of them in the pit. “You didn’t need to heal me. Eventually I might have managed it on my own, but I thank you all the same for the kindness.”
“You’re welcome. You can repay me by staying away from my mate,” Ghost said quietly but with an edge. Roan gave him a smile in return and a soft chuckle. The greater alpha from Sorrowfields carefully got to his feet with the help of Caius gripping his arm.
“I envy Kane what he has— both in rank and the love he has with you. I lost my chance to gain that through violence and I have lived long enough to know not to try that again. Neither of you have anything to worry about from me.” Roan gave them both one last nod and turned away, heading carefully for one of the tunnels, skirting around the spot where Mercuriel still sat upon Heromindes.
Caius followed Roan but not before he sent a searching glance over Kane and Ghost both. Kane gave his alpha a nod before they returned their attention to each other.
“Let’s get out of here. I’ve had enough of pits and fights to last me another fifty years.” Kane didn’t wait for his answer instead taking a running leap at the wall around the pit. There was no sign that Kane was hindered by Ghost’s weight as they landed easily amongst their friends and packmates.
Burke enveloped them in a hug, cheering and smiling wide. Sophia was excited to the point of losing her usual decorum and was smiling ecstatically and jumping around them in celebration. Burke reached out and grabbed the small beta yanking her into the hug. Gerald hung back but Ghost could see him past everyone and managed to get an arm out. He grabbed Gera
ld by the hand and tugged him forward. His uncle reluctantly joined the hug but accepted the affection with some measure of grace.
“Is it really over?” Ghost asked quietly when the hug broke apart. It was Burke who answered. “It was over the second Kane made Roan yield. Heromindes just couldn’t accept the result. He should never have returned to the pit while his blood was still boiling with battle rage from killing Roman— his actions afterward towards both Kane and Roan were dishonorable. Heromindes has not salvaged his honor but sacrificed it further.”
“I don’t care about honor or actions of foolish alphas. I want this entire mess to be over and all of us safe. Besides, we have a much greater task ahead of us now than blaming and the pointing of fingers.” Ghost spoke quietly and with conviction. Burke and Sophia gave him confused looks but it was Kane who explained.
“There are still wolves missing and Simon Remus must pay for what he has done to our people. Gabriel Suarez’s family has been torn apart. His father and his uncles are still being held hostage somewhere by Simon Remus along with potentially countless other wolves that have been unaccounted for for the last twenty years or more. The fight may be over here, but there is a greater battle we must yet win.”
Cat nervously approached the front door of the beautiful log cabin on top of the mountain. Some very beautiful and helpful blonde werewolves had pointed her in the right direction of the mysterious woman known as Andromeda. Glen shuffled from foot to foot behind her, his boots crunching on the thin ice that covered most of the porch. Paw prints from very large wolves and a few random footprints from bare human feet littered the surface, and Cat grinned, delighted.