Chapter Sixty-Five
Graham heard the gasp of the crowd as he nearly avoided being gutted by Stuart’s long claws. He threw his shirt in Stuart’s face and used the distraction to bring his knee up and land a kick to Stuart’s abdomen. He wasn’t surprised at how quickly Stuart shifted. He needed his stronger, baser side if he had any hopes of winning this match. The two separated and Graham smiled up at his
opponent.
“This has been a long time coming, huh Stu?” Graham taunted.
Stuart roared and got on all fours to charge. Instead of deflecting, Graham grabbed hold of Stuart’s shoulders and ducked his head, forcing Stuart to push him to the fence. Once there, Graham dropped and pushed upward as hard as he could, sending Stuart over the fence. The crowd standing there screamed and cheered. Stuart jumped back over the fence and circled Graham again.
“Come on,” Graham continued, not even out of breath. “Wishing you took me up on those lessons?”
Stuart snarled and growled before launching another attack. His sharp claws slashed outward in wild arcs. Graham moved deftly, avoiding each swipe just before they could land. The thing most lycans didn’t consider when fighting is that when shifted, it’s hard to be precise. Lycans are powerful, god-like creatures which meant most thought brute strength would always win out. They trusted their true form so much, they never thought to hone their skills in human form where they could be more rational, deliberate and strategic.
Stuart wasn’t unlike Jensen who spent a great deal of time trying to instill in him the same instinct Graham was born with. Stuart likes the offensive, strike first, think later. It was a sound tactic when wanting to take someone by surprise. Here, in a predetermined fight though? All Graham had to do was wait, not let Stuart make contact and antagonize him a bit. A few minutes in, he would be tired and make a slip up. Graham sighed as Stuart made another laughable sweep of his claws toward Graham’s head. Didn’t he realize that wasn’t working? If he wasn’t being forced to make Stuart submit rather than kill him, this would be over that much sooner.
After avoiding a few more slashes, kicks and the threat of Stuart’s teeth, Graham knew he needed to start participating. Stuart ran at him and Graham let him drive his head into his stomach. He looped his arms around Stuart’s neck and twisted, applying pressure to a point in his neck that would cut off his airflow.
“Submit, Stuart. I don’t want to kill you. Your step-daddy asked me not to,” Graham goaded.
Stuart let out a roar that turned into a gargle. He thrashed around until he was able to loosen Graham’s grip. He paced a few steps away and growled.
When I kill you, I’m going to find your mate and fuck her until she forgets all about you. Or maybe I’ll just mark her like your impotent dick always wanted. Stuart said in Graham’s mind.
Graham smiled. “Your limp dick couldn’t even impress your fated mate. Mine could.”
Stuart’s hackles rose and vibrated with his anger. Don’t you dare talk about her!
Graham chuckled, “Still upset about her rejecting you?” Graham ducked his head and looked around with wide eyes. “Oops, I’m sorry, that’s not the story you paid her to tell everyone. My bad.”
Stuart lunged forward right into Graham’s waiting arms. He twisted his body and ended up on Stuart’s back. Graham lengthened his claws and stabbed them into his shoulder. Stuart growled and threw his body onto the ground. Graham rolled in time to avoid being crushed. Blood ran down Stuart’s back now as he bared his teeth. Graham stood and plucked at the jeans clinging to his skin. The rain drowned out the cheering of the crowd as they faced each other again.
I felt it… Stuart said to his mind. I felt it the moment you killed her and we weren’t even bonded. Imagine how your death will hurt your precious half-breed you’re so fond of.
1/3
and you can run away with your tail between your legs.”
Graham positioned himself in a fighting stance and waited. Stuart snarled and took the bait.
I’ll never submit to you!
Stuart lunged forward and this time he faked right only to sink his teeth into Graham’s left shoulder. Graham grunted as Stuart brought him to the ground. His teeth sunk deeper and Graham felt hot liquid pour over his skin. Graham reached upward and jabbed. his fist into Stuart’s eye. Stuart winced but dug his teeth deeper. Graham grabbed Stuart’s wrists as his claws came down for the final blow. Just before they could make contact with his chest, Graham twisted and shoved both of his feet into Stuart’s abdomen. Stuart flew backward, taking a chunk of Graham’s shoulder with him.
“Little fucker. That kind of hurt,” Graham hissed as he got back to his feet.
Shift! Stuart demanded.
“Nah, this is far more humiliating for you.”
I’ll fucking kill you!
“Like you killed Alpha Jasper?” Graham taunted. Stuart jaw snapped shut and his hackles lowered slightly at the name. “Maybe after you’ve limped away I’ll tell everyone what really happened that day.”
Stuart lunged and this time when Graham got his arms around Stuart’s throat, he squeezed and locked his hands by gripping either wrist. Stuart gargled and his skin shivered as the loss of air began to force his shift.
“I felt sorry for you. Sorry for the little boy who just wanted to impress his step-father so much he’d become the exact thing his father figure hated: a cowardice liar. You don’t deserve the tattoo you bare. I would have let it go, I would have died satisfied to know that fucker was off the face of the earth… and then you go and put his death on your face?” Graham leaned down to say the rest in Stuart’s ear. “You do not deserve any accolade. You’re spoiled, you’re entitled and after today, no one will remember you. This is over.”
Stuart tried to fight Graham’s hold but his words along with his grip on Stuart’s neck grew to be too much to hold up against. Stuart’s body slackened in his arms and the large lycan he held in a vice slowly shifted back to his human form. Graham shoved Stuart away, basking in the silence that filled the arena. He stood up slowly, fighting the nausea that came with losing a large amount of blood. His eyes immediately scanned the crowd until he found her.
Catherine was on her feet, craning to see the action below her. She had one hand over her heart, clasping it as if to keep it in her chest. Jensen was seated beside her, holding tightly to Rebecca as she cried. Catherine started to move but Jensen took her wrist in his free hand.
Lucien walked up to them with his hands behind his back. He glanced down at the limp figure with disdain. He shoved Stuart with his boot until Stuart groaned.
“Give up, boy?” Lucien asked. He got another groan in answer. Lucien looked about as if utterly bored. “Well, that’s that. Congratulations Blackmoore, a new Beta will be ushered in.”
The crowd remained silent as everyone waited for what might come next. A low rumble came from the arena’s opening. He turned to see a lean black lycan stalking toward him. Lucien chuckled with excitement. Graham sighed. This wasn’t over yet.
2/2
Chapter Sixty-Six
It was over. The challenge was finally done. Catherine stood on her feet, watching as Graham shoved Stuart’s limp body away so that he could get to his own feet. She covered her heart as she noticed him sway unsteadily. Then his gaze turned to the bleachers until they landed on her. Relief flooded her system. Lucien confirmed it. He did it. It was over. She needed to get to him. Catherine moved to do just that when Jensen grabbed her wrist. That’s when she noticed it: a black lycan walking with purpose into the arena.
“What’s happening?” Catherine asked.
Lucas sighed. “It’s not over yet. When a challenger beats out his opponent there is an opportunity for others to fight for the role.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“He’s right,” Natalie chimed in. “Anyone who wants to become Beta can do so. I just didn’t think anyone would be dumb enough to try. No one has ever done this with Graham.”
“He didn’t kill him,” Lucas explained. “They think he’s gone soft. They think now is their chance.”
Catherine looked back to the black lycan still moving into the arena. It was tall but far too skinny, almost emaciated. His coat was rough and patchy but his eyes… they sparked fire and revenge. She knew this lycan. She’d seen him a few days ago in the dungeons below the packhouse and a couple weeks before that on her run in the woods. It was the one who nearly killed her. Seemingly encouraged by the first, a second lycan appeared followed by a third.
“Fuck,” Lucas cursed.
“This is going to be bad,” Mary whispered. “Lucas, get Catherine out of here.”
“No, Graham said…” Before Catherine could warn Lucas that she needed to stay with Jensen, the first lycan lunged for Graham. Before his teeth could make contact, Graham shifted and shoved him away. He roared at the other lycans swarming the arena before catching one by the throat and slamming him down just as another jumped his back.
“We have to go,” Lucas demanded, grabbing Catherine’s arm.
“He said I had to stay with Jensen,” Catherine finally managed to say.
“You can’t stay here, Cat,” Lucas argued.
“But…”
“He’s not the only target here, Catherine,” Jensen said behind her. She looked up at him only to find his gaze on the retreating figure that was his mate. Rebecca had taken off. Catherine looked back at the arena and noticed Stuart was no longer there. “Take her home, Lucas. Don’t leave her side. If any of those men get their hands on her, it’ll be the end of all of us.”
Jensen took off after his mate while Lucas started hauling Catherine down the bleachers. Snarls, barks, sharp whines and growls filled the air as Graham fought off a dozen lycans all at once. Her eyes snapped to the ring in time to see Graham take one rather large grey lycan down to the ground. She saw the black lycan waiting as if he knew none of these other challengers stood a chance. As if he knew his hatred for Graham was enough to fuel him to victory.
Lucas’ hold on her arm tightened before he let her go completely. Catherine looked at the hard planes of his back go taut. She glanced over his shoulder to see two men, their eyes black staring back at her.
“Walk away, Gentlemen,” Lucas warned. Catherine gripped his shirt as the two men licked their lips.
1/3
