Chapter Thirty-Five

Seth

The moment I found myself squaring off against Dante while Ellie was battling Zagan was one of the toughest I’d ever faced.

I was desperate to know she was safe, that Zagan wasn’t pulling any dirty tricks like Joel had. But I’d made a promise to Ellie. I’d vowed to stay focused, to not let the anger boiling inside me take control.

Anger not just at Dante for what he’d done to my parents, but for what he’d done to Ellie while she was his captive. Anger that the scumbag Alpha she was fighting might try to kill my beautiful mate.

I had no doubt she could beat him. I just hoped she could keep her promise, just like I planned to keep mine.

Training lessons were one thing, but fighting for your life was a whole different ball game. And this would be her first kill in anger.

Elijah had been different. She’d killed him in self-defense.

I shot Dante a glare as we started to circle each other. He’d hoped that taunting me about my parents’ death would make my anger take over.

I couldn’t help but overhear Ellie taunting Zagan. I chuckled to myself. Her taunts were working. I could tell from his growl.

Dante’s smirk vanished when he heard it. Even if he managed to beat me—which was doubtful—he’d have to deal with a new Alpha. I didn’t doubt for a second that Ellie would come out on top.

“Even if you beat me, Dante, you’ll have a new Alpha to answer to,” I taunted.

My words distracted him just long enough for him to glance over at Ellie and Zagan’s fight.

As much as I wanted to, I didn’t look. Instead, I charged at him, shifting mid-leap.

The shock on his face as he realized what was happening was a sight I’d cherish forever. His confidence and bravado disappeared as my wolf lunged at Dante.

He started to shift, but the delay meant he was a step behind me.

I managed a quick swipe with my paw, my claws lightly grazing his shoulder, before he completed his shift and rolled out of the way.

I’d drawn first blood.

Even though it was just a flesh wound, it sent a clear message about my intentions. I snapped my jaws at him to make sure he got the point.

He snarled back at me as we started circling each other again. My focus was solely on him, but he seemed distracted by the fight happening next to us.

His eyes stayed locked on mine, but his ears were flicking back and forth, picking up the snarls and yelps.

If they’d been coming from Ellie, I would’ve been more worried, but they weren’t. I smirked to myself as I realized she had the upper hand.

The noises seemed to spur Dante on. After all, if his Alpha fell, he’d have nothing to lose. I guessed the thought of having to submit to Ellie was more than he could bear.

His only hope would be to kill me to weaken her. I’d never let that happen. I’d stay alive—if not for me, then for her.

He got reckless. He lunged at me without thinking. I quickly sidestepped and spun around to get behind him.

He yelped as I sank my teeth into his flank, tearing through fur, skin, and muscle.

He spun around, ready to face me again. I was surprised when he let out a howl of pain. Until I realized why.

I heard Ellie’s voice and allowed myself a brief moment to listen.

“Now you are the heartless bastard I always knew you to be.”

Her voice was followed by a loud splash. I didn’t need to look to know what she’d done.

Pride swelled in my chest. That bastard got what he deserved after everything he’d done to her. It didn’t surprise me that she’d beaten him. I bet he rarely trained or fought.

He just had his pack do his dirty work. His pack or Dante.

Now I understood why Dante had howled. He’d felt the death of his Alpha. He must’ve had a stronger link to him than I thought to be affected like that.

Sure, you’d feel the loss if your Alpha died. For me, I’d feel it more strongly since Clayton had practically raised me after my parents were killed.

Maybe the same was true for Dante. Maybe Zagan had raised him.

I thanked the goddess that Ellie had escaped his clutches. Maybe that was why Dante was so evil…or maybe he’d always been that way.

But now wasn’t the time to ponder that.

Now was the time to seize my advantage. I wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip by, not while he was distracted. I knew he’d do the same if it had been Ellie who’d died.

His throat was exposed as he’d lifted his head to howl, so I lunged at him and clamped my jaws around his throat.

The shock must’ve snapped him back to reality, but it was too late. My canines pierced his jugular. Blood spurted from his throat, draining his life force.

I would’ve liked to tell him exactly what I thought of him, but that wasn’t possible in wolf form. His death would have to be enough. And it was.

I stepped back and shifted back into my human form.

A cheer erupted from the warriors of my pack watching the fight. I felt Ellie’s arms wrap around my neck as she jumped into my arms.

I held her tight, my arms wrapped around her slender body.

I growled low and turned, shielding her body from the onlookers. I didn’t want anyone ogling my naked mate.

“Here…”

I glanced over my shoulder to see Clayton approaching.

“Seems like no one listens to their Alpha anymore,” he grumbled, handing me some clothes.

Clayton looked at Gabriel.

“You ran off to fight your father without backup…”

His gaze shifted back to me and Ellie.

“And you two, not waiting to mark each other.”

His expression softened as he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“You didn’t even think to bring spare clothes!”

He wasn’t really mad; I could tell. Maybe a little disappointed that we hadn’t waited and that we’d put ourselves in danger, but we both needed this.

We needed to get rid of the ones who’d caused us pain. To find some closure. I think Clayton understood that.

Ellie slipped out of my arms and I gently set her down. I handed her the clothes Clayton had fetched, making sure to protect her bare body from the prying eyes.

I quickly dressed myself in the clothes he’d brought for me.

Once Ellie was clothed, she stepped out from behind me.

“So, what’s next?”

Clayton’s lips curled into a smirk as he pointed behind us.

Ellie and I both turned to see what he was pointing at.

“Ellie, you’re now the Alpha of two packs,” Clayton announced. “The two biggest packs are under council control. The rest will crumble without the two strongest leading them.”

I watched Ellie shake her head, her panic pulsing through our mate bond.

She spun around to face Clayton.

“I can’t be an Alpha,” she declared.

I felt her panic ebb away, replaced by a new emotion. A determined calmness.

“I can’t be the Alpha of two packs if I’m going to be queen of them all.”

A smirk played on Clayton’s lips.

Maybe this had been his game all along. To make her see that this was her destiny. Not something she could be pushed into. Something she had to choose for herself.