My whole body tensed and I turned in the direction of the sound of my mate’s voice.
Tyler stood near a tree on the outskirts of the clearing. “You shouldn’t have run.”
“What are you doing here?” I demanded.
“My friends chased the others, but I’ve been following your scent the whole time. It was nice of you to split up. Makes this easier for me,” Tyler said.
“I told you, I don’t want to be with you,” I said. “Stop trying.”
“I was being nice. I was willing to wait for you. You are my mate. You are the one who is supposed to comply,” Tyler growled.
“No. You are the one who should,” I snapped. I was done being afraid. Done backing down and running.
Hands balled into fists, I took a step toward him. “You have two choices. You can break the bond and accept your place as a member of my pack, or I will kill you myself.”
Tyler laughed. “Yourpack? It’smypack. You are mine. Same as a pair of shoes or an obedient dog. You’re my property.”
I lifted my shirt enough to show the mark. “I am your alpha.”
Tyler’s laugher died. “I thought they were lying. My dad said he saw the mark, but I thought it was his excuse to kill you.”
“You will allow me to break the bond,” I insisted. “That is your only option.”
Alec growled. He’d been silent this whole time, letting me handle Tyler, but I could sense his rising anger. “She’s giving you a choice you don’t deserve.”
“She’s my mate, not yours. What do you know about pack or mating bonds, feral trash,” Tyler spat.
Alec growled again.
I moved in front of him, preventing him from lunging right for Tyler’s throat. Tyler deserved to die for what he’d done to me. But whenever I tried to allow those thoughts into my mind, the bond pushed back. It was as if my only option was to let him make amends and go on his merry way.
The tiny part of me that was resisting the mating bond wanted to rip his throat out, but the bond had gotten too strong. It was keeping me from acting. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to fight him or if I’d run to him.
My pulse raced and my mind felt like it was at war with itself. Fighting the bond was getting more difficult. I stared at Tyler, determined. “If you care about me at all, you will break this bond. I can’t be with you. After everything you’ve done to me, I deserve this one act of kindness.”
“I challenge you,” Alec said.
“What?” I turned to him, my eyes wide. “No, Alec. Please, don’t do this.”
His jaw was tense, his expression determined. I could tell I wasn’t going to be able to talk him out of this. Challenging for alpha wasn’t the only kind of challenge the packs upheld. You could challenge for a mate. It was archaic and disgusting. Men fighting over the rights of another human being. I’d never seen it done, but I’d heard stories growing up. It was supposed to be romantic or some bullshit. What they didn’t mention was how the woman had no choice but to go with the winner. How was that romance?
“You’d risk your life for her?” Tyler sounded amused and a little disgusted.
I perked up at that a little. There was a part of him that didn’t want to be with me, either. “Tyler, you don’t have to do this. Just let me go.”
“Are you afraid to fight me? Did they even teach you how to fight in that pack of yours or is beating innocent girls all you know how to do?” Alec challenged.
Tyler growled and his body was already tensing unnaturally. He had a wild look in his eyes. “When I win, I’m going to make you watch me claim her.”
“Never going to happen,” I said though gritted teeth. “I’ll kill you myself before I surrender to you.”
“The bond won’t let you,” Tyler said. “I’ve tried to cut you out, but every time I fight it, I just want you more. I know I’m not alone. I see you in my dreams. We’re connected. The bond keeps getting stronger.”
I swallowed hard and tried not to let him know how much his words got to me. It was all my nightmares and fears. I glanced over at Alec.
He nodded and I felt a silent exchange between us. He knew I was afraid and he wasn’t going to let me down. I wasn’t sure how I knew that, but I was certain those were his thoughts as he tossed the blanket aside.
Tyler stripped and suddenly, there were two huge wolves growling at each other.