Chapter 4

Things were about to get ugly. The beta had twice refused the command of his Alpha, and then to further add insult, he had thrown down a challenge. I feared the time for talking was done and they were about to settle things in the wolf way. With claws and teeth. By the anger rolling off the Alpha, Rand being his nephew, wasn’t going to save the beta’s hide.

Fuck, they were going to tear my diner apart while they tried to do the same to each other. And I couldn’t afford another insurance claim, or my premiums would skyrocket. I didn’t know my own strength sometimes and accidents happened, both by the hand of nature and my own.  Last New Year’s, I knocked some holes in the wall, screwed up some wiring, and caused a minor electrical fire when my semi-sober ass decided to use my stepfather’s picture as a dartboard. Luckily no one was injured except for the raccoon who had taken up residence in my wall.  Also, a tree fell on the roof two years back, and a drunk, handsy college guy fell through the front window last fall, but that was a story for another time.

I was already down a door and an outside light. Hell, the wolves were already staring each other down. I didn’t think the Alpha would fight to the death and kill his own nephew, but he would teach Rand a painful lesson in submission. And well the Alpha of the Stonemountain Pack’s reputation of violence proceeded him, though I tried to stay out of werewolf affairs. I’d heard some gory tales and few wolves had challenged him over his ten-year reign of terror.

 Rand would fight for his mate and was unlikely to back down, so things could go too far. I couldn’t stand by and let that happen. Even with true Love on his side, I didn’t think the beta stood much of a chance. Roam was Alpha for a reason and Rand was young and untested, hadn’t seen enough battles. He was gonna learn today.

The problem was if I interfered, I might do more harm than good. Maybe they needed to get this fight out of their systems and, unless I shot the Alpha, I might not be able to stop it anyway. If a she-wolf, or any wolf, got in the way of a challenge, it would be seen as a great insult. Maybe the way to settle this was to just let the wolves fight it out.

I couldn’t say shooting the Alpha wasn’t appealing though. It didn’t need to be a kill shot per say, just a love tap to remind him this was my land, my rules, and who the fuck was really in charge here. I didn’t condone fighting or senseless acts of violence. This ground was technically neutral and not under pack control. If things got out of hand, I would have to pull up my big girl thong panties, and handle it. I wouldn’t stand by and watch this Alpha seriously maim, or do worse, to the beta. To Lily’s true mate.

“Oh hell no. Take it outside! You aren’t having your pissing contest in here!” I shouted.

But I was ignored as Alpha Roam growled again, “Enemies are not welcomed on Stonemountain Packlands. They are a taint to the land.  It is our laws. So be it, I accept your challenge Beta Randon Stoneclaw.”

Rand didn’t dare take his eyes off his Alpha, but his words were for his mate. Lily’s shoulders shook as she cried against his back.

“Lily, I need you to move aside. When this is over, we’ll go anywhere you want. We’ll be together till were old and grey and you’re sick of me,” he said with a gentle smile.

Lily cried harder and clung to him. Alpha Roam was growing impatient, though he seemed to have enough honor not to begin the fight while the she-wolf was in the way. It would wilt that little flower to see her mate beaten into submission or worse. And then what would become of her when Rand was forced to return to his packlands with his tail between his legs or when his Alpha killed him for his disobedience?

My resolve to not interfere had lasted all of five minutes as I literally placed myself between the wolves.

“Oh, for fuck sake! There’s no need for violence! And stop treating him like he’s your property! He’s a person, your nephew for crying out loud. And she’s his mate. What right do you have to come between mates and keep them apart?” I demanded.

“My right as the fucking Alpha of Stonemountain Pack! It would be wise of you to no longer interfere she-wolf,” the Alpha spat.

I scoffed, “You have no rights here. You know the laws. This is neutral ground. They’ll be no fighting on my land. Leave.”

He snarled at me, but I held my ground, as he prowled closer. I knew he wanted to rattle me. Much in the way he had circled my diner, he did the same to me now. I could feel the heat from his skin his body was so close to mine. He eyed me from head to toe with those amber eyes of his. I don’t think he was much impressed by what he saw.

 Pureblood wolves, even of the female variety, tended to be leaner cut with muscles and little fat. Their bodies were built for strength, speed, and endurance which made it capable to survive out in the wilds the way their nature intended. Even though I’d packed on some appealing muscle since I was turned five years ago, I was still curvier and softer in more places than the purebloods. And I was short even by human standards, whereas she-wolves were typically willowy and graceful. Both of which were traits that couldn’t be used to describe me. I used to trip over air, and I had never quite gotten down a wolf’s way of silent but deadly these days. I would starve to death in the wild as prey would hear me coming a mile away.

But in good lighting, to half-drunk fellas, I was a solid seven in the looks department. My hair was black and long and thick just like my mother’s had been. It never quite behaved and fell somewhere in between straight and curls. I’d also gotten her prominent cheek bones, and lips where my bottom jutted out fuller than my top. My upturned almond colored eyes, copper tinted skin, and thick brows had come from my father. I couldn’t remember Daddy really as he’d died when I was only three, but I still missed him. It was crazy how someone only your heart remembered could still hold such a big piece of it. But he was a good man from all the stories I’d heard and had treated me and my mother like queens.

This man standing before me now, if he could even be called such, didn’t know what it meant to treat a female with respect. He saw us more for what we could do for him, our value in his eyes tied to our ability to sire his cubs and submit to him in all ways.  What antiquated bullshit. It enraged me. There was more to women than just our ovaries dammit!

But still, he smelled of pine and summer rain, and even though he was pulling Alpha bullshit I loathed, my wolf practically purred. What a bitch, she wanted to bow, to submit to him. My wolf wanted to let him fuck me raw from behind. To mate and be claimed. I hated to think what it would be like to be in heat when these feelings were already so intense.

I was at war between my human side and my wolf side in more ways than one. But the woman in me didn’t want to let this Alpha even touch me. I refused to be used as a breeder, an obedient little mate, who spread my legs and kept my mouth shut. That would never be me. I would bow to no one.

 I refused to look up to meet his eyes, not because Alphas didn’t like to be looked directly in the eye, but because like hell would I look up to him. I tightened my grip on my gun and forced my body to remain still and calm as the beast encircled me.

Rand let out a deep breath, “This is between you and me Uncle. Leave the she-wolves out of it. Let’s take this outside. Settle this in our way.”

“You don’t have to go anywhere Rand. Leave now Alpha Roam or I’ll fucking fill you full of lead and then I’ll make sure your council knows what happened here. How you disregarded the law.”

He leaned in until his lips grazed my earlobe as he spoke, “I don’t take orders from you.”

It would have probably been wise to shut up. To not further disrespect and provoke the Alpha. But I had never been the sharpest tool in the shed when it came to doing what was good for me.

“That’s too damn bad. Because I’m in charge here. You’re not my Alpha, so fuck off,” I looked over at the mates, “Rand, I take it you don’t want to leave with this asshole?”

“Not without my mate,” he answered, “I won’t go where she isn’t welcomed.”

I smiled sweetly, “Well it’s settled then. I, Harmony White, Moon as my witness, offer sanctuary to Randon Stoneclaw and Lily for as long as they both wish, so long as they remain on my territory.”

The Alpha was so going to fucking kill me now. The law was the law and this one was unbreakable. He was already skirting it by bringing trouble upon neutral soil and by his refusal to leave my land. He had no real power here. And power and obedience were what Alphas thrived on. I had just hit where it hurt the most, like a kick to his balls. And best of all, there was little he could fucking do about it. There was honor even among wolves in that regards of not breaking sacred laws. To do so would not only bring punishment from the councils but risk the wrath from The Moon itself. One did not piss off or disrespect The Moon, their blessed creator. Not even Alphas were above the laws of The Moon.

But by the look Alpha Roam was giving me, he seemed about ready to risk it. His nostrils flared, his amber eyes glowed as he struggled to restrain the beast inside, his body was tight as a bowstring about to break. He took a deep inhale of me, his nose skimming up the soft skin of my neck, his teeth grazed my throat. I shivered in spite of myself and my overheated skin was at odds. I clenched my thighs. I should have been afraid with his teeth so dangerously close to my tender neck. One bite was all it would take for him to sink his fangs in and rip out my throat.

 I was afraid, but not because a wolf’s teeth were against my throbbing pulse, but because in that moment, I couldn’t tell if Alpha Roam wanted to fuck me or kill me. There seemed to be a fine line in-between. And worse yet, I liked it very much…