CHAPTER NINE

“The challenge needs to be done again,” Ryan, my older brother says. “Clearly, Rafael is a legitimate challenger. But everything has gotten so muddled since then, that the challenge needs to be held again.”

“I'll never challenge him,” the alpha says. “I'm done with this nonsense. Raphael needs to be executed.

“And then we need to go back to the way things were. Our pack has been prosperous under my rule. It’s best for all of us for that to continue.”

“It doesn't matter what kinds of benefits you’ve brought to the pack if you're willing to kill an innocent person,” I say. “We're standing against you now. We won't allow this to happen.”

“He is your alpha,” Shaye, his mate says. “You can't talk to him like that. He is the rightful alpha, and you have no business in challenging him.

“Do you really want to upset the way things are? Do you really want to threaten everyone's livelihood? Do you really want to cause tension within the pack?”

Something concerning happens after that. There are other pack members who speak up for the old alpha.

The ones that have prospered under his rule are reluctant to let a new alpha come in. He still has people on his side. He has strong people on his side. He has people who could win a fight.

“I'm done with this nonsense,” the old alpha says. “I'm executing him and that's it.”

Just like that, the alpha turns his bow and arrow back onto Raphael.

He's going to shoot him. It doesn't matter what the rest of the pack thinks, he's going to shoot him.

I can't let that happen.

Before I know what I'm doing, I'm racing forward as the old alpha raises the bow and arrow.

Rafael can't move. He's trapped. So, I have to be the one to save him.

I run right at the alpha.

He shoots the arrow.

The alpha and I topple on the ground in our wolf forms, transforming in midair.

I dare glance at Rafael and realize he's okay. The arrow didn't hit him. I saved him. And that's all that matters.

But now, the alpha is furious at me. Now he wants to kill me. I can see it in his eyes.

Alpha snaps out at my neck. This is a fight to the death. And all around us, those who agree with the alpha and those who don't start to engage in a fight.

Family members turn against family members. Friends turn against friends. Sides are drawn and the only thing that matters is whether or not someone is loyal to the old alpha.

It's tragic to see. The members in our pack have always been close. It’s terrible to see them turn against each other like this. But there’s nothing more I can do right now because I'm too worried about not dying.

I get out from under the alpha, but he chases me. He's stronger than me. I will die.

The alpha lunges at me and pins me to the ground. I don't have anywhere to go. He's going to kill me.

Then, I look up. Jacob is freeing Rafael. And just as the alpha is about to kill me, Rafael barrels into him.

And now I'm more terrified than ever because my mate is going up against the alpha yet again. He's going up against alpha for me. And there's nothing I can do to stop him.

Another wolf lunges at me. The wolf claws at my eyes, but I'm able to evade her.

I realize that's the alpha's mate, Shaye. And she hates me. She's out for blood.

I evade her attack and come back by lashing out at her skin. My claws grabbed her leg and drag down the side of it.

Shaye howls in pain.

I'm distracted as Rafael howls in pain.

I look over and see him and the alpha tumbling on the ground. They're lashing out at each other with claws and bite marks. They're digging into each other. They're both getting horrifically wounded.

Then, Shaye lunges for my neck. I have to turn my attention back to her and evading her attacks.

I lunge for her neck. I don't want to kill her. I don't want to kill anyone. But now is not the time for my moral compass to get in the way.

I have to be strong. I have to be strong or I'll lose my life. We're all engaging in battles against for our lives. And we have to kill those we love. This is no time for mercy.

Shaye and I engage in a battle of claws, teeth, and strength. We ran into each other's bodies, bit each other, claw each other.

Until finally, I pin her to the ground. My teeth lash against one of her major veins, and I rip.

Her blood spills onto the ground. She howls a howl of pure agony.

The old alpha looks over and howls in pain, The pure horror of losing his mate is torture to him. And I feel bad for it.

I don't like having taken a life. I hate all of this. But I had to save myself. We all have to kill each other to save ourselves.

The alpha turns his attention on me, but my mate barrels and attacks him again. He knocks him out of my path. And Raphael’s fighting style becomes even more vicious as he moves to protect me.

He nips at the underbelly of the alpha. but the alpha is even stronger now, fueled by his pain. It seems to have given him a new strength.

Another wolf throws themselves at me. I'm forced to fight for my life again, even though all I want to do is help Rafael.

I look over as the alpha howls. Rafael has gotten ahold of his paw and broken it. The snap of the bones is horrific, But the alpha doesn't give up. Nothing will make him give up until one of them dies.

It's the same with a person challenging me. She won't give up until I die.

So, I have to attack her fiercely. We engage in a horrible battle that causes pain to us both.

And I kill her.

My heart breaks as I have to kill a pack member. But I kill her.

We're all killing loved ones. We're all losing ourselves in this fight. It's all the alpha’s fault, but no one can see it. They're still defending him. And only time will tell who will win.