The second she decided in her heart, a weight lifted from her shoulders. The familial yoke she’d felt with the pressure to please her father was lifted.
She trekked around the outside of the circle and took her place with the Franconia pack. Victoria remained back, away from all.
Rafe must have sensed her presence. He stole a quick glance at her.Mila, you’re here?
Her heart pounded.I came as soon as I could.
With his gaze pinpointed on her father, Rafe asked,Is it true? Was it all a game to spy on me?
No,she cried.Well, only at first.
Rafe turned to her with haunted eyes. In his distraction, her father plowed into Rafe’s side, knocking him over. Red gashes spread Rafe’s fur, and blood spilled into the snow.
No!Her wolf howled in despair.
Mila’s knees buckled. What had she done?
Chapter 15
Rafe
Emotions as rash as Kane’s claw’s tore through Rafe. He roared in anguish, but rolled away before Kane could reach his throat.
Mila was safe. She’d admitted to what Kane had said—she’d spied for him—at first. Hell, what did that mean? Rafe couldn’t speculate on the reasons. He wouldn’t be able to until the fight was over.
If he survived.
He sprung to four paws and ignored the pain to focus on his opponent. He had been stupid to allow himself to be distracted by her arrival, but how could he not?
Blood dripped from the wound in his side as they resumed circling each other, assessing each other for a weakness to exploit.
Although he had youth and speed on his side, he was now slowed by the wound. And Kane was a strong wolf with formidable muscle.
Shifters moved on restless paws in Rafe’s peripheral vision, including Damon and Valen, both bloody from battle. Wolves from both packs had stopped fighting while their alphas clashed, yet adrenaline from the fight must have kept them from remaining still.
Stay back,Grayson reminded their agitated packmates.
Kane’s gaze narrowed before he lunged forward and swiped at Rafe. He evaded the sharp claws this time.
Kane moved in once more. His swings grew more careless as he shot them over and over. Whether that was due to overconfidence or frustration, it wasn’t clear.
Rafe avoided each swing and lunge while taking note of a pattern. Kane often swiped. When Rafe avoided it, Kane lunged forward, aiming for Rafe’s throat. He used this insight to his advantage while he attempted to tire Kane.
They edged ever closer to the cliff. That had to be intentional. If Kane pushed Rafe toward it, he’d be trapped between Kane and the precipice. Either could lead to Rafe’s death.
Rafe assessed the situation. Retreating was not an option. It would lead to a fatal fall. What he had to do was not only avoid Kane’s advance, but escape it.
His heart hammered as he anticipated Kane’s next move.
Kane lunged. This time, Rafe ducked low and advanced on Kane, knocking his legs out from under him. When Kane fell, Rafe leapt on top of him, pinning him onto his back with a paw.
This was it. Rafe craned his head to deliver the death blow. Kane could not escape. The anticipation of killing his rival—the one who’d caused so much anguish in Rafe’s pack in recent weeks—made him salivate. He itched to taste Kane’s blood and pin him down while his body twitched and his life drained out of him. Not only would he destroy his enemy, Rafe would gain his pack.
Sweet victory was only seconds away.
Rafe could feel Mila’s eyes on him and feel her tension even more pronounced than the other restless shifters awaiting the outcome.
He sensed her anguish. It pulsed through him, swelling him with doubt at what he was about to do.
