The thread that was holding my patience and my anger was fraying. But I laughed. “You attacked me at work, because someone else laughed. And you think because I didn’t fight back that you ‘put me in my place’? But in reality, I didn’t find you worthy.”
He snarled again, but then Vince and some guards ran in. “Brandon, you need to leave.” Vince was panting. Like he just heard that Brandon was here. “Leave Amy alone.”
Brandon snarled at his father. “No! You said she was leaving, but we are mating at the end of the week.”
I laughed. “No, No we are not. You lost the privilege to ever touch me again the moment you jumped over this desk this morning.” I dropped my voice lower. “No, unless you leave me be, I will challenge you in front of everyone here.”
I watched the threat wash right over him, but Vince paled. “Let’s go Brandon. She needs to go home to pack.”
I nodded and grabbed my bag from the ground and I groaned. I was tender.Nix. I called to my wolf.You can start to slowly heal me. I’ve appeared weak enough to all the right players.
Nix growled.Finally,
But. She froze, and I felt the anger pumping off of her.Start internally, and move slowly, like the wolfsbane was finally working itself out of our system.She shook herself, but then nodded.
I don’t see the point, but fine.Megan laughed. I think she understood my plan.
We will get you healed up.She winked and then got to work. The relief wasn’t instant, but I could feel the pain ease.
“SHE’S NOT LEAVING!” Brandon screamed, freezing everyone.
I felt my body still. “Who is going to stop me?” Everyone heard the threat in my voice…everyone it seems, except Brandon.
“If you want to leave, then you have to go through me first.” He smirked. His eyes danced over my body, from my toes up to my head. “And we both know how well that went earlier.”
Vince paled. “No.” But I felt the smile bloom on my face. I quickly glanced at the clock. It was early enough that if I was quick, I would still have time to get home before people showed up. Vince stepped into the office and grabbed Brandon by the arm. “No.” He shook his head as he looked at me. “We are leaving. Forget he said anything. Brandon, let’s go.” Vince pulled him but Brandon was staring at me.
He shook off his father’s hand. “Did you hear me? You aren’t going anywhere.”
I laughed. It was dark and low. “Fine.”
Vince started to sweat. The guards all looked at each other. But Brandon looked triumphant. “See.” He looked at his father. “The mating ceremony will go on.”
“I didn’t say that.” I shook my head as I let my mask fall off and the rage broke through. “You said that I wasn’t going anywhere unless I ‘go through you’.” I tilted my head as Vince started to shake his head. “I said fine.” He smiled. “You really are that dumb.” His smile fell. “I meant I will go through you.” I smiled, big, toothy, and dangerous. “I hope you are up for the challenge.”
Vince stepped up. “You can’t kill him.” He was almost pleading.
“She can’t kill me.” Brandon smiled. “She isn’t strong enough.” I watched Vince stagger back.
“I won’t kill him…although I have every right to call for a death battle.” Vince seemed to take a breath. “But I will invoke my right to a cath neart.”
The guards all stood straighter. Vincent winced, but Brandon just laughed. “Stop making stupid shit up.”
A guard stepped up. “I will second Alpha Amy.” I tilted my head.
“And who are you?”
“I am Gamma Corzone. You met my wife Samantha when you volunteered in the pup’s classes.” He looked at me with intense eyes.
I nodded once. “Nice to officially meet you, Gamma Corzone.”
Brandon spun. “You will second her? In what? A fake fight?” He spun again to face me. “You are a stupid bitch, do you know that? I was giving you a chance to back down gracefully. I am the next Alpha of this pack. Do you not understand that everyone wants me? That you were LUCKY to even catch my eye.”
Vince winced, but I laughed. I raised my pointer finger. “Let’s clear some things up. Okay? A cath neart is a battle of strength, usually invoked between soldiers or by guards trying to move up in ranks. It is a battle of abilities to show the pack who is stronger, or in other words, who reigns supreme. A fitting battle between two Alphas so that one doesn’t end up dead. Which is exactly what your father is begging me to avoid, because even he knows I will beat you. Second.” I raised my middle finger. “A second in this battle is to watch over the fight and to intervene if they see any cheating, or dubious interventions from the other person, like poisoning, or going for a kill shot when the battle is just to surrender.” I raised my third finger. “I am a bitch, but I am also a bitch that respects the rituals our ancestors put in place, and our packs still follow. I don’t insult them by ignoringtheir rites that they were their dedicated to.” I tilted my head. “And I don’t know why you think I would want another chance. For Goddess’ sake, YOU ARE NOT A CATCH!” I lost control of my anger. “You are a tiny, pathetic whelp of a child who plays pretend as a man. You don’t respect your pack, your bonds, your traditions, your Goddess. You have no fucking idea how a pack works. You think you are the next Goddess-blessed wolf, but in reality you are a calamity to everything that would make a strong pack. You are a weak male, weak Alpha, weak leader. You are just fucking weak.”
He lunged for me but I just laughed as Vince caught him. “Let me go.” He screamed as he tried to lunge again. “I will kill you.”
The guards all stilled. Vince felt the tension in the room skyrocket. He leaned in to Brandon. “She has invoked a cath neart. You can not attack her outside the ring. That would be disgraceful. And like she just said. Any action taken to kill her during the match will automatically activate her second.” Vince looked back at Corzone.
