He wheezed as he stood. He chuckled. “Okay.” He shook out his fur. “I’m not going to hold back any longer.” He snarled a little. “Do you think you can make a fool out of me by standing there?”
I swiveled to face him. “Brandon, I think it is pretty apparent I don’t have to do anything to make you look like a fool. Everyonehere can see you do it all on your own.” He charged again, this time sliding towards my ankle, but I sidestepped and booted him in his face, breaking his cheekbone. “That’s two.” I wiggled two fingers in the air, earning another snarl.
He stood, shaking his head to clear it. Blood flew from his lip. I must have cut the inside of his cheek when I kicked him. I smirked at the thought. “You are a stupid bitch.” He snarled.
I just looked at Vince, who inched his way closer to the center. I raised an eyebrow, but he just shook his head at me. “Stop playing with him.” His whisper was low enough I barely caught it, but I nodded once.
“Fine.” I turned back to Brandon, who was glaring at me.
He circled me, but this time I circled with him. “You are trying to make me look weak.” His voice was low, but it carried.
“You do that yourself.” I bounced on my feet. “But don’t worry.” He stiffened a little. “What I’m about to do to you, no man here could stand up against it.”
He laughed, but I had better things to do than to stay here and waste time with him. I needed to go home, save kids, pack a few things and smuggle two families and information out of here. Brandon’s brain caught up to what I said, and he stilled. “What?” But that was all he could get out before I charged. His eyes widened as I disappeared across from him and reappeared next to him, slamming my fist into his eye. I felt the bone give way. The crack of the orbital socket echoed through the air.
Instead of pulling, or stopping like I had the last few times I kept attacking. Fists flying, I landed another few shots on his ribs, and felt another give beneath me. The sound of his lung filling with blood reached everyone’s ears.
Vince’s warning growl reached me, and I raised my hands. I backed away from Brandon and walked back to Corzone. He watched me with eyes that were slightly amused. He refused toallow any emotion hit his face. “Are you okay?” His question caught me off guard.
“Yeah…I’m fine. Why?”
He furrowed his brow. “You are covered in blood.” He gestured to me, and I looked down.
“This is all his.” I raised my shoulder and I wiped the blood on my shirt. I kept walking, but something made me stumble. I turned, and it was like I was moving through syrup. The air had somehow condensed into this thick, hard to push through force.
My eye caught on Vince, and I saw his mouth moving while clutching at his necklace and I knew he was using magic. My brain flew through my Book of Shadows for a spell to slow someone, and the counter spell.
I heard Brandon struggle to get to his feet and knew I was running out of time. Corzone looked confused as I had all but stopped. “Are you okay?” He tried to reach for me but Vince yelled out.
“If you touch her before the match is called, she loses. We can’t interfere.” He sounded smug, and that pissed me off.
My brain latched onto the counter spell. Corzone’s eyes widened as he screamed my name. “AMY!”
“Kento farwa spunto corna.” The air was back to normal, and I spun just as I felt Brandon’s teeth graze my neck. My fist connected with the underside of his jaw, sending him tumbling back. He landed hard next to his father, who dropped to his knees beside Brandon.
“ENOUGH!” The referee called. “Alpha Amy wins. Alpha Brandon is disqualified from the battle for trying to land a death blow.”
Vince looked back at me with eyes filled with hatred, but he picked up his son and rushed him to the pack doctor.
Chapter Ten
Ipulled my car directly into my garage and closed it. I barely had a second before the doorbell rang. I sighed, but I went to answer the door. Rick and everyone else was standing there in my doorway. “Hey, come on in.”
“What the hell happened to you?” Ternen seemed surprised.
Alannah sighed. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry.” I just smiled as I opened the door wide, and everyone trailed in, but I stopped Rick.
“I’m going to open one of the garage doors, pull in. I don’t want anyone to see your car on the street.” He nodded, then turned back to his car.
Nix. Heal the rest of me.I called out.
Finally, She and Megan got to work, and by the time I hit the garage door open, I was fully healed. Rick pulled in and I shut the door behind him. He slid out, surprised.
“How?” He waved his hands at me, and I just laughed.
“I stopped my wolves from healing me so I could seem weaker around the pack. I wanted them to see me, and think poor Amy.”
He laughed. “Smart.” I winked as I turned. “But what about everyone coming tonight?”
