When he came back outside, Ryker and Henry were circling each other on the blood splattered snow beneath the porch. They were still in human form, but August could tell they were seconds away from shifting and attacking each other.
Blaine and Zack were standing off to the side, getting dressed in a pair of thick, padded snowsuits. The two alphas looked relaxed, talking quietly between themselves as they watched Ryker and Henry circle each other.
August wondered what was going on.
At his confused look, Steve came over and explained, “Ryker already fought them. He just grabbed them and put them on their knees the same way Blaine did to you. My dad is thrilled.”
August exhaled, relieved. This meant that however Ryker fared in the next three fights, he’d already proved that he had what it took to be a district alpha.
“That’s good.” August grabbed Steve’s hand and pulled him close, tucking his arm around the younger man’s waist. “Marcus’s plan worked.”
“Of course it did,” Marcus said, walking over to join them. Dylan came with him, and August almost burst out laughing at the jealous look he sent August’s hand where it wrapped around Steve’s midsection. He grabbed the boy by the collar of his jacket and yanked him close, putting him between himself and Steve so that they could share him.
Marcus grinned.
“Congratulations on your new mating bond,” he said, clapping Steve on his shoulder. He looked down at Dylan. “And your new omega. He’s adorable.”
“Thank you.” Steve smiled, his expression happy as he pulled Dylan back against his chest. Dylan blushed, lowering his gaze as Marcus reached out and ruffled his hair.
A roar from the lawn had all four of them turning their attention to the circling alphas. Ryker and Henry had both shifted, and the two of them were trading a series of blows that looked like they were still testing the waters rather than actually trying to fight.
They were still circling each other, crouching down and keeping their claws at the ready, taking turns attacking and measuring each other’s defenses.
Then Henry launched himself at Ryker, teeth first and going all in, only for Ryker to duck and grab him by his thigh and flip him over. Henry tried to right himself while he was still in the air, but Ryker slammed his fist down on his shoulder and forced him to the ground. Ryker then grabbed him in a bearhug, pinning his arms to his side, and held him down.
Henry tried to use his legs to flip them over, but just when it looked like he might succeed, Ryker sank his teeth into his neck and shook him with a violent jerk.
Henry went limp in submission.
“That boy was born to be a pack alpha,” Steve’s father commented, walking over and crossing his arms over his chest. “I don’t understand what he’s been doing in Fort Plainslac.”
“Avoiding the responsibilities of managing a large pack while claiming a territory and populating it only with people he likes,” Marcus said, bemused.
August hadn’t thought of it in those terms, but that was what they had been doing. Steve was the first person they’d wanted to add to their pack, but if things hadn’t gone the way they had, he probably wouldn’t have been the last.
John frowned, but he nodded in reluctant understanding. He whistled at David, the oldest of the district alphas, and said, “David, you’re up.”
David bounded down the stairs, giving Henry a pat on his shoulder as the two passed each other.
August could tell right from the start that Ryker was going to have his work cut out for him. David’s alpha form was huge, looming half a foot taller than Ryker, and he attacked with brutal aggression.
Ryker managed to duck out of the way of the first strike, and after that things seemed to be pretty even. David used his heft and weight to his advantage, but as the fight wore on, it became obvious that Ryker was going to come out on top. He finally managed to clinch the win by grabbing David from behind, holding the bigger man up and squeezing him in a massive bearhug.
David kicked his legs and fought to get free, but he couldn’t dislodge Ryker from his back. After about two minutes he frantically tapped out.
Ryker let David go, both of them panting for breath and looking exhausted.
“Odin, you’re next,” John said, his voice eager.
Dylan made a noise of protest, but August clamped his hand over his mouth before he could say something that would get him in trouble.
It might seem unfair that Ryker had to keep fighting, especially from a human’s point of view, but it wasn’t. Ryker wasn’t nearly tired enough for it to affect his performance. The most dominant wolf would win.
“He’s fine,” August said, keeping his hand over Dylan’s mouth until he was sure he got the message that he needed to be quiet.
Odin walked down the steps, shifting to his alpha form and stopping about ten feet away from where Ryker was catching his breath. At his approach, Ryker jumped up and stared down his new opponent.
August released his hand from Dylan’s mouth, rubbing his chest in apology as they watched Ryker and Odin circle each other.
