Bulwark.
He was shirtless as well with unmarked skin. Not a cut or a bruise on him. He smiled, moving toward Caidrik, steam flowing off his heated body.
Nadia’s stomach dropped.
Bussy’s arm came around her without a word. Margaret leaned in on the other side. Nadia didn’t look away from the field. If she did, she was afraid she wouldn’t look back.
Bulwark stopped a few yards from Caidrik. “I’m surprised you lasted this long, Brother.”
“You have always been such a complete dick,” Caidrik muttered. “Don’t know why.”
Bulwark rolled his shoulders. “This pack is mine. I’ll give you one chance to walk away. Leave the Nightsom heir and slink away.”
“She’s mine,” Caidrik snarled, his mouth dripping blood.
The whistle blew.
Bulwark moved in a burst of power, going straight in. He slammed his fist into Caidrik’s already-bruised ribs. The sound was awful. A dull, wet crack that made Nadia gasp.
Caidrik staggered.
Bulwark followed and drove him back, punching with sharp precision. Caidrik blocked some of the hits. Others landed. Each one snapped his head or folded his body. He slipped in the churned slush and went down on one knee.
The pack roared.
Nadia pressed her hands to her mouth. Her heart felt too big for her chest. He had to get up. Right now.
Caidrik did. Slowly. Blood ran from his nose now, splashing onto the snow. He planted his fist in Bulwark’s thigh, and the other wolf howled, hopping back. Then Bulwark’s chin lowered, and he moved in again.
A blow to the jaw sent Caidrik sprawling this time, landing hard on his back. Snow sprayed up around him. Bulwark loomed over him with his fists clenched. “Stay down.”
Caidrik rolled onto his side and pushed himself up. He swayed on his feet.
Around Nadia, the pack went quiet.
Bulwark smiled again and went in for the kill.
He grabbed Caidrik by the throat and slammed him backward. Nadia screamed, the sound tearing out of her before she could stop it. Caidrik’s head and shoulders hit the ground hard. Bulwark dropped, knee first, to smash into Caidrik’s gut.
Caidrik retched. Blood sprayed the snow.
Nadia couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t look away.
Caidrik twisted and kicked Bulwark off him to hit the ground and slide away. They both leaped to their feet, circling and snarling.
Caidrik drove his shoulder into Bulwark’s hip and took him down. They hit the ground together, rolling, fists and elbows colliding. Snow flew. The sounds of them fighting to the death filled the air. It was ferocious and terrifying.
Bulwark snarled and punched Caidrik in the face again. Caidrik’s head snapped back, but he didn’t let go. He shifted his grip, bared his teeth, and punched hard into Bulwark’s ribcage. Once. Twice. A third time.
Bulwark grunted.
Nadia leaned forward so far she thought she might fall out of the stands.
Caidrik rolled them, using leverage instead of force, and got on top. Bulwark bucked hard, nearly throwing him off. Caidrik clung on with a relentlessness that was all him. He drove a fist into Bulwark’s face. Blood arced gracefully across the air.
The pack erupted.
Bulwark roared and surged, throwing Caidrik off. Both males struggled to their feet, staggering. They stood there for a heartbeat, chest to chest, both breathing hard now.
