We crossed the living room toward the wall of bodies lining the deck’s railing. I slid in next to Cole, scanning the grounds for Sarah. She stood between her brother and another girl—a shortredhead.
Although the Matzs were too far below for me to gauge their expressions, the set of their shoulders told me Julian’s family was on edge. The rest of his pack seemed slightly more relaxed. They formed a loose web behind Julian, who was discarding his clothes. He was down to a white undershirt and a pair of tight whitebriefs.
His sister was circling Cassandra, whose body was already bared, shoulders held back, large breasts hanging low. Did the Creeks walk around naked all the time? Nudity was really the last thing I should be wondering about at thismoment.
“What is Nora Matz doing?” Iasked.
“She’s Julian’s Second,” August said, just as Lori broke away from the Creek Pack and crossed the field towardJulian.
“What’s a Second?” Iasked.
Cole leaned his hip against the railing, one eyebrowraised.
“Don’t look at me like that, Cole. My werewolf education was cut short when my dad died, and although I’ve learned a couple things recently, I know there are still a lot of gaps in my shifterknowledge.”
“Alphas can’t duel without Seconds. It’s a human tradition that the packs adopted and have used since the first recorded Alpha duel in the Appalachians.” It was August who answered. “Like in human duels, Seconds are in charge of making sure there’s no foul play. They’ll also watch the duel up close—like referees of sorts. If any rules are broken, they can separate the parties. The duel is then either postponed if both parties desire a rematch or canceled altogether. If that happens, then each pack has an obligation to return to their territories and the Alphas are no longer allowed to challenge each other during the rest of their lifetime. However, if one of the packs sees a new Alpha rise, then that new Alpha may challenge the reigning Alpha of the enemypack.”
“What if the Seconds can’t stop the duel in time and one of the challengers dies as a result of a brokenrule?”
“Then the Second of the fallen Alpha can challenge the victor instantly, without waiting a full moon cycle.” August was focused on Lori who was circling Julian’s now entirely naked form, stopping to grab his hand and look beneath his fingernails. She then tilted his head up and stuck her finger inside hismouth.
“She’s checking for concealed weapons and illegal substances implanted in the enamel,” Cole explained, angling his big body back toward thelawn.
If anything, I was more confused now. “I don’t understand how fighting right away benefits the Seconds,” I said, returning to the rules ofdueling.
“The victor expends a lot of energy during a fight. Especially in an Alpha battle. Considering the Second isn’t an Alpha, their odds of winning against one are usually nil.” August’s eyes were on me now. “Let’s say Julian beats Cassandra, but somehow Lori notices that he used foul play to do so—a trap on the ground, or a staged commotion in his ranks, or he somehow turned a stick into a weapon—Lori has the right to challenge him on the spot. She’ll have the advantage of being freshandher body won’t go through an inspection, so technically she could have a concealed weapon. You can bet both Lori and Nora are prepped to counteract. Of course, it doesn’t mean they can beat an Alpha. They won’t have the body mass or training of an Alpha. Most of the times, Seconds forfeit to save theirhides.”
“I’ve never heard of a Second challenging a victorious Alpha,” Colesaid.
The Creek Pack shaped a compact arc behind Cassandra. I guessed from the sheer swell of unfamiliar faces that all the Creeks had arrived for the event. The mass of bodies made the hundred Pines standing behind Julian seem measly. The Seconds met in the center of the field. After they exchanged quiet words, they both nodded and traipsed back toward their respective families, ridding their bodies of clothes before shifting intofur.
You stayed.Liam’s voice inside my mind was so jarring that my heartleaped.
I placed a palm against my chest before looking for him in the row of Boulders lining the railing. I’d imagined he was standing somewhere below, holding Cassandra’s son in some death vice, but Liam was right there amongst his men and me, no Alex insight.
I’m truly sorry, Ness. And not that you found out. I’m sorry for having wanted your father dead. I’m sorry that I kept it from you, that I hurt you . . . that I disappointed you . . . again. I hope in time you’ll be able to forgiveme.
I bit my lip, whisking my lashes down to counter the surging slickness. I darted my gaze back to the field, Julian’s and Cassandra’s naked forms coming in and out of focus. Next to me, I felt August’s fingers graze my hip. I moved away from him, bumping intoCole.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Cole exchanging a look with August. Sadly, I knew what that look was about. Cole oozed wariness. It wafted off him like the stench of his cigarettes. He was wrong to be wary. Not wanting August to touch me had nothing to do with harboring secret romantic feelings for Liam. I simply didn’t want attention from the pack—be it from Liam or from any otherBoulder.
August gripped the railing as though ready to splinter the wood he and our fathers had sanded down years ago, tendons pinching in his hands, making the dried blood that still stained his skincrackle.
A low howl pierced the bright-blue sky, and then a second howlanswered.
“And so it begins,” Cole whispered under hisbreath.
49
My hands joinedthe many other sets gripping the deck railing. The fight had started about ten minutes ago, and although the light-brown fur on Cassandra’s back was tinged red from where Julian had sank his teeth into her, she was still on all fours. She moved slowly, as though the pain in her rear was taking a toll on her body. Considering he’d bit her at the start of the fight, she should’ve begun toheal.
Julian waited for Cassandra to creep closer before jumping on her. She flattened against the grass, then rolled over onto her back. I expected she’d keep rolling, but no . . . she stopped moving, as though waiting for Julian to land on her. The second his body came within limb-length of hers, she slashed his belly with her claws, then whirled around beneath him and bucked him off her injuredback.
Julian landed with a heavy thump a couple feet away from her. For a moment, he didn’tmove.
I held mybreath.
Everyoneheld theirbreath.
