Dorian sucked in a breath.
“You and I need to have a conversation about books later.” Dorian’s response had me trying not to laugh as I dodged another poorly aimed swing with just a side step. “I’m behind on my supernatural history if you’ll forgive the fantasy-style framing of that description.”
Webster was barely holding back giggles, mostly because one of his older brothers had told him real men don’t giggle.
His family was half weird and half asshole.
How that kid had turned out so sweet I had no idea.
“Fight me.” Our angry new friend was just getting more and more worked up as I kept moving. I’d been taught to conserve energy, but clearly, he hadn’t been given that advice. “You’re a fake Alpha and a coward.”
Did he really think that would make me reckless?
Maybe Uncle Coen hadn’t been just being a competitive dick when he’d tease me as we practiced fighting.
“Real Alpha’s don’t punish misguided wolves.” That’d been another one of the first lessons I’d learned along with learning how to gather the power I’d be given as Alpha. “I don’t know what’s happened in your pack but this isn’t right.”
Some part of him had to know that based on his half-hearted attack.
But it wasn’t a big enough part because his swings were getting more violent even if they weren’t getting much closer.
I really hoped Dorian could see that or I was going to be a dead Alpha when this was over…because he was going to be pissed.
“The…pup…belongs…to…Alpha Otto.” His stuttered-out response came with swings and slightly abrupt charges like he didn’t know what he was supposed to be doing. Was the magic affecting him more than he realized? “You’re a fake Alpha.”
“Do you think he’s ever met a real Alpha?” Dorian’s question had our new friend nearly tripping over either his own foot or something in the grass.
His growled-out embarrassment had Dorian sighing. “Don’t be embarrassed. It’s okay. Everyone falls.”
For fuck’s sake.
“You’re not supposed to be nice to the enemy, Mr. Dorian.” The smile in Webster’s voice was just as distracting as my mate’s logical questions. “We’rehopinghe trips and falls on his face.”
“But that’s just not nice and I’m hoping he learns how wrong he is.” Dorian was too nice for his own good.
Fuck.
“Stop calling me wrong!” Whirling around, the crazy wolf lost his shit and aimed all that anger at my mate.
He looked nearly feral.
I’d never seen it happen in real life, but I’d been taught all the signs. I’d just never thought I’d have to use that information because I hadn’t been kidding when I’d told Dorian our pack was stable.
Webster started to shimmer to bring out his fucking dinosaur form that was impossible to hide, but I’d had enough of the nonsense.
I was Alpha…and he wasn’t going after my mate.
“Stop!” Letting the power of the first Alpha finally spill out, I could feel the explosion of magic radiate around us like a bomb, but it was all aimed at the idiot.
Who froze just like he was supposed to.
Who was a badass learner?
I was a badass learner.
And my mate was going to have to tell me that later when he was cuddling me and giving me attention.
“Good pup.” Yes, I was being deliberately antagonizing with a sugary tone, but I had to get through to him. “This is much better behavior.”
