Oh my God, you are amazing. I love you so much. You’re totally getting lucky after the challenge.He heard Sage say in his mind. Garridan smiled in his head, but outwardly, he showed no emotion.
“Thank you, Garridan Arach. I see I chose my beta wisely.” Ramsey touched the nape of Garridan’s neck. Garridan stood. He stayed by Ramsey’s side, but turned to Sage, winking to ease his mate’s mind.
And I love you.
“I challenge him,” someone said from the crowd and then people moved aside as one of the guys that Sage had pointed out earlier came forward. Garridan didn’t remember which one it was. Probably the one Sage said would be stupid enough.
“That is your right.” Ramsey took a few steps back, closer to where Bennett stood, getting out of the way of the challenge.
“After I’m done with him, I’ll challenge you,” the man said to Ramsey.
Garridan growled low in his throat and began taking off his clothing.Come here.
Sage immediately came over to him. Garridan handed him his clothes as each piece came off. There was a chill in the air. Garridan wasn’t sure if Sage shook because of the cold or because he was scared. Sage kept his head down, not making eye contact with anyone and took a step toward Garridan. He heard Sage through their bond link.At least he’s smarter than Delvin was. He probably won’t get kicked out of the clan. He’s still an asshole that needs to be put in his place.
Garridan smiled and watched as Sage left the circle, his arms full of clothing.
Kick his ass.
Garridan turned to his opponent and noticed that he had already shifted. Garridan wanted to laugh when he saw the wolf. It might have been a bit larger than a normal wolf, but not by much. Unless he was able to move lightning-quick, the small shifter was no match for his dragon.
Garridan shifted and roared, inviting the wolf shifter to either attack him or leave the circle. The wolf moved around Garridan, trying to find some weakness.
The wolf shifter lunged, his teeth closing around Garridan’s front left leg. He heard Sage scream but tried to ignore him. Instead, Garridan flew up a couple of feet in the air and twisted, flinging the wolf off him. The wolf hit the ground with athunk, yelping.
Garridan stalked his challenger. He roared as he got closer. The wolf shifter rolled to his back and tilted his neck, giving in to Garridan.
Garridan shifted, inviting the wolf to do the same. When he did, Garridan held out a hand offering to help the guy up. The man hesitated but took it. Garridan pulled him up and that was when the smell hit him. The man reeked of vampires. More specifically, he smelled of Stavros’ coven.
“Have the vampires approached you?” Garridan asked him calmly.
The male shifted into his wolf again, turning toward either Lucas or Sage, Garridan couldn’t tell which one. Sage stepped in front of Lucas, and Bennett stepped in front of them both. The wolf stalked forward, snarling and biting at the air.
His little mate surprised him by his protective gesture. Sage wasn’t as scared and broken as he believed, it seemed, not if his instincts kicked in the second his friend was threatened.
Garridan shifted and grabbed the wolf by the scruff of his neck with his mouth. He tossed him up in the air as if he was a toy. Garridan shiftedback.
Ramsey bent down and smelled him.
Garridan stalked forward. “You will be dead by tomorrow. If you have anything to say, say it now.”
The wolf shifted back. “The witch—” It was all he got out before his body froze.
Every single person turned in Lucas’ direction. “What? He was going to say something stupid. Do you want me to unfreeze him, Ramsey?”
Ramsey chuckled. “No, Lucas. You did great.”
Ramsey nodded to Bennett, who grabbed the wolf and took him away from the circle. Garridan noticed Vaughan, Owen, and Forrest came around Lucas and Sage when Bennett left. Each brother protected the family and that was how it should be. Jules and Ladon both pushed their way through and stood next to Sage and Lucas, creating a united front.
A group of men brought his challenger’s friends into the circle. One of the men, who dressed like a farmer and also as if he had much better things to do than be at the challenge. “They all smell like vampire, Alpha.”
“Thank you, Thad,” Ramsey said.
“We’ll put these with the other one and be right back. I want to try for an enforcer’s position,” Thad said to Ramsey.
Ramsey smiled. “You have it. We’ll wait for you, to see if someone wants to challenge you.”
Thad nodded. “Come on, let’s get rid of them,”
