"You claim protection over the pack less female." The stranger's voice carries across the quad, gesturing toward me where I stand in the crowd.
My blood turns to ice. He's challenging Caspian's protection over me.
The crowd goes silent. This is pack law, ancient right that predates the Academy. Any Alpha can challenge another's protection claim over an unaffiliated wolf. Winner gets the claim.
Winner gets me.
Caspian's expression doesn't change but I can see the tension in his shoulders, how his hands have curled into fists at his sides. "On what grounds?"
"You're Academy Alpha. Untested in real combat." The stranger grins and it's not friendly. "I'm Fabian Cross, Alpha of Ironwood Pack. She needs protection from someone with real experience, someone who can defend her when actual threats come." He takes a step closer. "Unless you're afraid to defend your claim?"
It's a trap. If Caspian backs down he loses status and me. If he fights and loses the result is the same. His only option is to fight and win.
My mind races. Who sent this male? Is this connected to the wolf Knox fought off two nights ago? Someone is systematically trying to get to me and now they're using pack law to do it.
"When?" Caspian asks, voice deadly calm.
"Now. Combat circle. Witnesses required per pack law."
Fabian is confident. He's older and bigger and more experienced, which means he thinks this will be easy.
Caspian's eyes scan the crowd and find me. The question in them is clear: am I worth fighting for? Do I want him to do this?
I should stop it. Pack Dynamics class covered challenges last semester and the female has the right to reject both claimants,ending the fight before it starts. I could refuse the challenge and walk away from both of them.
But I don't want to stop it. I want to see him fight for me and know if he's willing to bleed to keep his claim and prove what I already feel building between us.
I hold his gaze and nod.
Something shifts in his posture, weight dropping, Alpha instinct taking over. "Clear a space."
The crowd erupts. Students surge backward, forming a rough circle in the quad. This isn't the formal arena, just open ground between buildings, but it's enough space for what's coming. Faculty members appear at the edges, drawn by the commotion. I spot Professor Harmon among them and my stomach drops.
Julian's face is carefully blank but I can feel his tension through our bond. He's terrified and trying not to show it, can't do anything to help because no one can know we're bonded.
Headmaster Owen pushes through the crowd to the center. "What's happening here?"
"Protection challenge, Headmaster." Fabian's voice carries. "Pack law. All legal and proper."
Owen's jaw tightens but he nods. "Combat to submission or forfeit. No shifting on campus grounds per Academy rules. No weapons. No interference from witnesses." He looks at both fighters. "Understood?"
"Understood," Caspian says.
"Agreed," Fabian replies.
Owen steps back. "Begin."
They circle each other slowly in the makeshift ring. Students press close, shouting and placing hasty bets. The energy is electric and violent and I can barely breathe watching them.
Fabian moves first. He's faster than his size suggests and his fist catches Caspian's jaw with a crack that echoes across the quad. The blow snaps Caspian's head to the side and bloodappears at the corner of his mouth. Most males would drop from a hit like that. Caspian spits red onto the dirt and grins. "That all you've got?"
Fabian snarls and comes at him again. The fight becomes brutal fast. Fists and elbows and knees, both of them trading blows with vicious intensity that makes the crowd roar. Fabian has experience and raw power behind every strike. Caspian has speed and fury burning in his eyes.
I watch Caspian duck under a wild haymaker and drive his fist into Fabian's ribs. The older Alpha grunts but doesn't slow down, just grabs Caspian and they grapple for position. Muscles strain as each tries to gain advantage. Fabian gets an arm around Caspian's throat and squeezes. Caspian's face goes red and panic floods my chest.
He's going to lose. Fabian's too strong, too experienced. Caspian's going to pass out and then I'll belong to a stranger who was probably sent here to take me.
But Caspian doesn't panic. He drops his weight and uses Fabian's momentum against him, breaks free with a move so fast I barely see it happen. Then he's spinning and his elbow catches Fabian's temple with enough force that the bigger male staggers.
