“Don’t tell her what to do,” Liam responded, getting in Gray’s face. Their aggression seeped into their scents, setting my omega on edge.
I shot Bear an exasperated look and he gathered me to his side.
“They need to work this out between them,” he murmured in my ear. “Just ignore them. Let’s practice the move again.”
I eyed the two alphas, who were both standing stone-faced with their arms crossed. The room swirled with their acidic scents, deeply unsettling my omega.
“Come on, show me how it’s done,” Henry encouraged, nudging me.
“Fine,” I said.
Bear came at me and this time I managed to hook my leg around his, taking him down to the mat. Unfortunately, I got tangled up in his limbs and hit the ground beside him.
“Fuck yeah! Amazing work,” Bear said, grinning at me.
I returned his smile, feeling a spark of confidence. Maybe I wasn’t completely useless when it came to defending myself.
Footsteps sounded on the mat, and I looked up to find Liam looming over me. “That’s enough,” he said, helping me up and running his hands over my body. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“Oh, so it’s fine for you to order her around, but not me?” Gray snarled, stomping over.
“I think Westin can make her own choice on when she’s had enough,” Bear said.
“Like you would tell her to stop. You’re just as reckless as she is,” Liam snapped.
My jaw dropped. “That’s not fair.”
The alphas ignored me.
“Why don’t you two show her how it’s done,” Bear said, taking a step towards Liam, his arms flexed.
“Fine. You and me.” Liam pointed at Gray.
“If you think you can take me,” Gray responded, cracking his knuckles.
“What the fuck is happening?” I muttered at Henry, who put his arm around me and guided me to the side of the room.
He sighed. “I don’t understand this alpha shit, but I think Bear’s right. They need to have it out. Might as well get it over with.”
“I don’t want them to fight,” I said.
Bear came to my side. “Just let it happen, baby.”
“But why does it have to happen?” I asked. “If this is some sort of fighting for my honor?—”
“I don’t think it’s that,” Bear said, cutting me off. “They’re both dominant alphas around a beautiful little omega. Their instincts are pushing them to fight for pack dominance.”
“What? That’s so stupid. We don’t need a pack hierarchy,” I said.
“Well, alphas are a bit stupid,” Henry said.
Whatever I was going to say died on my lips as Liam and Gray stripped off their t-shirts. My eyes drank in the expanse of muscles. Liam was broader and slightly taller, but Gray was almost just as muscular.
They squared off, both of them raising fists in front of their faces as they circled. Liam was the one who made the first move, striking a punch at Gray’s ribs, which he deftly dodged. I grabbed Bear’s hand and squeezed tight.
“How are you totally unbothered?” I asked, taking in Bear’s easy stance.
“I spent years watching alphas fight off their aggression,” he said easily. “They’ll be fine.”
