The crowd was dead quiet, every single eye homed in on us. In my peripheral vision, I spotted my grandparents, but I kept my gaze locked on Eugenia. I opened my mouth to respond, but Levi spoke first, his voice booming out in an angry shout.
“I challenge you for leadership of Idlewild.” Stepping forward, he pressed his chest to Anders’s, glaring at the other man. “An official challenge to become the new alpha of Idlewild.”
An eruption of whispered conversation, gasps, and curses flooded through the tent. Anders looked nervous and happy about the challenge. My heart lurched in terror. They couldn’t do this. Notnow. Not with the Red Maw at our doorstep. Also, Levi didn’t understand the kind of fighter Anders was. He was the alpha for a reason. He was strong and fast, and he never fought fair. He wasn’t the same kind of person Levi was. He’d doanythingto win, and he very well might kill Levi.
“Accepted,” he said with a smirk. “We’ll see how good the Demon Wolf is when he’s not jumping someone from behind. Half an hour,” he cried, raising his fist. “In half an hour, Idlewild will watch their alpha defeat the legendary Leviathan Cross.” He stepped back, joining Eugenia and his friends. “See you soon.”
Levi growled low in his throat. “That’s right, you will.”
75
LEVIATHAN
Anders stalked off, and I stared after him, teeth grinding together, jaws tight, fists clenched. I wanted tokillhim.
“You can’t do this,” June said, ripping me from my murderous thoughts.
“What do you mean?”
“You can’t fight Anders.” She looked distraught. “Not with everything going on.”
“The hell he can’t,” Rainier chimed in. “Fuck that guy.”
The other alphas and their mates nodded along in agreement.
“If Anders is going to continue being in this alliance, then I’m out,” Blaise said, scowling after Anders. “I won’t partner with a guy like that. If he changed mates that quickly, how fast will he change allegiances?”
“Agreed,” Hakeem muttered, then glanced at me. “You take him down, become alpha of both Idlewild and Hidden Grove, then I’m still in. I respect you, Levi. I don’t respectthatmotherfucker.”
“Can’t we at least wait until the Red Maw have been dealt with before doing this?” June asked.
“No.” I gestured at the others. “Not if they’re going to leave. We need help, and the only way we get it is if Anders is removed from the equation.”
Her lips pressed into a tight line, worry and fear shining in her eyes.
I brushed my fingers over her cheek. “You’re scared?”
“I know Anders, Levi. I know you beat him up earlier today, but that was because you got the jump on him. He’s a good fighter. He fights fast, and he fights dirty. That’s how he won all the challenges and became alpha. He’ll doanythingto win, even if it’s dishonorable.”
“I’ll be ready,” I said. The thought of that loud-mouthed, cocky prick taking me down made me want to puke. Though, there was usually a reason why men like that were cocky. I’d need to take her words to heart.
“I agree with the others,” the alpha named Devon said. “That guy’s an asshole. I’ll follow Levi.”
The others all gave their agreement. June looked like she was on the verge of a breakdown. Putting my arm around her, I pulled her close.
“I’m going to be okay. I promise,” I said.
She pressed her face into my chest. There were no tears, but she was close to it. Holding her, I watched the chaos around us as word spread about the challenge. Eyes found me, some looking hopeful, others as worried as June.
“Sweetheart, come along. You need to let Levi prepare.”
Glancing down, I found June’s grandparents at her side, nudging her away.
June met my eyes, and I saw the question in them. She wanted me to assure her that I’d be okay.
“You go. I’ll get ready.” I kissed her lightly. “It’s all going to be okay. I promise.”
She nodded and moved off with her grandparents. “You better win,” she called, and I couldn’t help but smile.
