Page 119 of Starting a New Life

“That’s… that’s… but…” he whispered, and I chuckled.

“A lion,” I confirmed.

“But he…” Callum’s eyes darted to Heath.

“Is a wolf.”

“But… you said they’re from the same pack!”

I smiled, affection blooming in my chest, and I reached out, placing my hand on Callum’s shoulder, squeezing lightly. “Welcome to Cedarwood. Safe haven for shifters and mages alike.”

Chapter 24

Gray

Rage burned through my body as I ripped the knife out of Otto’s bloody hand, slicing through my own palm in the process. With a snarl, I threw it out of the ring and at the official before turning back to Otto’s pale and bloodied face, letting my fist connect with his nose. The crunching and blood spraying were deeply satisfying, as was the way he went limp under me, eyes unfocused, breathing laboured, one of his eyes already swollen shut.

“Do you give up?” I shouted in his face, pulling him closer by grabbing his hair. “Do you forfeit?”

In theory, I had already won. Otto had broken the rules. He’d hidden a fucking knife in the ring. Weapons were forbidden, and breaking the rules immediately voided any and all of his claims.

But I wanted to hear it. Needed to hear it.

Kill, my wolf urged me on. Rip out his throat.

Oh, I wanted to.

The fucker had abused his own brother. His family. Connie was so afraid he couldn’t even look at him, his fear still hanging in the air, a sour stench for everyone to smell.

Otto groaned, his throat working.

“Do you give up?” I shouted again, shaking his shoulders while sitting on his torso. My stomach hurt, but the sharp pain from the blade had dulled into a warm ache that was easy to ignore.

“Y…yes,” he whispered, eyes falling shut.

I roared in triumph, letting go of him and watched Otto’s head hit the ground with a thud, lolling to the side. His eyes fell closed, face going lax as unconsciousness claimed him.

Vaguely, I became aware of the ruckus around me.

His pack howled in disbelief.

My packmates cheered, but their eyes were sharp, focused on the outbursts of anger around us.

One moment, I was kneeling on top of Otto, still looking down into his battered face, and the next Rhett was pulling me up, and then the official raised my arm above my head as if this were a boxing match.

Somewhere behind me, I heard Connie softly sniffling and Paul snarling. I managed to turn around just in time to see someone clamping his hand around Connie’s wrist. Connie screamed, his eyes blazing over. But instead of cowering, he let out a snarl, surprising the attacker, who visibly flinched but still held on.

Connie was mine.

Ours to protect, my wolf added, rage clouding my vision.

“Let go!” I demanded, whirling around.

My whole body ached, but I pushed through, allowing my wolf to take over. I changed mid-jump, fangs locking around the stranger’s arm. He snarled, eyes flashing.

“Let go of him!” The official demanded.

I growled. Unless that guy took his dirty fingers off Connie, I would do no such thing. Instead, I bit down harder, my teeth scraping over bone.