Page 25 of Wilde Beta

“You just have to believe that he can win, and he will. He's learned a lot and gotten so much better in every way. Allow him to make the decision and support whatever it is," Janie offered.

Mel looked at Adam and knew she wouldn't know what to do if he lost the fight because most alpha challenges were to death. Mel had finally decided he was the one for her, and now he would risk it all. Is that really what you wanted to do? They needed to talk and decide that they could both live with. While she knew that Adam could fight, she also knew that he couldn't yet beat Trev. It was hard for her to say where Trev stood regarding fighting ability. Mel thought it might be pretty high, but she didn't have much experience in that area. What if Trev were average, and that made Adam less than average?

While she thought the pack alpha Adam would be fighting wasn't very good, she wasn't sure. The guy was nuts. Sometimes, being crazy could give you an edge. Since there are a lot of insane people in her family, she understood from personal experience. Adam moved towards her, and she led him down a level into her room so they could talk privately. It might be the most important talk they ever had.

“I need to know what you are thinking and what you want to do. I don't want you to take any risks. Now that I have found you and we have been together, I do not want to lose you," Mel admitted.

“You need to understand there is nothing I wouldn't do to protect you. I'm not sure what the council will do with that alpha, but I have heard they released others who were taken into custody. I cannot risk that happening with this alpha. Nothing matters more to me than you," Adam explained.

“Then you should understand that I feel the same way about you. How can this work if you will not give me the same understanding I am trying to give you?” Mel asked.

“I am an alpha male, and you should understand that I cannot let this go by me unpunished. That is the understanding I need from you right now.” Adam responded.

“Isn't it more important that you live with me and stay with me than that you try to punish someone and possibly die?” Mel wondered.

“Have faith that I can do this. This thing must be done for us, and I must let others know that I will not let them harm my family or my pack," Adam explained.

Mel had never considered herself brave and knew she wasn't being brave now. All she wanted was to go somewhere with her mate and never return. Why was that such a bad thing? Why did no one here understand that she didn't want him to risk his life for this? She wasn't strong enough to survive losing him. She knew little about these kinds of situations, and she really didn't want to learn. It looked like her wishes would not be answered, and Adam would pursue this fight with or without her.

“I'll have to challenge him. I will never feel like an alpha again if I don't," Adam explained.

It was clear that she should have resisted him longer. Had they not been mated, he would not have felt the need to fight the crazy alpha, and they could have mated afterward.

Timing was everything, and Mel's was bad, really bad. Because of their commitment now, she would be forced to watch her mate fight and risk dying. The crazy alpha pack people seemed excited about his possibility of being taken out. Why wouldn't they be since he was so damn crazy? The possibility of getting somebody closer to normal would excite anyone in their situation.

“What will happen?” Mel asked.

“I will challenge him. If he refuses to accept, he will lose his pack. It will be as if he fought and lost, except he will not be dead. Instead, the council will take him to their prison, which I have heard is worse than being dead. Trev must determine where the fight will occur if he accepts the challenge. Once he does, that place will forever be designated for fights in his pack. The next step is that two people in a leadership position must witness it, and another person in a higher leadership position must be the judge. If anything unusual happens, the judge will determine the winner. I know this doesn't make much sense to you. I've only recently had someone explain challenges to me," Adam observed.

“Why wouldn't you know this?” Mel asked.

“My grandfather did not feel I needed to know. He feared I would put a challenge to use," Adam responded.

“Your grandfather was really bad. He was not a good example of a pack alpha or even grandfather," Mel growled.

“It no longer matters," Adam agreed with a deep sigh.

“What are you going to do now?” She questioned, even though she had a good idea of what he planned.

“I'm going to challenge him. He will either accept or refuse. If he accepts, Trev knows what to do," Adam answered.

Mel followed him to the dining room, feeling a deep dread inside her. She knew there was a good chance Adam would win, but there was also the possibility that he might not, which pained her heart and soul. To finally have true love only to lose it would kill her.

Mel never really understood how people faded away after their spouse died. It was the same with some after a divorce. They couldn't seem to go on and didn't want anyone else. In that case, it must have been a one-sided love because usually, the other person seemed to go on just fine. She was beginning to understand how you could care enough about someone that life didn't seem worthwhile without them.

Mel hadn't thought she would feel that way, but she did. Now, she would have to go through a ceremony and a challenge. She would have to watch as her mate took on another pack alpha with the possibility that one of them would die.

A pack alpha challenge was usually to the death. There were exceptions, especially if the council wanted the losing alpha to be questioned. It was hard to imagine that would happen in this case. The alpha of the Mexican pack had been a poor leader, but the only thing he had done that was illegal was to come after white wolves.

“I challenge you for coming after my mate," Adam confidently stated.

“I accept your challenge," the crazy alpha said. “When will we fight?”

“I am requesting that Damon come to judge. He will set the day and the time," Trev responded.

“Who else?” The crazy alpha asked.

“Is there anyone you want to attend?” Trev questioned.

---