Page 26 of Wilde Beta

“Ricardo Juarez is the Councilman from my area. I wish him to be present.”

“I will alert him," Trev answered.

The challenge was now accepted, and plans were being made. Mel was sure Damon would come and oversee things, which made her feel better. He was a good male and would see that things were done correctly.

She had heard in the past that cheating occurred, and she didn't want that to happen. She was worried because this would be Adam's second challenge and the first one, he had lost.

Everything was moving along quickly. They heard that Damon and Cage would be present. Ricardo Juarez would also be there, but she heard he was fair and honest. Why the crazy guy would want him present, she couldn't imagine.

Trev had been taking Adam down to the workout room, reviewing the rules of an alpha challenge, and working with him on anything he wanted.

The crazy alpha was being kept in the barn. He was told he could work out, but he refused.

That sounded stupid to her, but stupid is as stupid does. Many of the guy's actions sounded ridiculous, and it was obvious he didn't treat his pack right.

Adam and Mel spent each night together. They were growing closer, and she worried about what would happen if she lost him.

It would be their last night together. In the morning, the alpha challenge would occur. Damon and Cage were coming in the morning, but Ricardo had already arrived and been assigned a room.

Ricardo expressed surprise that he was invited to participate in the challenge. He said he barely knew the alpha and had no idea why he would invite him. If there was a reason, it remained to be seen.

Chapter 7

A Challenge

It was the morning of the challenge, and everyone was getting ready. They had all been calling him the crazy alpha, but he had a name, Emilio Sanchez. Adam thought he would rather not know his name because it made killing him more personal. He believed he understood everything there was to know about a challenge. Trev had gone over it again and again. A challenge was brutal and usually resulted in the death of one or sometimes both of the participants.

He'd spoken to Damon when he arrived. Adam was surprised the council would prefer he not kill Emilio. If it was necessary, they would understand, but they needed him for questioning. He had been involved in some shady dealings. They did not want to go into detail, and Adam really didn't care. If he could take him down without taking him out, that would have been what they preferred. Adam hoped that was what he preferred, too, because he had never actually killed a person and didn't want to start. He was not a bloodthirsty wolf and never had been. Maybe that was one of the reasons his grandpa thought he was weak.

Even though there had been a time when what his grandpa thought had meant more to him than anything, Adam was beginning to understand that his grandpa had been the weak one. For selfish reasons, he'd held back information that would have helped the pack stay stronger. Being selfish was only one indication that his grandpa had been flawed. Gramps had also been unable to trust anyone, and he'd withheld his love from the only one to whom he should have given it. Adam spoke to his mate for hours. They talked about his life when he was younger, and she helped him understand the things his grandpa blamed him for should never be held against a child.

It helped him dispel some of the guilt and to understand that his grandpa had not been a good man. He'd been an even worse alpha and a terrible grandpa. Letting go of the guilt about his relationship with his grandpa greatly helped Adam's attitude. His mate was understanding and helpful. She was the best thing that ever happened to him. He didn't want to lose her and didn't want to die, but the challenge was something he had to do. If he didn't at least try, he would feel like a failure for the rest of his life. As an alpha who had made many mistakes, it was preferable to die than to fail again.

Adam sat next to his mate as they ate breakfast. They needed a good meal to give them the strength to get through what was coming. He understood this would be hard on her. She had to watch with no ability to affect the outcome. That would be hard for anyone. Regardless of the outcome, it would change her life.

If he lost, she would no longer have her fated mate and would never find a relationship like it again. If he won, they would have a new pack and move to Mexico. Adam wasn't sure if she had made the connection and didn't want to deal with anything more than the upcoming fight.

If, or maybe he should say, when he won, there would be time to deal with the changes they faced.

It would be difficult for both of them. They would have to learn Spanish and deal with a new pack they knew nothing about.

The alpha Adam was fighting was cruel and selfish in the way he ran his pack. Adam hoped he would do better and see the pack as a success. A happy pack was good for the alpha, and a happy alpha was good for the pack.

Once breakfast was done, he went with Damon and Trev to warm up so that he would be prepared for what was to come. After he warmed up, they gave him a pep talk and told him to keep his eyes on the prize and not to let the other alpha gain the upper hand. It wasn't like he would let him if he did get the upper hand. That would only happen if the guy was a better fighter, and there was little he could do about that. It was true that many in the pack expressed hope Adam would win, but they would not show that hope around their alpha. If he won, they had to live with him again.

Adam understood the pack's situation was not good. Once he was in the circle, he didn't blame them for their actions. It didn't matter. He had enough people on his side to encourage him.

Damon left a little early to see the other alpha so he would not be accused of being on Adam’s side, even though he was. It was all about perception, and when you were a Councilman, you had to be careful how people viewed your outlook. It was especially true when you were judging a fight that could cost someone their life.

Maybe an hour passed, and they gathered around the circle Harry made. Where she found the rocks, he had no idea.

They were massive and lined the fighting circle. There was a gap allowing people to enter and exit the circle. She also managed to bring in bleachers for seating.

She'd placed a giant chair for the judge and a couple of smaller chairs for people of importance. Adam wasn't sure what the chairs were made of because they looked like rock, but how could that be possible?

Mel sat next to Damon and Marissa. The other two witnesses were on the other side. Ricardo sat next to them.

The bleachers were filled with pack members, although many men stood closer to the circle. Adam could feel the anticipation running through everyone present. Most of them hoped he would win.

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