Page 65 of The Finder

“No, you’re not,” Garrett said.

Emma gaped at him. “Did we not just have this conversation upstairs moments ago?”

“Did you not just hear me say how valuable you are and that you need to be protected? I’m not marching you out there in front of another alpha,” he said angrily.

“Garrett, you promised me,” she said.

He blew out a frustrated breath. “Fine, but if I say, you come right back inside. Let’s go see what he wants,” he said, putting out his hand out to her. Several guys walked in front of them and several behind as they walked out the front door. Garrett walked to the edge of the porch. “Samuel,” he called out by way of greeting.

Emma looked down at the man standing a little distance away from them. She could tell he was a wolf. He was older than Garrett by a good twenty years and powerfully built, but he had a cold, cruel look to him. His eyes landed on hers and he raked her over from head to toe. Emma shivered and was glad she was wearing Garrett’s sweatshirt. She felt Garrett’s hand tighten on hers and a growl build in his throat.

“You know why I’m here,” Samuel called out. His voice was cold and heartless. “I’m here for the girl.”

This time a full growl left Garrett’s mouth. “Over my dead body,” he growled out, the words barely legible.

Samuel grinned. “Then so be it. I formally challenge you in a fight to the death for the finder,” he said.

“Challenge accepted,” Garrett ground out.

“No,” Emma said, turning to him in a panic. “Garrett, you can’t do this.” But he was already shrugging out of his shirt. His eyes never left his challenger. A moment later, all he had on were his pants. He turned and pulled her in for a bruising kiss. “I’ll be back for you,” he said. “Kyle,” he barked and nodded at Emma. Then he was gone. One moment he was standing next to her, the next he was down the steps and moving away from her.

“Emma, you don’t want to watch this. How about I take you inside,” Kyle suggested from next to her. Madison came and stood on her other side.

“Not happening,” Emma said. “Where are they going?” she asked.

He took one look at her face and nodded. “The fight circle. Come on, I’ll take you.” Kyle led her in the direction everyone was walking. It wasn’t too long before she saw it. There were deep grooves in the ground marking a perfect circle. Garrett and Samuel both stepped inside the circle. Emma tried to walk closer, but Kyle stopped her. “I can’t let you get any closer,” he said.

Emma saw that Max and Levi stood right outside the ring and two guys stood on Samuel’s side. “What are they doing?” she asked.

“The top enforcer for each side is there to make sure the fight is fair and clean, and the Beta is there in to take the Alpha’s place if he—“ he abruptly cut off and looked down at Emma.

“If he’s killed,” Emma finished for him. Kyle nodded.

Madison put her arm through Emma’s. “It will be okay. Garrett’s powerful.”

“Ready?” Max called out. When both alphas nodded, Max called out, “Fight!”

If Emma’s eyes weren’t trained on Garrett, she would have missed what happened next. One second, he was standing there a man, the next he was leaping through the air a wolf. The fight was aggressive instantly. Emma covered her mouth when Garrett took his first hit. She had thought she could handle this, but she was so wrong. The fight was vicious and ugly. Within moments, blood was freely flowing. Garrett almost had the Alpha pinned when he suddenly turned and took out a chunk of Garrett’s wolf’s shoulder. Emma closed her eyes. She couldn’t watch. “Stand tall,” Madison whispered next to her. “You’re the alpha’s mate.”

Emma took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Her whole body shuddered when the two wolves met in the air in a collision. Moments later, Garrett’s wolf had the other alpha pinned. “Close your eyes,” Kyle muttered. Emma did so without questioning. She heard a horrible sound that almost made her throw up on the spot. “Okay,” Kyle said. Emma opened her eyes. She stared at the dead body of the wolf. His throat had been torn out. She started breathing quickly and swallowing, trying to keep from throwing up.

“Beta of the Chicago pack, do you wish to take your Alpha’s place and challenge me?” Garrett called out in a gruff voice.

“No,” the man responded. “We acknowledge our Alpha’s defeat. I have no desire to challenge you for the finder,” the Beta responded with his head bowed. “We only ask that when the right time comes, she be allowed to help our pack find their mates.”

“Then you are now Alpha of your pack,” Garrett commanded. “We will figure out a way to help all the packs, but challenging me for her is not the answer. I will continue to kill every alpha that tries to do so. Spread the word,” Garrett said harshly. Then he turned and strode towards her wearing just a pair of black sweat pants. He grabbed her by the elbow and walked her in the direction of the house. She could feel the fury coming off of him. Instinctively though, she knew she was safe with him. That didn’t stop her stomach from rolling at what she had just experienced. Her legs didn’t feel like they could carry her. By the time they got to the house, Garrett was practically dragging her along. Without a word to anybody, he led her inside the house and down the hall to his room.

Chapter 37

The second the door closed behind them, Emma raced for the toilet. She threw up all the contents of her stomach. Garrett crouched next to her and held her hair back. Emma finally stood up, shakily. He handed her a wet rag.

“Are you okay?” he asked in concern.

“AmIokay?! You almost died!” Emma shrieked.

Garrett shook his head. “No, I didn’t.”

“But that other wolf, he-he,” she couldn’t get the words out.

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