But as we broke out of the front door, Beau and Ezra shielded us from the scrap while Jack and Sebastian were caught up in the fight, pushing against one another, lunging with their fangs and claws.
They guided us out of the way, and all the while, I couldn’t take my eyes off Sebastian. My heart ached in my chest for him, silently pleading that he might get the upper hand.
I was well aware of how strong Sebastian was. It practically emanated from him. But regardless, that fear was stillpresent within me—a reminder that even the strongest can fall in the right conditions.
His win wasn't guaranteed, even if he was determined and visibly angry.
More than anything, I needed him to win.
Watching with my breath caught in my throat as they exchanged bites, sinking their teeth into fur and flesh and swiping with their claws, I reached for that tether and imagined myself holding it in my hand like a warm embrace.
Silently, I called to him, desperate for Sebastian to come out of the fight as the winner.
We were mates with a long history and the promise of a happy future ahead of us, but that all depended on whether he could manage to stop Jack once and for all.
I needed him to win; I couldn’t imagine my life without him.
Chapter 29 - Sebastian
We were a blur of fur and sharp edges, biting and scratching wherever we could land it.
I kept the heat on him, unrelenting and showing him just how serious I was about the whole thing. Anytime he stumbled or hesitated, I would come down even harder, looking for those ins that would render him weak enough to land a stronger blow.
As we fought, the others stood by, eyes on us while we charged at one another, occasionally breaking apart and evaluating the situation before going back in.
It was more brutal than I anticipated, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t prepared to back down, even if he somehow came out with a stronger offense or managed to pull the fight in his favor.
For us and our future, I needed to keep going.
All the while, I followed his movements closely and tried to anticipate his next ones. Blocking his blows and fighting back, I kept Lydia at the forefront of my mind.
Even if I didn’t have the foresight to know she was my mate until far later, there had always been something special about her. Despite being separated after her parents hauled her away, our paths managed to cross again, and thanks to the goddess, we were reunited and given the opportunity to explore our connection and get ourselves on the right path.
She completed me in ways I never could’ve anticipated and fulfilled my deep-seated longing for a mate and a family.
Regardless of our uncertain meeting and the fact that we had to work through her misconceptions about me, we still did it. We found common ground and accepted that mutual desire.
There was no doubt in my mind that we were fated to be together, and I was prepared to do whatever it took to make that happen.
As I aimed at his flank, hoping to sink my teeth in, Jack was quick and bit my left leg, making me suppress a surprised yelp. But even through the pain, I kept going, snarling and snapping as I forced him back with my jaws.
I didn’t want to admit it, but he was more brutal than I had anticipated. Fast, poised with his strikes, and in a frenzy that nearly rivals my own.
It made sense, however, given how his instincts were kicked into high gear from trying to lay his claim. In his mind, Lydia was still an available mate option, and since I took her away from him, his inner wolf was pissed.
That wolf was set solely on her, and regardless of his true feelings, Jack really wouldn’t stop until he either got his way or was killed. It was just the nature of it, regardless of how much I hated acknowledging it.
Knowing another shifter similarly saw my mate I did was enough to make me feel like I was going insane.
Jack’s anger was a solid fuel that propelled him forward, trying to land blow after blow, but he wasn’t the only one with that kind of edge.
My mate bond was on the line, and my emotions were volatile as a shifter with that kind of connection. Even watching another male look in her direction for too long would be enough to set it off. But having Jack challenge me directly, vying for my mate—the woman I already claimed—sent me over the edge.
With my righteous anger, I used it to my advantage.
Lydia was my mate, and regardless of the damage I acquired or the pain I suffered, I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to give her up.
Pulled apart during a momentary lapse in retaliation, I kept my gaze on Jack as we circled each other. My lips pulled back to expose our teeth stained with blood, and the scent lingered in the air around us. Eyes piercing, flooded with the fury of wanting what his wolf was fixated on, Jack lunged forward with another growl.