Page 20 of The Dancer

Chapter Eighteen

Elias

“You’re nervous,” Waylon states, standing in my home office as the sun starts to descend.

“I think the word you’re looking for is agitated.”

The glare I send in my beta’s direction would have a weaker man crying.

“It looks the same to me.”

Instead of giving in and telling him to fuck off, I hold my tongue. I need to stay focused on the fight. It’s only a few hours before I need to face Warren, and I can’t afford any distractions.

“Why are you here?” I ask.

“Just checking in. Making sure you still want to go through with this.”

I stare at the man before me. We have known each other all our lives. He has been my best friend for as long as I can remember.

“You chose your mate, correct?” He nods. “I didn’t. I waited and waited until I found my fated mate, even though there was a chance I would spend my life alone. It is something completely different.”

“What do you mean?” he asks with a frown.

“You love your woman. I’ve seen you together. I don’t love Quinn. I live for her. She is the reason I breathe. If anything were to happen to her, I wouldn’t be able to carry on. That’s the difference.”

“Damn,” Waylon says lowly.

“Does that answer your question?”

He nods. I can see he is lost in thought, running my words over in his mind. I didn’t mean to disparage what he has with his mate. It doesn’t make what I said any less accurate.

“I need you to make sure no one else interferes,” I saydragging him back to reality.

“Why would anyone interfere?” he asks with a frown.

“I have a feeling Daryl would be happier if I lost this fight.”

Anger flashes across his face. “I have your back.”

“Good.”

****

Outside the pack compound, almost a mile away, is a large clearing in the middle of the forest. Since before I was born this area has been used for various ceremonies. To celebrate births, matings, and even deaths. But tonight it will be used for combat for the first time in almost a hundred years.

We haven’t had a fight to the death over any dispute for generations, and it hurts me to be the person to break this streak, but I don’t have a choice. A blood vow is just as binding as our mating and the only way to break it is to kill Warren.

“I love you,” Quinn says softly while I hold her.

Behind me, I hear the other Alpha growl, but I don’t pay him any mind.

“As do I.” I stare down at her tear-streaked face. “Don’t cry. Everything will work out the way it should.”

“What if you lose?”

“I won’t.”

“But…”

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