Page 48 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

Not wanting the small number of members who are on his side to turn their backs on him, Corey declares, “That still doesn’t stop what has been started. When Joaquin sends thismutt back to the Gods, I will show favor to you and Nyah by making the two of you one of my concubines. Any children we bare will not be amongst my higher hierarchy. They will be servants to me and the mate I chose.”

Within a blink of an eye, Levi has tackled Corey to the ground like an NFL linebacker. They exchange blows. Beta against Beta. In the midst of their scuffle, Braxton attacks Joaquin after he lands a cheap shot to the back of Levi’s head.

The bear shifter is caught off guard as Braxton bombards him with jabs to his torso like Mike Tyson in his prime. Corey’s small following and Joaquin’s men attempt to step in but are thwarted when Braxton’s men and Bryant’s pull their guns.

“These will be a fair fight,” Bryant announces. “If any one of you tries to intervene, you will be shot. And by shot, I mean with deadly force. The choice is yours.”

One of Joaquin’s men, thinking Bryant is bluffing, charges forward only to receive a gunshot to his temple.

After watching the man’s body fall to the ground, Bryant addresses the others again, “Who’s next to find out? The way I’m feeling right now, I should give the order for them to kill you all.”

It’s amazing to see how men will cower and beg for their lives when put in this type of position. A minute ago, they had their chests stuck out, ready to show their loyalty. Now, they’re groveling idiots.

“Bitches,”I think to myself, putting my attention to where it needed to be...Braxton.

By this time, they were equally getting the best of each other, but one thing Joaquin didn’t anticipate is Braxton’s agility. He might have Braxton by the weight and muscle, but they are no match to Braxton’s speed and stamina. Braxton lands an uppercut to Joaquin’s chin, then follows with an elbow for extra measure. Joaquin stumbles back, shaking his head. Braxton sprints towards him and Joaquin catches him in a bear hug.Joaquin gives a bloody grin as he squeezes Braxton’s midsection like the jaws of life. Braxton yells in agony.

To hear my mate roar out in pain has me wanting to fight to get out of daddy’s clutches and help him, but I have to remember what Daddy told me earlier. It doesn’t stop me from being heated on the inside.

Braxton lets out a deep howl as he semi shifts, then slaps his palms flat against Joaquin’s ears hard enough to throw off his equilibrium. Joaquin immediately releases Braxton, cupping the sides of his head.

With Joaquin momentarily phased, Braxton fully shifts into his wolf. He swipes Joaquin’s chest, leaving deep gashes. As Joaquin falls to his knees, Braxton leaps over him and starts to attack his legs. This is a tactic wolves use to take down larger prey. If you can’t use your legs, you’re pretty much left defenseless.

Joaquin yells out in pain while shifting into his bear. With his bear’s strength, he kicks Braxton off of him. Braxton recovers, baring his teeth.

That’s right baby, stand your ground...

Joaquin lets out a mighty roar, showing every sharp tooth in his mouth.

The bear continues to roar as it stands on its legs. Blood covers his fur from Braxton’s claw marks. Braxton howls, taking off to him. The beasts lock up, biting and clawing at each other.

My hope of Braxton being the victor almost diminishes when Joaquin viciously latches onto Braxton’s shoulder and wildly shakes his head. The assault is enough for Braxton to lose his grip, leaving Joaquin to sling him to the side.

I fear the worst as Joaquin prematurely bellows victoriously to the onlookers before starting to circle around Braxton like a vulture. Braxton doesn’t lay still when Joaquin slaps him with his paw.

It takes every fiber in my bones to try to not disrespect my daddy and claw up his arms to get to my mate.

Showing encouragement, I yell, “Get up, Braxton! Get up!” My heart sinks when he doesn’t respond. I know he’s still alive by the way his chest rapidly rises and falls.

The bear whips his head in my direction, leaving his back turned towards my fallen mate. Joaquin huffs, then glances back at Braxton before looking back to me. He snaps his jaws to taunt me, but he really should have kept his attention on Braxton.

As Joaquin in his bear form puts on a show, he doesn’t see Braxton’s wolf rising behind him. My mate did an awesome job playing possum, settling my nerves that he wasn’t out of the game just yet. When Joaquin almost comes face to face with Braxton, Braxton leaps onto his back. Braxton bites down on the side of his neck while using his front legs and claws to shred into Joaquin’s sides. His hind legs dig into the bear skin.

The victorious bellows of Joaquin had been replaced with shrieks of suffering. Too bad a bear shifter can’t reach behind him like he could in human form.

Joaquin’s fight starts to ebb, but Braxton never lets up. With Braxton still attached and continuing to slice into him like Swiss cheese, Joaquin collapses into the fetal position.

Braxton’s wolf gives another strike before releasing Joaquin. As his wolf backs away, Braxton starts to shift. Once in his human form, Braxton chuckles, letting me know he wasn’t going down any time soon. Joaquin shifts back, in all of his natural glory, laying on his side with numerous wounds.

“Is that all you got?” Braxton taunts. “I bet you never thought a wolf shifter like me could stand against your bear.” Braxton walks over to Joaquin. “I’ll let you in on my family’s secret; of course, it’s nothing like yours, Mister on The Down Low. My family, the Hillard’s have a long lineage that goes back to the first ever known wolf shifter. “

Joaquin tries to speak, but Braxton cuts him off. “I don’t want to hear the bullshit you’re about to spew. You went with the enemy without doing your research. Since you didn’t, I’ll give you the summary...I’m Nyah’s mate...destined mate.”

Braxton fists Joaquin’s hair. He drags him into the circle the members formed. Joaquin tries to undo Braxton’s fingers with no avail.

Braxton drops Joaquin in the middle of the circle. If I had any sympathy, I would have felt bad for the state he’s in, but I don’t. Joaquin chose his side and whatever happens to him, is because of his decisions.

He makes a notion to Levi. He wraps his arm around Cory’s neck, only allowing him to jerk Corey’s head back. Corey fights into the air, begging to his daddy. “Help me, daddy. This isn’t a fair fight!”

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