Page 79 of Ruled By The Alpha

"I didn't know it was possible, so no, they fucking haven't."

My two alphas crowded me. Aiden's fingers bruised my waist as he bared his teeth.

Rowan nodded to his alpha closest to the door. "Ensure the main room has all we need. Notify Taylor that a challenge has been issued and accepted. Knowing Taylor, he'll want to watch."

The man nodded, and several left. When the door clicked shut, three alphas remained.

"He's going to watch?" My eyes darted around the room, only now seeing the cameras in every corner.

"Probably," Rowan said, far too casual for my liking, directing his attention between Cooper and Aiden. "The alphas are here to ensure her safety. They're all mated, and no threat to her or you. None of us want Imogen hurt." His gaze lowered meaningfully to where Aiden's fingers depressed my flesh. Rowan's jaw locked in the first betrayal of emotion.

He was invested in this and wanted me enough to challenge my alphas to share.

I had no expectations set in my mind of how this might play out, beyond vague notions I'd plead not to be separated from my alphas. On that count, at least, I was relieved. But I had expectedmore time and discourse about the community, on which I’d focused most of my concern.

In hindsight, the community was the least concerning development. Although the outcome had yet to be determined, I believed Rowan when he said we’d be better off under Taylor's rule, despite the cost of ownership.

"You think we're politely going to wait our turn to fuck you up?" Cooper demanded.

Rowan rolled out his shoulders. "No, I'm expecting the opposite. Now, allow Imogen to stand aside, or trust that you'll be drinking through a straw and your hands and cocks won't be anywhere near our mate for a very long time."

"She's not Rebecca," Aiden snarled. In a lightning fast move, released me and launched himself at Rowan.

"No!" The cry tore from my lips too late.

Cooper shoved me behind his back as the first meaty thuds of flesh connecting resounded through the room.

Rebecca?Who the hell was Rebecca? A woman they had all known, that much was clear. My mind went into freefall, trying to put the pieces together and already knowing I would fail.

The three alpha guards circled around, putting a wall between what was happening on the other side of the room and me. I couldn't see around them, but I heard the thud as Aiden and Rowan hit the floor, the grunts, and more dullsmacksas fists connected with flesh. I fought with Cooper. To what aim, I couldn't say. I just wanted Aiden and Rowan to stop.

Then Cooper shoved me back behind the alphas and wadded into the fray.

One alpha snagged my waist as I darted around. The brute was as big as a barn, and the way he took my wrists suggested he wasn't taking any chances if I had a weapon.

Ahead, Aiden swayed on his knees, blood dripping from his mouth as Cooper and Rowan traded blows. Moving in a blur,Rowan swept Cooper's feet from under him and dumped him on the floor. He came down over him an instant later, fist swinging at his jaw. The blow snapped Cooper's head around, and blood sprayed from his mouth across the floor.

Had I ever presumed Rowan to be civilized? He was savage to the core. The woman in me wanted to be horrified, but the omega part of me couldn't help but soften in response to their battle for dominance.

He didn't stop. His blows fell until Aiden staggered up, his boot connecting with Rowan's ribs to send him sprawling.

My alphas converged on Rowan, but he rolled to the side and came up on his feet. Aiden wrapped an arm protectively around his ribs. All three dripped blood, their flesh mottled with forming bruises.

Before I'd entered Rowan's turf today, I'd had an impression that as one of Taylor's high-ranking lieutenants, he might not even be a fighter. I was wrong. His fluid, lethal grace told me he was the superior male physically. That he had claimed such a rank within Taylor's world told me intelligence backed up his physical skills.

Tears streamed down my face. Aiden and Cooper never had a chance. Whatever history existed between them only made the situation worse.

Rebecca.Who was she to them? How had it caused this rift between them? Rowan called them former friends, while Aiden and Cooper had refused to talk about it. They were more than friends. Everything indicated a deep bond once existing between the three men.

Could I be the one to bring them back together? Or would I drive a deeper wedge?

Raw, bloody, and bruised, there was now only one man standing. Rowan wiped the blood from his chin with the backof his hand, but more trickled from his temple. On the floor, Cooper grunted and tried to rise.

"Tell them to stand down," Rowan said, voice roughened from the fight.

My chest heaved. "Stand down," I said, voice breaking. I should be horrified. But my body heated with an unnatural fervor, its flames lapping at my core. "Please, I beg you, do as I ask. Don’t make this any worse."

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