Page 4 of Claiming Lyla

Robert didn’t plan to lose.

A burning sensation radiated along her back and she flinched, whirling around, her hands half shifted into claws and a snarl on her lips. The Guadalupe Pack alpha, Ryan Cooper, had worked his way around the clearing to just behind her, his body brushing hers, the touch of his body irritating her skin, and confirming that the Mating had begun. He gestured for her to be quiet. She left the claws out but let the snark subside.

“Make your way backwards into the woods, then head west to the road. A car is waiting with the keys in it.” Ryan murmured quietly, so only she could hear.

Duncan had assured her that this alpha could be trusted but she wasn’t so sure. “So you can Claim me and take me to Texas? I don’t think so.”

He shook his head, a wry smile on his face. “I have no intention of claiming you. It’s obvious that you’re mated. I’m helping Duncan. This is going to go south fast and we need to get you out of here so he can focus on the fight and not protecting you.”

She cocked her head at him, trying not to give away the conversation to any observers but needing an answer. “Why should I believe you? You chased me through the forest and didn’t seem to care if I was mated earlier.”

“Whether you believe it or not, I was here to fulfill a Council mandate and I don’t believe in forcing women. I had hoped to catch you and get you out of here. I would have never Claimed you.”

“Even if I was willing?”

“I have a mate. I just haven’t claimed her yet.”

That gave Lyla pause, the hesitation in his voice, the underlying sense of pain made her wonder about the story behind his words, but now wasn’t the time. She gave a quick nod. “Do you really think you can take all of these wolves? Or do you have other allies I’m not aware of?”

He shrugged fatalistically. “We’ll figure it out.”

Duncan and Robert were circling each other in the center of the meadow, Duncan quiet and watchful while Robert was making grand gestures and feinting at Duncan as if trying to get him to attack first. Duncan remained calm, hands steady and his eyes never left Robert’s face as he waited for an opportunity.

Ryan nudged her. “Go now. While they’re all distracted.”

She had no intention of going anywhere. Duncan was clearly an alpha and she was an alpha’s mate, her place at his side, come what may. She shook her head. “No, I fight with him and die with him. Not running like a coward.”

Ryan made a sound of frustration, but there was a glint of respect in his eyes. “Be ready for a deception.” He began to slowly move around the outskirts of the circle, towards wolves who might be more of a problem.

At that moment, Robert sprung into action, his hands shifting into claws and he swiped at Duncan’s left shoulder and down while at the same time, his other hand punched at Duncan’s stomach with something that glinted like metal. A knife! Of course he had no intentions of playing fair. Through all his dramatics, he had pulled the knife and attacked in a frenzy of motion.

Duncan turned into the attack, blocking the claws that caught his forearm, four slashes that splashed blood on the grass. At the same time, he chopped downward with his other hand, knocking the knife free, then he turned aside, letting momentum carry Robert through where Duncan had been and stuck his foot out, tripping the heavier man so he fell to the ground.

Before the other man could get up, Duncan was on him, but before he could get a good grasp, another man tackled him, knocking him off of Robert, pinning him to the ground. Robert rose, fur sprouting along his jawline and his arms, his eyes golden yellow and canines lengthening.

“Let him go,” he growled, the words barely audible through the teeth, his control clearly slipping.

Duncan didn’t wait for the other man to release him. He punched him under the jaw, knocking the other man back and stunned. He slowly rose, fury evident in every line of his body, the muscles almost quivering in their tension.

“What kind of alpha needs another wolf to help them in a Claiming challenge? The kind who can’t control their wolf. The kind who can’t defend their mate. The kind who can’t defend their pack. You are not an alpha.”

Robert blinked, the taunts slowly sinking into his rage-filled brain, then he lost it. He let loose a howl and began to shift further, into a half beast and launched himself at Duncan, who waited. Lyla screamed, but shoved her hand in her mouth to cut it off, not wanting to distract Duncan.

Duncan crouched, hands in front as if waiting to catch a football. At the last minute, he stepped to the side, grabbed the tackling wolf by the head, and twisted. The spine gave a sickening crunch and the body went limp. He dropped the body, fur receding and Robert laid at his feet. Dead.

* * *

Feeling a fierce satisfaction, Duncan kicked the body aside, and it rolled to a stop at the feet of the beta of the Blue Ridge Pack, who was just waking up. The beta stared at the body then back at Duncan, his body stinking with fear. Ryan stood next to the beta, body tense, ready to spring into action. Ryan had been a plant, a backup in case Duncan needed him, but he had been supposed to protect Lyla, get her out of the danger zone.

Duncan stalked over to the beta, suppressing his irritation with Ryan for the moment, and focused his gaze on the other man. The beta tried to hold his gaze but couldn't, dropping his head to acknowledge Duncan's dominance. Duncan let his gaze roam the clearing, settling on each wolf in turn, and they all dropped their gazes, unable to withstand the pressure of theuber-alpha dominance he’d finally unleashed after keeping it tightly controlled for the past few weeks. When he’d come, he hadn't expected to do anything more than check out the packs involved, report back to the Council, and let them pass judgment. Instead, he’d taken down a pack alpha and claimed a mate, pissing off another pack in the process. The Council wasn't going to be too happy with him.

His gaze finally settled on Lyla, and the tension that had been riding him all evening shifted from the urge to destroy to an urge to claim. Immediately. His low snarl echoed through the clearing, and every single wolf stiffened. A couple of the lower-ranked ones cowered and bared their throats.

"Leave us,” he growled.

They scattered in seconds, shepherded by a grinning Ryan, leaving him and his mate standing barely ten yards apart. He inhaled deeply, the musky scent of her arousal permeating the air, her unique marker filling his entire being until he felt drunk on it, his wolf wanting nothing more than to roll in her scent, pin her to the forest floor, and make her his own. But he wasn't one of those other alphas, capable of forcing a mating, even though he had the marks to prove he and Lyla were destined for each other. He wanted her willing not reluctant, a true partner.

So, he throttled back hard on his wolf and regained control through sheer force of will. He held out his hand and waited.

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