Page 53 of My Ruthless Alpha

I was grateful for the comfort of knowing I was being protected while my body healed.

It was tempting to want to shift and potentially help Beau through the fight, but I knew changing forms would put me at a greater risk. With the remaining mountain ash in my system, interrupting my body’s attempt to filter it out of my bloodstream by forcing it to undergo the strenuous shift could exacerbate the side effects. I could go into shock and stop the healing altogether, which could ultimately be deadly.

I had to sit there and wait, watching as both wolves charged at each other, snapping their jaws and lunging their bodies forward.

My heart clenched while I watched, aware of how brutal Colton could be.

I was afraid for Beau, but at the same time, I had faith in him. He was my mate and the father of my child, and I knew he wouldn’t give either of us up without putting in the fight of his life.

Chapter 24 - Beau

The sound of our mutual growling and snarling filled my ears, and our fight seemed to consume my senses entirely.

Between our teeth clashing and our shoulders crashing into one another, we were looking for every angle and opportunity to attack, hoping to wear the other out before we faced that fate ourselves.

Everything about it was brutal, and while I had faced other foes before, there was something different about that fight.

I had more on the line than ever before, and if I failed, I would lose everything and everyone I loved.

Given how he was fighting, trying his hardest to sink his teeth into my neck, I knew Colton wasn’t just looking to maim me. He was hoping for a kill shot.

It wasn’t uncommon for wolves to lose their lives over mate conflicts and claim disputes, and I had the feeling that if I were to slip up in any way, he would have no issue taking my life. From the force he put behind his movements and the way he was trying to read me so he could find my weaknesses, I knew he wouldn’t hesitate if given the chance.

That was enough of a reason for me not to give in. To push and return that force with more fury of my own.

Beyond wanting to keep my own life, I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else having Faye. If he were to beat me, it would be his full intention to take her as his mate if he were to ever get away from the others or if they honored his victory.

I could only hope they wouldn’t. If I lost, then it would be my last wish for them to take Colton out for me, and I had every reason to believe they would.

After claiming Faye as my mate and establishing that bond between us, the mere idea of anyone attempting to lay that kind of claim on her made my blood boil. It set off every drop of fury within me, and I knew there was no way in hell I could allow that.

She was mine, and I had every intention of proving that to Colton and anyone else brave enough to try and take her from me.

Before, I didn’t have much else to lose besides my title, pack, and brothers. Aside from my family, I could lose the rest. I could give it all up if it meant having them. But everything changed after Faye returned to me.

In one fell swoop, I gained a daughter I never knew I had and a mate I thought I’d never see again. Suddenly, I had a world full of things I couldn’t stand to lose, which was why I vowed to myself in the moment that I wouldn’t let her go. I wouldn’t let Colton have his way.

Faye was the only woman I ever wanted, and I’d be damned if I lost my mate and the mother of my child.

With the weight of everything on my shoulders, I fought harder. Leaning into that anger, I pushed back against Colton’s offensive movements, snarling and biting at him.

We were a similar size, and we both fought with ferocity, but I knew Colton had a hell of a lot less to lose than I did.

He fought like someone who was used to facing little resistance, someone who got what they wanted and didn’t have to work for anything.

Seeking out quick, predictable attacks made him sloppy, and it left him open for my counterattacks. Every time he withdrew after landing a lesser strike, I hit him back tenfold,either scratching him, biting wherever I could find purchase or slamming my body against his.

With his cockiness and arrogance, I could only imagine he assumed the fight was already his. He aimed for my shoulders and neck, teeth just grazing me before I hit him with another fiercer attack.

Sinking my teeth into the meaty flesh of his shoulder, Colton yelped loudly and pulled back, forcing his leg to buckle slightly the moment he put pressure on it again. But despite his slight withdrawal, he shook his head and growled again, charging at me with everything he had left.

He fought hard and rough, but in his desire to finish me off quickly, he was burning up his energy too quickly. And while he barrelled toward me, it lacked the real punch it might’ve had if he hadn’t worn himself out already.

As he charged me, only for me to side-step it, maneuvering myself back around to catch him off-guard, there was a half-second where everything seemed to stop, and I saw the choices in front of me.

I could pull back and spare him, giving him the chance to either surrender or try and retaliate again, or I could end it all. With that opening in front of me, I could take full advantage of it and find myself victorious.

For a beat, I wanted to spare him. To give him the chance to make amends and move on, leaving my mate with me.

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