Page 34 of Challenged Mate
“So?”
Now that I landed hits, Chase shuffled side to side in a circle. I mirrored his movement, shuffling the opposite direction. I needed to keep space between us while I caught my breath.
“And you’re moping,” Chase continued. “I told you once, I didn’t take you for a moper.”
“I’m not moping.” I feigned a leap forward, pulling back before Chase could lean forward and meet the attack. We continued to circle one another.
“Yes, you are,” Chase stated. “Instead of denying it, how about you tell me what’s bothering you. Out loud. Just be straight about it.” He dropped to his hands and one leg burst out to sweep me off my feet. I leapt into the air before he took out my ankles.
I landed awkwardly on the uneven grass, but I used the momentum to race forward to strike while he was down.
Chase bore the brunt of my punches on his arms then his right fist shot out and hit my hip right in the joint.
“Agh!” I stumbled back, saving myself from another hit. My retreat allowed Chase the chance to get back to his feet.
“Come on, Blair.” Chase shook out his arms, trying to shake away the lingering stings.
“What do you want me to say?” I panted, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. “My life has gone to shit. Excuse me for not taking that well.”
“I’ll give you that, but what’s with the moping? Why haven’t you accessed your power again?”
“I’ve been trying.”
He cocked a brow. “Have you?”
“Yes,” I hissed. Warmth flared in my chest unexpectedly.
My anger almost distracted me from his incoming strike, but I managed to dance out of the way so it only grazed my shoulder. My gait was off from the hit on my hip, and my footwork was sloppy.
“Could’ve fooled me,” Chase taunted. “I heard about Hannah. Obviously, the protective spell around your magic isn’t as strong as it once was. Anyone with any sort of determination should be able to overcome the rest of it.”
Again, I hissed, “I. Am.Trying.”
“I don’t think you are,” he countered. “I think you’re still freaked out that you aren’t the pure-blooded shifter you thought you were. You don’t want to be a half-breed like the rest of us, and you are resisting your magic as a result.”
I balked, offended he would think so little of me. “I have nothing against any of you.”
“You’re afraid.”
“Of what?” I growled. The warmth in my chest morphed into scalding heat.
“Of who you will be once you are no longer Blair Hemmings—alpha heir to the Summit Pack. Well, I’ve got news for you, Blair. You’re not that person anymore. You need to embrace who you are now. You need to tap into the power inside you because, if you don’t, everything you’ve lost will be for nothing. Don’t. Be. Weak.”
His sharp words cut deep, unleashing the burn that had been building beneath my skin.
Like a flipped switch, my mind shut out everything except the burning sensations trailing all over my body.
With a cry, I launched myself forward. Vaguely, I noticed the golden light surrounding my hands, but I paid it no mind. All my attention rested on Chase, determined to make him regret ever calling me weak.
My arms flew in a flurry of punches, and I whirled around with a series of powerful kicks. Chase absorbed most of the hits easily, but as they continued coming, his steps began to falter.
The wolf in me smelled blood. She licked her chops, tasting victory. I reigned her in, reminding her we didn’t want to kill Chase. We just wanted to put him in his place.
The rest of the world faded away as I continued my assault. I barely felt when my knee cracked with a kick from Chase. I tumbled onto the ground.
“Oh, shit!” He shouted, stepping forward with outstretched arms. “Blair, I’m so sorry. I think I broke—AGH!”
With my good leg, I swiped his feet out from under him. His back hit the grass and I pounced.
