Page 115 of Heroes & Hitmen
Tears spring to my eyes as a tidal wave of emotion floods through me, my vision blurring. I want to run to him, fling myself into his arms– but before I can, I catch a flash of movement in my periphery, Elias launching himself toward Ares with a savage growl.
“Ares!” I scream in warning.
He whips his head around at the last second and shifts mid-spin, his body twisting as he takes on the form of his copper wolf again. His front paws don’t even hit the dirt before Elias slams into him, his fangs sinking deep into Ares’ shoulder.
I try to lunge forward to intervene, instincts blazing, but a thick arm bands around my waist to hold me back.
“No! Let me go!” I cry out, thrashing against Ross’ hold as Ares and Elias crash to the ground in a storm of fur and snarls. My pulse thunders in my ears, clothes hanging from my body in tatters. Ross’ grip only tightens as I fight to break free, clawing and biting and screaming until my throat’s raw.
Ares and Elias break apart, then collide again with bone-rattling force, the sound of their impact like a car crash. Jaws snap. Claws rake. Blood sprays. Fur flies. The crowd surges with gasps and roars, a cacophony of noise surging around me, but I barely hear any of it. All I can do is watch as my mate fights for his life.
Mymate.
Even now, I can feel our bond burning in my chest, the pull between us raw and unyielding. It’s torture to stand on the sidelines and watch Ares and Elias tear into each other with reckless violence, the two of them a blur of snapping jaws and swiping claws.
Elias bites at Ares’ flank, then Ares counters by raking his claws across Elias’ snout. The silver wolf yelps and stumbles, but recovers fast, charging again. They slam together so hard the ground shudders, the crowd pulling back as they roll across the clearing like a thunderstorm given flesh. Ares gets tossed into a tree, bark exploding around him as he lands with a grunt and shakes it off like it’s nothing.
He’s bleeding and limping slightly, but he’s still standing. Because he’s bigger, stronger, and has a hell of a lot more to lose.
Ares lands another hit, slicing Elias’ shoulder open with his claws, and the crowd roars in approval like they’re actually on his side. Elias doesn’t go down, though– he pivots, rams his weight into Ares’ side, and knocks him clean off his feet.
Ares hits the ground hard, air whooshing out of him. Before he can scramble up, Elias is on him, teeth snapping at his neck.
“No,” I gasp, staggering forward with my heart in my throat. Ross’ arm tightens around my waist to hold me back while my wolf paces beneath my skin, wild and frantic to break free.
Ares twists before Elias can latch his jaws around his neck, but not quickly enough to get out of his hold completely. Elias’ teeth clamp down on Ares’ shoulder, blood splattering the dirt as a low whine scrapes from his throat. The energy of the audience suddenly shifts, uneasy murmurs rising.
“That’s enough!” someone shouts.
“They’re fated, end the challenge!” another yells, voice sharp with panic.
“Alpha, stop this!”
I glance toward my father anxiously, my heartbeat thundering. He stands stoic, arms crossed, mouth in a hard line, but I see the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. He knows what they saw; knows this isn’t right.
And still, he doesnothing.
Elias sinks his fangs deeper into Ares’ shoulder, shaking him violently in an effort to rip flesh from bone.
“No!” I scream, my wolf rising again, ready to tear through my skin.
But then Ares moves. He twists with impossible speed, wrenching himself free with a savage growl. Blood pours from his shoulder, but he’s not done. He’s not yielding.
He lunges, and this time it’s Elias who falters. Ares slams into him, sinks his teeth into his flank, andrips.
Elias yelps– a high, shocked sound– and the crowd cheers. It’s clear now whose side they’re on, and a spark of hope takes root inside me, bursting to flame as the tide shifts. Some of them are chanting Ares’ name now, howling at him, their loyalties fracturing as they’re confronted with the truth of the bond, the call of fate.
Still, Alpha says nothing. He just stands there watching, his expression unreadable.
Why isn’t he putting a stop to this madness?
The air is thick with the metallic tinge of blood as Ares and Elias circle each other again, then crash together. Ares lunges low this time, grabbing Elias by the leg and dragging him down with a brutal shake. Elias yelps, kicks free, then tears at Ares’ ear.
Despite the cries of outrage from the pack, the fight goes on. And though he’s injured, Ares doesn’t let up. Blow after blow, he drives Elias backwards, his massive copper wolf a blur of rage and instinct. Every hit is personal, every strike a deadly warning.
Elias stumbles. He falters and tries to launch a counterattack, but Ares is moving even faster now, fueled by something raw and primal. He feints left, then lunges right and slams Elias to the ground with bone-shaking force, knocking the air from his lungs. Ares pins the silver wolf beneath his weight, jaws locking around his exposed throat.
I stop breathing.
