Page 94 of Mortal Shift
“Thank you, alpha. Cole and I would like to be on the moon hunt this weekend.”
“You and everyone else here. I don’t take requests.”
“Cole and I would like to be on the moon hunt this weekend…and we’re willing to earn it.”
“Oh?” His expression turned calculating. “And what did you have in mind?”
“Jax isn’t my biggest fan here. Have him try to attack me. Cole will defeat him.”
“A test of strength. Interesting. And what exactly willyoube proving in this little test of yours?”
“I’ll be demonstrating my absolute trust in my mate. I won’t move an inch, no matter how close Jax gets.”
Ryker seemed to consider, then a cold gleam entered his eye.
“So be it. But it’s no test to have one of your own pack attack you.” He snapped his fingers. “Kallan, get up here. You’ll be attacking Ms. Ellis. And you’ll be doing it shifted.”
I blanched, but nodded stiffly. I couldn’t show weakness. Iwouldn’tshow weakness. I meant what I’d said—I trusted Cole’s ability to protect me.
“We accept,” I said, before Cole could open his mouth to object his fiercest rival being given the chance to put teeth in me. I wasn’t much a fan of the idea, either, but we needed to do this. It was more than just my own fate at stake.
“That sounded almost courageous,” Ryker said, but somehow, the way he said it didn’t sound like a good thing. “But I haven’t finished. You want a place on the moon hunt? Win this test and I’ll consider it—but I’m taking away your safety net. If you go ahead, this will be an officially sanctioned trial.”
I felt Cole bristle beside me while I was still trying to process his meaning. Ryker’s lips twitched into a cold smile.
“Should Kallan happen to kill you, it will be perfectly legal.”
“No,” Cole snapped. “There’s no way I’m risking—”
I touched my hand lightly to his arm.
“A moment, please, alpha?” I asked of Ryker. He nodded grudgingly, and I led Cole a few steps away from the rest of the students.
“Forget it,” Cole said, before I could get a word out. “Kallan has been looking for a way to weaken my pack all year. If Ryker gives him the chance to kill you, hewilltake it.”
“He might try,” I countered, “but you won’t let him. You’re twice the wolf he is—and twice the man. I’ve watched you fight. You’re stronger, you’re faster, and you’re a hell of a lot smarter. He won’t get anywhere near me. Besides,” I drew in a breath, “we don’t have a choice. If we don’t get on the moon hunt, he’ll get what he wants anyway—the pack will seem weak.”
“You don’t have to do this. We’ll show the pack’s strength some other way.”
“It’s my life,” I said, “and I get to risk it if I want.”
“You’re my mate,” he said, his eyes blazing. “I won’t have you harmed.”
“And I won’t be. You’ll be protecting me.”
He opened his mouth, no doubt to shoot me down again, and I pressed a finger to his lips.
“Cole, I might be human, but I run with monsters. I’m not going to start hiding from them now.”
His lips curled up. “Keep going that way, and they’ll be running from you.”
“Promises, promises,” I muttered.
We turned back to Ryker.
“We’ll do it,” I said. “We’re not afraid of Kallan, or anyone else here.”
“Quite the power couple,” Kallan sneered. “Guess I’ll have to teach you to be afraid.”
