Wolf Flight

Chapter 10

Tad had seen pictures of gladiator fight rings before. This set-up was a little more archaic and rustic. On the right side of Keil and Robyn’s backyard, the snow had been packed down into the shape of a small hockey rink. The cleared area nudged up against the trees that led out into the wilderness. Bright overhead lights turned the whole area into high noon.

“Someone afraid of the dark, Keil?” Tad called.

Erik pulled Missy with him toward the house and Tad watched as the light in her eyes dimmed.“Missy. You get that look off your face and trust me. We need to decide where to go for a honeymoon. After we finish the job at Mount Logan. Liard Hot Springs in April?”

“Tad, he jumps to the left.”

And then silence.

Tad stared up toward the house. “Keil?”

Keil marched into the lit area and pulled Tad in for a hug. He wore his usual guiding gear of camo pants and padded vest. There was a tall, lean man by his side dressed in a suit who watched with cold eyes. “Tad. This is Heath, Beta of Whistler. He’s here to ensure I explain the challenge and all the terms.” Keil shot an evil look at the intruder. “He’s also listening to make sure I don’t impart any hints on how to win this thing. I’m sorry, but they’ve got traditional law on their side. I have total control over my own pack and territory, but these kind of challenges follow laws that are bigger than me. I suggested they wait until the next full moon so you’d be able to shift as well but the damn code says…”

Tad shook his head. “It’s okay.”

Keil made a rude noise. “It’s not okay. Your sister is going to make my life miserable for not coming up with a better solution.”

Tad looked around but saw nothing beyond the blinding lights. The rest of the yard and the house were dark shadows in the background. “Is Robyn watching?”

“Yes. Erik will stay with her and Missy until this is over. They’re both safe for now.” Keil straightened, looming large and dangerous. He made the Whistler’s Beta look weak and pathetic.

Tad felt it again, a transfer of information to him from another wolf. Emotions rolled through his brain—his Alpha’s desire to take over, his deep frustration—Tad swore softly. It wasn’t just Missy he could read, he knew what Keil wanted as well. Holy shit, he was an Omega. He skimmed through the layers of information quickly until he understood enough to reassure his brother-in-law. “It’s going to be all right. You’ve done everything possible. I know you’d take my place if you could, but that’s not allowed.”

Keil stepped back a pace. He shook his head at Tad in disbelief. “Shit, so you really are an Omega as well?”

Tad nodded. “Seems that way. What’s the deal?”

“Doug wants Missy, so he has to fight the actual battle. He’s able to shift as often as he wants. He’s Alpha for a strong pack, he’ll be a strong wolf. Don’t underestimate him. You two are alone in the arena until one is defeated. Winner gets Missy.”

“No weapons are allowed,” Heath whined. “I want to check you.”

Keil glared at him. “We’d better pull Doug’s teeth and claws, hadn’t we? To make the contest more even?”

Heath shrugged. “Tad is welcome to bite and scratch all he wants to win the fight.”

Tad stood silently while Heath patted him down. It made Tad’s skin crawl. He wished he could fart at will like TJ, just to wipe the smirk off the asshole’s face for a minute. He turned to Keil. “She’s my mate. I can win this, I’m sure of it.”

The tall stranger made a choking sound. “You’re very confident. Shall we get ready? The challenge is to the death.”

Tad got in Heath’s face. “Really? Because I like ‘to the pain’ so much better, you know, from The Princess Bride? Death is short, but ugly lasts forever. Oops, you already knew that, didn’t you?”

He turned his back on the two of them and swung his arms in a majestic manner toward the house. Okay, the whole situation had gotten a little out of hand and he’d like a bit of backup. Maybe what Tad had in mind wasn’t strictly kosher but he’d use it only if absolutely necessary. A fight to the death against a man who’d killed his own brother? Tad needed to know that in the end Missy would be safe. As much as it made his stomach churn, he would ensure Doug either gave up or didn’t leave the arena alive.

“What are you doing?” Keil asked.

“Communing with the spirits. You see as an Omega…” he glanced over his shoulder at Heath to make sure his words impacted, “…as an Omega, both Missy and I have the ability to use not only our skills, but the skills of the wolves who have fought here before.”

Bullshit. He had a degree in it and right now it better work. He moved his arms with great care, praying Robyn was watching his “communing”. Come on, Robyn, pass on the message to your mate.

Keil jerked beside him. Tad was careful not to look at his brother-in-law as he finished up his “magic waving”. Heath had edged away from Tad a step or two. Good. Fear might help keep Tad alive and he really, really wanted to stay alive.

Another figure stalked naked toward them across the snowy February ground. Tad still couldn’t get used to the way wolves let it all hang out, although this guy didn’t seem to have much to hang.

Tad grinned up at the house. “Missy, can I call your brother-in-law a wiener?”

“You want to take this a little more seriously, love?”

“Cocktail size, I’m guessing.”

“Tad, please…”

Keil and Heath stood between the two, forcing Doug and Tad to face each other across a distance of ten feet. Keil nodded to Tad once, then spoke to Heath. “I want to observe from the ground in wolf. You may join me.”

Hell, yes, Keil had gotten the message. Now came the hard part, convincing the Beta to agree. Tad was sure it wasn’t proper etiquette.

“A little encouragement right now, Missy, if you please. Heath needs to say yes.” Tad concentrated on making sure positive, peaceful feelings emanated from himself and Keil. Nothing tricky happening here, la-di-dah.

Heath nodded, and the two of them stepped aside to strip off their clothes. Tad couldn’t help noticing Keil was far more impressive nude than either of the Whistler wolves.

And wasn’t that just not what he wanted to notice right now.

“You got an issue I need to know about?” Missy’s thoughts laughed at him.

“Just tell my sister she’s a brave woman.”

“Bad boy. Please be careful, Tad. I love you so much.”

He took note of where the men left the arena to be sure his backup plan was in place before facing Doug. There was still time for one last chance at solving things in a civilized manner. Tad held out his hand.

“Hi. I’m Tad. I understand we’re kind of related since Missy and I mated—”

Doug growled and bared his teeth. His canines extended past his lips.

“You sure you want to do this? I mean, both Missy and I are Omegas and—”

“You’re a fool. You have no idea how to use your skills, which is why I’m going to kill you now. You’ve spent so much of your life as a human and an unwanted half-blood, you have no idea of the power of a full-blood Alpha. You’re even too sensitive to fuck a woman who is already mated. Oh yes, I know all about you. I looked into what kind—”

Tad socked him. Hard. Twice.

Someday the bad guys would realize monologues were a bad thing.

While Doug staggered back, Tad ripped off his coat and tied it in a quick knot. There were no other weapons at hand and when Doug shifted he wanted something to beat the shit out of the beast.

Tad wasn’t inexperienced in fisticuffs. He had fought training bouts with his pack mates for the last two years. He was smaller than a lot of other wolves and knowing how to defend himself in a quick and vicious manner had stopped some of the in-pack ranking fights. He had also trained with some excellent Arctic games competitors. He just needed the opportunity to put that training into effect.

Doug came at him, swinging hard. He appeared soft but the danger in him rolled off in waves, his evil driving him hard. Tad was smaller and quick, and he dodged most of the blows, but enough landed that he knew he would be black and blue when it was all over.

As long as he wasn’t dead.

There was no sense of time as the fight continued. Under the glaring lights there were only swinging shadows and pain. Tad dodged another murderous attack from his opponent, dancing away from all but a few strikes. Inevitably his body protested more and more. Blood clung to his lips and his legs grew weary.

“You’re slowing down. No one is coming to save you,” Doug taunted. He wasn’t without his bruises and cuts, and he seemed surprised by the furiousness of Tad’s counterattack.

Tad waited on the ground where he’d fallen after the last bone-crunching blow. The snow was kind of soft and gentle on his aching limbs, and it was nice to rest for a moment.

Besides, Doug needed to take one more step. Tad arranged his hands carefully, bending one leg under him and keeping the other loose and ready.

Then, glory be, Doug not only swaggered forward, he leaned over Tad to gloat. “You really are pathetic—”

Tad kicked him. He used the Alaskan High Kick method, pressing down into the ground with his extended arm while he forced his free foot up as hard and as fast as he could. Tad drilled the bastard right smack in the middle of his face. Okay, Tad cheated a little by not hanging on to one foot, but he figured the boys at the gym would forgive him for the slight error in technique.

Doug struck the ground four feet back from where he’d started. Blood poured from his nose and mouth, and he casually wiped his hand through it. Staring down at his bloody fingers, he cackled, a wild and maniacal sound.

“Well. I’ll admit it. You’re a stronger man than I am. I don’t know if I would beat you if we continued for much longer.” He rolled to his hands and knees, and sat back on his haunches for a minute. “It’s been interesting but I’ve had enough playing. Missy’s mine and you can die knowing I’m going to make her life hell.”

Doug shifted.

His human body wasn’t very impressive, but his wolf more than made up for it. Here was why the man was Alpha. He was huge. He was also a dirty brown, one of the few brown werewolves Tad had ever seen. Tad leapt to his feet, grabbed his coat and got it swinging, the heavy knot whistling through the air.

Doug lunged and Tad whirled aside, smacking the coat onto Doug’s head. There was no use in bashing him anywhere else on his body with the thick fur protecting him. Besides, if Tad thumped his brains often enough the ass might get knocked unconscious.

Tad danced toward the edge of the arena, wanting something at his back. Doug could strike too far and too fast, and if Tad got stuck in the middle of the space it would be like tossing a marshmallow into a fire.

Doug’s teeth snagged the coat and his claws scrambled over Tad’s leg. He forced himself to remain standing on a limb that burned with pain while with the other he kicked at Doug’s groin, trying to slow the monstrous beast a little. Blood dripped as they backed away from each other, Doug favouring his hind left leg, Tad limping as well.

A silly little thing caused the turning point of the fight. Tad wore the clothes he’d borrowed from Shaun’s room, and they all fit loosely. Doug snapped at him, captured a pant leg in sharp teeth and shook like he had a rabbit in a death grip. The motion pulled Tad’s pants over his hips and trapped his legs so he couldn’t escape. Doug let go and watched with a wolfy grin as Tad scrambled backward crablike toward the very edge of the arena.

This was not the way it was supposed to happen. Dying with your pants around your ankles was a joke, for heaven’s sake. Tad hesitated for a sheer second and Doug was on top of him, forcing him to the ground. Fiery darts shot through Tad’s body as razor-sharp teeth fastened on his upper arm and snapped it in two. He screamed in pain and anger, watching the wolf retreat to the middle of the arena to gloat.

Sweat ran into Tad’s eyes, stinging, and he gasped in air.

“It’s time, sweetie.”

A wash of cool flowed around him, numbing his arm and clearing his mind. Missy’s touch was assuring and comforting. She was still confident he knew what he was doing.

Holy crap, he hoped he knew what he was doing.

It wouldn’t be pretty but he had to try. He kicked off his shoes and dragged himself to his feet, letting his pants fall to the ground. He paced the perimeter of the arena, his gaze tracking Doug as the wolf snarled and stalked toward him. Tad leaned back on the tree nearest where Keil and Heath had left the arena and prayed the message had gotten through.

“Kill the lights now.”

The lights blacked to nothing, leaving ghostly auroras on his retinas. Reaching blindly behind him, Tad slipped his good hand into Keil’s vest where it had hung since the start of the challenge. It had to be there. Keil always wore the damn thing. He spun around and dropped to his knees cradling his broken arm as he held the gun procured from the vest. He heard Doug sniffing, trying to track him. It would be normal for the wolf to gain the advantage under these dark conditions.

Except Tad was an Omega.

All the anger built up from feeling Missy’s fear of this man lifted Tad to the place where he would do anything to save her. He closed his eyes so he wouldn’t strain to use his vision, and he opened his mind to the ability that had hovered under the surface for so much of his life. Tad reached out with his new awareness and found the emotions of his enemy.

It was like wearing infrared goggles.

Doug came toward him on silent paws. Tad stroked his mind, calming. Cooling. Doug paused in his pacing, his head swinging from side to side like he was dislodging an annoying fly.

Tad’s heart rate increased. It was working. He pushed harder at his enemy, attempting to make Doug fall asleep. The wolf staggered in a circle, whining and snapping at the air. He clawed at the ground and snarled, obviously aware of what Tad was doing, but unable to overpower the Omega skills Tad appropriated from somewhere deep within.

Tad wanted the man out of Missy’s life forever, yet the thought of killing another in cold blood just wasn’t his way. Maybe there was too much human in him, but since Missy had mentioned the possibility of the wolf council or the human courts, it seemed there might be a better solution.

Doug rolled on the ground, his legs scrambling in the air as Tad continued to mentally overwhelm him. Suddenly Missy was there in Tad’s mind as well, supporting him, aiding him. Doug was no match against their two strengths, untrained and untried as they were.

The sensation of Missy’s presence grew stronger, and across the arena Tad saw a shimmer of silvery fur in the moonlight. He couldn’t believe his eyes as she bounded into the fight area. “What are you doing? Get out of here!”

She slowed to a walk, her wolf form so beautiful he couldn’t take his gaze off her. “I’m the cause of the fight. If he will deny the challenge, you don’t have to kill him.”

She knew. Somehow she knew that he didn’t want to kill, not if it could be avoided. His astonishment at the depth of the connection between them as mates rose again.

Tad turned to face Doug who lay twitching in the midst of the arena. “Do you yield? I’ll let you live if you stand down the challenge for Missy.”

Tad eased his control on Doug, enough to let him move slightly. The Alpha rolled to his belly and dropped his head to the ground.

“He yields!” The Whistler Beta had changed back to human and rushed out to the arena with Keil hard on his heels.

“Will he accept the council’s examination of his leadership as well as give up the challenge?” Tad demanded, keeping his eyes on Doug.

The Alpha’s gaze darted back and forth, and suddenly he gathered his legs under him and leapt at Missy. His body shifted to the left as his claws swung and his teeth reached to rip her throat open. Tad cried in disbelief, raised the gun and fired twice in quick succession before everything went silent.