Chapter 10

I wasn’t sure what to say. I was standing in front of Nicolas, openly staring at him.

Eric had closed the distance between us and was now standing by my side.

“You must be joking,” I said, my voice sounding breathless.

Nicolas shook his head, and he tried taking a step closer to me.

Eric growled at him. Even though Nicolas wasn’t scared of Eric, as least he respected Eric’s threat.

“Stay back!” Eric snapped.

“You know I can’t do that. How do you expect me to give you an heir? Do you actually think that if I went through with it, I’d leave my child with you?” I asked.

My hands on instinct covered my flat stomach. A small shiver ran through my body. I was scared. Not by being in Nicolas’ presence, but because that thought had actually ran through his mind.

“He would be mine too. If you wouldn’t want to leave after that, I wouldn’t mind. I want you to stay with me, where you belong,” he pleaded.

I looked down at the ground, having run out of ideas.

“Nicolas,” a man stormed into the living room.

I hadn’t even noticed before that anyone else had entered the house.

I knew him- it was Alpha Marcus. He was followed by his son Zeverus, who was soon to take over the Alpha position for his pack.

“Marcus,” Nicolas greeted him, but he returned his gaze to me right after.

“Dylan just crossed the border to your territory.” Marcus’ voice made both Eric and me perk up at the news.

“I need to go,” I said, making my way to the door.

“Stop,” Nicolas grabbed my arm, bringing me to a complete halt.

“Don’t touch her!” Eric growled, while trying to pry my arm from Nicolas’ hold.

“Just, let me go,” I said to both of them.

I yanked my arm and took a step away from both Eric and Nicolas.

“How could you ask me for that? Do you know what that will do to me?” I asked, my voice sounding hurt.

I was staring at Nicolas- very aware that Alpha Marcus, Zeverus, and Eric were looking between Nicolas and me.

“How could you ask me to let you go? You’re mine,” Nicolas replied with the same voice.

I sighed, in a discontent way.

Dylan was here and I had gotten nowhere with Nicolas.

I didn’t want a fight. I didn’t want either of them hurt.

“Anything else you ask me and I’ll give it to you. Except that,” I said, in a pleading voice.

Nicolas shook his head, but he remained silent- gazing at me intently.

“I want you. If I can’t have you, I want an heir. That’s my condition.”

“What?” Alpha Marcus asked.

I spared a few seconds to look at him. He was looking at Nicolas disapprovingly.

“They’re mates,” Alpha Marcus said, not caring that Nicolas was frowning at him.

“I told you the other day, this is my problem!” Nicolas snapped at Alpha Marcus.

“Will you be alright?” Alpha Marcus asked, turning to face me.

“I will. I think maybe you and your pack should go- with all due respect,” I stated.

Nicolas was about to speak. One hard look from me and he stopped himself.

“No,” Zeverus said, taking a step closer to me.

“You do know that if a fight breaks out, one of them will be gone,” he said, nodding toward Nicolas.

His bluntness did nothing to calm my nerves.

When I turned to face Nicolas, his smug look was only serving to tick me off more.

“Zeverus!” His father scolded him.

“I’m just saying that you all need to consider what’s about to happen here. This can affect all of the packs. I’m not leaving here until we get this settled,” he said.

“I don’t want a fight from either side,” I repeated, looking at Nicolas pleadingly.

It was as far as our conversation got.

Howls and growls were coming from outside.

The loud feral sounds from many Wolves were echoing throughout the house.

“He’s here,” Eric told me.

“I think we already noticed that,” Nicolas told Eric, while throwing a frown his way.

“Do not, and I’m being really serious Nicolas, do not mention what you just proposed to me,” I told him through gritted teeth.

The playful grin on his lips was a sign that he obviously had something planned.

“Dylan is here,” Robert stated, as he walked into the room.

Other members from Raven pack were following along- Vincent being one of them.

“A fight is what it’ll be then,” Nicolas said, while shrugging at me.

He didn’t look in the slightest worried about the possible fight.

“Nicolas!” I heard Dylan’s voice boom from outside.

It was so loud and full of power- it had radiated all the way into the house.

“Showtime,” Nicolas said, as he snaked his arm around my waist.

“Don’t fucking touch her,” Eric growled at Nicolas.

“Control him Leila, because my Wolf won’t stand his disrespect. Especially not after I get rid of his Alpha,” Nicolas snarled.

He squeezed my waist while saying that. His words made me whimper. My Wolf was not happy with his comment, or with his hands on me for that matter.

“Don’t say that,” I told him, trying to get out of his arms.

Eric held onto my elbow and pulled me away.

“Leila, you’ll get over it after he’s gone,” Nicolas told me, trying to reach out for me.

I moved away, grabbed Eric’s hand, and began dragging him out of the living room.

“Leila!” Nicolas called after me.

I heard his footsteps, along with several others. I assumed Alpha Marcus, Zeverus, Robert, and the rest of the guys were walking after us.

I stepped outside to find Dylan with about twenty guys and Wolves flanking him, or standing behind him.

“Leila,” he said my name.

I could see the relief in his eyes, but his voice sounded cold.

He was mad, I was sure of that.

Nicolas was quick to step beside me. He had the audacity of putting his arm over my shoulders. It was enough to trigger Dylan and make him come at us.

I quickly stepped away from Nicolas’ hold, and began walking toward Dylan.

I’d just about made it, when Nicolas’ voice made me stop.

“You’re in my territory, pup.”

He emphasized that last word. I knew he was doing it on purpose, to get Dylan mad.

The insult did its job, because Dylan growled loudly at him, and tried to sidestep me in order to go after Nicolas.

“Don’t,” I said to him, placing my hand on his chest.

The men that had come with Dylan had gotten closer.

Dylan and I were standing between his pack, and Nicolas. One look around and I noticed that Raven pack members were starting to swarm in. Some were in Wolf form, and some remained in their human form.

Either way, everyone in the area looked ready to attack.

Alpha Marcus, Zeverus, and the rest of the members from New Elite pack were standing to the side. They weren’t picking one Alpha or the other, but they looked guarded.

On the other side, also remaining in neutral ground was Alpha Derek along with his men. Other than Nicolas- who looked confident about the oncoming fight- Alpha Derek was the only one who looked excited about what was going on.

His arms were crossed on his chest, and there was a grin on his face. I frowned at him, hating how happy he looked about all of this.

“She’s my mate. I’m leaving your land with her. If you want a fight, that’s fine with me,” Dylan told him.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and roughly pressed me to his side. My Wolf was almost purring at his touch. I had to admit, it had only been a few hours but I had definitely missed being with him.

Dylan smelled delicious. I felt like I couldn’t get enough of his scent. The electric current from our contact was running through my body, just as it did the first time he touched me.  

It of course was the wrong time to notice all those things, but a part of me couldn’t help it. My body responded so much to any contact I had with Dylan.

“Then a fight it will be,” Nicolas stated.

He walked the few steps down the front porch stairs. There was still space between us, but he was significantly closer.

“Nicolas,” I said his name pleadingly.

Nicolas smiled at me, a warm smile.

“I will give the pup a quick death Leila,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes at him, wishing he would stop those comments.

“I think you’ll be the one getting a quick death, old man,” Dylan taunted, but the seriousness didn’t leave his voice.

“A fight between you two means one of you will be gone, possibly along with other shifters. That could affect all of the packs, not just Midnight Moon and Raven pack. There should be another way to settle this,” Zeverus said, looking from Dylan to Nicolas.

“Another pup wants to add his input. Young one, you’re still not even Alpha of your pack yet,” Nicolas replied to Zeverus. He looked amused, which was better than him getting mad.

“I think he’s right,” I added, not that Nicolas- or Dylan for that matter- cared.

“You know what I want. You give me that, and I’ll let you go,” Nicolas said, looking at me sternly, all humor gone from his expression.

“What does he want?” Dylan asked, speaking only to me.

His voice sounded softer, and his hand slowly ran up and down the side of waist.

The Wolves- from all four packs- were still surrounding us. It was unnerving to have so many Werewolves in one place.

What was even worse, there were four Alphas, and two Betas. Too much power was surging up in the grounds.

I noticed the weaker Wolves trying their hardest not to cower back over the thick mood that was felt in the air.

“Nothing,” I finally replied.

Both Nicolas and Dylan were frowning at me- for different reasons of course.

There was no way I was going to let Dylan know what Nicolas had idiotically proposed. It was outrageous.

“I want an heir,” Nicolas said out loud, his voice firm.

His eyes, which had shifted to black already, were focused on me as he said that.

Dylan frowned, looking partly confused with Nicolas’ statement.

“What the fuck do we care if you want an heir? You have She-Wolves in your pack, make an heir.”

Dylan’s voice sounded hard, demanding even.

Nicolas chuckled humorlessly at Dylan’s words.

“I wasn’t clear enough pup. I want Leila to give me an heir,” Nicolas rephrased.

I growled at him, and his nerve to say that even though I’d told him not to.

Dylan’s Wolf didn’t wait around for anything else to be said.

He was snarling so ferociously at Nicolas. His hand dropped from my waist, as his human form was left behind and huge black Wolf stood in his place.

As soon as he shifted, he growled so loudly, everyone standing behind Nicolas took a step back, with the exception of the Alphas and Zeverus.

Eric took Dylan’s place next to me, while another guy came to stand at my other side.

Tense didn’t even begin to describe how everything felt.

“We don’t have to get them involved. You and me, the winner keeps Leila,” Nicolas proposed.

I was partly insulted by his words- and by the fact that he was making me sound like a prize. They were going to fight over me.

I couldn’t have felt guiltier even if I tried.

Dylan howled loudly, and I assumed he gave orders to Jace- because Jace took a step closer to the Nicolas.

“We agree. A match, winner keeps the Luna,” Jace said, eyeing me carefully.

‘It’s the only way,’ I heard Jace’s voice in my mind.

I tried to say something to stop them, but my voice felt dry. In a way, it was probably better like this. I just couldn’t help but worry. If Dylan killed Nicolas- I wouldn’t know what I’d do. I just knew I didn’t want that.

But if Nicolas killed Dylan- I knew I myself would try to kill him for doing that to my mate.

Either way, I found myself losing with both options. I only consoled myself in knowing that at least they weren’t involving more Wolves.

“I only have a few rules, and any that the pup wishes to add,” Nicolas said.

At the mention of the word ‘pup’, Dylan growled at Nicolas. Nicolas grinned smugly at him, not looking worried over Dylan’s anger, and continued what he was saying.

“Whoever goes first- loses. The pack won’t try retribution when one of us passes,” Nicolas told Jace and Dylan.

Before making his point clear with them two, he looked around at the crowd.

“I want my pack to know that I accept this. But be assured. I’ll not only be keeping our Luna, but I’ll be bringing an heir to our pack,” Nicolas excitedly said to the crowd surrounding us.

All of the Wolves from Raven pack howled in approval at his words. The men who were in human form cheered along with him. Their reaction was making Nicolas look more confident, stronger.

Dylan didn’t shift back from his Wolf. He gave the message through the mind link to all Midnight Moon pack members present.

“I am The Alpha,” was all he said.

His words could have had so many meanings.

In the end, it came down to power and strength. I assumed Dylan was trying to say that out of all of them, he was the one.

I didn’t doubt him or his Wolf, but I couldn’t help but fear for him.

He was my mate.

“How can they all be so calm about this,” I whispered.

I hadn’t noticed I was crying. It wasn’t until Eric reached over and cleared a stray tear from my cheek.

“It’s the Werewolf way,” he whispered back, tightening his hold on my hand.

I pressed myself closer to him, wanting any form of comfort.

My thoughts took me elsewhere for the next few minutes.

I just felt Eric walking me out of the way, Werewolves moving around, and people clearing out. Once everyone had moved out of the way, there was a large open area in the front yard that had been cleared up.

Dylan was in the center in his Werewolf form. His black Wolf was humongous, intimidating, and he looked so fierce.

It made me proud.

Nicolas hadn’t shifted yet. He was standing in the cleared out circle, with his arms crossed, and a grin on his face.

“Are you two sure about this?” Robert asked, moving slightly into the circle.

He stood to the side, but clearly in the middle of Dylan and Nicolas.

“Why can’t Nicolas just back off?” I whispered, more to myself than to anyone.

Eric wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and he gave me a sad smile.

“He’s an Alpha. Alphas don’t back off.”

His words hit me like a bucket of cold water. I was hoping that wouldn’t be the reason, because it was very stupid to fight just for pride.

My thoughts though, told me that we were Werewolves. I hadn’t seen anyone more prideful than a Werewolf. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how Nicolas or Dylan’s Wolves felt about all this.

They were probably both ready to show the other just who was the real Dominant.

I heard a slight racket behind me. When I turned to see what was happening, I noticed Angela trying to get to me. Men from Midnight Moon- which were a lot compared to the ones that Dylan had yesterday- were stopping her.

“Let her through,” I ordered.

My words caused both Dylan’s Wolf and Nicolas to face me. I gave them a short look, before turning back to Angela.

‘Tell them to back off,’ I spoke Dylan through our mind link.

He gave me a hard look for a moment, before nodding toward the Wolves that were keeping Angela back.

Her eyes were glassy, her cheeks were read, and her hair looked messy.

Neither of us said anything as she came to stand by my side. All eyes were still on us- whether confused or curious as to what had just happened.

Eric tightened his hold on me, something which Dylan took notice in.

‘He’s very loyal,’ I said to Dylan through my mind. With having Dylan fighting Nicolas over me, the last thing I needed was him to get jealous of Eric.

‘I love you.’ I said the words through my mind, but the sob that wracked through my body was visible for all to see.

Dylan nodded at me, but he didn’t say it back.

Angela hadn’t said anything. She just stood next to me, with her eyes on Nicolas. Tears were silently running down her cheeks, and she wasn’t doing anything to clear them up.

“Ready?” Jace asked, looking between Nicolas and Dylan.

They were being so formal. I hated that all of them had so much faith. I wanted them to see that what was happening was wrong. That one of them would get hurt and the people who were left behind were the ones who would have to pay for that.

“I… I love him,” Angela whispered, as she sniffled softly.

I turned to face her, the shock probably showing on my face. I had assumed something like that, with how protective she was of Nicolas and how much she seemed to dislike me.

I hadn’t expected her to tell me. Her gaze fell on me. She looked heartbroken- which was exactly how I was feeling.

Angela was in danger of losing Nicolas. I was in danger of losing Dylan…

“I love him,” she repeated.

She grabbed my hand in hers, and held on to it.

I didn’t know what to say. I swallowed my sob, figuring both of us couldn’t break down like this.

While I didn’t want her to be in pain- despite my dislike toward her- I didn’t wish her my misery.

I held her hand tightly, knowing that no matter what I did, I wouldn’t be able to comfort her.

The only thing that would comfort her was Nicolas being safe. That wouldn’t happen unless he killed Dylan. The thought of that was something my stomach couldn’t handle and my mind couldn’t process.

Dylan. Dylan. Dylan.

I repeated his name as a mantra.

Nicolas shifting into his Wolf made me snap out of my thoughts. When I looked up, his Wolf was standing about ten feet away from Dylan, looking tall and proud.

“Fight!” Both Robert and Jace yelled at the same time.

It was the only thing that needed to be said for both Wolves to jump in the air and begin the attack against each other.

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