Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Badr scoffed. “Oh, please, spare me. If you’re so worried about that guy, why don’t you join him? Matter of fact, that’s a great idea. You never belonged in the alpha track in the first place. Fuck off out of my class, out of my dorm, and out of my life.”
“You first,” I growled, rearing up on him. “It’s you who doesn’t belong in the alpha track, and that’s not my hatred for you talking, it’s a fact. Alphas are supposed to respect their pack if they’re to command respect. While you treat everyone from your friends to your enemies like shit. You let personal grudges cloud your judgement. And, you’re a grown man who still pisses himself.”
A snarl ripped from his throat.
“You’re wasted here.” I put a finger on his chest, just a finger, and moved him back. “You’re not fit to lead a pack, Badr Divan, bastard son of the Sun councilor’s epsilon mistress—and you never will be.”
Silence fell on the field as everyone stopped kicking, punching, fighting, and breathing. They all gaped at me in disbelief.
Alpha wolves were born to lead. That fact was written on their souls. Telling one that they weren’t was like telling a bird they’re not meant to fly, or a rattlesnake that he would never grow up to terrify all in his path. To an alpha, there was no worse insult.
“Hmm.” Humming, Badr nodded slowly. “I see. Thank you so much for sharing your true thoughts with me, Volana.”
The hackles rose higher, crumpling my forehead. What was this? Why was he taking that so calmly? The guy flipped out on Paxton for trying to stop him selling my naked ass on t-shirts, but I tell him he’s destined to be a failure and he’s cool?
“So how about a challenge?” he asked, backing up farther. “A fight. If you lose, you’re out of the alpha track. If you win, I’m out.”
Slitted eyes beheld him. “Why would I agree to that? Of course I’m going to lose. I had to swear to Luame that I wouldn’t hurt you just to get into the alpha track. I can’t win a fight when I’m pulling my punches.”
“No one said you’d be fighting me.” Badr turned on our audience. “Anyone? Anyone willing to be my champion. You’ll have my eternal respect if you do.”
“I’ll do it,” Liza said, stepping forward. She was a short, stocky woman with freckles all over her body, wavy loam hair, and a large brown spot in her right eye that mesmerized you if you stared too long—and she’d punch you before you did. “But I want more than your respect.”
“Name it.”
Liza fixed on me. “I want her, the precious sainted mother wolf, to get on her knees... and bark.”
Laughs and howls battered my ears. I flicked to Allard who leaned against a practice dummy, grinning as he watched the show.
“Nope,” I said, cutting that shit off immediately. “I only get on my knees for Edric.” I blew him a kiss. “Right, baby?”
“What! No!” He shot back like I was going to chase him. “That’s not—”
“But if you get to pick a champion, so do I,” I continued. “I want Nia.”
“What? Who? Me?” she cried. “Daze, what are you saying! I can’t go up against”—she eyed the grinning alpha—“her!”
“Yes, you can, because that’s not the enemy you’re trying to beat.” I pointed to the rubber dummy man. “This is the part where you get stronger, Nia. Right here, right now.”
My speech crashed into her anger and died. “No! No way.” She tossed her head hard, backing away. “Fight your own battles.”
“Nia,” I hissed sharply, advancing on her. “You need to cut out this mouse shit, and start acting like a wolf.”
She flinched, body shaking.
I understood her fear. I truly did. Years on top of years of it being ingrained in her that challenging an alpha was the worst mistake she’d ever make. But Nia kept looking to me to get stronger, and somewhere along the way, I started caring if she did.
“Nia, I promised you I wouldn’t make you do something you don’t want to do—”
“Exactly! So why—”
“—but I didn’t make that promise for things you do want to do. And you and I both know, this is one of those things.”
Lips pressed tight, Nia just shook her head.
“I understand that before no one had ever fought or hurt you. You never knew what that felt like,” I said, voice softening. “But I’d also bet anything that no one ever respected you, and you damn sure felt it.”
Balling her fists was her only response.
“When you beat her, you will not only have the respect and/or shit-eating envy of everyone on this field, but you get back what that shit took from you,” I said as she snapped her head up, eyes wide. “Your faith in yourself and your wolf.”