Mated To The Alpha: A Standalone Wolf Shifter Romance, стр. 18
She gave herself up to the feelings, glad to give up control, to let someone stronger take over for once.
He broke the kiss, nibbling once again on her lips as they broke apart.
Her mind hadn't fully recovered, she was still lost in the feelings Elam triggered when she heard words laughingly muttered nearby.
"It seems Father may get his wish to see us both mated before his passing, after all."
The voice was Galen's and he gave his brother a hearty slap on the back as he walked by them, aiming himself toward his own mate, who'd gone back to dancing around the fire with the other females after their father's announcement.
"I wish you two the same happiness I know I've found with Kate." He grinned as he walked by them, stepping between them and the still raging bonfire.
"See you at the challenge, my brother."
10
Emma was unsure of what to expect at tonight's challenge, but her heart was racing as she settled into a spot beside Kate to watch.
The entire pack was all gathered in a clearing deep in the woods, just days after Thomas announced the challenge. The typography made for a perfect, natural coliseum, where the two men stood together below, in the empty space, and all of the observers stood and sat on the higher ground. Wolves and humans alike found friends to sit with and settled in for the challenge that would tell them who their next leader would be.
Emma watched the brothers, standing together below the crowd. They looked at ease, comfortable, not like brothers about to fight for position.
Emma and Kate sat together, just below Thomas and Ziva on the rise. Thomas had made the trek in his wolf form, only shifting as the time got near, to conserve his energy.
Emma could tell from the look Ziva had given her when she sat down beside Kate, that Ziva was not thrilled by her presence, but Kate had called her over here, and insisted her best friend sit here, with them, on the highest rise.
Emma could feel Ziva's resentment burying into her back as she leaned in and spoke with Kate. She tried to ignore the eyes between her shoulder blades as she asked Kate for information.
"So, what all is involved in a challenge for Alpha?"
Kate said, "I'm not completely sure. Galen was pretty tight lipped about the whole thing."
"Can't they just vote? Like humans do, for President and such?"
Ziva's snort was heard behind Emma as her question reached the Alpha mate's ears.
Emma turned behind her to address Ziva, but Thomas patted Ziva's hand, calming her down as he faced Emma to respond.
"They will fight. First in human form, and then as wolves, until there is a winner. No one else wanted to challenge, so it will just be Galen against Elam."
"What if one of them doesn't want to fight? Is there a forfeit or something?"
Emma knew Elam wasn't interested in becoming Alpha, so surely there was a way to bow out? She figured Thomas was well aware of the situation, but he had called for a challenge all the same, so she didn't really want to ask straight out, 'what if the challenge is thrown?'
"No. No one steps up to a challenge and then does not give their best. To be beaten rightfully has honor. To not try one's best does not."
"To be beaten rightfully? How is that determined, exactly? Is there a point system? Or a knockout, like in boxing?"
"Every challenge is different. No two have ever ended the same. But there has always been a clear winner."
"It's not a last-one-standing situation, right? I mean going as far as a fight-to-the-death, or anything?"
"No, not usually. Sometimes though. But that usually comes to play when the challenger comes out of nowhere. Any wolf can challenge for Alpha at any time. The deadly challenges have usually been when a young, unhappy wolf decides he wants to take over. Even then it is the upstart who pushes things too far. He can't imagine getting beaten, or decides he will not give up, even after a winner is decided. Those challengers sometimes push it too far. Those usually don't end well. But a bloodline challenge like today? There should be no to-the-death grandstands."
Emma nodded, relieved, and thanked Thomas.
"Hopefully this time there will be no surprises."
Ziva's muttered words made Emma turn back toward them again.
"What does that mean?"
Ziva pointedly ignored her question, looking past her and down at the challengers.
Thomas opened his mouth to answer her, after a chastising glance at his mate, but he would only say, with a quiet laugh, "The last time there was a challenge, it didn't go the way the pack had assumed it would. That is all. Shall we begin? I'm already tiring."
"Yes, of course. Whenever you..." Emma trailed off, not knowing quite what to say.
He smiled at her discomfort, taking the time to soothe her by saying, "Don't worry child. It will be over soon. These things have a way of working themselves out, no fear. Our world balances itself, eventually. You are home. Here, where you should have always been."
Ziva snorted again, but he ignored her.
"Galen has claimed his mate. I don't know how he would have found Kate if she hadn't come here with you, so things balance out. Maybe Reine was meant to leave for that reason. Or maybe for another. I don't pretend to know the why's of our world. But you are here, now. As is Kate. This challenge will also go however it goes. Relax, watch. There isn't anything you can do, right? So just wait, and see what is."
And with a signal from Thomas, the challenge began.
The men squared off against each other, circling.
Punches were thrown, and blocked. Their deep laughter occasionally drifted up as the brothers seemed to spar like they were training instead of challenging, insulting each other and bantering as they warmed their muscles for battle.
Emma relaxed some, watching what seemed more