“Hang a sign.” Bass sniggered. “Not a bad idea. Might help with the juveniles and their endless squabbles over females. River Run wolves off-limits.”
“You are enjoying this way too much, Bass,” John grumbled.
“You should be pleased. She clearly likes you, and she is your destined mate, right?”
Katalina came across, smiling. “Let me see it.” Others began to crowd around too.
John glared at them all. “Anyone not in pairs and sparring in two seconds will be doing laps of the border all afternoon.” Groans and tuts followed, satisfying John into a smile.
“Cody,” Katalina called as he began to run off. “What was Eva doing before she did this?”
He grimaced. “Arguing with her father and brother. She seemed kinda agitated when she walked in.”
Katalina nodded. “Thanks.” Cody ran off to begin training. “Thought so,” Katalina continued.
“What?” John and Bass answered together.
“You’re all reading way too much into this.”
John had to agree, as much as the wolf in him stirred.
“I bet her dad was questioning her about you, and she walked off annoyed to find an entire pack full of nosy pack wolves staring at her, half wondering if she’s good enough for you and half jealous you’ve picked a human over a fellow wolf… and then she lost it.”
“Whatever it was, it’s boosted morale, so keep it up, John,” Bass slapped him on the back.
“So glad to be of use,” John muttered. “Do you think I should go find her, Kat?”
“Nah, she’s a big girl and clearly can hold her own. To be honest, Eva’s probably not seen the significance in her words. Humans don’t think like wolves, John.”
“What do you think—”
Zackary ran into the clearing, his steps faltering when he took them in. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Where’s your sister?” John asked.
Zackary glanced between them all. “With my dad. That’s why I was late.”
“Is she all right?” John continued.
He shrugged. “She can handle my dad.” Zackary seemed to look John up and down, a silent argument in his gaze. “Hurt her, John, and I’ll have to kill you.”
John growled. Bass laughed. Zackary paled but stood his ground.
“I’m three times the size of you,” John pointed out.
Zackary gulped. “Doesn’t matter. She’s my sister, and you’d not be the first guy I’ve kicked to the curb.”
“I think you should go join the others, Zac,” Katalina wisely suggested.
“Are you going to let him get away with that?” John asked Bass as Zackary ran off. John was too shocked to react. Kid had guts, and he had to respect his desire to protect Eva. Not that she needed protecting from him.
“No.” Bass shook his head. “She’s his sister. Besides, he’d have had to fight the natural instincts of his wolf to say that. Means the kids gaining control.”
Internally groaning, John ran a hand through his hair. “I’m deleting this video, and I’d really appreciate it if this pack would stay out of my business. It’s not going to help Eva want to stay here.”
“She’ll have to get used to it eventually, John. I did, well kinda. Drives me crazy every now and then,” Katalina replied.
“And I already told you, it’s good for morale,” Bass added.
“Ugh.” John glared. “Now, I need to find someone to fight.” Rolling his shoulders, John clicked his neck, frustration riding him hard. “Feel like volunteering, Bass? I promise not to hurt you too much.”
Bass’s smile was deadly as he took John in. “Challenge accepted, and don’t expect me to hold back.”
“Likewise.”
A different kind of excitement filled the air as a circle was formed, John and Bass at the center. Wolves rose to the surface of the people around him, eager to witness John take on his alpha. Only a select few who could really challenge Bass, and John hadn’t trained with him in a while, but just like the rest of the pack, the toughest of them needed to keep themselves in top condition.
“Ready?” Bass murmured, expression as cool as ever.
John flexed his fingers, yellowy-gold eyes assessing his alpha. “Ready.”
They clashed, the freshly fallen snow billowing around them. John used his bulkier size to his advantage, putting all his weight into his first punch, Bass staggered back but quickly recovered, his light, nimble feet dancing out of the way as the crowd cheered.
Smiling, they circled each other, eyes those of the predators at their cores. Bass leaped, his fist colliding with John’s face, the blow might have taken down someone smaller, but John was built wide and solid and absorbed the impact with nothing but a shake of his head.
The ground was becoming slippery beneath their feet, snow compacting down and mixing to make a sludgy mess. Colliding together, they each planted their feet, shoving against one another, growls rumbling in their chests. Bass punched him in the side, John retaliated in return, their breathing becoming labored as finally John won the battle and sent Bass hurtling backward. But he was alpha for a reason, and within seconds, Bass regained his footing, despite the snow, and was flying with another attack.
Gritting his teeth, John barreled into Bass, a yell on his lips sending them both tumbling to the earth. They rolled around the sludgy ground, heaving and snarling before leaping apart and facing each other again.
“Again?” John asked, a smirk on his face.
“Thought you’d never ask.”
Adrenaline and amusement flowed through John’s veins. His muscles strained to maximum, his mind on high alert as he played a deadly game with his alpha. It wasn’t about fighting to incapacitate. It was about pushing their primal side to the extreme, balancing the line between control and outright blood. They weren’t
