Chapter 346

Chapter 0346

When I get to our room, he isn’t back yet, so I strip, ready to wash the sweat and cleaner of the day off of me. I pull on one of Eli’s t–shirts and crawl into bed, thinking about what needs to happen tomorrow before and after the Alpha challenge.

Just as I’m wondering if Eli is nervous about tomorrow, he walks in. I don’t have time to think any more as he makes sure to show me just how sexy he thought I was earlier, several times.

The next morning, we wake early. I can tell that Eli is already awake. “Are you nervous?” I ask the question I was wondering about last night.

“Not really, but there’s always the chance that I might lose. Carlos said there is only one person he feels is a true contender. That warrior you met yesterday, Noah.”

“He’s challenging you?”

“Yes, and his reasons are valid. He has the qualities that a good Alpha should have and he has Beta blood. He’s strong. If he defeats me, I will be okay with him taking over. The others, not so much.”

“How many others are there?” I ask, thinking there would only be a couple.

“Five others, including that guy Christopher that we met the first day.”

“How many do you think will want to battle to the death?” I ask, as I know this. must be weighing on him. He may not be afraid that he’ll lose but having to kill a pack mate is never easy.

“I can’t say for sure, but I’d bet Christopher will.”

We get up and get ready for the day. Eli dresses in comfortable clothes, ready for the Alpha battles today. I dress in leggings and a t–shirt. If we’re going to have the battles, then I want to be ready if needed.

Eli must hear my thoughts. He comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, putting his chin on my shoulder.

“You can’t interfere today. You know that right?”

“I won’t let you die. If we have to leave this pack, so be it, but Maia and I won’t stand by and let you die.” I tell him.

“It won’t come to that, hopefully. But you do have to let me win these battles on

my own.”

“That’s fine if it’s a submission only battle. If it’s to the death and it looks like you will lose, I won’t hesitate to jump in.”

“Grace…”

“No!” I interrupt him. “Don’t ask me to watch while you die. It’s not possible. Maia says it’s not something she can control. It’s in our blood, in our soul. It’s how the Moon Goddess made us. I won’t kill them, but I won’t let them kill you either.”

He nods. “Okay, let’s go start our day.”

The mood at breakfast is considerably more somber than it was last night. Everyone is talking in whispers and most of the discussion is about the challenge. The entire pack will be watching the Alpha challenges today. Whoever wins becomes their Alpha and could change the entire dynamic of this pack.

After breakfast, as one, we all head outside. Carlos is overseeing the challenges and calls the first contender to face Eli.

I stand back, watching. The contender states that he wants a battle of submission, and the fight begins. It doesn’t take long for Eli to have him down and the contender taps his submission. The second fight goes much the same way, but it takes a bit longer for Eli to pin this contender, nearly 45 minutes.

The third contender is Christopher. “I want a battle to the death.” He states.

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” Eli asks him.

Christopher looks cocky as he replies. “Oh yes, and know this, Alpha,” he says, sneeringly. “When I kill you, I will take your mate as my own.” He looks at me as he says this, taking his time looking me up and down. I’m glad I didn’t eat. My stomach is churning at his comment. I’ve had enough of Alphas and wolves thinking they can force their mark on me.

Eli’s snarl is feral and menacing, but Christopher doesn’t seem to notice, or maybe he doesn’t care. Carlos calls the fight to start. Unlike the first two

challenges, this time, Eli takes the offense. Christopher has infuriated him and he’s ready for blood.

I have to admit that Christopher is better than I thought he would be. He’s dancing around, not getting in as many punches as Eli, but he’s holding his own.

‘He’s getting too close to us.” Maia says in my head, right at the moment that he makes his move. He must have planned it. He grabs me, putting me in front of him. He has one hand in my hair, the other wrapped around my waist, holding

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me in place.

“Or maybe I’ll just mark her now, making her MY Guardian.” He says, and I can feel his breath on my neck.

Cooper