Mate Combat

Even though I don't see anyone but Darius Carter, I feel all eyes are on us.

As I stare at him in shock, I slowly realize what's going on here.

Muffled sounds from the crowd echo in my ears.

"Oh my God!"

"That can't be..."

"Lila is Darius' mate."

"Is that Patrick's daughter? The one who left to live with humans?"

"She's the one who always made trouble as a kid."

"Dione's friend?"

"Yes. People say it was her who got him killed."

"Is that why she left?"

"Must be."

Shut up everyone! I have got to think. I have got to... do something. Anything!

But my body doesn't listen - it's like I don't want to move away from him. I'm hypnotized by his magnificent scent - my lungs yearn for it.

Oh, shit. This is without a doubt my mate.

I have a mate.

As the realization hits me, my knees totter and I feel like vomiting.

He swiftly grabs me by my elbows as if he thought I was going to fall. So dramatic, Darius! I'm only... what am I? Mesmerized? The skin to skin touch is too much for me to bear. I shiver with pleasure. Darius smirks perfectly, enjoying the effect he has on me.

"I will handle it," I heard Ian's voice and felt his arms wrap around me.

"No," Darius broke our eye contact to look at Ian. "You won't."

I look at my fiancé and suddenly, like lightning, my brain becomes painfully aware of the situation. I'm engaged to be married! To Ian. But Darius is my mate. There's no doubt about it - Dad told me when you met him, you know. Now I see what he meant.

"It's okay," I finally find some words for this man that's got me dazed, still holding me in his strong arms. "He's my fiancé."

I have never witnessed a crowd go so silent so quickly. You could hear a pin drop at that moment.

Darius' full attention is on me now. His expression changed from enchanted to murderous in a second. I can actually feel the air between our gazes.

He doesn't speak immediately, and I swallow hard as I realize the heaviness of my words.

"I don't think so," he says painfully plainly, not raising his voice for a decibel. Instead, his voice is deep and enraged, demanding authority, making me feel smaller than a grain of sand.

Ian chooses to speak at the worst moment possible. "Let her go immediately. I said I would-"

I feel Darius' grip loosen and predict his attack on Ian before it happens. It is a weird feeling, as if I am able to read his mind in slow motion. I know there is only one way I can save my fiancé from this beast's attack.

If I become a beast myself.

Darius pulls Ian's hands off me in one swift movement and then throws a fist at his arcade bone.

I shift into my wolf at crazy speed, and knock down a lot of furniture in the process. But I succeed in my intention: Darius is so surprised by my shift, that he forgets all about Ian.

The crowd is now too loud for comprehension. Some people scream and make place for my big white wolf, while others run to help Ian and Darius. I have just made an open attack on a pack's Alpha and, normally, such offenders don't end up too well afterwards.

I see Ian knocked down on the floor and it infuriates me to realize this "meet-the-family" project has ended even worse than the worst scenario I imagined.

"Patrick King's daughter? Wasn't she the leader of the Havoc Clan?"

"She sure was..." The crowd disapproves.

I see they still resent my childhood decisions. Well, to hell with it. I deserve all of it.

I might as well defend my rebel status.

Now my green wolf eyes meet with Darius' and I growl at him menacingly, ready to attack.

"Alpha, shift!" I heard Derek warn him.

But Darius wasn't afraid at all. He stands still, looking at me with some sort of amusement and... satisfaction.

What is wrong with him?

"Alpha, what do you want us to do?" his men asked.

Darius just lifts his hand to silence them, still smirking at me in all his masculine glory.

"If that's how you want it to go down, little wolfie," he approaches me and pets my muzzle, unaffected by my snarling, "I'm all in." And then he runs to the door and shifts into a huge black wolf the moment he is out of the house.

I followed him out, having difficulties moving in such a small space.

He stands in a fight-ready position, ready to devour me. Well... we'll just see about that.

"Lila, stop!" my Dad yelled, running out of the house, a large crowd along with him.

I am the first one to attack. I lunge at him full force, trying to bite his arm, but he manages to evade my attack at the last moment.

He shakes his wolf head, as if amused, and slowly circles around me, trying to test my combat style.

Well, you big black wolf, I wasn't born yesterday.

I fake movements, leading him to think I have slow left reflexes, manipulating him to attack my strongest side. Then I move my legs backwards every now and then, trying to make him mistake me for a defender, instead of an offender type.

My plan works brilliantly.

Darius' wolf attacks my left side at super fast speed and I miss his teeth by only half an inch. I manage to do it, though, and while he is still surprised by the outcome, I lunge at him straight ahead, not giving him time to rebound, and he ends up knocked down on the ground.

We started wrestling there.

His wolf is so strong, which doesn't surprise me. His human form is massive.

"Lila!" I heard my father's authoritative voice, "I command you to stop immediately!"

But I don't listen. I was never good at obeying commands anyhow.

The crowd that gathered to watch us looks shocked - they must've thought I'd suck in combat, given I left my pack at 18.

Darius manages to overpower me for a second, and it gives him just enough time to leave a bite mark on my lower arm. Nothing serious, though. I bet it won't even leave a scar.

But it enrages me, nonetheless. So I misled him again in the opposite direction and managed to get back on top of him. There, I bit his shoulder. Gently as well, but this might actually scar him for good. I am not that good at self-control when upset.

The crowd starts yelling now and both our wolves are back on our feet, heads low, snarling viciously.

I distinguish some comments from the spectators and conclude that people are overly shocked by my performance, in my humble opinion. Is it just because I'm a woman, or is everybody else so inherently bad that little Alpha hasn't found his match up until now?

We are both preparing an attack now, and I know misleading won't work anymore, so I do what he doesn't expect. Show him my real intention, approaching too fast, too soon, knowing he will think I am only playing him. And when he comes back the next time, it won't be enough.

My plan seemed to work, and as he moved his legs back for a bit, I didn't back out this time. Instead, I jumped full force on him, trapping his neck between my front legs, and I went on to push him on the ground.

"Lila... Lila, please don't do this..." a painfully familiar voice says. A voice that always calms me down.

I broke contact with Darius for just a moment, to look at Ian, but that is all it took for him to knock me down and trap into a lever. As his wolf is stronger than mine, and his position is now privileged, I know there is no way to win this fight.

Damn you, Ian.

Damned our love. Why did I have to look at you? You've no idea what you caused now...

Knowing I've lost and therefore have to submit, I force myself to professionally bow my head. Out of respect for my father.

With that motion, I announced to everyone that he won.

The crowd is relieved.

I saw my father let out a sigh. His eyes are glowing with pure pride, though. Nothing else but love and pride. He hasn't seen me in wolf form for a very long time. He must have feared I had forgotten everything he and Mother taught me. But I haven't. I never will. And at this moment, I realize, I never want to, either.

Darius' wolf lets me go off and he leads me into the woods nearby.

I decided to follow. It'll be best to talk with him in private and explain why this mate thing isn't for me.

When we are gone from other people's view, he shifts into his human form and commands me to do the same.

I unwillingly obey. What the hell?

Oh my God, I challenged an Alpha and lost. Is he now my Alpha? Am I a part of his pack?

He glances at his wounded shoulder and smirks in amusement. "Lila," he says slowly, as if testing the sound of it.

To me, this name from his mouth suddenly sounds like my favorite melody.

"Is that your name, little wolf?" he took a few steps toward me to close the big gap between us.

I take rugged breaths, trying to cover my naked body parts with my wounded hands.

He grabs both of them. "Don't hide yourself from me," he demands. "I am your mate."

I swallowed hard and quickly shifted back into my wolf, as being naked in human form with him was too much to take. It took me every ounce of my energy and self-control not to get too excited and lunge passionately at my mate. I wish I could control my thoughts, because I suspect he hears them, as ordinary pack members share thoughts. It's their way of communication.

You are right, he answers, now in his wolf form as well.

And my thoughts are confirmed. Shit! I am a part of his pack now.

You're more than a part. You are Luna, he says proudly. And may I say, your spot is rightfully deserved. He licks the blood off his wound.

Stop it! I shouted at him, shifting quickly into my human form again. I don't even mind nudity anymore, because I am as angry as I've ever been. "Get out of my head!"

He shifts back as well, this time being less arrogant. He innocently lifts his arms in defense. "I wasn't doing it on purpose. You know how it works as well as I do."

I turned and walked back to where we came from to pick up my clothes from the place we had shifted first. He walks behind me in silence. However, as I was about to leave the woods, I saw an entire crowd standing at that same spot.

I automatically freeze in place and Darius' front collides with my naked butt.

I screamed and jumped aside, covering my breasts with my hands.

He watches me shamelessly, as if it is the most normal thing in the world.

"You have the most amazing body," he says lustfully.

My nipples harden without notice and I feel wetness between my crotch. "Could you not look at me?" I try to sound enraged, but it comes off more like a plea. If I am truthful, his compliment only made me feel desirable and horny. But I would never admit that to him.

He smirks. "I'm afraid I can't look at you, even if I wanted to."

"You are a pig!" I said.

"I am no pig. I am a wolf. One that you are dying to kiss."

My lips part without my consent and I am utterly unable to pretend I am angry anymore.

"Could you at least be a gentleman and go grab a piece of fabric for me?"

He checks out my body one last time before he nods and looks me in the eye. "I can do anything and everything you want me to," he gently takes one of my hands to lay a gentle kiss on it, "Lila."

And then he leaves. And leaves me even more excited after that comment spoken in the world's sexiest voice.

——————

"You did this on purpose," I said the moment we entered my father's office, even though I know he couldn't have known.

My Dad swiftly looked at me. "Did what?"

"There was a huge party hoping I would find my mate somewhere in the crowd and stay," I closed the door behind us.

"Lila... Why do you always have to blame me? Never in my wildest dreams-"

"Oh, spare me," I cut him off. I know he must be bursting with excitement. "Don't insult my intelligence by pretending you aren't happy with the turn of events."

He is silent at first, brooding. Then he spoke. "You're right about me wishing to have you here. But I am not lying when I say I did not expect this. Of all the people..." he sits in his chair, worried, "why did it have to be him?"

I shot him with a stare. "Why did you say that? What's wrong with him?" If my father is displeased about this situation, then there's definitely something wrong.

"It's just that...he's a Carter. Their Alpha even. You know how they are..."

"No."

I'm not kidding. I've been out of this place for years and, even before, I was never interested in gossip. I always knew I would leave before following an Alpha.

My dad shakes his head, lifting his gaze off the floor. "Well, you know Darius is too young to be an alpha by heritage."

My forehead crinkles. I don't have patience for this tip-toeing. "Give it to me straight."

"He killed the previous Alpha, Lily. His uncle. That's how he assumed the position."

Shit.

I forgot the Carter pack still functions like in old age - allowing Alphas to be challenged for their position at any time.

How awful. Being constantly in fear of your own pack members. Only he doesn't seem to be a tad afraid.

"Wait," I just realized something, "had I won the fight... I would have become the Carter leader."

My dad chuckles. "Only if you had murdered Darius. Given he's your mate...that seems unlikely. And you already are their Luna."

Not by merit, though. By 'marriage'. And I know how dominating Alphas can be. If he murdered his own uncle to rule, I doubt he's all about equality and sharing.

I shook my head. "I can't do this," and collapsed onto his couch. "You know I can't do better than most."

"Listen," he puts a hand over my shoulder. "You can't escape who you are. Human life will never be enough. I saw you on that field - you still have the same problem, Lila."

I frowned. "He attacked Ian, dad."

He almost laughs. "That's not why you provoked him. And why did you fight him even after Ian was left alone?" He raised an eyebrow. "You wanted to prove you were better. I know I wasn't a stellar dad, but I know this much. Ever since you were a little girl, you have challenged those kids who had a better title. You can't accept being a subordinate."

"No," I cut him off, "the thing I can't accept is that I have my life cut out for me! I didn't need this, dad! I had my life planned out. Ok? I still do!"

"That doesn't matter, God dammit!" he demands now. "Mate bonds can't be broken, forgotten or ignored. It's bigger than you, me, and everyone combined."

"Ian, dad. You're forgetting about Ian."

"Forget about Ian," he urged. "Say farewell to the boy while you still have a clean slate."

"There's nothing clean about our slate, dad. Five years!"

"That's nothing!" He shouts. "You aren't married, you don't have kids! There's no family you're gonna break!"

"He is family to me! Better than you ever were." I bit my tongue. That was fair, but I didn't mean to say it. I can't blame him for a few years of heavy drinking after losing his wife.

"You don't know what happened, Lily," he swallows hard. "I tried my best, but... It took time for me to gather the strength to move on."

Don't I count? No one asked me if a little girl needed some time off to dwell. Instead, I had to play Mom to three little J's.

"Even if there was no Ian," I changed the topic, "I still wouldn't want to stay."

"Of course not," he mumbles.

"Why don't you just say what you mean?" I've had it with his pricky comments.

"Darius scares you."

"Bullshit. I am not 'pack material'."

"You love Ian because he's safe. He has no imminent danger in his life, he loves you, lets you lead... You know you're his protector," he clicks his tongue, "but Darius... he's another whole story. And you'll be entering his life. Not the other way around."

My hand reaches for one of my father's cuban cigars.

This could never work out. What was I thinking?

I lit one up.

Was I even taking it as an option? To stay and be part of his pack?

"I am leaving home with Ian," I announced. I have to get out of here. And I have to do it fast. Before this escalates into God-knows what.

"Since when do you smoke?"

"Since now," I said. "Will you resent me for doing that to you?"

Shaking his head, he smiled. "You're my only daughter. My first-born child. If you want to leave, I will make sure your wish is granted."

My stomach turns. "This already sounds like I'm imprisoned."

He squints subtly. I can tell he's brooding, but won't share his thoughts.

He then stands up, certain in his action. "I will help you leave. But I will not help you escape."

I narrowed my eyes. "What exactly do you mean by escape? I'm not shackled here, dad."

"Well you don't expect him to just hold the door open for you, do you?" he watches me unconvinced. "You are Luna, in his pack now, whether you like it or not."

"As long as I'm not in wolf form, he has no power over me." Theoretically, even then, I could disobey my Alpha's command, but I don't quite control my wolf. She's... different.

I remember how she followed his words earlier in the woods. She actually wanted to. Oof, my wolf's a hoe.

"Of course not," Father reassures me. "The only way he could force you to stay is by physical force and he will never do that."

I looked at him suspiciously. "Do you know him that well?"

He shrugs. "Werewolf men are prideful beings. The higher your rank, the prouder you are. You don't think an Alpha of the strongest pack around will stoop so low to shackle his own mate to keep her near?"

It does seem too lame for a big fat Alpha.

"Let me talk to him first," he says. "We won't take long. Then I suggest you meet him for a few minutes and explain things from your perspective."

As I don't reply immediately, he continues. "I assure you it is the better way. You can't run away from him. He will find you wherever you go. You are linked now. And when he does find you, running will only make you look weak."

I can't help but agree. So I looked at my father and gave him a short nod.

It's my best shot, anyway.

My father quickly grabs hold of the doorknob and I can't help but notice his eyes glowing with some hidden victory.

I realize I don't want to know why.

———