Page 96 of Claiming Her Alpha
Ryker stumbled with a punch to his gut. Mike seized the opening to kick Ryker’s knees. Though unstable, Ryker sent his fist into Mike’s ribs. As Mike tried to catch his breath, Ryker struck Mike so hard that everyone heard the pop. Kendra cringed and saw Lina’s worried gaze on her mate as he fell to the floor, jaw clenched in pain.
Ryker quickly wrapped Mike in a tight chokehold. Mike, still fighting to breathe, tried to free himself by clawing at everything in his wake. Blood poured over them as Mike sliced open Ryker’s arms. Though his grip didn’t waver–until Mike went for his neck, slicing open a bigger artery and Ryker started to pale.
After a few moments, Mike passed out first, falling limp in Ryker’s arms. Ryker moved a hand to his bleeding neck, eyes beginning to glaze over. Two warriors ran up to them, one stopping Ryker’s bleeding, the other helping Mike. Kendra’s feet moved without thought as soon as the fight was over.
“Idiots,” she mumbled as she kneeled next to Ryker to take a closer look at his neck.
Richard was already applying pressure to the wound while Mike was slowly regaining consciousness.
“I’m fine,” Ryker tried to reassure her, though his pale, sweaty skin said otherwise.
“Yeah, sure you are. You two weren’t supposed to kill each other.”
“It was pass out or tap out.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much, Luna,” Richard chimed in. “The bleeding is already under control. I’m sure the only thing to suffer from this will be their pride.”
“What nicked pride does he have? I’m the one who passed out!” Mike laughed from behind, with Lina next to him.
After Kendra calmed her emotions, she felt stupid for overreacting. “Sorry. I went a little overboard, didn’t I?”
“Just a little,” Ryker chuckled and took her hand in his.
“I don’t like seeing you hurt.”
“I believe our luna has a new soft spot and it’s not chocolate,” Avery teased as he helped Ryker onto his feet.
Mike held his hand out and Ryker shook it. “Nice fight, Alpha. I’m looking forward to more.”
“Me too.”
After a few moments Kendra and Ryker started walking home.
“How about we get all that nasty blood off you?” Kendra suggested.
“Only if you join me.”
“Who else is gonna scrub your back?” she giggled.
While Ryker let the shower heat up, she went to the closet to grab their clothes. “Are we staying in tonight?”
“I was hoping after we are all scrubbed down, we could hop into this huge bathtub.”
“Sounds like my kind of night.”
Ryker was already in the shower, the blood swirling down the drain. As usual her heart skipped a beat when she laid eyes on him. The wounds Mike had inflicted already scabbed over and in a week or two nothing would show.
“Are you joining me, little luna? I have a spot between my shoulders I can’t seem to reach.”
She quickly dropped her clothes and eagerly stepped into the shower behind him. “Yes, my Alpha.”
She grabbed for the soap and loofah and reached up to rub his shoulders, his muscles vibrating under her touch with a deep, melodic hum.
“I enjoyed watching you fight today,” she admitted softly.
“Just the part where I got hurt bothered you?”
“Yes. I feel stupid now, but when I saw you I just blanked with worry even though I knew it wasn’t that bad.”