Page 36 of Forged Alliances
Enrico slammed a limb against Dax’s side, the force toppling him over. He lost the hold on the wolf’s neck as they tumbled to the ground. Dax’s vision hazed over, tunneling into fangs, fur, and the blast of heat from Enrico’s pungent breath hitting his face. Blood speckled on his face, gelling on his fur as he slashed, trying to combat the claws slicing his way. The dozens of cuts he’d received stung, creating a symphony of agony with every movement. He rolled on his back, at a disadvantage.
The wolf appeared over him, the head zooming too fast for Dax to block. His stomach convulsed as Enrico’s head slammed home, straight into his throat. Dax gagged in response, lashing out with his claws. His throat pulsed with pain, the blow enough to make him wheeze with each breath. In the seconds Enrico pulled back, Dax dove for the advantage.
A brief space appeared between them, and Dax surged forward, aiming straight for the chest. Those amber eyes glanced down, anticipating the movement. Dax’s heart thundered in his ears, and at the last minute, he switched tactics.
Right as Enrico’s claws descended, sinking into Dax’s already wounded shoulder, he twisted his head to the side, using the angle to lash up with his claws.
The tips hit flesh, sinking in.
An unearthly howl came from Enrico’s shredded throat, one that sent shivers through him as Dax dragged down with his slice. Large gouges carved into those amber eyes, which squeezed shut in pain. Blood poured from the open wounds, the hot liquid splashing onto Dax’s face. Even though his shoulder ached, he lunged ahead, executing the original trajectory of the blow. His head thudded into the solid chest, but with Enrico’s eyes compromised, his reaction time slowed.
The movement destabilized the wolf’s hold, and Dax slunk from under him, slipping out of the way. Each breath came out shaky, the wounds taking their toll. If Enrico landed another one, Dax was a goner. Couldn’t give him the chance.
Enrico tried to whip around, but robbed of sight, his motions slowed. Dax raced for him at top speed, pushing himself faster and farther than before. He rammed into the wolf with enough power to send him flying. Dax skidded along the ground, kicking up dust as the force of the blow sent him sliding. Enrico didn’t stand a chance at defense.
The wolf tumbled away, slamming to the ground with enough impetus to knock the wind from him.
Dax darted up to land on Enrico before he had the chance to rise. If he could win without killing, he would. He pressed the full weight of his body on the wolf, all paws evenly distributed to keep the wolf from budging. After several seconds of thrashing, Enrico stopped.
Dax glanced to the Tribe members, who rose. Jess crossed her arms while she waited.
A minute passed but Enrico made no more movements to get up. Those seconds would be crucial to save his eyes, and the wolf alpha understood that as well as Dax did.
Jess strode into the center of the clearing and began the count. Her voice boomed across the empty area, reaching the large crowd that had grown since Dax had last paid attention. Not like he focused on anyone but the woman who’d captured his heart. As Jess continued counting, Dax and Sierra’s gazes met. Her lip trembled for a second even though her eyes blazed with steadiness. The sight lanced his heart.
“And one,” Jess called, slicing her hands out with the motion. “Dax Williams of the Silver Springs pack is hereby declared the winner. Tomorrow at dawn, you’ll be facing Drew Williams of the Silver Springs pack in the final challenge for leadership.”
Dax stepped off Enrico. As he lumbered away toward the throngs of his Silver Springs pack, a gasp sounded from them, their eyes honed in on the battlegrounds. Dread pooled in his chest as tension thickened the air.
He whipped around in time to spot Enrico rushing for him despite the damage to his eyes.
“Stop,” Lucas’s voice quaked through the air, a thunderous boom that drew everyone’s attention. He lifted his hand.
Enrico made it a couple of steps farther before the gravel surrounding the ring rose in the air. Everyone froze, not only due to the shock of what they witnessed. Dax strained to even move a pinky, but his cat held him still, obeying the direct command of the Tribe member. The crowd remained similarly immobile, unable to break free from Lucas’s order. Once Lucas’s hand descended, all that gravel did as well.
Directly on top of Enrico.
Pebbles and stones pelted him in a fury, near burying him under the onslaught. Lucas watched, his eyes cold.
“That sort of cowardice will not be tolerated,” his voice rang out before he nodded to the crowd to release everyone from the hold. Fear prickled across Dax’s skin at the sheer power the Tribe wielded and the shamanic magic at their beck and call.
Members of Enrico’s pack rushed past the crowd and into the clearing to dig their alpha out of the Tribe-made landslide. Even though Dax’s wounds throbbed—the pain reaching a crescendo—once he slapped a bandage over his shoulder, he’d pull through fine. Not like he’d let a couple of scratches keep him from Sierra.
He hadn’t forgotten for a second about her promise.
Screams and shouts pulsed through the air from his pack members, their eyes shining brightly with hope. His heart thundered in return, pride for his people surging with every step to them. The Tribe bristled with irritation at needing to get involved in the first place; the lot of them had little patience for lawbreakers.
Dax shifted back to two legs, fur dissolving from him as his body stretched taller and longer. Even in his human form, the lion claimed his territory as Dax shared the space when he was the beast. Blood trickled down his arms and legs, tickling as it slid along his torso to splash onto the ground while he walked.
He didn’t think twice about his nudity until he caught sight of the way Sierra eyed him, and his blood heated from top to toe in one fell swoop. The hunger in her eyes was a formidable thing, one that spread through his chest, heading south faster than he liked.
Kyle clapped a hand on his back as he passed, glancing down and letting out a whistle. Finn smirked as Dax sauntered past him, giving the guy a broad grin.
“Go get ‘er,” he said with a wink as he crossed his arms. Sierra cast a glance to Finn, the warning shot Dax expected from the stubborn woman. Too bad for Sierra, Dax planned on pissing her off in full. He’d had enough of dancing around the way he felt about her and how she sparked desires in him he’d abandoned a long time ago. The way she made him believe he was worth something—that he could lead his pack with pride.
He crossed the space between them and circled his hands around her waist before she could respond. Dax dipped down, his lips brushing against hers as the fires roared to life inside him. All the adrenaline, the raw pain, and the intense longing for her melded together into one potent elixir. Sierra resisted at first, until she melted against him, her arms coming around his neck to draw him closer. Cheers and whistles sounded around them, but Dax ignored the crowd.
Right now, only Sierra existed in this space with him. From the moment he’d met her, she’d supported him, helping him grow and stand tall as a leader. Even the way she’d helped him train yesterday rather than delving into the desires riding him had been the edge of a blade difference that helped him win against Enrico.
Her lips were soft and lush even though how she kissed him was anything but. The pulse traveled southward as the way she pressed to him stoked his coals.
Dax pulled away, leaning to the side to whisper in her ear. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Sierra bit his earlobe, sending a sinful shudder through him. “Thought you’d never ask.”
Dax didn’t hesitate, reaching down to scoop her off her feet. She tightened her grip around his neck, a pert smile on her lips as she met his eyes. A broad grin claimed his face as his pulse thundered in anticipation of what would come. He nodded at the familiar faces of his pack and the Red Rocks before he carried Sierra to his truck. They’d skated around this bond for far too long. Dax was ready to lay claim to his mate.