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punch and
overbalanced. Using his own momentum, I slammed him to the ground
and got him in a choke hold.
    He didn't have to tap out. I could just
squeeze until he blacked out and nobody would argue that I won.
    I wouldn't have to kill him.
    I put more pressure on his throat.
    His body jerked under me.
    Between one instant and the next, he'd
changed into his wolf form and twisted to close his jaws over my
forearm.
    Fuck.
    “ Foul! Form change in the
middle of a bout! Forfeit!”
    I heard the shouts around me, but I was too
busy trying not to be taken down as he let go only to clamp down on
my thigh instead.
    I moved just enough at the last instant to
avoid having those sharp teeth tear into my femoral artery.
    He was trying to kill me.
    I suppressed my emotions and went for his
jaw, putting pressure on the joints, forcing him to let go.
    As soon as he did, I adjusted my grip to his
neck.
    My heart was almost bursting out of my chest
as I used all my strength to break his neck.
    The crowd went silent around me.
    I laid his limp body down gently, sinking my
fingers into the soft fur. It was still warm, but it would start to
cool soon.
    Why didn't he just let me win? He knew even
if he managed to kill me, he could no longer be Alpha. He would
have effectively forfeited.
    I smelled the familiar scent reminiscent of
freshly cut grass before a warm hand came down on my shoulder.
    “ Come on Reina. It's
over.”
    I let Griffith pull me up, staring down at
the white wolf that lay so still on the asphalt.
    I knew this was a possibility. Hell, I knew
it was a probability if I was honest with myself.
    But the reality was so much more final and
wasteful than I could have prepared myself for.
    Griffith raised my hand with his and threw
his head back to let out a howl. The first howl for the pack's new
Alpha.
    All around me, the pack joined him, the song
a blend of mourning and exultation.
    Taking a deep breath, I joined in, closing
my eyes as a few tears escaped.
     
    Griffith
     
    The fight had been brutal and draining.
    I never wanted to see that look on Reina's
face again. The bastard had deserved to die, was willing to cheat
to kill his own daughter if it meant he didn't lose.
    But he was still Reina's father.
    And no matter how much of an asshole that
man had been, Reina had still cared for him on some level.
    I pulled her into a tight hug as the howls
slowly died down.
    I felt the dampness on my neck as she
wrapped her arms around me and squeezed hard.
    I wish she didn't have to go through
this.
    After a few minutes, she pulled back, wiping
her face off roughly.
    “ I'm glad you're
here.”
    I swallowed the lump in my throat.
    “ I'm sorry.”
    She nodded, looking away.
    “ Manny isn't going to be
far behind. The death of the Alpha doesn't void the contract. He's
going to want Sofia.”
    “ Well, we're not letting
him have her.”
    She nodded.
    “ War. We're going to war
then.”
    “ Yes. We're going to
war.”
     
    Chapter 4
     
    Reina
     
    We buried him in the family cemetery.
    I made sure to give him all the respect an
Alpha deserved. Even if I hadn't wanted to, it was a good political
move to make. I wasn't under the impression that everyone in the
pack was thrilled with the way things had played out. Especially
the older crowd.
    And I was sad that I had to consider such
things in my new role.
    The ceremony was done and over with quickly.
We didn't have time to draw it out.
    I was still standing over the freshly turned
earth when I got a phone call.
    “ I hear congratulations
are in order.”
    I clenched the phone in my hand as Manny's
voice came through. Forcing myself to relax before I crushed the
phone, I unclenched my jaw so I could speak.
    “ Sofia isn't a bargaining
chip. If you would like to revisit the terms of the alliance
contract, I am willing to do so.”
    He chuckled, the sound hard.
    “ Oh no. We're well passed
resolving this in such a civilized manner. You invaded my territory
and stole something that by