SHADOW
“Stay with Zarah. I’ll be right back.” Califf kissed my lips. “I’m going to avail a castle restroom.”
I rolled my eyes. “Careful with those faes.”
“They should be careful with you.” He kissed me again before he let me go.
I went to Zarah and Aira when the announcement echoed. She was right. There was definitely a gladiator-type brawl after the dinner. Sebastien had to prove to me he was a total asshole.
“Where’s Alpha?”
“He went to the restroom.”
Zarah’s brows furrowed. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. He said it. Why?” Should I doubt his words? I didn’t think he would lie to me.
“I hope I’m wrong. Let’s go. We have a box seat next to the Alpha King.”
The lights went on at the battleground. My father was in the front row, but Alexander wasn’t around. Zarah, Aria, and I were on the second and an empty seat for Califf.
I would have loved to watch these creatures as they fought for their lives, but I didn’t enjoy watching someone get brutally murdered before my eyes because this was nothing like wrestling or boxing on TV. My kind might be feral, but I hadn’t taken a life, and I didn’t want to if I could avoid it.
The announcer went to the center, and lights focused on him. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We have chosen our fighters for tonight. Fight to death. Who will win will be the feared and the Ultimate Warrior. Are you ready?”
Everyone seemed excited, and I couldn’t help but shake my head. I wasn’t amused by taking lives as their form of entertainment.
“Calling our defending champion! Malakai, the undefeated!”
I opened my link to Califf before the fight started, but something was off. I couldn’t reach him. He blocked me. I connected with Lyon instead. “Are you still outside?”
“No. Where on the fighting ground? I can see you. Where’s Alpha?”
“That’s why I reached out because he blocked me.”
“What? Oh shit.” That was the last thing I heard from Lyon before the audience roared.
I began to get worried. I felt a twist in the pit of my stomach. “Zarah, is there any way to communicate with Califf?”
“His phone. Why?”
I showed her my pouch. “His phone is in here.”
“Our first-time contender, a fearless Alpha. Alpha Califf Stone of Night Stalker Pack!”
My heart sank. “What the fuck?”
I was already on my feet as I watched him walk into the center only in his pants, shirtless, without his shoes. I tried to open the link, and this time, it worked. He may look like a model posting for an underwear photoshoot, but I was not nearly impressed. “What the fuck are you doing, Califf? Get out of there now, or I swear to Goddess I will not forgive you for doing this!”
“You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you, Shadow.”
“I love you, too.” I groaned, but not after the link was shut off. He blocked me again.
“Oh, no.” I heard Zarah’s reaction with a shake of her head. “He doesn’t have any idea what he gets himself into.”
“I think I know, Zarah.” I leaned down and gripped Sebastien’s shoulder. “This is your doing, isn’t it? You want to break me so that I have no choice but to join your crusade, aren’t you, father?”
He looked up at me. “Malakai is willing to end his life if you agree to be here and leave your pack and Alpha. But if Califf wins, he will get my support. I will be his ally. And I won’t break my word, but if your mate loses, he dies, and you lose him forever, and you know how agonizing it is. You decide now and save your man, Shadow.”
“Screw you, asshole,” I said through clenched teeth. “I would rather end my life with my mate than be your puppet and breeder. Go to hell with your kingdom.”
I went to my seat. My chest was heaving. My heart was bleeding. My stomach twisted painfully. Califf may know how to fight, but Lycan was stronger, and given that Malakai was the defending champion and bigger than Califf, the odds of him losing this fight were big, and he would be killed, and I lost him forever.
My wolf just howled, and we hadn’t lost our mate. I drew a deep breath as I felt Zarah’s hand squeezing mine.
“We shouldn’t have come. We should have declined this stupid dinner,” she said. “I’m so sorry, Shadow. I swear I didn’t see this happen.”
“I can’t lose him, Zarah. I just can’t.” I kept shaking my head, knowing his life depended on this fight tonight.
When the fight began, I could barely watch. I didn’t have the guts when the love of my life was fighting for his life in that ring.
“Trust your mate, Shadow.” The more she said something like this, the more my heart bled. “Be strong. He needs that.”
I closed my eyes, drew a deep breath, and concentrated on asking the Moon Goddess to guide Califf, but it looked like my prayer wasn’t heard. Califf was just thrown away, hitting the side rail of the bench like a poor, weak animal.
“Get up. Get up,” I chanted. I couldn’t help but hold my breath every time they exchanged punches. They were both bleeding, but they healed quickly. The Lycan healed faster than the werewolves, though. He managed to give Malakai a hard blow, but that man still stood.
The audience was so engrossed in watching this stupid, bloody, brutal game, and this was what they wanted. They enjoyed it.
“I admire your mate. He’s stronger than I thought he was.” Sebastien smirked. He thought I was impressed or happy with his commendation. My fingers itched to claw his eyes out, but I held it back.
“Fuck you.” I glared at him. “You’re enjoying this a lot, aren’t you?”
“Your father might just test you or want to see if Califf is good enough for you,” Zarah whispered.
My eyes narrowed at Zarah. “Oh, yeah? What’s the point if Califf is dead? I don’t need his alliance anymore,” I made sure it was loud enough for him to hear it. “He can betray me anytime, like what he did to my father, Samuel. I should have thought this out before I came here tonight. How could I be so naive, Zarah?”
“Listen, Shadow. Remember when I told you your mother could have united different creatures? It’s obviously not her. Maybe it’s you.”
“I change my mind. I’d rather have a peaceful life with Califf than uniting with these creatures who don’t value life.” I gasped as I watched Califf on the ground, and Malakai stalked towards him. I stood up. “Get your ass up, Califf! Get up! Get the fuck up, or I swear I’m going to break your leg, wolfy!”
My wolf was agitated. She felt our mate was hurting and losing. He used his fists and knees to lean against the ground as he tried to get up, but Malakai stomped his foot on Califf’s back, causing him to scream in pain.
“Califf!” I couldn’t take it anymore. I ran towards the front. “You can do this! Don’t leave me, Califf. I can’t do this alone. I won’t do this alone!” With tears rolling down my face, I closed my eyes and connected through our link.
“I’m sorry, baby.”
“Don’t give up. You have your pack’s courage and strength. You’re stronger than you know. Use it!”
“I can’t. My wolf is weak.”
“He is, but you are not. Now, fight because I can’t let this man win. Get up, baby. It breaks my heart watching you die. Don’t make me watch that moment, Califf.”
“I love you, Shadow. I’m so sorry for letting you down.”
I kept my eyes closed as I felt his courage and strength vibrate through our bond. I blocked everything around me, the noises, these people, as I offered my life to the Moon Goddess and Califf.
“Shadow.” Someone just shook me and hugged me tight, but I couldn’t, and I was afraid to open my eyes and see what was before me. “Shadow.” But that voice was filled with joy.
“Califf.”
“He won. Malakai is dead.”
“What?” I opened my eyes slowly and faced Zarah. Her eyes glittered. Her smile was wide. “How?”
“See it for yourself.”
I turned my head towards the ground and saw my man standing. His hand was raised as the announcer proclaimed him the champion. “Oh, my Alpha.”
I searched for Sebastien. He was applauding Califf with pride shining in his eyes.
“Son of a bitch.” I left Zarah and went up to him.
“Shadow, don’t,” Zarah warned me.
I stood before my father. “Looks like my man just won. It’s time you keep the end of the bargain, Sebastien.”
“He’s worth to be your man.” He smiled.
“Fuck you. He’s worth it without fighting to death. You don’t know anything about him and what love can do, father, because you never felt the love you sought. I saw that in Alexander’s eyes. He hated you, but he had no choice but to deal with your arrogance because he lost his favorite son, and you are nothing like Samuel, asshole.”