Meanwhile, the Gamma and the visiting Alpha, as if in agreement, both started the challenge in their human forms…
They began with the usual hand-to-hand combat, and even then, you could feel the viciousness and fury being exchanged by the two men. Both had obviously been well-trained, and their past experiences and present expertise could be seen in their every move and counter.
“So, your mate, huh Ma’He? And her pack? Are you happy with what you took from me?” gritted the Alpha, now sporting a bruised and cut cheek.
“I took nothing. All of it is mine – and hers – since we were born,” M said tonelessly, evading a kick to his face and landing two solid punches on Abner’s chest
Gasping from the hits, the Crescent Moon leader managed to find his footing, then jumped up into the air, aiming a kick at M’s head while screaming furiously, “She was going to be married TO ME!”
M dodged the kick and yelled back, still in this strange monotone, “To someone who didn’t love her!”
Wow, it’s really working. Bren’s mix is helping me keep my cool.
Yes, as long as we don’t get angry, we are sure to win this… just a little more, M!
Abner rushed at Ma’Heron and aimed a number of punches at his opponent’s throat, “What do you know about love? Aren’t you famous as the cold, calculated, and controlled Gamma of the Silvercrest Pack?”
“And what do you know about love, too? You, who have orgies, even share partners because you’re not content in having just one!” M growled at his opponent as he caught the angry Alpha’s hand and wrist with two hands. He then used the Ushiro-Goshi, which was the same move he had utilized on his mate when they first met… Abner gasped, then cried out in pain as he found himself slammed down to the ground!
* * *
Myron mindlinked V right in the middle of the Silvercrest Gamma’s genius move. The cheers of his pack members were so loud it almost drowned out Myron’s update.
“Sir, the rogues have all been neutralized! And some are not even rogues but are Crescent Moon warriors!”
Siel then noticed the tightening of Vince’s hand on hers and the hardening of her mate’s jawline and lips.
He’s furious. I hope it’s not because of a complication to the plan…
By now, Siel could already tell if her mate was talking to someone in his head. She sighed in relief this time since he got so excited with the news he received that V responded aloud.
“Good job, Myron! Now bring in one of them to the challenge arena. I need them to yell out to the high heavens their admission in front of the Elders. They will be our Plan B.” * * *
Ma’Heron being more muscular and taller than Abner had the advantage of strength, reach, and accuracy. Abner, who was slimmer and shorter, used more speed, agility, and evasion. However, it seemed the maniacal Alpha’s skills were not helping him.
When M easily pulled up the asshole Alpha off the ground, he proceeded to land a flurry of heavy hits on his enemy’s torso with his other hand, all in strategic spots. His combined move ended with M tossing his enemy up in the air then executing a perfectly timed ax kick…
Abner ended with his face on the ground with a bleeding gash on his head. It started to bleed profusely, and then he raised his face, screaming furiously.
Then he shifted to his werewolf form!
He crouched on all fours and launched himself towards his opponent. M smoothly sidestepped to avoid his crazed enemy’s attack.
Lyon! Merge!
Damn! Took you long enough!
Snarls, growls, roars, and howls now echoed all throughout the mountainside!
As the two ferocious fanged and furred fighters let loose on each other, the audience went berserk, cheering their chosen champions wildly. Now it was harder to follow the fight since both were a whole lot swifter and more dangerous as werewolves.
The thing was, Ma’Heron is a strategist.
And it’s fairly easy to analyze your foe once you’ve fought with them long enough, or even allow yourself to get hit just so you can assess your rival’s strength, speed, and weak spots.
He let Abner land several hits to his brown/black werewolf form just to find an opening in his foe’s fighting style…
M found it on the light gray werewolf’s third set of attacks, and he created a counter instantaneously! Slash upwards, block, rush into his torso, wait for him to defend, then bite into his elbow…
HARD!
Abner’s dismembered arm flew through the air and bounced on the ground…
And several long needles – attached to a leather strap and with metal syringes at the end – clattered into the middle of the arena, in full view of everyone watching.
A unified gasp filled the air while Abner howled in pain, slowly shifting back to his human form, naked, and with one arm missing.
Ma’Heron shifted to human form as well, bloody and nude but still magnificent, then picked up the makeshift chemical-filled gadget in his hand. M slowly approached the bleeding Alpha as the latter tried to stop the rush of blood from his open wound by hugging his arm to his chest.
“You’re not allowed any weapons during a challenge, Alpha Abner. And you have used this on me right now, several times, during the last moments of our fight.”
Abner was so livid with anger and pain that his eyes were now slits, “YOU! I hit you with those MANY TIMES! How come you DIDN’T FALL? YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO WEAKEN AND LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS! WHY…? Why didn’t you…”
And the maniac wasn’t able to hear M’s reply anymore, nor did he see V dragging one of the Crescent moon warriors to the elders’ seats a few minutes later.
After a few hours, Abner would wake up in a heavily guarded room inside a pack hospital. He would have a bandaged and amputated arm, silver chains and cuffs on all his extremities, his neck included. Two days later, he would be executed.
Ironically, it was on the same day he planned to celebrate his upcoming marriage with a woman that was never his. Valentine’s Day…