The smell of burning flesh filled my nostrils is eyes rolled into the back of his head as he inhaled deeply. My lip curled in disgust and I took this opportunity to lift my chin, lowering my head back before I slammed my head forward. When my forehead connected with his nose, there was a sickening crunch followed by a grunt. Hot liquid splattered on my forehead and dripped down my eyebrows. A couple of drops of it oozed down to my right eye. My opponent did the same, his head smashed against mine and I groaned as my head jerked back.
The pole was ripped from my hands and I blinked a couple of times while I strained to see where he was and if the pole was coming back. I figured it out when it slammed against my cheek. My skin burned painfully as the wolf’s bane made contact. I took it, I didn’t look away. The pain hurt now but the end goal was surviving. I could take this pain, I could take anything as long as I survived. I wouldn’t lose, I was going to take him down, and I was going to win. I gripped the pole and yanked it from his hands. I cocked my hand back and hit the pole across his face. It was my turn, and I slammed it against his face over and over again. He grunted and stumbled back but I didn’t give him time to recover.
I was standing over him now, my back was hunched over as I brought the pole up and down on him. He fell to the ground and I didn’t wait for him, I hopped on top and straddled him. At this point, he didn’t bother covering his face, his hands slumped to the ground as. I brought the pole down again and again. My hand burned from where I gripped it.
“Submit,” I growl.
His face was bleeding, broken, and one of his eyes was swollen shut. He could only use his right eye to peer up at me. He coughed and blood splattered onto my shirt as he tried to clear his airway. When he still didn’t say anything I shook my head and moved back. His hands reached out and gripped my t-shirt.
“Finish it,” he choked.
“As much as I want to, I can’t.”
I grabbed his hand and yanked it off of me. I grabbed the keys from his pants. Standing to my feet, I wiped the blood from my face. It smeared and I flicked the liquid onto the floor. He fell back, his head slapping against the floor as I stepped over him. I didn’t bother keeping an eye on him, he wasn’t going anywhere. I pushed the door open and found my Alpha staring back at me in the dark.
His face was covered in darkness but I could see the glow of his eyes as they peered back at me. I swallowed and rushed forward. He didn’t look good but as soon as I got these cuffs off of him he could start to heal. When I got closer, I realized it was Elijah looking at me, not Ethan.
“He can’t shift right now. Give him some time to heal and he’ll let you out for the battle. Right now, I need to focus on getting you out,” I said. I reached for the cuffs. My skin hurt but I didn’t let it go. I unlocked one of the chains and gravity dragged it down but it clanged against the wall.
“Where’s Ethan?” I asked cautiously.
“He won’t come out,” Elijah bit out.
“Why not?” I asked.
“He can’t,” Elijah grunted.
I wasn’t sure what he meant. I had just talked to Ethan. Why was he suppressed? There’s no way he would let Elijah have full control. Not unless he didn’t have a choice, not unless he was so weak he couldn’t stay conscious. As Alpha, Ethan could go through severe torture.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Adea has been with Shane. Twice.”
I’ve spoken with Elijah many times over the years. Our wolves were friends. The other chain fell and clanged against the wall like the first. I could tell he was hurting. I didn’t know what to say to make it better. I don’t think there was anything I could do. Betrayal between marked partners was the most painful thing we could go through. Other than rejection but I think even rejection would be better than feeling your partner be with someone, not that I have one.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Ethan made it through the first one but he was in so much pain, that he withdrew into the farthest part of his mind. I had no choice but to step forward. She’s been with him multiple times. I don’t know if I can go through another round,” Elijah said.
“It may not… it may not be on purpose,” I said quietly.
“Does that make it better or worse, Beta? Does knowing that my partner is willingly spreading her legs better than someone taking it from her multiple times in a night, or vice versa?” Elijah asked.
“I’m not sure, Alpha Elijah.” I shake my head. He slumps forward and I catch him.
“Does it make me a shitty partner if I’m hoping she isn’t giving it up for him given the only other option?” I don’t know how to answer him, so I remain quiet.
“Because as of right now, I’m not sure what I’m hoping for, Beta,” he grunts in my ear. I pull him up as I stand to my feet. He throws his arm around my shoulder and I carry him to the door. When we walked out the door, the blonde is still on the floor like I knew he would be. His head lays in a small puddle of his blood. Elijah’s arm slips from my shoulder and I help him to the ground.