Resisting The Alpha Wolf

Chapter 20

Pushing through the bush, I ignored the sting of pain as thorns and sticks scratched and tugged at my exposed arms and clothes.

Pushing into the crowd, I didn’t look away from where Liam knelt. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as he drew the knife across his arm. Pulling the knife away, blood welled up around the cut. The crowd went silent as it started to drip down his arm, pooling onto the grass at his feet.

“I, Liam Alpha of the Ever Green Pack, am willingly giving up the title of Alpha.” Liam stared at his arm, his body ridged as he’s spoke.

Looking around at the crowd, no one seemed to know or care that I was there. Glancing back up, my stomach plummeted my feet, I would never reach Liam in time, not like this.

Taking a deep breath, I shifted, no longer caring about the possibility that Alec may have other shifters working with him.

“From this moment-” Liam started to speak when someone screamed. High and shrill, I knew without even turning around that it was Casey. Casey’s scream seemed to do something to the shifters in the crowd. It was like a switch flipped in their heads. One moment no one noticed or cared that I was running through their feet, but then suddenly they not only noticed, but we’re clearing a path for me.

Bursting through the gap made in the crowd, I didn’t hesitate as ran at Alec, teeth bared and growling. Lunging forward, I sunk my teeth into his thigh as he stumbled backwards onto the porch. No sooner had we hit the ground than chaos erupted around us as people tried to figure out what was going on. Growling, Alec grabbed me by the throat and squeezing until let go. Throwing me to the ground, he stared down at me as he pulled his foot back like he would kick me.

“STOP!” Liam roared as he put himself between Alec and I. Alec stood there frozen for a moment, his eyes going yellow as his wolf fought with Liam’s Alpha command. Liam didn’t bother waiting for Alec’s reaction, instead turning to the amassed shifters, who had all stopped at Liam’s command. As Liam scanned, searching for anything out of place, Jace appeared next to me, crouching down next to me. Glancing away from Liam, I followed Jace’s eyes as he was watching Alec, who sat on the ground.

Alec was staring at Liam’s back, his face contorted with anger as he clenched his hands at his sides. I was so focused on Alec I didn’t notice Liam crouch down in front of me, but as he reached forward, his hands running through my fur, I jumped. Snapping my head in his direction, I growled, not realizing who it was touching me. I turned my head, ready to bite whoever dared touch me. Stopping just short of bitting him, I craned my neck trying to see his face.

“Anna? How are you here? What the hell happened?” Liam’s voice was controlled and even as he spoke, but as I looked into his eyes, I saw the emotions. His voice didn’t betray. I saw the fear and anger at having come so close to losing me, but I also saw his love.

“Anna, I need you to shift for me.” Liam had barely gotten the words out when there was a growl from behind him. Alec was crouched down half shifted, his large yellow eyes almost glowing, his clawed hands dug into the dirt near his feet. Alec’s gaze fixed on his brother.

Lunging forward, Alec slammed into Liam, knocking him to the ground. As the hit the ground Liam shifted, shaking his brother off

“Your weak” Alec’s voice came out gravely, spit flying as he spoke around the large canines protruding from his lips as he swung his arm forward, missing Liam inches as he dodged out of the way.

“I will kill you here and when I’m done with you, then I will finish off your little w***e of a mate.” Alec swung at again, missing again as Liam’s smaller, more agile form ducked under his arm and running behind his brother.

Shifting back into a human, Liam kicked Alec in the back of the leg, making Alec’s legs buckle beneath him.

“Shift back into human form. I’m not sure what the hell is wrong with you, but we can talk about this. You're my brother.” Liam stood several feet behind Liam as he spoke. I watched, frozen in surprise. Did Alec really just attack Liam in-front of everyone? Shifting, I started to step forward, but before I could take a step, Jace grabbed my arm.

“What the hell!?” I growled as I turned to Jace as I tried to pull from his grasps.

“You can’t interfere.” Jace tightened his hold on me as he watched Liam and Alec intently, not taking his eyes off of them as he spoke.

“The hell I can’t Liam is my mate and ill be damned if ill stand here and watch.” Pulling with all my weight, I tried to pull out of Jace’s grasp.

“You can and you will, Anna. You have no choice in this. As soon as Alec tried to attack Liam, it became an official challenge and no one can interfere in this, not even you.” Jace turned his gaze to me, searching my face to make sure I understood what he was saying.

“If you do anything to stop the fight or help Liam, then Alec wins by default and Liam will not only will he no longer be alpha but he will also be considered to be nothing in the eyes of the pack. So you will not move. I don’t care if I have to hold you down. You will not move from this spot.” Jace’s eyes flashed for a moment, showing me just how serious he was.

“He can’t lose Jace.” I turned away from his watchful gaze, not wanting him to see how afraid i was.

“Alec-”

“Alecs behind the murders.” It wasn’t a question. Jace’s voice was suddenly full of pain, the change making me turn to look at him, but instead of looking at me, he was once again looking at Liam and Alec.

“Yea.”

“When you went missing we knew it had to be a pack memember but for it to be Alec?” Jace had barley gotten the words out when the ground started to shake causing those that hadn’t left when Liam and Alec had started fighting fell to the ground as it shook until everyone except Liam and Alec had fallen over.

“The witch?” Jace growled as we both looked up to see Leia and Jade walking towards Liam and Alec. It was at that point that the pack realized that the earthquake hadn’t been natural and had in fact been caused by the witch now in their presence. While many shifters attempted to get to their feet and face Leia, the ground below them started to shake again, until they had once again fallen. It wasn’t long before Leia stopped just short of where Liam and Alec stood now, facing each other.

“Do not interfere.” Liam didn’t tear his eyes away from Alec as he spoke to Leia, not fazed by the witch’s appearance.

“Your laws do not apply to me, Liam. I will not abide by your laws. Either end this now or I will eliminate the threat myself.” Leia spoke calmly, her face not betraying any emotion as she stared intently at Liam, not bothering to acknowledge Alec.

“The f**k does that mean?” Liam growled, his attention now fully on Leia

“I mean that your brother is guilty of killing shifters, betraying your pack, and hurting my friend Anna, your mate. So you deal with the threat or I will do it for you your choice.” Alec growled, taking advantage of the distraction he lunged at Liam. His claws racked across Liam’s shoulder, tearing it open and spilling blood on the green grass at their feet.

Liam stumbled backwards, looking at Alec in surprise as he realized for the first time that what Alec had said about wanting to kill him had been true. Alec’s face broke out into a manic grin as he looked at the blood coating his claws and Liam’s shoulder.

“Why so surprised, brother? I did say I would kill you didnt I?”

“Why?” Liam asked, ignoring the pain in his arm. He pulled his torn and blood-stained shirt over his head.

“Why?” Alec c****d his head to the side as he studied his brother’s face for a moment, a look of shock on his face but after several moments his face contorted in rage as he realized Liam truly did not know.

“You are a disgrace! The fact that you think that we are no better than any other shifter is stupid (insert a different word here).”

“Thats what this is about? You think that were better than smaller shifters? You did all of this because of some stupid, outdated notion?” Liam growled, his eyes turning yellow as his own wolf rushed to the surface.

“You have ruined our father’s legacy! Everything he worked for you destroyed because you are too weak to see the truth!” Alec suddenly shifted, changing into a smaller sandy brown wolf. Alec started to pace back-and-forth snarling, looking startlingly like close to a caged animal as he did so.

“This doesn’t have to end in bloodshed. Your my brother. Your pack. Shift back now don’t force me to do something ill regret.” Alec stopped abruptly as Liam’s words eyeing for a moment as he thought.

Shifting back, Alec stayed crouched on the ground for several moments, not looking at his brother instead, choosing to look at the ground instead.

“Alec?” Liam asked after several moments passed and Alec had still not moved. “Ive had enough.” Growing frustrated with Liam’s lack of action, Leia snapped her magic, taking over as the ground started to shake beneath. Growling, Alec looked up, his eyes full of anger as his eyes locked with Liam’s. Realizing what Leia was about to do. Spinning around, Alec dashed forward, his hands shifting into claws as he slammed into me, tearing me away from Jace. The shaking beneath our feet dissipated as he wrapped a clawed hand around my neck.

“I wanted to kill you too but i guess ill settle for your little w***e instead.”