Alpha killer

Chapter 12

The Chairman walked into the ring. "Since the position of Alpha of the Tomah Pack has not been established by the Council or by combat, this challenge is for the position. As with all challenges, it is to death or submission, with the fate of the loser solely at the discretion of the winner. No one is to interfere with the challenge and leaving the circle will result in forfeiture of the challenge and death. May Luna's will be done." He left the circle, and it was on.

My wolf was large for a b***h, three feet tall at the shoulder and a hundred and twenty pounds. I was fast and agile, but I was at a distinct experience and size disadvantage. Beta Todd's wolf was almost a foot taller, plus he had almost a hundred pounds on me. "Any advice, uncle?"

"Stay away, use your speed and try to bleed him enough to weaken him," he said. "Don't let it turn into a wrestling match or it's over."

I growled at him, and he raised his hackles and growled back. "I will enjoy the taste of your blood and your submission," he taunted.

"Bite me," I responded.

"That was the plan, but I don't think I want you anymore. I can have my pick of far more beautiful and capable she-wolves than you."

I attacked first, dashing in and raking my right front claw across his right haunch before he could spin away. He lunged after me, and I quickly changed direction, but his teeth caught just above my tail and he slashed my skin open. The Pack howled at the blood we had drawn, wolves loved a good fight.

I darted away, using the space in the circle to avoid him. He stayed in the center, letting me tire myself out. We traded slashes and bites, and soon both of us had coats soaked in blood. The difference was that the blood loss was affecting my speed more than his strength.

I was losing.

I darted in again, using a move he had seen before, but this time when he turned and leaped after me I reversed and put my shoulder low onto his. He wasn't ready for that, and he tumbled over me onto his back. I followed quick as lightning, my jaws going for his throat. I got a good grip, biting down hard and shaking to try and rip the chunk out.

He lowered his head, keeping me from moving the bite upwards from its current point high on his chest. It was too low to kill him, too far from his spine, and it left me vulnerable to counterattack. His back claws raked down my chest and stomach, opening up long slices. I shifted my body, but the damage was building fast and I was starting to lose blood rapidly. If I held on, I'd be disemboweled in a few moments.

I let go, and he was up on his feet in an instant. I backed away, my stomach bleeding and making movement difficult. He pushed his advantage, charging me and this time I couldn't get out of the way soon enough. He knocked me onto my back, and as I rolled away, he jumped on top of me with his teeth around the back of my neck.

The wounds and blood loss had sapped my strength, and as his teeth pushed deeper into my neck and my face was pushed into the dirt, I made my peace with death. "Submit," he demanded.

"No." I expected him to shake his head and snap my neck, but instead he just kept up the pressure. "Just kill me so I can haunt your a*s for the rest of your life."

"The Pack will not appreciate their Alpha killing a female who hasn't reached maturity," he said with a sigh before broadcasting to the Pack and assembled wolves. "Talia Stillwater is cast out from the Tomah Pack and is made rogue. No one may speak of her or assist her in any way, or they will face treason charges. Any Pack who takes her in will face the wrath of the Tomah Pack."

I blacked out.

It was daylight when I woke again, weak and incredibly sore, somewhere outside Pack territory in the woods. It took me ten minutes to get up on my paws, another ten to limp to a nearby stream and take a drink.

I had no money, no clothing and no Pack. My life would never be the same.

Erica's POV

Michelle and I watched in horror as our best friend Talia lost the challenge, leaving her a b****y mess on the dirt of the challenge circle. Our new Alpha's voice blasted into our heads. "Talia Stillwater is cast out from the Tomah Pack and is made rogue. No one may speak of her or assist her in any way, or they will face treason charges. Any Pack who takes her in will face the wrath of the Tomah Pack."

"Oh s**t, what do we do, Erica?"

"Stay here and warn me if anyone is heading towards her room."

She looked at me in horror. "What are you doing?"

"You're not involved, Michelle. You have family here, I don't." I moved towards the back, once hidden by the edge of the garage I ran back to the Pack House and up to Talia's room in the Alpha Wing. Grabbing a backpack out of her closet, I quickly filled it with clothes, underwear and practical shoes. I put her purse in there, and her photos I took out of the frames and put into a pocked in the flap. The last things I took were in her desk, her banking information and the papers from her parent's will. Zipping it all up, I ran back out of the room and down to my Mini Cooper. I drove off Pack lands as quick as I could, the last thing I needed was to be summoned back. "Michelle, which direction did the warriors take her?"

"West," she replied. I drove around in the dark through neutral territory from the south to the west side; since Tomah was trapped near the junction of Highways 90 and 94, and the Pack owned huge cranberry bogs in the area, it took a while to make my way. I got to within a mile of the western border and stopped the car along the gravel road. Getting out, I started to scent.

I couldn't link Talia or even tell if she was alive, the Pack bond had been broken now. When I didn't smell anything, I moved a mile farther up the road and tried again, and this time I smelled blood.

Leaving the car behind, I got out and put the backpack on. I made my way through the forested land towards the source of the smell, and my heart dropped when I sensed her. She was still unconscious, but her wounds were healing. I got close enough to hear her shallow breathing and rapid heartbeat, but I couldn't get too close. If someone checked and found my scent with hers, I'd be busted for sure.

I hung her pack from a tree branch, hoping she would scent me when she woke and find it.

I'd come back tonight and make sure she was gone.

Talia's POV

I stayed by the stream, drinking my fill and trying to get my body to work again. My stomach and chest protested any movement; the slashes were still healing, and a few scabs opened as I moved. I closed my eyes, using my nose to sense things. I could smell my blood strongly, as well as the warriors who had dumped me here. I could smell Alpha Todd's scent on me from the fight, something I needed to be rid of as soon as possible. I could also smell Erica's scent and it was fresh.

First thing was to wash the blood off and get that bastard's scent off me. I moved along the stream until I found a deeper pool and laid in it. The cool water from the underground spring helped ease the sting of the wounds and helped wash the dried blood from my light fur. When I was ready, I braced myself and shifted back to human.

The pain nearly caused me to black out again.

I stood in the eighteen-inch-deep water, breathing and taking the pain in so I could overcome it. Using my hands, I washed away the dried blood from my skin and looked at my torn-up body. I was a mess.

I walked out of the stream, letting the warm sun filtering through the forest trees and the wind dry my body as I walked. I followed the scent of Erica to the west. A few minutes later, I saw the backpack and smiled. My friend had not abandoned me. I reached the pack and zipped it open, pulling out underwear, cargo shorts, a T-shirt, socks and hiking boots. My purse was in there, and I grabbed my cash and driver's license out of it and put it in my pocket. She had even brought the bank card, which accessed the account with my inheritance from my parent's estate. The lawyer held Tania's half for her, and my portion was not a fortune, but it was enough to get a fresh start. Alphas, at least honest ones, weren't getting a lot of personal wealth because they plowed the earnings back into the Pack.

I said a silent prayer to Selene asking her to protect Erica for what she had done. It was incredibly brave of her to leave this for me after my exile, but it made my getaway so much easier. I put the backpack on and started walking west.

It was well after sunset when I reached the gas station and mini-mart on I-94, and I was starving. I used my money to buy a few sandwiches, some beef jerky and snacks, and a tall coffee. I ate outside, stashing the snacks in my pack for later, and watched the pumps for someone who might help.

Hitchhiking wasn't as common anymore, especially for young girls. I wasn't as defenseless as a human, but I wasn't stupid either. I kept an eye out for someone with out-of-state plates or an independent trucker, since the freight companies had rules against passengers. I passed on men under fifty unless they were family.

Somehow, being a beat-up sixteen-year-old didn't work well for getting a ride. The first few people I asked, including a younger couple, offered to call the police for me which I declined. Another thought I was a w**********l and offered me cash and a ride for a b*****b, which I politely but forcefully declined. I was sitting by the door when a Mercedes sedan came in, with Louisiana plates. A beautiful woman got out, her red hair cascading down in waves to mid-back. She was in a simple black dress and heels, her pale skin almost glowing in the fluorescent light. She looked to be in her late twenties and had no ring on her finger. She filled up the tank, then walked towards me. I caught her scent and fear went through me like a cold knife.

Vampire.She had my scent as well and looked me over. "What's a little injured pup like you doing out here all alone, wolf?"

"Cast out," I said. "Look, I don't want any trouble from you and I'm in no shape to fight. If you're going to kill me, do it quickly."

She just nodded and went inside to pay. I got up, my body protesting the movement as it continued to heal. She came out as I was halfway across the lot and she caught up quickly. "Come with me," she said. I froze; there was no way to escape her if I was at full strength, much less now. "I'll give you a ride and you can tell me your story. My name is Marceline, Marceline Covington, but you can call me Marcy."

What the hell, I thought. All of the Packs would have been informed of my exile by now, and by law none would give me aid or shelter. A wolf who was exiled was exiled for life, destined to live a loner (peaceful wolf outside of a Pack) or a rogue (same thing but lives around Pack lands and is hunted). If I was going to be killed, she would have done it already. "Thank you," I said. "I am Talia Stillwater, formerly of the Tomah Pack."

"The Alpha daughter?"