TBMA [Complete ✔️]

16. Alpha I

Knox's P.O.V

Esteban and I circled each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. I chanted all the strategies and tactics I knew in my head, while still keeping my focus on the way his feet dragged along the ground, the way the wind slashed through our skins, the way his gaze traveled over my actions and movements.

I studied him as we waited, taking note of his stance and anything that could help me out before he finally made his first attempt at a punch. I caught his fist mid-air and forced his arm away. He put up a good fight, but I put on a better one, twisting and pushing his arm until I heard the satisfying sound of his bones breaking.

He cried out as he relocated his shoulder and got back into stance, his arm now a target for my attacks. The mental list I had created began having things ticked off, but I still didn't have the strength of a ruling Alpha wolf, therefore there was a long way until Esteban could be considered as defeated.

More enraged than he had been, Esteban attempted to kick me in the stomach. I managed to dodge his attack, but unfortunately, it was only a distraction so his fist could collide with my jaw in peace. I stumbled back, afraid to admit his punch was rock solid and hurt as such.

I spat blood on the floor as his other fist collided with my eye, blurring my vision for a moment he took to send me flying to the ground. I spat on him, taking the second he used to wipe the saliva off to open my bruised eye. I once again managed to dodge his fist by catching it mid-air, shoving it with full force to the ground, and breaking his knuckles.

He instinctively cradled them with his other hand, allowing me to get up. I rolled behind his squatting body, allowing his fists to move faster into my face. I then pushed him, forcing him on the ground, managing to smash his head into the ground before he used his remaining strength to roll himself on top of me, breaking my jaw further and puncturing a rib before I could flip us around and stand up again.

Moving was becoming significantly harder, pain shooting through my ribs each time I tried. I let adrenaline numb the pain as we continued to fight for dominance over the other, hoping it would be enough to last me until I could end him.

We went back and forth for a little while longer until I caught him off guard and elbowed him in the stomach, knocking the breath out of him. Before he could recover, I kicked him in the back, locking his hands behind his back and gripping his wrists as if my life depended on it.

Except it actually did.

Unfortunately, before I could shift into my wolf and end his miserable existence once and for all, he threw his head back to gain force before smashing it against my own. The action made me bite my tongue, feeling the familiar metallic taste of blood in my mouth.

"What's wrong, Knox, too weak to defeat your old man?" He chuckled, spitting blood on the floor before taking his stance again.

Even with his cockiness, however, I could see I was starting to get under his skin. He was angry and it wouldn't do him good, it never did. A light went off in my mind, and suddenly, I knew exactly how to win this fight.

"Simply checking out how long you can keep up with me before you decide you're too old to fight." He let out a low, warning growl. One, I was anything but afraid of.

"It's probably pretty uncomfortable where you're going, best enjoy your last few moments, huh? After all, you were too worthless to defeat a few rogues, let alone fight me, I'd say bid your farewells." If looks could kill, I'd be six feet under already. His eyes kept changing between his and his wolf's, proving my theory right.

I fought to keep the smirk away, for now, instead c*****g an eyebrow and making my most sincere face possible.

"Sorry, that was inconsiderate of me, I should have remembered we were fighting because no one wanted you in the first place, my bad." He tried to punch me once more, but It was a punch that wasn't thought through, one, I could see from a mile away, one, fueled by anger, and one, I easily evaded, making my way behind his back from under his extended arm.

I got close enough so only he could hear me, my fingers sneaking around his neck. He struggled a bit, but noticing it only made me tighten it further, he stood still, growling under his breath. My lips inched closer to his ear until they were mere inches apart.

"How does it feel to be so unwanted your own mate preferred to die than spend the rest of her life near you?" I whispered, knowing my words were anything but the truth, but also knowing they would have the needed effect.

His arms immediately gripped my shoulders, flipping me and sending me crashing to the floor with a loud thud as his growl shook the forest. I bit my lip as pain shot through my entire body, more hot, red blood on my tongue.

Esteban began to shift, so I jumped up, despite my body's protests, and shifted as well, Kane howling at the pain of our already broken bones rearranging. Enzo, Esteban's wolf, bolted toward Kane, colliding into him with such force it sent both of them rolling in the dust. Enzo pinned Kane beneath him, my wolf snapping his teeth from the left to the right side of his face, distracting his opponent enough for him not to notice as Kane made a move and tore his ear off, spitting it to the ground as blood seeped out of the open wound.

Enzo whined in pain while Kane used his hind legs to kick his enemy in the underbelly, pushing him off and sending him tumbling to the ground. The animal immediately made its way back on its feet, jumping onto mine's back. Esteban's wolf then bared its teeth and sank them into my wolf's shoulder.

Kane snarled, angered, but also tired and in need of medical attention. Both Esteban and I, along with our wolves, were too injured to keep going and too tired to keep pushing ourselves past our breaking point.

Still, I could see the end near, the ground splashed with too much blood for that not to be the case.

"Remember who you're doing this for!" I encouraged him. "The pack you so wish to protect is in your hands, the sister you licked and made scratch your belly is watching you!" That was all the push Kane needed to be back on his paws as if nothing had been going on for the past minutes.

He bolted toward Enzo, knocking him to the ground and climbing on top of him because, unlike his rival, he had something to fight for. He sunk his claws into his belly, the animal howling and whining, but Kane didn't care. He saw red, his adrenaline at an all-time high. As his opponent tried to squirm away from the claws tearing into its flesh, my wolf bit his shoulder, shaking it until he tore as much of the fur and skin as he could.

With one final burst of energy, Kane bit into Enzo's throat and squeezed until the life drained from under him and his body went limp. My body was forced back into human form as every member entered my head, the mind link overwhelming me for a second before I could shut it off. I felt every member become dependent on me, felt their respect, fear, their disgust from the gruel fight they witnessed, I felt and saw it all.

I shut my eyes for a second as I panted for air, the fractured rib, broken jaw, and all other injuries finally taking their toll on me as the adrenaline rush died. When I opened my eyes again, Beta Zaria was standing proudly with what one would call a motherly smile on her face, not that I remembered what those were like, my sister pressed into her side with her arms wrapped around Zaria, while every other wolf was kneeling with their fist against their heart, welcoming me as their new Alpha.

No one dared challenge my succession, witnessing firsthand what I could do, even to a wolf as strong as the dead monster was. I glanced at him, at his now shifted into a human, corpse, knowing he deserved everything that happened to him.

The terror was over, and now began freedom. My mother was avenged, all of us could rest soundly now, knowing the beloved Luna Aria's killer saw a fitting end. I had promised her I would end him myself and I did not break that promise. I closed my eyes again, relishing in the moment of victory and wondering if she had been with me during the fight, supporting me, or begging me not to become cruel like him.

But truth was, I was a born monster. I was every bit an Esteban and I planned on living accordingly. I was every bit the cruel murderer everyone thought of me, but at least this time, it was the truth rather than a false accusation.

I killed for the first time today, but I was sure it wouldn't be the last. The worst part was I didn't regret a thing.

"Long live Alpha Knox!" My wolves chanted at the same time as Rosalie made her way over before her knees collapsed. She healed my wounds despite shaking like a leaf before she returned to the rest, tears streaming down her face.

I finally got up and let the pack do the same, all of us ready to turn a new page.

Except I wasn't sure they would like who they were turning the page to as I was no better than the Alpha they gave up on.

A/N

Hi, Treasures! Make sure you join my F-a-c-e-b-o-o-k group Teddy's Treasures for extra content and discussions! Knox's cruel era has begun. His first kill changed him, finishing off what the death of his mom started. Are you excited or sad about having to read about mean Knox again?