“They’re fine. So are the twins. Marcus got them out with his little girl and his mate. You were our worst injury… I didn’t know if you were going to make it.” Her lip trembled, then her gaze sharpened. “This is what I swore, isn’t it? To sacrifice for the clan. After that, Milly expects me to just step down. But I’m not going to. I’m going to be the matriarch. I’m sorry.”
He loved the determination in her voice and moved to put his other hand over hers. “Sorry for what?”
“You’re hurt. You could have died. And I am still going forward with this.”
Tristen looked deep into her eyes, wanting her to feel the weight of the words he was about to say. After all that had happened, he loved that she wasn’t going to give up. That she was still taking a stand.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he whispered. “You will be the matriarch, Serena. I promise you that. You will be Matriarch.”
Chapter Fifteen
The sun beamed brightly down into the arena where Serena and Milly were going to face off with one another. The town’s local stadium wasn’t impressive, but it was a big space where the fight could take place. After the events at the ceremony, security was even more stringent. People had to go through metal detectors in order to take their spots. Even though it appeared that the previous attack was a final-ditch effort by the Sawyer group and they had all been taken into custody, they couldn’t take any chances.
“Are you ready?”
Serena turned to Milly, who had asked the question. She wore loose-fitting, stretchy clothing. It would accommodate shifting. Serena wore a similar outfit. She managed a smile as she nodded.
“This is it,” she replied. “When I establish myself for good.”
Milly smirked. “Confident. I like it. Will your mate be in attendance?”
“Yes. Dr. Alava didn’t think he should leave the hospital yet, but he insisted.”
“Remind me to thank him for saving my life after this is over. Don’t know why those idiots went after me. I’m the one challenging you.”
“And that’s why.”
Milly arched a brow in question.
Serena looked out at the gathered crowd. It was just as thick as it had been at the ceremony. She had been afraid that people would be frightened off, but it seemed that people either trusted the same wouldn’t happen again, or their curiosity was stronger than their fear. The number of people who’d be watching put extra pressure on her. But it would be fine… it had to be.
“Why did they attack me?”
Serena turned back to Milly. “According to the men we took, the plan was to make it look like I had you assassinated. So that I’d be in power but that the clan’s trust in me was severely weakened. They want to tear us apart, by keeping us divided it would make us easier targets.”
Milly considered for a moment, then nodded. “Makes sense, in a twisted sort of way. Well. It’s noon. Let’s go fight.”
She moved to exit, but Serena cleared her throat. Milly stopped and gave her an annoyed glance.
“Traditionally, I’m meant to exit first.”
Milly opened her mouth then closed it again. She gestured, and Serena exited the small building. People broke into cheers as the two of them walked into the field. The blur of faces made her stomach twist, so she looked to where she knew Tristen would be. Looking pale, the bandages under his clothes giving him more bulk. But there. Their eyes met and he nodded to her.
Since the attack, he had been out of commission, but Robert, who had come back to help watch out for his brother while Serena was busy, had been helping her train. They fought every night for the past few nights. He was big and strong like Milly; her small stature came in handy against him, since she consistently surprised him with her strength. She couldn’t bank on Milly underestimating her, though. She had to be quick, to prevent her larger opponent from landing a blow.
Clifford’s and Milly’s mates both stood at one side of the stadium. They would intervene if things got too rough; it would be an automatic loss for the person they helped, though, and Serena had made her uncle swear up and down that he wouldn’t interfere, no matter what happened.
There would be three fights. One in human form, one in bear form, and a third free-for-all. Serena faced Milly. She breathed evenly, calming her nerves. The crowd didn’t exist. Nothing did outside the little bubble that encased her and her opponent.
The buzzer indicating the start of the fight rang. Milly rushed her. Serena held her ground, standing on the balls of her feet until Milly got closer. Then she dropped, balancing on her hands while she swung her body around. Her foot caught Milly in the back of the knee and she buckled. As she dropped, Serena sprang to her feet again. Milly lashed out and Serena backed out of her reach. Cheers and yelling rang in her eyes.
She made the mistake of glancing toward Tristen. It gave Milly time to scramble back to her feet and come at her again; her fist caught Serena in the ribs. Her lungs felt like they had exploded, all the air leaving her in a whoosh. Milly followed it up with a blow to Serena’s head and she went down. Her ears rang and her lungs still wouldn’t expand.
What if I lose?
She shoved the thought aside and made her body move. As she went down under Milly’s blows, she sprang herself forward; her shoulder rammed Milly’s stomach. Her lungs finally pulled in a full breath, even as Milly let out a grunt. Serena wrapped herself around the other bear and caught her throat in an armlock. Milly clawed at her arm, but Serena held tighter. She squeezed Milly’s stomach with her legs, teeth gritted in determination.
Milly stumbled to her feet and threw herself backward. Serena released her and rolled out of her way as her big body crashed down. As Milly gasped, Serena twisted on the ground and brought her leg down on Milly’s chest. Another grunt. Milly grabbed her ankle but Serena slipped away and sprang to her feet again. She panted, each breath causing a stitch in her side to flare up. The sun beamed into the sweat in her eyes.
“Finish her!” someone shouted. “Do it!”
Milly rolled onto her hands and knees. Serena threw herself on top of her and wrapped her arms around her throat again. Milly collapsed down to the ground. And suddenly there were hands on her, dragging her back. Serena stopped fighting at once.
“She’s down,” Milly’s mate shouted in her ear. “She’s down, you don’t have to keep strangling her!”
Serena pulled away from him and leaned on her knees. She didn’t bother to remind him that the rules were that they fought until one could no longer fight or if they surrendered.
Milly stumbled to her feet. She rubbed her throat and glared at her mate before stalking to the other side of the stadium. Serena went to Clifford and collapsed into a chair. Her whole body trembled with adrenaline as Clifford gave her water.
She breathed evenly, trying to calm the racing of her heart and ease the aching in her chest. The first round had gone to her, but it was because of interference. Not how she wanted to win. She wanted—needed—to prove to everybody that she was strong enough for this. Her head pounded as she rinsed her mouth a few times.
“You’re doing well,” Clifford told her. “You won one. All you have to do is win one more.”
Milly returned to the center of the field, indicating she was ready to go again. Serena joined her. They both nodded and returned to the privacy of the bunk to strip off their clothes and shift. Neither of them spoke and were soon out on the field again. They faced each other and the buzzer went off.
This time, Milly didn’t charge. Instead, she walked around Serena. Her honey-colored fur gleamed in the sunlight. Serena watched her carefully, backing in a circle to keep distance between them while also being careful not to spin herself into getting dizzy. Seconds passed with no change. Impatience clawed at her chest but Serena refused to give in. She would not make the first move and make herself vulnerable.
Milly suddenly came at her. Serena had been so focused on herself that she didn’t react in time; her opponent’s
teeth closed down on her neck. She felt them puncture through her skin. She ripped back instinctively and lashed out. Her claws tore through Milly’s fur, pulling chunks out of it. Milly rose to her formidable height and Serena echoed the stance. Her taller opponent came crashing down on her, using her bulk to flip Serena to her back.
With a grunt of pain, Serena bit hard into Milly’s cheek. It didn’t stop her from crushing all her weight down on her. The pain in her ribs worsened and her lungs once more refused to expand. Serena clamped her teeth harder and ripped her head from side to side. Her grip on Milly’s cheek slipped, and Milly drove in the advantage. She clamped her jaws over Serena’s muzzle. The grip cut off her air supply entirely.
Serena fought wildly. She pushed and clawed with all her strength, but it was no use. Her feet kicked wildly as darkness leaked into the edges of her vision. Then Milly was gone and she was left panting on the ground. Spit dribbled from her mouth.
She had lost.
It took several minutes for her to regain her mobility. Her head spun as she limped off the field. When she got to the little building, she collapsed back to the ground and shifted back to human form. Milly crouched next to her and checked her pulse.
“Glad to see that you are putting up a fight,” she said, and then left.
Serena lay there panting. Her head pounded and her heart beat so hard it could have been vibrating. Clifford found her soon after and helped her dress before giving her more water. Concern was written all over his face, but to his credit, he didn’t suggest stopping. He knew that she was determined.
She had a maximum of half an hour to recover for this. She took a handful of painkillers—though bear metabolism was too fast for them to work regularly, with her body focusing on healing herself they would help to ease the sharp jolts of pain running through her. She moved to a kneeling position and rested her chin on her chest, breathing deeply.
Why did she want to be the matriarch? Besides being told her whole life that she would take the position—expectation wasn’t good enough. No. She needed to focus her mind… why did she want the position?
To help people. As matriarch she would be able to guide the clan to the future she saw for them. A future where nobody hated shifters merely for their existence. Where young shifters could stand tall and say they were proud of who they were. She had so much she wanted to do for her people. And the best way she could do that was to be matriarch.
Breathing became easier, but Milly allowed herself more time, to heal up a bit more. Eventually, Clifford tapped her shoulder and told her it was almost half an hour. There was lots of chatter from out in the stadium and she got to her feet.
“Whoever wins this match,” she murmured, more to herself than Clifford. She sipped a bit of water and exited the building.
Milly already waited for her. This was the free-for-all. Serena’s mind whirled as she considered; Milly would probably stick to the bear form, since it was clear she was the stronger fight that way. Serena made sure to keep a wobble in her steps—at this point, there was only one way she was going to win. She had to pull out all the stops.
As she approached, Milly smiled. Serena didn’t smile back. Now was the time for risks. She took a deep breath and threw herself at the other woman. Milly backed up a step. Before her feet even touched the ground, Serena shifted. She landed in full bear form, her clothes tearing off her. So much for stretchy clothes that could withstand shifting. She ignored it, hitting Milly with her full strength. It sent her flying backward.
Serena shifted back to human form and charged her. Milly rolled to her feet and shifted into her bear form. She lunged at Serena, and Serena dropped under Milly’s body; she shifted again, using her bulk to throw back Milly. She followed it up by shifting once more and rolling with the bear to elbow her hard in the throat. Milly choked. Her paws lashed out and met fur. Serena growled in her throat as she dropped her weight onto Milly’s chest.
Milly thrashed forward, biting at Serena’s shoulder. Serena shifted back to human form; Milly’s jaws snapped shut on thin air. She kicked out, catching Serena’s hip. Serena was thrown backward. She tumbled over a couple of times; Milly threw herself at her and she shifted back into bear form once more; she caught Milly by the throat and kicked hard into her belly.
Her opponent shifted back to human form, which was exactly the moment Serena was waiting for. She threw Milly to her back and pressed a huge paw to her throat. Shock rippled over Milly’s face. She lay utterly still and Serena didn’t press down.
After a moment frozen in time, Milly lifted her hands. “I yield.”
Serena backed off. Milly got to her feet and bowed toward her. The stands erupted into cheers. Serena shifted back to human form. She panted for breath as she stared around at the people in the stands. She had won. Triumph ran through her and she threw back her shoulders. Clifford was suddenly by her side, putting a large jacket around her form. She accepted it graciously.
Her eyes met Tristen’s. His smile was so big, so bright. She smiled back at him.
She had won. She was the Matriarch.
Chapter Sixteen
Serena looked a bit shell-shocked. Like she couldn’t quite believe that it was over. Tristen grunted as his chest pulled tight while he fought to get to her. She was surrounded by people congratulating her. Her family, Marcus Haught, Eneko Alava and Isaias Durant all with their families. Several others. It was almost like he was being deliberately barred from her.
Alava saw him and moved quickly over to him. “What do you think you’re doing? Get back into that wheelchair, you shouldn’t be exerting yourself.”
“Oh, get out of my way.”
Alava frowned.
Jasmine, his mate, laughed. “Darling, if this was you and me, do you think a few bullet wounds would stop you?”
Alava grimaced. “At least let me help you.”
It would get him to Serena quicker if he didn’t argue, so Tristen nodded. He leaned on Alava, letting the doctor support him, as they made their way to Serena. As soon as they got to her, her face lit up. Tristen couldn’t help himself. The adrenaline of watching her getting beaten up still surged through his blood. He wrapped his arms around her and swung her up in the air. She laughed as she threw her arms around his neck.
His chest pulled and Alava gave a spluttering shout.
“Put her down this instant! You aren’t fully healed, you can’t do things like that, Cade!” Alava threw his hands into the air. “Why does nobody ever listen to me.”
Jasmine wrapped her arms around his chest and gave him a smile while his two children hurried to assure him that they would always listen to him. They simultaneously gave Tristen the stink eye, which only made him laugh.
Alava pointed at Tristen. “No exertion for a week. That’s a simple task.”
Robert came up behind Tristen and Serena and clapped them both on the shoulder. “What, does that mean no sex?”
“Of course.”
Robert whispered low. “I’ll hold them off. You two get out of here and go celebrate.”
Tristen glanced at Serena. She grinned back. She seized his hand and took off, laughing. Tristen ran after her, ignoring the protests behind them. Her chocolate hair streamed out behind her and he couldn’t help but grin as he ran with her. She was so beautiful. So perfect.
And she loved him.
His chest pulled again and he had to stop running. He panted for breath as they slowed to a walk, but he still grinned at her. Serena cuddled into his side, her arms wrapping around his waist. He recognized it as her attempting to help him without wounding his pride by suggesting he needed it. He grinned at her and stopped to brush his mouth against hers.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you, too.” Serena’s smile beamed brighter than the sun. “Now… let’s go home really quickly so I can get dressed properly before the reporters swoop in. I’d hate for my victory to be ignored for pictures of my naked ass.”
***
> The next few days, things moved quickly. With Serena secure in her new position as matriarch, there was a lot of work to be done. One main thing was getting everything settled with the McCloud clan. Tristen was pleased that he was readily accepted as a replacement for Robert.
A tougher decision, personally, was to retire from the navy. Even if in the end it was a relief, there was something… unsatisfying about how it turned out. He had signed up because he wanted to protect his country. And in the end, he couldn’t trust his own teammates. Gomez wasn’t the only one who had been intolerant towards him. If he couldn’t trust the people he worked with, how could he continue to work with them?
It also gave him the time and space he needed to be with Serena. He would stay by her side, protect her, love her. Serena was the only thing he really wanted out of life.
Tristen smiled as she collapsed onto the bed. “Uuuuugh! I’m exhausted. And my feet hurt.”
He sat on the end and started to rub her feet. She sighed and arched herself to his touch. Tristen loved the sight of her there, in her form-fitting business suit, chocolate hair spread out around her. He ran his fingers lightly down the center of her foot and she shivered and jerked.
“Hey!”
“It’s going to get better, I promise. You’re new to this and so is everybody else. Sooner or later, you’ll wow them all with your intelligence and might.”
Serena lifted herself to one elbow and reached for his tie. A sultry look came over her face, one that made him tighten instantly. She walked her hands up the tie, pulling him closer to her. Her legs parted to wrap around his hips and she brought him down snugly on top of her.
Tristen chuckled as he closed his lips on hers. Serena tangled her fingers in his hair then pressed back to break the kiss. She narrowed her eyes at him.
“What are you laughing at?”
“What happened to being exhausted?”
Serena pursed her lips. “I’m not that exhausted. Unless you’re not feeling a hundred percent yet?’
The Bear Shifter's Mate Page 9
