Father warned the Chief how good I was at escaping. The chief assured my pack that I would be well guarded and not have a chance in hell of getting past them. They didn’t know me that well. There was no way in hell I was going to miss the funeral.
Rufus tried to tell me bye and that it was best. He tried to kiss my cheek, I slapped him silly. He bowed to my anger and left. Kyle tried to tell me it was the only way to keep me safe. He found out too that I wasn’t interested in his two cents.
Father tried to hug me. I wouldn’t let him. The pack one by one tried to comfort me. None of them got through, not even Zeke. I felt totally betrayed when he didn’t stand up for me. He had agreed with the others that it wasn’t safe for me to attend.
When Zeke tried to tell me bye, I ran out of the room. I wouldn’t let him near me. He tried to reach my mind, I shut him out.
The minute the pack was gone, I started to work. The Chief had four wolves watching me. I was in my bedroom they were too. When I went downstairs, they followed. Unlike my pack, they tried not to let me out of their sight. However, when I had to go to the bathroom they couldn’t follow. So, I decided to tell them I was going to take a shower. They didn’t buy it. What could they do.
I got clean clothes and locked myself in the bathroom. I know they figured I was planning to go out the bathroom window. I knew there would be wolves watching from the yard. What they didn’t know was my bathroom had a way out. I turned the shower on then climbed into the cabinet under the sink. I pulled the cabinet door shut behind me. The back of my wall under the sink had a trap door that leads through to a closet. The closet had a laundry chute. Father had it installed in case we were ever attacked. The laundry chute didn’t go to a basement, but rather a long tunnel. The tunnel leads out into the woods. Father hadn’t thought to tell the Chief and his pack. It would give me a good twenty-minute head start.
I ran through the tunnel till I got to the end. It came out in a cave up high in the mountains. Then I ran through the caves till I got to the rock wall. At which point I had to climb up the side wall to get to the top. Up top, there was a hidden entrance that had a wooden door that pulled down. From the outside, it looked like the rest of the forest floor.
Once outside, I headed for the graveyard we kept for our family and pack. I actually beat the others there. They were carrying bodies I wasn’t. I was able to run. They had to walk. As I stood at the open graves I got the sense I wasn’t alone.
“You might as well come out in the open. I know you are there Max. I think we have unfinished business.”
“As do I, my love. You're looking well. Your limp is gone.” He circles behind me. I listened without turning. I waited till he was within striking distance. When he got close enough, I whirled around with a high kick that caught him across the face. It sent him flying backwards. He regained his composure before hitting the ground. He got up with a vengeance, but I had already shifted.
He shifted just in time for me to plow into his side. I heard ribs crack. I have a hard head. We were locked in a real battle when my pack heard the crashing of trees and growls. With teeth snapping and fur flying we was slowly tearing each other apart. He got a bite in here or there, but I got some in as well. I nailed his neck, but didn’t get my teeth in deep enough, he was able to shake me off. Just as he was about to come at me again, he heard my pack howling to let me know they were on the way.
He ran off aways, then shifted very quickly while I was trying to recover from a knockdown. He stood there naked showing me how excited he had gotten fighting me. “See me my mate. See what you do to me. If only they weren’t so close, I would mate you here and now while you’re dead watched. I would finish my claim on you. You wear my scent now. My blood flows in your mouth as yours does in mine, we only have one step left to make you my mate officially.”
Then he ran off. The pack showed up a few seconds later. They found me standing there covered in blood. His blood. Rufus was the first one to rush me. He sniffed the blood, making sure it wasn’t all mine. Then he sniffed the scent of the wolf on me. He growled and took off. I gave chase. I wanted to finish what I had started.
The pack chased after Max till we found where he had parked. He was always just one step ahead. But I had gotten in a few good bites there was a blood trail all the way to the end where he got in his truck.
The pack gathered around me checking me over. Each sniffing the blood. Each checking to make sure he hadn’t mated with me. He had bitten me, but he hadn’t gotten a chance to finish the ritual.
We went back to bury my family and pack. When we got there, we were met by some very upset wolves who had discovered I got out. How they had no idea.
Rufus and Zeke stood in front of me. I shifted and stood behind them for the ceremony. Once everyone was buried, I shifted back to my wolf. Then the pack shifted. Standing behind Rufus and Zeke I couldn’t see the others standing around naked. Only the cute butts of Rufus and my brother. I had to admit to myself Rufus had a nice ass.
Back at the house, I took a shower for real. Then dressed in shorts and a tee shirt. Once I was cleaned I stepped into the real fire. Two mad packs. Two very mad packs.
Rufus wouldn’t even look at me. Kyle turned away as I walked by. Zeke wouldn’t stand near me. Father stood in front of the crowd waiting for me. He motioned for me to walk over to him. “I think you owe the Chief and his pack an apology. I think you owe the rest of us an explanation. Cara what on earth were you thinking fighting him all alone?”
I know when my father remembers my first name I am in for a long night of trouble. He went on for hours on how stupid I was. What an idiot I was to think I could beat Max in a fight. Once he finally calmed down and let me get in a word I told everyone my side of the story.
“My father says I am stupid and weak. He says I can’t take down Max. He says I have no chance to win in a fight with him. My father forgets that I have taken everyone in our pack down at one time or another. He has forgotten the trail we followed tonight. The trail of blood left by Max running away from me! I would have killed him had he not heard my packs howls. So, do not treat me as if I were a weak female who can’t hold her own. Anyone of you who thinks I can’t hold my own I challenge you.”
“I will take that challenge, Cara.”
“Fine Rufus. I will show you that I am still very capable of beating you. Who else will challenge me?” In the end, I would have to beat a handful of our wolves and a few of the chiefs. We wouldn’t fight to the death. All I had to do was pin them. Father said we would start first thing in the morning. The packs would make the ring around us and the fights would begin in order of those who had challenged me back.
Once things were all settled, I went to my bedroom and closed the door. No one bothered me. They stayed outside my door and under my window. I don’t know if father figured out I had used the tunnel. I was guessing he hadn’t thought about it or he wouldn’t have let me sleep in my room alone.
Chapter 19
Morning came quickly. At eight we stood in the field facing off. This would be the first time I stood naked in front of the entire pack and the chief’s pack. It is common that the challengers start out naked in front of each other. I could see my advantage already with Rufus. He was excited seeing the prize he had wanted for so long. He thought it was going to be a breeze taking his mate in this challenge.
My father stood between us. He announced the rules. “The first one to be pinned to the ground for ten seconds will be the winner. That winner, if it be Cara, will have a ten-minute break before her next challenger.”
No one had spoken to me that morning. I hadn’t come out of my room till time for the challenge. Then I had walked straight out into the middle of the wolves and stood naked with my head held high. High with confidence.
Rufus was all lust. His eyes lit up the moment he saw my naked body. I didn’t look at him. I just stared straight ahead. My father counted to five then stepped out of the way. I was quick. I shifted before Rufus was all
the way. I lunged at him not caring. He barely finished the shift before I was biting him. We stood up on our hind legs, teeth snapping at each other. I could hear the gasp coming from the wolves watching.
Rufus and I had fought many times before just practice, but this time I was out to prove a point. We fought for an hour before I decided it was time to take him down. He hadn’t been gentle with me and I didn’t want him to be. I hadn’t been putting my all into the fight till now.
When I had grown tired of the fight I put everything I had into it. It only took me a few minutes to pin him. He got up the first time, but the second time I pinned him, he wasn’t able to buck me off.
My father walked around us counting off as slow as he could. When he reached ten I let Rufus up. He ran off with his tail tucked. He was totally embarrassed I had pinned him in front of the others.
Next, up I had to fight Kyle. I took a ten-minute break as ordered. I stood in the center of the wolf ring and stood still, my head up eyes closed to conserve energy. I knew they were all staring. I knew the Pack Masters were both having trouble controlling the single males who were getting hit with a full dose of my scent and seeing everything I had. I was proud of my body and of myself.
When time was called, Kyle walked into the ring all cocky. He thought he was going to take me in no time. He figured I was tired being female that I wouldn’t be able to keep up.
I showed him. I fought him twice as hard as I had Rufus. I wanted to wipe that cocky smile off his face the minute I saw it. Now I had my chance. The fight was in full swing when we heard a familiar laugh. The packs started looking around wondering where he was. I kept fighting Kyle. I was too into the challenge to stop. Once I pinned him and the fight was called in my favor. My father said the fights were over and I was to head inside. Before I made a move, I heard.
“My mate, you do me proud. Such a fine fighter. I am so very honored to have you as my mate. Love we will be together soon. That I promise. Oh, and baby, you should know my wounds are healing well. But you left me very horny. Soon love, soon we will mate.”
Then he was gone. The packs took off after him. I went first. I was already shifted, and they couldn’t stop me and shift too. Kyle was right behind me. I don’t know where Rufus was, but I was pretty sure he was hot on the trail too.
At some point, Rufus must have caught wind of Max’s scent. I would find out later, he had run off and came across the scent and gone after Max. While Max was busy talking to thin air so to speak, Rufus was closing in on him.
When I got into the woods a ways, I could hear the fight. My heartbeat faster. I had already worn Rufus out fighting so long. Could he keep up in a fight now? I tried to run faster. But I was already going as fast as I could.
By the time, I found them, I was out of breath. I had outrun the others. I came up on the fight and tried to help Rufus. I couldn’t. They were too fast, and the fight was way more furious than the one I had been in with Rufus.
I figure Rufus was already mad that I had pinned him in front of the others. Two, he had waited a long time to kill Max for touching me, for leaving with me. He probably felt like he had to kill Max or die trying.
As the packs came thundering through the woods one could hear them getting closer. Max made one last effort to kill Rufus. Only when he went for the kill to the neck Rufus moved and he only caught his front foot. I heard it snap and saw Rufus still trying to get a hold of Max.
Max lifted his head when he heard the pack. He looked at me before lunging at Rufus one last time. I was quick enough to slam into Max before he could land a fatal blow. My rushing him with my head into his ribs had him flying backward. He hit the ground running. He ran away. I started to go after him, but Rufus had a hold of my hip. He sank his teeth in to stop me.
Rufus couldn’t stand on his front foot, but he could hold me in place. I pulled against his teeth. It ripped a piece of my hide out before I could free myself the pack was there.
Some went after Max, some stayed to see about Rufus and me. I had tried to go after Max once I was free of Rufus’s teeth, but the others had me surrounded.
Once again Max had gotten away. He had a motorcycle parked in the woods not too far out. He had apparently turned it off and walked it in closer. Then watched us.
The pack had found an envelope with my name on it. They had brought it back to the house and given it to father. He had opened it and found a necklace. Hanging from the necklace was a gold wolf. A note attached said:
“This is one-half of us. Wear it until we become whole. When we become one I will buy you a house of your choice. Anything you want my love. When we mate I will give you the other gold wolf which, I now wear. See you soon baby.”
I got to see all of it. The necklace and the gold wolf had to have cost him a fortune. It confused me all the more. He couldn’t possibly believe I would wear it. So why spend all that money on it? Maybe he thought it would impress me.
My pack wanted to call off the rest of the challenges. Everyone was afraid Max would come back. I wasn’t sure that he didn’t need a few days to heal. I tried to tell my father Max had several injuries that would need time to heal. Granite, it wouldn’t take that long to heal. The other pack was anxious to see if I could pin their fighters.
I got the chance. The first three I fought I was able to pin with ease. The fourth one proved to be a little bit of a challenge. I had been fighting pretty much nonstop for two days and was beginning to wear down some.
When he entered the ring, he showed me how tall he could stand. As if his size would impress me. It did. He was a good foot taller than me. He was built like he worked out with weights every day. His chest was very broad. His manhood was huge and stood tall. He was excited before we ever got started.
Males!
We shifted and he charged. I stood my ground till he was nearly on top of me then I jumped landing behind him. I was able to whirl around and bite into his hip. He didn’t make a sound. I ripped hid and muscle from his hip in a patch the size of a dollar bill.
He turned and came at me ready to kill. He didn’t care if I was female or not he had no plan on letting me pin him and I had no plan on letting him pin me. I was afraid if he did, he would mate me before the others could pull him off.
Fighting in a challenge against a female was definitely a turn on for the males. The ones who I fought and the ones watching the fight. I could smell the testosterone in the air.
He was bigger than me, but I was faster than him. The match turned out to be a pretty good matchup. He got in a couple of good bites and I managed to rip one of his ears.
We fought well into the night. In the end, the fight was called as a draw. My father tried to call the fight at six hours, but neither one of us would give into the other. When the Chief stepped in he had to stop. His Pack Master gave the order to stop, and he had to follow orders.
When the fight had ended, he came over to me and offered me his hand. I shook it. “Good match. Anytime you want to try again my name is Jared. Miss Cara, it was a pleasure.” We had fought so long and so hard he was soft down there. He was exhausted. It takes a lot to wear a male wolf out to the point where he is no longer ready to jump on a female and take her as his mate.
The minute we separated my brothers forced me into the house. I was rushed upstairs to my room and told not to come out for a couple of hours. I understood the males needed time to cool off. I took a long cool bath.
My muscles were aching. It had been a while since my father had made me fight with my brothers till I couldn’t move. When I was younger, he wanted me to learn to protect myself. That meant fighting till I could hold my own against each one of my brothers. Now I was pretty glad he had done so. Once I had started fighting with them I didn’t stop. Over the years, I had taken them on a lot. As I lay in the tub I thought about Jared. I wondered if the fight hadn’t been called as a draw would I ever have pinned him. I had to think just maybe I had met my match.
Then I thought about Max. I knew i
f I had had enough time I would have overtaken him at some point. Not just because I was a good fighter, but because of all the things he had done to me. I wanted to get even with him. Not only for what he had done to me but for Zeke and my other brothers. For my pack.
I stayed in my room that night alone. It was the first time I had actually felt alone. I hadn’t talked to anyone in my pack since I had been ushered into my room. I was too tired to go back downstairs. I hadn’t talked to Rufus since our fight. Even when I caught up to the fight between him and Max, we hadn’t talked.
The next morning, I got up pretty stiff. The best thing for being stiff was a run. I got up and took a shower and headed downstairs. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, I was met by the pack.
“Um, what’s up?”
Rufus stepped forward. It was him and Kyle and the big guy, Jared. I was a little nervous. I had no idea what they wanted or why the other pack was here. Why my father and the Chief stood in the back of the room.
“Princess we wanted to congratulate you on your fights. I will admit I didn’t think you could pin me. I should have remembered when you're challenged you can be a real bitch. Pun intended.” When Rufus finished speaking, he handed me a Rabbit. He had gone hunting and brought me a gift.
“Princess I too wanted to say you’re the best. I went into our challenge feeling pretty damn sure of myself and you showed me.” When Kyle finished speaking, he bent down to give me a kiss on the cheek. While he did so he also slipped a necklace around my neck. I pulled it where I could see it. It was a silver chain with a pendant that said Champion. I laughed and thanked him.
Then Jared stepped closer. He took my hand and spoke. “Miss Cara, I would like to believe that if we had been allowed to finish our fight that I would have pinned you. However, if I am being truthful, I don’t think I would have. I know you’re not a mated female and that your pack has been fighting for you. I have asked for permission to fight for you. I have challenged your males. I hope if I win you will accept me.”
One Princess One Pack One Villain Page 22
