Mark had to look over, then. Nothing could have stopped him.
He knew what was coming.
Alec spared a quick glance at Wes, then met his alpha’s gaze and nodded.
Cam’s expression was grave, but he gave a slight nod back. “I’ve made my choice.” Alec stepped forward to the centre of the clearing.
Fucking hell. Mark’s heart beat so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest any second. I can’t watch this. I can’t stand here and watch Alec and Wes fight to the death. Wes would never offer leniency, and he wouldn’t submit either. Mark’s wolf pined with the need to be near Alec. He didn’t care how it would look or that Alec probably hated him, he had to tell him how he felt in case—
Mark was walking forward before he realised it.
A hand on his arm yanked him back so hard he stumbled. Wes’s smug face filled his vision as he pulled Mark to his side. “Wait.”
Newell cleared his throat. “I have made my decision.” Wes let go of Mark’s arm, and Mark waited for him to step forward. “I choose my newest beta, Mark Appleton.”
Wes laughed beside him, and Mark’s head snapped around to face his alpha.
What the fuck?
He opened his mouth to protest, but Newell’s steely glare warned him what would happen if he did.
Harry.
But there’d been no ceremony; Mark didn’t have the added strength that came from being a beta. Surely no one would believe Newell? He glanced around the clearing at the others and met Alec’s gaze for the first time in what seemed like forever.
Brown eyes stared back at him, full of worry and no sign of the hate Mark had expected to see. His heart stopped, and for a second they were the only two in the clearing.
“I don’t sense beta strength in him.” Alpha Wallace’s words snapped him back to reality and Mark faced her, hope building in his chest.
Newell merely nodded. “That’s true, I only extended the offer this morning, we have yet to perform the ceremony.”
“He cannot fight while so unequally matched.”
“Of course. If I rectify that now, then can we proceed?”
Her lip curled, but she nodded. “As long as the offer has already been extended and accepted, the law will allow it. But I would advise against it. You have a very capable-looking beta already, do you not?”
“I do, but I believe Mark has a special quality that will prove extremely useful in this fight.”
“Very well. You may proceed.”
Newell turned to face Mark and beckoned him closer. Mark went toward him.
Using the deep timbre of his alpha voice, Newell said, “Mark Appleton, I offer you the honour of beta position in the Primrose Hill pack. Do you accept?”
Out of the corner of his eye, Mark saw Alec step towards him, but Cam moved quickly to stop him. There was nothing he could do anyway. Mark had no choice but to reply, “Yes, Alpha.”
“Do you promise to act in the interest of the pack at all times?”
“Yes, Alpha?”
“And do you promise to obey your alpha’s commands?” He’d left off the optional bit that said, “as long as they are in the pack’s best interest.” How typical.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Newell stepped forward and put his hand at the base of Mark’s throat, and Mark closed his eyes. I will not give you the satisfaction of seeing how much I hate this.
The rush of power was immediate. Mark felt it like a wave of heat flooding his body and setting every nerve ending alight. He swayed on his feet.
Even given the circumstances, he couldn’t deny the thrill that swept through him.
Newell’s warm breath tickled his neck as he scented him and then whispered, oh so quietly in his ear, “You will fight to the death. Knight will not. Harley is weak as fuck, and so is Knight when it comes to you. Well done. You have the advantage. Use it. Either Knight dies or you do. Along with your cousin and Will’s sister.”
Mark could do nothing but nod and turn to face the centre of the clearing.
And Alec.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
No. No, no, no.
Alec watched, his wolf straining to get out as Mark turned and walked towards him. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He should be fighting Wes, not… not… Mark.
What the fuck was Newell playing at? Alec had five inches on Mark and years of experience at both being a beta and fighting. They were nowhere near a good match. Not that he knew how good Mark was at fighting, but Alec was fairly certain he could kill— The thought stopped him dead. He couldn’t kill Mark, and Cam would never ask him to.
Is that what Newell’s counting on?
He tried to catch Mark’s eye, but he had his gaze focused on the ground.
The rest of their respective packs moved to the outside edges, and Alpha Wallace stepped between them. “There are no rules on how you fight. You may shift, half shift, or stay human. Your alpha still decides whether leniency is to be offered, and I reiterate, no physical interference will be tolerated. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Very well.” She walked backwards to join the rest of the council, then roared, “Fight!”
Alec shot forward, using all his strength to tumble Mark to the ground and pin him there. “I know about your cousin,” he hissed directly into Mark’s ear.
Mark struggled against him. “How?”
Newell’s enraged growl spurred Mark into action. He half shifted, and Alec found himself propelled backwards, surprised by Mark’s strength.
He landed on his back, the air leaving him in a whoosh, barely having time to grab Mark’s shoulders when he lunged at him. Claws raked over ribs, followed by a whispered, “Fuck, sorry. Have to.” Pushing Mark to the side, Alec rolled with him, managing to get out, “We found Jason,” before, Mark growled, “He’s dead,” and snapped at him, teeth grazing Alec’s jaw.
Fuck, he didn’t want to do this, but he had no choice. He half shifted to match Mark, jaw lengthening, claws sliding out, and the muscles across his back rippling with the extra shot of strength it afforded him. He back-handed Mark across the cheek, his head whipping to one side. “He’s alive,” Alec hissed back, dodging out of the way as Mark lashed out with his claws.
Alec jumped to his feet, Mark following suit, and they circled each other, oblivious to those around them. Mark looked so conflicted, Alec wanted nothing more than to pull him close and wrap his arms around him. But he couldn’t. They were in this fucking fight, and he needed to put a stop to it before they were forced to hurt each other.
“I have to do this,” Mark whispered, the words mangled by his fangs. “Alpha’s orders.”
“Lose,” Alec implored. “Submit. You know I won’t kill you.”
Mark shook his head. “I can’t.”
Before Alec had a chance to respond, Newell’s voice cut through the air like a whip. “Fully shift now and kill him.” The command, heavily laced with alpha authority, left Mark powerless to do anything but do as he was ordered. Being such a new beta left him vulnerable to Newell’s every whim, and Newell knew it.
Alec jumped back out of the way as Mark shifted into a wolf with fur a deep rich brown and eyes as blue as his human form. He shook off the tattered remains of his clothes, and as beautiful as he was to look at, Mark now eyed Alec like a tasty steak. It was also the end of any conversation.
Mark lunged forward, teeth bared, and aimed for Alec’s throat. Alec kicked him hard in the ribs, sending him skidding backwards, and then scrambled to his feet. He didn’t want to shift. In his wolf form, his baser instincts would take over, and Alec didn’t want to risk his survival instincts kicking in. What if he seriously hurt Mark? Or worse?
A low growl was all the warning he got before Mark lunged at him again, going for his belly this time, and Alec danced out of the way. Mark’s teeth grazed his side, drawing blood. Alec turned, slashed his claws across Mark’s shoulder, deep enough to make him scoot a
way.
He glanced down at his side—the wound wasn’t deep, but fuck it, Mark could do some serious damage to him in this form.
With a deep breath, Alec centred himself and let his wolf come to the surface.
I hope I’m doing the right thing.
The pain was immediate and all-consuming as his body rearranged itself into a huge silver wolf. Alec rolled his shoulders, acclimatising to his new form, and opened his eyes.
Mark stared back at him from across the clearing. Their eyes met, and Alec felt it deep inside, not a bond, but the promise of what could be. A tease of the connection they could share if they committed. Far stronger than anything he’d experienced in human form.
He licked over his fangs, and Mark whined, his head dropping in submission.
Alec’s wolf howled in relief.
Yes.
He padded over to him, his heart beating fast, excited. Mark watched him, blue eyes full of hope and wonder, and Alec wanted nothing more than to be looked at like that forever.
Mine.
Alec was almost upon him; two more feet and they’d be touching.
The people around them had gone quiet, Alec only realised when the silence was suddenly broken.
“I told you to kill him!” Newell roared, his voice echoing around the clearing. Mark flinched back, as though struck, his eyes full of pain as he struggled not to obey. “You will not submit to him.”
Alec turned and growled at Newell, baring his teeth.
Newell laughed. “Please, Knight. Do it.” He even tilted his head a little to the side, baring his throat.
Alec wanted to. Wanted to tear the flesh from his bones so desperately, it was almost worth what he’d be giving up.
Almost.
“Alec.” Cam’s softly spoken command settled him.
With a snarl, he faced Mark again and took another deliberate step towards him. Come on Mark, fight it.
“You will obey your alpha. Kill him. Now!”
Alec saw the exact moment Mark lost his battle to ignore Newell. Too late.
Mark’s pupils dilated, the blue a thin sliver around the edges, and he snarled, menacing. He leapt, closing the short distance between them, and sank his teeth into Alec’s shoulder.
Pain lanced through him, the force of Mark’s attack sending him tumbling over onto his back. Teeth still buried deep, Mark tried to shake him, the wounds tearing wider and Alec roared in agony. He struggled to get purchase on the ground to push Mark off him, but he was pinned.
“Alec! Alec!” Gareth’s urgent voice took a second to register. “We found them!”
Fucking finally!
Taking the biggest risk of his life so far, Alec shifted back into his human form.
* * * * *
Mark shrank back in horror as the fur in his mouth turned to soft skin. Newell’s hold on him broke, snapping like an overstretched elastic band as the reality of what he’d done sank in. He whined, nosing at the ragged wound on Alec’s shoulder and licking at the blood to make it stop.
Quickly reaching up to cup Mark’s jaw, Alec whispered. “Change back.”
Mark did it without thinking, slipping into his human form and welcoming the pain. He deserved it. “Fuck, Alec.” He clamped his hand on the torn skin, holding it together to try and make it heal faster. “I’m so sorry.”
“Mark!” Newell’s yell made them both flinch.
“Ignore him.” Alec urged, keeping eye contact, and Mark concentrated on those deep brown eyes with everything he had.
“Trying.”
“Mark! Shift back, now!”
His whole body vibrated with the effort it took not to obey. “Hurts.”
“I know, “Alec soothed. “We found them. Your cousin and—”
“Kill him!”
Mark felt himself slipping under, his claws and teeth sliding out unbidden.
Alec’s hand tightened, forcing him to meet his gaze. “Focus on me.” The urge to obey receded along with Mark’s teeth. “We don’t need to do this. Submit. He has no hold on you now.”
Fuck, he wanted to. Wanted to sink into Alec’s embrace and forget any of this had happened. But what he’d done couldn’t be fixed by Alec. Or anybody else. “I lied to the—”
“Don’t.” Alec clamped a hand over his mouth, his eyes pleading don’t do this.
Carefully peeling Alec’s fingers away, Mark whispered, “I have to.” He spared a quick glance over to Will. Everyone had heard their exchange. Will would know what had happened, what Mark was about to do. But it wasn’t only his life at stake. Will nodded, and Mark turned to face the council, unabashed by his nakedness. “Alpha Wallace, with your permission I would like to address the coun—”
“No!” Newell roared behind them, and Mark looked over his shoulder to see him charging towards him.
“Alpha Newell.” Karin Wallace stood, her voice like ice. “Any interference will result in a forfeit. Was I not clear?”
“Yes, but he’s my beta and I—”
“No. You need to adhere to the rules of the council while you are here. The fight is forfeit. Alpha Newell, you will—”
“What? That’s ridiculous! You can’t—”
“I can and I have. If you interrupt me one more time, I will have you sent to the human prisons where you will rot for the rest of your days.”
Newell returned to Wes’s side, anger rolling off him. At least Mark wouldn’t have to face it anymore.
Alpha Wallace focused her attention on him, her voice considerably softer. “I believe you wish to address the council?”
Mark swallowed back the huge ball of fear lodged in his throat. He felt fingers twine around his and glanced to the side to see Alec standing next to him, holding his hand. “With your permission, yes.”
“You have it.”
Before he lost his nerve, Mark gripped Alec’s hand tight and began. “Will and I lied to the council.” Alec squeezed his fingers.
Alpha Wallace didn’t appear the least bit surprised. “Go on.”
“I’m not offering this as an excuse; we know what we did was inexcusable. It’s merely a statement of facts. Under Alpha Newell’s instruction, Wes ordered me to change my story and lie to the council.”
“Like you’re lying now,” Wes spat.
“Silence.” The snap of Karin’s voice had Wes freezing on the spot. She gestured to Mark. “Continue.”
Mark swallowed. “They held my cousin and Will’s sister as hostages, threatened their lives if we didn’t do what they wanted. So we lied. Wes also told me that Jason was dead, but now I understand that’s not true.”
“What?” Wes gasped, sounding panicked for the first time Mark had known him.
Good.
Alpha Harley stepped forward. “We found Jason Black of The Primrose Hill pack in Regent’s Park—so close to death it took our pack doctor hours to stabilise him. But he’s very much alive and had some interesting things to say.”
Karin focused her attention on Harley. “Such as?”
“He said he’d followed Wes to an apartment just outside P-pack territory. Mark’s cousin and Will’s sister were being held hostage there. Before he could tell anyone, Wes and two members of his unit attacked Jason and left him for dead.”
“No!” Wes roared, a murderous expression on his face, and he lunged at Cam.
Mark watched in stunned disbelieve. Wes was a nasty wanker, but he’d never thought him stupid. Attacking an alpha in front of the fucking council had to be the stupidest thing he’d ever witnessed.
Wes made it three paces before Alec and Gareth roughly intercepted him. They tackled him to the ground, grabbed a shoulder each, and forced him to his knees.
Karin regarded him coolly. “I will deal with you later. Alpha Newell, you have heard the allegations against you. What do you have to say?”
Much to Mark’s disappointment, Newell didn’t seem the least bit ruffled. He spared a withering glance at Wes. “I can only apologise for the behaviour exhibit
ed by my beta just now. I had no idea he’d taken members of my pack hostage or threatened others.”
Wes gaped at him. “But—”
“Quiet,” Newell hissed, his tone deadly calm. It sent a shudder through Mark even though it wasn’t directed at him. “You’ve done enough damage to this pack.”
Snapping his mouth shut, Wes lowered his gaze, and his shoulders slumped.
Karin glanced between the two of them. “Your beta included you in his accusations, Alpha Newell. What do you have to say to that?”
Newell met Mark’s gaze, his smug expression making a return. “Mr Appleton has changed his story so often now, I doubt even he knows what’s truth and what’s fiction. I don’t know what his purpose is in implicating me, but I’ve got nothing to do with this mess.”
Karin sighed. “As much as I hate to admit it, Alpha Newell has a point.” She looked at Mark, and he shuffled his feet uncomfortably. “You openly admit you lied to the council. We cannot trust anything you say at this point in the proceedings. Alpha Harley, please tell me you have tangible proof this time?”
“The shifters guarding the hostages are dead.” Cam grimaced, “And the hostages themselves only saw Wes. Jason is an experienced and trusted beta; will his word be enough?”
“To convict Wes? Certainly. His actions themselves will help to condemn him. Do you have anything that supports Mr Appleton’s statement?”
Cam shot Mark an apologetic look. “I’m afraid not.”
“He told me to do all of it,” Wes shouted, purposefully not looking at his alpha. “I was just following his orders.” Desperation clung to him, but Mark didn’t have an ounce of sympathy.
Karin eyed him with disgust. “And do you have any proof? Other than your word, which at this stage means very little.”
“I—” Wes glanced around the clearing. The silence was deafening. His head dropped in defeat. “No.”
Bollocks. Mark couldn’t believe Newell was going to get away with this. Yes, he was going to lose his alpha status, but he deserved so much worse.
“Alpha Wallace.” Will’s quiet, yet firm voice sounded at the back of the clearing, and all eyes turned to him. He slowly drew something out of his pocket. “I believe we have all the proof you need.”
Bitten By Desire (Regent's Park Pack Book 3) Page 21
