by Anya Nowlan
Dayton shoved the large man off of him and stood. Travis stayed on the ground, cradling his mangled side.
“Do you concede?” Dayton demanded, looking down at him.
Travis painfully removed his hands from his midsection and exposed his belly.
Surrender.
The crowd went wild. Several people came over to congratulate Dayton, giving him pats on the back and shaking his hand. Dayton searched the crowd for Rachel; she was the one he really wanted to share this victory with. She had helped it all come together after all.
His stomach sank when he couldn’t find her.
Someone else was missing as well.
David.
Seventeen
Rachel
As everyone’s eyes were fixed on the fight between Travis and Dayton, it became painfully obvious who was going to win. David slipped through the crowd to where Rachel was standing and clamped a hand over her mouth.
She screamed, but it barely made a blip over the sound of the fight.
Oh my god, I can’t believe I’m doing this to Dayton, Rachel thought frantically. There has to be a way to turn this around on David.
He dragged her to one of the back rooms. There was an old bolt still attached to the door, which he used to lock them in.
There were guards on all the exits per Dayton’s instructions, so this was David’s last ditch attempt at maintaining some semblance of control. There was no escape, only one last stand.
Rachel could hear the crowd erupt in cheers and hollers. Someone had won. Rachel would bet her store it was Dayton.
She smiled, even though her breathing was heavy and uneven.
“What are you smiling about, bitch?” David growled.
“You lost,” Rachel said, obviously gloating.
“You don’t know that,” David countered, clearly in denial.
“Somehow, I don’t think the crowd would be cheering so loudly if your side had won.”
“I could kill you right now,” David threatened through gritted teeth.
“Sure, if you want to sign your death certificate. I’m the only chip you’ve got left.”
She knew she shouldn’t have been boasting, but the adrenaline coursing through her veins made her bold.
She could hear scattered footsteps running through the building. At least some of them were footsteps. Other movements definitely sounded more like clawed paws hitting the ground.
Shadows flicked across the floor, seeping into the room through the crack under the door. Rachel heard sniffing, followed by howling.
“Oh, man. You’re in trouble now,” Rachel said in a sing-songy voice.
Shut up! What’s wrong with you? something inside her snarled, but she disregarded it.
A few digs were the least David deserved after everything he’d done.
It only took a few slams for the door to fly off its hinges. Beyond it, there were rows upon rows of wolves and men with Dayton in the front. They all looked very unhappy.
“You piece of shit! You lost fair and square, and as your Alpha, I command you to stand down!” Dayton bellowed, scanning her to make sure she was alright.
He clearly had no patience left for his scumbag of an uncle.
Rachel felt a strong hand at her throat.
“Not this again!” she all but groaned.
“I should have taken you on myself!” David shouted, his voice wild and desperate. “But I can still hurt you,” he snarled, and Rachel could feel his fingers digging deeper into her throat.
He was choking her, and Rachel clung to his hand, trying to pry it off.
Dayton raised his fists.
“Is this how you want to go out? At least show some dignity. Let her go, and I’ll walk out of here with you, just the two of us. I’ll tell everyone else to stay behind and we can handle this like men,” he offered, his eyes trained on Rachel’s face.
“She’s coming too, so you’ll keep your word,” David bartered nervously.
“It’s fine,” Rachel interrupted, croaking out the words, sensing Dayton was going to argue. “I’m up for a stroll,” she added, flashing Dayton a shaky smile.
David led her out of the room with Dayton following closely behind. The pack flanked them at both sides, many of them throwing disgusted glances at their previous Alpha. Even the older men, who Rachel noticed had been less than enthused by the whole turn of events, were snarling at David. It was one thing using wolves against one another, but human lives were a whole other matter entirely.
As soon as they made it to the forest, David released her and turned his yellow eyes to Dayton. He shifted, faster than Rachel even thought possible, and lunged teeth-first at his nephew.
Dayton fell to the ground with David’s large brown wolf on top of him. David attempted to go for his throat, but Dayton grabbed his muzzle with both hands and shoved him backwards. Rachel yelped and took a few steps back, trying her best to stay far enough so David couldn’t use her against Dayton again.
He shifted as well, and Rachel realized it was only the second time she’d seen him as a wolf. The first had been earlier that day when he circled back to her store, and it had only been a glimpse before he turned back.
Dayton’s wolf was light grey with thick, soft-looking fur and huge paws. There was a streak of darker grey above his large yellow eyes, which gave his face a slightly scowling look.
He leapt at David with a fierce growl, teeth bared. Rachel got the feeling there were going to be no punches pulled in this fight.
Please, let him win!
The wolves crashed into each other, standing on their hind legs. Their claws were raking across each other’s chests, mouths open and seeking unprotected flesh. Dayton sank his teeth into David’s shoulder. The wolf howled in pain, but Dayton didn’t let go, shaking and tearing.
David managed to pull away, thick blood matting his fur.
Dayton gnarled, revealing his red teeth dripping with blood. David took a tentative step back before turning his whole body away from Dayton and running at Rachel instead. She found herself unable to move.
She watched as if in slow motion as the wolf’s body barreled towards her, fangs aimed at her throat. A grey blur barreled into David’s side just feet away from her, knocking him down, hard. With a savage snarl, Dayton wrapped his teeth around David’s throat and bit down.
She heard a sickening crunch before the brown wolf stopped struggling. David’s body went limp, a pool of blood gathering under his head. Dayton raised his maw, his fangs dripping with crimson liquid. He shifted back to the man she knew, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he was already stepping towards her to embrace her.
Rachel ran to him, scanning his body with her hands to make sure he wasn’t injured. Her heart had never beaten so fast in her chest. She noticed deep claw marks at his shoulder and some smaller scratches all around, but that seemed to be the extent of it.
“I’m getting blood all over your clothes,” he murmured as other members of the pack started to emerge from the building.
As if she cared.
Frank and Paul went to David’s body and carried it away. Most everyone else crowded around Dayton and Rachel, asking if they were okay and offering encouraging words to their new Alpha.
“It had to be done,” was the sentiment Rachel heard the most.
She hadn’t thought there would come a time she would agree that taking someone’s life was just, but this time, she had no objections.
“Thank you all for your kind words. I will talk to you all very shortly, but for now, I’d like to take my mate home,” Dayton said with a tired, grateful smile.
Rachel smiled at “my mate”.
I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of hearing that.
Epilogue
Rachel
The backyard behind Dayton’s house was crowded with shifters. Several long tables were set up with a mess of mismatched garden chairs around them. Sam was manning the grill, looking a bit overwhelmed. Feeding an
entire wolf pack could be a daunting task.
It had been six months since Dayton took over as Alpha, and he and Rachel had decided to have a little get-together. The pack had been through so many ups and downs lately that a little fun was just what the doctor ordered.
Some of the older wolves still regarded Dayton a little suspiciously, but Rachel noticed even they had smiles on their faces as Dayton rushed through the crowd, shoving beers in everyone’s hands.
Rachel couldn’t help but spot fresh tattoos on some of the younger members. She snuck up on Dayton, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“I get that you miss your job, but I’m afraid your pack is starting to look like a biker gang,” she whispered to him, grinning.
Dayton drew her to his side and threw a lazy hand over her shoulder.
“Hey, they all came to me,” he said defensively. “I can’t help the fact that I’m incredibly talented and therefore in high demand,” he added, his eyes widening innocently.
“Wow, what a humble and extremely modest way of looking at it,” Rachel said with mock-amazement.
Dayton was still laughing when Sam rushed over, looking slightly desperate.
“Where’s the rest of the beef? If I don’t get a burger on everyone’s plate soon, we might have a riot on our hands,” he explained, and Rachel wasn’t exactly sure if he was kidding or not.
I can never tell with wolves.
“I’ll get it!” she and Dayton exclaimed in unison.
Sam’s face twisted.
“It’s so freaky when you guys do that,” he said, his brow furrowing.
“I guess we’ll both go get it,” Rachel shrugged, slipping her hand in Dayton’s as they headed towards the house.
Rachel still had her apartment above the store, but she spent most of her time at Dayton’s. They had kept it mostly as it was, only transforming Dayton’s old bedroom into a little tattoo shop slash art gallery. Rachel soon discovered that he was just as talented with a brush and paint as he was with a needle and ink.
“Can I show you something real quick?” he asked as they entered the house.
“Sure.”
She smiled as he led her to his makeshift parlor. A canvas was propped up on the floor, facing the wall. Dayton hesitated a bit before picking it up.
“I hope you like it,” he said, turning the piece around to face her.
It was a painting of Rachel sleeping, spread out on a bed with only tangled sheets covering her flesh. He had captured the light perfectly. The way it danced on her soft curves and glinted off her golden locks looked as realistic as if it were a photograph.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered in awe.
“You’re beautiful,” Dayton said. “That’s what inspired me to paint it.”
“Too bad we can’t hang it in the house,” Rachel laughed, studying her mostly naked body and trying her damndest not to break into tears over the sweet gesture.
“It’s more for personal enjoyment anyway,” Dayton shrugged, a glint in his eyes.
“It really is lovely. I like seeing myself through your eyes.”
“We better get to the kitchen,” he said, giving her butt a little pat when she turned to leave the room.
Rachel was getting the meat out of the fridge when she felt Dayton’s warm body walk up behind her, mere inches between them. His hands went to her shoulders, gently rubbing them. Rachel could feel all the tension leave her body as she leaned into his touch. His fingers moved lower, kneading her flesh as they went along, sending shivers down her spine. Finally, his big palms slid over her ass, squeezing and massaging.
Rachel couldn’t help but moan when his fingers dipped beneath her buttocks, softly teasing her inner thighs. The sound earned a growl from Dayton as he spun her around, grabbing her by the waist and lifting her onto the kitchen counter. Rachel’s legs wrapped around him of their own accord.
Every time he touched her still felt as good as the first time.
His mouth came down on hers, hard. Rachel parted her lips, allowing him to slip his tongue in her mouth, probing and teasing with familiar sensuality. Her hands wrapped around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. An ache between her legs made her thighs clench.
Dayton’s hands roamed up her sides, leaving goose bumps in their wake.
An awkward cough made them break apart.
“Oops,” Rachel said, looking over Dayton’s shoulder to see an annoyed Sam.
“Leave you two alone for five minutes…” he grumbled, rolling his eyes.
Dayton helped Rachel off the counter and they both grabbed packs of beef until their hands were full. Sam scooped up the rest, still shaking his head, and they made their way back outside.
It took a while to calm down, but soon enough, Rachel could attempt holding a conversation about something other than a quickie in the kitchen. She was mingling and chatting with some of the guests when she heard a car pull up.
Weird, I thought everyone was already here.
Dayton walked to the front of the house to greet the new arrivals. Rachel’s eyes widened in surprise when Everett Grimpaw and his mate Sara rounded the corner. Everett was holding a couple of six-packs while Sara carried something that looked like a pie. Trailing behind them was Alice with a bottle of wine.
“Oh my god, I didn’t know you guys were going to be here!” Rachel said, rushing over to give them hugs.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Sara said with a warm smile.
“I had a feeling you’d want them here,” Dayton explained, his expression unreadable.
“Hey, Mike!” Everett called out to one of the wolves, who responded with a friendly wave.
Now that was shocking.
Just a half a year ago, wolves and bears at the same party would have meant teeth gnashing and fur flying. Sure, some pack members looked uncomfortable, sneaking glances at Everett and whispering amongst themselves, but there was no open animosity, which was a huge step forwards.
As Ethan had promised, he and Dayton had been busy discussing things as Alphas. They decided that working together and not against each other would be the best approach for both clans. That meant Mike, the out-of-work mechanic, could now work for Everett, the shorthanded auto repair shop owner, without any issues.
Dayton had formed a council with some of the more business-savvy pack members, and they were coming up with ideas on how to put pack lands to good use. Rachel, at the same time, was helping any wolves that were thinking about starting their own businesses.
It was as if new life had been breathed into the pack, and even the surliest of shifters couldn’t help but feel optimistic.
It took a little while, but soon enough, everyone was seated and had food in front of them. Rachel watched with joy as everyone ate, joked around, and generally had a good time.
This is how it should be. Like a family.
The day moved on without incident. As the get-together was winding down, Dayton asked for everyone’s attention. Without any warning, he jumped up on one of the tables. A hush went over the crowd as they prepared to listen to their Alpha.
“You all know that when I first came here, I had no intention of staying. But life is funny like that, and now I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else but here with my family. It was quite a journey to get where we are now. And if there’s one person I couldn’t have done it without, it’s Rachel,” he said, turning his piercing blue gaze to her.
She felt her cheeks turn red as everyone glanced towards her.
“She has helped me become the man I am now. I can’t imagine a life without her. I don’t want to imagine a life without her. I’m hoping she feels the same way.”
He hopped off the table and strolled to her, stopping right in front of her. He grabbed a little box from his back pocket before touching a knee down and gazing up at her with an expectant smile.
“Rachel, I love you. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?” he asked, opening the box to reveal a simple, beautiful diamond ring.
Rachel could hear Alice squeal in delight over the gruff murmurs of the wolves.
“About damn time!” Sam’s voice sounded from somewhere within the crowd, earning laughs.
Tears came to Rachel’s eyes, her heart swelling with happiness. She looked at the gorgeous, kind, funny man in front of her, and there was only one answer.
“Yes. Yes!” she said breathlessly.
Dayton grabbed her into a tight embrace, tilting her backwards with the force of his kiss.
How did I get so lucky? Rachel thought, melting into his arms.
Also by Anya & Rory
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