Tribal Spirit: Forged Alliances

by Katherine McIntyre

  The wolf tore across the clearing in several powerful strides, not hesitating for a breath as he loped toward him from across the clearing. Dax barely had the time to register the wolf, let alone where he was going to strike. Those razor claws glinted in the sunlight as Enrico reared up to swipe. Dax pivoted to the side on pure defense as the claws descended. The sharp points whizzed by him, slicing through tufts of fur. He lunged away from the wolf, his heart slamming.

  Even as Dax backed away, Enrico didn’t halt his relentless pursuit. The wolf moved fast and fluid, despite his size, with the same agility as Sierra. Dax couldn’t exploit sloppy movements or lack of speed, nor could he wait for this guy to screw up with the dogged way he lunged into battle.

  Another swipe. And another.

  Dax dodged out of the way, unable to gauge anything beyond the immediacy of the claws flashing toward him. Fuck. Those amber eyes burned with tempered rage, and the wolf lunged for him with immense strength and power. Dax didn’t swerve this time, tumbling ahead with a flying leap to put more distance between them. He landed on his feet, feline grace turning his motions fluid as he whipped around to face his opponent.

  The wolf charged for him again with speed and power to rival his own. Except he’d gotten pointers from Sierra, a wolf equally as stubborn who possessed enough spirit to lay waste to an army. Enrico favored his back paws with the way he shot off them after each step, propelling him forward, faster. He dipped his muzzle in the direction he aimed, giving a micro-second of an indicator as to where he’d lash out.

  Dax began his back-and-forth rhythm, ready to let the attacker closer this time so he could try to gauge a weakness. The wolf reared to the right, those claws glinting as his front paw twitched.

  Dax pivoted to the left, circling around Enrico. However, the front paw never rose. Instead, Enrico slammed it down on the ground, using the force to pivot around. Before Dax could dart out of the way, fangs glinted with the wolf’s lunge. The tips sank into Dax’s shoulders, pain exploding through him. He thrashed back and forth to toss the wolf off him. When the bastard pulled away, chunks of flesh went with him. The ache cramped Dax’s stomach, hot waves rolling through at once. Blood pricked to the surface, pooling at the injury.

  Fuck. He backed away from the wolf, his shoulder throbbing. Already Enrico had scored a major blow, and Dax hadn’t even scratched the bastard. Letting that urgency overrule his senses wouldn’t help, but he had to take an offensive role to stand a chance. Enrico bared teeth stained in Dax’s blood as he stalked around, readying to launch into his next lunge.

  No more trying to create distance. Dax didn’t back away and instead focused on the shift of the wolf’s paws and the tilt of his muzzle signaling the direction. Enrico sprang from his haunches, rocketing in Dax’s direction. Instead of swerving out of the way, Dax held his ground, pounding a marching beat back and forth while his muscles tensed at the ready. He ignored the pulse in his shoulder and the flow of blood as droplets hit the dusty ground, instead honing all his attention on the attack.

  The wolf’s claws flashed, but Dax didn’t budge. He swiped back, knocking the front leg out of the way.

  Enrico swung again, the other side this time, but Dax remained steady, blocking the limb before those claws could land. Swipe after swipe, Dax deflected each one, staying afloat in the thick of the attack rather than seeking a way out. Each time he caught movement, he followed with a defensive tactic, over and over again. Shouts and hollers rang out from the captivated onlookers, familiar voices cheering for him. The support intensified his focus.

  Enrico clenched his jaw, a red flag. As the wolf lunged for him, the jaws snapping like before, Dax surged to meet him. Right as those fangs threatened to descend, Dax smashed his muzzle along the side of the wolf’s jaw, throwing as much force as he could manage into the blow. His own skull throbbed upon impact, but Enrico backed away, snapping.

  Couldn’t let the hit slide. If the wolf wanted to wear him down, Dax would be a storm.

  He seized the opening, lunging for the wolf.

  Forget a fight with claws; Dax’s jaw widened as he descended, slicing through the short distance between them. His teeth sank into Enrico’s throat and he latched on with all his might. Enrico thrashed back and forth, claws slicing into Dax’s side, and still he refused to let go. Deep gouges bloomed along Enrico’s sides as he frenzied, desperate to get out of Dax’s grip. However, he was just as capable of stubbornness, just as unwilling to budge.

  Enrico slammed a limb against Dax’s side, the force toppling him over. He lost the hold on the wolf’s neck as they tumbled to the ground. Dax’s vision hazed over, tunneling into fangs, fur, and the blast of heat from Enrico’s pungent breath hitting his face. Blood speckled on his face, gelling on his fur as he slashed, trying to combat the claws slicing his way. The dozens of cuts he’d received stung, creating a symphony of agony with every movement. He rolled on his back, at a disadvantage.

  The wolf appeared over him, the head zooming too fast for Dax to block. His stomach convulsed as Enrico’s head slammed home, straight into his throat. Dax gagged in response, lashing out with his claws. His throat pulsed with pain, the blow enough to make him wheeze with each breath. In the seconds Enrico pulled back, Dax dove for the advantage.

  A brief space appeared between them, and Dax surged forward, aiming straight for the chest. Those amber eyes glanced down, anticipating the movement. Dax’s heart thundered in his ears, and at the last minute, he switched tactics.

  Right as Enrico’s claws descended, sinking into Dax’s already wounded shoulder, he twisted his head to the side, using the angle to lash up with his claws.

  The tips hit flesh, sinking in.

  An unearthly howl came from Enrico’s shredded throat, one that sent shivers through him as Dax dragged down with his slice. Large gouges carved into those amber eyes, which squeezed shut in pain. Blood poured from the open wounds, the hot liquid splashing onto Dax’s face. Even though his shoulder ached, he lunged ahead, executing the original trajectory of the blow. His head thudded into the solid chest, but with Enrico’s eyes compromised, his reaction time slowed.

  The movement destabilized the wolf’s hold, and Dax slunk from under him, slipping out of the way. Each breath came out shaky, the wounds taking their toll. If Enrico landed another one, Dax was a goner. Couldn’t give him the chance.

  Enrico tried to whip around, but robbed of sight, his motions slowed. Dax raced for him at top speed, pushing himself faster and farther than before. He rammed into the wolf with enough power to send him flying. Dax skidded along the ground, kicking up dust as the force of the blow sent him sliding. Enrico didn’t stand a chance at defense.

  The wolf tumbled away, slamming to the ground with enough impetus to knock the wind from him.

  Dax darted up to land on Enrico before he had the chance to rise. If he could win without killing, he would. He pressed the full weight of his body on the wolf, all paws evenly distributed to keep the wolf from budging. After several seconds of thrashing, Enrico stopped.

  Dax glanced to the Tribe members, who rose. Jess crossed her arms while she waited.

  A minute passed but Enrico made no more movements to get up. Those seconds would be crucial to save his eyes, and the wolf alpha understood that as well as Dax did.

  Jess strode into the center of the clearing and began the count. Her voice boomed across the empty area, reaching the large crowd that had grown since Dax had last paid attention. Not like he focused on anyone but the woman who’d captured his heart. As Jess continued counting, Dax and Sierra’s gazes met. Her lip trembled for a second even though her eyes blazed with steadiness. The sight lanced his heart.

  “And one,” Jess called, slicing her hands out with the motion. “Dax Williams of the Silver Springs pack is hereby declared the winner. Tomorrow at dawn, you’ll be facing Drew Williams of the Silver Springs pack in the final challenge for leadership.”

  Dax stepped off Enrico. As he lumbered away toward t
he throngs of his Silver Springs pack, a gasp sounded from them, their eyes honed in on the battlegrounds. Dread pooled in his chest as tension thickened the air.

  He whipped around in time to spot Enrico rushing for him despite the damage to his eyes.

  “Stop,” Lucas’s voice quaked through the air, a thunderous boom that drew everyone’s attention. He lifted his hand.

  Enrico made it a couple of steps farther before the gravel surrounding the ring rose in the air. Everyone froze, not only due to the shock of what they witnessed. Dax strained to even move a pinky, but his cat held him still, obeying the direct command of the Tribe member. The crowd remained similarly immobile, unable to break free from Lucas’s order. Once Lucas’s hand descended, all that gravel did as well.

  Directly on top of Enrico.

  Pebbles and stones pelted him in a fury, near burying him under the onslaught. Lucas watched, his eyes cold.

  “That sort of cowardice will not be tolerated,” his voice rang out before he nodded to the crowd to release everyone from the hold. Fear prickled across Dax’s skin at the sheer power the Tribe wielded and the shamanic magic at their beck and call.

  Members of Enrico’s pack rushed past the crowd and into the clearing to dig their alpha out of the Tribe-made landslide. Even though Dax’s wounds throbbed—the pain reaching a crescendo—once he slapped a bandage over his shoulder, he’d pull through fine. Not like he’d let a couple of scratches keep him from Sierra.

  He hadn’t forgotten for a second about her promise.

  Screams and shouts pulsed through the air from his pack members, their eyes shining brightly with hope. His heart thundered in return, pride for his people surging with every step to them. The Tribe bristled with irritation at needing to get involved in the first place; the lot of them had little patience for lawbreakers.

  Dax shifted back to two legs, fur dissolving from him as his body stretched taller and longer. Even in his human form, the lion claimed his territory as Dax shared the space when he was the beast. Blood trickled down his arms and legs, tickling as it slid along his torso to splash onto the ground while he walked.

  He didn’t think twice about his nudity until he caught sight of the way Sierra eyed him, and his blood heated from top to toe in one fell swoop. The hunger in her eyes was a formidable thing, one that spread through his chest, heading south faster than he liked.

  Kyle clapped a hand on his back as he passed, glancing down and letting out a whistle. Finn smirked as Dax sauntered past him, giving the guy a broad grin.

  “Go get ‘er,” he said with a wink as he crossed his arms. Sierra cast a glance to Finn, the warning shot Dax expected from the stubborn woman. Too bad for Sierra, Dax planned on pissing her off in full. He’d had enough of dancing around the way he felt about her and how she sparked desires in him he’d abandoned a long time ago. The way she made him believe he was worth something—that he could lead his pack with pride.

  He crossed the space between them and circled his hands around her waist before she could respond. Dax dipped down, his lips brushing against hers as the fires roared to life inside him. All the adrenaline, the raw pain, and the intense longing for her melded together into one potent elixir. Sierra resisted at first, until she melted against him, her arms coming around his neck to draw him closer. Cheers and whistles sounded around them, but Dax ignored the crowd.

  Right now, only Sierra existed in this space with him. From the moment he’d met her, she’d supported him, helping him grow and stand tall as a leader. Even the way she’d helped him train yesterday rather than delving into the desires riding him had been the edge of a blade difference that helped him win against Enrico.

  Her lips were soft and lush even though how she kissed him was anything but. The pulse traveled southward as the way she pressed to him stoked his coals.

  Dax pulled away, leaning to the side to whisper in her ear. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Sierra bit his earlobe, sending a sinful shudder through him. “Thought you’d never ask.”

  Dax didn’t hesitate, reaching down to scoop her off her feet. She tightened her grip around his neck, a pert smile on her lips as she met his eyes. A broad grin claimed his face as his pulse thundered in anticipation of what would come. He nodded at the familiar faces of his pack and the Red Rocks before he carried Sierra to his truck. They’d skated around this bond for far too long. Dax was ready to lay claim to his mate.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Sierra leaned back in the leather couch that took up most of Dax’s living room, listening to the spray of water as he washed up. Her nerves skated on edge, bristling from anticipation and the close calls Dax had earlier. Even though he’d beaten Enrico, the wolf shifter had brought him to a dangerous ledge.

  Her throat tightened. Less than a week ago, his packmate Lana stood over the body of her husband Greg, pure grief and anguish rolling off her. How fast such an intense connection could be extinguished. If anything, the fight today strengthened Sierra’s resolve in the choice they were about to make. Few were lucky enough to find their mate. She’d be a fool to throw the chance away when she could no longer deny the way he made her synapses fire. How at the end of a tough day, he was the one person she wanted in her space—the first man she’d brought back to her cottage.

  The ceiling fans gave off a low snick-snick-snick as the amber light of late afternoon filtered through his open windows. Sweat beaded along her temple, and as the sound of the water shut off, she licked her dry lips.

  The time of reckoning had arrived.

  She ran a hand through her thick hair, remembering the last time she’d been on this couch with him when the mating bond first surfaced. In just two weeks, he’d become such an integral part of her life. When she was around Dax, she felt lighter, not as inundated by the responsibilities surrounding her. He made her laugh, pushed her to play, and gave her space to open up while keeping her pride.

  The bathroom door creaked open, drawing her gaze to him. In the dim light, shadows carved into every hollow, highlighting his defined abs marred by fresh scratches and old scars. He’d taped gauze over his shoulder, a patch from the wound earlier, which would already be healing. A towel slung around his waist, the strip of fabric barely covering his fine ass and the powerful thighs she’d witnessed in action when they’d sparred. She’d gotten her hands on that body when they fought, and she hadn’t been disappointed in the slightest. The fighter utilized every square inch of his body, a weapon in its own right.

  Rivulets of water clung to his lickable skin, drops sliding down the slope of his carved muscles. The room clouded with residual mist from his shower, though that wasn’t the sole reason the air in the room grew hot and humid. The second their eyes met, her insides coiled tightly and she found it harder to breathe. Several strands of his wet hair plastered to his forehead, the rest splayed around messily, making her want to run her fingers through it. Mischief begged to play on his lips, a secret smile he shared with her.

  “Took long enough,” she called, not wanting to admit how the sight of him made her throat hitch, how the man was so gorgeous she lost her mind. “I thought you drowned in the mirror from staring into your reflection too long.”

  “Can’t help it if I’m pretty,” Dax said, a full smile blooming on his face. He crossed the room, each step deliberate as her gaze fastened on the barely-there towel around his waist. She bit her lip as arousal wound in her core, an intense ache demanding satisfaction. “Let’s cut the bullshit. You know you’ve been waiting for this as long as I have.”

  Sierra tapped the side of her chin, feigning innocence. “I came over here for a drink, Williams. I don’t know what you’ve got percolating in your dirty mind.”

  Dax smiled as he stepped in front of her, the scent of soap and cedar like a drug to her senses. “I’ve got plenty of dirty things in mind when it comes to you, Kanoska.” The husky way he said her name sent a shudder through her, and she couldn’t help squeezing her thighs together
. He leaned forward, gripping the couch beside her as mere inches separated them. Her clothes weighed too heavy, the layers too much when she just wanted to sink her claws into his tanned skin.

  Each breath she took made her more aware of the heat between them, of the air tensing like the onset of a storm.

  “You sure?” he asked, a flash of vulnerability in his gaze, the sort that broke her heart. This man had been considered second best his entire life. His family had discarded him, and even now they tried to rob him of his worth. Even though he braced himself over her, one word and he’d walk away. But she didn’t want that. Right now, she wanted Dax Williams, all of him.

  “You’re worth the risk,” she murmured against his lips, the sensation sending a thrill through her. His blue eyes deepened to a stormy intensity at her words, his hand weaving through her hair. He leaned in to claim her lips with the sort of passion that traveled straight to her toes. The honeyed warmth and singular focus of the way he kissed, as if she was the sole thing in the universe worth a damn, gave her the answer she needed.

  Sierra reached up to flick at the loose knot on the edge of his hips, sending the towel to the ground. His erection stood stark between his legs, the sight of it making her slick.

  “I think you’re at an unfair advantage,” Dax responded, gliding up to brush his lips against her ear. He nipped her lobe, sending a shock of desire straight between her legs. She shifted, her thighs squeezing tightly as she tried to combat the fierce pulse inside her.

  “Think you can level the playing field?” She arched a brow at him in challenge. A sensuous smile curled his lips, the sort that made her even wetter. He skated his fingers behind her back, brushing by as a click followed and her bra unclasped. Her nipples pebbled at the idea of those skillful fingers anywhere near her breasts. “Come on,” she purred. “You can do better than a party trick.”

  His teeth gleamed with his smile as he lunged forward, biting down into her neck. The smooth movement elicited a moan before she could help herself. Her panties were already soaked, and he’d barely touched her. The scruff from him scraped against the skin of her neck, making it hard to forget the way the stubble had brushed more sensitive areas.