Blood dripped from Nic’s clawed hands onto the wet forest floor. The howl of another pack mate broke the quiet of the night. Nic ignored the call for a moment. The other wolf wanted to find Nic, to fight with him, most likely. Nic would deal with him if it came to it, but first he had to put the kid he’d taught how to throw a fastball in his place.
He led Quinn, Sean’s younger brother, to the clearing next to the pack’s sacred grounds, then circled him, looking for the right opportunity to pop his kneecaps. Nic didn’t want to inflict the injury. It was as painful for a shifter as it was for a human, but it was the quickest and kindest way to take Quinn out.
Although newly matured, Quinn was strong. In a few years, he’d probably end up third or fourth among the dominants. For the sake of the pack, his strength was a blessing. At the moment, it made Nic’s job harder. The deep gouge he’d left on Quinn’s chest would’ve killed a beta or a human. It hadn’t even slowed the young shifter down.
“Why don’t we take this fight to the circle?” Quinn matched Nic’s steps, keeping a taunting distance between them. “Or are you afraid to lose?”
Nic ground his teeth. He knew better than to engage the other shifters in a verbal battle they’d both regret later. They were running high on adrenaline and their natural-born instincts, which were intensified by the full moon. Quinn also had the cockiness of youth pushing him to assert himself. At twenty-nine, Nic wasn’t exactly old. A lot had happened to him since he’d matured, however. He wasn’t exactly wise, but he’d lived, suffered, and hurt.
He’d also loved. And that was the only thing keeping him sane in the face of the same adrenaline and aggressiveness fueling Quinn. No way would Nic allow the fight to take him over, however. He had something to go home to that didn’t involve only power. He had Riley.
“What?” Quinn chuckled. “Not going to accept my challenge?”
“You can’t challenge me, kid. I’m not alpha, not yet, at least.”
Quinn growled. “I’m not a kid.”
“Really?” Nic raised a brow. “So you have a female ready to accept you as her mate?”
Quinn stopped circling and sneered. “Sure, I’ll just take the one you’d planned to mate. She doesn’t care about love.”
“Maybe not, but you should. Talk to your brother about it. He’ll tell you it’s important.” Nic took a couple of steps closer, watching the younger shifter’s body language. “So will I. Love is more important than anything, power included.”
Quinn frowned. His tightly fisted hands loosened. “You love Maria? I didn’t think you even knew her.”
Nic took another step. “Do you?”
“It doesn’t matter, does it?” Quinn shifted his gaze to Nic’s nose. “She picked you.”
Nic snorted. “She didn’t pick me. She wants the strength I can offer her.”
Quinn snarled. “She’s a fool.”
“No, the male who loves her is a fool to let her throw her life away.”
Quinn studied him but remained quiet.
“Her true mate would fight for her love, not the right to force a claim on her.”
Quinn straightened. “She’s stubborn. Maria thinks the only way to save her pack is through power.”
“Oh, she’s right, but”—Nic matched the other shifter’s less aggressive pose—“strength isn’t only physical. Look at Hannah. Would you call her weak?”
“No. She’d have my balls.”
Nic chuckled. “That she would.”
“I love her.”
“Maria?” Nic asked to make sure.
“Yeah.” Quinn ran a hand through his sweaty hair. “So what are you telling me, Nic? Are you going to mate her? ’Cause if you are, I will kill you. Here or in the circle. I don’t care how it happens.”
Nic shook his head. “No, I’ve found my true mate. Nobody will take her place.”
Quinn’s brows turned down. “Who?”
“You’ll find out tomorrow.” Nic jerked his chin to the side. “Now get out of here.”
Quinn nodded and then motioned behind Nic. He turned and found one of the Tanner betas slinking forward in wolf form.
“You need help with him?” Quinn asked.
“No, go find your female. This is my fate.” It always had been.
“Thanks, Nic”—Quinn cleared his throat—“for everything.”
Quinn trotted off, and the small gray wolf shifted into a male Nic had never seen before. The Tanner male held his hands up. “I’m not here to fight.”
Nic maneuvered himself between the other shifter and the ceremonial circle where Hannah and three of his first cousins waited. Tradition required their presence to witness the transfer of the spirit wolf.
“Then why are you in my territory so close to the full moon’s peak?” He swept his hand out to encompass the woods where several more betas waited. “And why did you bring support?”
Maria walked from the woods, dressed in loose shorts and a tank top. “I brought them.”
“Send them away”—Nic stepped forward—“and go with them.”
“Word has reached our pack of your father’s death. I’ve come with those males loyal to me to offer you support.”
“I don’t need their help.” Nic looked between Maria and the betas behind her. He shook his head. “I also don’t think your alpha would approve of his males helping a rival pack.”
“You’re not a rival.” She raised her chin. “Besides, my alpha was thrilled to learn you chose me to be your mate.”
“Your true mate has spoken to me.” It was a wild guess, but Nic hoped Quinn’s interest in Maria meant more than a physical fascination.
Maria tensed. “My true mate? That’s ridiculous. Why would I agree to mate you if I had met my true mate?”
“No clue. Stubborn, maybe?” Nic lowered his voice. “Whatever the reason, you and I won’t be mating. Now turn around and walk away. I have a destiny to claim, and yours is looking for you.”
“And a mate to claim.” Maria leaned forward. “Isn’t that the true reason you don’t want me? You’ve decided to damn your pack by falling in love with a human.”
He growled. “Leave now.”
“You’ll regret your choice, Nic.”
Before he could say another word, she spun on her heel and strode away.
Maria was wrong. The only choice he regretted was walking away from Riley four years ago. He wouldn’t repeat it.