Balance Page 22
Anna approached Kai. “Let me fight him. It will be fairer.”
Kai didn’t look away from Harris. “No,” was all he said to Anna and then he walked into the middle of the circle.
Harris nodded to Kai, who nodded back initiating acceptance of the fight. Then Kai tightened his grip on the tire iron and with blinding speed struck Harris in the side of the neck. It was a blur of fast motion and as he clocked Harris in the side of the head, the entire pack took a step backward. Harris wobbled to the side but straightened himself quickly. He took his silver knuckled hand and gave Kai a strong upper cut to the jaw.
I heard Kai’s jaw break from where I stood. His body flew up and backward six feet from the force of the blow, leaving him to crash into the hard ground. Holy shit, Harris was strong! A growl ripped from my throat but Kai pushed himself up onto one arm indicating he hadn’t lost consciousness yet. My eyes fell on Jameson who looked scared and was trying to fiddle with his leg chains. He wanted free.
Anna was shaking her head back and forth. She really would have been a better match for Harris but no way would Kai let one of his females fight for him. I decided I couldn’t watch. If I did, I would bum rush this asshole and blast him with magic breaking all kinds of pack rules and starting a big-ass fight. I had to calm my breathing.
Suddenly, Kai popped up and hunched over, running at Harris with vampire speed. He crashed into his mid-section and slammed Harris into a tree. I turned away then and began to skirt along the edge of the circle that had formed. I kept my thoughts calm and supportive. I couldn’t have my mate worrying about how I felt right now.
Max met my eyes and nodded. I nodded back. An unseen conversation passed in that nod. He would watch Kai’s back; I would try to free Jameson. There was no way we were leaving today without him, whether Kai won this fight or not. You don’t tie your wolves to trees!
I was sneaking slowly around the outside of the circle when all of a sudden I heard a tree crack. My head snapped in that direction just in time to see Kai fall to the ground with the tree falling on top of him. Just like my vision. Anna was a blur of motion as she charged Harris.
“Anna, no!” I screamed too late.
Her face looked murderous as she pushed Harris so hard he flew ten feet and slammed into a huge redwood, splitting it. Harris crashed to the ground on all fours, panting to catch his breath. No doubt there were some broken ribs. Kai was barely holding onto his consciousness, his eyelids fluttering.
I couldn’t move. I had to keep the mist from pouring out of my skin.
“She interfered with an official Alpha fight! I will have the council put her down! One on one, those are the rules!” Harris roared as he stalked towards her with a slight limp in his step.
Anna stood there defiantly, not afraid, and met his gaze. Max held her mate, Jake, by the arms, which were twisted behind his back.
I stepped forward. “Actually, you interfered with the fight first. One on one, you say?” I flicked my eyes to Jameson. “You used Jameson’s gift to make you stronger. Not fair. So I think two on two is fairer.”
His nostrils flared. I had a point. Kai was still on the ground struggling to get up and I was ready to shift at any moment if shit got more worked up.
“Fine, two on two,” he said, and in one quick move he clocked Anna in the jaw with the silver knuckles and sent her flying backward.
“You’re dead!” Jake roared and began shifting in Max’s arms. His teeth were snapping and a guttural howl ripped from his throat.
I was about to shift when I saw a streak of black launch through the air and knock Harris over. He hit the ground hard, his teeth cracking. I grinned and cheered my mate on.
‘He punched Anna! Screw the rules! Rip his goddamn head off!’ I told Kai and then slowly made my way behind the crowd so that I could try to get within reach of Jameson. We needed to plan our exit NOW. Five of the pack’s dominants were guarding him. They stood there like a wall, glaring at me. One of them looked unsure, like maybe he wanted to let me through. I glanced back at Kai, who was winning. Anna stood behind him ready to jump in.
“Boys, let’s do this the nice way,” I told the dominants guarding Jameson.
Harris’ second stood forward. He was tall, littered with tattoos, and had that ‘50’s rockabilly look. “If your mate kills Harris, I become Alpha and I won’t let Jameson go either. Leave the girl. Give up and go home!”
His breath smelled of beef and whiskey. My wolf didn’t like the threat. She came to the surface, eyes going yellow. Little did these idiots know, I had been distracting them the whole time. Alexa had gone all the way around and come up the back of the fight. She made her way over to Jameson and quietly snapped his chain with bolt cutters from the car. They shared a shy smile and she began to undress and shift, then Jameson began to shift into his wolf form and I grinned.
But the dominants caught me looking.
“Run!” I told Alexa and Jameson. Without a second thought, they took off like I had lit their tails on fire.
The second in command tore off after them while four of the other dominants advanced on me. I was a pretty badass martial arts fighter but four dominant werewolves were too much for me.
“Max!” I shouted, glancing over my shoulder as Kai ended Harris’ life. I saw Harris’ head sail through the air and land with a thud.
Turning back to the dominants just in time, I blocked a kick but one of the guys grabbed my arm, yanking me forward. Then I got sucked into a vision. Oh Jesus. Bad timing. I couldn’t see, so I tried to back up as a fist landed in my face.