An Alpha's Path (9 page)

Kade shook his head, dispelling the inner fears assailing his mind. He needed to focus. Lance stepped into the circle, a smirk of confidence on his face, yet fear in his eyes.
Huh?
Lance was a low-level Pack member. There was no way Kade could lose to him. That explained the fear, yet why the smirk?

“Kade.” Lance’s deep voice echoed through the circle and the noise of the Pack hushed.

“Lance.”

“Men,” his father’s voice cut through their rising tension. “You’re both here in this place of magic to battle, man against man, flesh against flesh, for the right to mate Melanie Cross.” His father turned his head toward Mel, forcing Kade to do the same. She stood wide-eyed, frozen.

“Melanie Cross, do you acknowledge either of these men? Do you choose and stop this fight?” His father’s voice boomed toward the crowd.

She shook her head, and Kade’s heart plummeted. It didn’t occur to him until right then that he was actually hoping she would choose him. What did he expect? One night and she would fall madly in love with him? It didn’t matter that that’s what happened to him.

Kade looked into Mel’s eyes. Fear, yet pleading radiating from them. Without blinking, he turned from her toward his opponent. The smirk didn’t leave.

“Why are you smiling?” Curiosity pulled the words from him.

“You’ve lost before pup, and she never said no to me. Why would she want the politics that come with your job? With me, she has more options.”

Uncertainty attacked him. Dammit.

“Watch your back Lance. I will fight with everything I have. Mel’s worth fighting for. Remember the power I hold that comes with my ‘job’. Don’t fuck with me.” Kade growled the last part, wiping the smirk off the jackass’s face. Good.

“Men, stand ready at the center. And begin when I tell you.” Sadness threaded his father’s voice. No father wanted to see their son, especially their first-born, fight, maybe to the death, for a mate – twice.

Kade planted his feet, the soil smooth against his bare skin. Clad in only an old pair of faded jeans, his mobility was the greatest could be without being naked. Much as he would like to walk around nude in front of Mel, the others may frown upon that. Plus the whole dangly bit issue during a fight – not a good idea.

Lance stood four feet across from him, mimicking Kade’s stance. Though all werewolves were required to go through fight training as adolescents, not all Pack members were adequate in it. Kade knew every single wolf in his pack. Because he was Heir, he also felt each of their souls. Lance wasn’t a fighter; he was a schmoozer, a prick.

Kick his hairy ass.

Ah, nice to see his wolf didn’t leave him completely alone. Kade inhaled, letting his wolf rise the surface just a bit. A warm golden glow appeared on the ground in front of him. Good, his eyes were lit, time to get this shit over with.

“Now,” the Alpha commanded.

Lance jumped first, attacking with his right, leaving his left flank open. Amateur. He ducked and sank his fist into his opponent’s side. The other wolf howled in pain but rolled with it before kicking at Kade’s. He moved to the side, narrowly escaping the blow and spun to punch Lance in the face. Bones crunched under his fist as Lance’s nose broke. Again, the other wolf screamed but didn’t quit.

They fought, scraped, and hit, neither backing down. Kade risked a look at Mel. Her hands were in front of her, balled together with tension. Her eyes were wide with panic yet she was still beautiful. His.

He wasn’t surprised when the punch hit him square in the jaw as his attention was focused elsewhere. Pain radiated through his cheekbone and lower mouth as his teeth crashed together.
Fuck
. Kade spun and returned the blow. Lance’s head snapped back, the blood oozing from his lip mixing with the congealed blood from his nose.

Kade needed to end this. Mel was his. Not this fucking wolf who couldn’t even fight to protect her. His wolf snorted and clawed in agreement.
Good.
He growled, letting his Heir power radiate. Lance blanched.
Fucking wolf better fear him.
Kade punched with his right, flesh in to Lance’s cheek, breaking the bone. Then the punched with his left, ribs bruising underneath his fist. Lance gasped, a green hue flowing over his skin, before falling to the ground.

Though a fight to death might be expected, Kade needed a yield. He would not kill another man in front of Mel. Fear already wafted from her skin, and he didn’t want to add to it. Kade knelt by the fallen wolf, the crowd’s cheers silenced. He placed his palm Lance’s neck, cutting off most of his air-flow.

“Back down, Lance. You cannot win this. I refuse to kill you in front of her.”

Recognition flashed in his eyes.
Yeah buddy, I love her and I could kill you. Give up.

Lance lifted his chin, bearing what little neck he could. It was over.

The crowd cheered. Their Heir won. Victorious. But Kade knew it wasn’t over. He may have won the battle, but he would not force his Mate. No matter the traditions.

The audience quieted as Kade walked toward Mel. His heart pounded in his ears. This was by far scarier than the fight he just left. He loved her. What if she said no? What would he do if she left?

Kade stood in front of her. The sweet honey vanilla smell masked by her fear and pain.

“Mel?”

****

The brutality of the fight left Mel speechless. This was not humane. No, this was barbaric, animalistic. Her fault. Before Kade walked into the circle to fight, she knew she was making the wrong choice. Why did she let them fight? Why didn’t she love Kade enough to leave everything behind she has knew and worked for?

Even as she thought about it, she knew the answer. While she attended school, choices were made for her, paths laid and followed without resistance. Yet, now she held the decision. The power to follow her own life, her own path. No one could take that from her. She’d known Kade for less than a week. Spoke to him for less than a day. If he had merely given her time to decide before, the outcome may have been different. But not now. Confusion racked her brain. Time wasn’t an option, so the decision would break her heart. Already, she felt numb.

“Kade,” her voice broke. “I…”

“Leave us.” Startled, Mel looked around. The crowd dispersed quickly and quietly. Some still held curiosity, but most looked upon Kade with pity. Whether it be for her humanity or they knew her answer, she didn’t know.

Drawing on the little courage she had left, she spoke, “Kade, I can’t.” Pain flashed in his eyes, but he didn’t speak. “This isn’t my life. I can’t give up everything for a man I don’t know. Kade, we don’t know each other. You may have a wolf to guide you, but I only have my experiences.”

No one spoke for what seemed like an eternity. Then Kade bent down and brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. Her breath hitched as he leaned further to touch his lips to hers. His hand still in her hair, he pulled her to him, kissing her with a desperation she thought was only hers. Their tongues clashed, lips hungry and eager. Finally, Kade released her.

“If that is your decision, I will let you go. I love you, Melanie Cross.” He lifted his arm as if to touch her once more, but let it fall.

With one last look, he pleaded with her, but she didn’t know what to do. He left the circle, taking her heart with him.

Chapter 11

Kade sat on his porch, a beer in his hand. Though his metabolism would burn off the effects quickly – he needed to feel nothing. Numb. Anything to get his mind off the fact that he was mateless after meeting two potentials. Mateless after two meetings in the circle. Mel left him.

You let her leave, you fool. Why didn’t you tie her up and keep her here. I’m sure there’s something you could’ve done to pass the time while she makes the
right
decision.

Kade snorted at his wolf’s attitude. Though an image of Mel tied naked to his bed-posts flooded his mind.
Fuck.
He shook his head. She left. That delicious fantasy would never happen.

Footsteps sounded on his driveway, altering Kade to an unwelcome guest.

“Hello Kade, you look like shit.” The sickly sweet voice pinched his nerve endings.

Tracy.

Tall and curvy, her body lent itself to many pup’s wet dreams. Long chocolate brown hair flowed to her ass, hours of work evident in its perfection. His body didn’t react. She wasn’t Mel.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with your mate, Grant?” Fuck, that sounded jealous. No, he wasn’t jealous of Grant. One look at Mel and Kade knew – Tracy wasn’t for him. No, he was jealous of what Tracy and Grant shared. What he lost when he let Mel walk away.

“That’s not a very nice greeting to someone you loved now is it?” She batted her eyes and pursed her lips. Typical, she needed something. What, he didn’t care. He just hoped she would leave so he could wallow in misery with his beer in peace. Was that too much to ask?

“I never loved you, Tracy, you know that. I thought we could have something because of our wolves, but you didn’t want me either.” Pain made him honest and slightly bitter, but who the fuck cared.

Tracy huffed. “Fine, Kade. Be an ass. But you are the fucking Heir of this Pack and you need to act like it. It was bad enough you were going to mate that human, but then you
let
her leave? I’m glad I picked Grant. You’re nothing.”

A growl slipped from his lips and she cowered in fear. Tracy’s wolf possessed almost no strength, yet she was a bitch. Kade, however, didn’t give a shit. He wouldn’t move from his perch for anyone but the blonde who left him.

“Leave Tracy.”

“No Kade, I won’t. I’m sorry for saying that, but I need help.”

“Go.”

“But its Grant, he lost his job and…”

“Go.”

“Kade.” Her whiny voice pleaded. Kade wanted to throw up.

“Tracy, I don’t care about you and Grant. If you have a problem, go see Jasper. That’s his job. But leave me the fuck alone. You wanted Grant? You have him.”

“And you have nothing.” Tracy’s sneer only confirmed his own shortcomings. It wasn’t anything new.

“Goodbye, Tracy.”

“I’m glad that human left you. You aren’t even worthy that piece of shit.”

Kade leapt off the porch and had Tracy on the ground, gasping for breath before she could blink.

“You may call me names but you will not dishonor Melanie. She is mine.”

“But…” He pressed down harder on her windpipe.

“I love her, Tracy. You will respect her.”

Her eyes widened and she nodded before Kade released her. She scrambled up, not bothering to wipe the dirt from her dress and ran.

You chose the right woman, Kade. Tracy isn’t worth anything. Mel will come back. She will see reason.

 
Kade let out a pathetic half-laugh. No, Mel made her choice. Kade was just the one who had to live with it.

****

Ben and Jerry’s Karmal Sutra ice cream was manna. The creamy caramel and chocolate fudge ice creams surrounded a thick column of caramel goodness. Mel sighed in ecstasy as she let another spoonful melt on her tongue, the flavors cascading in an almost orgasmic symphony.

And this was as good as it got. Ice cream and the Discovery Channel on a Saturday night. No men or sex for her. She was the fucking idiot who walked away from her mate and left him. Now she faced four hundred freshman three days a week teaching them general chemistry, though they could care less. When she wasn’t banging her head against the chalk board explaining once again that energy of light is inversely, not directly, proportional to it wavelength, she was again stuck behind a lab bench. With her new title she now called the shots but she still didn’t have a passion for it. She really didn’t give a crap about the radioactive nuclides and alkali metals in different silicates and soils. She’d lost her passion. No, not loss, she’d left her passion with Kade.