CHAPTER THREE

We arrive back at camp, and I know immediately that something is wrong. Rafael's second in command, Matthew is waiting for us, and he looks anxious.

"Something's happened," he says.

"What?" Rafael asks. "What's wrong?"

"It's the old alpha. He's refusing to accept the results of the challenge. He wants a rematch."

"He can't do that," I say. "There are rules. You can't redo a challenge unless..."

I trail off then. I know in this moment what's happening, and it's the last thing I want.

"Unless it's a fight to the death," Matthew says, finishing my sentence.

"No," I say. "No, that can't be it."

But it is. If the old alpha doesn't recognize Rafael as the rightful alpha, then he'll have to kill him. And if he doesn't...

I can't think about it. I don't want to think about it.

"It doesn't have to be that way," Rafael says. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this work. This is my pack. I don't want any harm to come to anyone."

"If you kill the old alpha," Matthew says, "then you'll be responsible for everyone under your leadership. And the old alpha has been around a long time. He's strong. He's guarded by a lot of betas. If you fight him, you might not even make it out alive."

Rafael nods, and I can tell he's struggling. My heart pounds as I watch him. I don't want him to fight. I don't want him to hurt anyone-- let alone kill them.

I want him to live in peace.

But the alternative, Rafael getting killed by our old alpha. That's too awful to even fathom.

"What's going to happen now?" I ask.

"The old alpha is going to be ready for you, Rafael" Matthew says. "He knows what you're capable of now. He'll be more prepared. I think you should consider stepping down."

"Stepping down?! That's ridiculous."

"Think about it," Matthew says. "It might be the only way to avoid bloodshed. You don't want your people to be in danger, do you?"

"But..." Rafael says, trailing off. "What am I supposed to do? How would I live with myself if I was to let go of something so important to me?"

"You're going to have to think of something," Matthew says. "You can't lose this challenge. It's too important."

I feel like the conversation is going on around me, and I'm not a part of it. I don't want anyone to get hurt. And I don't want Rafael to risk losing everything that he's worked so hard for.

But it doesn't matter what I think. I can already tell Rafael's mind is made up.

"I'm not going to step down," he says.

"It's just a suggestion," Matthew says. "Don't get me wrong. I think you should fight the old alpha. I think you should, and I think you will prevail. But things are different this time. He's going to be ready for you, and there is a chance that you won't survive the fight."

"I would rather die fighting for what I believe in than live knowing I placed myself above my pack," he says.

I want to argue with him. I want to tell him to change his mind. But I know that's wrong. This is who he is. This is why I fell for him in the first place.

*

I approach the field where the challenge will take place and find the entire pack is here.

They are all gathered, and they're all nervous. They're all worried about Rafael.

I can't blame them. I am too.

"Are you ready for this?" I ask.

"Not really, but I don't have a choice," he says. "If I don't do something, then the old alpha will take over. I've worked too hard to let that happen now."

He puts his arm around me, and I try to comfort him.

But it doesn't help. Nothing can.

We all know this fight will either end with the death of the old alpha or with the death of Rafael. We all know that there is no other way. I have to believe, though, that Rafael will win. I have to believe that he'll come back to me.

I have to believe that he'll live, but I don't know if that's possible.

I feel powerless. I feel like I'm watching the events unfold before me, and there's nothing I can do to stop them.

My heart pounds in my chest, and I can feel panic rising in my throat. I try to keep it down. I know I can't show my fear. I can't show doubt. I need to be strong for him. I need to have faith that he will come out of this fight alive.

But I'm not sure that I can.

The old alpha comes onto the field, surrounded by betas and omegas. It's just as Matthew said. He's braced for this fight.

I turn to Rafael.

"You can do this," I say.

I'm trying to convince myself more than him.

"I can do this," he says. "I know I can."

The two alphas stand face-to-face in the middle of the field.

Rafael nods to the old alpha.

"Are you ready?" he asks.

There's a moment of silence, and then the alpha says something I never expected. Something none of us could have anticipated.

"There will be no fight today."

At first, I am elated. I feel more relieved than I ever have in my whole life.

But then, I realize it can't be this simple. The old alpha must be up to something. There has to be a catch.

"Rafael's challenge was illegitimate," he continues. "He was born a rogue. He is not one of us. He has no claim to leadership."

The crowd gasps. I turn to Rafael to see his reaction. I can't imagine he's going to let an argument like that stand.

And he doesn't.

He flies at the old alpha who doesn't even have time to register what's happening before Rafael has him pinned to the ground.