Chapter 384

“John has lost his mind,” Alex said. “It’s unbelievable he would dare break onto my estate. How he has fallen.”

Why was John here? Why didn’t he run away somewhere with his fortune hidden in offshore bank accounts?

“His hatred of me and Daisy is poisoning his mind,” Victor said.

“I agree.” Alex moved closer to the screen and studied John as he pounded on the front doors.

The pounding echoed through the foyer. John continued to beat on the doors and began screaming something that we couldn’t make out inside the house.

“What is he saying?” I asked.

A louder thump made me jump when John kicked the door as he tried to break into the house.

Alex turned on the intercom to try to calm the crazed Alpha. “John, the police are on their way. Please tell me what you want. I’ll help you.”

“Your daughter has ruined my life!” John bellowed. “She’s always in my way, and Victor has the leadership position that should be mine. I’m here to demand he fight me according to the old laws.”

Alex turned off the intercom. “He is out of his mind. There is nothing I can do to help him.”

“He must be stopped before he gets inside the house and harms the woman,” Victor declared.

“He can’t get through the front doors,” Alex argued. “The police will take care of him when they arrive.”

Something heavy crashed against the front doors. The wood began to splinter.

“He has an ax!” Benson exclaimed.

We hurried to the screen and watched John continue to attack the mansion’s front entrance.

“Daisy, go upstairs,” Victor ordered. “John will be inside the house soon.”

“I’m not leaving my loved ones to face a maniac with an ax!” I declared. “Don’t ask me to do that.”

“You’re right,” Victor agreed. “I’ll accept his challenge. He wants me dead and the leadership position. Then let him fight me for it.”

I clutched Victor’s arm. “No! He’s crazy and evil. You can’t go out there and fight him.”

“I must, sweetheart,” Victor said. “He made a direct challenge. He intends to harm my mate, kill me, and take the position. My pride and ancient werewolf tradition demand I accept the challenge and fight him.”

I threw myself into Victor’s arms. “I’ll go with you.”

Alex gently pulled me away from my mate. “No, Daisy. You can’t go out there. Victor must do this himself, or his honor and reputation will be destroyed.”

“Better he damage his reputation than lose his life!” I cried and pulled away. “Victor, don’t do this,” I begged.

John was crazy. He would kill him. I couldn’t lose Victor to a madman and an ancient tradition. Nobody has fought for the leadership of the Association for centuries.

There were now better ways to determine who would lead us than physical combat to the death.

Victor put a finger under my chin and forced me to look into his eyes. “I must do battle with John. But I won’t lose, my beloved. I will return to your arms soon.”

Tears filled my eyes, and I nodded. There was no choice. Victor must fight John, or John could insist the council remove Victor from power.

Alex turned on the intercom. “Put the ax behind the garage, and Victor will come out to fight you. You know the rules of battle prohibit the use of weapons.”

“Is he ready to die,” John taunted. “The leadership will be mine, and I’ll do whatever I wish. The world will be mine! Maybe I’ll take your daughter for my sex slave.”

Victor growled and started to unlock the door.

“No, Victor!” Alex shouted. “He wants you to rush out there so he can cut you down with the ax.”

“He will never touch Daisy,” Victor vowed. But I knew that if he lost, I, like everyone else in our society, would be at John’s mercy.

Alex returned to the intercom. “Surrender the ax, and Victor will come out to fight you. The rules of battle must be followed. I claim the role of adjudicate. My butler, Benson, will be the witness.”

Cassidy ran across the foyer, and Benson explained what was happening to her.

“I’ll stay with Daisy.” She held out a hand to me. “Everything will be okay.”

I put my arms around Victor and received another kiss. “I’ll see you after the battle, darling.” I tried to smile. “I know you will win. But I wish you didn’t have to do this.”

“There is too much at stake,” he reminded me. “I must fight.”

“I know.” I kissed him again. “I’ll await your return with Cassidy. We will celebrate your victory with a party this evening.”

Victor smiled and brushed a finger over my cheek. “That sounds like fun.”

“John tossed the ax behind the garage,” Alex reported. “He is ready for battle.”

“So am I,” Victor declared. He looked into my eyes once more and turned toward the door.

“Close and lock the door behind us,” Alex instructed Cassidy. “Don’t open it until I tell you.”

Cassidy nodded, and Benson and Alex preceded Victor out the door.

Cassidy locked the door while I hurried to the security screen to watch what was happening outside. I watched John walking toward Victor. He no longer held the ax in his hands.

John stopped ten feet from where Victor waited for him.

“No weapons of any kind are permitted in battle,” Alex reminded them. “But the participants can battle in human or wolf form. The battle is to the death, or the combatant can show mercy and be declared the winner by me.”

John and Victor nodded.

“Let the battle commence,” Alex declared.

“There will be no mercy,” John declared. “Only Victor’s death will satisfy me.”

“Stop bragging and fight,” Victor told him. “Or are you a coward who only fights with females?”

“How dare you talk to me like that, you arrogant pup!” John roared. He shifted, destroying his clothing, and advanced on Victor, snarling with rage.

Victor followed his lead and shifted in a cloud of pieces of material. His dark black wolf was slightly larger than John’s. It growled menacingly at John’s brown wolf tinged with silver, and the two lupines began to circle each other.

Both wolves opened their mouths wide, baring their long, sharp teeth as they growled. The fur on their backs stood on end as each looked for an opening to attack.

John grew impatient and lunged at Victor’s throat. He missed, giving Victor an opening.

Victor took it. He sidestepped and turned, grabbing John’s left back leg in his powerful jaws and biting down hard. I heard the crunch through the intercom and cheered.

John yipped in pain, but he swung around and snarled savagely before trying to charge again.

But he was injured and off balance. Victor easily avoided his jaws, and John earned a bite to his flanks that scored his hide and drew blood.

John’s wolf went crazy with anger. The demented creature howled its frustration and pawed at the ground. He was beyond thinking …beyond reason.

Victor stayed back and watched his opponent pace in a half circle. Injured, John was even more dangerous, and Victor had to remain on guard to avoid being hurt or worse.

He knew John wouldn’t hesitate to kill him if he was given the chance.

But John’s hatred and frustration made him desperate and careless. His wolf pretended to turn away and then lunged. It was the wolf equivalent of a sucker punch.

But Victor saw how the other wolf’s muscles tightened and anticipated the attack. As John rushed him, Victor rolled away and swung around, grabbing John’s other back leg. The bones crushed in Victor’s jaws, making the leg useless.

John used his front legs to drag himself away from Victor before raising his nose to the sky and letting out a mournful howl. He could no longer maneuver to fight. Victor could kill him easily.

It was over.

Victor shifted human and walked to Alex. “I cannot kill a helpless opponent,” he said. “And I will not kill when there is no need for it. Let the police take him away to pay for his crimes.”

“Your mercy, even for the likes of John Cameron, proves you deserve to be the leader of The Association,” Alex said. “The people will know you are an honorable Alpha.”

I smiled at Alex’s words and was relieved the fight was over. Victor was an honorable Alpha. He was born to be the leader.

“Daisy, look,” Cassidy said. “What is John doing?”

Returning my gaze to the screen, I saw what she meant and yelled into the intercom, “Victor, look out behind you!”

But it was too late. John’s wolf had crawled close enough to attack Victor’s vulnerable human back.

They fell to the ground together and rolled.