Chapter 53: Alpha Does Not Like That

Maverick Emberclaw inhaled like a man loading a weapon.

"My wolf caught her scent when she was cloaked in the arena. Before I saw her hologram and face, I had already approached Alpha Starborne with an offer for her. Make no mistake. I didn’t need any wolf of light at this fire to tell me who she was."

Maverick tipped his chin at his sister in the Thunderfang section, who stood red-eyed with the Thunderfang Beta’s arm locked around her waist like a veto. She was Emberclaw by blood and Thunderfang by fate and their Beta looked one twitch away from throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her out of this clearing before the situation caught fire.

"I asked my sister to stay behind in case 7709 made it past eliminations," Maverick continued. "My sister was rightfully worried about that idea because her wolf burns everything it touches. I told her it wouldn’t and she took me at my word. Credit where it is due for that leap of faith."

The torches around him flared red like they’d been waiting for the cue. The Emberclaw pack did not react. But the rest of the clearing had a collective oh damn.

"My house flame does not discriminate who it burns. The only exceptions are fated mates and blood. My sister figured that out a few minutes ago when her flame surfaced and it did not burn the Thunderfang Beta. She has been staring a hole through the back of my skull ever since."

A low chuckle rippled through the crowd.

"Even if 7709’s wolf is gone, mine is alive. Mine chose her. I chose her. I am standing in the rain, in front of every Alpha I will ever negotiate with for the rest of my life, telling them my weakness. That is how certain I am."

He turned to Starborne.

"This is not strategic. You want leverage, Starborne? You have it. Use it. I am not asking you as an Alpha. I am asking as a man. Name a price for her. Whatever it is, I will pay it before the fire goes cold and the Emberclaw pack will stand behind yours as an ally for as long as I am breathing."

Rain ran down his face and he didn’t wipe it because wiping it would mean letting go of her and that wasn’t happening.

"Let the ceremony continue. I’ll take 7709 to the Emberclaw section while your daughter gets her mate. She’s been waiting long enough and I want to respect that. Everyone leaves this clearing tonight with more than they came with."

Starborne stood in the silence like a man who owned it, leaving only the sound of rain and the campfire crackle.

Nova’s eyes burned. She blinked hard and fast because she was absolutely, categorically, under no circumstances going to cry right now. Was she expecting any of that? No. Did she believe all of that? Yes. Was that probably naive? Yes. But all of her instincts screamed to believe this man and she was going to listen to them.

Alpha Starborne stood there looking calm as a corpse, face so neutral it could’ve been a tax form, which for him meant he was not pissed that his asset was getting more expensive by the second.

"I am not agreeing to any sale on sacred ground," he stated. "But for the sake of my daughter, I am taking the offer into consideration. Emberclaw, take her to your section. She is still my property and will be returned. But I will not have her disrupting Celeste’s moment."

Maverick didn’t wait for a second invitation. He scooped Nova off the ground with one arm under her knees and the other across her back, and walked her towards the Emberclaw section. Nova’s eyes shut and her body folded against his chest, trying to breathe because her insides were searing with pain again.

"GRRRRR."

A growling sound came from behind them, wolves beneath human ribs. Maverick did not react, already halfway back to the Emberclaw section.

The growling stopped. What replaced it was worse, which was two Thunderfang brothers standing perfectly still in the rain.

"Enjoy the walk, Emberclaw. It’s the last one you’re taking with her," Derek called lightly before turning to Landon, who looked like an Alpha who’d heard the word no and was not coping well with the experience.

"Murder. I hear you. Very tempting." Derek clapped a hand on Landon’s shoulder. "I’d offer you my emotional support flask but the umbrella elder stole it. Well, I gave it to him. Well, it was his. The point is I don’t have it and neither do you. Back to Thunderfang-land, big guy. Before your face gets stuck like that."

Landon turned without a word and walked back to his section with his suit glowing.

On the other side of the clearing, Maverick reached his pack. The surrounding torches doubled in height, flaring red and white in tandem, the fire recognizing its Alpha and the woman with him the way a house recognizes the sound of a key in its lock.

Nova opened her eyes. Noticed the torches. Didn’t think twice of it because the fire had been doing stuff all night. The pain had faded so she shifted out of his arms to stand, which he initially respected. Then he un-respected it, pulled her back into his chest with both arms, and declared the matter settled by force of hug.

It was so fast she wasn’t entirely sure it had happened until she registered the chest behind her and the arms around her and the man attached to both staring at the fire like he’d been standing there the whole time.

She looked up at him and opened her mouth. No words came. This was unexpected. But then again, so was everything else this evening. But it didn’t bother her. Just a surprise. It was kind of nice, actually. He was very warm. She was cold. It was a backwards hug that did make her feel better, even if she didn’t know the man doing it. She allowed herself to settle against him a little more.

CRACK.

Lightning split the sky directly overhead. The thunder followed so fast that the sound and the light were married, and the force of it rattled the torches and shook rain out of the canopy in sheets. Nova flinched against Maverick’s chest.