Vivian Arend - Wolf Flight

“Yes. Erik will stay with her and Missy until this is over. They’re both safe for now.” Keil straightened, looming large and dangerous. He made the Whistler’s Beta look weak and pathetic.

Tad felt it again, a transfer of information to him from another wolf. Emotions rolled through his brain—his Alpha’s desire to take over, his deep frustration—Tad swore softly. It wasn’t just Missy he could read, he knew what Keil wanted as well. Holy shit, he was an Omega. He skimmed through the layers of information quickly until he understood enough to reassure his brother-in-law. “It’s going to be all right. You’ve done everything possible. I know you’d take my place if you could, but that’s not allowed.”

Keil stepped back a pace. He shook his head at Tad in disbelief. “Shit, so you really are an Omega as well?”

Tad nodded. “Seems that way. What’s the deal?”

“Doug wants Missy, so he has to fight the actual battle. He’s able to shift as often as he wants. He’s Alpha for a strong pack, he’ll be a strong wolf. Don’t underestimate him. You two are alone in the arena until one is defeated. Winner gets Missy.”

“No weapons are allowed,” Heath whined. “I want to check you.”

Keil glared at him. “We’d better pull Doug’s teeth and claws, hadn’t we? To make the contest more even?”

Heath shrugged. “Tad is welcome to bite and scratch all he wants to win the fight.”

Tad stood silently while Heath patted him down. It made Tad’s skin crawl. He wished he could fart at will like TJ, just to wipe the smirk off the asshole’s face for a minute. He turned to Keil. “She’s my mate. I can win this, I’m sure of it.”

The tall stranger made a choking sound. “You’re very confident. Shall we get ready? The challenge is to the death.”

Tad got in Heath’s face. “Really? Because I like ‘to the pain’ so much better, you know, from The Princess Bride ? Death is short, but ugly lasts forever. Oops, you already knew that, didn’t you?”

He turned his back on the two of them and swung his arms in a majestic manner toward the house. Okay, the whole situation had gotten a little out of hand and he’d like a bit of backup. Maybe what Tad had in mind wasn’t strictly kosher but he’d use it only if absolutely necessary. A fight to the death against a man who’d killed his own brother? Tad needed to know that in the end Missy would be safe. As much as it made his stomach churn, he would ensure Doug either gave up or didn’t leave the arena alive.

“What are you doing?” Keil asked.

“Communing with the spirits. You see as an Omega…” he glanced over his shoulder at Heath to make sure his words impacted, “…as an Omega, both Missy and I have the ability to use not only our skills, but the skills of the wolves who have fought here before.”

Bullshit. He had a degree in it and right now it better work. He moved his arms with great care, praying Robyn was watching his “communing”. Come on, Robyn, pass on the message to your mate.

Keil jerked beside him. Tad was careful not to look at his brother-in-law as he finished up his “magic waving”. Heath had edged away from Tad a step or two. Good. Fear might help keep Tad alive and he really, really wanted to stay alive.

Another figure stalked naked toward them across the snowy February ground. Tad still couldn’t get used to the way wolves let it all hang out, although this guy didn’t seem to have much to hang.

Tad grinned up at the house. “Missy, can I call your brother-in-law a wiener?”

“You want to take this a little more seriously, love?”

“Cocktail size, I’m guessing.”

“Tad, please…”

Keil and Heath stood between the two, forcing Doug and Tad to face each other across a distance of ten feet. Keil nodded to Tad once, then spoke to Heath. “I want to observe from the ground in wolf. You may join me.”

Hell, yes, Keil had gotten the message. Now came the hard part, convincing the Beta to agree. Tad was sure it wasn’t proper etiquette.

“A little encouragement right now, Missy, if you please. Heath needs to say yes.” Tad concentrated on making sure positive, peaceful feelings emanated from himself and Keil. Nothing tricky happening here, la-di-dah.

Heath nodded, and the two of them stepped aside to strip off their clothes. Tad couldn’t help noticing Keil was far more impressive nude than either of the Whistler wolves.

And wasn’t that just not what he wanted to notice right now.

“You got an issue I need to know about?” Missy’s thoughts laughed at him.

“Just tell my sister she’s a brave woman.”

“Bad boy. Please be careful, Tad. I love you so much.”

He took note of where the men left the arena to be sure his backup plan was in place before facing Doug. There was still time for one last chance at solving things in a civilized manner. Tad held out his hand.

“Hi. I’m Tad. I understand we’re kind of related since Missy and I mated—”

Doug growled and bared his teeth. His canines extended past his lips.

“You sure you want to do this? I mean, both Missy and I are Omegas and—”

“You’re a fool. You have no idea how to use your skills, which is why I’m going to kill you now. You’ve spent so much of your life as a human and an unwanted half-blood, you have no idea of the power of a full-blood Alpha. You’re even too sensitive to fuck a woman who is already mated. Oh yes, I know all about you. I looked into what kind—”

Tad socked him. Hard. Twice.

Someday the bad guys would realize monologues were a bad thing.

While Doug staggered back, Tad ripped off his coat and tied it in a quick knot. There were no other weapons at hand and when Doug shifted he wanted something to beat the shit out of the beast.

Tad wasn’t inexperienced in fisticuffs. He had fought training bouts with his pack mates for the last two years. He was smaller than a lot of other wolves and knowing how to defend himself in a quick and vicious manner had stopped some of the in-pack ranking fights. He had also trained with some excellent Arctic games competitors. He just needed the opportunity to put that training into effect.

Doug came at him, swinging hard. He appeared soft but the danger in him rolled off in waves, his evil driving him hard. Tad was smaller and quick, and he dodged most of the blows, but enough landed that he knew he would be black and blue when it was all over.

As long as he wasn’t dead.

There was no sense of time as the fight continued. Under the glaring lights there were only swinging shadows and pain. Tad dodged another murderous attack from his opponent, dancing away from all but a few strikes. Inevitably his body protested more and more. Blood clung to his lips and his legs grew weary.

“You’re slowing down. No one is coming to save you,” Doug taunted. He wasn’t without his bruises and cuts, and he seemed surprised by the furiousness of Tad’s counterattack.

Tad waited on the ground where he’d fallen after the last bone-crunching blow. The snow was kind of soft and gentle on his aching limbs, and it was nice to rest for a moment.

Besides, Doug needed to take one more step. Tad arranged his hands carefully, bending one leg under him and keeping the other loose and ready.

Then, glory be, Doug not only swaggered forward, he leaned over Tad to gloat. “You really are pathetic—”

Tad kicked him. He used the Alaskan High Kick method, pressing down into the ground with his extended arm while he forced his free foot up as hard and as fast as he could. Tad drilled the bastard right smack in the middle of his face. Okay, Tad cheated a little by not hanging on to one foot, but he figured the boys at the gym would forgive him for the slight error in technique.