The Alpha’s Bullied Mate (Bluebell Valley Wolves #1)

Chapter 28 - Hayden

Monroe’s claws raked across Hayden’s flank, ripping out chunks of fur. Hayden twisted, clamping his jaws down on Monroe’s shoulder. They spun in a circle, Monroe seeming to try to rip himself free. The sun beat down on them, baking the smell of sweat and blood into their fur. Hayden’s mouth tasted ashy, but his mind was filled with Mica.

Pain shot through his spine as Monroe twisted, flinging Hayden off in the dirt. The Alpha jumped at him, teeth bloodied and snapping. Hayden rolled away and kicked out his back legs at the same time. Monroe easily sidestepped the blow. His tongue lolled out, his eyes dancing with mirth as Hayden staggered back to his feet.

His fur stood on end as they circled each other, heads low. Growls and howls of encouragement rang in Hayden’s ears. He recognized each of the voices. He only wished there was one more—Mica’s.

Funny how he was glad she wasn’t here to start with, but as the fight dragged on, he only wanted her to call his name. Visions filled his mind of her smile, the feel of her body, the softness with which she touched him. The way she stood tall and proud against unyielding odds.

He had to win this fight, for her.

A resounding gong rang across the challenge grounds. Hayden snarled under his breath, not falling out of his defensive posture. Monroe eyed him a moment before backing off a step. Hayden shook his ruff, padding sideways back to his side. The demon actually winked at him before turning his back to him. Hayden didn’t show his back as he made his way back to his team.

A low growl lingered in his chest as he came to a stop just outside the challenge lines. Traditionally, these fights would end only when one of the challengers fled or died. But Monroe had worked in these ‘breaks’ into the fighting. Apparently, it was something that human groups were trying to implement into shifter fights, to allow the chance for dialogue.

Something about less deaths. As though humans can understand these things! Even Mica, who was raised among shifters, couldn’t understand these things.

He shifted to human form and accepted a bottle of water from Finn. As he stood with his back toward the demons, Hayden let out a soft growl. Adrenaline still pumped through him but this brief respite made his exhaustion rear its head. He’d been going hard at Monroe for longer than he cared to admit. And the demon didn’t seem to be showing any signs of tiring out.

Fuck! Had he underestimated his foe?

No. No! He was not going to start thinking that way. It was why Monroe insisted on having these ‘rest’ periods. To make Hayden doubt himself. It was all a mindfuck, and he wasn’t going to fall for it.

“I fucking hope you left before shifting back to human form,” Hayden snarled at Finn. “The last thing we need—”

“I know,” Finn interrupted. “And yes, I did. I grabbed some salves for your injuries.”

“I don’t need it.”

Finn’s red hair ruffled in the breeze. “I didn’t say you did. I used it as an excuse. And if Monroe is trying to wear you out, let’s make him think it’s working. I can apply the salves; he’ll mock you and get cocky. But it’s as much of a ploy as these breaks are.”

Hayden narrowed his eyes at the other wolf. It sounded reasonable when he said it that way, but that didn’t mean Finn was telling the truth. But he grunted and nodded his assent. As Finn started to apply the salve to Hayden’s bleeding injuries, the initial sting was soon replaced by an easing of the pain.

Laughter came from across the challenge grounds, but Hayden ignored Monroe’s taunts. He had gotten in some good blows himself, and Monroe would also be bleeding.

Monroe liked to dance around before rushing in. Hayden closed his eyes, planning out this next bout of fighting. It may be helpful to feign weakness at that. Keep himself still and stand his ground rather than try to get the upper hand. Let Monroe tire himself out more. The demon might be invulnerable, but it was still using a mortal host.

Just how far could that body be pushed before it just gave up?

“Hayden, the demons—” Finn started but fell silent when Hayden lifted his hands.

“After,” Hayden murmured. “Right now, I need to focus on the fight.”

Finn looked troubled but nodded once. He silently finished applying the salve to Hayden’s visual injuries, then put the bottle away.

“Ready to admit defeat?” Monroe taunted from across the challenge grounds. “I’ll be merciful to your followers if you do. I’ll let them stay and earn back my favor. You, though, and your little team will be exiled on pain of death. Your mate, too.”

Hayden ignored him. It was more for the sake of the pack than him, anyway. He closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of the field. There was a curious mix of fresh-turned earth on the breeze. He’d noticed it before, and from the rest of the pack, he learned that Monroe was doing some sort of construction project on the Alpha’s house.

Not that it mattered. It was just one more distraction.

Sweat trickled down his back. The heat of the sun was starting to become unbearable with all the effort he was expanding. He dumped the rest of the water over his head and shook himself off. Overwhelming? Ha! He’d been in worse fights than this. There was that one time a few years back when he and his men were surrounded by dozens of the beast-demons. That was a worse fight than this.

Another deep pull of air into his lungs, and Hayden released the pain. It was impossible to disconnect entirely from his body at this moment, the way he’d been trained to withstand torture. But he could disconnect from the pain, the heaviness of his limbs.

“Are you ready to fight?” Monroe called again. “Or do you need more time?”

His side of the pack all let out mocking yips and yowls. Hayden rolled his eyes. Right, because he was the one who called for these rests in the first place. The demon was going to have to do better than that to get under his skin. He straightened and turned back around, sauntering into the challenge ring.

Monroe stayed out for a moment. Spencer, just as naked as the two dueling Alphas, stood nearby. The look of hateful derision he gave Hayden said it all. Even though Monroe would be defeated here, he wasn’t going to ever accept Hayden as his Alpha.

No matter. Once this challenge was over and Monroe was dead, Hayden would accept Spencer’s challenge that was no doubt coming. He’d have a month to heal before fighting Spencer, and by then, the demons of the Bluebell Valley would be eradicated.

Hayden let out a breath and released the worries of his future. There would be time to deal with that once Monroe was dead.

The demon-possessed Alpha finally stirred. He strode out into the challenge grounds, his eyes flashing red in the sunlight.

“Let’s get this over with,” Monroe murmured. “I’m so very tired of you messing up my plans.”

“Good.” Hayden shifted to his wolf form.

Monroe snorted and took his wolf as well. They circled one another as Hayden drew on his strength. When Monroe feinted to his right, he stood his ground. Monroe jumped in wide circles, leaving himself open to attack; all traps, so Hayden held himself still. A low growl escaped the other wolf, and he charged.

Hayden sidestepped. He turned on a dime and smashed his shoulder into Monroe as he skidded past. With a quick bite, he caught hold of Monroe’s tail and dragged him back. A sharp snap sang through the air and Monroe let out a howl of pain as his tail went limp.

A fierce snarl rose from Monroe’s chest. He whipped around, snapping at Hayden’s flank. Hayden jumped aside, but Monroe kept coming. He used his body to ram Hayden, knocking him off his feet. Hayden snapped his jaws around Monroe’s throat, but the other wolf shook him off. Blood sprayed into the dirt, but Monroe didn’t seem to notice.

His eyes had gone flat red. There was no sign of pupil in them as he came at Hayden again.

Fuck!

Hayden scrambled to his feet and worked to put distance between himself and Monroe. Monroe kept coming at him. Tendrils of a red haze started to seep from his open wounds. Hayden’s heart slammed into his ribs as he ducked beneath an attack, then leaped onto Monroe’s back. He tore at the other wolf’s neck to no effect.

He’d never seen this before.

Was it a mistake to challenge the demon in a singular challenge like this? What the fuck was going on? Had the aura-demon possessed Monroe long enough that it was able to make itself known to even those without demon-sight?

Fuck!

It was a mistake, boy, a voice reverberated in his head. Though I admit, I like your tenacity. You have strength. Too bad you’re limited by the flesh you were born to.

He needed to hold out until the next break. Was this what Finn had been trying to warn him about?

Finn? Ahh, I see, Monroe’s voice chuckled in his head.

Hayden snarled. He clamped his jaws over the demon’s ear and shook his body. The skin tore beneath his fangs, but the demon showed no sign of feeling the pain.

Half demon, isn’t he? I wondered which one of you could see us. And now you’ve told me which one it is yourself.

How was Monroe talking in his head like this? This was a more powerful demon than he’d faced before.

That’s right, I am. I’m more powerful than you can possibly imagine, boy. So why don’t you just give up?

Monroe bit down hard on his shoulder. Pain ripped through Hayden’s body as teeth met bone. But rather than following up on his advantage, he released Hayden and backed away. His tongue lolled from his mouth, clearly amused and enjoying the fight.

Hayden shook off the pain, whipping to face the demon again. So what if he was more powerful than originally thought? His host body was bleeding out. It wouldn’t last long, and then the demon would be sucked back to hell.

So clever, the demon crooned. Perhaps I’ll give that cleverness a place in my court. Stand down. Swear fealty to me, and I’ll let you live.

Not a fucking chance! Hayden howled as he tore into Monroe again. Monroe tore into him as well. And all the while, the demon continued to laugh in his head.