Chapter 61
Ethan
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Leaving Fiona was more difficult than I thought. I had to force myself not to look back when I left my house because those sad eyes would’ve convinced me to stay. It’s something I couldn’t do even if I wanted to stay with her
“Because she’s our mate, my wolf points out.
“No. I’ve just grown used to her being around, that’s all,” I deny, but deep down, I feel the pull. The Der between us growi stronger with each passing day. The awareness of a connection tying us together that’s deeper than anything I could’ve ever created.
It was simply always there. Now, it’s just too solid to disregard.
I’ve tried to ignore it, telling myself it’s just a physical reaction to the increase amount of sex we’ve been having. My body is just reacting to her, and my wolf is desperate to have a mate.
Shaking my head, I turn down the last road toward the training ground I had Ryan find for me. I couldn’t focus on training and preparing for the fight with Fiona around because I’ll need to shift. I haven’t shifted in a while, not having many places to run or roam as a wolf in the city. The last time was weeks ago when I was home.
Not being able to shift is one of the hardest parts of living in the East. The lack of forest and all the humans make it incredibly difficult to let our animals free from fear of being caught. Shifting in the open is not a problem in the West due to the population being nearly all Lycan.
The few humans that live in the West have knowledge of the Lycan population. They’re vetted and are sworn to secrecy by the council.
It’s the only way they can live in the West.
“In two miles you will reach your destination,” the GPS lady says just before my phone rings through the Bluetooth system When I notice my father’s name on the screen, I groan. There’s a fine line between calling my father and getting a call from my father.
Answering the call, I clear my throat and speak. “Good morning, father.”
“Ethan Montgomery, what is this I hear about a duel with the eldest son of Alpha Moore?” He demands. “You know better than to jeopardize everything we’ve been working for on such a trivial matter like a duel”
“A trivial matter?” I growl “This is a direct challenge, father. Would you have ignored a direct challenge from Alpha Moore if he’d set one?”
The mere fact that he mentioned not accepting the challenge is ridiculous. The act of challenging another Lycan has been an important aspect of our culture for hundreds of years. There are usually official rules and regulations for challenges, and the locations are usually in the West on the neutral lands between packs.
Here, it will be less formal.
“That is not the point, Ethan,” my father says. I scoff.
“You would have never let a challenge go unanswered,” I answer for him, and I’m right. He was challenged three times as an Alpha Twice when Alphas from other packs wanted to take over the Silverclaw pack, and once when a rogue Beta tried to fight for his position
All three fights were immediately accepted after being issued
“A small fight like this does not matter,” he tries to argue again.
20:05 Tue, 15 Apr –
Chapter 61
“This may be a small fight to you father, but this is just as important as any other challenge. The Bluemoon pack has been out to get us for years now. This may not be Alpha Moore challenging me, but it is his heir,” I state, parking at my destination. If he doesn’t understand this, then I don’t know why he called, “I will not give up on this challenge.”
“Jameson Moore is a foolish kid, Ethan. This challenge is not worth your time or energy.”
I growl at his words, feeling the anger shift within me. My wolf growls at the challenge from my own father, but all he sees in a wolf disrespecting their Alpha. He may have been the former Alpha, but he is no longer in charge.
It doesn’t matter if Jameson Moore is young. I will not reject a formal challenge.
“The Bluemoon Pack has been trying to undermine us multiple times before, and this is no different. They went after one of my people, so this challenge, whether it was given by the Alpha or not, will happen.”
I stabilize my tone with the Alpha command, letting every bit of it turn my voice into cold, hard steel.
My father’s responding growl sets my wolf on edge, but it lacks the anger and fight that was there a moment ago. An Alpha tone can command any pack member, no matter if they’re the former Alpha or a lower–level member like an Omega. No one is exempt from their Alpha’s commands.
Not even my father.
“You need to be thinking of the Lycan King title,” he says in a less abrasive tone now. “If this challenge is unsanctioned by his Alpha. Jameson Moore could not only be in trouble, but you could be also.”
Did he think I was stupid?
Everything he says is condescending, making me feel like he doesn’t believe in me. When I was a kid, he groomed me to be the perfect Alpha and the next Lycan King, and while he still wants that, he no longer sees me as the perfect son. That title quickly fell to my younger brother when he was born.
“I am aware.” I grind my teeth with the words and take a deep breath.
“Then why are you jeopardizing your chances?”
I roll my eyes. If the Council cared about a single challenge, they would’ve made it harder for challenges to be scheduled.
“If this challenge is as small and pointless as you think, it will not be a detriment to my campaign,” I tell him, growing more annoyed with his persistence. “I also believe the Lycan Kingdom would not want to have a King who ignored the harming of innocents whether they are human or Lycan. With this challenge, I not only seek to protect innocent people, but I fight to prove to the Bluemoon Pack that they cannot do whatever they please. If that is not something you can understand, then this conversation is over.”
Hanging up, I cut the car’s engine, grab my bag, and climb out. I have nothing further to say to my father, so I shut my phone off.
“I’m shutting my phone off. If you need me, mind link,” I tell Ryan through the pack link even as I shut the line between me and my father.
“Of course. I’ll let you know if anything happens or if Fiona tries to contact you”
The mention of Fiona makes my heart flip, but I shove the feeling away. I can’t have any distractions right now. I have one thing I need to focus on and that is my fight with Jameson. Letting my focus become blurred or split could be detrimental to
winning
“If my father tries to contact you, do not inention where I am,” I tell Ryan, If he knows, he may try to send someone to stop. the fight even though outside forces other than the Council are not to meddle in challenges
“Understood, Alpha
Chapter 61
With my focused renewed, I head into the training grounds to prepare for my challenge.
