The Alpha's Mistake

Chapter 9

Laughing, Alpha Archer said, "I accept your challenge. After I deal with this garbage."

"Larry, make the announcement." Alaric demanded.

Attention everyone. Alaric has issued a challenge to Alpha Archer for Phantom Moon Pack. Details to follow. Larry reluctantly sent out the member wide status. His eyes never left Archer.

"Once a challenge is accepted, the current Alpha isn't allowed to make any decisions or take any actions in regards to the pack. If you do anything, you automatically forfeit, marking yourself a coward." Alaric practically saw the steam come from his father's head. "Thank you for calling Larry here to be a witness to my challenge and your acceptance of it."

Backed into a corner of his own making, Archer debated internally on his options. "We fight in one hour."

"No. It's the challenger who gets to pick when and where. Tomorrow morning at eight, meet me in the training grounds. Now get out of my face." He snarled.

Glancing at his incompetent beta, Archer stormed out. If he didn't honor the terms, other Alphas would come after him. A cowardly wolf is no Alpha. It wasn't worth risking everything to get rid of her now. Besides, her condition looked very bad, she probably won't last long. Checking his watch, he has about fifteen hours to prepare. He would emerge victorious, then make sure she died.

Heaving a breath, Alaric turned back to his mate. "You've got to come back to me, Heidi. I'm fighting for both of us." He held her hand and sat down by her side.

Can you find Violet and bring her with you? Alaric linked Todd.

Sure, we'll be there soon.

Attention everyone, the fight to the death will start at eight tomorrow morning at the training grounds. Larry gave the instructions.

Alaric rested his head against her arm, the tingles from the mate bond calming him down.
A knock on the door didn't make him move. "Come in." He knew who it was by the smell.

"How is she?" Todd asked.

"No change." After a few minutes of silence, Alaric said. "You aren't going to call me foolish?"

"Nope, when I left, I thought a challenge might be your only option. What do you want me to do?"

"I need food and another bed brought in here." He closed his eyes, drawing strength from the bond.

"Violet, please go to the kitchen. Give this list of meals and drinks to Bea. Tell her it's for Alaric." She nodded.

"You already wrote up a list?"

"I started it as soon as I went to your room. I figured he'd either step down or you'd challenge him." Todd left to track down Doc for a bed.

An hour later, Alaric finished his meal and laid next to Heidi, being careful not to press on her injuries. He sent a message to his friends Steve and Chuck.

Come to the hospital room number one hundred five.

"That's some messed up shit. He couldn't just hand the title over?" Steve remarked, talking about Archer once he arrived.

"He threatened my mate." Alaric growled.

Steve and Chuck glanced at the girl with tubes and wires running everywhere. "What do you need?" Chuck was the first to speak.

"I need to rest until four. I want two of you on guard at all times. The other one is to sleep. When I leave for the fight, I need all three of you here to protect her. I don't trust anyone else, especially Larry and Frank. I expect them to cause trouble when I finish Archer. Understood?"

"Yes, Alpha." The three males said as one, already knowing who would win.

"What about me?" Violet hesitated, asking.

"When I'm not here, I want you to be with her. In case she wakes up, there's someone she knows and can trust. You claimed never to hurt her."

"I swear I didn't. I gave her stuff when I could."

"For now, that's good enough. Let us be, I'll call when I need you." Alaric closed his eyes again, hoping to get a few hours' rest. Pushing all the worries aside, he focused on what the future would look like. Heidi smiling at him with love in her eyes.

Right on time, Todd woke him up and brought his breakfast. Shortly after, Doc came in to check on Heidi and Alaric.

"Pardon my frankness, but have you accepted her as your mate?" At the blank stare, he elaborated. "I know you haven't marked each other. Did you tell her you accepted her and the bond?"

Remembering that he started to reject her, he shook his head. "She's in a coma. What difference could it make now?"

Doc shrugged. "Maybe nothing. But I don't think it'd cause harm." He hesitated.

"What?" Alaric ground out.

"You could mark her."

"Without her consent?" He didn't even think to do that.

"I understand how important it is for both wolves to approve, but she's unable at this time. Confirming your bond should also help her heal. I'm very concerned that the swelling hasn't gone down. It hasn't increased, which is good. Most wolves would be back to normal size by now."

"What kind of impact would marking her now have on his fight in a couple of hours?" Todd asked.

"Hm, I don't really know. Sometimes marking takes a toll and sometimes not."

"I refuse to take that chance. I'm going for a run. I'll be back in sixty." Shifting into Atlas, they ran the perimeter of the territory.

Keep focused. Don't let him get in your head.

You remember that. You know he'll drag Heidi into it. Atlas growled. See? You have to keep your anger in check. Lashing out will get us killed. He's good at mind games. We've been training for this moment for years.

It was ironic that we were sent to Night Wind. Alpha Zane knocked us on our ass.

Then he showed us how to properly prepare for fights. I'm ready to take Archer down.

Let's go see our mate.

Two hours until the fight, Alaric stepped into her room. "Leave us." Nurses and his friends scurried out.

Taking her hand in his, he studied her bruised face. "I'm sorry about everything. I've been a fool. I'm begging you to forgive me." Leaning down to kiss her forehead, he whispered against her skin. "I accept you as my mate. Today, tomorrow, and always. You're mine, and I'm yours. As the Moon Goddess for my witness, I accept our bond and will fight to the death to protect you."