A Tainted Love

Chapter Nineteen

Amos's POV

"Are you sure you can win, sir?" Derrick asked me. I turned to look at him sharply. Derrick seemed to realize what he had just said, for he tried to backtrack. "I'm not saying that I don't have faith in you, I'm just wondering if maybe you wanted me to cheat. I could run real quickly and put something in his drink, make him weaker."

I thought about it for a moment. Did I want to cheat? It would definitely make me the winner, and I would get Hannah. That seemed to make it clearer for me. I didn't want to lose Hannah. She was so innocent and I was her first. I wanted to be her only one, and needed to win in order to do that.

"Run," I commanded. He nodded once before going to do what I wished. I walked to the center of town where I howled, calling all the members of my pack to the center.

Once everyone arrived, I looked around. I waited a moment for it to grow silent before beginning my speech. "I called you here to tell you that I have been challenged." I was interrupted by a chorus of voices.

"…would do that?"

"…strong enough to win?"

"Does this have to do with those strangers?" This voice was the loudest and it came from my beta.

"Yes, it does have to do with those strangers. They think that they can come in here and take away my mate. I have accepted the challenge of their alpha and will be battling him shortly. The conditions are that if I win, I get to keep the girl and that they will leave. If he wins, Lily will take over the pack and he will take Hannah. I don't want to hear anything more about the matter. Those are the conditions and I plan on keeping them.

"I know most of you think that Lily is that great of a leader, but she will do fine with you guys by her side and leading her. She will choose her beta and will lead this pack. This is not likely to happen though, because I plan on winning." I smirked and looked over at my sister.

"You are dismissed." I said to everyone, but motioned her over.

"Why are you doing this?" she hissed at me. "Why can't you just give Hannah up? You know there is another way and this way you won't have to die." She looked about to cry.

"Do you doubt me so much sister?" I asked her. She shook her head.

"I don't' know what to think. I want Hannah happy because she's my friend, but you're my brother and I don't want to lose you. Please just reconsider the challenge." She begged me. I shook my head.

"If I back away from this challenge now then I will look like a coward," I said, noticing Derrick stalking toward me. He looked smug. "I will win this challenge for you sis, and I will let you pick a mate. This mate can be anyone in our pack, but must remain in our pack." I looked to see how she would react.

"I would rather go mate-less if it meant that you would still be alive. I don't' want you fighting this fight. You cannot win when Garret wants her so bad. You may be bigger than him, but he is quicker and smarter at fighting. He would have had you beat if we hadn't distracted him by beating on the door. Please reconsider this," she begged me once more.

"No, I will not back down. Do not ask me again or you will anger me." I turn to Derrick just as he reaches us.

"It's done," he answers my unspoken question. I nod at him and begin to move toward the place where the fight would be taking place.

Garret's POV

I drank the water that Bridget handed me. It tasted somewhat different, but I thought it was just where I was used to creek water. I was ready to fight, but I wasn't to my full advantage. I tried to draw strength, but I kept picturing Hannah's eyes in my head.