Royal Shifters Series

Book 4: Faith

Tate attacked first, and he didn’t stop with just one punch. I thought they would shift into their wolves, but they didn’t. This is personal. Anson is strong, and he matches Tate with every single blow. They look like a blur in the ring, the sound of fists pounding flesh. I thought watching wolves tear each other apart was worse, but I was wrong. It breaks my heart to see two men who were like brothers battle it out to the death.

“This is going to be a long fight,” Micah whispers. “Tate’s going to want to punish him.”

Swallowing hard, I nod. “I know.”

The smell of blood permeates the air, both Anson’s and Tate’s. Anson kicks Tate in the shin, and he goes down for only a split second. Anson uses that advantage and slices his claws across Tate’s back, blood pouring like rivers down his skin.

Tia squeezes my hand and averts her gaze away from the ring. “I thought I could stomach this. It’s worse than all the others.”

I have no doubt Tate will win, but it’s the emotional aspect of the fight that’s mentally draining. In Tate’s mind, he knows what he has to do, but his heart isn’t in it. The wound from a betrayal that deep will leave a scar that nothing can heal.

The world moves in slow motion as I watch Tate and Anson fight to the death. Tate’s claws slice through Anson’s stomach, but both keep fighting as if they aren’t bleeding out all over the mat. Tate never flinches in pain; he just keeps striking as if nothing’s amiss. My breaths are all I can hear. I look around at Killian and his men all cheering like animals. What kind of world revels in this kind of madness? There’s only one word to describe it … hell.

In Tate’s mind, I can feel his need for revenge. Both men fall to the mat, grappling around in their blood. It goes on for what feels like an eternity, and all I want is for it to be over. Tate gets the advantage and climbs on top of Anson with his arms around his neck.

“I hope it was worth it,” Tate growls. “You lost.”

Anson’s face turns red, and his eyes blaze. His body shimmers on the verge of shifting, but Tate digs his claws into Anson’s neck just like I did. However, this time, Tate rips him apart. Thunderous roars echo all around us, but Tate doesn’t revel in it; he just killed his best friend.

Closing my eyes, I push into his mind. “You did what you had to do.”

Covered in blood, Tate slowly stands, and his claws retract back into his hands. He looks over at me with pain-filled eyes. “I’m starting to think I never knew him.”

Roman unlocks the cage, and two of Killian’s men climb inside to take away Anson’s mangled body. Tate watches them, his face emotionless as he steps out of the ring and looks down at the blood covering his skin. Roman joins him and motions for him to go to the back. Tate glances over at me before disappearing around the corner.

“I’m going to get cleaned up. Send Micah and Colin back.”

“Okay,” I murmur.

I nudge Micah in the side, and he already knows what to do. He and Colin disappear to the back, and I stay with Tia. “Is he okay?” she asks.

“He will be.”

Killian comes over with a big wolfish grin on his face. “That was a fascinating fight. Very entertaining.”

It gets harder and harder to pretend to be amenable around him. Especially knowing he plans to hinder me and mate with me on the full moon. I guess he thinks I’d wake up the next morning and accept him as my mate. The problem is that I wouldn’t be able to kill him if Tia’s still linked to him. I’d be a prisoner for the rest of my life.

“I wouldn’t call it entertaining,” I grumble. “It was a tragedy.”

Killian shrugs, not caring in the least. “Are you going to talk to Grayson about going home?”

I nod. “I am, but I don’t think he’ll believe me if I tell him you have honorable intentions about letting me go.”

His smile fades. “That’s a shame. I’d hate for you to lose a friend.”

A few minutes later, Tate, Micah, and Colin appear from the back and walk toward us. Micah smiles at me, and I already know it’s really Tate. I open my arms for Tate, and Micah hugs me. “You owe me big time for this.”

“I know,” I whisper. I stand back and plaster on a smile. “You fought well.”

Killian comes over and pats him on the back. “Good job, Grayson. I’m impressed.”

It’s interesting seeing Micah as Tate. “Thanks,” he says, his voice sounding bored.

Killian points over at me. “Faith has something she’d like to talk to you about. I’ll give you some time alone.”

Once he’s gone, Micah stares at me through Tate’s eyes and pretends to be curious. Both he and Tate already know what Killian wants. He wants Tate to go home. With Killian close by, I know he can hear us. I go through the spiel, and the outcome is exactly as I thought it would be. Tate’s going to stay.

I glance back at Killian and shake my head. Killian comes over and shakes who he thinks is Tate’s hand. “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Micah smirks. “Yes, you will.”

Killian snaps a finger, and Roman comes over with Barrett. “My men will take you back now.”

Micah turns to me, and I hug him again. “I’ll see you soon.” He is right. I’m going to owe him big time after all of this is over. The problem is that nothing can measure up to everything he’s done for me. We watch him leave with Roman and Barrett, and it makes me nervous to see him go. I have this fear that I’ll never see him again.

“You will,” Tate says. He stands close to me, and everyone assumes he’s Micah as we walk out. “This will all be over tomorrow.”

It all seems like the perfect plan. We’ll complete the bond at sunset, and he’ll defeat Killian because the link to Tia will break. Unfortunately, there’s a dreadful feeling in my gut that says it won’t be so easy.