The Reluctant Alpha (West Coast Wolves #1) - Susi Hawke Page 0,40

by an alpha known for fighting dirty. While I wasn't enthused about killing his father in front of him, I couldn't deny Elisha the right to bear witness.

I still wanted to fight him on it until Tucker took me aside, after he'd walked into the kitchen and felt the tension in the room. Once Tucker gently reminded me how devastated Elisha would be if the worst happened, it took no more than a few seconds for me to agree.

Not merely his reminder, but I'd made my own backup plan with Tucker. While they wouldn't share a true mate bond, if Monty beat me, Tucker would jump in and immediately challenge Monty on the spot in order to save Elisha from the same fate he'd faced nine short days ago. And the pup as well.

With Elisha standing there visibly pregnant, Ash would have no reason to refuse a challenge to save him. And even better, Monty would be worn out from the fight and easier to kill. My backup plan hadn’t thrilled Elisha, but he'd given me his word to choose life and allow Tucker to claim him.

I might've used the pup to plead my case, but he'd only agreed because he had every faith I would walk away the winner today. And I shared his certainty. Mostly. As my grandma liked to say, the only certain things in life were death and taxes. So while I was betting on me, I wasn't ignoring the other possible outcome.

But right here and now, with the sunshine on my face, the wind at my back, and the powerful Harley engine between my legs—I was liking my chances. I might have had ninety-nine problems, but fear wasn't one. Letting go of the handlebars, I held my arms straight out and let my wolf come forward enough to howl, riding between two rows of delta wolves at parade stance.

As we drew close to the large crowd of people waiting around the fighting ring, the other guys receded. I gripped my handlebars again and revved my engine before swerving to a stop, bringing my bike sideways with a flurry of pure desert dust. Alpha Whitetail caught a face full, which was a pleasant bonus.

I was off the bike with my helmet and gloves removed before Monty could make his way over. I was never letting him have the upper hand, even if it was merely perception. As he stalked toward me with an ugly look on his face like he smelled something bad, I sized him up, standing my ground.

I'd seen him in passing when I was a kid, and my memory hadn't been wrong. A head shorter than me and with far less bulk, he was one of those scrawny types who made up for physical lacking with pure meanness. Still, I wouldn't count him out. While on the smaller side, he gave the impression of sinewy muscles and tightly coiled strength. He might not have been the biggest alpha on the block, but he would strike like a cobra if given a chance.

I'd gone shirtless under my leather cut, putting my tattooed arms and bulging biceps on display when I crossed my arms over my chest. My WCW members walked up behind me, but I kept my attention focused on Monty. Despite the crowd of witnesses, I knew better than to look away. A shiv to the gut would save time in the ring. At least, most men like him would think so.

He walked so close we were nearly toe to toe, looking up at me with the ease of a lifetime of being a shorter alpha. "So you're Bob Longclaw's kid, huh? You look different than I remember. But I guess you would, wouldn't you? Probably don't like folks remembering you as the scared, sniveling pup hiding in his daddy's shadow. At least your uncle had the balls to look your father in the eye when he challenged him for the pack."

"Horace didn't have to concern himself with saving the Alpha Mate's life. He saw a pack he wanted and took it. I chose to save a life and accept the pack along with it. As for looking you in the eye, I'm here now, and I'm definitely looking. Not for nothing, but you seem like the kind of narcissistic prick who would leave his own son to die after killing his mate."

Monty spat a foul wad of tobacco on the ground. "Sucker deserved killing. Thieving bastard took my property. If the fool