Chapter 67
The growl vibrating from Logan’s throat is deep, dangerous, and confident. It’s like a storm building behind his pale, lee–blue eyes. It sobers me up a Title, makes my eyes widen since I finally realize what I’m doing.
I will challenge and fight my former Alpha and childhood friend, Logan always hung out with Joakim and me. We used to arrive at school in the same car.
Now that friend is my enemy. His large white wolf form paces in the snow with power in every move of his shoulder muscles, his claws slicing the frost on the ground. He’s not just here to win. He’s here to humiliate me.
my life.
yet when I did it, I was punished.
But l’os not the same woll he threw into that dungeon. He told me to protect Eden with my
Thaven’t forgotten that.
Eden stands between us, those different–colored eyes glowing with inner fire. Her voice is strady, even when the cold air bites into her cheeks. “This duel is witnessed by the Valentine pack and my pack. It is fought for the Alpha seat and my champion, Axel Henriksson.”
Logan’s white wolf snarls. The elders surrounding us all nod their heads. Marcus and Yang are watching closely, and I don’t miss the way Paris clutches Logan’s shirt from where she stands behind him in her human form, flanked by Hilda and my twin brother Joakim
Eden looks at me and nods once.
Inod back
It begins.
Logan lunges first.
He’s fast, a blur of white fur and snapping jaws. I duck, sidestep, then turn to meet him head–on. Our bodies collide with a thunderous CRACK that sends a shockwave through the field. The pack around us gasps, some stumbling back. Logan goes for my throat immediately, but I twist, claws raking his shoulder. Blood splatters across the snow
y back. He crashes
Logen roars and barrels into me, sending us both skidding. My paws dig into the frozen earth. I use his momentum to flip him over my b into a tree, snow raining down over his pelt.
Paris screams, “Logan!”
But the white wolf is already back on his feet.
He charges.
mess. We’re not just wolves. We’re beasts bred for
This time, I meet him with a full–body tackle, and our claws and teeth clash in a brutal, bloody mess. W
violence. For dominance.
Blood drips Into my eye. I don’t know whose it is.
Logan bites my shoulder. I howl.
Idig my claws into his ribs. He yelps.
We rip into each other again and again, a ballet of violence under the full moon, Eden watches, trembling, her hands clenched. I can feel her panic through the pack link, and it keeps me grounded
I need to win this for her.
Buti need to put in more work
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Chapter 67
Logan is strong. His hits are precise. Calculated. He nearly takes me down twice. Orice when he slams into my side and breaks two ribs. Once when he hooks his teeth into my hind leg and pulls Pain explodes down my spine. I stagger.
But don‘
Not when Eden’s life, her future and her mate is on the line.
Logan circles me now, breathing heavy. His white fur is soaked in crimson. Mine isn’t much better. The snow under our paws is stained red
bunge again
This time aim for Logan’s flank, dragging him down into the snow. We roll, snailing. He manages to knock me back and tries to go for my throat again. I slam my head against his snout. There’s a sickening crack. Blond pours from his nose.
Still he comes.
We clash again. He snaps his jaws around my neck, net deep enough to fear but hard enough to make stars burst behind my eyes. I thrash and slam him to the ground, panting, bleeding, bones screaming,
He is me. I flip him back
The pack roars with excitement, fear, awe. No one expected me to last this long. Not against their Alpha.
Then he gets the upper hand. Logan, with a furious growl, pins me. His langs hover above my throat. I feel his breath. Hot. H
My vision blurs. My strength is draining. My body sags under the weight of his jaws.
And then… Isee her.
.Heavy.
Eder. Not as she is now, but a memory. We’re in the cottage in the magical realm. She’s stroking my fur, her fingers warm and gentle.
ys to the sound of cracking fire in the hearth. “This is Ariel’s cottage. Logan can’t hurt you here. He can’t find us. You’re free, Avel.”
“You’re safe,” she says to
The scent of cotton candy. Her laugh. Her trust.
My heart lurches.
Topen my eyes
Then Eden’s real voice cuts through everything, through the blizzard of pain and rage.
“Don’t give up. Please, Axel You promised.”
My wolf howls inside me. My Alpha’s voice lights a fire in my chest, in my veins. I find something buried beneath the agony, Primal Mine
With a roar that splits the air, I surge up and throw Logan off me. He stumbles. I chase.
Itackle him mid–air and slam him down. My teeth snap inches from his throat. I claw at his shoulder, his ribs. I strike until he doesn’t rise.
I plant a pawon his chest Logan wheezes beneath me.
And then there’s the final blow of me baring my teeth and howling up at the sky.
The Alpha is beaten.
Logan turns his head and exposes his throat
Silence falls.
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Chapter 67
The pack stares in disbelief.
Paris gasps.
Hilda takes a step back.
Joakim ispale
The bloodied snow glows red under the moonlight.
Eden approaches slowly. Her eyes glisten. Not just from pride, but disbelief.
The elders speak.
“Challenge accepted. Victory won. Eden is now the Valentine Pack’s new Alpha.”
The world breathes.
Pans screams
Yang bows her head.
Ishift back. Bloody Bare, Broken, But alive. Stronger.
My eyes find Eden’s.
She smiles.
“You did it.”
I grin. “We did.”
Eden comes up to me, her hand held out to shake my hand, but I just lift an eyebrow before lunging for her. She squeals when I pick her up and spin her around. The crowd shifts around us. Wolves either bow or slink away, I catch Logan standing up and staring at Eden. Still watching. Still wanting the girl he can’t have.
But I don’t mind him. There’s work to do, like planning on how we’re going to save Azriel
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