A wolf ran from the trees a distance from where Bine and Anton still stood. I didn’t take my eyes from the fight. However, from my peripheral, I recognized Grey.
Thomas shook his head, maintaining his hold and knocking the other wolf off balance as Grey raced across the clearing. The second wolf noticed Grey, too, and hesitated. He turned sideways to watch Grey’s progress and the fight.
Halfway across the clearing, Grey shifted. I, at first, thought he meant to join the fight. Instead, Grey stopped just in front of me, shielding me. Gregory tried to nudge me to the door, but I tapped him on the nose in annoyance, and he didn’t try again.
Seeing that Grey and Gregory had no intention of interfering, the second wolf launched himself at Thomas, trying to clamp down on his neck. Thomas twisted, keeping himself free while continuing to subdue the first challenger.
I didn’t see how two to one fighting was a valid challenge for leadership. What kind of leader would the pack have if he needed help to fight his battles? The thought stopped me. A leader shouldn’t jeopardize his people when he wasn’t willing to jeopardize himself. But a good leader would accept help when needed, too. Whether Thomas asked or not, he needed help.
I watched Thomas finally let loose of his hold on the first challenger. The wolf’s muzzle bled profusely, but he paid it little attention. Instead, he worked with the other challenger to circle Thomas. They managed to maneuver until one stood before Thomas and the other at Thomas’ hind leg. The one at Thomas’ back coiled, ready to spring.
“Can’t either of you take Thomas on your own?” I asked, loudly. The second wolf hesitated to attack again. “If not, what kind of leaders will you make?” A snarl arose from those in Thomas’ pack. “I think you’ll find yourselves challenged by others in his pack.” I gently lay a hand on the backs of both Gregory and Grey. “You’re both attacking him at the same time because you know he’s special. He has the loyalty of his pack and even if you defeat him, what will you have gained? Gregory will Claim Mary in an instant to protect her, and they will leave, as will the rest. You’ll be the leader of nothing.”
The one hesitating growled at me. I didn’t stop speaking, though.
“If you want to be part of something great, then stop fighting. Concede to Thomas and join his pack. Don’t try to lead it. You were never meant to.”
A group of men stepped from the trees, distracting me from the fight. I recognized the man who strode ahead of the rest. He’d been the one who’d attacked me several days before...the man who’d pushed me to the ground and scraped my face.
“It is our right and our way to challenge for control,” he said, anger lacing his words. “You have no right here. After Thomas finishes with these two, I challenge for pack leadership and rights to this land and these buildings.”
That the group had remained close was concerning. That they’d chosen to challenge Thomas immediately after he finished his current one concerned me even more. Thomas obviously fought well, but for how long? He would tire eventually.
The two wolves attacking him seemed to think the same thing. They both launched at Thomas. Snarls and growls filled the air again as Thomas twisted to avoid teeth and claws and feinted to try to score either of the pair. One got lucky and raked Thomas’ head. His ear bled.
Thomas jumped, landed on the back of the one with the torn muzzle, and used his back legs to tangle with his opponent’s. The move brought the wolf down and exposed its throat. Thomas dove for the opening, and a gurgle cut off the wolf’s startled yelp before I could look away. The focus cost Thomas, though.
The second wolf sprang forward just as Thomas lifted his head, exposing his own throat. I gasped. Thomas twisted, looking away from the attacker. Teeth tore the side of his neck instead of his throat.
Thomas pushed backward into his attacker. The challenger lost his footing and fell onto his back. The fight ended for him just as quickly and in the same manner as his partner.
I lifted my hand from Gregory’s back and wiped the wet hair from my face. Thomas stood over the second wolf, head down, and chest heaving. The two fallen wolves were slowly reverting to their human forms.
The man who’d issued the last challenge stepped forward, obviously ready to begin.
“Stop,” I said.
The man turned to me with thunder in his eyes. “Do not interfere.”
“Two of your kind just died. Allow a few minutes for those who might know them to remove them and grieve. That’s not interference. It’s respect for your own people.”
He snarled at me but nodded. A few men stepped forward and walked to the fallen pair.