Liv swallowed against the rising bile. She couldn’t believe she accepted Kristi’s challenge. On Liv’s best day, Kristi outranked her in every way. More power, strength, stamina, and endurance. There wasn’t a chance in hell of beating her, but Liv meant every word she said to Lawson.

If she wanted to be a part of his life, she would have to stake her claim and earn her place among the shifters. It was the only way she would truly have their respect.

“Good. We’ll fight tomorrow night, as well,” Kristi announced and smiled at Liv. It was cold and malevolent, and Liv’s heart skipped a beat as she had a moment’s pause.

She recalled her conversation with Lawson about challenges. This was a fight to the death. Her heart hammered against her chest as she thought about what that meant. Suddenly, Liv could barely breathe as dizziness assailed, and she thought she might faint.

“Wait!” Lawson interrupted. “As Alpha, I have the right to make a proclamation,” he continued. That got Liv’s attention. Maybe he knew a way out of this mess.

“And what’s that?” Kristi said as she walked over and stood in front of Lawson.

Her breasts bobbed as she strutted over and Liv wanted to yank every blonde strand from her head. Liv loathed the woman and everything she stood for. Kristi was a manipulative, calculating attention-whore. It disgusted Liv when women had nothing more to offer a man than big boobs and loose morals. What an insult to the other female shifters Liv had met.

Kristi’s primary objective from day one was to steal Lawson away from her. And, not because she loved him. Kristi wanted an Alpha, no matter who it was. Her plan at splitting up Liv and Lawson failed, so now she wanted Tyler to lead the pack. Liv knew the woman’s pride was damaged when Lawson rejected her, but to want him dead was low, even for Kristi.

“Since this battle takes place in wolf form, and you clearly have the advantage, I think it only fair for Liv to have a weapon of her choice,” he professed.

Liv’s small amount of hope dropped into the pit of her stomach. There was no way out of this fight. To make matters worse, she was going to fight Kristi’s wolf. She completely forgot that little important detail. Their wolves were the size of small horses and were lethal killing machines. She was going to die a painful death in the clutches of Kristi’s savage animal. Liv could only pray the woman would take pity, and end her quickly.

“I second the motion,” Hannah quickly chimed in, and then several others yelled their agreement.

Kristi crossed her arms and regarded Liv, eyeing her from head to toe. Half a second later, she snarled, “Whatever. Give her two weapons, so long as it’s not a gun. She’ll never beat my wolf,” she snarled and stepped in front of Liv. “Enjoy the next twenty-four hours because they’ll be your last,” Kristi hissed then walked out of the kitchen, Tyler following behind like a pathetic puppy.

Liv wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. Her world turned upside down within a matter of minutes. A million thoughts raced through her head. Her mom, Cassie, Bart (even though he was barely speaking to her), Staci and her life’s work, her pug Milo, not to mention Lawson. How was she going to spend the next few hours? She needed to prepare for the fight of her life, and yet all she wanted to do was gather her loved ones close and tell them how much they meant to her.

“Hannah, can you show Jeremiah his room?” Lawson asked as he wrapped his arm around Liv’s waist. Could he tell she needed him to hold her up before she passed out? Was it that obvious she was terrified?

“Of course. Hi, Jeremiah. I’m Hannah,” Lawson’s sister introduced and shook Jerry’s hand. “Let’s get you settled then I’ll show you around the hotel,” Hannah added and led Jeremiah out of the kitchen.

“Come on,” Lawson ordered and pulled Liv toward the back door.

“Hey,” Knox shouted and Lawson turned as a small object flew toward his head. Liv watched him snatch it in midair.

“What’s this for?” Lawson asked, and Liv noticed it was a cell phone.

“So I can call you, asshat. Remember? You don’t have a phone,” Knox said with a shake of his head.

“Thanks, dickhead,” Lawson replied with a cocky smile.

“Where are we going?” Liv asked as he tugged on her hand again.

“Somewhere private,” Lawson stated and shut the door behind them. He hurried to a nearby four-wheeler and hopped on the seat. “Let’s go.”

Liv did as he asked and threw her leg over the seat and settled behind him. The ATV roared to life, and she clung to his waist as the vehicle charged forward. Liv leaned her head on his back, closed her eyes, and let go of the turmoil eating at her insides.

She absorbed everything about Lawson. His smell, the feel of his body, the way her heart pounded when he was close. She memorized every detail and prayed to her family and friends would forgive her because all she wanted was to spend every last minute with the man she loved.

Liv kept her eyes closed as the ATV sped through the woods. She didn’t have to see where he was taking her. She already knew. They were headed to the lake. Their special place. And, it was perfect.

Lawson pulled alongside the barn and turned off the four-wheeler. He grabbed her hand and briskly walked to the lake. It was a chilly day, but the sun was shining, which made it feel warmer than the fifty degrees outside. Of course, it could also be Liv’s racing heart, warming her body as she counted down her last hours. She visualized the sands of her life slipping through the hourglass at an alarming rate.

Liv looked around, once again taking in every detail. The barn in desperate need of painting, the sun glistening off the calm water, and the sandy beach that held so many memories of her and her shifter.

Oddly, her nerves suddenly relaxed and her breathing calmed. She was in her happy place, and that was all that mattered right now.

When they reached the water’s edge, Lawson spun around and grasped her shoulders. “Okay, here’s the deal. I was going to plan a more formal announcement, and do this a very different way…a more romantic way, but there’s no time for that. Liv, we discussed sharing my life force, and you agreed. So, let’s do it now. Right here,” he professed and wrapped his arms around her waist.

And then her calm obliterated like a tsunami crashing against land. Lawson wanted to share his life force because that would give Liv added strength. He knew she couldn’t defeat Kristi on her own.

At first, the idea seemed like it was the perfect solution, but then Liv remembered another crucial detail. Sharing his life force would weaken him. That was the whole reason they put it off to begin with. And, that was something Liv couldn’t do. He needed every ounce of power to beat Tyler, and she knew it.

“As much as I’d like to say yes, it’s not that simple,” she answered and met steel-gray eyes that melted her heart.

“No, it is that simple,” he implored. “All it requires is for me claim you in my heart, and give you my blood.”

The thought of drinking his blood turned her stomach but, more importantly, she couldn’t go through with it knowing what it would do to him. It wasn’t simple at all.

“No, baby. When we do this, it will be a ceremony that includes the people we love. This can wait,” she muttered and placed her finger over his lips when he opened his mouth to argue. “All I want right now is for you to tell me the details of what will happen tomorrow night, and then let’s discuss this weapon of mine,” she muttered then went to tiptoe and kissed him like she meant it.

As much as Lawson wanted to throttle Liv for being so fucking stubborn, he loved her even more. She could ramble on about how she wanted to wait and plan their event, but he knew how her mind worked. She didn’t want his strength depleted because of her. He also knew her well enough that he’d never convince her otherwise.

“Fine, but know that I have a backup plan,” he informed her before he described the process of challenges.

She listened intently, taking in every word. He hadn’t witnessed a battle for Alpha, but his father told the tale of his fight numerous times. When he finished his explanation, Lawson met her gaze. “Do you have any questions?”

“A couple. Which one of us goes first, or do we fight at the same time?”

“I will go first, which is where my backup plan comes in. Listen, I’m hoping that after I beat Tyler, I can convince Kristi to revoke her challenge. After all, why fight you once her Alpha is gone?”

He was counting on Kristi to back down. The idea sprang to mind the second Liv rejected his proposal of sharing his life force. It still worried him that she wouldn’t accept his blood. He knew he could handle Tyler, and Liv needed the boost of strength. Bottom line, Liv was his everything, and he’d be damned if he lost her to some fight she had no business in.

“Maybe, but don’t hold your breath. Kristi hates me, and will probably want to fight anyway. Next topic. Tell me about this weapon,” she inquired.

Lawson grabbed her hand and led her to the barn. That was the other reason he wanted to bring her to the lake. “Let me show you something,” he said as he opened the heavy door to his workshop.

They walked inside, and he shut the door behind them then walked to his latest project. “I was messing around a couple of weeks ago with some metal, not really sure what I wanted to do with it. Before long, I realized I was making these,” he shared and picked up the pointed objects.

“What are they?” Liv asked, her brows squished together.

“They’re blades. Kristi said you could have two weapons, and we’re holding her to it,” he explained as he turned the steel in his palm, showing it to her. “I haven’t made the handles yet, but that won’t take me any time. I believe these were meant for you, I just didn’t know it. Now, listen to me,” he murmured and set the metal back on the table. “There are two areas on a wolf that kill instantly. The heart and the skull. Kristi will be prepared for you to attack there, but what she won’t expect is for you to stab her in the foot. She’s got four, so the odds are in your favor of striking one of them.”

“Why would I do that if it won’t kill her?” Liv asked and looked at Lawson as if he were speaking a foreign language.

“Because, Sunshine. Wolves feet are extremely tender. If you stab her in the foot, it will hurt like a motherfucker, and she will be at a momentary disadvantage. That’s when you’ll use the other blade to strike her chest or head,” he encouraged. He hoped it didn’t come to a fight at all, but if it did, he felt this was Liv’s best chance at defeating Kristi.

“I don’t know, Lawson. What if, when it comes down to it, I freeze? I don’t have a shifter’s killer instinct,” Liv confessed, and Lawson grabbed her face between his palms, forcing her to look at him.

“Are you fucking kidding me? You are a born warrior, Liv. I’ve seen you in action. Well, I didn’t see you kill Jensen, but I heard about it from Ryan. And, Cassie boasted about how you stood your ground against the Ravin, not to mention how you protected me in the forest. You can beat her! You just need to believe in yourself,” he declared as he searched her eyes, wanting her to see what was so evident to him. That she was the bravest, most courageous female on the entire planet.

Liv smiled slightly and placed her hands on his cheeks. “Thank you. I needed to hear that. And, here I was going over my pep talk for you. I can’t lie. Yours was way more poignant,” she said with a shaky laugh.

“Oh?” he asked and raised a brow. “You think I need a pep talk?” he smirked.

“No, not really. I’m certain you’re going to win. Tyler was never meant to be Alpha because his heart is in the wrong place. You’re a good man, Lawson, and I’ve seen how much you care for this pack. You will defeat him,” she pronounced with no hint of doubt in her tone. Lawson’s heart swelled at seeing the pride in her beautiful green eyes.

“That’s a pretty good pep talk,” he admitted and winked.

“Oh, that wasn’t my pep talk. I was just going to say ‘kick that motherfucker’s ass’ as encouragement,” she quipped, and he barked out a laugh.

“I like that even more,” he said and pulled her close. “We will get through this just like we’ve gotten through every other hurdle. Together. And then, we’ll start planning our future,” Lawson proclaimed then pressed his lips to hers, kissing her with all the love he felt.

Suddenly, he felt a buzz at his hip and groaned at the untimely interruption. If he had his way, he would keep Liv in his arms forever, never letting her go. He placed one more tender kiss to her lips then reached into his pocket and pulled out Knox’s cell phone.

“What’s it say?” Liv asked as she peeked at the screen.

“He found a location in Dunlap. Fredonia Mountain,” he replied and shoved the phone back in his pocket.

“You want to help me make the handles for your blades?” he asked as reality come to the fro. There wasn’t much time left before the fight. As much as Lawson wanted to ignore what lied ahead, he needed to get Liv ready for battle.

“Actually, there’s something I need to do. Is it okay if I take the four-wheeler back to the hotel?” Liv asked, and he wondered what was going through her beautiful mind.

“Sure. I won’t be long,” he replied and cupped her face in his palms. “You won’t even have time to miss me,” he added with a smirk.

“Too late,” she muttered then wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him. It was all-consuming, almost desperate. Like she was saying goodbye.

Liv walked into their suite and flopped down on the bed. As soon as her face hit the pillow, a waterfall of tears spilled down her face. She had to be alone for a bit. Her brave façade was crumbling, and she didn’t want Lawson to witness her meltdown.

She knew she should call her mom, but what could she possibly say to help her understand. There were no words. And Cassie. She needed to let her friend know what was going on, but again, she couldn’t begin to find the words to say goodbye to those she loved.

Suddenly, an idea sparked. Liv sat up and wiped her tears then quickly reached over to the nightstand, grabbing stationary out of the drawer. She would write letters to Lawson, her mom, Cassie, Bart, and Staci. Tell them from the heart how much she loved them. It was the only thing she could do in this crazy situation.

She rummaged through the drawer and found her favorite gel pen. She held the metallic gray pen to the light and smiled. God, she was going to miss Lawson. He’d brought so much joy to her life in such a short amount of time.

A knock intruded, and Liv stood, walking to the door. She was surprised to see the hallway filled with the members of Lawson’s pack. Everyone was there. His sisters, Knox and Ashley, Devin, the Andersons, the Halls, and even Jeremiah.

“Hi. Um, what’s going on?” she inquired and then looked over her shoulder then back to the group. “I’d ask you all to come in, but I’m pretty sure we won’t fit.”

“We don’t need to come in, Liv,” Haley, one of Lawson’s sisters, replied. “We just wanted you to know that we stand behind you one thousand percent. And, we know you will be victorious tomorrow,” she added with a smile, and Liv’s heart filled to the point of bursting.

She met each of their gazes and knew they didn’t believe for one second that she’d beat Kristi, but that wasn’t important. What mattered was they cared for her and accepted her as their Alpha’s mate, regardless of the outcome. Liv was touched by their gesture and almost started bawling again.

“That means the world to me. I cannot thank you enough for what each of you has brought to my life,” she expressed then willed away the growing lump in her throat.

She would cherish this moment forever, she thought. And, then it dawned on her. Twenty hours was all that was left in her forever.