Panic and confusion rang out behind Justice, his pack concerned about Wick having to fight a shifter. It was common knowledge that shifters were stronger than vampires. Justice growled, ready to tear her throat out, but Wick stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. He turned to look back at Wick and saw his beast lurking close to the surface.

“I can end this. I’m here to protect them too, remember,” Wick said gently.

There wasn’t an ounce of fear or unease. No. Like always. His mate was fully composed and aware of who he truly was.

Justice’s family hurried forward.

“No fucking way,” Farica growled. She was no longer the peacekeeper, but the alpha she was born to be. “Justice, you can’t fight his challenger, but you can choose a champion for him. I will fight for Wick. Let me tear that ugly heffa’s head off.”

“No. I am his Captain and interim Lord Protector. I will fight her, and I will win,” Ramon said, his fangs showing with each word he hissed.

Wick looked at Ramon. “If she shifts, you can’t beat her. Stay close to Henry.”

“Wick, please let me do—”

“I already gave you my order, Captain,” Wick said, eyeing Ramon boldly. The vampire nodded his head, his disappointment radiating off him, but he obeyed.

“Justice.” Farica prepared to ask again, but Wick stopped her, too.

“Go back and stand with your pack. I’m going to be just fine, Farica.” Wick gently patted her on the cheek. “I promise you.”

Justice looked at his mate. He’d never heard him use the word promise before. It meant something to them, to their family. They kept their promises. Farica’s eyes were brimming with angry tears because she was far from sad or scared. Obeying, she moved to stand with the other pack members.

Justice stepped back and fell in line with his brothers. They were all watching with fascination… knowing who was about to show up. He put his arm around his baby sister, keeping her assured with his own peace.

Wick stood several feet away; his hands were steepled in front of his stomach as he addressed everyone that stood behind the untrue alpha. He was speaking to all the men of Mikel’s pack and his own as well, his mate’s voice was assertive. “I accept the challenge under a few conditions.”

“Speak them.” She bared her long canines.

“After I win you and your mate will both submit to mine and surrender peacefully. You will also accept whatever discipline he deems fair and just,” Wick said just as calmly as if he were amongst friends discussing the weather and not in front of a venomous shifter, dying to claw him to pieces.

She laughed a witch’s cackle. “Sure. Whatever.”

Wick smirked and stepped back, removing his coat. Henry flashed forward and retrieved Wick’s jacket, pants and shoes. When he stood in nothing but his black wife-beater and a pair of black boxer briefs, he turned Henry around and made sure he was back behind Ramon before he moved into a makeshift circle that the pack had already begun to form.

Justice felt the fear and dread rolling off Mikel’s pack. They were terrified. For him and Wick. They’d just met, and his mate was already winning over the shifters, they liked him and believed he was good for their alpha. He wished he could soothe them, but nothing he pushed towards them would make them feel good about the alpha-mate fighting another shifter.

The rebel alpha massaged his mate’s shoulders while she shook out her arms, like this was a pay-per-view fight. Her confidence was clear, if not by her posturing, then the smug-ass grin was a dead giveaway.

Wick stepped forward and waved his hand at her to indicate that he was ready.

She grinned evilly, circling around to the right, her hands outstretched, two-inch dirty brown claws flexed dangerously with each of her cautious steps. Justice could tell she was a fighter. Maybe even taught by her own mate… so was his.

She swiped once at Wick, and he dodged it easily. She tried a combo next, swinging at Wick’s throat, following it immediately with a strike towards his stomach. Wick used his flash speed, appearing behind her; he reared up and kicked her hard in her back, sending her flying across the ground, skidding to a stop a few feet from her mate.

The man showed Wick a nice pair of canines. Wick flicked him off and called back out to her. “You going to give me a challenge, bitch, or not?”

Mac’s laugh was heard clear up the mountain.

She stood up and screamed, banshee-like and shifted into a sandy brown wolf. Another round of gasps, shrieks, and concerned cries were made by Mikel’s pack. Her big mate reared back and laughed like the battle was won. Justice could still feel Wick was unruffled and had a firm handle on his beast. The big she-alpha used every intimidating trick a wolf had to make its opponent back down and submit. Wick watched her like a person watched a golf tournament. Bored and completely unaffected. When her final growl fell short, she crouched and flattened her ears to her head. Like a rabid animal, she charged at his mate ready to do some damage. Right as she lunged, a violent boom resounded, sending everyone ducking except Justice and his three brothers. Even the traitorous alpha was crouched down, looking up at the sky for an answer.

Farica’s wild scream brought everyone’s eyes back to the ground. Back to the massive white and black striped tiger towering over the Amazonian woman. Wick shook out his fur and stalked forward until he was practically standing on top of her, death glaring at her through ice blue eyes. He ducked his huge head, putting his dark black nose close to hers. Wick let go a roar that quaked the ground and shook the leaves in the trees. A paralyzing thunder. A debilitating sound, meant to level his enemy.

The alpha-bitch whined and pissed herself as she scurried on her belly, trying to get back to her mate. Wick growled and clamped his jaw over the back of her neck. She howled loudly, crying out to her partner, but even he was crippled with fear. He stood worthlessly and watched as Wick forced his mate into submission. He gave her a weak shake, that was still enough to send her flinging about like a ragdoll. When Wick released her, she rolled over on her back, keeping her eyes safely away from Wick’s glacial blue ones. Curling in on herself, she tucked her tail between her legs and whined for mercy.

Justice stepped forward, addressing the rebel alpha and the rest of his frightened pack. “Is there anyone else that wishes to challenge my mate?!” Justice yelled out.

No one stepped forward, the rest of the rebellion ducking down and submitting to Wick as he haunted the edges of the circle. His floating shoulders making his gait look terrifying, like he was ready to leap and ambush at any time.

Justice heard them before he saw the continuous line of black sedans driving up the long winding road. The lead car had to curve around the house and back up to the tree line to make enough room for them all to park.

Wick shifted and walked back over to Justice. He didn’t stop until he was in his arms. Touching their foreheads together, Justice held the back of Wick’s neck, rubbing his thick thumb over his mark. “I’ve never been prouder in my life.”

Justice held Wick while Mikel’s enforcers rounded up the rebel pack to get them isolated and in restraints so they couldn’t shift and take off.

“We still have to get rid of the headquarters or else they’ll just find some more shifters to buy and corrupt. I’m sorry you had to lose so many, Justice.” Wick tried to comfort him and he appreciated it. “My soldiers will get it done for you.”

Justice watched the shifters cower and whimper as they were herded in a single file line to the far eastern section of the land where Mikel kept his isolation rooms. It was devastating for Justice and his wolf to have to discipline them so harshly, but it was for the best.

The field was just about clear and more of Mikel’s pack were being let back out of their homes. The lead car’s driver side door opened and a man dressed in a classic black suit – Justice wondered if it was some type of uniform – nodded respectfully at Wick and opened the rear passenger door.

The driver stood tall and bellowed in a dramatic English accent. “The Lord High! Belleron Liatos.”

“He always did love to make a grand entrance,” Wick murmured, chuckling lightly.

“That he has,” Henry agreed, quickly helping Wick back into his clothes now that the women and some of the older pups were back out.

Justice couldn’t take his eyes off the theatrical arrival. All he saw was a shiny, silver-tipped black shoe touch the ground right before the Lord High emerged. He commanded attention; there was no doubt about it. He had strong features, sharp cheeks, a Roman nose and eyes the color of slate. He was pale, but not as light as most vampires. His hair was what made many of the girls sigh with amazement… and appreciation. A waist-length, full, jet-black mane with a stark silver streak along the right side.

He moved like he walked on water. Smooth and flowing with one hand tucked in his pocket and the other swinging coolly at his side. His hair blew behind him with the breeze one second, only to fall perfectly into place the next.

As if it’d been rehearsed a million times, all the doors to the remaining vehicles opened and the vampires – each dressed impeccably despite having just flown transatlantic – got out and fell in seamless rows behind the ninety-nine-year-old vampire they called… Belleron.

As he approached, Wick’s smile got brighter and so did his friend’s. Sparkling white teeth that caught the flickers of the torches the closer he got. The others stopped a few feet from them but Belleron didn’t until he was cradled tightly in Wick’s arms.

He pulled back, looking deeply into Wick’s eyes. “I knew your beast would be incomparable, your majesty,” he said in a tranquil voice, void of any accent.

“Brown nosing so soon.” Wick beamed.

Belleron carefully touched Wick’s cheek on the side opposite of that which held Justice’s mark. Wick grabbed him and pulled him back to him, rubbing him comfortingly on his back. Justice remembered that Wick’s best friend was the only one he’d confided in about the mysterious being inside him. He was Wick’s second and most trusted. Justice had no reason to be jealous of him. The man had years to have put the moves on Wick. So the warning growl that pierced the air had Justice just as confused as the others.

Everyone turned to face him since it was his true mate in the arms of another. Justice heard Mac call out to Alek but it was too late. His brother barged past him and yanked the longhaired vampire out of Wick’s arms. Captain Ramon moved to intercede but Belleron waved him off, staring Alek in his eyes.

“What the heck is he doing?” Justice asked Mac.

“Hell if I know,” Mac answered.

Alek was so close he could have flicked his tongue out and brushed the vampire’s cheek as he inhaled him everywhere. Shit, they were all intrigued by their new guests but Alek was taking it to a whole other level. Justice stepped forward, but it was too late. Without any kind of introduction or courting, his brother licked Belleron’s neck, just above his collarbone, then sank his canines in deep.

“Fuck!” Mac yelled as they raced to pull Alek off.

Belleron had a vise grip on Alek’s broad shoulders. A furious hiss could be heard through the vampire’s fangs, like he was angry, but his head was tilted, baring his throat… taking the claiming.

“Let him go!” Justice hollered, pushing enough energy at his brother to break his mate-craze.

Alek stumbled back until he bumped into Justice. He looked so disordered and ashamed that it broke Justice’s heart. “Alek, inside, now.”

Without another look at Belleron – Henry now held a cloth to his neck – Alek walked away.