Chapter Nineteen
It was child’s play getting Zane all riled up. And once Seth called him out on being a coward, he knew there was no way the alpha was backing down from the fight.
They stood opposite each other and Zane raised his fists, sharp eyes looking Seth up and down and finding him wanting. Seth played it loose and easy, shrugging his shoulders, rotating his neck, making it look like he wasn’t too bothered, and this was just another day for him.
He half-heartedly lifted his hands… and Zane was on him, just like that. Seth dodged the first punch to his head but not Zane’s left hook to his stomach.
He grunted and doubled over, shuffling backward. Listening out, he couldn’t hear any noise in the distance. He needed to buy them more time. Zane came at him again and Seth was ready for him this time, dodging both punches and getting in a glancing blow to Zane’s chin. He wasn’t expecting Zane to step sideways and forward, his leg kicking backward, slamming into the back of Seth’s legs and sending him to his knees. Seth went on the attack, pushing Zane back as the alpha tried to dodge Seth’s furious volley of punches.
Seth feinted back as Zane pushed forward.
“This is fun, huh? Haven’t had a good fight in ages, not since Hunter was exiled.”
“Save your breath, Seth. You’ll be having your last words soon enough. And I’ll have the last word.”
Zane got in another punch to Seth’s stomach, and Seth leaned over, gasping.
“We could have been friends, you and I,” Seth quipped. “You know, if you weren’t an evil psychopath intent on world domination.”
Zane advanced and Seth dropped and rolled, kicking out and sending Zane sprawling onto the floor. He stood up and backed off, checking his surroundings. Zane’s people ringed the arena, watching and cheering him on. There was no hint of the chaos they’d need to break out of this place. If either of them finished the fight now, Zane would still win.
“There are other options you know. And help out there for people like you. Have you considered financial domination? I hear that’s quite lucrative.”
Zane growled and rushed him, grabbing him around the waist and throwing them both to the floor. Seth landed on his back, Zane on top of him.
“Oh, buddy, I think you’ve maybe read a little too much into things. I’m not interested in you in that way. Flattered but…”
“Shut up!” Zane yelled, raining down blows on Seth’s head. Seth used his whole body as leverage, rolling them both up and over and getting to his feet. Beyond Zane’s yelling, beyond the crowd's cheers, he could hear other noise. Sounds of fighting, growls, roars and noises that weren’t human. It was showtime.
“You know, I couldn’t understand it, Zane. Why this mate? Why lock him in a lighthouse far away like he’s fricking Rapunzel? Especially when it was clear you didn’t actually give a damn about Dara himself. That’s the difference between you and me. You wanted him for what he could give to you. I want him for how he makes me feel.”
Zane growled and shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
In the distance, heads were turning, looking outward, and a few people pulled away from the crowd to see what was going on.
“What if I do?” Seth asked. “What if I know exactly what I’m talking about? Because Dara gave me what he would never give to you.”
Zane’s eyes flashed with understanding and fury, and he turned to look at Dara. The omega stared back at him, his gaze unwavering.
“I’m going to wring your neck,” he yelled, racing toward Dara.
Seth gave in to the anger bubbling away under his skin, gave in to the beast inside him that begged for freedom to deal with the monster, the threat to his mate.
He shifted, his change coming over him in a split second, leaving him racing across the arena on four paws and taking Zane down feet from Dara. Hunter had already moved to shield Dara and Lucas, shifting into his bear form and roaring. The wolves nearby scattered, yelling and screaming. The screaming only got louder as more shifters poured into the arena, led by a striped tiger that Seth guessed was Max.
Zane fought to get to his feet, taking in the chaos around him. He scrambled away on hands and knees across the floor, desperate to reach one of the spears tossed aside by a fleeing wolf. Seth got there before he did, snapping the spear easily between his teeth and tossing it away. He growled softly as Zane turned onto his back. Even on the cusp of defeat, Zane didn’t give up, aiming a kick at Seth’s throat. Seth aimed his teeth at Zane’s throat in return and seconds later it was all over.
Some of the wolves, on seeing Zane was dead, tried to flee. Others banded together, intent on fighting. Seth hadn’t planned for a massacre, just an escape. He ran quickly to check on Dara and Lucas, taking out any wolf in his path. Dara had shifted into a cat-like creature, like a small striped tiger, and seemed intent on protecting Lucas. Before Seth could get to them, he heard a familiar voice shout and found Axel pinned down, clearly injured. With a growl, he leaped into action, easily fighting off the human wolves who’d surrounded him. Axel got to his feet with difficulty, Dara rushing over to help, before Seth began leading their group to the door.
All around them was chaos. Some of the freed shifters seemed intent on revenging themselves against their captors, others had clearly come to help at Max’s request and were now following him out. There was a path cleared to the exit already, the doors thrown open. Ahead, shifters and human wolves alike were running in all directions. There was a hawk flying high in the sky, the remnants of a chain around one talon.
Once they were a little way away from the arena, Seth shifted back. A second later, he had an armful of Lucas, his brother hugging him tightly.
“I knew you’d come. I told Zane, I told him he’d regret messing with the Cove.”
“Zane has no time for regrets, not anymore,” Max said calmly. “But we’re not out of danger. Dara said you have vehicles? We should hurry.”
Lucas had sprained his ankle at some point during the fighting and fleeing, so Seth lifted him onto his shoulders.
“You’re never too big for this,” he said when Lucas grumbled. Axel was also struggling to stay on his feet, so Hunter and Max went either side of him, supporting his weight.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Seth said to Dara, giving the omega a smile. “We’ll follow you.”
He wanted Dara in front of him, where he could see him, where he knew he’d be safe.