Chapter Eighteen – Tyrell

 

Tyrell woke to Cynthia’s shivers. He cracked open an eye to see her wrapped in the blanket the best she could, pressed up against him. The air was chilly, even for him, and he put his arms around her. Goosebumps rose along her arms. They would need to go back to the house soon, it seemed. Given the pale silvers coming through the cracks around the doors below them, it was daybreak. Soon it would be time for the fight.

Cynthia splayed her hand out on his chest. He smiled down at her, but it faded away as he saw the tears on her cheeks.

“Don’t fight,” she whispered.

He blinked, surprised.

Cynthia pushed herself to her elbow and shook her head. “Don’t fight today. I can’t… I can’t bear thinking of you getting hurt or worse. Not for me. Besides, you have to think of Tamara. She comes first. You’re her father, you need to be here to take care of her. I can handle myself but you have to be here for her.”

“And I will be.” He pulled her close again. “You don’t have to be afraid. I’ll be—”

“If you say fine, I’m going to slug you.” She sniffed. “We both know that it’s going to be a close fight. That Rex could really hurt you. What does he care about rules when he’s willing to challenge the alphas just to ensure that he can fight you? I’m scared that he might be just looking for an excuse to kill you without any backlash. Especially after Noel stripped him of his position and job.”

“If I don’t fight,” he said slowly, “then it will be as good as surrendering.”

“Then I’ll get it through Rex’s thick skull that it isn’t happening. Just… I don’t want you to get hurt.” Cynthia glared at him. “Please. Please.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt either,” he said.

“Please, Tyrell.” Cynthia was begging now. “Think of Tamara. How would you ever explain to her that you fought her uncle, maybe injured him?”

That thought had occurred to him as well. He had tried not to dwell on it. Now, though, he found himself unable to comfort her. Things could go wrong very quickly in the heat of battle. The alphas might not be able to get to him or to Rex in time. Tyrell hesitated a moment longer before nodding, his heart heavy. “Okay. I won’t fight. Not unless he forces me to.”

Cynthia nodded slowly. She sank back into his arms and he held her tightly. He just hoped that Rex remained honorable enough that he wouldn’t beat an opponent who refused to fight back. If Rex attacked him anyway, then he would defend himself. Whatever happened, though… today would be the end of it. Today was the day that the whole island saw that Cynthia was his mate. His alone.

 

***

 

At nine o’clock sharp, Ruby took Tamara into town while Cynthia and Tyrell waited for the alphas and Rex to arrive. Once they were there, the four alphas found an even spot that was relatively free of debris for the fight to take place. Tyrell was glad that no spectators were to watch. This was going to be hard enough without people ogling them.

“This is a proelio mortem for the hand of Cynthia Jones.” Noel frowned at the two of them. “This is not, however, to the death but the surrender. If things begin to look too bloody, my fellow alphas and I will intervene and the offending party will be fined for the next battle.”

“Wait,” Cynthia blurted out. Her eyes widened. “What do you mean, next battle?”

“If there is no clear winner today, then there will be another fight and another until there is a clear winner.”

Cynthia looked distressed, but Tyrell gave her a smile to reassure her. He wasn’t going to let it end like that. By the end of the day, Rex would know that he was beaten and he’d back off… At least, Tyrell hoped that this crazy plan that he and Cynthia had concocted would work. He released a shaky breath and turned to face Rex. The hunter sneered at him.

Noel glanced at Tyrell. “Do you have a second, in the case where you cannot fight?”

He shook his head.

“Rex? Do you have a second?”

Rex didn’t say anything, merely glaring at Tyrell. Noel waited for a beat before he stepped out of their way. He waved a hand at the two of them. “Begin.”

Rex leaped forward, swinging his arms wildly. Tyrell didn’t move, though his bear roared at him to defend himself. He braced himself for the impact when Rex’s fist connected with his face. The force of the blow threw him backward. He landed in the dirt, rolling several times as blood welled between his gums. Tyrell wiped his mouth as he staggered to his feet.

He turned back to Rex, who stared at him with wide eyes. A quick glance at Cynthia showed her clinging to Bobby, her face white as a sheet. Her mouth was open, but she didn’t say anything. Rex charged him again. Once more, Tyrell fought every instinct he had and let Rex pummel him. This time, Rex kneed him in the stomach and threw him away. Then he stopped, hands clenched, as Tyrell slowly got back to his feet.

“Fight me!” Rex snarled.

Tyrell shook his head. “I will not.”

Rex’s brow furrowed. His fists dropped. “If you won’t fight, then you surrender. Then Cynthia is mine and—”

“No.” Tyrell spat out a mouthful of blood. “I do not surrender.”

“Then fight!”

He shook his head. Rex stared at him wild-eyed. Tyrell could almost see the gears churning in his head. If his heart wasn’t pounding so fast and his lungs refusing to expand properly, this could have been funny. But it wasn’t. There was absolutely nothing funny about what was going on here. He swallowed hard as Rex started forward. He stopped, staring at Tyrell as though he was a three-headed alien.

“He has to fight!” Rex whirled to the alphas. “He has to fight or surrender. That is the rule!”

“There are no rules in a proelio mortem.” Ricky stared hard at Tyrell, as though trying to figure out what he was doing.

“He has to fight!” Rex bellowed again.

“I will not,” Tyrell repeated. “You are my daughter’s uncle. I will not fight you.”

Rex came at him, swinging a fist at his face, but when Tyrell didn’t so much as flinch, he pulled it back. Not in time to prevent the blow from cracking Tyrell’s jaw, but enough that it didn’t do any real damage. Tyrell stumbled, then straightened again. Rex retreated. Sweat beaded his brow, teeth bared in a snarl of rage and confusion.

Cynthia whimpered. Tyrell almost broke down and attacked Rex, seeing as he was getting pummeled anyway, but he stood strong. He would not fight if Cynthia didn’t want him to. He just had to wait this out, wait for Rex to see reason.

His bear snarled—if Rex attacked him again, he might not be able to hold himself back, despite his promises.

“Fight!”

“No.”

“Why?” Rex trembled now. “Why won’t you fight? What are you hoping to prove? You accepted my challenge, either fight me or surrender. Do it! DO IT!”

“No.” In contrast to Rex’s increased screaming, Tyrell kept his voice low. His jaw ached, and he had to spit out more blood, but seeing the effect that he was having on Rex heartened him. Perhaps there was a chance for this to end after all. “I won’t fight you, Rex. My mate told me she didn’t want me to fight. She didn’t want me to get hurt or killed. She didn’t want my daughter to grow up without a father. Or with a father who might have killed her uncle.”

Rex’s head swiveled and he stared at Cynthia. He licked his lips, opened his mouth, but said nothing.

Tyrell took the chance to inch his way forward. He held out a hand, to try to soothe the other bear. “I know that you’re hurting, Rex. I know that you hate me more than anything. But this isn’t the way. I know that you are still honorable enough not to attack an opponent who won’t fight back.”

Rex growled at him.

“I’m sorry, Rex. I am sorry for all the pain that you’ve been through. The pain that I have put you through. What happened with Angela was my fault. I know it. And I will always regret what I did. But Cynthia isn’t some pawn you can use for your revenge against me.”

That snapped him. Rex screamed in fury and pain, seizing Tyrell by the collar. He smashed his head against Tyrell’s, sending blinding pain through his brain. White and black spots danced before his vision as Rex pummeled him. He fell into the dirt and Rex followed him down, pinning him as he continued to punch into Tyrell’s face.

“I am not using her,” he screamed. Each word was punctuated by a blow to his face. “She is my mate. You took everything from me, I’m not letting you take my mate, too!”

Tyrell couldn’t see anymore. He could barely hear. Blow after blow rained down on him, scrambling his brain. He fought back now, swinging blindly at Rex. His fist connected with something soft and Rex rolled off him. Tyrell shook his head as splashes of black and white swirled over his vision. He heard Rex come at him again and quickly leaped to his feet. A blow to the stomach knocked him back down.

His arms found Rex’s neck and he squeezed. Rex punched him again and again, a howl of rage in the air.

“Stop!”

The fists suddenly stopped. Tyrell groaned as his vision spun. It felt like his eye was smooshed, everything blurred and distorted. Something sticky dribbled from his nose and his mouth was so full of liquid he choked on it. With a groan he turned his head away, trying to spit it out. He kept his hold on Rex, partly to stop him from attacking again and partly because if he let go, he knew he’d collapse.

“Rex, please. Please stop.”

That was Cynthia’s voice. Tyrell’s vision cleared enough to see her face before she pushed herself between him and Rex. He released Rex and stumbled back.

Her hands were on Rex’s chest, but Rex wasn’t even looking at her. His gaze was locked on Tyrell, fury and hatred mingled in his eyes. There was no reason on his face and a chill stole down Tyrell’s back.

“You have to stop this,” Cynthia screamed. “Please! You have to stop!”

Rex seized her around the waist and all but flung her away. She cried out as she hit the dirt, rolling several times. A roaring sound rushed in Tyrell’s ears and a haze of red settled over his vision. Nobody treated his mate like that. With a scream of his own, he threw himself to his feet and charged. Rex grinned, readying his stance. He was ready when Tyrell slammed into him.

“Make them stop,” Cynthia screamed at the alphas, but Tyrell didn’t hear their reply.

He smashed his forehead into Rex’s nose, making the other bear stumble, scream and clutch his nose. He followed up with a fist to Rex’s stomach, but Rex was too quick this time. The blow missed its mark, sending Tyrell off-balance. As he stumbled, Rex elbowed him in the back of the neck. The pain sent him sprawling on the ground, the wind knocked out of him. His vision clouded over and for a moment he was certain that Rex had paralyzed him.

Then Rex grabbed his arm, dragged him back to his feet, and waited until he had grown stable again before punching at his stomach. Tyrell was just able to move himself to avoid the full force of the punch and grabbed Rex by the neck. He tried to kick out Rex’s legs from under him, but all he managed to do was bring them both down. He panted, spitting out blood as he rolled over. Rex glared at him.

Both of them got back to their feet. Rex trembled from head to foot and grinned in triumph. He charged again, and Tyrell dropped, ducking under his swings. He kicked Rex’s feet out from under him and then pinned him down, one hand choking off his air while the other punched Rex in the face, over and over again.

“Stop, stop please!” Cynthia sobbed.

Tyrell turned to her. Tears streamed down her face, her hands wringing. Behind her the alphas stood, all of them with distressed looks on their faces. None of them moved, though. At this point, their intervention would only mean that the fight would be postponed. Tyrell leaned on his knees, trying to clear his mouth as he looked at Rex. The other bear panted hard, that look of hatred still in his eyes.

“You don’t get to decide if someone else is your mate,” Tyrell spat at him. “Cynthia doesn’t want you. Can’t you just respect her wishes, even if you hate me?”

Rex grunted. Fur started to sprout over his body as he threw Tyrell off of him. Cynthia screamed, flinging herself between them. Time seemed to come to a standstill as Tyrell watched Rex’s claws swipe through the air. He lunged, seizing Cynthia around the waist. He pulled her back and spun around, shielding her with his body.

Claws ripped down his spine, tearing open his flesh. The pain was too much, and everything went black. Sound and scents spun around him. All he could taste was blood. Cynthia’s soft warmth beneath him was the only thing keeping him rooted, even if nothing else around him made sense. He clung to her, desperately fighting off unconsciousness.

There was roaring behind them. He managed to lift his head enough to see the backs of the four alphas, blocking him from Rex. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he saw the expression on Rex’s face. Abject horror at what he’d done. He’d almost killed Tyrell. Tyrell blinked, and Rex turned. He ran.

Noel started after him, but Kurtis grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

“It’s over,” Ricky said. “He’ll come back around.”

Tyrell closed his eyes. He sank to his knees, hanging his head. That had taken more out of him than he thought it would. His chest and head both throbbed as Cynthia rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him. She pressed kiss after kiss to his swollen flesh until Tyrell was forced to laugh and pull away.

“I’ll be okay,” he assured her. “And… I’m sorry that I fought when I promised you I wouldn’t.”

Cynthia laughed shakily. “Really? You got the ever-living shit beaten out of you and you’re worried about that? If I’d known how it was going to go down, I wouldn’t have asked you not to fight.”

Noel spoke behind him, his deep voice rumbling. “I’m glad that you did… maybe now Rex will finally see that he needs help.”

He offered Tyrell a hand and helped him stand. The other alphas all took turns patting him on the back, but only Ricky helped him to the house. It wasn’t long before the alphas had taken their leave. Tyrell sank onto the couch, groaning as he did so. Cynthia climbed up beside him and put her arms around him.

“My poor, poor darling,” she crooned. “I’ll have to nurse you back to health, won’t I?”

Tyrell smirked. “Got a nurse’s uniform to wear?”

“I’m sure I can fix something.” Cynthia purred as she rubbed herself against him, but she pulled back before things could get heated. “I’ll get you an icepack. Stay here.”

She was going to get no arguments from him. Tyrell leaned back on the couch, looking forward to playing it up for extra attention from Cynthia. His mate. A smile spread across his face as he remembered their promises to each other the previous night. They were meant to be together… And from here on out, everything would be smooth sailing.

Cynthia screamed.

A loud crash cut her off and Tyrell raced to the kitchen. Cynthia was on the floor, her hands pressed to her head. The scent of blood was in the air. Looming over her, a wicked grin on his face, was James Smith.

Adrenaline surged through Tyrell’s body. He sprang forward, his bear rushing to the surface as he pushed himself protectively in front of Cynthia. She whimpered, but he couldn’t take the time to see how badly she was hurt. Smith backed away, still grinning, toward the door leading out back.

“How did you get out of jail?” Tyrell spat.

“Dear, dumb Rex of course. I told him that the only reason I revealed myself to your little human was that I wanted to drive her away from you and into his arms. I promised to be his second, to stop you from manipulating little Cynthia again if he got me out of jail. The fool believed me. You know, he really does think that she’s his mate.” A sneer twisted Smith’s face. “As if a bear can mate with a human.”

Tyrell snarled, inching forward so that he could be certain to throw Smith away if he tried to get near Cynthia again.

“Her kind is why we’re trapped here on the island in the first place. Are we going to let them come in and take what’s ours?”

“You know that the alphas—”

“The alphas!” Smith spat at him. “They’re weak fools taken in by their human seductress. Once I’ve dispatched her, I’ll deal with them. But today… Today that human dies and so does all she’s tainted.”

Tyrell didn’t bother to ask what he meant by that. He didn’t care—Smith had threatened Cynthia, and protecting her was all that mattered. He lunged forward, heedless of his injuries, and rammed into Smith. The impact of his weight on the other bear sent them both tumbling outside.

Smith didn’t waste any time on fighting in his human form. He shifted at once, his gigantic mouth closing around Tyrell’s shoulder at once. Tyrell rapidly shifted before he could crunch through the bone. Smith’s teeth tore through his skin and muscle, but he was able to throw off his enemy before it got too bad. They circled each other, Tyrell now aware of his many injuries. His jaw throbbed and his back leg was weak, even though he didn’t recall Rex doing anything to it.

He tried to push past the pain and focus on Smith. If he died, Cynthia died. And Tamara? Ruby? They had spent so much time with Cynthia, were they what Smith thought of as ‘tainted’? How about Rex?

Determination flooded through him and he charged, rearing back on his hind legs at the last moment to try to get over Smith’s back. Smith clawed at his belly, then shoved him backward. Tyrell stumbled before he managed to regain his footing. By that time, Smith was coming in from the side and he had to twist to avoid being thrown to his back. He lunged and grabbed a hunk of meat between his teeth, holding tightly.

Smith roared in pain. He turned in a circle, teeth snapping close to Tyrell’s flank even as Tyrell moved with him, trying desperately not to fall back enough for Smith to catch him. He heard Cynthia’s voice somewhere in the distance and released Smith, throwing all his weight into the other bear to get him on his back. Smith stumbled, then with a roar threw himself over Tyrell.

Teeth dragged into the back of his neck. Blood and fur fountained into the air. Tyrell felt tooth click with bone. Pain lanced through his body, making his knees buckle. He fell. Smith roared with triumph as he adjusted his position in order to bear his weight down on him.

Tyrell’s lungs wouldn’t expand. Everything was growing hazy around him. Smith continued to rip and tear into his back, spikes of pain bringing him back again and again.

Don’t you dare give up, Tyrell told himself fiercely.

Digging deep, he found the strength to push past all the pain, all the weakness from first Rex’s attack and now Smith’s. Screaming with the effort, he flung himself backward. He felt something crack in his spine, but the suddenness of his movement managed to dislodge Smith. At least, enough for Tyrell to whirl around and lock his jaws on Smith’s back leg. He gave a mighty heave, dragging the other bear back. Blood filled his mouth. Another roar, a pounding on his back.

He whirled, slapping Smith’s jaws away from his throat. Smith ran into him again, knocking him onto his back. Tyrell lashed out with all of his limbs. He wrapped them around Smith and yanked him down. His teeth closed over Smith’s throat and he bit down as hard as he could.

Smith wheezed. Tyrell didn’t let up. He felt bone crushing beneath his jaws and held on with everything he had. Smith’s paws batted his sides, he thrashed above him. Then, all at once, he went limp.

The weight crashed down, pinning Tyrell to the ground. He could feel his own heartbeat mingling with Smith’s. Both ran wildly. Then, one slowed. One stopped.

Tyrell released Smith, everything shades of black around him. He gasped for breath but the deadweight on his chest wouldn’t let him. He was sinking into oblivion but he fought it. Fought it for Tamara, for Cynthia, for Ruby. For everyone who’d be hurt if he left them behind.

The pressure eased slightly. He heard Cynthia’s voice, heard a cry of effort. He lifted his head, snarling at the unseen enemy that was making her cry out.

Smith’s body half-slid from his own and then Cynthia was there. Her scent enveloped him. Her hands pressed against his body and her tears fell on his lips. It took effort, but he managed to shift back into his human form and look up at her. He blinked blood from his eyes.

Tears streamed down Cynthia’s face as she pulled him tightly against her chest. At that moment, all he wanted to do was kiss her. He smiled, opening his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. The blackness finally took him and he knew no more.

 

***

 

Tyrell woke lying in his bed. Every inch of him was sore, some parts worse than others. Light streamed in through the curtains and he looked around. He knew from his aches that the fight hadn’t been a dream. But what happened?

Something shifted next to him and he turned to see Cynthia curled up next to him. Her eyes were open, staring at him, and a relieved smile broke across her face as he turned to her. Her hand cupped his face and she let out a breathy sigh.

“Finally. I was starting to think you would never wake up.”

Tyrell gave her a half-grin, then grimaced. “I’m starting to wish I hadn’t. Not for a couple days, at least... What happened?”

“You got beat up.”

“I mean after that.”

Cynthia shivered, but her voice was strong and sure. “Smith is dead. The alphas found Rex, and he admitted to letting him out. It was just like Smith said. He believed that Smith was trying to help him. The idiot. He’s officially renounced any rights to me.” Here she snorted angrily, then curled in closer to him. “Smith must have had it planned this way. He didn’t care if you or Rex won that fight. He just knew it’d end up with you both so badly injured that he could…”

He could kill her. Tyrell’s gaze darkened. He had never taken a life before but found that he couldn’t regret taking Smith’s. Not when that monster had been threatening what he loved the most.

“And Rex?”

“He took off. Apparently, he ran all the way to the docks, took his boat and left. Not sure where he is, or if he’s intending on coming back.”

Tyrell grunted. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling. Relieved, for sure, that Rex’s lunacy was over. But he also remembered the look on Rex’s face. Surely, he had been horrified by how far he had gone?

He pushed those thoughts away. Rex needed help. Serious, professional help. “Are the alphas going after him?”

“I don’t know.” Cynthia moved a little closer and brushed her lips against his. “I don’t care. I thought Smith had killed you. I thought you had died saving my life.”

The memory of her on the kitchen floor, bleeding, returned to him and he snarled. He reached for her, eyes wide with worry. “He hurt you.”

“It was nothing.”

“He hurt you. I’m sorry, I should have—”

“You saved me. And you know what that means, right?” She twined her fingers into his at his questioning look. “Now, you have to marry me.”

Tyrell’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Marry me.” Cynthia frowned. “Wait, do bears get married? Or is it just that your mate is your mate?”

“We get married.” He smiled, wanting to drink in everything about her. Her eyes, her smell, her steely spirit. “And sure. I’ll marry you. Make an honest woman out of you.”

Cynthia laughed. “An honest woman, huh? Well... in that case, maybe in the meantime you can make a dishonest woman out of me...”

Tyrell was more than happy to take her up on the offer.