Dixon’s tiger was on edge. The challenge would commence soon. According to the PLC, they could not stall on the challenge. Once the challenge had been issued and accepted, it had to take place as soon as possible after notification to the PLC. Percy walked alongside him as they made their way through the woods to the meeting point. His family walked behind him in support. The ground, covered in a small amount of snow, would be unforgiving in a fight.

Deja, who refused to remain back at the mansion, walked alongside his mother. She demanded to be at the challenge, insisting that if she were to be a part of his world that she would have to be there. The stubborn tilt of her head let him know that he had lost their first argument. The heated kiss they shared was not one of goodbye, but one of future and love.

They came to a clearing that housed quite a few people. Representatives of the Paranormal League Committee would be present to ensure that the challenge was fair, and that there would be no interference. Interfering in the middle of a challenge for a seat on the PLC would be immediate disqualification, and those caught interfering could be punished by death.

“You will defeat Tyson,” Percy muttered to him with a slap on his back as they came to a halt.

Tyson stood on the other side of the clearing. A cocky smile filled the lion shifter’s face as he returned Dixon’s glare. Dixon channeled his anger toward the shifter. Tyson’s lion would be no match for Dixon’s tiger.

“Greetings, Dixon Blackburn,” Lador called out. The alpha of the bears approached Dixon with a grim look on his face. Dixon gripped the large man’s hand in a firm shake.

“Lador,” Dixon murmured, feeling his tiger too close to the surface. It could sense danger near and was unsettled. It slammed against his chest as it demanded to be let out. His eyes locked onto Tyson’s across the clearing as Lador greeted his family. He broke the glare as he looked around the clearing, taking in the tiger shifters that were present to show their support.

Losing to Tyson would not just affect his family, but all tiger shifters. Tigers had represented the feline shifters for decades, and they all depended on him to maintain his seat on the council.

“Dixon, please follow me.” Lador’s voice grabbed his attention. He nodded and followed behind the mountain of a man. Bear shifters tended to be on the larger side. Lador towered over Dixon by at least a few inches. Caesar, the alpha of the wolves, escorted Tyson to the center of the clearing.

The air grew tense as he locked glares with the lion shifter once more.

“I see you brought the whole family to see you die today,” Tyson growled. “You sure you want your woman and cub to see you die?”

“I won’t be dying today,” Dixon growled, refusing to fall for Tyson’s taunts. His tiger paced, knowing he would be free soon.

“Now you two know the rules of a challenge,” Lador announced, standing next to them. Members of the PLC surrounded the two shifters. Viktor, the Master Vampire, Ratha, Queen of the Fae, Xena, the Grand Priestess of the Witches, all stood around them, representing the PLC. They would bear witness to the fight for who would sit in the feline shifter chair after today. “You will shift into your animals. The animal standing at the end of the fight will have the feline shifter chair. Is that understood?”

Dixon nodded, keeping all expressions at bay as he faced Tyson. He turned and walked back toward Percy.

“That asshole is too fucking cocky,” Percy announced as he reached his side.

“I’m going to enjoy erasing that smile from his face.” Dixon began to strip his clothes off. His animal let loose a deep growl, causing his chest to rumble. “If anyone tries to interfere—”

“You don’t have to say a word.” Percy’s serious eyes met his. Dixon knew that his best friend would have his back.

“If I should fall—”

“Stop.” Percy held up a hand and shook his head. Dixon knew he didn’t have to ask. Deja and August would be taken care of.

“Dixon!” Deja jogged over to him. His eyes greedily took her in as her dark hair flowed around her shoulders. She held their son against her chest in a contraption that was strapped around her body. Her eyes were wide as she stopped in front of him.

“Deja. You and August would be safer with my parents,” he murmured, reaching for her. He leaned down and placed a lingering kiss against her lips. He pulled back and trailed his hand along August’s head, which was covered by a tiny winter hat. He laid a gentle kiss on the baby’s head. He paused and breathed in deeply, taking the scent of his son with him.

“I just wanted to say that I don’t like the looks of that Tyson character. Kick his ass,” she hissed between her teeth. He smiled, loving that his little sex kitten had claws. He smiled and placed another kiss on her lips.

“I plan to.” He pulled back from her and turned her away from him. He gave her a gentle push in the direction of his father before meeting the elder Blackburn’s eyes. His father nodded to him.

It wasn’t much, but he got his father’s message loud and clear.

End the lion.

He returned his father’s nod as he watched Deja return to the safety of his parent’s side.

“Let’s get this shit over with,” Dixon muttered as he turned his back to his family. His fangs descended from his gums as the change took him. He fell to the ground as his bones crackled and reformed. His orange and black fur burst forward as his animal finally broke free. His vision sharpened as he focused on the lion that stood in the clearing.

His tiger roared as it planted its massive paws apart. He narrowed his eyes on the lion as it too let loose a roar. The air stilled as the two animals stalked toward each other. The scent of his mate and child remained lodged in his nostrils.

It was time to end this game with Tyson. He had a promise to keep.

Deja refused to look away. She would forever remember this day. It would be burned into her memory. She watched with baited breath as Dixon’s tiger wrestled Tyson’s lion on the ground. Amelda’s arms wrapped around her as she held August tight to her chest.

The lion roared as Dixon’s teeth sank into his shoulder. He flung Dixon off and pounced on top him.

“Dixon,” she whispered as tears flowed down her face, taking in the battle of lion versus tiger. Amelda squeezed her tighter.

She glanced over at Dixon’s mother and took notice of the tears that flowed down her cheeks too. It couldn’t be easy for her to watch her son go through something as brutal as this, not knowing if he would make it through the challenge.

Dixon’s tiger let out a series of growls as he used his hind legs to kick free from Tyson’s grip. The two shifters circled each other. Dixon swiped at Tyson with is large paw, missing the lion. He ducked and skidded away from Tyson as he dove at him.

Dixon swiped another paw at him, his massive fangs on display.

“Stop playing with him,” Maxwell growled beside her. She turned to Dixon’s father to find his eyes locked on the fight. His face was drawn tight as he watched his only son fight for his life.

She turned her eyes back to the fight and willed Dixon to win. She refused to think of any other option for this fight to come to an end. She watched as the members of the PLC stood around the circle to ensure that no one could cross the imaginary line. She took in the other people who stood back, witnessing the fight. From what Dixon had explained, other shifters would come to witness the challenge.

A loud roar filled the air. Her eyes flew to the fight that was a blur of paws, fangs, and tails as the two battled. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched Tyson land on top of Dixon. She feverishly brushed the tears from her eyes as her heart slammed against her chest.

“No!” The one word tore from her as she watched Dixon make every attempt at getting Tyson off him. She unconsciously took a step toward him, but was pulled back by Amelda. Her eyes took in the blood that marred the pristine white snow that covered the ground.

“He’ll get up. My son will get up,” Amelda whispered fiercely, squeezing her tight. “He is a strong tiger.”

She breathed a sigh of relief as she watched him flip the both of them over. His massive fangs sank deep into the lion’s neck. The lion released a roar as he tried to shake off the tiger, but the massive orange beast didn’t let up on the lion. He planted his feet on the lion’s chest and shook its massive head, shredding the lion’s neck.

Silence surrounded them as everyone waited to see if the lion would get up. Dixon pulled back his head and let out a roar that echoed for miles around. His massive tiger head turned to her, and she could see the bloodstained fur around his mouth. He stepped away from the still lion and paced back and forth near the body.

She moved to run to Dixon again, but Amelda held onto her.

“Not yet,” she murmured, relief evident in her voice as her eyes remained on that of her son as he paced.

They all watched as the large man named Lador marched over to the lion and bent down to assess it.

Deja began unsnapping the baby carrier that held August to her. She handed August to Amelda, who cradled the baby to her chest.

Deja’s heart raced as she waited for the man to make an announcement. She bit her lip as the large man straightened to his full height.

“Dixon Blackburn, the seat remains yours.”

The crowd watching the battle roared. Those that supported the lion shifter protested, while those in favor of Dixon celebrated. She had never been so happy for someone to die before, but when it came to a stranger who wanted to do harm to her and her child and the man that she loved, she would always side with killing the enemy.

“Dixon,” she murmured, taking a single step forward.

She watched as he let loose another roar, asserting himself as the victor. The lion’s body began to shimmer, and as she watched, his body began to morph back into that of his human self. The mangled body of the shifter lied lifeless in the bloodied snow.

Dixon turned his head and his eyes locked onto hers. Her feet took another step forward as her eyes remained on Dixon. She watched as the air around him began to shimmer and ran to him as he stood in his naked, human body.

He didn’t take his eyes off her as he moved toward her, brushing past people who were trying to congratulate him. His body was covered in bruises and blood, but she didn’t care. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever laid her eyes on.

“Dixon!” He drew her in as she threw herself at him. She was sobbing as she wrapped her arms and legs around him. She chanted his name as he held her tight.

“I told you I would never leave you,” he murmured in her ear. She pulled away to look at him through her tear-filled eyes. She smiled at him, her heart full with love for this man in front of her.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” she warned, leaning forward and pressing her lips to his.

“We have a lifetime to look forward to together, and believe me, scaring you is the last thing I plan to do to you.”