Her small nod was all I needed to sweep in and kiss her again, tangling my fingers into the back of her shirt. This time, when a little moan escaped her, I growled my wholehearted approval.
An hour later, we were dressed, had breakfast, and were waiting with the pack for Asithius in his lounge. This time, I’d learned my lesson and wasn’t letting Olivia out of arm’s reach. But when he walked in flanked by two even larger centaurs-one male, one female-we got even more than we bargained for.
“Welcome back! I hope you all rested well?”
Murmurs of agreement rose around the room, but everyone was too hyperfocused on the new additions to say much more.
“Excellent. You’re going to need it. The governing herd has decided that if you wish to once again hold your omega stone, you’ll need to earn it. Centaurs usually decide on requests from other species through challenges. I’ve brought with me our two current champions. If you agree to our terms, one of them will choose who they deem to be the worthiest opponent amongst your pack, and you’ll face off one-to-one in a challenge. The winner keeps the omega stone. Permanently.”
Shit. I’d known it wouldn’t be easy, but I quickly sized up the two centaurs, and even the female centaur was heavily muscled enough to take down a large human male in an arm-wrestling contest. And depending on the challenge selected for you by the herd leaders, it would be nearly impossible to best either of them in feats of size or strength. I glanced down at their four horse legs and added speed to the mental list of complications. If that wasn’t enough, they looked fucking mean. The male wore an expression that reminded me of a chained-up bulldog, hungry and looking to tear a bite of someone’s ass.
That dangerous impression was fueled by the fact that they were both armed from head to hoof, leather weapons belts custom fitted to their torsos and horse chests, all in easy reach.
“Our females are not accepting a challenge. You can choose any male you want, but our women are off-limits.” Gael was the one who snarled first, a protective arm around his pregnant mate.
“I agree.” I stepped forward, putting myself between the three intimidatingly large centaurs and my small, gentle mate.
A moment later, we were all in a line, lips curled in a sneer.
“As I suspected. Flantia, your assistance won’t be needed for this challenge.” Asithius dismissed the female centaur with a bored wave.
Flantia smiled threateningly, bowing in the same fashion Laurana, had, but with twin daggers crossed over her chest. Formalities accomplished, she turned and galloped away, sending clods of grass flying into the room behind her.
“Flantian, her twin brother, would be more than happy to challenge a strong alpha wolf, wouldn’t you?” Asithius clapped the male on the shoulder, and Flantian stared us all down, considering.
Other creatures might have thought us an easy win individually and made a flippant choice, but there was keen intelligence in his eyes. I knew instinctively that Flantian hadn’t become the male champion through sheer might. No, I’d studied up on each of the species represented by the IGC when I’d taken the position, and centaurs prized ruthless cunning above all else. Their reputation was mostly put down to wisdom, but I disagreed. They were crafty.
He wouldn’t choose the high alpha, because that would be an act of war. Gael’s mate was visibly pregnant, so I doubted he’d choose him, despite his imposing stature. Centaurs valued family, and it would be seen as repugnant to potentially harm a male when his family needed him for protection. That left Reed, Samuel, and me on fairly equal footing.
When his eyes locked with mine, I knew before he even opened his mouth that he was going to choose me. And a moment later, he lifted a meaty hand and pointed directly at my chest, confirming it.
I tried my best to block out Olivia’s horrified gasp behind me, the way her fingertips grasped the back of my loose shirt, as if she didn’t want to let me go. I’d never faced a challenge with so much at stake; not just the stone, but a female of my own to fight for, to protect.
For our future daughter.
The weight settled over me like a mantle, visceral and almost suffocating with importance.
Failure was not an option.
“Excellent choice. Lucien, isn’t it?” Asithius focused on me, gaze lingering once more on my scar in a way that made me grit my teeth.
“Yes, Herd Leader.”
“Excellent!” Asithius rubbed his hands together, the picture of bloodthirsty excitement. “The challenge will begin one hour before sunset. You may wear comfortable pants, but no other clothing. You’re allowed to bring no weapons beyond those you’re born with. As you are a shifter, you may shift between forms at will. The challenge will be revealed when it’s time to start, but you should know that it will be dangerous, even deadly. One winner will be determined by our governing herd, and you’re allowed to choose your own representative to sit with them and cast a vote to ensure it’s fair. Do you accept the terms of the challenge, knowing that the result is final?”
“I accept.”
“We have an accord. Prepare yourself in whatever way you deem necessary, and be on the beach one hour before sunset with your representative.”
“We’ll be there,” Kane said, the finality in his tone ringing through the room like a clarion call to war.
“Lucien! Lucien, please reconsider. You shouldn’t accept this challenge.” We were barely outside Asithius’s door when Olivia grabbed my arm, dragging me to a stop, sheer panic written across her features.
“Hellcat, that’s not an option. You heard Asithius. The champion chose me. I’m the one.”
“You can’t. It’s too soon after your trauma-your wounds haven’t fully healed yet.”
“You don’t think I’m capable?” The words were sharp, though I tried belatedly to soften them. It felt like she was questioning my abilities as a mate, not just in this challenge. If she thought I wasn’t capable of protecting her, what were we doing here?
“No, that’s not what I’m saying at all.” She cast a glance at the pack who’d gathered around us in a ring, silently watching our fledgling relationship hit another massive iceberg. Her cheeks flushed, but she kept on doggedly. “You’re extremely capable. But as a healer, I can’t recommend it.”
“I understand. But as an alpha of this pack, I can’t reject the challenge.” I took a step closer, gripping her elbows lightly, searching her face as I spoke again. “We need this piece. Not just we the pack, but we as a couple. That mark on your palm means that one day, our child will be an omega. Kane and Brielle need that stone to forge a future in which she’s safe. In which you’re safe. That’s worth fighting for, and that’s what will bring the rest of the packs to our side for the fight that’s coming.”
“I’m not going to let you kill yourself for some noble feelings over a child who doesn’t exist yet!”
If she’d slapped me across the face, it would have been less shocking. Less painful.
“So you think I’ll lose.” I dropped her arms, taking a reflexive step back.
“I-I don’t know. I think you shouldn’t do this at all.”
I shook my head sadly, knowing we were at cross-purposes.
“Then I guess I’ll have to prove you wrong. I’ve committed now, and if I backed out for any reason, the piece would be forfeit.”
“Please,” she begged, taking a step toward me, which I dodged.
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