Mage And Wolf
Chapter 301

Chapter 301: Chapter 301

The walk to the party is marked by an eerie silence. John, Leanne and the doctor aren’t saying anything, and the boy passed out just after Leanne took hold of him.

The party goers see us from a fair distance away, and the noise fades until only two arguing voices are left, those too quicky fading as they realize something has changed. Every head slowly turns to where we are approaching, Leanne’s furious aura spreading all through the woods.

When it reaches Alpha Marcus, his Domain flares, showing off his power, but the furious female Lycan doesn’t seem to care at all. In fact she walks right up to him, only a few places away before leaning forward and delicately biting her mate, leaving the permanent mate mark on his collarbone with a challenging look in her eyes.

"How dare you? You insolent pup, I’ll be sure you pay for that." Marcus’s snarls, shifting into his Lycan form and letting his domain loose again. Both of them are in the Divine Realm, far beyond my own power level, and that of many of the pack members.

Everyone starts backing away, not wanting to get involved in this grudge match. Even I step back out of easy claw distance, the only ones left near the fight are Beta John and one of Marcus’s pack members that I assume is his second in command.

Leanne doesn’t seem much, if any, weaker than Alpha Marcus, and simply holds his domain at bay with her own, staring directly into his eyes with a vicious smile.

"You’ll make me pay? How exactly do you intend to do that?" She taunts the older man, who seems to be having trouble controlling himself. It’s not often that someone in his position is openly mocked to their face.

John steps forward and holds out his arms, taking the unconscious Omega from Leanne before the two dominant Lycans get right up in each other’s personal space.

"I’m going to rip you apart for what you’ve done. That boy belongs to me, and I’m not giving him to some insolent little girl with a crush." Marcus declares, the words slightly garbled by the long muzzle of his transformation.

"In that case, let me make this simple. I, Leanne Kurgan challenge you for the position of Alpha of this pack."

I can see that a few weak willed Lycans have collapsed from the energy in the air, but everyone else simply looks stunned. Battles for leadership can only end one way. Someone dies.

"On behalf of the God of Death and in my capacity as High Priestess, I shall referee this match. The fight must end with only one Combatant standing. To interfere is death. To flee is to become a Rogue, dishonored before all of creation, stripped of all possessions and titles." I declare, invoking the ancient ritual of pack succession.

The two Alpha Lycans move into the opening, the two packs creating a large ring around them. No set size is required, and the ring will move with them if necessary, it’s simply the best way for everyone to get a front row view.

The two circle and snarl while waiting for my command. There is one last line left before the fight actually begins.

"If either fighter should wish to withdraw now and save their life, you may. This is your last chance." I declare.

"We fight." They announce in unison, before lunging for each other, claws locking in a test of pure strength, with muzzles Snapping and throwing spittle in each other’s faces.

The two fighters are evenly matched, and the sky fills with shouts of encouragement, as every Lycan cheers on their favorite.

Marcus uses his size advantage to force Leanne down, but she kicks hard at the side of his knee toppling the Alpha over on his side. They’re both up in an instant, moving to all fours, their misshapen bodies giving evidence to the fact these are not werewolves, but something much more deadly.

Speed is on Leanne’s side, and her claws rake down Marcus’s shoulder, while she narrowly avoids his jaws attempting to close around her neck. The wound causes Marcus to change the direction he’s circling, moving his injured flank out of easy reach while it heals.

His challenger is beyond any attempt to calm herself, pressing hard to mutilate him, driven to a near frenzy by rage and the smell of blood. It’s made her sloppy though, and Marcus manages to avoid her jaws, clawing all down Leanne’s side as he dodges.

The pain snaps her back to reality and the two return to testing each other, looking for an opening. Often these fights are short and bloody, but this one seems very evenly matched, and mutters about the incredible strength of Leanne are spreading through the assembled packs. It’s not often a female fighter can go toe to toe with a man in his prime in a straight test of physical strength.

Domain energy snaps and pops in the air as the pair leaps at each other, the battle being both physical and metaphysical with each biting at the other’s muzzle, trying to get at the throat as their bodies slam together. The collision favors Marcus, who gets the top position, but the nimble form of Leanne manages to rake at his exposed belly with the claws on her feet, forcing him off and away before returning to charge again.

Attack after attack ends in a stalemate, until age and injuries begin to catch up with Marcus and he stumbles slightly on landing after a charge, letting Leanne bite deep into his front leg, shattering it like candy and leaving him limping. The younger wolf presses her advantage, ripping and clawing at Marcus’s injured left side until he collapses and her jaws close around his throat in victory.

The crunch of bones shattering is drowned out by the horrified wail of her mate watching his father die, but it’s too late to change anything. From the moment the fight started, there was no way for him to keep both of them.

I wait a full ten seconds to ensure Marcus isn’t faking it before calling the fight. "Victory and a newly claimed mate go to Alpha Leanne Kurgan. Pack, welcome your new Alpha."

One after another the Lycans bow down in acceptance of her new position, the only exception being Alpha Marcus’s oldest son, who turns his back on the proceedings and walks away, severing his ties to the pack when he leaves.

Technically that makes him a Rogue, but as an Alpha born Lycan, he will likely find another pack to take him in without any issues. If he’s lucky, he’ll even find his mate in his travels.

Beta John leans over and whispers in my ear, too quiet for anyone else to overhear. "Not the Game I was expecting, but there’s never a dull moment around you, now is there Young Miss."