An Unlucky Moon (18 page)

She’d be damned if she’d let her mate deal with this crap for the rest of his years. Something had to change, and if it took her fighting to prove her worth among a group of wolves who wanted her dead, then so be it. Dante and Shade had taught her to fight somewhat, and Hunter had taught her even more.

She wasn’t completely helpless.

She wasn’t a wolf either.

Her skin was just as fragile as a human’s—weak and ready to bleed—but she was stronger than she had been before. As long as this Lloyd bitch didn’t shift into her wolf form, Becca could probably battle her way through. Hell, why couldn’t she have turned into a paranormal creature that was actually useful? 

Like a tiger or something with sharp claws and pointy, pointy teeth.

Hunter cupped her face. “We’re leaving.” His tone held no call for disagreement, but she didn’t care.

She turned to kiss his palm then moved back. “If we leave now, you’re letting them win. You’re letting the other Pack members who
do
believe in you fall into the hands of those who don’t give a shit about them. If we leave now, I’m telling them that
I’m
not worth anything and not good enough to be your mate. I’m not letting that happen.”

Hunter closed his eyes and took a deep breath, a strong shudder rolling over his body. The burn marks covering his chest looked as though they hurt like hell, and she knew his lungs and other internal organs weren’t a hundred percent yet—something that could have been changed if he’d have let her heal him. That, though, wasn’t something they could deal with at the moment. 

“I can’t lose you,” he whispered, his voice so filled with pain that her heart broke for him.

“Don’t count me out just yet. I need your strength.”

And a miracle, but she wasn’t going to say that out loud.

He closed his eyes, and she was afraid he’d say no. Or at least take her away from here before she could fight for them. She might have been stronger than she’d ever been, but she knew she was much weaker than Hunter, even if he was hurt.

And she wanted to fight a female wolf?

Hell, she had a death wish.

“The wolf you’re fighting has a weak left knee. You kick her there, she’ll go down, and then you can get her by the neck. This isn’t to the death. You only have to pin her. As long as she’s down on the ground and doesn’t use her claws, you’re strong enough to pin her.”

Hope filled her, and she kissed his chin. “Thank you.”

“Don’t you fucking die, Becca. Do you hear me? If you die, I’ll kill every wolf and creature who dared look at you funny then find a way into the afterlife and kick your ass for leaving me. Do you understand?”

She grinned at him, even though it was a bit forced. Gods, this was stupid, but if she didn’t fight, she’d never prove herself to the wolves who didn’t want a human—or at least a former human—in their ranks. 

Hunter kissed her then, hard. She could taste the desperation on his lips, but it mixed with the determination to see her through his.

She could do this.

She had to.

“Are you two done pussyfooting around?” Dorian asked, boredom in his tone. “Anastasia is ready to fight. Let’s get this over with.”

Hunter kept his hand on her hip as they turned to face the circle again. The woman who Dorian had called Anastasia stood in the center, her fists on her hips.

Dear. Lord.

She looked like an Amazon. Or maybe a lean linebacker.

The woman had to be at least six three and all muscle.

No wonder Hunter was freaked the fuck out. 

“Her knee, baby, her knee,” Hunter whispered her in ear.

Becca rolled her shoulders back, unwilling to cower and show the fear coursing through her veins. This had to be one of the stupidest things she’d ever done, and that was saying something since one time she’d gone with Faith to a beauty school and had a bikini wax.

She held back a shudder at the memory of
that
experience.

Of course, with the way Anastasia glared at her, Becca was pretty sure she’d take another bikini wax over stepping foot into the circle.

“I don’t see why I have to fight this little bitch,” Anastasia spat. “She looks like a little whore, all saddled up next to one of our men. I could pick my teeth with her bones with a flick of my wrist. I don’t even want that fucking Beta beside you. I’d rather pick my own man. Don’t worry though, bitch, I’ll take what I want, when I want. Why can’t I find something worthy enough to challenge?”

Something? Well, wasn’t this lady a peach. Not only had Becca just been called a whore, a bitch, and worthless, now she wasn’t even a person? Oh, this just got better and better.

Becca gave one last squeeze to Hunter’s hand then took a step into the circle. “You’re name’s really Anastasia? Seems like such a cute and pretty name for a big-ass butch of a woman like you.”

Some of the crowd gasped, and she was pretty sure she heard Liam’s chuckle. 

Anastasia narrowed her eyes.

Good job, Becca, antagonize the woman who could probably break you in two with a sneeze
.

“No claws or teeth,” Hunter called out.

Relief washed over her at his words but didn’t help with the tension she felt. 

Just get the knee. Just the knee and she could pin the bitch down.

Maybe.

“Fine. I don’t need to go wolf to kill this bitch.” Anastasia smiled, and Becca had to swallow down the bile that rose in her throat. 

Anastasia’s smile wasn’t so much a happy smile filled with rainbows and unicorns as it was more along the lines of “Yay, I get to play with my food before I eat it.”

“No claws,” Dorian agreed, as if he knew Becca would lose no matter what. Bastard. “This isn’t to the death either, Anastasia.” 

The other woman pouted, actually pouted, at Dorian’s words. Becca might have been grateful the guy had mentioned that, but she wouldn’t put it past him to have an ulterior motive.

Maybe he thought being maimed and broken was better than death at the moment.

“Fine.” Anastasia spat then moved.

And not just a normal movement, but
moved
.

Damn, the bitch was fast.

Becca ducked out of the way and rolled, but not fast enough. Anastasia got a hold of her ankle and tugged. Becca fell to the dirt on her back, hard, and tried to pull away, but the other woman was stronger. She might not have had her claws out, but the way she prowled over Becca’s body reminded her of a caged animal.

Though she was aware of people around them, watching, cheering, crying, or worse, she ignored them all. If Lily and Jamie could get out of their own fights, then so could Becca. She scooted from beneath Anastasia and kneed the bitch in the chin for good measure.

Though her own knee hurt like a bitch from knocking the woman in the chin, Anastasia only spat out blood and moved closer. The wolf swiped out—sans claws—and Becca ducked again, this time using her shoulder to get Anastasia in the stomach. The other woman didn’t move, but at least Becca was getting a few punches in. That had to count for something.

The other woman kicked and punched, hitting Becca more often than not, but Becca didn’t back down. Pain radiated through her body, blood seeping from a cut on her lip. Her right eye started to get blurry, and she had a feeling she’d have one heck of a black eye come morning, but she didn’t stop fighting. For every hit Anastasia got on her, Becca got one back.

She heard Hunter’s anguished howl with every strike against her and shout at every strike on her opponent, and it spurred her on. 

Throughout it all, she didn’t forget her main goal.

The big bitch’s knee.

But every time she tried to get a good shot, the other woman moved out of the way. Anastasia knew her own weakness and wasn’t about to let Becca have a go at it.

Bitch.

The other woman punched Becca in the face, forcing her head to whip back. Though she didn’t think any bones had broken, the blinding pain almost made her throw up.

The other woman smiled at this then laughed.

Her mistake.

Becca swallowed the pain—and the blood filling her mouth—and lunged toward Anastasia’s knee. Caught unaware, the other woman howled in pain as Becca used her whole body to bend the wolf’s knee all the way back. The sickening sound of tearing ligaments and most likely bone filled Becca’s ear, but she didn’t care.

Anastasia screamed and hit the ground.

Becca rolled then jumped on top of her, using her remaining strength to block the other woman’s airway. Tears streamed down both their checks, but neither would yield. Anastasia tried to move under her, but Becca would have none of that. 

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but finally, on sweet gods finally, Anastasia slammed her hand down three times in the dirt, yielding.

Holy shit, the wolf didn’t cheat.

She must have had more honor than Becca had thought.

A shocked silence filled the circle until cheers and growls rose among the observers.

Arms came around her, and she inhaled the heavenly scent of her mate, her Hunter.

“Becca, my Becca.” He kissed the bruises on her face, but didn’t let her go.

She’d won.

She’d fucking won.

How the hell had she accomplished that?

“This isn’t over,” Dorian spat.

Becca resisted the urge to punch the bastard in the face. Her body hurt too much for that.

“It’s beyond over, Dorian. You’ve lost. Either back away and deal with it, or deal with me,” Hunter growled.

“I guess I’m late to the show,” another voice said beside them.

A tall, built man with long blond hair stood between them, his face expressionless, his arms crossed over his chest. If Becca hadn’t been in pain and in love with the man holding her, she would have thought this stranger was damn gorgeous.

This wasn’t the best time to be thinking that however.

“What the fuck are you doing here, bear?” Dorian asked.

The other man—bear—raised a brow.

Hunter shook his head then placed Becca on her feet. “Jace, it’s good to see you.”

Hunter knew this man or bear or whatever. The guy, Jace, looked as big as a bear, so it fit. 

“You called in a bear to come to our Pack?” Dorian yelled.

Jace snorted. “I’m a Mediator, you dumb fool, and it seems that the council should have called me in earlier.”

What the hell was a Mediator, and why didn’t Dorian look happy to see him? Well, that at least made Becca like the bear.

“Take me to the council chambers,” Jace ordered, his voice holding no room for discussion. “I see we have a lot to discuss. Hunter, would you like to take your mate home to make sure she’s healed?”

She answered for herself. “I’m fine.” Hunter opened his mouth to argue, and she shushed him. “I’m not letting you go in there without me.”

Jace quirked a smile, making him look even more handsome. “I like this mate of yours already.”

“Hands off, Jace. Eyes too. Fine, Becca, you can come, but the minute it looks like you’re going to pass out on me, you’re going home.”

She was fine, she knew it, but if Hunter wanted to freak out, she’d let him.

Jace raked his gaze over Hunter. “From the looks of it, you both look like you could use some rest.”

“Tell me about it,” Becca muttered.

Jace shook his head. “No, you tell
me
about it once we get to the chambers.”

The other members of the council stalked toward the chambers. If they’d been wearing capes, Becca was sure they would have flourished them like Dracula with an attitude. It looked as though Jace was there to fix things.

That was good, right?

Once inside the council members, including Liam and Alec, took their seats. Josiah took his as well, with Hunter bringing Becca with him to the Beta’s seat. Jace stood in the center, seemingly unconcerned he was below the rest of them in their tall chairs. After all, Jace was a big man. It would probably take a lot to intimate him.

“Who called you here?” Alistair asked, a little fear in his tone.

Though glad to hear his fear, Becca wasn’t sure why the wolf looked so scared.

“Who called me here doesn’t matter,” Jace answered, his deep voice calm, but demanding attention and respect. 

Becca saw the quick glance between Liam and Alec, and she was pretty sure who had done it. Good for them. They were in a no-win situation on the council as the only two level-headed men. The other three would win every vote just because they fought together rather than thinking on their own. Liam and Alec might have wanted to help the Beta and Alpha more, but with the rules and traditions as they were, nothing was happening—nothing
could
happen. 

Hopefully Jace would find a way to help the situation. That is, if that was his job to begin with. She still didn’t quite know what a Mediator was in respect to shifters. She could only hazard a guess as to his purpose.

“I’m here because your Pack needs help. I’m a Mediator, a shifter of outside council, sent to Packs, Prides, and other dens to ensure the fighting within the structure itself is settled.”

“We know this,” Dorian spat.

“I’m making sure Ms. Quinn understands,” Jace explained. “I don’t stop the fighting between Packs. It is up to you and your Alpha to ensure the Pack’s safety, but I
am
here to make sure you guys don’t kill each other over power. Or, if there is a struggle for power, to make sure you at least do it within your own rules.”

Becca held back a snort—mostly because her face still hurt. Rules? Those were the things killing their Pack to begin with.

“Your rules and traditions, though, are the things killing you,” Jace said.

She could really start to like this guy.

Hunter ran his hand over her side and kissed her neck, a proprietary gesture, but she loved it nonetheless.

“You think to come in here and tell us our rules are forfeit?” Lloyd growled. “You’re nothing but a lone bear with too much power. You have no say here.”

Jace growled, not a growl she was used to, like a wolf, but a terrifying bear growl that came from deep in his chest and practically shook the walls. She sank into Hunter’s hold. At this point, she didn’t care if she looked weaker than Jace for it.