The Alpha's Taboo Mate (Blood Moon Lynx Book 1) (13 page)

Chapter Seventeen

Inside a circle, marked at the perimeter by a one-foot high wall of stone, in the town square, Canyon stood. The last time a fight had been held publicly, he’d been twenty-five years old, and it had been between a jaguar and a cougar. The stones beneath his feet were still stained dark red from the blood, three years later.

The jaguar male had accused the cougar male of having sex with his mate. Just before the cougar died, he confessed it was true. After the jaguar had killed the cougar, the jaguar and his mate chose to leave the village. It was either exile or death for the female, and no one wanted to watch a female die. Even if that female
had
broken their sacred law by having sex with a male who wasn’t her mate.

This was different because Hawke’s accusation against Canyon wasn’t the result of a crime. It couldn’t be, because the Elders had already decided before Canyon and Fiera mated that Fiera was
his
mate, not Hawke’s. This was personal, and now the entire village knew it. What they didn’t know, and what the Medina family gathered close to the circle, the bloodlust shining on their faces didn’t know, was that before this night was over, they would all be in federal prison.

What they also didn’t know was that Fiera was carrying Canyon’s child. He and his father had agreed not tell anyone outside their family yet. Canyon had spent the rest of the day trying to comfort Fiera, as well as convince her that fighting Hawke in public was the only way to end this once and for all. Canyon only trusted the human legal system so far. And this was a matter of honor, not legality.

As far as he was concerned, Hawke’s challenge was a separate matter from the pending legal issues. The Medina family would likely pay for their crimes, but this fight was between him and Hawke alone.

Hawke could have left Fiera alone. He and his family could have continued doing what they’d been doing, and if no one had stopped them, they might have eventually controlled enough of Cash’s company to take it over. Fiera never had to be part of the conquest.

Because Hawke had chosen to try to take her in addition to the business, Canyon had no choice but to deal with that decision in front of the entire village. Fiera was his mate. She had
always
been his mate. She had been declared his mate by their Elders, and
still
Hawke had not left her or Canyon alone.

To do anything now other than accept Hawke’s challenge and kill him would do Canyon’s family dishonor. It would bring shame down on his head, and on the heads of his children. He was a blood moon lynx. He had a higher duty here, and he was more than ready to take that on in every way.

The crowd grew restless as the Elders finally climbed the dais. Avery held up his hands until there was silence, and then read the original accusations of both the Medina family and the Benedicts.

“We had already reached a decision on whose mate Fiera Kent was to be.” Avery cut his gaze toward Hawke, who was still on the other side of the wall with his family. “But twice Hawke Medina threatened the Benedict family afterward.”

A loud, angry murmur rose up in the crowd, and Canyon resisted the urge to smile. They didn’t know the half of it.

Avery waited until the crowd died down again before he continued. “We did not address the threats made against the Kent family once we found out about them because we were focused on the additional complaint made against the Kent business.”

That was the closest thing to a public apology Canyon had ever heard an Elder make, and he knew it was likely Avery and the others would say nothing further to the masses about the fact that they’d done nothing over the threats made to Fiera and Cash by the Medinas.

The crowd noise grew loud, and Canyon was certain others in the village were thinking the same thing he was. He caught a few angry and snide remarks, and saw more than one astonished face among his neighbors.

Once again Avery had to wait for people to quiet down. “And now a challenge has been issued by Hawke Medina against Canyon Benedict, over the issue of the female, Fiera Kent.”

“But you had already decided the issue!”

Canyon wasn’t sure whose voice that was, but he thought it might have belonged to Stone’s father.

Avery scanned the crowd. “Any alpha may challenge another. Hawke has made it quite clear this challenge is because of the way in which Canyon chose to claim Fiera, not over his
right
to do so.”

More murmuring, but Canyon didn’t want to listen any longer. He only wanted to get this over with. He squared his shoulders and fixed his gaze on Hawke, who suddenly didn’t look as cocky as he had fifteen minutes ago. Read aloud, his excuse for insisting on this fight did not sound noble. It sounded petty and immature.

Too late now. Neither man could back down and save face. They were in this to the death.

Avery glanced toward Hawke. “If you’re ready to proceed with your challenge, step into the stones and face your accused.”

The adrenaline was pumping now. A shadow of doubt crossed Hawke’s face, and Canyon could barely hold back the urge to shift. He allowed his mind to fill with every speck of anger and humiliation he had felt when Hawke first began to announce to anyone who would listen that he intended to claim Fiera as his mate.

Canyon wallowed in it. He relived each second of the emotion he’d experienced. He pictured the faces of those who had come to tell him what Hawke was doing and saying, and he replayed the words in his head as he and his father had crafted the complaint to the Elders.

Before he had no chance to do so until this was over, he gazed over at Fiera, standing between his parents. Her gorgeous blue eyes were filled with fear and resignation, so he blew her a tiny kiss. When she saw it, her features softened, and the tiniest glimmer of a smile graced her mouth.

That mouth had given him more pleasure than he had a right to. She was a beautiful woman, and she loved him without measure. She was his
mate
. She would be mother to his children soon. He had loved her his entire life, and he’d be damned if some fucking
leopard
with a grudge would take his life today. He had years ahead of him.
Decades
. And he intended to live out every second of them with Fiera, the woman fate had chosen for him.

Forcing his gaze back toward Hawke, Canyon let the anger and pain fill him up again. The crowd was in a frenzy now as the pair faced off, slowly circling each other, still in human form. Canyon barely heard them. He pictured Hawke dead, lifeless and bleeding on these stones as he stood over him, victorious.

****

The urge to turn away and not watch rose up inside Fiera. She was certain she’d faint if she kept her focus on the circle. Leah and Luke flanked her, and she drew strength from them. Behind her, Cletus, her father, her uncles, plus Canyon’s sisters formed a protective barrier between her and the rest of the village. Stone and his family were next to Luke. Arizona stood with his family, next to Leah. Everyone whom Fiera loved was here. But if Canyon lost this fight, her life was over.

As the roar of the crowd grew to deafening heights she closed her eyes. In her mind, she pictured Canyon victorious, standing over the lifeless body of Hawke. Fiera hated these fights, although to say so out loud would earn her odd looks and whispered comments. They were part of their heritage, after all. They were as integral a part of their shifter culture as mating. But she still hated them.

There was a child inside her, growing. Fiera placed her hands over her still-flat abdomen in a gesture of protection. One day, her child would gaze on this man and call him “Father”. He or she would play, laugh, sing, and listen to counsel from Canyon. And if the gods were kind, her child would have siblings.

But only if Canyon won this fight. She had to help him do that. She was his mate, after all. What affected him also affected her, and vice versa.

As she opened her eyes, Fiera focused every ounce of energy on Canyon. She pictured him strong, lithe, and easily overpowering Hawke. He was a blood moon lynx, after all. And Hawke was nothing more than a loudmouth leopard who laid claim to things that had never been his in the first place, by using force and threats.

Not today. Hawke would not win
this
day. This day, Hawke would pay for bullying and treachery with his own life. On this day, Hawke Medina would die.

****

As if the cosmos had given him a secret sign, Canyon felt a stirring in the air. Everyone around him grew still. Had they felt it, too? Hawke narrowed his eyes and stopped moving. He sneered as he realized Canyon was shifting.

Canyon fully shifted before Hawke did, and lunged at him while Hawke was still in human form. Hawke went down, crying out in pain as Canyon slashed his left arm with lynx claws. Once Hawke completely shifted, he leapt in the air, but Canyon was faster. He danced out of the way and swept his left paw across Hawke’s face this time.

A cry of pain from Hawke rang out as he shook his head. Canyon moved forward with the intention of closing in for the kill, but Hawke stepped back in time to avoid him. Hawke slashed at Canyon’s back with his right paw, but Canyon barely felt the deep scratches. He was too pumped now.

Nothing existed except this leopard who had dared to try to take his mate, and continued to threaten his family. Hawke had brought this down on his own head. Canyon turned and leapt to the other side of Hawke, tackling him from behind before Hawke was able to turn around and face him.

The smell and taste of blood beneath the skin was Canyon’s to savor as he clamped his jaw against Hawke’s neck. It was already over. All he had to do was bite, and Hawke Medina would never again threaten him or Fiera, his mate.

In less than thirty seconds, Canyon had won the fight.

****

Barely conscious of the tears streaming down her face, Fiera held her breath. She didn’t hear the roar of the crowd around her. All she heard was her own blood pulsing in her ears. She had nearly shifted, and it took every ounce of strength to hold back the urge.

When Canyon’s jaw clamped down on Hawke’s neck, the crowd gasped. Everyone grew quiet as Hawke’s weak cry went up. When there was nothing but silence from within the circle, Hawke’s lifeless leopard body twitched a few times before lying still. Fiera was certain she’d puke as the acrid smell of blood wafted past her nose.

When a shifter dies in his animal form, he does not shift back to human form. Canyon stood, moved away from the dead leopard, and wiped his mouth and face, before shifting back to human form. He gave Fiera a look that was both triumphant and sad. Finally, he turned toward the dais and bowed low to the Elders.

He remained that way, head down and body bent at the waist, until Avery climbed down off his perch and entered the ring. “Canyon Benedict has won the challenge!”

The crowd erupted into deafening cheers, with the exception of the Medina family. But there was no joy on Canyon’s face as he circled slowly, facing them at each turn. Fiera pushed through and stepped over the wall, then waited until Canyon saw her and held out his arms.

She didn’t care now that he was stained in blood. She had to hold him. He gathered her close, his breathing still ragged and heavy.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry it came to this.”

“So am I.” He nuzzled her neck. “I love you, Fiera.”

“I love you, too, Canyon.”

The Elders, with the exception of Avery, surrounded the Medina family, but they had no reason to worry. Amasa was on the ground, his head in his hands, weeping. Three members of the Medina family carried Hawke’s dead carcass out of the circle and walked off into the woods.

It was time to leave. The fight was over.
Nothing more to see here, folks.

Fiera took Canyon’s hand and led him away from the crowd. It was time to take her mate home.

****

As he held Fiera in his arms, all Canyon felt inside was numbness. There would be no sleep for him tonight. He’d killed for food countless times, but this had been different. This was senseless, because it never should have come to that in the first place. Knowing it had been his birthright to do so, and knowing he had to do it in order to save face and protect his family’s honor didn’t make it easier in the aftermath.

When she kissed his neck, he realized she also was still awake. “Do you need to talk?”

“No.” There was nothing to say.

“Do you need to fuck?” Fiera reached between his legs and stroked his flaccid cock.

That was
exactly
what he needed to do. Canyon couldn’t help but smile. His dick grew hard within seconds. He rolled on top of her and pushed it inside her hot, wet pussy. She cried out in pleasure and clung to him as thrust.

This woman knew how to make everything right in his life. She knew how to take away his pain, and she knew how to ground him to the things that truly mattered in his life. They were both free from Hawke now. Soon, the entire village would be free of the Medina family. It was time to let it go and move forward.

After she came, he let his own orgasm go. He pulled his mate into arms and drifted off to sleep. He loved this woman with his entire heart and soul. There was no place else Canyon wanted to be for the rest of his life, except in her arms.