The Alpha and The Fool

The next two days, I spent training hard, preparing myself for what was going to be an awesome fight. Antoine and I stood at opposite ends of the gym. Father was advising me on how I should fight, but I wasn't listening to him. I was done listening to him and to be honest, at this point the plan was to enjoy pitting my strength against Antoine's. After meeting the wanna-be alpha, I didn't think my pack was in danger.

He seemed like a man that wanted to ensure the safety of his growing family, just like the majority of werewolf men when such things come to pass. I couldn't see him killing members of my old pack because they served Father unless they gave him a reason to. "It's time," Wesley said in a loud voice, having agreed to referee the fight.

"Nic, you have to win," Father said, glaring at me. The desperation was easily visible in his eyes.

"Father, things are changing. As soon as Brandon left it began, and this time, there is nothing to you can do to stop it. You better get used to that idea," I told him. He frowned at me, but before he could say anything more, I turned to Dean.

"Be careful out there," he said, looking worried but his voice was almost bitter when he added, "And you don't have to win."

"I know. Really, don't worry. I know," I replied, punching his shoulder lightly and walked out to join Antoine in the center of the room. I took his hand and shook as per custom. "Fight fair, fight hard, and the first person who can't safely continue loses."

Antoine gave me a funny look but dipped his chin in a nod. We took a few steps back, and the fight began. I took the offensive since I didn't think he'd feel comfortable doing it. I charged him, slamming my fist into his stomach, and hitting the inside of his knee with my own. He grunted, falling to one knee and I bounced back a couple of steps. Proof that I wasn't dainty and I didn't need him to patronize me. I wanted him to really fight.

His eyes blazed as he looked up at me and I brought up my fists, ready. He stood and ran at me, no doubt trying to tackle me and use his heavier weight against me, but I danced out of the way and kicked him in the ribs. Antoine grunted but otherwise seemed unfazed. I rushed him, hitting him in the kidneys, ribs again, and he dodged my jab to the temple. His massive fist swung at me, and I dodged but saw his second swing too late. As his fist connected with my jaw, my vision blurred and my ears started to ring.

I stumbled back and acting on pure instinct managed to dodge the next few swings. I blinked as I bounced back away from him until my vision blurred back into focus. Okay, so getting hit by this guy was a very bad idea. I ran at him, faking a kick to the right and went left for his ribs, kneed him in the side, punching him where he'd hit me as hard as I could. A surge of victory ran through me as he wobbled on his feet, but he was far from finished.

We rushed each other again. I hit him again in the ribs, but he got a hit right on my nose. I think he might have broken it, considering how much blood gushed down my face. The pain though didn't seem to back. We broke apart and instead of throwing a punch, the next time we rushed at each other. I jumped, kicked him in the face, breaking his nose with an audible crunch, and his blood went everywhere.

We kept throwing punches and kicks at each other, obviously tiring but neither wanting to give in to the other. The pain was now kicking in, radiating from everywhere, and I was ready to end this - one way or another. I kicked Antoine's knee again, another hit into his most likely bruised ribs, and I went around jumping on his back, wrapping my arm around his neck in a choke hold, squeezing as hard as I could. Antoine, tried, to pull me off, only managing to rip my shirt, and when he fell to one knee, I said, "I can either knock you unconscious, or you can give up now. If it's all the same, I'd rather you just give up." He growled at me, again tried to get me off his back. Antoine even fell backward, slamming us both on the ground, but I still held on. He continued to struggle, and I squeezed tighter. Seriously, he was going to be a dick about this?

"Fine," he spat out. "I call it finished," he wheezed out, and I let him go.

Grinning, despite how tired and in pain I was, I stood and helped him up. "I have a proposition for you if you'd like to hear it."

He rubbed his neck, eyeing me with obvious suspicion, as Father and Dean came to us. "Good Job, Nic. I knew you would do it," Father said.

Dean let me lean against him, and I tried not to glare too hard at Father. "Just remember our agreement," I told him.

"Yes, well, of course, I agree. That was a mistake, but the second. Don't be foolish, Nic. You're the alpha, and I'm your father."

"Wrong," I said then spat out some blood on the floor just in front of him. "I'm not the alpha and if you don't agree to my terms, not my father. However, I'm willing to negotiate some aspects currently." I turned away from him to focus on Antoine. "I would really like it if you and Beth stayed with us for a few days. Get yourself healed up and there is something I wish to speak to you about."

Antoine's stony faced expression stared back at me for a long time. I could see I confused him. Usual custom was for him to leave the territory now unless he wanted to risk being killed, but I had no intention of running him out of town. I thought he was going to refuse at first then Beth whispered something to him and he agreed.

"What are you doing?" Father hissed once Beth led her mate out of the room and most likely to the infirmary.

"He fought well, and he seems like a decent guy," I replied. "Swallow your pride, Father. We won. Let's have a celebration tonight. Dean, help me to my room. I think I need to get cleaned up."

"I'd say. You're a mess," Dean teased, and I hugged him, not missing the relief in his voice.

"Hey, I won. You thought I was going to get my ass kicked," I told him.

Dean laughed. "Nic, you got your ass kicked. That you kicked his ass more, doesn't change that." I joined his laughter as we slowly made it to my room. "So what are you up to?" "What do you mean?"

"Inviting Antoine to stay like that. It's not how things are usually done," he said, giving me a curious glance now.

"Ah, well I'm not the usual so expect the unexpected," I teased then sighed as we made it to my room. "The guy fought well and took the loss with grace. That's worth celebrating, and I want him to join us."

"And..."

I stared at him surprised. How had he gotten to know me so well in such a short period of time? "And, I think he should be the alpha of Golden Plains."

"Wait," Dean said, helping me to the bathroom. "If you thought he should be the alpha. Why did you fight him?”

"And miss that fight? No way! It was fun as hell," I said and started to grin then stopped when I saw my reflection. I looked like a psychopath, smiling with blood all over me. "I didn't stop the fight because I wanted to see what kind of man he was."

"But you always wanted to be alpha, and this is your pack," Dean said.

"I did, but not anymore. I want to be with you more and work with Harry on the better packs," I replied. "Besides, for an alpha and pack to work as they should there need to be trust and Dean, I don't think I could ever trust fully in this pack ever again. Not after what they did."

"Ah, yeah, I can understand that."

"Good, now I have to shower," I said, and when he didn't move, I added, "Meaning you leave."

He smirked at me. "I don't know. You might need help." He even dared to wink at me.

I laughed and shook my head at him. "Go on, Dean. Shoo!" I swatted at him, playfully. Dean pouted, but kiss my cheek and left. The hot water stung on the few cuts I had here and there, but on the whole, it felt good. Afterward, I went to the infirmary to be checked out.

As I had requested, there was a huge dinner in celebration. I was glad when I saw Beth and Antoine there as well. "Thank you for coming, told them. Antoine's dark skin was even darker where his bruised had gone purple and black. My own body was mottled with similar colors. By the morning they'd be all gone, but for now, we looked like quite the pair.

"Thank you for inviting us, but why did you invite us," Beth asked, suspicion coloring her tone and expression.

"Because I'd like to make you both

an offer. As the winner of the

challenge, I am now alpha of Golden Plains, but Father and the pack chose the coward before me. It's something I don't think I can forgive, but still care for them. In calling me, Father can't be alpha anymore. He's proven to be too weak to accept challenges. I think you'd be fair and treat them well. I would like Antoine to take the alpha-ship for me, with Father as beta."

"If you didn't want to be alpha why did you fight?" Beth asked.

"Funny, Dean asked me that same thing. Honestly, I wanted to pit myself against your mate. I wanted to see if I could beat him. Ask Dean, I love a good fight," I told her. "So Antoine, what do you say. Would you consider taking the pack with Father as beta?"

"And what does he say about this?" Antoine asked.

I started to speak when I heard Wesley call out my name. My heart leaped at the sound of his tone. Something was wrong. I turned to face him and my eyes widened.

was covered in blood. I looked. Het

around, and my heart sped like a herd of wild horses. Two people weren't here yet. Dean and Father. I ran to him. "What happened? Tell me everything, now! Whose blood is that on you!"