simply overpower you,” he answered with a reluctant smile. Serra had been one of the fiercest girls in the pack, destined to be a warrior. Or an Alpha’s Mate. Guilt tugged at him. He sensed Serra’s pain even though she fought to hide it from him. “Serra…”
“Let’s see if you’ve still got what it takes to best me,” she cut in with a bright, teasing% iad I was smile, going into a wide-legged stance. “And remember, no unfair advantages. As in , no transforming .”
Tieran allowed a small grin. “I only did that once. But if I recall correctly, you grabbed my poor balls and twisted so hard I thought you’d neutered me. That was punishment e nough for taking the advantage. ”
“Well,” she smirked with knowing. “Your parts seemed to work just fine, if I recall .”
He conceded her point, yet tried to forget the times he and Serra had fucked like animals on this very gym floor. “ One match,” he offered. “Standard rules apply.”
Serra laughed. “Have it your way,” she said right before attempting to sweep Tieran’s leg out from under him but Tieran was wise to her style of fighting and leapt out of the way. He countered with a quick jab at her midsection but she whirled and countered, catching him in the mouth with a sharp punch. “Are you getting soft, Alpha?” she teased, bouncing away before he could rebound. “You used to be quicker.”
Tieran wiped away the blood welling on his lip and grinned. “And you used to hit harder.”
She returned the grin. “ Touché .”
They sparred for a solid ten minutes before Tieran caught Serra with a surprise kick to the stomach that sent her reeling to the floor, gasping to catch her breath. When she didn’t immediately rebound, he worried he’d actually hurt her and went to help her up, but she caught him with a swift kick to the jaw as she spun around and suddenly he was seeing stars while flat on his back. Serra wasted no time in straddling him, the heat of her core nestled perfectly against his groin. It took a full second to realize she’d won the match but his body reacted like an eager boy with his first conquest, hardening beneath her ready heat. “It seems there is something between us you haven’t managed to forget,” she murmured triumphantly, grinding against him and sighing with pleasure as the hard-ridge of his cock rubbed against her clit. She leaned down to catch his bottom lip between her teeth before sealing her mouth to his. In a flash, everything about Serra’s familiar weight on top of him felt wrong — even repugnant.
He bracketed her hips with both hands and lifted her off him, nearly tossing her free with a glower. “What are you doing?” he demanded in a harsh growl as he climbed to his feet. “I have bonded with Cassandra. What we had was child’s play compared to what I feel for Cassandra. Do not shame your clan in this way!”
She followed suit, her eyes flashing. “You are the one who has shamed our clan by refusing to do what is necessary to ensure the clan’s survival.”
“Watch your tongue.”
“If you were a real Alpha, you’d vow to kill the baby whose blood isn’t pure. The seed of Clan Janus germinates in the belly of your mate and yet, you allow it to live. If you were half the Alpha you pretend to be, you’d know this is an abomination. She has poisoned your mind, turned you from your beliefs. Do you need further proof that she is ruining this clan? We have survived and thrived because our Alphas always did what was right, no matter the cost. But this woman has managed to turn you into a soft, mewling kitten at the prospect of snuffing out one tiny life.”
“Silence.” The command echoed in the room, laced with danger. “You forget yourself.”
“No. You forget yourself. I am not some weak woman that you can order about. I was destined to be your mate. You know it to be true. Deep inside you know what you have with Cassandra doesn’t feel right. When we were together,