Bonded ✔️

Chapter 10: Part Two

Rowan took my vulnerability as his chance to gain an advantage over me. As he raced toward me, quickly eating up the distance between us, I pushed myself back onto all fours. An angry growl left my body as I rushed him, meeting him head on.

We crashed together, our bodies giving way underneath the pure force of the collision. Neither of us could gain the upper hand on the other. We rolled around exchanging blows back and forth. Blood started to coat the area around us. Distantly, the sobs of Rowan's mate caught my attention.

Suddenly, Rowan placed all of his weight onto my back, forcing my body flat against the cold grass. I recognized his strategy as a move I frequently used in combat. Unless I did something immediately, he would his jaw clamped around my neck.

I mustered up all the strength I had left and bucked my body upward. My sore muscles and aching ribs screamed at the resulting contact. The sudden movement caused Rowan to lose his hold on me. I wiggled out of his grasp, and turned to him with a nasty snarl on my face.

A flash of fear crossed his eyes as my animalistic growl ripped through the air. His thick black fur was matted with dried blood. He swayed ever so slightly- the blood loss was clearly getting to him. I was close to passing out as well, but my stubborn nature would not allow me to relent.

This had to be finished. I jumped forward, using all my remaining strength to push him onto his side. My wolf stalked over to his and I placed my front paws on either side of his body. Before he had a chance to struggle and get away, I roughly grabbed his neck.

My teeth sank into his skin. I tasted the metallic blood leaving his wounds. Red flooded my vision when he fought back, refusing to give up the fight.

"Submit!" My voice boomed through the mind link of the whole pack. Rowan whined at the command, but did not relent. I was slowly losing control of my animalistic drive, and my claws pushed into the skin of his side.

"Rowan, stop this!" I heard Leila's frantic voice call from the edge of the crowd. Two pack members were holding her back from running to him. They knew that in my current state, it would be difficult for me to keep from mauling her if she came this way.

He attempted to rip his throat from my hold. His paws scratched at my underbelly, causing more blood to poor from my body. The anger coursing through my body pushed me to assert my dominance. There was no option but to continue. Rowan had forced my hand, and I hated him for it. My jaws grasp on his neck grew even more intense. I felt the bones in his neck shifting underneath my grip, and my claws dug into his side where I continue to push him hard into the ground.

I looked up to see Lincoln at the edge of the crowd. For a fleeting moment I wondered when he had made his way there. An unidentifiable emotion radiated off him in waves, but for once I felt that it wasn't his concern for my safety.

As if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on me, catching a glimpse of him pulled me from the fury filled haze I had been trapped in. "Rowan submit now," I huffed through our mind link, this time only letting him hear my words. "This has crossed the line. You've had your chance to beat me, and you've failed. Don't make me do something I don't want to do."

I felt his body slowly go limp. A small whimper of defeat sounded as he tilted his head back in submission. I released my hold on him and looked around to see my pack members with their heads bowed in respect. Taken back at the action, my wolf bowed in return. Pack members were looking at me in admiration like I had never experienced. Pride swelled in my chest, I had yet again proven to them that I was worthy of leading.

I shifted back into my human form and was immediately met with a view of Lincoln's chest. I looked up at him with apprehension covering my features.. Lincoln had yet to see my wolf in battle, and I wondered what he had thought of my showing.

The expression he now wore showed that he had been impressed. The look he was giving me caused a light bulb to turn on in my head. Realization dawned on my as I connected the dots. Earlier it had been respect I saw radiating off of him, a recognition of my strength.

He cleared his throat and rubbed his hand against the back of his neck, swallowing hard in concentration, "As calm as my exterior appears, there is no way I am going to let any unmated males get an unsolicited view of your body. Especially after that show of dominance."

One arm reached behind his head to pull off the wrinkled shirt he was wearing, and he placed it over my head. As i forced my arms through their holes, an appreciative smile graced my lips. The faded shirt was large enough to allow me some modesty, but the cool breeze that had arrived once the sun had fallen caused goosebumps to cover my bare legs.

"I know I probably should be playing it cool, but that was honestly the most attractive thing I've ever seen," he admitted with a breath taking smile. A hot flush worked its way up to my face at his words.

"I'm sure there are plenty of things more appealing then watching a gory fight. For heavens sake I've covered in injuries," I dismissed his claim while looking at my feet.

He picked up one of my arms, making a big deal of searching for any visible marks on my skin. Kneeling down he made the same observations of my legs. He stood back up and whispered in my ear like a conspiring child, "If you ask me, the other guy got the raw end of that deal."

A very uncharacteristic laugh left my mouth, and I clasped a hand over it to keep the noise from escaping again. "Relax Romeo, there's a couple things keeping us from riding off into any sunsets."

My heart rate increased as a smoldering look was aimed my way by my mate. He held my gaze for a few moments, my breath becoming more hallow by the second, "Love, I'm not thinking about any sunsets. All that's on my mind is that smart mouth marking me. It's all consuming."

The flush that had taken over my face intensified. A hum made it's way through my body with his words. He bent down and brushed a gentle kiss on my cheek before bowing his head and turning from me. He nodded his head toward my Beta's sitting figure, indicating he was done occupying my time.

I couldn't help but watch his retreating figure walking back to the house. Wyatt joined him and gave him a soft pat on the back. I couldn't make out the words they were exchanging.

What I could make out was Lincoln's head turning back in my direction, giving me a playful wink that sent my head into a tailspin.

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PART TWO! I hope you guys enjoyed how this chapter played out!

I added a picture for Leila to the "Visuals" at the beginning of the story, if you want to check that out! Let me know in the comments what your favorite part of the chapter was!

Much love as always my sweeeeeets <3