Page 96 of My Grumpy Alpha

M steps up and raises his hand.

“An Alpha who hasn’t met his mate goes slowly crazy, an Alpha that could eventually lead his pack will lose everything if he doesn’t fight for it. So, at the end of the day, as they said, it’s inevitable. Fight, get it over with, go back to your lives.”

I look around the forest.

Tons of people are watching us, like at least two hundred.

Was I part of this?

I think I was.

No, I know I was.

Am I something other than human?

I look down at my hands. I see no claws. I just see. Human.

Somehow, I’m able to shove Eli away.

“Me. I’ll fight him.”

Xavier laughs again.

“You realize this isn’t a normal fight and even if it were, you would lose?”

I take a deep breath.

“I’ve run my entire life. Lost memories. People. So many precious things, what’s one more fight after a lifetime of darkness? What I do know is that I’m a mate, and what we do is protect what we love.”

Eli groans.

“Ava don’t—“

“Shut up!” I yell at him.

“Let me have this.”

“Let me have you!” he roars.

“It’s not worth it!”

Something burns in my chest as I walk toward Xavier.

“Oh, but it is worth this, I’ve been waiting for this.” What are these words coming out of my mouth? I glare at him.

“You want to be Alpha, then fight me. Take over, if you can.”

“I’ve been head-to-head with Eli for years in business, you think I can’t beat him in battle?”

I laugh.

“One thing you never thought of with my mate, what if you fight me instead, what if you lose?”

Gabe steps in.

“While this is how things are done, you have to know…Ava, if something happens, both you and Eli die. If Xavier wins without killing you—he gets you. You will be his new mate.”

I'm stunned.