Page 116 of Rot In Knotty Pieces

“Mine,” I growl instantly.

Her eyebrows go up. “Oh, we get possessive over our fights, too, do we?”

I glance down at her in amusement. She’s deliberately riling these guys up. Her eyes gleam at me, and she turns her head to take in the leader as he approaches.

“We should give you a warning, so at least you have a rough idea of what you are getting into.”

“Shut the fuck up, bitch.”

Raven opens her mouth and closes it. “Well, that just wasn’t nice, not even at all. Oh, darling? Come, take me away so King can play.”

Rolly bounds over and steals our Raven away from me. I’m still smiling, but it’s even wider. I’m excited.

Raven and Rolly stand close by, I can feel them watching.

“You don’t have to do this,” I say to them quietly. “You can walk away and pretend like you never saw me.”

“Nah, not a big threat like you. We can’t ignore you. You shouldn’t be here, homie.”

“Homie?” I wrinkle my nose in distaste. “Please refrain from using words like that for me. My name is King, or you may call me Alpha.”

“Alpha?” The guy explodes with laughter. He looks around him, checking to make sure all his friends are watching. That they are all sitting there celebrating his incredible intellect.

He swings at me, but I’ve already predicted what he’s going to do, and I step back, then again when he comes for me.

“Rolly?” I say when even more pour into the street.

“I’ve got her. You go do your thing. Have fun, you nutjob.”

“Ya know, I can bloody well take care of myself!” Raven snarls.

“We know, baby, but this is King’s moment. Let him play hero, show off all those rippling muscles so he can get laid good and proper tonight and feel like he’s earned it.”

I’ve stopped even paying attention to the guy, almost all my attention is on Rolly and the ridiculous statement he just told our omega.

“Rolly,” I warn.

“It’s okay, King, I’ve got your back.”

He sits down on some stairs and leans back on his elbow, watching with interest.

“Proceed, your royal hottie.”

I snarl and turn back in time to catch the pole that comes swinging at my head. I drag him up close to me, and in his eyes, I see the dawning realisation that he bit off more than he can chew, but he can’t back down. He’s got to save face with his gang somehow. Running would be worse than losing.

I toss him aside.

In the city, I’m a threat. One that is a challenge and a test. Twelve of them come towards me, and I flex my fingers, the familiar thrill sparking in the base of my spine. My blood races, my vision gets sharper.

Everything becomes more, in a similar but different way as when I’m with my pack. It’s a thrill that makes life worth living. I’ve been shoving down the need to fight, suppressing it.

But when this arrogant alpha gets in my space, snorting and growling, bumping my chest and shoving me, I do the only thing that makes sense.

Uppercut.

He’s out before he even hits the ground.

The world goes still while he flies backwards. The blood from his new wound spraying hot across my face. I grin and exhale in pure joy.