**| Sang's POV |**
In The Gallows, when a fight approached, they would stop poisoning us with silver, giving us time to heal, and then pumped us full of some kind of steroid concoction so we could fight at full strength. The fact that fights were about once a month, they had the time to jump-start our system to heal after keeping us weak for a couple weeks. The rotation pretty much followed two to three weeks weak with silver, a week of detox and healing, a day of fighting, and repeat.
Over and over again.
Each fight growing harder for the more seasoned fighters. And the weak ones were just killed. We literally fought for our lives, even if we lived through the match.
So I knew how to fight. I had to learn quickly and my great memory allowed me to do just that. I could watch a move and then easily replicated it later on.
Silas knew this.
Nathan didn't.
Nathan brought us out to a clearing to give us space to fight. As promised, Alpha Blackbourne, Sean, and Silas were there. Silas's expression was dark as his eyes flickered between Nathan and I.
I sent him a calming smile. I wanted this.
My wolf wanted this.
We wanted to fight. To release this pent up aggression.
And I had to trust that Nathan wouldn't let me hurt him. I stared at Nathan, taking in his broad, tapered shoulders, massive bare chest, the defined muscles. He knew how to take care of his body and it showed. With each step, his abs flexed and I had to make sure I wasn't drooling at the little show. I liked the way his red shorts rested on his hips. They just needed a little tug to fall.
Whoa. Where was that coming from?
I shook my head and tore my eyes away from Nathan and focused on Alpha Blackbourne, taking in his closed off expression, his grey eyes like steel as they focused on us. He stepped forward and everyone focused on him.
"This is just a sparring match. No killing, no maiming. Concede when you know you'll lose and don't go too far. Do not become stubborn." With those simple instructions, he stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest, eyes watchful.
Nathan moved first, circling me. His bare feet were silent with each step, not even a rustle from the foliage on the ground. I forced my limbs to move and mirrored him, unwilling to give him my back or to let him get close to me. My wolf perked up at the potential threat, ready to come out, but I never shifted before my opponent did. It was my way of testing their patience.
My bare feet landed just as softly as Nathan's did on the ground. The warm air tickled my exposed skin. The only clothes on me were my bra and undies. With my instincts taking over, I couldn't even feel embarrassed about being so exposed in front of everyone. The Gallows quickly taught me to get over myself. I spent more time in the nude than with any kind of clothes on.
We gauged each other before Nathan made his move, coming in to knock me down. I danced away, swiping at him with my leg, my wolf curling my lip up into a snarl. We tested each other out, dancing around each other, staying at the edge of our personal zones and just out of reach.
Finally, I went in, spotting a weakness. I swung at him, clipping his cheek. His eyes turned a deep blue, his wolf coming to the surface. The real battle was about to begin. I just needed to push him a little bit more.
I could see him holding himself back. He was just as wary as I was at letting my wolf out, but he desperately wanted to get this show on the road.
"Let's do this, Sang. Let your wolf out to play," Nathan said with a determined look and then he allowed himself to shift. His shift was quick and smooth, leaving behind a beautiful wolf with the reddish brown hair going down his body. The wolf had mine rising in response. She pushed herself up against my skin and then I turned into a wolf, the shift just as fast as his.
Nathan growled at me and I growled back, carefully disentangling myself from the torn underwear as Nathan did the same to his shorts.
Now the games would begin.
Just sparring.
Just sparring.
My wolf wanted to tear into him, but I yanked hard on our instincts.
We were just sparring. No death.
Fun. We were doing this for fun.
My wolf seemed confused by that thought. She didn't understand. I didn't really understand either. I just knew we weren't going to hurt Nathan. Not seriously, at least.
We didn't wait, my wolf wouldn't let us, and so we charged, going right for the kill.
No, not kill. Play.
Our tale was up high to show off our confidence as we closed the distance between the two of us. I snapped at him and then bared my teeth as he jumped backward, keeping out of reach. I pushed forward, determined to get a piece of him.
He danced around me and lightly dug his teeth into my back. I turned and aimed to chomp onto his leg but he danced away from me. The glint in his eyes told me he was amused.
My wolf did not like that at all. We went in for the kill again.
Not kill. Play.
I had to keep reminding my wolf. She wanted to take a chunk out of Nathan, to feel his blood in her mouth. I waged two battles, one with Nathan and another with my wolf.
Our teeth wrapped around Nathan's back left leg and we bit down, but not all the way like we could have. As we bit down, we moved backward, forcing Nathan to lose his balance. His other leg snapped out and we had to let go to avoid getting hit.
I forced us back, putting space between Nathan and I. Our heartbeat was a little wild, the adrenaline pumping too fast. I could feel my wolf trying to take complete control, to let loose completely. I couldn't let her do that.
Her anger surged through my body and I stiffened as an attempt to curve that anger. If she let it out now, it would all be focused on Nathan.
Nathan growled, the sound questioning. Someone shuffled and my head whipped around to see the Alpha shifting closer, his eyes narrowed on us. Mine stood next to him, his eyes dark with concern. The doctor was focused as he stared at us, unblinking.
The red wolf nudged at me and I whirled, snapping at him in warning to back off. He made a chuffing sound. Laughing. He was laughing.
We growled and then went in for the kill.
We bit and clawed. The other wolf returned the favor.
We tackled him. He rolled us to take control. We kicked out. He danced away.
And then we repeated.
Fighting.
Over and over.
Neither of us willing to give.
We had the red wolf pinned when a howl interrupted us. The sound was of warning, of a plea for help. All the hairs on our body stood up in response.
"Rogues," the doctor whispered and our sensitive ears easily picked up the sound.
Rogues.
Memories flashed through my mind.
Rogues.
Blood.
Broken pup.
Anger.
Pain.
Games.
Rogues liked their games.
My wolf growled at that. No rogues. Rogues were bad.
Someone cursed and we looked over to Mine, who's eyes were narrowed on us.
"Don't," he warned. We growled at Mine.
Rogues were bad. Even we knew that. They were really bad. They purposely took part in The Gallows just for some extra money and a little prestige among each other.
"We have to go," the doctor spoke up, looking off in the distance.
Another howl echoed, the energy in the air thickening as the Alpha reacted.
"Nathan, take Miss Sang back," he said. "Gabriel and Victor need our help."
I growled at that.
We didn't run from rogues. Ever.
We would never tuck our tails and run from a rogue. They didn't deserve our fear.
In this, my wolf and I were in agreement. We wouldn't let the rogues win. Ever.
We growled at the group and jumped off the red wolf, sprinting towards the howling, using our senses to lead the way. There was slight tinge of blood in the air and it only spurred us on, our feet barely touching the ground as we got closer and closer to the source.
Mine yelled for us but we ignored him.
He knew better.
Rogues needed to die.
And they were attacking the pack, who were risking their necks to help me.