The Alpha's Progeny [The Alpha's #3]

MALIK VLADIMIR

If he didn’t have his dad locked away in the dungeon right now and the entire pack wasn’t currently watching his every move, Malik probably wouldn’t have blinked twice at being challenged by the infamous duo that was Peter and Griffin. He certainly wouldn’t have felt so threatened either if it was any other duo that was threatening him and his position.

And then there was also the fact that these two had the exact same agenda as his dad. It didn’t help that they suspected him of foul play, something which he could tell they were spreading among the rest of the pack.

If he rejected Peter’s challenge now, it would make him look even more suspicious.

“Don’t do this, Malik,” Trinity warned him as she stepped out of the car, cautiously looking between him and his opponent. “Just get in the car so we can go.”

We can’t let this go, his wolf disagreed with his mate. This is a public challenge. You can’t say no to a public challenge. Especially when it’s dad’s bitch that’s challenging us.

I couldn’t agree more! he couldn’t help but growl back, even more when Peter dared to stare him in the eyes.

“Sorry, Trin, but I can’t ignore this,” Malik groaned, his eyes not once wavering from the puny wolf in front of him. “You’re the one that issued the challenge,” he purposely projected his voice, speaking loud and clear so he would have no doubt that everyone could hear what he had to say. “Name your terms.”

“A fight to the death in our wolf forms.”

“When?” Malik took a menacing step toward him, glowering.

“Fifteen minutes,” Peter grinned cockily, even more so because most challenges were set hours or even days in the future.

“Make it ten,” he snorted before turning around. Walking around the car, the grabbed Trinity’s hand and led her away from the pack house. As they only had ten minutes until the challenge was set to start, it wasn’t like he could get any practice in anyway.

Not that he needed any to fight against a regular nobody like Peter.

“I really don’t think this is such a great idea,” Trinity frowned as they came to a stop not to far from the dungeon where he currently held his dad captive. “There’s just something about this that doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Trust me, I’m not happy about this either but I can’t turn down a challenge. And certainly not one that was issues in front of the whole pack.”

“I didn’t even know you could challenge an Alpha’s son,” she frowned.

“Seems like Peter’s in it for the long haul,” Malik matched her frown. “Instead of going for the Alpha position, he’s going for the position of the future Alpha. Either way, it would grant him the power he needs to do the sacrifices himself.”

“Well, that doesn’t sit right with me either,” her frown deepened. “I hope you know that he’s not going to play fair.”

“Oh, I can only imagine,” Malik chuckled but the sound was rather strained. “Do you have that little faith in me?” he asked, reaching a hand out to brush a stray strand of dark hair away from her face and behind her ear.

“I have the utmost faith in you,” Trinity sighed, taking a step forward to close the distance between them. “There’s just something about this situation that isn’t sitting right with me. I know it’s just a challenge and that you’ll be able to win it easily, but I can’t help but worry about you.”

“I know,” Malik sighed, closing the little distance between them that remained by wounding his arms around her waist. “I don’t want you to worry about anything, okay? I’m going to be perfectly fine,” he whispered into his hair as he comforted her, stroking a reassuring, comforting hand up and down her back.

Malik and Trinity remained like that for several minutes but when the commotion from the pack gathering outside sounded, they pulled apart.

“I guess that’s our cue to head out onto the fields,” Malik smiled for her sake, trailing his hand down her arm, over her elbow and wrist until he reached hers.

“I guess it is,” she tried to return his smile – but failed – before they headed off toward the crowd.

Malik agreed with his mate. He didn’t doubt for a second that there was definitely something going on under the surface here and for that reason, he ordered two guards to stand in front of the dungeon for the duration of the challenge. He received some curious and confused responses from them, but he didn’t have time to explain.

Not when he had an Alpha position to guard.

There’s no way that this wolf is going to become Alpha! his wolf growled; neither of them having any intention of losing.

As if he could beat us, Malik snorted back. I have no doubt that we’re going to win this challenge.

It’s insulting for him to think that he actually stood a chance against us.

Yes, there’s that, but I’m slightly worried that he’s got something up his sleeve.

What do you mean? his wolf asked. You think that he could actually win the challenge?

No, but he seems awfully confident in himself, Malik hummed as he watched Peter, Griffin and their little posse which was no longer so little emerge from the pack house; all of them far too jolly and confident for him to not be suspicious. He must have some trick up his sleeve or something that we don’t know about.

Like a hidden power?

Maybe, he shrugged. But if Peter does somehow manage to win this challenge, not only will we be dead, but he’ll no longer need dad. He’ll be able to do the sacrifices himself and we won’t be around to stop them from resurrecting Erebus.

At least we won’t be around to watch him destroy the world, Malik chuckled in attempt at a light-hearted joke but it was far too soon. His wolf certainly didn’t appreciate it but as Peter was now in touching distance, there wasn’t time to berate his human for the terrible humour.

“Be careful, okay?” Trinity squeezed his hand, leaning over to press her lips against the corner of his before moving to join the rest of the crowd.

“I will,” Malik promised and threw her a reassuring grin before turning his attention to his opponent.

“Ready, Alpha?” Peter sneered.

“You should ask yourself that,” Malik snorted before dropping himself to the ground, paws slapping the ground instead of hands.

Without waiting for Peter to do the same, he reared his wolfish head back and howled loudly. Every other time, he had been howling up to Lord Erebus but now, he howled for no one but himself and those that he loved. His mate being at the very top of that list.

The ground under his paws shocked and several gasps and whimpers sounded from the crowd, but Malik was the least bit bothered. Not when Peter had decided to play dirty by jumping at him mid-howl.

His howl was very quick to turn into a growl when the smaller, weaker wolf rammed into his side with all of his might. It threw Malik back a few steps but he didn’t fall over. Instead, he took another step back and came back harder. With the butt of his head, he dipped under Peter and rammed into the underside of his stomach. By pushing himself up to his full height, he lobbied the wolf behind him, looking over his shoulder when he landed awkwardly on his shoulder.

Malik expected Peter to whimper and give up so when he was back on his feet quicker before he could turn around, his mind was blown. However, he didn’t have time to recover from that shock as Peter dipped low and came running toward him.

It was just too bad that Malik saw it coming and didn’t make the same dopey mistake as Peter.

He was quick to move over to the side but instead of standing around and watching as Peter tried to come to a stop and get back into the fight, he leaped into the air only to land square on the wolf’s back. Before he could even attempt to buck him off, Malik clamped his mouth around Peter’s neck and bit down hard. He took out a chunk of skin but the gory sight, the mixture of shrieks, gasps and cheers and metallic taste of blood wasn’t enough wasn’t enough to stop him.

It was only when his head was Peter’s wolfish head was no longer attached to the rest of his body that Malik was finally satisfied.

It was just unfortunate that when he lifted his head in victory, he realised that all of this was nothing more than a set up. And a very good one at that.

He sought out his mate in the crowd but didn’t spot her anywhere. He couldn’t even pick up on her scent. As if he needed any more of a clue as to what had happened while he had been fighting for his Alpha position, Peter’s posse of merry, back-stabbing wolves had also disappeared.

Peter fucking set us up! his wolf growled in pure rage as the pure gravity of the situation dawned on him.

Malik didn’t have time to tease his wolf for stating the obvious – not when his mate had gone missing. He howled loudly before leaping through the crowd, uncaring of the many that toppled over at the impact of him.

These wolves are delusional, his wolf growled as he took off running toward the dungeon. He all but committed suicide for this God that probably won’t even learn his name after he rises.

That level of devotion is disgusting, Malik grumbled in agreement but didn’t have time to say anything else. Not when he was met with the sight of two dead bodies in front of the dungeon, laid on either side of the open door. He didn’t have time to mourn the deaths of these nobles warriors as he flew into the dungeon only to find it empty.

Other than the silver chains that were left in disarray, there was no indication that anyone had been down here recently. Well, apart from the

You’d think that they’d at least be smart enough to cover their scents, his wolf snorted.

Unlike they want me to find them, Malik gulped as he swivelled around on the balls of his feet and bounded up the stairs and out of the dungeon.

It didn’t take long to locate the source of the scent, and then even less time to get their attention. Not that he was the least bit surprised, but among the group of Erebus worshippers stood his dad, Orpheus Vladimir, not looking as affected as the silver as he was led to believe yesterday.

And in the centre of it all lay his mate, unconscious or dead, he had no idea.

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Layla Knight

28.08.2021

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Layla Knight

28.08.2021