Chapter 12

Aric waited for Conrad to show for the Alpha Challenge. When he didn't show for the alpha challenge, he became angry and decided to go and find the bastard.

"Where is your pathetic alpha?" Aric growled at the young guard outside the pack house.

"I'm not sure, Alpha Aric. I haven't seen him in several hours." The boy looked terrified enough to shit himself, and Aric was glad. It meant he didn't have to use harsher tactic to get the answers out of him. Although it left him frustrated, it didn't help him any to not get answers. He quickly tossed the boy to the side and started toward the front door of the pack house. He skipped steps, taking two at a time. Just as he reached the handle of the door, he heard laughing coming out of the woods.

Aric stalked toward the ground, seeing Conrad leading them. When he was standing in front of Conrad. "You have missed our alpha challenge, you forfeit. I want my reward and I want her now."

"I don't owe you shit. You are on my territory, remember?" Conrad laughed and Aric could tell he was putting on a face for his pack members.

"Do you not remember alpha law? A challenge is a challenge. If you renege on the challenge, you forfeit whatever the other alpha wants. I want her in front of me ASAP." Aric couldn't control his alpha wolf any longer and could feel his alpha aura flowing over the small group. The other were quickly forced to their knees and it looked like Conrad was having a difficult time staying on his feet.

"Fuck you, Aric. Get the hell off my lands. You are no longer welcome here."

Angered beyond comprehension, his wolf quickly took over and Aric shifted. Chann took over, his dark chocolate brown fur sprouting through Aric's skin. Chann let out a large growl that seemed to shake the ground. Conrads group scattered to try and separate themselves from Chann and Conrad. Intimidated on his own lands, Conrad shifted as well. He wasn't as large as Aric, nor did he have such an intimidating aura. His wolves were terrified of Aric, which made him feel as though he were not an alpha of his pack.

Aric didn't care how Conrads wolf was feeling, he didn't even care to find out what his name was. Aric circled Conrad, but he didn't dare to take his eyes off of Aric's wolf. Figuring his only way to win would be the element of surprise and the first attack, Conrad formulated a plan and put it into action as fast as he could to cause Aric's focus to be compromised. Aric and Chann could see what Conrad was planning, just small movements of his body told Aric he was going to attack. Just as he figured, Conrad attacked just as Aric circled in front of him, aiming for Aric's underbelly. Aric was able to avoid the initial attack. His rigorous training from his father enabled him to completely disrupt his opponents plans solely on the body language. When Conrad launched onto Aric's back, Aric rolled and kicked Conrad off before he could bite into his back.

Just as Conrad was able to get onto his feet, Aric was on top of Conrad in a flash. He bit into the scruff at the nape of Conrad's neck. He continued to bite into Conrad's flesh until the weaker wolf submitted to his alpha control. It didn't take long for Conrad to give up. The battle between alphas was over before it even officially began.

As they both shifted back to their human forms, Aric looked at Conrad who stayed on his knees, his head bowed down in submission.

"Now, give me the woman," Aric waited for Conrad to give the command to his wolves to bring Sarya to him. All Aric heard was a laugh come from Conrad's bowed head. "What's so funny, 'alpha'?" His tone sneering the fact that Conrad was an extremely weak alpha. At the snide remark, Aric could see the anger rising in Conrad's eyes.

"You won't find her. She ran into the woods and left the pack. But she ran into quite the bit of trouble, she ran right into Alpha Samuel Vartos territory. Do you know what he does to rogues who enter his territory without permission? Chances are, you won't find her alive." The maniacal laugh that came from Conrad caused Aric to falter.

"Fuck!" Aric growled as his frustration at knowing his mate... well, ex-mate was in trouble. "You promised her to me if I beat you in combat. Find a way to get her back or your pack will be done for. Do you understand me?" He grabbed the collar of Conrad's shirt, pulled him closer, and growled at him. Aric's face showed his frustration, anger, and hatred for the weak alpha. This made Conrad worry that Aric might not control it, and he wasn't used to being weaker than someone else.

Frustrated at the weak alpha, Aric mind-linked Leon and told him to get ready to move on. They had another alpha to visit before it was too late. Although Aric couldn't have her, no one else would have her either. She would stay with him, but he would never be able to claim his rejected Invalid.