Free A Promise on White Wings (Wiccan-Were-Bear) by R. E. Butler Page B

prophecy that would lead the falcons and lions into a new kind of alliance.  Hope that she would carry children not only for Jes, but also for Chance.  Hope that at the end of the night she would be back in Bishop in bed with her two mates.
    Adriel’s voice rang out clearly.  “As is the tradition of our people, when a female who was promised to a male is unfairly taken, that male is allowed to challenge the offender for the right to take her back.  King Kajika, state your case.”
    Kajika planted his hands on his hips and glared, not at Jes and Chance, but at her.  She felt chilled to the core.  “As King, it is my right to choose mates for the members of my den if they have refused to mate on their own.  I chose to give the non-shifter Danika – who I sheltered in my den for the span of her life – to my son, Mato, so that she would continue to receive the protection of the den.”  He pointed at Jes and Chance.  “These two creatures stole Danika, shaming my son, myself, and my den.  We demand the right to fight to restore our honor and bring Danika back to the den where she belongs.”
    Adriel looked at Jes.  He said, “Danika is my prophesied mate, and mate also to the lion Prince.  She has bound both of our groups together in a new alliance.  You will see our mating marks on her neck and arms and scent our seed inside her.  She belongs to us, and we will meet this challenge and fight for what is right and true.  Regardless of whether she was a member of your den or not, you were planning to give her to a male she did not love, to give her away as if she had no value.”
    Kajika growled, “I have supported her in the den since she was an abandoned child with no family or home.  It is my right as her King to choose her fate.”
    Jes snarled, “You cannot choose her destiny. She has chosen a life with us away from your den.”
    Mato thumped his fist against his chest.  “She is mine, and I will have her again.  Choose who I will fight and say goodbye to the whore who will pay for her sins on her knees!”
    Chance growled furiously, and all the lions around her snarled in anger while the falcons hissed in rage.
    Adriel quickly stated that shifting into animal form was grounds for disqualification, the fight was not to be to-the-death, and that he would intervene when a clear winner appeared.  Mato grinned at her from across the clearing and ran his thumb across his neck in a threatening manner.  Kajika and Chance moved to stand by Adriel and Jes took off his shirt, tossing it aside.  Mato was already shirtless and without shoes, bouncing on the balls of his feet like a child before a birthday cake.  She’d never prayed before because she’d never known who to pray to, but she began to fervently pray to the gods of Jes’ people to protect him and bring him back to her safely.
    With a hand motion from Adriel, Mato and Jes grappled, and her heart pounded in her chest.  She reached blindly to each side and gripped Tonik’s and Gamble’s hands, squeezing them tightly.  Mato tossed Jes to the ground and leapt at him, but Jes arched up from the dirt and spun away with a kick that nailed Mato in the face.  The scent of blood filled the air as Mato grabbed his face and groaned.  The groan quickly changed to a snarl as he swung at Jes, connecting with his side.
    Their fists flew at each other.  Jes punched Mato and his knuckles tore on his teeth as Mato’s head kicked back.  Mato swung and Jes ducked, punching him three times in the ribs before Mato stepped to the side.  With a grunt, Jes lunged at Mato and grabbed him around the waist, taking him down to the ground.  Rearing up, Jes fisted Mato’s hair and lifted his head, punching him in the face again and again.
    Danika felt the den’s eyes on her, and she ignored them, knowing that her future was not in their hands any longer.  Her life was with Jes and Chance, and there was no alternative.
    Mato kicked at Jes, who blocked his leg