Free Rise of the Female Alpha by Jasmine White

might take control of the pack. In accordance with the ancient laws that govern our kind, I have accepted her challenge and decided to invoke the death law.”
    A gasp rippled through the crowd. While true challenges were so violent that they often resulted in the death of the losing wolf, the death law meant that the only way someone could be declared victor and new alpha was if they ensured that the other wolf was dead. There could be no submission; only death.
    “Do you accept the terms of this challenge?” said one of the village elders who’d stepped up to officiate. “Do you agree that only one of you will exit the field of challenge victorious, the other to not exit at all?”
    It was a mere formality, and Sienna really had no choice but to go forward. The challenge had been cemented when she’d first issued it.
    “I accept the terms,” she said in a loud commanding voice. “I do this for the betterment of the Blackstone pack, and to protect the future of every wolf to fall under my leadership should I emerge as alpha.”
    “ You will both shift to wolf and not shift back again until one of you has been slain,” said the elder. “Is that clear?”
    They both nodded their consent and began to strip off their clothing. For Kane, it was a simple matter of tearing off the single tie that held his loincloth together. Sienna wished she’d worn something more appropriate, and she awkwardly unbuttoned her shirt and removed her pants and underwear while everyone watched. It was a strange feeling to stand naked before every wolf in her pack, but for once in her life, no one laughed or mocked her curvy body shape.
    Sienna took a moment to scan the eyes of those around her before shifting into her wolf form. She projected as much confidence as she could, and she saw several wolves, including even Pelmay, nod back in silent approval of her challenging their leader.
    Kane had already shifted, and when she finally changed form and squared off with him, she was almost caught off guard by how quickly he lunged at her. The frequent surprise attacks from Arric had given her plenty of practice at dealing with a move like this, and she was out from under his path in a heartbeat. She danced away from him and spun around, quick to keep her face towards him and to show him that she wasn’t afraid.
    They circled each other in the firelight, teeth bared, ears tucked back. Every muscle was taught and ready to explode at he slightest sign of weakness. Sienna saw Kane’s haunch flex and she leapt in to close the gap before he could gain the advantage, but it was a calculated trap on his part and it nearly cost resulted in his ripping her throat out.
    Kane pushed off low, hitting her beneath her forelegs and driving her sideways onto her back. She rolled away quickly, losing a chunk of fur on her neck from where Kane’s jaws had snapped shut just inches away from her jugular. A fraction of a second later, and she would have been dead from her miscalculation.
    This was going to be more difficult than Sienna had expected, and she fought hard to maintain focus despite the fears that rose up inside her. Doubt would be her biggest enemy here, and she knew that she needed to remain one hundred percent focused on Kane. She could tell that he wasn’t playing around with her, and even though that meant she was going to have to deal with the full force of his strength and cunning, it also showed her that he was afraid of her.
    That fear was what she needed to take him down. She allowed him to get in close, and they grappled with each other before breaking apart. There was a gash on her shoulder that bled profusely and stung like crazy, but she’d also gotten a good bit out of his hide, and she could tell that he was trying his best to hide the slight limp in his rear left leg.
    Kane growled and feinted to the right before dodging back right and pushing off his still strong leg to come at her. She’d seen his eyes telegraphing his intentions