Free A Beta's Haven by Carrie Ann Ryan

He
never let his gaze leave his opponent, even as he moved his arm to stop a kick
to the neck.
    The low roll of thunder in the distance set his wolf on
edge, but he tamped it down. The rain would come eventually, and Hunter wanted
to make sure he was done with this before then. The circle was already a mud
pit, the wet sludge clinging to his torn jeans—he didn’t want to deal with more
of that.
    His wolf brushed along the inside of his skin, an
animalistic presence that wanted revenge, blood, and death.
    The man within him wanted the same thing.
    The other wolf came at him at his fastest speed, but Hunter
was faster. His hands shifted to claws, and he slashed out, catching the other
wolf along the shoulder. His opponent screamed as blood seeped from the deep
wound, but Hunter didn’t care. He squeezed his fingers together, cutting the
other man deeper.
    His opponent met his gaze, the anger all but lashing out at
him.
    Hunter had seen the depravity of a winged demon bent on
quenching its thirst and lust on decaying corpses within the depths of the
gladiator games.
    This wolf had nothing on that.
    His opponent slashed his claws down Hunter’s side, but
Hunter moved too fast for the other wolf to break the skin.
    He’d spent enough time playing around with this wolf,
allowing him to think he actually had a chance. Hunter lifted a lip and
showed fang, growling deep within his chest. The air around him seemed to
freeze, and time stood still.
    Hunter cocked his head to the side as fear seeped into the
other wolf’s eyes. Finally, the other wolf knew its life relied on Hunter’s
mercy.
    The others called Hunter an animal.
    They called him depraved.
    Soulless.
    Yes, this wolf had something to fear, but death would not be
among them.
    Not today.
    Hunter kicked out then twisted, causing the other wolf to
fall to his knees in pain. He gripped the bastard by the neck and squeezed.
    “Forfeit,” Hunter growled, his voice scraping against his
throat from lack of use.
    The other wolf’s eyes rolled back, and then he slammed his
hand to the ground twice.
    The murmurs and howls around them forced Hunter to look at
the crowd. He and the other wolf stood in the center of the Nocturne Pack
circle, blood and mud covering their bodies and worn jeans. Other members of
his Pack growled around them. Some had looks of relief on their faces. Others
held a bit of fear…or anger.
    The latter would have to be dealt with soon.
    “Matthew calls forfeit,” Liam Murray, council member and
one-time friend, called out. “It is up to Hunter whether to call death, but the
circle has chosen. Hunter is our Beta.”
    “As it should have been in the first place,” Josiah, their
Alpha, spat. “I have spoken and the circle has agreed. My choice reigns.”
    “For now,” Dorian Masterson whispered, though Hunter wasn’t
sure if anyone else had heard the bastard.
    Hunter had keener senses than most wolves due to his
bloodline and destiny. His stint in the gladiator games of hell had only honed
them stronger. He’d been back only a month, and he still didn’t feel as though
he fit in his skin. Everything had changed in his absence.
    The council had grown with more power. His Alpha had grown
weaker without Hunter there to protect him. Josiah’s last protector had
perished
    Samuel…Samuel, Hunter’s brother, had died protecting the
Alpha when the council had tried to take over.
    None of it made sense to Hunter. He’d fought for his life
countless times and killed so many demons and other supernaturals that he
wasn’t sure the blood would ever leave his hands, yet when he’d returned to the
human realm, he’d faced another battle.
    His own Pack.
    Hunter rolled his shoulders then stalked toward his Alpha,
who stood surrounded by the five council members. That alone pissed him off to
no end. The council should have no place near the Alpha. There were only
advisors on good days and whispers on bad ones.
    Yet they stood there and had demanded a fight