---Lyra's POV---

When Ryan approached us, I was honestly expecting him to be furious about the loss of another of his pack buddies. However, the first words out of his mouth weren't hateful rants of rogues and other bullshit.

Instead, he looked quite sheepish, scratching the back of his neck. "I... I would like to apologize, for my reaction earlier. For all of my outbursts really."

I blinked, surprised and quite honestly, shocked that he came to me to apologize, without prompting of anyone.

Ryan sighed deeply, seemingly unable to look me in the eyes. "I've had some...really bad experiences with rogues. Lost people I was close with and-"

Raising my hand, I stopped him, softly adding "I understand, Ryan. Mostly. But you can't hunt down and attempt to murder people for something that someone else in the past has done to you."

"And I understand that. At least, now I do. Hate has consumed be for the most of my childhood and no matter what anyone else said, all I had to do was encounter another violent rogue to be proven right."

"And then you met me." I nodded in understanding, knowing exactly how it looked in Ryan's eyes. To encounter a supposed bloodthirsty rogue, a monster that would've ripped any pack member to shreds...

Yet there I was, risking my own life, sheltering a pack pup with my own body from harm that they inflicted upon us.

That must be part of the reason why he was so aggressive. Why he lashed out uncontrollably, because I was the rogue that threatened to turn his entire world upside down.

Being forced to change everything he knew, everything he did, would make him realize that he too has potentially done things that he should be ashamed of.

So it was only natural to push back, to deny and spew more hatred. But at least now, he sat down and accepted that he was wrong. That he needed to change his way of thinking.

Smiling, I glanced at a confused Jason before giving him a pointed look. "Unless this is going to be a two-on-one fight, aren't you supposed to sit with your friends over there?"

I pointed at the rest of the defeated youngsters as Jason blinked in surprise before clearing his throat. "Uh, yeah! Yeah, I'll , yeah. I'll just go...."

Even as he sped off the arena, I could already hear the whispers and murmurs going through the crowd. Because this wasn't just any regular wolf on wolf fight.

This was a fight between two natural born Alphas. A fight that was bound to get nasty, as Alphas all had a stubborn side to them that refused to admit defeat until they were utterly destroyed.

Bets were being places, some in favor of Ryan, some surprisingly in my favor and even several bets indicating a draw between us two.

However, before we could even split apart in preparation for our upcoming fight, Blake was fast approaching us and motioning for us to stay where we were.

What's going on?

I shot a glance at the Pack Luna and noticed that Christy was already looking at both of us, a worried frown creasing her brow.

"Before we start this fight, I need to make a few things absolutely sure." Blake murmured in his deep voice, now even deeper with his concern as he eyed us both.

"The rules for this fight are that you have to either pin your opponent or make them surrender. The fight will continue until either one of you manage to do so or if either of you are unable to continue the fight."

He crouched down, lowering himself to our height to give us both a stern glare. "Now, I know both of you are born Alphas and I know just how headstrong your beasts are from personal experience."

"This fight is not an execution. Neither of you are allowed to attempt to kill one another, nor to cause permanent injury. I can understand a broken bone and bite wounds but there is a difference between a small fracture and tearing someone's throat out, you hear me?"

"Yes Alpha."

"Yes Alpha."

He snorted, pushing back on his feet. "Good. And remember that your pride is useless when you're dead." He eyed both of us meaningfully. "It takes more strength to admit you're weaker than an opponent, than forcing yourself to keep fighting."

With that, he left us in the center of the ring, squaring off to one another. Each one of us sizing up the other, keeping our vulnerabilities covered while trying to find an opening in the other's defense.

With a growl, Ryan lunged forwards, managing to slip past my defense and punch me straight in the cheek. Shaking my head with a snarl, I grasped his arm and returned the favor by elbowing his gut.

Instead of stumbling back, Ryan used his hold on me by throwing me off. A sly smirk twitched on his lips as I scrambled back on my feet. "You know, although we're both born Alphas, this really shouldn't be considered a fair fight."

"Really?" I drawled sarcastically, stretching the word before darting forwards. I managed to punch him in the ribs, ducking out of his grasping hands and smirked back. He definitely felt that one, judging from the slight wheeze to his breath. "And why's that?"

Ryan's grimace turned into a grin, blocking my next punch and shoving me with such force, I skidded over the grass. "Being a man means that genetically, biologically, I have a strength advantage." He stated while taking a step forwards, "Which means that I should beat you quite easily." He took another step, growling lowly in an attempt to intimidate me.

"Perhaps." I replied, not falling for his attempt to anger me by calling me weak without actually stating it. He was correct that on average, an untrained man would be biologically stronger than an untrained woman.

But that denounced and didn't account for any training. I didn't have the cushy, pampered lifestyle that most pack wolves had. My life since exile had been harsh, full with trials and hardships.

Ryan's expression changed to one of frustration as he leapt forward with the clear intent to tackle me around the waist and pin me down. Instead, I dodged backwards and kneed him in the stomach.

"But I'll let you in on a secret." I murmured as he gasped for air, snarling when I punched him in the jaw and leapt back to his feet. He swirled around, throwing several punches that would've certainly left their mark.

If they landed their target.

Instead I used Ryan's own strength, pushing and shoving the punches out of the way when he least expected it and threw him off balance. "You may be stronger than me. But I'm faster than you." I revealed, dodging under his punch and hitting an elbow in his solar plexus.

Ryan sounded like a deflating balloon, gasping and wheezing for the air that got knocked out of him. If he had been a human, that might've been enough to knock him out cold. As he was a werewolf, all it did was manage to bring him down on his knees.

Yet I knew this momentary sign of vulnerability was deceitful and he proved me correct by leaping up in his feet and lashing out. His punch, that was clearly meant to knock me out or at the very least stagger me, missed because I was anticipating it.

Instead of being hit by the dangerous blow, I twirled around it. Once my back was aimed at his stretched out arm, I grabbed a hold of his wrist, felt his elbow against my back before pulling his wrist in my direction.

The combined sound of a sickening pop followed by Ryan's snarl announced my success, though I did earn another punch to the bottom of my jaw that I failed to dodge.

I smiled through the pain as I lunged backwards, gingerly pressing my fingers against my sensitive jaw. Knowing that no matter how much my jaw ached, Ryan's hyperextended elbow would hurt so much worse.

"What the fuck did you do to me?" Ryan hissed through clenched teeth, gingerly holding his arm close to his body. There was a certain swelling already appearing, where his skin gained motley patches of red around the abused joint.

Rolling my jaw for a moment, I was pleased that nothing seemed to be broken. "Simple, I hyperextended your elbow. Stretched it beyond it's normal capabilities to the point where now, that arm will be useless for some time."

With a vicious snarl, Ryan lunged for me again. After this interaction, the fight felt rawer, more brutal than before. Our Alpha wolves were clashing with each punch thrown, each hit that staggered one another only frustrated and angered our wolves.

Each blow that landed made our wolves snarl, eager to show whom exactly was the Alpha between the two of us. No wonder that Brandon had pressed us both that he wanted no lethal injuries.

Because I could feel my own wolf pushing closer to the surface, angered and frustrated at not being shown the respect an Alpha should receive. And that same repressed anger and frustration was clearly visible in Ryan's own darkening eyes.

The struggle for the upper hand continued and while I slightly had the upper hand by being able to dodge his attacks, the blows he landed were devastating.

As I struggled to pin him, trying and failing to push past his strength with my smaller frame, Ryan snapped. He threw me off with such force, I was airborne for a moment before I landed in a puff of dirt.

Groaning from the impact, I couldn't afford to be dazed by the rough landing when the sounds of clothing being ripped to shreds echoed through the air.

Ryan had finally shifted into his massive wolf. And from the looks of it, he was slowly losing the internalized fight of control with his own wolf.

The massive black wolf was staring me down from across the field, teeth bared in an angry snarl. Ryan already knew he had the advantage as his wolf, because my own, more slender wolf would be dwarfed by his own massive wolf.

Even though his wolf was close to taking over, I could see the amusement brighten his amber eyes. If he thought that would be enough for me to surrender, he was dead wrong.

Dealing with a size difference in a fight was a common occurrence in my life. This wouldn't be the first and definitely not the last time it happened.

---Ryan's POV---

I was astonished that she didn't back down, knowing she was at a clear disadvantage. Besides my father and a few of the Enforcers, I was one of the largest wolves of the pack.

Then again, she hadn't backed down either when we first encountered her in the woods. In fact, she had stood her ground and snarled as if I had been the smaller one between us.

Yet as I sniffed the air, I could sense a whiff of her nerves even if she remained as a human.

"Good, that means that she doesn't underestimate us." My wolf purred with contentment.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked it as I started circling Lyra. The mutt sounded overly pleased with itself before it snorted.

Feeling our front leg wobble when I put force on it, I bit through the pain as my wolf commented "It means, that she still respects us as an Alpha. Which also means you didn't waste all of our chances by being a dick to her for no good reason."

I rolled my eyes at the remark before circling Lyra more intently. Looking for any weakness, the smallest opening that I could pounce on.

But she was doing the same, forcing me to act normal each time I used the front leg that she damaged.

"Get her pinned, Ryan. Your leg is only going to get worse the longer this fight lasts and she'll definitely capitalize on any weakness shown." Kale shouted through the mind link.

Jason hummed in agreement. "Remember, she already fought all of us. She must be getting tired, and that means she's bound to make a mistake sooner or later."

Flicking my ear to show I heard them, I lunged for Lyra. Each time she dodged, I dug my claws in the dirt and bolted after her, forcing her to keep moving, expending energy even while she was tired.

After all, the fight had started at down but right now it was already in the late afternoon, getting closer to dusk. I was counting on her making a fatal error, a slight stumble that would knock her off balance.

All I needed was a grip on her throat and she'd be forced to surrender.

Yet as I lunged, she dropped down on the floor voluntarily, making me overshoot and fly straight across her form. And when I turned, I was facing her wolf form.

The fight is reaching its climax.

Her shifting only meant one thing; she was getting tired and equally as desperate as myself to end the fight with one lucky blow. She was getting more and more tired by the minute.

But my leg was also getting weaker.

In a flash, we lunged for another. A whirling pile of enraged fur, snapping teeth and claws that dug into the other's pelt, trying to dig through and bite down.

My body stilled as her teeth snapped down on my weakened leg. For a split second, all I heard was the crunch of her teeth, grinding down on my bone before I was overwhelmed with a wave of pain.

Snarling, I thrashed around in her hold, forcing her to break grip or loose a few teeth. The motion knocked her off balance and my wolf saw it's window of opportunity.

Darting forwards, it used all the remaining strength in our hind legs, barreling head first into her rib cage and bowling her over.

The impact made me tumble and crash myself as Lyra was sent rolling over the dirt before skidding to a halt.

And remained motionless.

Fear bit at my haunches as the crowd and I remained quiet, looking at Lyra's still form. Everyone had heard the same, sickening snap of bones breaking under the solid impact of my skull against her ribs.

The whine that had slipped from her throat seconds before air wheezed from her deflating lungs had sounded more than pained.

Already several pack doctors were flooding the field, rushing towards Lyra as she remained still, yet breathing. Father was already beside her, a concentrated frown on his face as he spoke to her through their link.

I tried but failed to get up, feeling all the strength leave out of my trembling legs. "Is she okay? Can she still breathe?"

Dad glancing my direction, sending me a worried smile. "She'll survive but several of her ribs are broken. While she's able to breathe, it's superficial and won't be enough to keep fighting."

He looked back down at Lyra while adding "She'll heal within two, perhaps three hours and will be back up and running. But not in time to finish this fight."

Murmurs started in the crowd, a few of my friends already prepared to celebrate my victory.

"Call it as a draw."

Dad looked up with surprise as he glanced between us. "Are you certain? Technically you did win this fight."

"We both are unable to keep fighting. She can't breathe deep enough to continue and I can hardly move my legs. The truth is that, if I hadn't accidentally broken her ribs, she would've won." I relayed with a grunt, flopping on my side to stretch out my sore limbs.

At that, my father couldn't have looked any prouder, a bright smile beaming towards us as he chuckled. "I'm proud of you Ryan. You've shown remarkable growth in a short time."

Instead of replying, I huffed, flinching when one of the pack doctors started to examine my leg. The pack was in an uproar as dad announced the results, cheering for both of us.

A soft, slightly familiar presence nudged against my own mind. It took me a moment before I recognized Lyra's presence, tilting my head and locking eyes with her.

"Thank you." She whispered with heartfelt, genuine emotion in her voice.

My wolf huffed in response, flexing our tail in a slight albeit weak wag. "You're welcome." I replied, unable to stop myself from feeling self-satisfied. Perhaps, this was the start of something fresh, something new.

Something that could perhaps develop into the future.