The tingle my body would have for hours after spending time with Sam was gone and all that was there now was fury. Pacing in my office trying to ignore Alexis' voice, "Dmitri's afraid of losing her to a Lion," and, "You are a weak, pathetic excuse for a wolf." Her words kept repeating over and over again. Grabbing the closest thing I could reach, a table lamp, I threw it and smashed it against the far wall.

"Fuck!" I roared, going over to the desk and picked up the phone. Visions of Sam kissing Nickoli the way she kissed me tonight was the last straw.

"Is Sam alright?" Nickoli's voice rang over the phone.

"She is mine. She will be my mate. If you want to fight for her, meet me at the clearing tomorrow at one pm," I growled, and then slammed the phone down.

"Oh Dmitri, what have you just done?" Shayann stood inside the office door in utter shock.

* * *
NICKOLI

"What happened to Sam?" The urgency in Matt's voice barely registered.

I stood behind my desk with a combination of emotions. First, was relief that Sam was all right. Second, shock of Dmitri's request, and the third, excitement. Dmitri was wrong. Sam was finally going to be mine. I was going to win her fair and square.

"Nick?" Matt asked, getting impatient.

"She's fine. We are fighting tomorrow for the right to be Sam's mate," my voice was hollow.

"What!?" Matt bellowed, "Are you crazy? Sam will...shit, she's either going to be really pissed or really upset."

Spinning on my heels, facing Matt, "I don't have a choice! Its fight or hand her over to him. And that I will not do," my voice raised, "This is who we are! We fight for our mates and Sam will be mine!"

Matt lowered his gaze, not to intentionally challenge me. I didn't mean to take out my frustrations out on Matt, but I would not apologize for it either. I would fight for Sam and not think twice about it. The only thing I would do to spare hurting her any more than necessary was not kill Dmitri.