Blood Challenge by Kit Tunstall

around the circle as he made love to her.
    Ellie was surprised how it increased her own ardor, watching these two consummate their union. Once more, she met Rica’s eyes, finding them locked on her, and not paying any attention to the couple. Her breasts tingled, but not because of the cold. In fact, it had gotten hot, and the sash around her waist seemed to chafe her skin. She wanted to throw it off and go to him.
    She didn’t even care about the others who would be watching their consummation. Right then, she wanted him any way she could have him, even if it meant in front of a gathering of two hundred. All thoughts of rejecting him had fled in the face of her desire. She ached to have Rica, even for a few months.
    She would soon have her chance, because Viggo called her name.
    Ellie stepped forward, conscious of the eyes examining her nude body, but only caring about Rica’s, as they caressed every inch of her. She could feel her pussy warming, and electric tingles ran under her skin wherever his gaze paused.
    “Who challenges for Ellie?”
    She held her breath as Rica stepped forward. The crowd of men had thinned to four, and those remaining shuffled their feet. Two blended back into the larger group, but the other two stepped forward. The taller one spoke. “We challenge for the outsider.”
    There was a definite growl in Rica’s voice. “I challenge for Ellie.”
    The shorter, stocky man stepped up to Rica. He inclined his head, sending long strands of dark-blond waving around his face. “I will begin the challenge.”
    Viggo nodded, raising his voice. “Vitoro and Tristin challenge Rica for Ellie. Vitoro will fight first.”
    Ellie didn’t think Vitoro could beat Rica, but she wondered what would happen to his position of Alpha if someone did defeat him. Would they take over leadership of the Pack too? She bit her lip, watching the two men circle each other after they transformed.
    Rica made the first attack. He made a low leap at his opponent, catching Vitoro’s front paws and knocking him to the ground. The other man howled his anger, but he wasn’t hurt. He was quick to regain his feet. Even as he appeared to be steadying himself, he leapt at Rica. Vitoro’s teeth ripped into Rica’s side, but he didn’t make a sound.
    He backed away and watched Vitoro with a wary stance. His attention was focused on Vitoro, who feinted forward, but didn’t actually attack. Ellie’s eyes remained glued to the battle, until she saw movement with her peripheral vision. She turned her head in time to see Tristin morph to wolf-form and leap. She called out a warning, and Rica’s head snapped in her direction, instead of Tristin’s.
    He yelped when the other man landed on his back, as Vitoro darted forward to join the attack. Ellie found her feet carrying her toward the men, and she intended to throw herself into the fracas. Viggo caught her around the waist. She glared up at him. “Stop this. It isn’t fair.”
    “It is, Ellie. It isn’t an honorable way to fight, but it’s accepted. If your man is strong enough, he will defeat them.”
    Her glare intensified. “What happens if they defeat Rica? Will they get leadership of the Pack as well?”
    He nodded.
    She wrenched free of his hold, but forced her feet to stay in place as Rica battled his opponents. She heard a long, low cry of pain and held her breath. Seconds later, the brownish wolf limped away, dragging his rear leg. A few steps from the ring, he collapsed and returned to his human form.
    She felt a stir of hope when the match was once again fair. The hope fled when she caught sight of Rica. Blood smeared his coat, and he seemed to be moving with effort, while Vitoro’s feints were still lithe and full of energy. He was faster than Rica too, darting in and out to nip at him.
    Ellie clasped her hands together as Rica’s muscles bunched. He crouched low to the ground, and his sides heaved. She couldn’t tell if he were about to collapse or attack. As