Territory - Prequel by Susan A. Bliler

when he was stressed, Dell had stomped off into the forest. 
    When Briggs finally caught up to him he said nothing, but simply kept pace at his brother’s side.
    “I think you r mother’s senile!”
    Briggs smiled.  He knew Dell would talk if he was just given time.  “ My mother?” he scoffed . “How come every time she says or does something you don’t agree with she becomes my mother?”
    Dell snorted, a light smile lifting a corner of his mouth.  “Because I find it hard to believe that any relation of mine would believe something so idiotic .”
    Briggs trie d to hide his smile.  “You know she’s been around long enough to know what she’s talking about here right?”
    Dell growled, “It can’t work!”
    “How do you know?”
    “How do I know?” Dell spun on his brother in incredulity grabbing both of his arms roughly , “We killed her brother and she fucking hates me!  That’s how I know!”
    “ First of all, we didn’t kill her brother.  Second, g ive her some credi t.  She might not hold a grudge. ”
    Dell rolled his eyes and shoved Briggs back.  “Clearly, you haven’t met her.”
    Briggs shrugged, “I could seek her out.”
    Dell stopped.  T he flash of jealousy that s hot through him felt like a punch to the gut.   “Don’t!” he growled the warning.
    “I’ll just have a talk with her,” Briggs feet halted when Dell pulled to a standstill, “if she’s not agreeable to a meeting with you, I’ll just throw her in the trunk and haul her ass up here.”
    Dell knew Briggs was baiting him, trying to draw him into a physical confrontation. The three brothers had done it for each other often over the years.  When one was stressed or under great pressure the other two volunteered as punching bags.  Now though was the first time Mace wouldn’t be present, and his absence hurt.  Compounding matters was the fact that Dell didn’t want to just hurt Briggs for threatening Chloe; he wanted to literally rip him apart.  The swell of violence was startling and Dell couldn’t help but wonder if there was something to the mating thing between him and Chloe after all.
    “Don’t talk about her Briggs.  It angers me.”
    “Good,” Briggs punched Dell in the bicep, “that’s what I was trying for.  You need to get out some stress.”  Briggs reached up and pushed Dell hard in the chest, “Let’s go.”
    Dell dipped his head and growled menacingly, “Don’t.”
    “Aw, what’s wrong?”  Briggs quickly pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside before kicking of f his shoes, “You don’t want this big bad wolf hunting your little red riding hood?”
    Dell didn’t move, but his hands balled into tight fists as he continued to growl.  He was trying to restrain himself, as he often had, but something about the way Briggs was referencing Chloe had his blood boiling.
    “You just don’t want me around her because you don’t want her to think I’m the better specimen.”  Briggs rolled his shoulders and grinned at his brother, “I am viable you kn ow, maybe I’ll just go over and sniff around.   If I like what I scent, I’ll take a little taste.  Let you know if she’s worth the hassle.”
    That was all it took.  Dell launched himself at Briggs, hitting his brother solidly in the chest.  The two rolled and Briggs didn’t get the chance to recover before a large fist connected with his jaw.  His head snapped to the side and he was surprised at the power behind it.  He threw his own punch that Dell swiftly ducked. 
    Grabbing Brigg’s extended arm, Dell fell back and trapped the arm between his legs and pulled back in what he knew had to be a painful arm-bar.  It was one thing for a shifter to get his ass kicked in a fight, but to make one submit was quite an achievement.  None of the three brother’s had ever submitted to each other in battle, or to anyone else for that matter.  It didn’t stop them from trying.
    Briggs howled before he shifted.