The Wilder Alpha by Evelyn Glass

shackles. They hastily backed away as soon as the restraints were removed. Jay rubbed his wrists, backing away from the center of the arena. It was a foolish movement. He was already surrounded.
     
    “Your alphas shall tear this domesticated dog apart under the light of Luna!” Whatever long-winded speech Alpha Gavin had delivered came to an end with a roar of the crowd.
     
    When the words registered in Jay’s mind, he snorted and rolled his eyes. Oh, yes, they would allow him a few minutes of basking in moonlight. That wouldn’t be enough to charge his seriously dwindled battery. It was a farce to give Alpha Gavin some credit. The pack didn’t care, as long as they got their blood.
     
    Jay turned his eyes to Gavin and the female who joined him. The two stalked toward him, their pupils slit and claws out. Jay continued to back up until he was dead center in the moonlight. His nerves writhed in pain and delight in the lunar rays. The starved wolf inside of him drank in all it could. Jay wasn’t sure how long this would last.
     
    ***
     
    Gavin was the first to pounce. He launched himself the remaining distance, claws extended and teeth growing with every second. The she-alpha stormed toward Jay. He ducked Gavin’s leap while blocking the redhead’s movements. Gavin landed behind him heavily, grunting as he spun around to dish out his own blows. The Sentinel grunted as he ducked, dodged, and blocked. He managed to parry a few strikes, but an onslaught from two extremely healthy and exceedingly strong werewolves pressed strain on his already damaged body.
     
    With every passing second, the wolves inside of them sunk through their DNA. Hair bristled, spittle flew, and snarls lit into the air. The two alphas timed their hits just right so both blows slammed into Jay at the same time. He yelped and flew back, skidding on his back across the dirt. He scrambled to his feet just as the redheaded alpha slammed her fists down. An indent in the ground pinpointed where his head would have been.
     
    As Jay tried to catch his breath, a snarl shrieked behind him. Weight slammed onto his back and thick arms clamped around Jay’s throat. He gasped, clawing at Gavin’s arms as he backed up against the dirt wall. Jay slammed the alpha into the wall, but it didn’t seem to have any effect. Gavin’s sneering chuckle rattled in Jay’s ear.
     
    Knuckles slammed into gut. As the air left his lungs in a grunt, he realized he’d forgotten the redhead. Gavin held Jay tightly as the redheaded alpha continued her onslaught of punches. Dull, throbbing agony sliced into his stomach.
     
    Cheers erupted from the stadium seats. It was useless, he shouldn’t even attempt to fight these two. They’d have their way soon enough and he’d be dead. His nose twitched, catching sandalwood and sun-baked rock on the breeze. A surge of energy plowed through his veins. He didn’t want her to see him like this.
     
    With a roar, Jay braced himself against Gavin and brought his foot up. The ball of his foot landed smack into the redhead’s jaw. She yowled and was sent flying backwards.
     
    “Selene!” Gavin yelled. Their audience gasped and boos howled through the air. In the miniscule opening, Jay managed to reach back. His fingers tangled into the alpha’s hair, holding his skull firmly. He slammed his head back, a satisfying crunch vibrated against his skull and Gavin screamed in pain. Jay danced backward, keeping both alphas in his line of sight. The boos from the crowd intensified, laced with snapping snarls and hisses of dissent. Gavin climbed off the ground and blood spurted from his nose while Selene stalked closer to Jay.
     
    He danced back, warm blood oozing down his arms and from his stomach where both alphas grazed him with their claws. Both advancing lycanthropes bared their teeth and snarled. Their skulls started to transform, their nose and mouth halfway to becoming muzzles. They hunched as their bodies shuddered and groaned