The Jaguar’s Arranged Mate

Refusing to be intimidated, Beric hunched down, slowly circling his foe. He wanted to preserve his energy, to see and learn Andreas the Bloodthirsty’s battle strategy. Very quickly, he realized it was chaotic and fierce, brutal and killer, dangerous and deadly. It was all Beric could do to defend himself, to jump out of the way and block blows.

“You can’t win through defense,” Andreas the Bloodthirsty mocked.

Damn him, but he was right. Still, Beric remained cautious, although he did try to land a few swipes of his own. The first time one landed, he almost couldn’t believe it. But then he landed a few more and even drew blood.

Andreas the Bloodthirsty fought even more savagely now, but Beric wasn’t worried. The fight had changed his goals. He wasn’t trying to kill Andreas the Bloodthirsty anymore. He was only trying to wound him. It made for a much easier fight on his end. The pressure was gone, and he enjoyed watching more and more blood speckle the alpha’s coat.

It didn’t take long for Andreas the Bloodthirsty to change form, but it didn’t matter if he was a wolf or a tiger. Beric had taken the alpha’s advice to heart. Yes, he was taking more hits, but he was landing just as many.

But then Andreas the Bloodthirsty became a bear, a massive one, and the first blow that connected with Beric’s head left him staggering. A few more hits like that and it would be all over.

A blur of fur ran past him, jumping over him. Miera. She attacked Andreas the Bloodthirsty as if she had no concern for her own life. Together, they landed more and more blows, although Andreas the Bloodthirsty deflected a great deal more. He fought back, seemingly tireless.

Andreas the Bloodthirsty lumbered to stand on his hind legs and grabbed Beric by the throat with his paw. Beric gasped for breath, his front and hind legs both clawing at the alpha.

Miera bounded over and swiped at Andreas the Bloodthirsty’s genitals. Down he went, dropping Beric. Without hesitating, Beric climbed onto Andreas the Bloodthirsty’s back and lifted his head to expose his throat.

His wife held a claw to Andreas the Bloodthirsty’s throat. She shifted her mouth, but her teeth remained fangs. “You lost,” she said, the words surprisingly clear.

Beric shoved all of his weight down to make sure Andreas the Bloodthirsty didn’t try to wiggle free. The alpha was still strong. They might not have won yet.

Even if they had, how many of their people had survived the battle?

*

Miera was gasping for breath. Her lungs were burning, but for the most part, she never felt more alive. She was positively humming with energy. They had brought down the mighty Andreas the Bloodthirsty, she and her husband.

Without moving, keeping her claw at his throat so that she could end him if he did anything they didn’t want, she glanced around. The battles around them had stopped. Everyone—Blood Rose, Teal Warriors, and Brutal Claws—were watching them.

“What are you going to do now?” Beric asked. “It would be so easy for my wife to kill you.”

Andreas the Bloodthirsty stared at her. The hatred in his eyes was gone now. The anger remained, but he looked at her with almost… Was that… It couldn’t be. Respect?

“Allow me to stand,” the alpha said.

Miera bristled. “You’ll kill us.”

“Allow me to stand.” His voice was quiet but full of power. He was not someone who was ever denied.

She glanced at Beric. He caught her gaze, nodded reluctantly, and then stepped off of the alpha.

Andreas the Bloodthirsty shifted to his human form. After a moment, Miera and Beric did the same, although the both of them retained their fangs and claws instead of teeth and fingers.

As Andreas the Bloodthirsty stood, Miera gasped. She hadn’t thought that any of their blows had been that severe, but one gash on the left side of his chest was particularly deep and blood still gushed from it. They had seriously injured him.

“We are leaving,” Andreas the Bloodthirsty said. He wasn’t speaking that loudly, but the silence was so profound that everyone gathered around must have heard him. “And we are not returning.”

Miera somehow refrained from gasping again. Had they done it? Had they won?

Beric crossed his arms, and she noticed that he still had his claws, although his fangs had been replaced with his perfect, albeit bloodstained, teeth. “We would like to speak with you more before you leave.”

“Very well.” Andreas the Bloodthirsty actually sounded weary. “Pack up. We march within a half hour.”

Without waiting to see if his people would listen to him, Andreas the Bloodthirsty turned around and rushed into his tent.

Miera and Beric followed. Andreas the Bloodthirsty was easing himself gingerly into a chair, wincing. He hadn’t showed any weakness in front of his people, but he had to be feeling faint from the lack of blood.

“While we’re glad you will be leaving our pack alone,” Beric said, and a thrill went through her that he said “pack” and not “packs”, “I would like to know what you plan on doing next.”

“Regrouping. Recovering.”

“And then?” Beric demanded.

“You’re going to pick another pack to take over, aren’t you?” Miera asked. “Why? Why can’t you just—”

“Be happy with what I have? The largest pack in the history of the world. Yes, that is quite a feat. But as the only living berserker… I don’t think I can be happy.” He took a deep breath and coughed. Blood flew out of his mouth. “Doesn’t matter. You’ve shown I’m weak. I’ve never been bled before and now…” Andreas the Bloodthirsty glanced down at his chest. The flow was only slightly less now. “Now they have all seen I am capable of being wounded, and they will come after me. I’ve turned them into little berserkers. They might not be able to change into any animal they wish, but they share my bloodlust, and they will destroy me. My strength garnered their loyalty. Without it, I will be dead. Maybe in a few weeks, maybe in a month. A year if I am lucky. But my days are numbered.”