Ran Away Pregnant Came Back Alpha Heiress (Amelia and Damien) novel Chapter 532

Chapter 532

Claire’s POV

Alpha King Benedict looked more than just nervous. The idea of fighting Richard seemed to absolutely terrify him, and probably for good reason. Everyone knew that Benedict didn’t fight publically anymore, so his abilities had been kept secret for years.

The man wasn’t getting any younger. Even by werewolf standards, he was pushing old age now. That didn’t mean he was weak, but against someone like Richard, who trained diligently every single day of his life, Benedict didn’t have much chance.

“Defeating me will not grant you the crown, even if those are the rules of combat,” Benedict said. “The pack Alphas would not simply bow down and comply with your rule.”

“They don’t need to bow,” Richard replied. “I will fight each and every one of them to bring them in line, if necessary.”

He seemed confident, and maybe he was right to be. I had seen him sparring, and knew he had the same abilities and strength as an Alpha. In one-on-one combat, he might even be able to stand against all of them. But…

I glanced between Damien and Richard, trying to see who would win. Damien was one of, if not the, strongest Alpha in the entire kingdom. Richard could bring down the Alpha King, but could he bring down Damien? That I wasn’t so sure of.

“The Alphas will fall in line,” Richard continued. “Those that don’t will die.”

Benedict paled again, then glanced at Damien and Amelia. “I would like a moment to confer with my council.”

“Do as you wish,” Richard said, with a flick of his wrist. “I will confer with my own.”

Each group stepped back, returning halfway to their own armies. I wished I could be a fly on the wall to hear the panic in Benedict’s group. My own group was filled with excitement.

Except for me. I was starting to get annoyed.

Richard had promised me a chance to fight Amelia. If the entire war was going to be settled in a challenge between him and the Alpha King, how was I ever going to get my moment of vengeance?

I must have been frowning too deeply, sticking out in the excitement, because Richard looked at me and saw my annoyance.

“You are unhappy, Claire,” he said. “Why?”

“I came here to fight Amelia,” I said, “Not watch some one-on-one challenge.”

Richard walked toward me. I thought he might reprimand me in some way and braced myself. Instead, he simply placed his hand on my shoulder.

“You are assuming Benedict will agree to my terms, which is doubtful. The man is a coward. He knows he will lose and doesn’t want to die. He will try to scramble to hold onto what power he can, even if it means leading his hapless soldiers into battle and death.”

I wanted to believe that, but with Damien and Amelia also in the conversation, I wasn’t so sure.

“But if he does choose his own death, rest easy,” Richard continued. “There is no reason you can’t also challenge Amelia to become Luna of that pack. And in that ring, you can do as you wish.”

That thought alone gave me some comfort. Yes. Either here on the battlefield or facing each other alone in a challenge ring, I would have my revenge. I would face Amelia and I would tear her throat out after she knew I was going to take everything that she loved, including my daughter.

–

My daughter should have been mine from the start, as Damien should have. I was meant to be Luna, not some pitiful mostly human creature.

Soon, one way or the other, I was going to have that title that life – back.

Damien’s POV

“No,” I said. “I’m just a regular Alpha. We don’t even get along, Benedict. You can’t mean me.’

“I can,” Benedict said. “And I do. Yes, I’ve given you a hard time, especially lately while I’ve been here, but that was only to ensure you were capable enough to handle a crisis like this. As Alpha King, there is so much politicking. But I’ve watched you excel, Damien, but in battle and in negotiation. And with Amelia at your side, I’m not sure there’s anything you can’t do.”

I couldn’t believe, even after hearing the words. I pinched myself lightly on the arm, but no, I was still here, still facing Benedict with Amelia beside me.

“This is real,” I said.

“It’s real,” Amelia echoed.

“I ask you, successor,” Benedict said. “Do you believe that you can defeat Richard in this challenge? Or are you still willing to go to war?”

I looked over at Richard again, sizing him up for a fight against my own wolf instead of Benedict.

It would be a tough fight. We might be evenly matched. Richard might even be a touch physically stronger.

But I would be defending my home. And if I could do this, we could avoid fighting entirely, which would save my mate and my pack.

But I would have to win. There was no room for failure.

I could do it. I was sure.

I would fight this man to protect my mate and my pack until death claimed me. Maybe even then, I would fight from beyond the grave.

“I can do it,” I said. “I will accept the challenge in your stead.”