Rebirth of the Alpha's Slave Mate (Samantha and Kade) novel Chapter 16

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Chapter 16

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Samantha’s POV

“Elena, are you sure?” Amelia looked uncertain. “You don’t have to fight Melvin. He’s a seasoned warrior and a male who’s about three times bigger than you…”

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Truthfully, I wasn’t actually sure if this was a good idea, but I felt like I had to do it now. Everyone was staring at me, and if I refused Melvin’s challenge, then I would be labeled the weakling. I’d already had that status in Crescent Hollow and didn’t want a repeat of my past life in any capacity.

Besides, even if I lost, at least I wouldn’t be the coward who backed down from the challenge. How bad could it be, anyway? With Tyler, Samson, and Amelia here, Melvin wouldn’t really be able to hurt me.

“I’ll be fine,” I said.

Melvin’s smile turned into a sneer. “You heard the little rogue. She wants to fight. So let her fight.”

Amelia looked like she wanted to argue, but caved and stepped back. “Very well. The rules are simple: you have sixty seconds to spar. Whoever remains standing when the timer goes off wins. Whoever yields first loses. If both participants are still standing by the end, whoever has completed the most attacks during the time frame wins.”

With that, Amelia turned and left the ring. Melvin stepped forward, towering over me, and I had to resist the urge to shrink beneath his cold gaze.

“You’ve only been here a few days, and already you’ve upset my Luna more times than I can count,” he whispered, his hot breath fanning my neck as he leaned in. “I’ll teach you a lesson on her behalf.”

I clenched my jaw in response. So that was what this was about.

“If you want your Luna’s favor so badly, you can just say that,” I retorted. “But maybe you should be fighting her husband instead if that’s the case.”

little-“”

Melvin pulled his head back in shock. “Yog

he began, but his voice was

began, but his voice was cut off by the cheers and laughter

of those around us. Even Tyler and his father were holding back smiles.

“And… start!” Amelia called out as the timer clanged.

The moment the fight began, Melvin took a swing at me. I gasped and just barely dodged before his fist connected with my face. My heart pounded, every nerve ending screaming at me to cower and surrender, but I dug deep and drew in a steadying breath, refusing to back down so easily.

“You arrogant little rogue,” Melvin growled, lunging at me again. This time, I predicted his attack the way Amelia had taught me—his right leg was forward, but he was really leaning in the other direction, intending to feint and catch me unaware.

I spun out of his reach before he could hit me.

The crowd went wild as Melvin staggered back, surprised to find that the newbie hadn’t just dodged him once, but twice. For a moment, as the crowd’s cheers filled my ears, I lost focus. A tentative smile stretched across my face.

They were supporting me. No one had ever done that before.

“On your left!” Amelia’s shout suddenly cut through the din.

I hissed through my teeth and ducked just in time for Melvin’s arm to come swinging overhead. Acting on pure instinct now, I rolled between his legs and somehow managed to pop up behind him. I wasn’t entirely sure how I

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Easter

did that, but chalked it up to momentum and sheer luck.

Melvin lost his rhythm and whirled to face me, clearly dazed and even angrier than before.

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“Get back here, little shit!” he snarled, reaching for me with both hands now. I backpedaled out of his grasp before he could touch me and, much to the delight of the onlookers, calmly walked backwards as he stormed after

1. me.

But Melvin was right. I was unskilled and weak, and I was being arrogant under the praise I’d never received before. I didn’t notice the fence behind me and slammed into it with a gasp, leaving me with only a millisecond to duck again when he went in for a brutal punch.

This time, I didn’t have a chance to pop back up.

Melvin dropped to one knee and grabbed my shirt with one fist while the other pulled back, aimed directly at my face.

All at once, years of torment came rushing back. The Gammas leering at me as they cornered me. Their fists raining down on my body. Blood and broken bones and a malnourished wolf who couldn’t heal me.

I was helpless. Afraid. And most of all… alone.

“Ava!” I cried out mentally, shutting my eyes and retreating into that empty forest clearing. “Ava, you have to help me!”

“I’m here.”

I couldn’t see her, but I could hear her voice on the cold wind like a warm blanket wrapping around me. Relief

instantly washed over me. My wolf was alive. She wa

Suddenly, a force shoved me out of my happy place and back into reality. Melvin’s fist whizzed toward my face. I braced myself for the impact.

But it never came. Because I had caught his fist in my hand, arm trembling with the exertion of holding him back.

And then, in one swift move, I shoved back so hard that Melvin went flying and skidding across the sparring ring on his ass.

I gasped, looking up at the crowd. No one was cheering anymore.

They were all staring at me in shock–even Melvin.

“You do have a wolf?” Amelia breathed. “And such a powerful one, at that?”

I blinked, looking down at the trembling hand that had just shoved a fully–grown male warrior halfway across the ring. Ava’s presence was gone now, but it seemed her presence had surged forth briefly to protect me.

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