Thank you everyone for your comments and ratings for Chapter One! I appreciate all comments and feedback I've received, both good and bad. Huge thanks to my editor, Bert_Fegg, who has been amazing!
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She fell only a short distance, but her feet didn't have the strength to help her land. Airami's knees crashed to the floor.Her dress pooled around her as she panted heavily.
The sandy haired male wore an expression of bewilderment. It probably wasn't the mating moment he had been waiting for. Though confused, he stepped towards Airami and leaned down to help her off the ground. He reached to grasp onto her underarms, but she leaned out of his reach.
"Do! Not! Touch! Me!" She hissed.
"Airami!" Daniel's voice rang through the crowd.
She saw her brother forcibly push through the masses, emerging from the crowd of guests, and rush over to her. He came behind her and took hold of her arms, where the stranger had planned to. Hoisted to her feet by her brother's strong arms, Airami gradually regained balance on her high heels.
A snarl ripped through the blonde man's lips. His expression drastically switched from concerned to extreme rage. His eyes glowed brightly, and he lowered himself to a crouching position. He bared his teeth at Daniel; his canine fangs were fully extended, and his wolf threatened to burst out.
"She's not yours," his hoarse voice rumbled at Daniel.
While he moved to Airami's side, Daniel's eyes glared at the man on all fours. A deep, low growl rumbled from Daniel. It surprised Airami, usually her brother was level headed and wasn't easy to agitate. But she saw the same thing Daniel did; a challenge. Unbroken eye contact was the oldest form of Alpha challenge.
Within the blink of an eye, Daniel was no longer beside her. His bones snapped and shifted to different positions, his nose morphed into a snout, his finger nails transformed into claws, and brown fur protruded through his human skin. The fabric of his suit fell to pieces around him.
A massive wolf took form, and his tail was held high and hackles raised. If the snarling wasn't enough to intimidate, his sheer size was incredible. Daniel's back was as high as her chest, and thick limbs gave no doubt about his strength. He was never challenged; contenders were always overpowered.
The American man gave no signs of backing down. He, himself, shifted into his canine form. Airami observed his sand-colored hair spreading throughout his body and turning into fur. His eyes still glowed the same emerald green, but this time with a wild look. He wasn't as large as Daniel but not much smaller either.
Her mind felt Daniel's power roll erupt like an earthquake. It was a mental technique Alphas used as a last resort for obedience or to make an enemy think twice about a fight. Depending on their position, the power they could emit varied. But being a Windsor made them the top platform of the food chain.
Airami noticed many of their guests being affected. They subconsciously bared their necks, a sign of submission and well-meaning.
She gasped when she looked at the wolf, who was kissing her only minutes ago. Nothing. He showed no indication of even acknowledging Daniel's superior rank. Airami held the same position as Daniel. She was his partner Alpha, but she felt the effects of what a power roll had the capability of doing. Another Alpha completely ignoring it was unheard of!
Daniel displayed no restraint. He savagely lunged at their guest. His teeth were aimed for the gold wolf's neck. If he couldn't rip his throat out, he'd at least take him down.
Snapping his jaws, the gold wolf dodged away from Daniel and slammed into his side. Airami watched the two viciously brawl on the floor, sinking their jaws into their opponent's flesh.
The smell of blood mixed with the air, drifting to her sensitive nose. The metallic scent was as common to their kind as fresh cut grass.
What Airami didn't expect was to recognize the aroma of Daniel's blood mixed with the Americans. Her brother barely ever shed blood during battle. The fighting experience displayed between the brown and blonde wolf had them equally matched. It was clear neither of them could finish this nor have the will power to back down.
It hit her. They weren't fighting for the same thing.
Daniel was brawling for his position as Windsor Alpha; if he lost then he'd lose his position. The American was fighting for his claimed mate; which, unfortunately, he claimed to be Airami. If Daniel won, the sandy-haired man would have to give her up and allow Daniel to be her mate.
It was the most foolish wolf fight she had ever seen. Since they weren't fighting for the same goal, it was evident that this was going to be a fight to the death. And frankly, Airami wasn't quite sure who would come out as victor.
"Stop it!" she screamed at them, comprehending this blood shed wasn't going to solve anything. The American didn't want Daniel's title nor did Daniel want Airami; it was pointless.
But her order fell on deaf ears. She could see her guests examining her curiously. They doubted her. They hesitated to believe she had the power to command two fighting wolves.
Pursing her lips together, Airami stepped out of her heels and gave her dress a remorseful gaze of admiration. It was beautiful while it lasted. But unfortunately, as soon as she closed her eyes to shift, the fabric fell to shreds around her.
It took her a few moments to adjust to her heightened senses. The colors around her were more vibrant and the nose at the end of her snout captured every scent in the room. The rush of sensory input was momentarily overwhelming. But with centuries of shape shifting under her belt, she was quick to recover. She shook out her chocolate brown fur, and then examined the battle in front of her. She crouched down, waiting for the perfect moment.
When the gold wolf gained the upper hand and jumped on top of Daniel's back, Airami sprang into action and launched herself at the American. He let out a high pitched whine as Airami knocked the wind out of his lungs. With a snarl, she asserted herself and had him land on his back. She towered over him and bit his exposed neck before the stunned wolf had time to retaliate.
Surprisingly, he didn't fight back.
Her ears picked up on soft growl, but otherwise the blonde wolf laid still. Releasing her jaws from his neck, she pulled away and looked down at him. Her internal war began. The taste of his blood was on her tongue and, quite frankly, it tasted like a honey to her. It was sweet venom that made her want more. Want him. She fought against the primal instincts, both her human conscience and wolf. Her mind was confused. But her body wasn't.
She caught the strong scent of her arousal. The male underneath her did also; she could feel the hardness of his member. She noticed the other men, still in their form fitting suits, sniffing at the air.
Someone snapped at the end of her tail with a growl, and she was sidetracked from her internal conflict.
Daniel still held his aggressive stance, not prepared for his fight to be over until it meant death for one of them. His mental voice hit her like a fist, hoarse and seething with animalistic rage.
'Move out of the way. He challenged me. He's mine. Mate of yours or not.'
