In the Alpha’s Arms Novel

Hell or High Water

The mans evil grin showed a few missing teeth, probably knocked out and floating in this murky water. He had an old slash over one eye and several bruse blooming across his cheeks. He seemed exhausted, maybe hoping to take on an easier target as a break. From what Lita had seen, once a person started fighting, they were expected to continue without stopping. Tap, knockout or death. Those were the only options for stopping. Chris had bern the only exception she’d seen and she was sure most of that had to do with his position as one of Maxims trusted. If her being thigh deep in freezing rain was any measure, he probably hadn’t done good things to cam that position.

He lunged fast, tagging her in the chest twice. The hits were firm enough to make her stumble but hardly full power. Was he playing with her? Figuring the longer it took him to put her down, the more time he had before a real opponent. Or was he thinking she was like the other women? Could he not tell she was just as trained as he was? If not more so. His hits were sloppy, she knew but she couldn’t tell if that was because he was exhausted or not. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Lita then realized something that should have been obvious from the start. None of these men knew her. None of them knew she could fight or that she was an Alpha herself Not Chris, not Rem. Hell, it was likely Maxim didn’t even know the full truth of her. That’s why he’d been so concerned over dinner. Why he wanted to know if the reports about her wolf were true.

They all just saw a weak girl, injured and alone in the fighting pit. They saw prey, an easy kill. And she’d be damned if she’d give them what they wanted. What Chris wanted, What this man before her wanted, She wasn’t prey anymore.

The man brought his fists up to jab her again and without thinking, she swiped his legs. He went down hard, splashing water over himself as she climbed over his body. Never give them a chance to refaniale, Ace had said, How many fights had he proved just how effective that tactic way? And she wouldn’t waste the knowledge, holding the man’s head under with everything she had. It was him or her, kill or be killed.

ky water licked her rib cage as he thrashed below. His face came up to spew water as he attempted to push her off and her fist slammed into his jaw. She didn’t bother wicking away the liquid he spat. If she released even an ounce of pressure, he’d be on her. The best thing she had in her favor was the water and his exhaustion because she surely wasn’t in premium shape. She could already feel her muscles rebelling against the strain. And she was missing most of her power with Nyx down but she could feel it slowly returning

The man came up once more, using his hips to dislodge her as he threw wild punches. She pressed her knee into his chest, dodging his fists though on skittered across her shoulder. He went below the water again, his fight lessening. The next time he forced his face up, she cracked his nose and that time he went down and didn’t come back up. She didn’t move until she felt his chest still. And even then, she didn’t have time to feel bad about it Couldn’t feel bad about it. Not here, not now. Maybe later, when she was alone. When she was back home with Cole. But not now.

Lita eased off his body, only to be grabbed around the neck by a forearm. Another man held her from behind as she tried to kick away. Her wild eyes briefly met Chris’s bemused ones overhead as she was dragged towards the middle of the pit. And his grin sent heat through her. He was enjoying this, watching her fight practically naked. Watching her kill for his amusement.

She was already injured but healing. Faster than she had been, and if her estimates were right, it meant Nyx was getting closer and closer to the surface. Just judging from her flexibility in kicking away from the man, she was regaining her range of motion too.

“Try not to kill her too fast, Chris called to the man behind her. Her rage spiked. Didn’t he care that Maxim wanted her alive? Were they all really this unstable? Unpredictable? The man’s arm tightened enough to cut off her air. And she grimaced. Ace said never to let anyone get the drop on her. But here she was. Brody had taught her submission technique. How to immobilize. How to neutralize. She didn’t hesitate

Elbow to the ribs, hands wrenching and twisting the man’s arm until the shoulder was hyper–extended. A boot to the joint and it dislocated. In a manner of seconds she had the roles switched, pressing her forearm into his neck as she wrapped her legs around his midsection. He threw them backwards into the water, trying to scare her into releasing him. So they both went, and her head dipped under. Her back smacked hard against the concrete below, his bodyweight forcing the air out of her lungs. Ice flushed through her nose, choking her as she struggled not to take a breath. But she didn’t let go. They were both underwater. She just had to cutlast him.

When he tapped her calf she hesitated. Would he honor his submission? Were these men even honorable? They seemed barbaric. Like they wouldn’t give a damn if she tapped and begged for her life. She could drown him now and be done with the doubt. But she would likely drown herself trying, sa she slowly let go.

He kicked away the second her grip loosened and she shot up, hacking at the water in her nose and swiping away the snot. When Litas head rose, she lacked eyes with several pairs looking back at her.

There were only a handful of men left and four had their focus trained on her. The others were still fighting but apparently, the cluster of men nearest her, were all ready to gang up. There was that male weakness rearing its ugly head again. She swiped at her eyes, wicking the water off her lashes.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the man she’d almost drowned, getting pulled out of the water by two women. At least he kept his fucking word.

There was no way she was going to beat a lour on one in this condition. Her eyes reluctantly shot up to Chris who had now crouched down to get a better view. His res held nothing of light in them. Only guttering darkness.