What Were You Avoiding?

Helena hadn't even fully left the cleared space when Ash attacked.

Neil and Kade quickly moved her away, putting her behind them as they stood at the border of where the fight was happening.

The onlookers gave both Alphas ample space to fight. Alpha challenges might not happen as often as they used to, but everyone still knew how deadly Alphas could be.

Helena held her breath as Romeo slammed Ash to the ground and kept him there.

"Make this easy for yourself, Ash, yield," Romeo hissed.

"No," Ash growled back.

"Have it your way," Romeo said, keeping his eyes on Ash.

He lifted the other Alpha and threw him across the space, eliciting gasps from the crowd.

It seemed no one truly knew how powerful Romeo was.

"You know I spent five years training with other Alphas, right?" Romeo asked Ash as he walked over to the Alpha who was still down on the ground. "I didn't train just for vanity, I trained to protect my people."

Ash spat at Romeo's feet and tackled Romeo by his legs, dragging Romeo down with him.

Helena surged forward, only to be held back by Rae. She growled at her best friend but the woman did not relent.

Ash threw a punch at Romeo while he was down, triggering Helena, making her stuggle even more against Rae's hold. When Helena was about to break free, Raul held her down.

"You know you can't interfere," Raul scolded her. "I know you care about my son, but if you are to be an Alpha, you need to keep your emotions in check."

"I guess that kind of proves there is something between them," her mother, Alyssa, chuckled as she stood watch, holding Rebecca.

"Have faith in him, Helena," Raul whispered. "You went up against him this morning, you know he was holding back."

As Raul spoke Romeo managed to get the upper hand, flipping Ash over and throwing punches to the other man's face.

Helena nodded and backed down.

She winced when Ash threw a counterattack, but this time, she stood her ground.

Raul was right. She was an Alpha, and she couldn't let her emotions get the better of her.

As much as she wanted to think this match would be easy for Romeo, Ash was fighting back. Who wouldn't when he'd place everything on the line?

Nothing was more devastating than an Alpha who lost his pack. That's why most challenges ended in death. A rouge Alpha was dangerous not just to himself but to the people around him as well.

Romeo threw Ash to the ground, and the Alpha groaned. Helena could see the blood dripping from his wounds, and this time, he didn't get up.

"Yield, Ash!" Romeo roared.

"No," Ash groaned in a weak voice. It was clear he didn't have any more left in him to fight.

"Don't make me do this to you, Ash," Romeo hissed. "You can still lead a life without your pack."

Ash let out a weak laugh and shook his head.

Romeo hesitated as he lifted Ash into the air.

Ash's gaze suddenly turned to Helena, and she could see the hunger in his eyes. The way he looked at her sent a shiver up Helena's spine.

She flinched, drawing Romeo's attention.

'He will never hurt you again,' Romeo said through their link.

With those words, Romeo shoved his hand through Ash's chest and pulled out his hand, which now dripped with blood.

Romeo's gaze met Helena's, and it was filled with anger and bloodlust, but soon it softened. He dropped Ash's body, and Helena found herself in Romeo's arms.

"He will never come after you again," Romeo declared as he held on tightly to Helena.

She rested her head on his chest and let him feel he'd protected her.

'They were just worried about us,' Helena told her wolf as she felt Hera come to the surface.

'As they should,' Her wolf calmly said in response.

Helena looked up and started searching Romeo's body. Just because she hadn't seen or heard any dangerous injuries, it didn't mean there were none.

She cupped his face and let her hand drop to his neck and down his arms.

"As much as I like you feeling me up, Helena, I know what you're doing," Romeo said with a cocky smirk on his lips that Helena wanted to kiss off.

'Fuck you horny dog,' Helena spat at her wolf.

'Nothing sexier than a wolf declaring war for you and winning it,' her wolf answered.

"Helena?" Hearing Romeo's voice drew her back from the conversation she was having with her wolf.

"What am I doing, Romeo?" she teased.

"I'm not injured," he promised her as he pressed his forehead to hers. "I've already healed. You don't have to worry."

Helena nodded as she looked over his body.

Romeo was bloody, but she could smell that it was mostly Ash's blood.

When Romeo finally releases Helena, several wolves are on their knees, members of Ash's pack.

"What's the name of your pack?" Romeo asked one of the men. "I never bothered asking the late Alpha."

"Starlit River Pack, Alpha," the man said.

"Star—" Romeo suddenly turned to Helena his eyes wide with shock.

"Starlit River is—" he tried to speak but her couldn't get over his disbelief.

"Romeo," Helena said as she tried to reach out.

"When were you going to tell me that you've been going to our neighboring pack?" Romeo growled in a low voice.

Helena could tell that Romeo was trying to keep his temper in check but failing at it.

"Was it only Blackmoon that you avoided?" Romeo questioned her.

Helena let out a sigh and shook her head.

"Not Blackmoon, never Blackmoon," she confessed. "I'm tired, I'll go to bed."

Helena didn't bother slowing her steps. She rushed through the crowd as they parted.

She'd made it back inside when she smelled Romeo's scent and felt his strong arms wrap around her waist, holding her back.

"What were you avoiding, Helena?" he asked, his voice breaking.

"You, Romeo, I was avoiding you."