Chapter 10. - Confrontation

Ty hit Ryder full blown in the flank, causing the other wolf to crash into the nearest tree. Ryder had been so focused on Caira that he had forgotten to watch Ty.

He got up slowly, Ty growling as he positioned himself between Ryder and his Beta. Making damn sure that Ryder would have to go through him to get to her.

Ryder! Ryder man, snap out of it! This isn't you. Come on brother!

Ryder's lips peeled back, revealing his massive set of caning sharpies as he hurled himself at Ty. One word broke through the haze of Ryder's mind.

BROTHER!

Ty didn't know how that managed to come through, but it didn't seem to please Ryder as he charged him at full speed. Giving Ty only barely enough time to get most of his body out of the way, dodging left. When Ryder's chest crashed into Ty's, the wolf in him grunted loudly as they got slammed against a nearby tree.

Ryder's razor sharp teeth came into contact with the neck of Ty, grabbing the other wolf harshly and shook him. Ty was completely at the mercy of Ryder in that moment.

No!

Caira had gotten up and was running to them again. The force of Ryder's emotions waned as he had completely concentrated on Ty again.

Ty's head lifted, fear for his Beta filling him, and using his Alpha voice he commanded her not to get involved. Luckily that broke through the barrier that Ryder had thrown up.

Caira was now close enough for the two Alpha's to see and she whimpered as she looked at them. Effectively distracting Ryder long enough for Ty twist out of his hold and sink his teeth into his shoulder, causing Ryder to jump away.

Caira raised her head to the sky and let out a long and desperate cry. She needed the others here, if she was bound by Ty's orders then so be it. But surely he couldn't bind everybody toward his will.

The two wolves were now snarling at each other. Attacking again, teeth snapping and growls filling the forest. Soon others started to fill the pack minds. Brady, the oldest wolf now that still phased, Bear, Tom, Eric and Quill Jr. were there. They ran toward the clearing in the forest where the sounds of angry and fighting wolves were coming from.

Ty and Ryder were on their hind legs, teeth locked on each others throats, chest pushed together as they bit, scratched and did as much damage as possible.

What the hell?

Fuck!

RYDER!

Ty!

Brady ran at full speed into the clearing of the woods, his attention on the two Alpha's. He knew better then to separate the two from a fight. He knew not to get between them, they were physically more powerful then he was. But he was older and had more experience. His aim was different. He didn't want to hurt them or join the fight, he just wanted to break them up. Get them to stop this before one was killed.

He hurled his body at the fighting wolves, putting his own life at risk with the action. He struck Ryder hard in the side and the wolf let Ty's neck go, giving him time to recuperate. Ryder snarled at Brady but he engaged Ty again. Brady suddenly took off, going as fast as he was able too he ran toward the Uley home, phasing on the fly. He grabbed his shorts and started to fumble for his cell phone.

'SAM!'

Brady hurried to get his shorts on while already dialing Jake. 'SAM! Get out here! Pack emergency!'

At that both Sam and Emily came running out.

'I heard the howl, what's going on?'

'Are the kids alright?' Emily clung to Sam's hand

Brady just shook his head, 'Sam you have to come with me. Ty and Ryder are going at it.'

He didn't waste time but ran into the forest again, hoping Jake would answer his phone. He heard Sam urge Emily to stay here and call Jayden, then he heard the old Alpha's heavy footsteps behind him.

'Hey, Brady my man.'

'Jake, you have to come! The howl that you heard…it was Caira. Ryder and Ty going head to head.'

'They're fighting?'

'Badly,' Brady barely got the word out where he heard a door slam shut and the connection was lost. It was all he could do now, he got the old Alphas and Jake was still chief. Only they would be able to separate them.

Sam passed Brady in a blur, he could hear the snarling already and they weren't even close. What the hell had happened? Who had engaged who and why? He shook his head to clear it, first things first. And the first thing was to separate the two wolves, and ensure that everybody got out of there alive.

Sam burst into the clearing. 'TY!'

He tried to look over the heads of the other wolves gathered around the fight, they were all crouched down and ready to engage, should their Alpha fall.

The scenario was bad enough, to have Alpha go against Alpha, it would be a disaster if it turned pack against pack. Sam filled his lungs and bellowed out, 'TY!'

That got everyone's attention and they got out of the way so Sam could pass through them, only to find Ty lying on the forest ground and Ryder circling him.

'Ryder!' Sam tried, if Ty was too badly injured that he wasn't getting up anymore then Ryder must be persuaded to back off.

'Ryder, it's done. Ty won't fight you anymore. Leave.'

Ryder responded only by baring his teeth at Sam and looked at him a moment before starting to go for the old Alpha. At that moment Ty phased back, moaning softly as he curled on his side. He was obviously in pain, and Sam could only focus on the blood that kept pouring out of a gash on Ty's side.

'RYDER! NO.'

Ryder growled but halted and turned his head, seeing his father. Jake was standing at the other end of the clearing, breathing heavily from sprinting there.

'Ryder, phase back. You're bleeding.'

Jake walked around the wolf until he was directly in front of him. He stood his ground, but had to consciously make the decision to stay there when he saw the true Alpha. He looked in his sons' eyes which were completely black. There wasn't a spark of humanity left and that, combined with the bared teeth, made even Jake focus and remind himself that this was his son.

'Phase back, you need to come with me.'

Ryder hung his head and closed his eyes. After a couple of deep breaths his body started to shake and he phased back to his human form. He fell onto his knees with a grunt, supporting himself by putting his palms on the forest floor too.

'BRADY!'

'Jayden! We're here!'

A very wild looking Jayden came running out of the forest, her medical bags in her hand, twigs and leaves in her hair. She looked at Ryder, who was on his knees, and at Ty who was still curled in the fetal position. Sam hovered over him, holding his son. Jake motioned to them and Jayden hurried there.

'Son?'

Jake sat down on his knees and put a broad hand on Ryder's back.

'What happened?'

Ryder shook his head, his breathing still labored.

'You have to tell me, I have to know if you're alright.'

'F – fine.'

Jake looked up and saw Brady and Jayden working efficiently on Ty, cleaning out a gash in his side and neck. They seemed to be setting a couple fingers of his right hand. They worked well together, clean and precise. It was a good thing that Brady started studying with Jayden.

Jake focused back on Ryder, grasping his son's shoulders and pushing him back until he was sitting on his heels and he could look at his face.

Naturally the most damage was done to the neck. It was natural for a wolf to attack there as that is the weakest spot. He lifted Ryders' chin and examined the wounds, which didn't look too severe. It would have to be cleaned and some bandages would have to be applied, but it would heal within 24 hours. Obviously Ryder had had the upper hand.

Brady came over and sat beside Ryder, but didn't say anything. He just looked at the wounds on his neck and poured some disinfected on a sterile bandage.

'It will sting, try to sit still.'

His tone was flat and focused and he applied the bandages with care on Ryders neck, making sure the wounds were all clean before applying dry bandages.

'He can take them off tomorrow morning, Jake.'

Jake nodded, 'How's Ty?'

'Bad. He has a lot of broken bones and deep gashes. Jayden is taking him to the medical center, at least for tonight.'

Jake looked at Sam, who picked up his oldest son, cradling him in his arms. He and Jayden made their way to the medical center swiftly, while Jake stared silently after them and blessed the Great Spirits that it wasn't him carrying Ryder away.

Brady got up. 'Gotta go man. But call if you two need anything, alright?'

'Yeah, sure thing. Thanks man.'

He nodded and jogged off in the direction of the medical center. Jake focused on the rest of the two packs, seven large wolves staring at him and Ryder. Nearly half of them had a fire in their eyes, which spoke of their fury toward Ryder.

'Go. The fight is over, you all go home. I'll send out a group text soon with an update on Ty.'

Some of the wolves huffed and some nodded, shoulders were bumped and one by one they disappeared into the forest. The last to leave was a small wolf with a pitch-black fur. It was Caira, and even Jake couldn't decipher the look she gave his son.

'Ryder.' Jake shook his son's shoulders, trying to get his attention, needing to know what happened. Ryder lifted his eyes to his fathers, he still looked shocked and confused, but at least he was himself again. The Alpha had left and Ryder's own light brown eyes shone up at him.

Ryder shook his head, wincing slightly and he lifted his hand to touch the bandages around his neck, seeming surprised. Like he hadn't realized he was injured until now.

'I -,' Ryder's face contorted into a deep frown. 'I don't know what happened, dad.'

Ryders' frowned stayed in place, his eyes sweeping across the forest without really seeing anything.

'I was phased, you know after our talk, I was running and suddenly Ty was there, he had phased and he was asking something. I – I remember I stopped running because I wanted to tell him, but it was like my mind went blank.'

Ryders eyes met Jake's he looked confused. 'I don't know what it was dad. I knew what I was doing and it felt so right, it felt so right to… dominate. That's it. That's what I wanted.'

Ryder got up and he started pacing the little clearing in the woods where just ten minutes ago he had fought with Ty. Jake got up as well, keeping silent, wanting to hear what happened.

'I wanted to dominate… first just Ty and his pack, because I am the rightful Alpha. Then I, no Caira. Caira was there in the pack mind, I could hear her, I could see her and feel what she felt.' Ryder kept going, four paces, turn around and four back, his hands rubbing together, his eyes restless.

'I wanted her dad, I don't know why, it was just there all of a sudden. I wanted to have her for myself. But I guess Ty intervened and came between us. That's when I decided, well I didn't decided dad. Something else decided, I was just…riding along, kind off. But I knew I had to stop Ty before he stopped me, he couldn't be the boss of me. I won't tolerate another Alpha.'

'No, son. You will tolerate him, your wolf won't.' Jake walked to Ryder who looked lost now, now that the whole tale had been told.

'Ryder,' Jake placed his hands on his son's shoulders. 'That was the spirit of the true Alpha.'

Ryder looked confused, until he remembered the old legends grandpa Billy told him all about.