Alex didn't have to turn to know who that was. Instead, she kept her eyes on Elston. "Nathan." She was afraid of Elston's reaction. The man had one of the worst temperaments she knew of.

Elston snarled, jumping over the rail of the porch. "You had no right claiming her!" He remained a few feet away from Nathan. He may be angry, but not stupid. "She is mine!"

"I had all the right in the world." Nathan snapped. "She is my mate in the eyes of man and wolf! Your claim means nothing!"

"She isn't your mate yet." Elston took a few steps forward, pointing a finger at him. "You think I was just going to step back and let you take my mate away?!"

Nathan growled at hearing him call Alex his mate. But before he could retaliate, Alex appeared between them, stopping any advances from both of them. "Elston please, let's talk this out. There is no need to shed blood."

"I am not talking anymore." Elston yelled. "I am done being shoved to last! Just because you found your supposed mates, doesn't mean shit! I was here first, I earned my right in the eyes of your pack and mine!"

"Your right?" Alex scoffed. She had never heard him talk like that. "I am not a fucken cattle to be won like a priced meat, Elston! You know damn well a mate overrules any rights other wolves have. No matter how or who gave it to you."

"Maybe, but I can still take it away." Elston began removing his jacket and shirt.

Alex felt Nathan tense behind her. His low growl reaching only her ears. "Please don't."

"Nathan Stark, I challenge you." At that moment Elston shifted. Where he once stood, his black phase wolf stood baring its teeth. 'Winner takes Alex as their mate once and for all.'

Nathan was never one to back down from a challenge, and he wasn't about to start now. The only way he would lose his mate was if he was dead. "Very well." Alex placed her small hand on his chest, looking up at him with pleading eyes. She didn't need to say anything, her eyes said it all. Cupping her jaw, he pulled her in for a soft kiss. "You know very well I can't back down. Not when that means losing you. Especially you." Pulling her into another kiss, he ordered Matt to take her. "I will be fine."

Alex knew he couldn't back down. She knew both would get hurt, one more than the other, but it didn't mean she had to like it. The simple fact that they were fighting over her, was ridiculous.

Matt came up behind her, pulling her to the side. "Take a deep breath and relax."

"I don't want either of them getting hurt, Matt."

"We knew this could happen." Matt said. "We can go into the cabin. You don't have to watch this."

Alex shook her head. "No, I need to be here. Need to make sure they both come out alive."

Nathan removed his blazer and shirt, leaving him in only his pants. Alex would never reject what she was, but no one could understand the pain one went through when shifting. She watched Nathan's back tense as he began the transformation. To the human's eye, it was a quick open and close of the eyes. But to us, it was a long process and sometimes a painful one.

Taking a deep breath, Nathan visualizes the wolf. Willing him to come to the surface. Clenching his jaw, he felt his bones begin to readjust. Clawing and biting at himself, he began to tear off his skin. Falling to his knees, he willed himself to relax as his body did the final steps. Opening his eyes, he was now looking through the eyes of the beast. Tossing his mate one last glance, he turned all his focus on the snarling wolf. 'You can still back down'.

Elston paced a few feet in from of Nathan. The wolf was a tad bit larger than himself. Which meant he needed to find a weak spot. But it also meant Nathan was slower. His teeth were bared, saliva dripping from his large canine. His hackle raised and claws were digging into the forest ground. 'I am not going to lose her'.

Nathan crouched down, showing his large canine teeth. Pieces of bloody skin still hanging off his teeth. 'You already did.' Nathan stood his ground, waiting for Elston to make his move. If there was one thing he has learned from his many battles, was to always want for the other to make his move first. Conserve energy and find a weak spot.

But in the end, it was just a clash of teeth and claws.

Elston made the first move, running full speed at Nathan with a loud roar. His aim was for Nathan's throat only to miss it by a few inches. Landing on his feet, he did a quick 180 and clashed head-on with Nathan. Nathan jumped over Elston, dodging the bite to his leg. Turning quickly Nathan grabbed a hold of Elston's back. Biting down hard, he pulled Elston down to the ground with a hard thud. Elston in a desperate attempt to get him off, kicked up his back legs, clawing Nathan right in the abdomen.

Both wolves separated, backing away from each other, they circled around one another. Nathan shook himself off, blood flying in all directions. Crouching to the ground, Elston snarled contemplating his next move. Nathan on the other hand was hyped up from the smell of blood, waiting was no longer an option. Pushing himself forward with his hind legs, he caused the dirt to rise up like a storm. As if anticipating the move, Elston rose locking them both in a bloody embrace. The growls and snarls echoed throughout the forest. Each clamping and ripping into whatever they could hook onto. In a moment of distraction, Nathan failed to protect his neck, giving Elston the opportunity he was waiting for.

Nathan howled in pain as Elston latched onto his neck. He felt as the teeth broke through his skin, allowing his blood to flow freely onto the ground. Elston now had the upper hand and he knew it. He held Nathan down on his back, staring directly into his eyes. He wanted to see when the life left his eyes, feel as Nathan took his last breath. Nathan was allowing his panic to rise, as he fought to get loose. His attempts to kick him off were of no use, Elston had made sure to not stand over him directly. At that moment his eyes fell onto his mate. Alex was staring at him with fear in her eyes. Matt was currently holding her back, preventing her from intervening on his behalf.

'Nathan get up.' Her voice echoed through his mind. 'Get up!'

As he said before, he was not going to lose her. Tilting his head, he clamped onto Elston's ear. As the wolf yelped in pain, Nathan swiped his claws across Elston's face. Using the time he gained, he jumped to his feet and steadied himself. Blood dripped from his neck, making a puddle at his paws. Elston whimpered on the other side, attempting to clear his eye of the blood. Nathan had really done some damage to it.

Alex flinched as the smell of blood invaded her nose. Her eyes scanning Nathan, noticing the large gash on his side and an open wound on his neck and abdomen. His black fur matted with blood and dirt, making him appear like a mad wolf. Elston looked just as bad. He had a few cuts here and there, but the worse one was to his eye. Nathan has managed to claw his right eye. This had gone far enough, but as she intended to stop the fight once more, Matt pulled her back.

"You stop the fight and Nathan loses by default." Matt growled.

Alex snarled back at him but stayed put either way.

Elston managed to wipe the blood off his eye but wasn't much use at the moment. It was like trying to look through muddy glasses. Before he had time to think of his next move, he felt the air knocked out of him. Nathan had tackled him, sending them both tumbling into the dirt. A bubble of dust shielded them from sight. Alex strained her neck trying to see what was going on. They could hear the growls and occasion yelps, then nothing. Not a single snarl. Slowly the dust began to settle down, allowing her to see once more.

Elston laid on his back, his back legs pushing up against Nathan's underbelly. Nathan currently had Elston's neck in his jaws, biting down harder with each movement Elston gave. The blood flowed from Nathan's mouth, cascading down to the already disturbed forest floor.

'Do you accept the defeat? Or should I finish you off now?'

Elston growled, digging his claws into Nathan's chest. Only to stop as he bit down harder. He knew he had already lost. There was no way out of this alive, but to give in. 'I accept my defeat.'