CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Nate just scoffed, stopping his walk to watch the battle.

He knew their worst challenge would have been Alpha Polenta's right-hand man: Renato Cannella. Even after Polenta left, that man wouldn't just give up and surrender.

«You're so stupid,» Nate said. «Fighting to death just because you were ordered? What for? A man who left?»

«You speak bullshit,» Renato replied.

He didn't want to admit it? Fine.

Nate crossed his arms and watched the fight.

Renato would dodge most of the attacks, kicking back only when it was safe enough. Fighting with two people was difficult, especially if they all had supernatural strength.

Only when there was space to attack, Renato could kick or punch, trying to destabilise the two soldiers enough for a second attack. Yet, when one was weaker, the other was on alert. Nothing he did could actually work.

Then, when the man on his right lowered his guard for a moment only, Renato took the chance and stepped away from between them. He circled around the soldier and hit behind his head with full strength.

Since the man fell on his knees and the other was on the opposite side, Renato was shielded by the soldier's body long enough to attack again and knock the soldier out for good.

Then, one against one, the situation was easier to handle.

«This is better,» he sighed before attacking with full speed.

The remaining soldier widened his eyes and guarded his face and chest against the attacks. It was his turn to defend.

One on one, Renato was going to win.

Nate observed the fight with a keen eye, and he noticed how the others in the Mayford pack were gaining some advantage. Renato Cannella wasn't just a stubborn bastard but also one of the vital points of the pack.

«Attack him,» Nate said, turning to the soldiers who had just dealt with their tasks and reached the residence. «Don't let him win another battle.»

«Alpha? All... All together?»

«Yes. I don't care what it takes, but he has to lose. If he doesn't, we'll lose control of the situation.»

«Yes, Alpha!»

If Samantha was there, she would have dealt with that. Maybe, sending her away wasn't as much of a wise move as it looked at first thought.

But, without the second most powerful wolf in the pack, he had to resort to underhanded means. Like fighting in a group towards a single warrior. Still, Nate had no choice. Mayford's chief of security had to fall.

«Don't spare any energy. Once he's down, we will have won.»

Hearing those words didn't unsettle Renato one bit. He already knew it, after all. He was all left in between them and a total loss and destruction.

He fought against seven guards, and, still, he held his guard up and resisted. Contrarily to Nate's expectations, he was keeping control over his temper and giving some hope to the others.

«Now,» Nate said. «Take him down. By any means!»

It was just a few steps away. He could open that door and show everyone that the battle was lost. But, with that man fighting, would it have had any effect?

No! First, Cannella needed to fall.

The moon was late that night. The wolves couldn't shift to their primal forms, but they could still show part of their features. Most of them had their claws and fangs released, using them to fight.

Mayford didn't have time to react, so most of them didn't have any weapons. But Norwich did.

The soldiers around Renato took out knives from their boots or belts, and they attacked with an annoying pace. He couldn't take a breath without the need to dodge or block an attack.

Seven were too many even for him, especially if armed.

He could have thought about it before walking out of the residence, but he wasn't thinking straight.

The first attack to reach the destination was just a scratch, but the second hit Renato's kidney. He shouted and bent double, but he regained composure enough to react. He couldn't lower his guard, and Nathaniel Woods was looking at him with a glacial sight.

If Renato lowered his guard, he was going to die. If he surrendered, the pack would be no more. Was there any other choice but to fight back?

He caught the attack coming from the left, and he disarmed the soldier. He stole the knife and tried sticking it into another soldier's eye. Since he failed, he turned around and kicked the arm aiming at him away.

He could see an opening and threw the knife into a wolf's chest. It wasn't a fatal wound, but it had decreased the number of fighters from seven to six.

Another two or three less, and Renato could think of a strategy to win.

From the corner of his eye, he saw another group of soldiers coming his way and waiting for their turn. They didn't attack immediately, waiting for the first group to retreat.

Then, fresh like roses, they took their place.

He was facing seven new enemies while he was tired and wounded. Without a way out. Without a strategy to reach any goal.

All he could do was fight until the end and hope someone else had the energy to follow his lead and fight again when he couldn't anymore.

It was pointless, but what else could he do? Nothing.

He wasn't strong enough to defend his pack, and that wound hurt the most.

When he was hurt for the second time, his forehead was covered with sweat and his face twisted in pain and desperation. But a desperate prey knew how to be unpredictable.

He fought until the end, his end. He returned every blow under Nate's surprised gaze. Still, it wasn't enough.

In the end, he fell to his knees but still growled at his enemies.

They wounded him again, and again, finally tying his arms behind his back and leaving him there almost unconscious.

The last thought he could summon was a whine. Lucretia was in danger there... Why couldn't she listen and sneak out in the confusion? Any outer circle was safer than the very centre of their pack at that moment.