Mated to the Cougar Read online

  It was our own frigging fault. The Lowes had set their sights on Ryker’s barn. They’d started a livestock smuggling business. Hunting was harder every season with Granger Falls expanding into our territory. Farms were easy prey and that kind of meat went for serious money in the forest.

  They’d been stupid and lazy about it. Ryker was an old bastard, but he was one of the first wolves who managed to acclimate with humans in Granger Falls. I had no doubt he was running his livestock on the black market. Otherwise, he’d never have all these meatheads doing security for them. Had the Lowes been caught with Ryker’s livestock, it would’ve started a war between the packs. We were minutes away from stopping them when we got caught. The Channings had always kept order in the forest. For generations, our family had been the peacekeepers.

  Now Ryker was using that to his advantage with his very own gladiator ring.

  Blood and bad decisions packed the stands every month. No two fights were the same. Over the last six months, we’d been conditioned to be prepared for the worst case scenario at all times.

  Ryker scanned over the seven of us. “You.” He pulled on Shea’s chain. Fuck, Shea didn’t have any limits or any conscience. He’d been a bloodthirsty lunatic since we were kids. I considered it a weakness. Major needed to get a rein on his brother. The pack only had room for one alpha.

  I didn’t care which one of them I fought, but tonight it looked like the opponents were already chosen. Ryker hated a fair fight. The crowd had already placed their bets and Ryker loved to protect house money.

  “And you.” Our chains were tangled, and all four of us skidded forward. Ryker exhaled loudly, pushing one of his thugs out of the way so he could untangle the chains, pulling roughly on them while he worked. We all stumbled off balance as the chains came free. One more tug made it clear who he wanted. Archer.

  “No!” I dove at Ryker, who responded by kicking me in the ribs. The old man was rattled when I latched onto his ankle; he pried his bloody leg free of my grip. My neck snapped back, and a boot landed on my head. The thug didn’t press down hard enough to break anything, but he held me down as Ryker landed one last blow to my stomach.

  Archer refused to move, digging his paws in the dirt and staring at me, Baron, and Dallas. “Save it for the ring,” I yelled to my little brother. The pain in those blue eyes would haunt me forever. Ryker dragged him through the dirt, and I nodded to him. Six months in captivity left me weak, but I’d give my brother everything I had. Archer understood. He picked up his feet, tail up, prancing with all the pride a beaten wolf could muster beside Ryker.

  The thugs pulled us to the side of the ring. The crowd roared at the sight of us, and every month I was disgusted to see so many familiar faces come out to watch us fight. When we were human, we called some of these people friends. Or we had. If they had any idea what we were, they’d see this for what it was. Murder.

  “I’m sorry, man,” Major said to me as the thugs hooked us into our places along the side of the ring. “Archer doesn’t deserve this. Shea won’t show him any mercy. He wants his freedom.”

  Straining against the chain one more time, at my best I would’ve broke right through it. “I wouldn’t respect him if he gave any less than his best.”

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  OTHER BOOKS BY KRISTEN STRASSEL

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  Wanted by the Lion

  Taken by the Buck

  Mated to the Cougar

  Destined to the Pride

  SAWTOOTH SHIFTERS

  Forever Home

  Rescue Me

  Protect Me

  Conquer Me

  Celebrate Me

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  Dirty Little Secret

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  Also by Kristen Strassel

  Cirque Macabre

  The Fire Dancer

  Sin City Vampire Club

  Queen of the Night Time World

  Colorado Shifters

  Wanted by the Lion

  Taken by the Buck

  Mated to the Cougar

  Doe and the Pride

  Sawtooth Shifters

  Forever Home

  Rescue Me

  Protect Me

  Conquer Me

  Celebrate Me

  Shelter Me

  Complete Me

  The Escort

  No Strings Attached

  Wrapped Around My Finger

  Ties That Bind

  The Passion Project

  The Night Songs Collection

  Because the Night

  Night Moves

  We Own the Night

  Silent Night

  The Spotlight Series

  Secondhand Heart

  Too Many Reasons

  Standalone

  Sawtooth Shifters Volume 1

  Sawtooth Shifters Volume 2