A Wolf For The Gangster
Chapter 33

Alpha Johns smiles, for what he wants most of all is to drive the lions out of their territory and take it over, and then hunt down every member of the pride that he believes should never have existed.

-Duel accepted. -They clasp their hands firmly. Meanwhile, their eyes look at each other with hatred. Today at six o'clock in no man's territory will be the showdown. I'll be there with your female and your cubs. -Johns is an alpha traditionalist, so he never fails to

deliver.

-All right.

We each go our separate ways.

Worry blossoms inside Eliecer.

-What you're doing is crazy," he mutters when they're far away.

-Would you rather I give him the territory? -he growls in her face. If so, I can turn myself in and give him the territory in exchange for my wife and puppies.

Eliecer knows Leonardo is capable of this, so he denies.

-We'll be with you in case Johns doesn't keep part of the deal," he says. I'll make sure your female and cubs are always safe. I don't know if you'll make it out of this alive.

Leonardo looks at him, serious.

-I'll get out of this shit all right. Don't think I came into this world to let a wretch like that be the one to end my life. -He passes by him to go to Fer, the only man he trusts among all those who are close to him at that moment.

Eliecer doesn't think he'll come out of this one well because Johns is a trained alpha in all his forms.

(...)

-Who do you think you are to make this kind of exchange? -Saimon mumbles rather angrily at what Johns did.

The alpha analyses him neutrally.

-First of all, let this be the last time you talk to me like this inside my house and territory, because next time I'll cut your tongue out with a nail clipper. -He looks at him with all the seriousness in the world. If I did this, it's because I've got the battle for sure. That alpha has never trained like me and he sure as hell doesn't even know how to master his lion form.

-I hope so. He leaves the office in a huff.

He hopes that idiot Johns wins, otherwise he'll have to come up with a backup plan to keep the she-wolf from being taken from him.

(...)

Kara is in her human form with her two little ones asleep by her side. She never leaves their side.

-Your little ones are fine. I can't give you a full diagnosis, but their heartbeat is normal and their temperature is normal," the doctor reports.

-Thank you. I hope you'll forgive this trouble I've got her into," she whispers embarrassedly.

-You have nothing to worry about, your secrets are safe with me. After all this, you can still bring your little ones to my office. I'd be honoured to be their doctor.

Kara couldn't be more grateful to her.

-Doctor...

-Tell me Marian.

-Marian, I'm so grateful to you for all of this.

A small smile tugged at Marian's lips.

-Wolf.... -Alpha Johns enters the room, "Get ready, we're out of here at six o'clock.

-Where are we going? My patients can't be too exposed," argues the doctor.

-We're going with the male of that female. They'll know what will happen there. -A sinister smile spreads across her face and then she leaves the room.

-That guy scares the hell out of me," Marian mutters.

-Saimon scares me even more. -The memories of how that psychopath tortured her during her time in the pack haunted her for many nights, until the Gift gave her that air of protection.

After a few hours, Kara and Marian are ready to leave with the others. Saimon keeps staring at the she-wolf and stalks her at every turn. His twisted mind thinks of second plans to take the she-wolf if the fight between the alphas is unbalanced for his purposes in Italy. The small group led by Johns is made up of six, including his beta and the best warriors of his pack. Their journey to no man's territory is a short one. The she-wolf's heart races as she sees Leonardo in the distance; their gazes lock. Leonardo catches a glimpse of the tiny baby the she-wolf carries wrapped in her arms while the doctor carries the other twin. One of his worries is eased in his heart as he sees that all three are in perfect condition.

-You'd better not run, wolf," Johns growls. Alpha Leonardo, I'm glad you didn't chicken out. -His raised head shows his bearing as king and lord of the world, as well as the arrogance that carries his words. As promised, your female and cubs are safe and sound," he points to them. As I am a very good man, I also give you your companion," he adds. Enough chatter and let's get down to business today. -That's fine with me. -Leonardo's lion's green eyes show how angry he is.

-As the tradition of these blood challenges goes, simple rules: no one can intervene until one of us surrenders or dies. -Kara's heart skips several beats. The fight will be in our animal form at all times," she announces. That said, shall we begin, or do you have any objections? -None. -Leonardo takes off his shirt.

Johns takes his wolf form and rises in all his glory. However, everyone looks at the Don as he takes his lion form, taking a head off Johns, who is also surprised by the size of his opponent. The Don's brothers were smaller. Johns expected his opponent to be the same, but, even so, he thinks he has the advantage because he is an alpha trained from a young age in all his forms.

Murmurs from the members of the pack from which the Don descends can be heard.

-He is a natural alpha," Eliecer murmurs as he catches his first glimpse of the colour of the Don's lion.

A natural alpha is someone who doesn't need a pride to lead and who can create his own pride. In fact, he does not need to inherit. However, he can also choose to take the pride from another alpha. It has been more than a millennium since there was a natural alpha in lion prides. The other alphas feared and banded together to hunt down those who were natural alphas, as one could never fight a natural alpha alone, so they resorted to banding together and attacking them together to eliminate them. Leonardo shakes his fur and puffs out his chest, proud of his other form. He smiles inwardly at how small his opponent looks, but knows he must be strategic in order to defeat him. They both watch each other for the other's weak spot and circle each other. Everyone is waiting to see who will strike first. Johns is short on patience, so he is the first to run at the lion and tries to bite its neck. However, Leonardo is quicker and dodges it. He also manages to scratch the side of the wolf, which growls angrily. Johns, with his huge body, lunges at Leonardo, knocking him down, digs his canines into his neck and tastes his blood. Leonardo struggles to get out of the grip of Johns' jaws. He takes the opportunity to use his claws and bury them in his belly. The wolf, sensing the invasion, immediately releases him to lie down to the side and prevent the lion from pulling out his entrails. Standing there bleeding, they look at each other with hatred. They know that until one of them falls they will not stop. Kara is scared of what might happen to the Don. At no time do the she-wolf's eyes stop watching the fight, as her mind plays tricks on her where she might look away and, when she looks back, the Don is dead. Leonardo is quite angry and does not intend to die without meeting his cubs. He has all the more reason to come out of this fight well. He analyses his opponent in the same way that Samuel taught him during one of his hand-to-hand fighting classes; Johns is more injured than the Don, as he managed to penetrate quite a bit with his claws and hurt some organs. Leonardo this time doesn't wait to go at the wolf and takes him down. The ground is stained by his blood. His fangs dig into the wolf's neck and he overpowers it with his strength. In the meantime, the beast tries to free itself from his grip by clawing at its sides with its claws. Leonardo doesn't care about the wounds he is inflicting, he just grinds his fangs until he hears the wolf's neck snapping beneath him. Everyone gasps as the lion detaches the animal's head and throws it to the side, far away from his body. Saimon burns with rage, so he resorts to attacking Leonardo now that he is tired.

Saimon in his wolf form lunges at Leonardo and knocks him down. Kara lets out a scream as she sees Saimon's wolf grab the lion by the throat and throw him into a tree. As Saimon runs towards the lion so that he can end its life, he is attacked by several lions that leap at him like a pack, clawing and biting at every part of his body until they end his life. Kara walks over to Leonardo, who lies on the ground in his human form, naked and with multiple wounds, stained with blood, mud and with some dry leaves stuck to his skin. -Leonardo..." As best he can, he bends down to hold his head between his legs. His personal bodyguard, Will, grabs his baby. Please don't leave me," she sobbed.

He feels the Don's faint heartbeat. He struggles to stay conscious.

-Don't cry, puppy. -His voice comes out in a faint whisper and a small cough comes over him. His mouth is stained with blood.

-Don't speak, save your strength," the she-wolf pleads as tears blur his vision.

-Puppies..." she murmurs. They all know what she is asking, so they bring the twins to her so she can see them. She looks down at her children and smiles faintly. Donato. -His gaze flicks to the youngest. Enzo," he mutters to the older one. As he promised Kara, he names his sons.

-You must fight... I need you to tell me what it means," Kara whimpers as she caresses his face.

-I'm tired," he whispers and closes his eyes.

Kara struggles to keep him awake.

-We must take him to the herd. Our healers can help him there. -Eliecer looks at Kara, waiting for a response from her.

She nods.

Carefully, Leonardo is lifted onto the back of one of the transformed warriors. Eliecer climbs up so he can hold him so he doesn't fall during the ride to the herd.

-They'll carry her," he says and then sets off as fast as he can towards the herd.

Leaving Kara worried.