Lost Inside: Chapter 35
He
was done talking. Benny answered Sheshtun’s hiss with one of his own. He
flexed, the muscles in his arms rippling. He was younger, stronger, and far
more pissed off. Sheshtun, for all his crazy ranting, didn’t stand a chance.
Nothing
was going to stop Benny from protecting his mate. The need to spill Sheshtun’s
blood, hot and wet, consumed him. His vision faded at the edges, tinged red, as
he focused on the snarling Tiger.
Sheshtun
lunged forward, and Benny met his attack. Claws raked down his side, ripping
through his shirt and deep into his flesh. He grunted, shuddering as the tip of
Sheshtun’s claws felt like they skidded against a rib.
Fuck.
The bastard was fast.
Benny
tried to block the pain, focused on driving his claws into Sheshtun’s chest and
neck. They grappled, snapping and swiping at each other. Benny stumbled against
the body of the guard; the nasty crunch of the male’s fingers crushing under
his heel distracted him. Sheshtun took advantage of the distraction and went
for a disabling blow.
Sweat
and blood dripped in Benny’s eyes. He blinked, shaking his head, blood spraying
from the cut on his temple from the swipe across his forehead. He barely
twisted away from it, just saving his eyes. The older Carthera darted in,
striking out at his face again, making Benny rear back, and then moved away
before Benny could grab him.
But
he was moving slower, blood staining one arm that hung crookedly at his side.
Benny had swept it away from his head with one hand on Sheshtun’s wrist and
then yanked down viciously, popping it out of the socket at the shoulder.
Strength would win over speed—if Benny could get the wily bastard in reach.
Then
he saw the gun. That’s what Sheshtun was going for. Benny had to stop him
before he reached the weapon.
Benny
crouched, going in low. He feinted for Sheshtun’s legs—a move to hamstring and
hobble the circling Tiger—and then leapt up, springing over Sheshtun in an
acrobatic flip he’d learned from one of the Falcons. As he went up and over, he
reached out, burying the claws of both hands in Sheshtun’s chest and armpit on
his uninjured side. He didn’t get them in as deep as he wanted, but now both of
Sheshtun’s arms were compromised.
Now
to take the bastard down. Benny bared his fangs and hissed, long and low. In a
move Dav would be proud of, Benny took advantage of the stunned Tiger’s agony
and took him down from behind, wrapping his legs around Sheshtun’s neck as he
rolled them over on the hardwood floor slippery with blood and sweat.
With
one violent squeeze, he wrenched Sheshtun’s head sideways. The sick crack
silenced the Tiger’s gurgles as he flopped. His body went limp, the reek of
urine and shit filling the air. Benny gagged and coughed, the iron taste of
blood in his mouth and the reek making him sick. He shoved Sheshtun’s body away
from him and rolled over, his muscles trembling as he retched and spit.
Yanking
the tattered remains of his shirt over his head, Benny groaned and winced as
the wound across his ribs opened again and began dripping blood down his side,
soaking into his pants. He tore the shirt in half. He pressed against the
wounds in his side and across his head, slowing the blood, trying to take only
shallow breaths as he slowly recovered enough energy to get to his feet.
Dav
crouched in the doorway, holding his hands up when Benny whipped his head
sideways when he caught a glimpse of the movement out of the corner of his eye.
“Easy. It’s just me. We had two guards drive up in a car while you were
fighting. Sheshtun must’ve been about to change hiding places.”
“Fucker
won’t be do anything anymore.” Benny spit at the body. “I killed his ass.”
“I
never doubted it. I’ve got some plastic to wrap the body in. You ready to
finish this?” Dav slowly stood up when Benny got to his feet, hiding the
grimace he wanted to make when his rib wound opened at one edge.
“Yeah.
I’m so out of here.” Yuri was waiting for him, and Benny wanted the threat to
his mate settled.
Then
he was taking a god damned vacation.
“Bending
over with my wounds is a real fucking treat,” Benny grumbled as he got into the
passenger seat.
“Poor
baby.” Dav mocked him. Benny flipped him off. “Suck it up, Alpha. Can’t be seen
as weak.” He was right. Benny couldn’t be seen as anything less than in charge.
Ever.
Thank
God he had Yuri. Yuri didn’t care how Benny acted when they were alone. Thoughts
of his mate firmed up Benny’s resolve. He would make sure they were safe, and
he’d drag the entire Tiger clan into the modern age—kicking and screaming, if
necessary—to do it. “Where’s the med kit?”
“Back
seat. Ellis threw in some wipes and new clothes. I’d leave the pants, to
explain away the blood, but I’d cover up that wound on your ribs. Let them
think the scrapes on your face are the source of the scent.” Dav took a corner
too fast, and Benny hissed. “Sorry.”
Benny
pulled down the mirror and examined the cuts on his face. They went from the
scruff where he needed to shave his head across his forehead and curved down
around his eye and across his temple. The two raw furrows were going to leave a
wicked scar.
Good.
He’d wear them proudly. Benny took his time patching himself up before he slid
on a black T-shirt.
Time
for a showdown.
TBC
Okay, so go check out the website, or follow this link to other great flash updates! (lookit all those names!!)
So glad that Benny was able to get rid of the father, but being Alpha is going to be tough. At least, he can make positive changes to the Tiger clan. Although, there are sure to be blood challenges. Can an Alpha retire and pass the role to his heir or designated heir?
ReplyDeleteMe too! The Tigers are very old school--hereditary or challenge. Whether or not that's how it goes once Benny confronts the Clan... well, you'll just have to wait and see! Thanks for reading Jbst!
DeleteI agree with Jbst. It seems to me that since this is your world, alphas can resign if they want and with good reason. I think, though, that Benny will be Alpha long enough to "drag:" the tigers into the modern age and until he finds someone strong enough with the same ideas but not power mad. Eager for more.
ReplyDeleteIn my world... things can be very interesting. I try never to do what you guys expect, lol. I don't want to spoil the plot, so I won't say more, but I love how you guys have given thoughts as to what will happen. I always have a general idea, but with flash I work on this week to week, so things can change anytime! Keep it coming, and thank you!!
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