The young man followed Samantha with fear. He had just realised he had done something stupid. Why in the world would he challenge that woman? It was clear she had enough power to hurt him...


    And, even if she didn''t, Renato would kill him!


    He had changed his mind and was desperately looking for a way out. He could lose with the first blow. That seemed the safest option. He wouldn''t lose his face by admitting he talked too much. And he wouldn''t suffer for too long, either. He was going to let her hit him once and then y dead.


    He couldn''t see the other young men getting ready for their challenge soon after him. However, Samantha did notice.


    ?You go first,? she said. ?I''ll let you attack first.?


    ?I... I don''t want the advantage,? he replied, starting to sweat. It was not what he was nning... Oh, he didn''t n much. He and his friends thought they could get that ce by beating that woman. Moreover, in her state, she would have avoided fighting too much...


    Right?


    Wrong, he thought. She didn''t seem to care about anything.


    The one who did was Renato, and she had just told him not to intrude. But how not? Those two were mates.


    ?Oh, damn it,? he cursed under his breath. He raised his arms on guard and got ready to be hit.


    What was going on with his brain? He never ever wanted to be the Alpha in the first ce. But something deep inside him pushed him forward.


    Everyone had epted that strange woman as their leader, but she hadn''t done anything much yet.


    She did exile Armando and his family. She did send Alpha Woods back.


    She even fought with Alpha Luciano, but thetter was weakened by the events.


    She hadn''t fought her way up the pack. She arrived one day, and she was their leader. Some couldn''t ept a stranger in that ce.


    But he had been too fast at acting. He didn''t need to challenge her first, after all... His friends were snickering, in fact. They were also getting ready to fight.


    If he lost, they would challenge the Alpha and hope she was tired enough. If he won, they would take the chance to beat the new, young Alpha. Either way, they would profit from his dumb idea.


    He could let her win immediately. That did seem like a good idea. He would be spared a few hours of pain, and the Alpha wouldn''t be too tired to deal with the others.


    If he was beaten, they deserved it too!


    Without much motivation - not anymore - he attacked. His punch ended mid-air, and Samantha moved to the side and caught his shoulder. She made him fly over her back andnd on the ground, raising the dust and making him ouch. Not very painful, still.


    He didn''t get up but stayed on the ground. He looked up at her, his arms spread on the ground, and his eyes in a silent plea to let him live.


    Samantha looked down at him with a surprised expression. She seemed to understand what he thought. But she wasn''t agreeing.


    He could read it on her smirk. All of a sudden, she wanted to have some fun.


    ?Get up,? she said.


    He shook his head, firmly set on not getting up from the ground. He had lost. Was there any need to continue? He wouldn''t challenge her anymore either: she had caught him so fast that he didn''t notice until he was up in the air, rotating over her body. She hadn''t used any strength, and he already had no more hope.


    She was damn strong. Maybe, it had been better for all of them that she didn''t climb her way up.


    ?If I let you go so easily, your friends, there, will challenge me. It will be a show you''ll repeat every time you feel a little strong. I don''t want to spend my time dealing with teens. I need to rest and forget about wolf politics, so I have to show everyone what happens when they disturb my peace. Go challenge someone else if you need to fight so badly.?


    Samantha crossed her arms, waiting for the youngling to follow her orders. She didn''t know what made her think he was challenging her - just because. She had no clue why the others were getting ready to follow. However, she couldn''t let them disturb her peace. Not that she was busy, but... She couldn''t allow it, simply.


    ?Get up,? she repeated, her eyes cold like the winter wind.


    The young man was astonished. He got up without any intention to do so, and only then did he notice the pressure over him. That woman had used the Alpha powers without much struggle, as if it came naturally to her.


    He stood on guard again, but with only one intention: protecting himself from extreme pain and death. All he hoped was to save his life in the end. He was not just scared: he was terrified by that woman all of a sudden. He knew he should have shown more respect; he would have done it if he survived the day.


    Samantha attacked him again, surrounding his neck with her arm and using her foot to trip him. He fell down again, but he didn''t try ying dead for the second time. He couldn''t afford to make her lose patience.


    They fought for a while more until he was breathless and tired. Oddly enough, he wasn''t in pain. Even though, to the others, it seemed she was mercilessly beating him, she hadn''t wounded him. Her punches weren''t that strong - because she was holding back - and she would just make him trip, fly in the air, or fall on the ground time and time again. It felt more like training than a fight.


    It would have been fun if he wasn''t so worried for his life.


    Meanwhile, the youngsters following the fight started to change their minds. Maybe, it was not the right moment to challenge Samantha. Oh, not Samantha: Alpha Samantha.