#Chapter 74Trial by Combat

There was a brief discussion about Arthur's challenge. Technically, he'd challenged the council itself, and so one of them would have to fight. However, because he was challenging the loss of his territory, and Leo held that territory, the council proposed that Leo should be the alpha to answer the challenge. Leo agreed. Looking at his face, I thought he was eager to fight Arthur and take him down a peg or two. I assumed that Arthur would back down. After all, Leo was younger and stronger and motivated. He didn’t. A wider circle was cleared in the middle of the barn. He and Leo were given a few minutes to prepare. Leo shrugged off his shirt and handed it to Ethan. “Watch him closely,” Ethan advised, “He’s not gonna fight fair.” Leo nodded. He glanced at me. “Not sure whether I should apologize for the beating I aim to give your father,” he said with a wry grin, “or offer to give him a couple good thumps for you.” “Give him a couple solid whacks for my mother,” I said.