Chapter 231

Chapter 231: Chapter 231

Dron hit Gushex hard enough to send both of them crashing into the crates behind him.

Wood exploded beneath their combined weight. One second, the crates were stacked neatly against the side of the ship, and the next, they were nothing more than splintered pieces of wood and supplies scattered across the deck. Dron barely noticed. His fist was already coming down toward Gushex’s face, but the other alpha twisted his head at the last second.

Dron’s knuckles slammed into the wood beneath him.

Gushex didn’t waste the opportunity. His fist connected with the side of Dron’s face hard enough to snap his head back. Before Dron could recover, Gushex shoved both feet into his stomach and kicked him away.

Dron flew backward and crashed into another stack of crates. The top two toppled over, one breaking open as it hit the deck. Food and supplies rolled in every direction.

"Stop this!" Gerax shouted.

Neither alpha listened.

Gushex was already on his feet. Dron pushed himself upright and spit blood onto the deck.

A smile slowly spread across Gushex’s face.

That only pissed Dron off more.

Dron had fought plenty of alphas in his lifetime. He’d fought males larger than Gushex, faster than Gushex, and ones who had been trained by the best fighters Thraqe had to offer.

Gushex was different.

He didn’t fight like a Thraqen soldier. There was nothing polished about his movements. He fought like someone who’d learned because losing meant dying. There was no hesitation and no wasted movement.

Dron respected it.

He still wanted to tear him apart.

Gushex rushed him.

Dron braced himself, but instead of hitting him high, Gushex dropped low and slammed his shoulder into Dron’s stomach. Dron grunted as they crashed into the railing.

Wood groaned behind him.

For one terrifying second, Dron thought they were both going over the side.

He grabbed Gushex around the waist and twisted, throwing him across the deck instead. Gushex rolled and came right back to his feet.

"You’re going to have to do better than that, my king."

"Stop calling me that."

"Why? Afraid you might start believing it?"

Dron swung.

Gushex blocked.

Another punch.

Blocked again.

Gushex drove his fist into Dron’s ribs. Pain exploded through his side, but Dron answered with an elbow to Gushex’s jaw.

Blood sprayed from the alpha’s mouth.

By then, the noise had attracted attention.

Several humans came up from below deck, their faces filled with confusion as they tried to see what was happening.

"What the hell?"

"Are they fighting?"

Dron barely registered the voices.

Gushex grabbed Dron and threw him into another crate.

The entire thing collapsed.

The humans froze.

"Yep. They’re fighting."

"Two alphas."

That was all it took.

The humans turned around and ran.

Dron might have laughed if Gushex’s fist hadn’t connected with his mouth. His lip split against his teeth, filling his mouth with the metallic taste of blood.

Dron grabbed Gushex by the throat.

Gushex grabbed his wrist.

For several seconds, neither moved. Their muscles strained against each other as the ship rocked beneath them. Gushex was strong. Far stronger than Dron had expected. His grip tightened around Dron’s wrist while Dron squeezed his throat, neither alpha willing to give.

"Enough!"

Tempest.

Dron’s head turned instinctively.

That was a mistake.

Gushex drove his knee into Dron’s stomach. Dron released him and stumbled backward.

"Dron!"

"Stay back!" he roared.

Tempest ignored him.

Of course she did.

She rushed toward them as Gushex came for Dron again. Dron blocked the first punch and returned one of his own. Gushex ducked beneath it. They collided again, fists and elbows striking wherever they could find an opening.

"Dron, stop!"

Tempest was closer now.

Too close.

"Tempest, move!"

She reached for Dron.

At the same moment, Gushex swung.

Dron saw the fist coming. Saw Tempest step directly into its path. Saw Gushex’s eyes widen when he realized what was happening.

Too late.

His fist connected with Tempest’s face.

The sound of it silenced the entire ship.

Tempest spun from the force and hit the deck.

Dron stopped breathing.

Gushex froze.

"I..."

Dron looked down at Tempest. She was on her hands and knees, one hand already going to her face.

Something inside Dron snapped.

He didn’t remember moving.

One second, he was staring at Tempest.

The next, he had Gushex.

Dron roared as he slammed him against the side of the ship.

"Dron!" Gerax shouted.

Dron didn’t hear him.

He didn’t hear anything.

Gushex had hit Tempest.

His mate.

His Tempest.

Dron grabbed Gushex’s arm. The alpha must have realized what was coming because he immediately started fighting.

"Dron, wait!"

Dron twisted.

Gushex screamed.

The sound only fed the rage burning through Dron’s blood.

He pulled.

Muscle tore.

Bone snapped.

Blood sprayed across Dron’s chest.

With one final roar, Dron ripped Gushex’s arm from his body.

Gushex’s scream echoed across the water.

Dron threw the severed limb aside.

Gushex collapsed.

Blood poured from what remained of his shoulder as Gerax and Aliq rushed toward him, but Dron followed. He wasn’t finished. The rage inside him demanded more. Gushex had hurt Tempest, and every instinct Dron possessed told him to make sure the alpha could never do it again.

"Dron!"

Small hands grabbed his face.

Dron snarled and spun, only to freeze when he found Tempest standing directly in front of him. Her cheek was already swelling from the hit, but she seemed steady on her feet.

"Look at me," she demanded.

Dron’s eyes locked on the bruise forming across her skin.

"It was an accident," Tempest said. "I’m okay."

Behind her, Gushex groaned.

Dron tried to move around her, but Tempest shoved both hands against his chest.

"No. You’ve done enough."

The words managed to penetrate some of the haze clouding Dron’s mind. His gaze dropped to his hands. Blood covered them, dripping from his fingers onto the deck.

Tempest pushed him backward.

"Come with me."

Dron resisted for only a second before allowing her to guide him away. Behind them, Gerax shouted for something to stop the bleeding while Aliq barked orders at the others.

The storage room door was still open.

Tempest pushed him inside and followed, slamming the door behind them. Dron stood in the middle of the cramped room, his chest heaving as the last of his rage slowly drained away.

Outside, the chaos continued.

"Get something around his shoulder! Now!" Gerax shouted.

Dron stared at the blood covering his hands.

There was so much of it.

Tempest stepped closer and rested a hand against his chest. Dron looked from her bruised cheek to his blood-covered fingers.

Only minutes ago, those hands had been wrapped around her.

Now they were covered in Gushex’s blood.

Dron swallowed hard as the fog finally cleared from his mind.

He’d ripped another alpha’s arm from his body.

And he’d barely even thought about it.