Ryan's P.O.V

My body moved fluidly as I ducked underneath Josiah's arm.

I punched him in the stomach and he fell back, the air rushing out of his lungs.

"You gotta do better than that Josiah.", I said, my fists slightly in front of my face.

"I can't do better.", he wheezed as he stood up.

"This is all I have Alpha Ryan."

I shook my head. "No this isn't all that you have. If this is all that you have, you might as well kiss little Joey goodbye. If you can't last 5 minutes in a fight with an Alpha, how will you be able to protect your pup from a rogue?", I said harshly.

Josiah's eyes darkened and he swung wildly at me.

I dodged and slammed the palm of my hand into his chin.

Josiah fell on one knee and spit out some blood.

"Pathetic.", I spat. "One day, when we're attacked by rogues or another pack, Joey won't have anybody to protect him.

He has a weak father."

He shook his head in denial.

I just egged him on even further.

"A pathetic wolf.", I said.

"No.", Josiah said, shaking his head.

"A pathetic, good for nothing, sorry excuse of a wolf and a father. You'll never amount to anything to Joey.", I whispered in his face.

"No!", he snarled.

Josiah lunged off of his knee, tackling me into the dirt.

He threw punch after punch on my face before I got my hands up, blocking his hits and shoving him off of me.

Josiah landed and shifted, lunging for me again.

"I may have went to far.", I said.

"You think?!", Blake growled.

I shifted and slammed into Josiah's small wolf form.

His eyes were dark and I could tell that his wolf was in control.

"I've tried talking to his wolf. He's lost all reason, Ryan. You're going to need to force him to submit.", Blake said.

We were both calm in the current situation as we moved, dodging Josiah's attempts.

Josiah lunged and I jumped up, catching him by his throat.

I threw Josiah onto the ground and wrapped my jaws around his throat again, applying pressure slowly.

I snarled past the hold I had on him.

Josiah wiggled even more before I applied an even harsher grip.

I snarled again, this one more animal than anything.

Josiah submitted, his head thrusted up and to the side.

I let go of him and shifted as he shifted.

"I'm sorry Alpha Ryan. I just got really prote-", Josiah started.

"It's fine Josiah. I taunted you that much on purpose.", I informed.

Walking to him, I crouched down, completely forgetting about my nakedness.

"Whenever you are in battle, you fight with that kind of passion. You fight for yourself and for Joey.", I said before walking away.

I walked to the back porch, sliding on the shirt and gym shorts a pack member handed me.

"Thank you.", I said.

The wolf bowed and walked away as I walked up to my office.

The phone ringing caught my attention and I picked it up.

"Alpha Halifax of the HellHounds Pack speaking. How may I help you?", I spoke.

"It's Alpha John. I just wanted to call and inform you that the United Packs Meeting is being postponed by at the most 2 years.", John informed me.

I was startled.

"Why?", I asked.

John sighed. "The Alpha King has taken up a chosen mate. He wants to spend the next year with her, pupping her, and just relaxing. He told us to think of it as a vacation for him."

You have got to be fucking kidding me!

"I'm going to kill him!", Blake snarled, pacing in my head.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed.

"Thank you John for calling me. I've got to go.", I said.

"It's no problem Ryan.", John replied before I hung up.

That gives me time to build my pack in numbers.

"I want my best trackers and some of my best warriors in my office. I have a mission for you.", I said through our link.

"We're on our way Alpha.", they replied.

Once they arrived, I had Tina, Everett, Devin, Eve, Claire, Charlie, Grayson, Liam, Tyler, Travis, Milly, and Lynn in my office.

"I want you guys to go out and recruit rogues. I remember that the scent of a regular rogue and a ruthless rogue are different.

I want no ruthless rogues. Do you understand me?", I ordered.

"Yes Alpha.", they replied in unison.

"Pack a few back bags and take some of the handguns. Don't stay out too long. You depart tonight.", I said, dismissing them with a wave of my hand.

The wolves left and I could hear their excitement as they talked animatedly with one another.

I smiled, sitting back and resting my hands on my stomach.

Glancing out the window, I noticed the older wolves and some younger wolves with their mates.

I couldn't wait to find mine.

As long as he isn't an Alpha.