“Because there’s no other way he’ll let you go!” Rachelle’s words had the crowd gasping. She raised a brow at Ally. “You think I don’t know? You think I’m so stupid I can’t see why my mating bond isn’t complete? It’s your fault.”

“Don’t be so fucking dramatic. Zeke wants you, not me.”

“That’s true. He doesn’t want you, and he doesn’t regret our mating, but a part of him still cares for you.”

“Don’t pin the blame on Zeke, don’t act like you don’t get a kick out of stirring shit for people. You’re too much of an accomplished liar for me to think any differently.” Ally’s expression dared her to deny the truth. “You want me dead because you want me to suffer.”

“Oh, I do want you to suffer. I tried everything. I tried turning him against you, but it never worked. Everyone else fell in line, but not Zeke. No. He doubted every story I told him. He didn’t for one moment believe you would try to kill me. No. It didn’t even make any difference that you left the pack. He just wouldn’t forget you—he kept texting you, calling you—he wanted you back in the pack. He wanted you where he could see you and be near you, even though he would never have touched you.” Rachelle shrugged one shoulder. “I will admit it was fun to watch as you lost everything—your friends, your status, the trust of your pack mates.”

Matt groaned, covering his face with his hands, no doubt feeling dumb at how easily he’d been fooled. Zeke looked distraught but not particularly surprised, and it made Ally wonder just how long he’d suspected his mate was a lying, crazy heifer.

“Thankfully,” began Ally, “your lies have been discovered. Your pack knows the truth. Your reign of bullshit is over. And now you have lost your status and the trust of your pack.” Their disgust in Rachelle beat at Ally’s head. “No more stalling. I challenged you, and no one’s going to dispute my right to do so.”

“Submit now, Rachelle,” Zeke urged. “If you submit now, there’ll be no challenge. We’ll step down from our role as Betas; we’ll switch to another pack and start over.”

Her upper lip curled back, Rachelle looked down her nose at him. “Flee, you mean?”

“It’s not fleeing when you’re banished.” Matt’s tone was harsh, nonnegotiable.

“You’re banishing me?” Rachelle actually seemed shocked—even more support to the theory that she was insane.

“You expected anything different after all that you’ve done?” asked Matt. “I almost banished an innocent wolf because of your lies! How can you expect me to overlook that, to trust you?” He shook his head. “You no longer have a place here.”

Rachelle didn’t speak; she just gawked at her Alpha. But Ally could feel her rage and resentment rising, burning Ally’s skin until she thought it would blister.

Ally tilted her head. “Sucks, doesn’t it? Being banished and isolated, I mean.”

Rounding on her, Rachelle cracked her neck. “You want to duel? Fine. We’ll duel.”

“Rachelle . . .” Zeke tried to pull her away, but his mate shrugged him off.

“Don’t. You don’t care whether I’m hurt,” Rachelle accused him. “You know you might survive my death, since we’re not fully mated, so you don’t even care if I die!”

“That’s not true,” he maintained. “I’m trying to protect you!”

“I don’t want your help.”

“Step aside, Zeke,” ordered Matt, pulling Zeke with him as he backed away. The other Collingwood wolves followed their Alpha’s lead, giving the females plenty of space to duel. “This is between Ally and Rachelle now.”

Derren cupped Ally’s nape as he kissed her temple. “You can take her, baby. Finish this so we can go home.”

Feeling that both he and his wolf were in turmoil despite their confidence in her, Ally gave a reassuring smile. “Gladly.”

“I love you,” he whispered low enough for only her to hear. He backed away before she could respond, signaling for Eli, Bracken, and the Phoenix wolves to do the same.

“Don’t hesitate,” Taryn told her. “Do what you have to do.” Ally understood what she meant: if Rachelle refused to submit, kill her.

Jaime nodded. “Smack the bitch down, Ally.”

Focusing her attention on her opponent, Ally kicked off her shoes and took on a strong, stable stance: feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, claws unsheathed. She also kept her expression totally neutral, her gaze locked on Rachelle with lethal intent.

Ally planned to fight as hard and dirty as she’d been trained to do, well aware that since Rachelle was equally dominant they were well matched. Ally had seen her fight, knew the bitch had some good moves and didn’t mind cheating. As such, she didn’t intend to give Rachelle any openings, especially since her craziness could give her an edge.

The tension had Ally’s wolf still, coiled, and raring to strike. Right then, the animal was infuriated, vengeful, and restless with the need to end this shit. For the wolf, it was all very simple. Rachelle was a threat. And any threat to Ally was a threat to Derren. Ally and her wolf would eradicate every single one, would do whatever it took to keep him safe.

Ally had never really liked dueling, but sometimes it was the only language shifters understood. Although she detested Rachelle, Ally hadn’t wanted it to come to this. Not because she had any mercy for the heifer, but because she had the distinct feeling that Cain was right: Ally would have to kill her.