Deak’s head swung to the left as he took the hit from his opponent to the right side of his jaw. Deak smiled. The pain numbed him from the voices trying to take over. There was only silence as he took hit after hit, pretending to let the fighter think he had the upper hand. Little did he know Deak was learning his strengths and weaknesses to utilize them and take him down just when his opponent thought he was going in for the win. His wolf, Malakai, was enjoying every minute of it. If only he could shift, it would make his wolf even happier. But that was listed in the rules—no shifting or using any of your faction's power to win the fight.

Deak didn’t mind. It was a test for him to see that he could fight and hold his own in his human form and not rely on his wolf for strength. Malakai growled at the thought, which made him smirk even more.

“What’s so funny?” the fighter asked as he punched Deak again across the face. “Enjoying getting your ass kicked?” He hit Deak with his other hand forcing Deak to turn his face in the other direction.

Deak started to laugh, only making the other fighter get angrier and fight harder. Deak noticed the guy was getting winded as his punches weakened. It was time for him to turn this fight around. He blocked a hit and pushed the fighter off him, allowing him to roll away and get back up on his feet.

The fighter looked confused as he maneuvered around before he continued to fight. Deak motioned for him to come closer, which made the guy stop and assess the situation with more thought.

Deak smirked as he started to move forward, then stilled as he took in the familiar scent that was now his favorite smell.

My Vita.

His wolf howled excitedly as Deak knew he needed to end this fight quickly. Without looking where Vita was, Deak proceeded to move toward the other fighter, and after a few quick maneuvers and hits, he pinned the warrior down and waited for the bell. A mix of cheers and boos trickled through the audience. The referee lifted Deak’s arm and claimed him the winner of the match. As Deak circled the ring, he spotted his mate and saw the look of anger on her face. Deak sighed; he knew he was in some big trouble. He raised a finger toward her, letting her know to give him a minute, and then he would head to her.

Vita sat on the barstool with her legs crossed and her arms crossed as well. Anytime someone came up to offer to buy her a drink, she would lift a brow at them and point to Deak in the ring, stating she was with him. Vita sighed as her anger burned and her blood boiled deep inside her. What was he thinking? He could have gotten himself killed. Is that what he wanted? Vita shook off the uneasy feeling that was trying to surface to feel sorry for him. He didn’t deserve her soft side at the moment—he deserved to feel her wrath and would get every bit of it.

“Vita,” Tabitha said to her in a soft voice.

Vita rolled her eyes. “Don’t! I’m angry, and I want to direct my anger at Deak. I don’t want to misdirect it at you or lose it because you try to talk some sense into me.”

Tabitha smiled at her friend as she felt a sense of pride and respect flow through her for the girl. Tabitha lifted her hands in surrender before she continued, “I just wanted to invite you out later to a party that Marco and I were invited to by Esha. Might help you take your mind off things.”

Vita lifted a finger to get Tabitha to stop. See, like that! That’s what she was talking about. She didn’t want to be talked down at the moment.

“So, I can still go to the party with you?” Marco whispered in Tabitha’s ear in a deep husky voice.

Tabitha’s wolf purred at the thrill of excitement that rolled through her. She looked over at her mate. “Yes, you can go with me. You are not wrong about how I behaved. I let my emotions get the best of me instead of expressing my feelings. I will work on it.”

Marco smiled as he leaned forward and kissed the side of his mate’s head.

Tabitha shivered at the gentle touch of her mate. This man of hers was learning quickly how to make her weak; damn.

After waiting a little while, Deak emerged from the crowd and approached his mate. The voices in his head were still quiet, but he didn’t know how long that would last. He knew it was only a matter of time before something triggered them to start up again, and he was concerned it would be as soon as he touched Vita’s skin.

Vita still hoped she had a look of death on her face when she spotted Deak coming her way. Her chest filled with tingles and excitement as he walked toward her. He was wearing nothing more than a ribbed tank with his jeans. Vita wanted to roll her eyes into the back of her head at how hot he looked as he walked toward her. Damn her hormones.

“Szerelmem (my love),” Deak started.

“No, you don’t get to woo me with your Hungarian language to get me not to be angry with you!” Vita yelled.

Vita hopped off the barstool, walked up to Deak, and slapped him across his arm, stinging her hand harder than she hit him. She winced at the pain but refused to show herself as weak.

“What the hell were you thinking?” she said as she stared at him with anger.

A light sting came with her slap but the electric connection they had tingled through his when she touched him. It took everything he had not to pick her up and push the anger away from her. He didn’t like seeing her like this, even if he did find it cute that his little mate was mad at him. He didn’t want to undermine her and her feelings. She had every right to be angry with him. Deep down, he knew it was worry more than anger that she was feeling. He hated himself for making her feel like this.

“I’m sorry,” he told her. “Can we wait until we get back to the hotel, and then you can yell at me there.”

Vita put her hands on her hips, narrowed her eyes at him, and pressed her lips into a thin line. “Fine,” was all she said to him before she headed for the exit.

He turned and looked at Marco and Tabitha, who stepped back and didn’t want to get involved. Deak sighed as he followed his mate; he knew it would be a long night for them.