Eleanor clutched her gown on the sides to prevent the lights from coming out of her palms. She took several frantic steps back, fear crawling up her arms.
Their monstrous appearance could make the bravest tremble in fright. The challenging looks they were giving each other indicated that they were ready to rip one another apart.
Eleanor took a few more steps back, her heart leaping to her mouth. She wished she could turn back the clock and stop her past self from coming to the party. She reasoned that it was the only way to prevent the two brothers from fighting. Unfortunately, she had no power to go back in time and change what had happened in the past.
Connor clenched and unclenched his jaw, a boiling fury swelled inside him. He ripped his shirt in an instant, the buttons popping up, a rumbling snarl escaping his throat. He threw down the already shredded shirt and took a stance of retaliation.
Zane rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and growled, tendrils of hot smoke emerging from his nostrils.
Silence swept across the yard when people stopped dancing and singing. The peaceful and joyous environment became tense in a matter of a minute.
Everyone was frozen in place, staring at them in shock and terror. There was only one question in everybody's mind. What happened between these two brothers to cause them to fight?
"Guys…" Before Eleanor could say further, the two men lunged at each other and engaged in fierce combat.
"Ah… Ah…" Women and children shrieked and fled while the men stepped back.
Eleanor wanted to join the fleeing women, but she couldn't take her eyes off the two brothers punching and kicking each other.
They gripped one another's arms, muscles tense, bodies trembling, leveling the glares. None of them were ready to back down.
It was a long-awaited fight... a fight to restore pride, to prove who was the most deserving. The only goal was to win at any cost.
"Uh…" Zane roared and pushed him back with all his might.
Connor stumbled back and fell on the bonfire, around which people were dancing and singing.
Zane rushed over and lunged at him.
Connor kicked him in the stomach while Zane was still in the air, causing him to soar back and crash a few feet away. He sprang to his feet and jumped on him.
Zane grabbed his hands and tried to push him away while Connor tried to hold him down. After a while, Zane managed to throw him down, his fingers firmly interlacing with his.
They rolled around on the ground, dust, and dirt flying in the air.
No one had the courage to approach and stop them.
In the meantime, Dimitri ran out with a few alphas of the neighboring packs. They were also speechless as they watched them fight.
"Stop it right now," Dimitri finally roared. However, they were not in a condition to listen to anybody. This fight didn't seem to end until one of them was killed.
Every time Connor was about to hit him, Zane blocked his attack successfully and punched him back. It was like Zane was playing with him. Connor became irritated after being struck several times on the face, tummy, and sternum. He transformed his fingers into dagger-like claws and sank them into Zane's injured shoulder, which was not healed yet.
Zane froze, his eyes wide, a crippling pain shooting across his body. Blood oozed from his wounds, turning his white shirt bright red.
"Ah…" Zane let out an ear-piercing cry, his eyes getting shut. The pain jabbed deep into his bones, numbing his entire body.
His knees gave up, and he dropped to the ground.
Connor took the opportunity to lock his neck with his arms from behind. He intended to snap his neck and kill him. But it wasn't as easy as he thought. Despite the excruciating pain, Zane fought back and struggled hard to break free.
Eleanor covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes brimming with tears. The surge of the current within her increased with the growing fear and anxiety. She felt like she was about to burst. For a moment, she considered running away. But the worry for Zane stopped her.
"Zane," Dimitri murmured, ready to jump in and thrash Connor. He controlled himself in the end. His interference would ruin Zane's pride. Besides, he believed in his son's capability.
Zane sucked in air and repeatedly elbowed Connor in the tummy, causing him to lose his grip slightly. He clenched his teeth together and pulled him down over his shoulder, grabbing his forearms.
The unexpected move caught Connor off guard. Before he could counterattack, Zane was on his top with one knee against his chest.
Buff-Buff-Buff…
Zane slammed his fist on him repeatedly.
Connor felt like the space around him was spinning. His mind went blank momentarily. When he came to his senses, Zane was clutching his throat, choking him. He grabbed his hands as he struggled to breathe, his face red, his eyeballs popping up.
'Stop…' Eleanor screamed in her mind. She didn't want Zane to kill Connor because of her.
"Connor…" Helena rushed over, her eyes filled with tears. She trembled in fear.
"Zane, leave him right now," Dimitri's thunderous voice echoed in the air.
Zane tightened his grip, the veins on his forehead bulging up. He refused to listen to his father. All he wanted was to finish Connor right away. After that, nobody would come to challenge him for the alpha position, and no one would dare to look at his Eleanor.
"Yield…" Zane growled.
Connor gritted his teeth. His lungs hurt due to the lack of air. But he would rather die than yield. He sank his claws again into Zane's already bleeding shoulder.
"Ah…" Zane wailed, writhing in pain. He couldn't keep his hold around his neck.
Connor kicked him down and rolled to the ground, coughing violently.
Zane stumbled to the ground as well, clutching his aching shoulder. He was feeling dizzy. His body wanted to give up, but the burning rage within him was not ready to stop fighting. The pain only fueled his anger.
He clenched his teeth and jumped to his feet. He charged at him again, this time more ferociously.
Dimitri jumped in front of him, forming a shield between him and Connor. "Step back," he roared in his alpha tone. "You have fought enough. Go back to your room and let the wound heal."
Zane managed to grin through the pain and anger. "You prove again that you don't care about me. You didn't stop him when he was trying to kill me, but you came to stop me." He scrunched up his face and snarled, "Step out of my way. I will kill him tonight."
"You have to kill me first to reach Connor." Dimitri took a firm stance, his fists clenched.