Queen of the Lycan, Karina Espinosa [accelerated reader books .TXT] 📗

him off into the ring. William stumbled inside in complete shock as the guards trickled closer and surrounded the circle to watch.

When William faced me, I saw the uncertainty in his expression and felt bad about the position in which he’d been placed. Even though he was intimidating as hell and looked like a beast, he didn’t seem like a bad person. Unfortunately he was just stuck with a shitty-ass grandfather.

“Hey,” I caught his attention. “Don’t overthink it. We’re just having some fun.” I gave what I hoped was an encouraging smile. “Give me your best shot, because I won’t hold back.” My grin spread wider.

“Are ye sure?” he stuttered, looking dazed and unsure of himself.

I nodded. “One hundred percent. And if you kick my ass, it might even help me a bit,” I chuckled. “I’ve been a little too arrogant lately.”

Poor William. He looked so confused, like he wasn’t sure whether to believe me or not. Unfortunately, he didn’t have time to process his thoughts any further before someone rang the bell and I pounced. I ran toward him and jumped up with a fist ready and swung, hitting him square in the jaw. His head whipped back and he stumbled backward, but my punch had all the effect of moving a mountain. The lumbering oaf barely moved.

I didn’t pause my assault; I struck him multiple times in the abdomen, but it felt like hitting stone. He finally shook out of his stupor and backhanded me. I went sailing across the ring, rolling until I hit the edge. I looked up and saw Ranulf and Bash’s concerned faces.

“Oh, hey,” I mumbled as I stared up at them from where I was lying on my back. If looks could kill, poor William would have been blown into oblivion by the thunderous looks on their faces. I groaned and rolled over, getting to my knees and then hurrying back to the center where my opponent waited.

I threw punch after punch, but William easily dodged every single one. His movements were lightning fast and as precise as a machine, his arms blurring so fast, I didn’t even see him strike. He punched me on the side of my face and I felt the blow in slow motion, my whole face jiggling from the impact. I may have even lost a tooth.

“Watch her face!” Ranulf yelled. “Her coronation is Sunday!”

I almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity of his comment to leave my face looking pretty, but then I realized the left side of my face was suddenly numb.

Holy shit!

I was still stumbling, trying to get my bearings when William grabbed me by my throat and hauled me above the ground, my toes barely grazing the floor.

I saw Jacob’s smug face on the sidelines from the corner of my eye and wished I had the energy to roll my eyes. Did he really think this was the way I was gonna go out? Give me a break, man. He obviously didn’t know who he was fucking with.

I kicked out and used my feet to climb up William’s body as he held me aloft. He frowned when he saw what I was doing but realized my intentions too late. I wrapped my thighs around his neck, my crotch practically in his face, and heard Bash’s irritated growl in the background. So predictable. I applied my hard-fought leverage to twist my body until I was able to rotate his arm at an odd angle, just enough to force him to release my neck. I used my upper body to haul myself up to perch on one of William’s shoulders and fell to the side, bringing him down with me. As we flipped across the floor, I heard the surprised gasps and groans at the sight. I knew if I hadn’t landed just right, I could have broken the guy’s neck.

William was already on his hands and knees trying to stand, gasping from the exertion, when I pounced on his back and wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck, squeezing tightly.

“Night, night, buddy,” I wheezed in his ear. My arms trembled from the exertion, but I was determined not to let go until he was unconscious. Once he relaxed in my arms and I could tell I’d knocked him out, I released my hold and his huge body slumped to the ground, motionless.

I climbed to my feet and turned to the assembled councilmen, but my glare was reserved solely for Jacob. “Wanna give it a go, old man?” I asked, out of breath.

Jacob looked like he was about to blow a gasket. His face was splotchy and bright red and his hands were fisted by his sides. I knew he would love to fight me – really teach me a lesson like he wanted William to do – but after seeing what I did to his precious grandson, he was a bit scared. He saw now that I wasn’t some luna who grew up submissive in the Lycan world all her life and couldn’t fend for herself. No. I grew up human and had to fight all my own battles.

They needed to change their perspective on what kind of Queen they were getting, because they weren’t just getting a queen, they were getting a warrior.

Bash came up behind me and handed me my shirt. I shrugged it on and faced the Council members again. Ranulf stood beside me.

“Are we going to have a problem, boys?” I placed my hands on my hips and raised a brow. “Because I can do this all day long.” Truthfully, I couldn’t. I was beyond battered and ready to collapse. That punch William got in cleaned my clock and my whole face was still numb. Though I refused to let it show, I was barely keeping it together.

“Ye think yer so clever?” Jacob grunted angrily.

“Clever?” I frowned and shook my head. “No, not at all. But just know that if you ever want to handle anything