A Promise on White Wings (Wiccan-Were-Bear) by R. E. Butler

with his arms, and then Mato spun and nailed Jes in the side of the head with his other foot.  As Mato rolled onto the ground and jumped to his feet, Jes went down to one knee and Danika’s heart leapt into her throat. He rose to his feet with a snarl and snagged the back of Mato’s neck, shoving his face down into his knee with a sickening crack.  Mato grunted, looking dazed.  Jes kicked out with one leg and swept Mato off his feet.  He hit the ground so hard that she was positive she felt the earth shake from the impact.  In a heartbeat, Jes was on Mato, one arm wrapped around his neck with the other pulling his arm behind his back.  Mato roared in rage, his face red with blood.  He jerked and tried to get out of Jes’ hold, but he could not get free.
    She saw Jes’ arm tighten and Mato’s face slowly turned crimson.  Jes’ face was a mask of concentration, his eyes glittering with determination and his lips pulled back over his teeth in a silent snarl.  Mato struggled for several moments longer and then finally succumbed to unconsciousness.  Jes eased his hold and rose to his feet.
    Looking pointedly at Kajika, Jes said, “I have defeated your male.  He has no claim to Danika, now and forever.”
    The nest and pride members cheered, and her heart slammed in her chest.  Jes had won!  Her mate had defeated a male who had a reputation for being unbeatable.
    Adriel stepped forward and grasped Jes’ hand and lifted it high.  “I declare Prince Jesuit Denali the winner.  The female Danika is his by right from this day forward.”
    Kajika was furious.  He motioned with his hands, and two bears shot forward and lifted Mato, carrying him back to the den members where Cree dropped to her knees with a sob.  Danika didn’t feel sorry for any of them.  If they had been reasonable instead of so wound up in shifter pride, none of this would have happened.
    Jes looked over his shoulder at her, and she raced to his side, grasping his hand tightly.  Blood streaked his face from a cut above his eye and a split lip, and he had two black eyes.  The tears she had held back spilled over, and she whispered with a thick voice, “Thank you.”
    Jes nodded, groaning as he pulled her against his side.  “You’re ours forever, little bird.”
    Chance joined them and stroked her back.  “Thank you for fighting for our mate, Jes.”
    Jes grinned and blood dripped down his chin.  “You would have done the same.”
    A snort of disgust made Danika’s head snap to the side.  She found herself staring at Cree and Kajika who looked as though they were witnessing something horrifying.
    “You would shame your mother by choosing to debase yourself to two unworthy males?” Cree sneered.  Danika was stunned.  And then she was pissed.
    “They are not unworthy.  They are mine!”  She snarled and her fangs and claws elongated.
    “You’re an abomination!” Cree screeched, pointing her finger at Danika.
    Danika growled and the sound was dark and low.  “I am no abomination.  I am the prophesied mate of the falcon Prince and mother to a new generation of shifters.”  She bit into her palm and turned her hand over so that blood dripped on the dirt.  “I leave the protection of your den, King Kajika.”  She wiped her palm across Jes’ arm and then Chance’s.  “I bind myself to my mates forever and ever.”
    Cree reeled back as if Danika had struck her.  Kajika bared his teeth, and Adriel stepped between them.  “The fight was fair and your son lost.  Do not disgrace yourself and your den by trying to mar what happened here tonight.  Prince Jesuit fought for Danika and won.  Go tend to your son.”
    Kajika looked as if he might say something else, but Cree grabbed his arm.  “There is nothing here for us but ghosts, my mate.”
    With a signal from Kajika, the den turned and left.  Danika sagged against Chance, gripping both his and Jes’ hands.
    Jes asked, “Did this cause a rift between yourself