Blue Moon III: Call of the Alpha by A.E. Via Page A

gift especially for him. How many others – assassins or marks – got to see an assassin’s animal fighting style? It was rare for an assassin to reveal it and even rarer to be used. A couple strategically placed hits to his mark’s vital organs were always enough for him to succeed on missions, and then disappear without a trace. Using his tiger style would just be excessive. So why was Omega doing it? Lion’s voice was calm but thick when he spoke.
    “You want to have a go at me, Omega?”
    “I think you want me to have a go at you,” Omega’s dark voice barely whispered through his smirked lips, his head slightly bowed, his body curled tight. “But I already hear the sweet sounds of my victory.” Omega came out of his stance faster than Lion had ever seen any man move, his speed deceptive but accurate.
    Omega attacked low, aiming at the vulnerabilities of the lower body – like any serpent would – with agile, swift toe kicks, trying to take out his legs. It only took a second for Lion’s mind to catch up to his defense mechanism. He crouched and ducked Omega’s speared hand aimed at his right eye, simultaneously tucking and twisting his frame out of the lock Omega tried to get on his right foot. It was such a masterful move that he was sure Omega wondered how he’d countered it without a second thought.
    Lion marveled how his opponent moved with serpent-like precision and technique. Omega’s attack strategy was all about fast accuracy and false surprise while Lion’s was about charging and using his huge frame for brute force. Lion continued to easily block the random strikes that aimed for his vital organs and it appeared to be throwing his attacker off. After a few more countered hits, Lion let Omega back away and come at him again, faking left, and spearhanding Lion in the right side of his neck.
    Augh! Lion didn’t show any outward discomfort, but goddamnit it hurt. Felt like getting struck with light voltage – and yes – he’d been on the receiving end of a Taser or two. If he was right in his assumption, Omega would think he’d already won and get cocky, then finish Lion off. They weren’t fighting to the death. No. They were fighting to see who’d have to yield. Lion knew Omega was gauging if Lion was worth even giving thought to partnering with him. If he couldn’t defend himself against a smaller opponent, then he was useless to a man like Eriktor. Omega was far from weak, but the fact of the matter was, Lion was better.
    “That must’ve hurt,” Omega said snidely.
    Of course it did. Still silent. Lion rotated his thick neck and let his scarf fall back off his head, leaving his golden locks to blow around his face. He was sure he heard a noise that sounded close to approval but chose to ignore it. Omega was still trying to goad him, get him frustrated with his sneakiness, but Lion was too smart to fall for that. He wouldn’t and couldn’t be thrown off his game. It was time to see if Omega could block his hits, since he’d yet to throw one.
    Lion stood to his full height and locked back into his stance. Omega’s brow quirked in amusement as he continued to taunt. “Well you’re certainly not a quitter… that’s something.”
    That’s something . Lion wanted to grab the smart-mouthed man and slam his mouth over his until he shut up and spoke with respect, but good things came to those who took them. Lion smiled on the inside. Maybe Omega did have more of an effect on him than he wanted to admit.

    Omega wasn’t going to sit back and wait for Lion to gather his wits and think of his next move. True to Omega’s fighting style, he was going to fool his opponent. When he put Lion on his large ass, he’d be justified in rebuffing the man’s proposal – the one that he knew was coming soon. He wouldn’t be partnering with anyone. Besides, he doubted anyone could keep up with him. Alpha had been the best, and supposedly only a few assassins still living had mastered an animal