And Gil’s anger, always a brittle thing, snapped quickly, and he took an aggressive step forward—which Sissy probably knew he’d do. Taking one step back and putting up her arms, Sissy punched Gil in the face. She did it exactly the way they’d been taught when she and Ronnie had ended up in Ireland with nothing more than a hangover and five pounds between them. Louis McCanohan had taken them in when he found them about to shift and kill some full-human scum behind his favorite pub. The sixty-year-old wolf had taught them how to fight as human so they could always take care of themselves in any situation.

Hands covering his bleeding nose, Gil glared at her. “You broke my nose.”

Staying loose and on her toes, Sissy nodded. “Yeah, I did. So if we’re gonna do this, son, let’s do this.”

Gil came at her again, fangs bared, and Sissy stepped to his left and slammed her fist into his gut. When he doubled over, she brought up her knee. She’d aimed for his jaw, trying to break it, but he moved in time and she hit his already broken nose.

Again, he dashed toward her, and Sissy danced out of his way, only to turn and double tap him twice in his right kidney. He went down on one knee, the pain probably not as bad as the embarrassment of having a female kick his ass as human.

Apparently, he didn’t want to deal with it anymore either because Gil shifted and flipped around, charging Sissy. He launched himself at her, and Sissy brought up her hands, catching his front paws in them. They went down, and by the time they landed, Sissy had shifted to wolf. She scrambled away from him, her fangs bared and her body ready.

Ronnie didn’t wait any longer. She shifted and tried to slip out of her captors’ arms. But they shifted as well and tackled her to the ground, pinning her in place. She howled, hoping to call to Sissy’s kin, but the females sat on her neck, stopping her from doing much more than snarling. Two more males had joined in an attempt to control Dee, but she was causing them a lot of damage. But not enough yet to get away and help Sissy.

Sissy didn’t wait for Gil to come at her again. She went for him, her mouth open and aimed for his throat. But Gil’s sister and cousins tackled her like the others had tackled Ronnie and pinned her to the ground, holding her in place for Gil.

At that point, Ronnie fought harder, knowing what they were planning and horrified beyond anything she’d known. This was more barbaric than the Smiths had ever been. A Smith male had to be able to handle his female on his own. If he couldn’t, then he wasn’t worthy of her.

The only man who could handle Sissy Mae Smith was back at the football field, catching passes and impressing Sissy’s brothers. Mitch loved her, and eventually, Sissy would have to admit she loved him. Everybody in town knew it. The rumors were spreading, and everyone was wondering how Bubba Smith was going to take another one of his pups mating outside the Pack and the breed. Especially with a cat.

Gil must have heard the rumors and decided to make this desperate move. Or maybeone of Sissy’s brothers had put him up to it. Ronnie didn’t know. She just knew that she had to get to her friend. She had to get to her now.

Travis was real happy with how practice was going now that his sister had left. She distracted his star player, and to be damn honest, he couldn’t have it!

He wondered if there was a way to get the boy down here every year in time for the game but leave Sissy back wherever the hell she’d be at the time. He’d have to ponder that one. A couple of days apart wouldn’t kill them, could it?

He called break and jogged over to the ice chests. His mate waited for him, a sports drink in her hand. Patty Rose wasn’t the prettiest thing, but she was tough, a good breeder, and an even better fuck. He definitely could have done worse.

Besides, her ambitions rivaled his own. With a female like this by his side, he’d definitely take over for his daddy once he could get the old bastard to submit.

“Thanks,” he grunted. She grinned up at him, and he raised his brows. “What are you looking so smug for?”

She stepped closer. “I think I took care of our little problem.”

“You mean the shed? Thought we were gonna wait to fix that.”

“No.” She rolled her eyes. Travis knew she thought he was dumb as dirt most days, but that was okay. Sometimes, when he was bored, he treated her like a whore. It kind of made them even.

“Then what?”

Another step closer. “Gil Warren and Sissy.”

Travis shrugged, already getting bored with this conversation—and his mate. “What about them?”

“I let him have her.”

“Let him have her?” He didn’t understand what she meant.

She went on tiptoe and whispered in his ear, “He’s forcing a mating as we speak.”

Stepping back, Travis stared at his mate. “What?”

“You heard me.” She smiled and glanced over at Sammy and Mitch, making sure they weren’t listening. “We’ve been planning this for days.”

His hand was around her throat, and he lifted her off her feet before she could blink. “You did what?”

Sissy fought to get out from under the She-bitches who held her down, but they weren’t letting go, and Gil was heading right for her.

If Gil Warren thought he’d really make her his this way, he was dead wrong. A forced mating on a Smith female was just a quick way to end up with your throat cut while you were sleeping.

But for Sissy, this was about the humiliation. She’d always wear Gil’s mark no matter what happened. And because of it, she’d always be considered weak. Not worthy of being Alpha Female. Travis and his mate would know this, but Gil didn’t understand. He thought this forced mating was his fast ride to the top. But he was only dooming them to permanent Beta status. Maybe even Omega. And the thought of it made her sick.