Alpha Prime: Shiftily Ever After(41)

“She’s right,” one of the Alphas said.

Creel spun to glare at him.

“You want me to kill you right now?” he snapped.

The Alpha swallowed hard and bowed his head in submission. “If my death is what it takes to bring peace to this territory, then I am willing to make that sacrifice. I’m not as strong as you. I would die and leave my wife a widow and my cubs orphans. But that’s going to happen anyway if the humans keep setting us up to kill each other off.”

“Donal is right,” another shifter said. “Why are we doing the humans’ dirty work?”

Creel stood up and hurled his beer bottle against a tree, where it shattered.

“You bunch of pansies want to braid each other’s fur and sing Kumbaya, go ahead. I don’t give a damn about any of you anyway,” he snarled, and stalked off.

Dakota turned to face the assembled crowd.

“You can all refuse to fight each other!” she pleaded. “There are other ways to solve your disputes!”

“Screw that bitch!” an angry voice bellowed from the back of the crowd. “That’s Miles’s woman, and I’m going to claim her, right now!” It was Fargo, standing there naked and bleeding from the scalp. He’d been one of the wolves fighting when she’d arrived, but he’d shifted back into human form. He stalked towards her, fists clenched, lips contorted in a snarl…and several other males joined him.

Dakota felt a chill of fear wash over her. Had she made a fatal error?

The men muscled their way through the crowd, and she stood her ground, ready to shift and fight. She’d make them kill her before she let them take her prisoner.

Purcell was almost on her, and she could smell the foul odor reeking from his unwashed body. He grinned and bared yellow teeth, and she wanted to vomit.

Donal moved quickly and stood in front of her. “You’ll have to get through me first!” he yelled. “I don’t give a damn about her, or those assholes from the west, but if you take her, the Fenris pack is going to rain down hell on us. I’m not going to lose my pack and my family just because you’re still butt-hurt about Miles kicking your ass, Purcell.”

Well. That wasn’t exactly hugs and kisses, but it was a step in the right direction, she thought. At least somebody was thinking strategically.

She was relieved to see several other shifters move in front of her too.

Purcell and his men stood there growling for what felt like an eternity, fangs descending. Finally, after snapping at the air several times, Purcell snarled, “This isn’t over, Donal.” And he turned and stalked off.

“Thank you,” Dakota said quietly to Donal.

“We’re escorting you out of the territory right now,” Donal said. “And don’t thank us. Just don’t come back. If Purcell takes you, we’ll all suffer the consequences.”

“Just think about what I said,” Dakota said as they headed back towards the western territory.

* * * * *

“I’m sure they’re fine,” Dakota told Naomi for what felt like the hundredth time as they all sat at the kitchen table in the cabin. The cubs were tucking into their burgers with gusto, but Naomi and Dakota had barely touched their food. Most of the pack had headed out to take on the Clearwater traitors, with only a dozen or so pack members remaining to guard their property.

Sarah glanced out the window. “They don’t look fine,” she said.

Dakota and Naomi rushed over to the window. Miles was stomping towards the cabin, wearing jeans and no shirt. Baldwin and Anders were following on his heels. “Oh, thank God,” Naomi breathed. “But what’s Miles so mad about?”

“Hold on.” Dakota quickly walked outside and shut the door behind her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked Miles, who was standing there with his fists clenched, clearly trying to contain himself. “What happened with the Clearwater Pack?”

Miles’s face was thickly coated with fur, and his voice rolled out in a growl. His eyes blazed with anger. “We killed all the males and put the women and cubs on a bus out of town. And you went into the eastern territory today while I was out fighting.”

Dakota felt the anger rolling off him. Baldwin stood by him, panting hard, desperately struggling to absorb his fury. He was pale, and sweat rolled down his face.

“Yes, I did,” Dakota said steadily, meeting his gaze.

“Four new packs came over from Creel’s territory and wanted to form alliances with me.”

She stared at him in amazement. “And you’re angry about it?”

“Angry that you made me look weak? Angry that you don’t think I can run matters in my own territory?” Miles was shouting now.