River Wolf(101)

“Laughter isn’t an answer.” Emotion churned beneath the words and he twisted them into a snarl. “Answer the challenge or do you yield?” He thumped his chest.

The posturing took the challenge to a whole new level. “Or did I get it wrong for a third time and Cassius sent you here because he couldn’t kill you with a straight face?”

The foreign wolf roared and lunged for him. Too easy to provoke. Far too easy. A distant part of his mind acknowledged the last reason as the most likely culprit. Cassius sent him to die. The wolf charging him had no regard for his own safety and Brett caught him, slipping his arms beneath his and twisting as he lifted. The crunch of ribs breaking echoed and Landon’s roar became a hissed whimper.

Flinging the man down, he stared at him. All humor drained away and his mask grew impassive. “Yield and you may live to return to Sutter Butte.”

A harsh whistle of air escaped the man’s lungs as he clutched his chest. Having half-crushed rib cage would impede breathing. “Finish it. I can’t go back. Cassius would execute me.”

Not an unlikely scenario. “Then yield and stay.” He’d seen enough death and nothing about Landon Templeton was a real challenge.

Surprise flickered in his eyes. “I challenged you.”

“And you’ve lost. Yield. I won’t offer it again.” His mate was waiting for him, a mate he hadn’t claimed and a second challenger, a real challenger was on…on the way when Landon arrived. Could they be working with Cassius? Had he sent them to Three Rivers so they could come at him from the side? A cunning plan, one he wouldn’t associate with Cassius. The Alpha was a brutal asshole, but he’d always been a direct one.

When no answer seemed forthcoming, he walked toward the prone wolf. “I yield,” the man wheezed. “I yield.”

A roar went through the gathered and Pierce appeared at his elbow. “Luc is on the phone.” He pressed the phone into his hand before approaching the downed wolf.

“Set his ribs, take him into custody and let him heal on his own.” Brett’s orders would be followed. Putting the phone to his ear, he said, “What?”

“She shifted and she’s out.” Luc’s voice carried a note of panting. “I’m following her, but she isn’t listening.”

“Where?” Brett swung his head around and scanned the area.

“Straight for you.” Of course she was.

Tossing the phone and his keys to Pierce, he said. “Send the car back to my place.” Then he ran, breaking from the pack. The most direct route was overland. If her wolf tracked him, then he could track her. His wolf, already agitated from the aborted fight, lunged to the surface. They both wanted to find Colby. He’d pulled her into the pack. Even without the mating bond he could and would find her.

The faster he ran, the more unerring his sense of her grew. She was coming for him. He had to intercept her before she reached the gathering. Too feral by half and if she’d gotten around Luc…pride burst through him. Her dominance had never been a question. Halfway to his house, he found her loping across a field. Coming to a halt, he waited. Colby’s wolf didn’t slow, if anything, she increased her speed.

His heart relaxed and then she slammed into him and he caught her. Her whole body vibrated and she snapped at the air, but not him. A keen difference. Relieved she was safe, he set her down, gripped her muzzle and held her gaze.

“You should have stayed at the house.” Luc appeared in his periphery. His best friend had maintained his pursuit. Usually he was faster, but his injuries were too recently healed. “Look at Luc,” he turned her so she could see. “You made him chase you.”

Reproach filled the wolf’s eyes and Brett didn’t bend. Colby hated that he’d left, he’d scented it on her, but he trusted she wouldn’t have followed. So no, it wasn’t Colby but her wolf who’d panicked.

Or perhaps both.

“You could have hurt him. Yes,” he said when she bared her teeth. “I know you healed him. But the newly healed still need time to recover. What if he reinjured himself? What if he took a fresh injury because he did as I told him to do? He was to protect you. He’d never harm you which means he avoided physical restraint and you acted foolishly. Any injury he took would be your fault.”

The wolf ducked her head, but Brett tugged her gaze to him again. He’d promised Colby he would control her wolf, it was time the wolf understood him. “When I leave Colby somewhere, when I tell her she must stay, you will obey. You will not endanger either of you.”

Her whine wrenched his heart, but he allowed none of it to show. Finally, she sank to her belly and her gaze slid away from his, misery rolled off her in waves. His wolf had enough of the stern lecture. Gathering her to him, he hugged her and murmured, “We have a conversation to finish. You promised me a response.”