River Wolf(96)

“Yes, sir.” Pierce’s voice tightened. “Anything else I need to know?”

“Your primary responsibility—protect the pack.”

“Done.”

After disconnecting the call, Brett diverted to the guest room and pushed the door inward without knocking. Luc sat up with a snarl, but didn’t growl. “What’s wrong?”

“Russian Alpha Challenger on the way, get up. We have to talk.” The sleep vanished from Luc’s face and he thrust the blankets away. Brett headed for the kitchen. By the time he had the coffee pot started, Luc joined him, still finger combing his sleep tangled hair.

“How far away are they?”

He didn’t have to explain to Luc the problem. Luc had been there fighting alongside him to take down the Russian bastard. Brett had snapped his neck after Luc gutted him. The Russian’s pack sent their Krysha, their type of Enforcer to exact revenge for what they cited as an assassination.

“They’ll be here by nightfall.”

“How the fuck did they get in the country? Don’t the Enforcers send someone when a foreign pack member enters? Don’t they have to get an Alpha’s permission?” Anger slid along his tone, anger and a distinct hint of concern. While he might have been a Lone Wolf for decades, Luc loved Hudson River.

“Three Rivers.” Brett answered as he poured the coffee and Luc swore. Neither said a word as they took long drinks of the dark, bitter brew.

Julian sent the Krysha’s head back on ice. The standoff had lasted most of the year leading to his grandfather demanding Brett take over. In some ways, it was how he’d protected Brett, placing the Enforcers between Brett and outside invasion, but it had also been an acknowledgement. Wolves of their pack had died because of an Alpha Challenge.

The thought paused him. He’d never seen the parallel before between the bloody altercations and his grandfather’s decision. Hadn’t Brett even entertained the possibility himself once or twice over the last year? Stepping aside so the pack could have the strong leadership and protection they deserved?

“What do you want to do about it?”

“What the law says, but I’ve deployed Hunters to evacuate any wolves in their path. I won’t give them an excuse for more bloodshed.”

“Them?”

“Yes, he apparently brought his mate.” No one took their mate to an Alpha Challenge. But then, he was Russian so who knew?

“A krysha?” Luc wasn’t buying it either.

“Maybe. Either way, keep your eye on her when they get here. If she even looks cross-eyed at one of our wolves…”

“She’ll be dead.” Absolute finality rang in the words.

“I have another coming in at noon.”

“Wait,” Luc blinked. “What?”

“Apparently word of potential weakness in Hudson River has slipped out. A Sutter Butte wolf flew into LaGuardia this morning. He’s on his way, he’ll be here by lunchtime.”

Setting down his coffee mug, Luc stared at him. “Two challengers in the same day? No way that’s a coincidence.”

“Whether it is or not, I will deal with it.” Had they come even a week before, the outcome may have seemed pre-determined.

“You can’t fight two Alpha challenges in one day.”

Sparing his best friend a glance, Brett took another sip of his coffee. He wouldn’t dignify the disparagement with a response. “Colby usually doesn’t wake till after ten-thirty. I’ll have an hour with her before the challenge. During the challenge, you will guard her. Do not let her come anywhere near the field.”

Too much she didn’t know or understand. The last thing she needed was to see a conflict when they had a tendency to be ugly.

“Afterwards, we’ll have lunch and work with her on her shifting.”

“Brett…”

“Don’t interrupt.” He didn’t need his best friend worrying, he needed his game face on. To do that meant planning. “We need to know if she can shift willingly or not. Pierce will coordinate with the Hunters. The gathering is set for tomorrow night, but we’ll need to make sure the fields are and the local state park are clear. Reach out to your dad, he usually coordinates with the rangers for me as needed.”

“And tonight’s challenge? Where do you want me then?”

“With me, I’ll send Colby to Gillian and Owen.” With orders to take her out of Hudson River. Mason would give her shelter, and they would need to have Trent and his family as well. They could stay in Willow Bend until… “If I fall…”

“Hey…”

Brett set the mug down with a click and glared. Luc went silent. Nodding once, he finished his thought. “If I go down, take out the challenger. Challenge him immediately and execute him. Hold Hudson River together and get ready for the krysha to strike. I won’t doubt for an instant they won’t have a contingency plan in place.” Over the years, he’d studied some of the Russian wolf packs. They weren’t centralized, if anything, they spent as much time at war with each other as they did poaching from other packs.