To Right a Wrong(16)

He turned away from the window and led her farther back in the house away from the danger.

He stroked her skin, letting his confidence calm her nerves. The tension he sensed outside could quickly grow out of control, and he didn’t want her caught in the middle.



The delicate bones in her wrist rolled beneath his touch, and he strummed his thumb along the pulsing vein running up the inside of her arm. “Keep your wolf controlled unless the pack gives you no other choice but to shift.

Every one of them standing outside will sense fear, and if you shift, they’ll take it as a threat.”

“I know.” She stretched up and kissed him.

“I’ll handle myself. Let’s get this over with.” Ethan surveyed her body, checking that every weapon was hidden. The bulge on her stomach and the ridge on her calf under her jeans were apparent to him. He knew her body like it was his own, but he gambled on the others not noticing the arsenal she carried. He gave her a firm kiss and softened it with a sigh.

“Remember everything I have taught you.” Today, he meant to introduce the pack to the idea that their former alpha had come back, but he wasn’t stupid. It would not be easy.

Conversations came to an abrupt stop the second the door clicked behind them. Heads turned in their direction, and the musky odor wafting off everyone slammed into Ethan as if someone had taken a baseball bat to his midsection. He stepped out of the house with Dani holding his hand but trailing a step behind him. If someone flew at him, he wanted his body between the attacker and the woman he loved.

He stopped at the edge of the grassy area where the pavement of Copper Road began. No werewolf would step onto another’s property without permission. Now that he’d become Dani’s mate, it was his right to defend their private territory. That included the land around the house. Years ago, their lands were acres, often miles wide, but slowly over time, the area had shrunk to private residences. The forest surrounding them was free for all.

The men parted, and Greggoire stepped to the front. Dani squeezed Ethan’s fingers. He stilled. Not a muscle twitched, and he kept his breathing regulated. He locked his gaze on the man who’d destroyed his life many years ago and continued to torment him. The closer Greggoire came, Ethan’s thirst for blood grew stronger.

He pacified his wolf. Soon.

A head shorter than Ethan and more

paunchy than before, Greggoire’s upper lip twitched revealing his sharp canine teeth. Ethan slipped his hand away from Dani’s. If Greggoire wanted to jump into a challenge for position, Ethan wouldn’t deny his wolf the pleasure of kicking his enemy’s ass.

“What brings you back to Drover, Tolene?” Greggoire swung his gaze to Dani and cocked his brow. “Besides the obvious. What’s it been, eight…nine years since you were banned from the pack? Your position isn’t secured just because you fucked one of ours.”

Ethan widened his stance. He caught several other members shaking their heads in his peripheral vision. He hooked his thumbs in his front pockets. “Six years. I came back with my mate, and would like to ask for permission back into Drover.”

Wanting to appear as unthreatening as possible, he turned and gazed down at Dani. She stood smiling at him as if he hung the moon.

“Damn, you’re beautiful.” He smiled at her. He turned his attention back to Greggoire knowing with Dani’s support, he could pull off this ruse.

“I’ve missed the support of those of our kind.” Greggoire’s brows came down and he

narrowed his eyes. “Surely you haven’t forgotten the terms over the years. You’ll have to challenge for position. And the pack is stronger than you remember.” He scrunched his mouth as if he tasted something bitter, sniffed, and spat on the ground at Ethan’s feet.

“Don’t let him rile you, Ethan. He wants you to break the rules and attack him right now, so he has an excuse to get rid of you.”

“I know, little one.” He nodded. “The rules are fair. I’ll take the challenge to win my way back into Drover. Thank you, Greggoire. “ Pretending to inhale a big breath of relief, he stuck his arm out in front of him and offered to shake hands.

The alpha male backed up, pivoted, and left without any sign he was willing to make amends. Others followed. Ethan stared at the current alpha’s back until Greggoire rounded the corner of the street heading toward his home. Bastard.

Dani stepped closer to Ethan. She brushed against him. The power radiating off the contact brought him comfort. She set her hand on the small of his back. Their wolves, together, would be a force more powerful than Greggoire knew.