She nodded, but didn’t speak. Joshua faded into the bushes, circled around and stepped out behind the other man. “I wasn’t expecting you, Luther.”
The blond man spun around. He was slightly shorter than Joshua, but not by much. In terms of build, they were evenly matched. Still, there was something more dangerous about Joshua. Menace seemed to just emanate from him.
Luther took a step back and then seemed to check himself. “Thought you might need some help.” He jerked his head toward the dead wolf.
“How did you know where to find me?” Joshua was totally naked and should have seemed vulnerable next to the other man, but nothing could be further from the truth. He appeared even larger, more imposing and totally unconcerned about his nudity.
Luther shrugged. “Me and my brothers have been out scouting the perimeter of the pack land for the past two days. We figured you’d be along soon. And you found her, didn’t you.”
It wasn’t a question because he’d already said he could smell her. His eyes gleamed with lust. Alex shivered when the blond stranger licked his lips. Suddenly, she felt like the girl in the fairytale her father used to read her when she was a little girl. What was it? Oh, yeah, Little Red Riding Hood. This particular wolf looked like he wanted to eat her for lunch.
“She is safe.” Joshua kept his arms by his sides, his stance loose. She could tell he was ready to move or fight at any second.
Luther scanned the trees, searching. “Where is she? I want to see her.”
Revulsion filled Alex. She didn’t want to be anywhere near this guy.
“You will see her when the time is right. I’ll bring her back to the compound. You and your brothers can go on ahead.”
“I don’t think so, Striker.” Luther motioned off to his left and two wolves slunk out from beneath the brush. “We’ll take her from here.”
“You think you can take her from me?” Joshua asked, his tone almost mild.
“You Strikers think that you are so special,” the other man all but spat. His handsome features were contorted with rage. “Why should you have her? The Carlos family is just as deserving and furthermore, we don’t mind sharing. Do we boys?” The two wolves seemed to smile.
Oh shit. She was in trouble. The hilt of the knife dug into her palm she was gripping it so hard, but she took comfort from the pain. There was no way she’d allow herself to become some pass-around treat for Luther and his brothers. She tried to swallow, but her throat was impossibly dry. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but she didn’t dare move to swipe at it. The last thing she wanted to do was draw any attention her way.
Joshua bared his teeth as a menacing growl came from deep in his chest. “You are refusing a direct order?”
The other man smiled with smug satisfaction. “Things have changed since you’ve been away.”
Joshua stilled. Energy seemed to coalesce around him, making him appear even larger. “I always thought your family was short on brains, Luther. But now I’m certain of it.”
The blond man laughed as the two wolves slunk closer. “With all the Striker brothers gone looking for the little she-bitch, there was a change in the leadership of the pack.” He shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest.
She was almost afraid to blink, afraid she’d miss something as the tense scene played out in front of her. Her position from behind the trees allowed her to watch even as she was hidden from view. Joshua’s eyes narrowed, becoming even darker.
“I wouldn’t want to be the one to have to tell James LeVeau that you killed his brother.” Joshua’s tone was mild, but the other man jerked backward as if he’d been struck.
“He’s still alive?”
“Did you expect it to be otherwise?” Joshua shifted the tiniest amount, but the others didn’t seem to notice.
“Those damn hunters guaranteed they’d get rid of him.”
“It was you who fed information to the bounty hunters. You betrayed our people to those monsters who have preyed on our women and children.” His entire body seemed to vibrate with barely suppressed anger.
Luther shrugged. “Whatever it takes to get the woman. With James LeVeau’s daughter by my side, no one will gainsay my right to lead the Wolf Creek pack.”
“You think not?” Joshua shook his head as if addressing a wayward child. “The Striker family would definitely object.”
“Not if there are none left to do so.” Luther puffed out his chest, full of bravado now. Alex couldn’t believe he didn’t seem to realize the danger he was in. Joshua was only one man, but at this moment she’d put all her money on him.
The fine hair on the back of her neck stirred and a shiver skated down her spine. She turned her head slowly, careful not to make a noise. He was standing right behind her, a large brown wolf with dark brown eyes and very sharp teeth. He growled as he started to lope toward her.
Jumping to her feet, she ignored the shout she heard behind her, focusing on nothing but the animal in front of her. She kept the knife in her hand hidden by her side as the wolf raced closer. All her senses were heightened. She could hear the pads of his feet pounding against the ground as he ran. She could feel the breeze on her skin, the sweat on her back and the deep pounding of her heart. The forest seemed to recede into the background. There was only her and her attacker.
The animal took one final step and launched itself at her. She swung her arm upward with all her might and buried the silver-coated hunting knife in the wolf’s chest, aiming straight for the heart. She threw up her free arm, covering her face and blocking it from the animal’s large jaw.
She heard the yelp of pain, felt the gush of liquid as blood coated her hand. Leather tore as sharp teeth shredded the thick fabric of her jacket. Alex fell over backward, striking the ground hard. The wind was knocked out of her, but she managed to twist the knife deeper in the wolf’s chest. Claws tore at her jacket and she screamed out as he struck her bad arm.
The beast thrashed about and Alex’s already abused body took another beating as she fought to keep the wolf’s teeth from her throat. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, the wolf gave one final shudder and went limp. She lay there panting for breath, unable to move with the weight pinned on her chest.
She gathered her remaining strength and managed to roll to her side. The muscles in her arms and legs burned as they bunched and strained to shift the bulk of the large wolf off her. She flopped back to the ground, gasping for breath. She started to wipe the sweat from her brow and stopped when she realized her right hand and arm were covered in blood.
Alex rolled to her hands and knees. She sucked in a deep breath as her stomach heaved. She yanked off her jacket and cursed when she hit her bad arm. Using the lining of the jacket, she wiped off as much of the blood as she could.
It was only then that she heard the sounds of a fight in the clearing behind her. Joshua. She jumped to her feet and almost fell back to the ground again. She swayed and grabbed a tree for support, blinking as the world came back into focus. Joshua had shifted again and the massive black wolf was locked in a life-and-death struggle with two other wolves. Luther lay flat on his back on the ground, his sightless eyes staring at the sky, his head at an unnatural angle.
Although it made her stomach roil, she grabbed the hilt of her knife and yanked it out of the chest of the wolf beside her. What was it her father had said about how to kill a werewolf? Silver was poison. Breaking their necks or decapitating them would also kill them.
She stared at the knife and gave thanks that this was no ordinary blade, but one coated with a layer of silver. The shiny edge was now speckled with the blood of the creature on the ground. She’d never have been able to break its neck, but she’d certainly sunk the silver blade straight into its heart.