Joshua calmly padded over to stand beside her father, earning a black glare from the challenger. The large gray wolf and the massive black one stood shoulder to shoulder as they faced down the other four.
Finally, Joshua tipped back his huge furry head and howled. The mournful sound echoed around them and was carried away on the wind. The other four tilted back their necks, raised their heads to the sky and howled in return.
Alex blinked, wishing she understood what the heck was happening. She’d be much happier when she finally understood all this wolf stuff. Silence reigned as the group of four wolves all gave her one final look before turning and fading back into the forest. Her father stared at her for a long moment before he too, turned and padded away.
Now she was totally confused.
She dropped to her knees and sat in the dirt as Joshua came toward her. He nudged her face with his muzzle. Then he disappeared behind a tree on the other side of the clearing. She was too tired to move and too exhausted to think. All that mattered was that she didn’t have to fight.
Less than a minute later, Joshua reappeared clad in his jeans and boots once again. He strode over beside her, lifted her to her feet, wrapped his strong arms around her and held her. She buried her face against his chest, appalled by the gouges and claw marks that covered his arms and torso. She didn’t want to see his back, knowing that had to be as bad.
Before she could speak, four men strode from the woods, this time making no attempt to conceal their footsteps. Joshua turned her in his arms until she was facing them. Like they had been in wolf form, the largest of the four stood slightly in front of the rest. They were big men, their hair dark and shaggy and their features eerily familiar.
“Alex.” Joshua wrapped his arms around her as the men moved closer. “I want you to meet my brothers.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Alex didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This was certainly not the first impression she wanted to make on Joshua’s family. She was dirty, bloody, exhausted and she knew she had to stink. And, oh my God, she was half-naked as well. Her muddled mind cleared long enough to remind her that only the thin pink fabric of her bra shielded her breasts. Her coat and shirt were both in shreds.
She didn’t know what to say to these men. She was slightly embarrassed and intimidated by the united picture they made standing with their arms crossed across their massive chests, watching her, judging her and obviously finding her lacking.
She’d raised her arms to cover herself, but dropped them back by her sides, tilted her chin up and glared at them. Who were they to judge her? They hadn’t arrived until the fighting was over. Where were they when their brother was fighting for his life?
The largest one in the front cocked his eyebrow at her, but she didn’t so much as blink. He was even bigger than Joshua and that was saying something. His hair was a deep mahogany brown that hung down around his impossibly wide shoulders. She had a feeling this was the eldest brother.
Joshua gave her a slight squeeze of encouragement. She took a deep breath, hoping no one noticed her hands were shaking, and prepared to meet his family. She opened her mouth to speak, but the men were no longer looking at her. All heads were turned toward the forest and even Alex could feel the surge of power coming toward them.
Her heart leapt with joy as her father stalked back into the clearing. She was so glad he hadn’t left. She automatically took a step toward him, but was unceremoniously hauled back into Joshua’s arms. “It is my duty to comfort you now. Not his.”
Her eyes flew to Joshua’s and she could see that he was deadly serious. All this male posturing was making her head pound. He was her father for heaven’s sake and she hadn’t seen him in several days.
“She’s not yours yet, Striker.” Her father kept coming toward them, ignoring Joshua’s brothers who looked none to happy with this announcement. “There has been no formal ceremony and my daughter is yet unmarked.”
That bit of information made her cheeks heat and she shuffled her feet uncomfortably. She dipped her head down to her chest, wishing her hair was longer so that it would cover her face. Honestly, listening to her father talking about her being marked by some wolf was just too much.
Joshua began to growl as her father stopped in front of them. Her father emitted a sound unlike anything she’d ever heard before. Part growl and all challenge, the two men faced off against each other and she was the prize caught in the middle.
She wrapped her arms around herself. “No more.” She stumbled back and a large hand caught her from behind. Her stomach lurched as she pulled away before Isaiah could get a grip on her. “No more fighting. No more death.” She was finding it harder to breathe now, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
“No more,” her father promised as he took a step toward her. “Come here, Alexandra.” He opened his arms, offering comfort. She glanced at Joshua and then at her father, totally confused, knowing whichever one she went to the other one would be hurt.
Turning her back on all of them, she started toward the trees. All she wanted to do was to curl up somewhere, close her eyes and sleep. Maybe when she woke, she’d be able to think more clearly.
Thick forearms wrapped around her, stopping her in her tracks. She didn’t need to turn around to know whose arms they were. Sighing, she leaned back against Joshua’s chest. He leaned down, his breath brushing across her neck as he whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you choose between us. That was uncalled for. Unworthy of you after all you’ve sacrificed.” His lips grazed her ear, making her toes curl in her boots. “Your father needs you. Go to him.”
With his hands on her shoulders, he turned her around so that she was facing the group again. She ignored the four brothers who were watching the scene unfold with avid interest. Her only concern was her father. He stood apart from them, his feet braced apart, his hands open by his sides. It was his face that told the tale. His golden brown eyes were filled with such sorrow and pain that her heart began to throb.
Everything she’d been through the past few days rose up to haunt her. She had no idea where her father had been or what he’d had to deal with, but he was here right now. He’d come for her. To protect her as he always had.
Giving a small cry, she ran to him. Her feet tripped on an exposed tree root and she stumbled, but before she could fall, strong arms caught her. The familiar smell of sandalwood washed over her as her father hauled her into his familiar embrace and held her as though he’d never let her go. “My Alexandra. My precious little girl,” he crooned as he rocked her slightly in his strong embrace.
She didn’t mean to cry. Didn’t want to cry. She wanted to be tough and confident. But tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, staining the front of her father’s shirt. She felt a hand on the small of her back and realized that Joshua had come up behind them. Reaching out blindly with her hand, she tugged him closer, needing both of them.
Taking a few deep breaths, she got control of her wayward emotions and raised her head. A shiver shot through her body and goose bumps rose on her arms and chest, reminding her that she was only partially dressed. Her father swore as he stepped back and ripped off his shirt and wrapped it around her. He helped her tuck her arms in the sleeves, being careful of her injuries, and then buttoned it like he had many times when she’d been a child.