“Dad.”
He finished slipping the last button through the hole before he looked at her.
“I’m really okay.”
“No you’re not,” he growled. She could hear that anger in his voice and knew he was angry with himself. Her father and Joshua had much in common.
“Yes, I am.” She caught his face in her hands and made him really look at her. “By rights I should be dead, or at the very least captured, and I would have been without Joshua.” Going up on her toes, she kissed her father’s cheek and released him. Taking a step back, she stood at Joshua’s side. “I need to see to your injuries.” She was worried about the long gashes on his chest, back and arms even though they were no longer bleeding.
Joshua twined his fingers with hers, but his gaze was still on her father. The two men stared at one another as the tension rose again. Finally, her father gave a curt nod. Joshua inclined his head and at last gave her his attention. She wanted to be indignant over the fact that the two men had just seemed to have decided her future between them, but she was just so relieved they weren’t going to fight that she couldn’t work up a good mad.
Honestly, the testosterone level was enough to suffocate a woman. They could decide whatever they wanted. She planned to just go ahead and do what she wanted anyway. Let them have their male rituals if it made them feel better.
As if he knew what she was thinking, Joshua released her hand and slung his arm over her shoulder, pulling her closer. She winced at the pressure. Her poor body was protesting all the abuse. Joshua pulled his arm back and swore. “We’ve got to get you back to the compound.” She could see the worry in his eyes, so she patted his chest to try to reassure him.
Someone cleared his throat. “We need to get moving.”
She peeked around Joshua and found all four of his brothers still standing there waiting. Straightening her shoulders, she strode toward the men. Stopping just in front of them, she extended her hand toward the largest. “I’m Alex Riley. Pleased to meet you.”
The corners of his mouth kicked up, but that didn’t make him appear any less scary. His large hand engulfed hers. “Isaiah Striker.” His eyes were as dark as Joshua’s, maybe even darker as they stared down at her. She had a feeling he was trying to see straight to her very soul and that he was succeeding. She wanted to look away, but was ensnared in his gaze. Eventually, he seemed to find whatever it was he was searching for, released her hand and stepped away. Leaving her there with the other three, he strode toward Joshua and her father.
Alex turned back to the remaining brothers. They were all formidable men, but not in the same league as their older brothers. One of the men stepped forward. This one had medium brown hair and chocolate brown eyes that held a hint of mischief. He stuck out his hand. “Micah Striker.” She shook his hand and blinked furiously when another man almost identical to him stepped up beside them.
“Levi Striker.” He elbowed his brother out of the way and took her hand in his.
The last brother stepped forward. His hair was a deep, rich black and his eyes were somber as he gripped her hand. Unlike his brothers, he brought her hand to his lips and placed a tender kiss on the back of her hand. “Simon Striker.” His voice had an almost musical quality about it. She found herself smiling at him.
“Thank you for making Joshua happy.” He gave her hand a squeeze before he released it.
“I’m glad to meet you all.” She glanced around the forest floor and then averted her eyes from the bodies. “I just wish it could be under better circumstances.”
“We’ve got to get moving.” Joshua walked over to stand beside her and she leaned into his side, just wanting to touch him. “There’s trouble back at the compound. I’m not sure what we’re going to find when we get there. Luther said there’d been a change in leadership. I don’t think we’re going to find Ian alive.”
Her father swore and turned away. The man might not be real to her, but he was her uncle and her father’s brother. Her heart ached for him. It would be horrible to come home after all these years just to find his brother dead.
She watched as her father stared off into the distance, wishing she knew what to do to comfort him. The last few days had brought brutality and death into her life, but it had also brought love and hope. So many mixed emotions swirled around inside Alex. Her father seemed so alone, so removed from the rest of them. She wished he had someone to share his life with, especially now that she’d found Joshua.
Joshua released a long, steady sigh. “I hate to break this up, but we need to leave. There are probably others scouring the woods and we’re still about a two- or three-hour hike from the compound.”
Isaiah nodded. “I’ll go on and scout ahead. Not all of the men of the Wolf Creek pack are stupid enough to follow Luther and his ilk. I’m willing to bet that many of them don’t even know what’s happened. I expect the Carlos family didn’t exactly challenge Ian in the traditional manner. Knowing them, they probably attacked Ian when he wasn’t expecting it.”
“I’d say you’re right about that.” Tension flowed from Joshua in waves. “Go.”
Isaiah inclined his head and began to strip off his clothing. When he was naked, he shifted and loped off into the woods. Simon came forward and gathered his brother’s clothing.
Levi and Micah went around the clearing, gathering all the weapons. When they were done the group headed out in the direction that Isaiah had gone.
James’ blood began to boil as the reality of his brother’s death washed over him. He would have his vengeance. Somehow. His gaze landed on Alex and a sense of peace enveloped him. Her presence alone was enough to bring him some comfort. This was why he was here. His daughter would be safe, no matter what the cost to himself. He owed her that much.
As he continued to watch her, Alex reached out and twined her fingers with Joshua’s, following him into the woods. She was limping slightly and he could see blood had seeped through his shirt in several places. Joshua’s back looked much worse, but he ignored it as he leaned down to listen to whatever Alex was saying to him.
They might not be officially bonded, but James could see the connection was there. Alex glanced back over her shoulder then and smiled at him. His little girl was gone forever, replaced by a woman any man would be proud of.
No, his daughter no longer needed him, but his pack did.
It felt strange to be returning home after all these years. But it felt good. The time had come for James LeVeau Riley to reclaim his lost life.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Joshua kept all his senses sharp, constantly searching the wind for the stench of bounty hunters and rogue werewolves. From what he’d learned, they not only had to deal with enemies from without, but traitors from within the pack as well.
Alex stirred beside him, drawing his attention. “How are you feeling?” He didn’t like the fact they’d been unable to do anything about her injuries. He wanted her home where he could take care of her.
“Shouldn’t that be my line?” She rubbed her hand gently over his injured arm. “I can’t begin to imagine how you’re feeling right now. To have your own people betray you like that.” Alex sighed and shook her head. “I know you’ve got to be hurt and angry. I know you feel as if you failed Ian and want to avenge him somehow.”
Once again he was reminded of just how lucky he was to have found this special woman. She understood him better than anyone else ever had. “I did fail him. We all did. We are the Striker family, the protectors of the pack. We never should have left him unguarded in the compound.”
That’s what burned in his gut worst of all. He and his family had always been responsible for the safety of the pack and the alpha couple.