Saved By Her Wolf (Silverwood Island Shifters)

by Maia Starr

  Chapter Four

  Zander

  By the time the trio finished with their playful brawling, each was splayed out on the sandy shore, panting and heaving and smiling.

  “Ow, ow, ow!” Ash winced as he rolled to his feet. “I thought Flint and I were brutal enough as we were on our own. But with you, Zander, it’s like a whole new world of fighting has opened its gates to us.”

  Zander’s laughs caused the bruises on his body to ache and sting as he also jumped up to his feet, outstretching a hand to Flint as he did. Grateful for the help, Flint clasped Zander’s strong hand. “I think it’s time we finally headed home,” Flint grunted as Zander released him and slapped him on the back. “Wolf Den might have some news for me today.”

  Ash stretched. “You mean at the lodge? Please, if there were anything important, May Silver or someone else would send a messenger to tell you. It’s not like we’ll have a repeat of what happened last year with you and Addison.”

  Flint scowled at his brother, but Zander chuckled, beginning to tremble from an oncoming chilled breeze. Gripping at his arms, he started towards the forest, shouting over his back. “Come on, let’s get back anyway! I’m hungry, and I can’t wait to boast about toppling the alpha’s brother in a brawl.”

  Zander glanced back to catch Ash racing after him, his small strides closing the distance in the time it took for Zander to even blink. “Topple? More like tripped me, you cheating bastard! Get back here!” Hooting and hollering, Zander broke out into a run, scurrying up the bank and leaving the sand for the damp, dewy grass. His ears picked up Flint’s heavy footfalls coming after them as well. Smiling, Zander shifted into his wolf, howling and charging into the thickets.

  The forest adorning Silverwood Island never seemed to change. Its thick, tall trees loomed over all of the island’s inhabitants, seemingly standing sentinel against the storms that would rage through from the sea every so often. Zander was glad to find Silverwood Island still in its string of beautiful sunny days. As the trio of wolves pounced through the woodland, curious squirrels and fattening chipmunks squirmed to their hidden holes in the trunks of trees and tiny burrows beneath the ground. Zander’s claim before for his growing hunger was the truth, and as he passed by these tiny creatures, he slowed, his mouth dripping with saliva. It wasn’t until Flint nudged him along with his snout that Zander growled and continued his original pace.

  Dashing through the forest caused a myriad of smells to enter his nose, each coming and going faster than he could sniff them, each mingling and tickling his nostrils, creating one long, ever-changing scent that carried him from the warm sandy beach to the cool, dense inner forest. Flint moved up to run alongside Ash, the two snapping at each other and cackling as they rubbed against each other. Zander fell back a bit, half-expecting to find another wolf running by his side, someone to keep him company while the brothers bantered in the front. But when he glanced to either side and behind him, Zander saw nothing. What was he expecting? A magical partner to show up out of nowhere to stay next to him forever and ever?

  For a moment, Zander’s spirit dipped, causing him to trip up only slightly on the dirt path, pebbles flying before him, but then Zander growled at himself and launched himself forward, jumping in between Ash and Flint, who both cackled in delight at his presence. Soon enough, his soul rose once again, just barely escaping the pain of his lone wolf days.

  It wasn’t long before Ash, who took the lead through the muddy twists and turns of the trees, finally slowed to a trot with Flint and Zander following close behind. Even from this far away in the forest, Zander could smell his people now. The closer they got, the stronger the scents of hundreds of shifters became. Wolf Den wasn’t far.

  Finally, Flint overtook Ash, leaping over his brother and loping up a hill and around the bank of a large pond, both Zander and Ash close behind. The freshwater rippled from the landings of a few geese, who all squawked at the trio of wolves as they rounded the bank. Zander couldn’t help but rush into the water to scare the geese into frantically flapping their wings in an attempt to escape his apparent wrath.

  After Flint lead the group past the pond and onto a wide, man-made trail, he shifted back to his human form, jogging over to a log and pulling out three traveling bags inside. As Zander and Ash transformed back into humans in tandem, Flint threw them each a bag. The leather hiking bag was soft yet gravelly under his fingers, and Zander ripped open the front flap to reveal the fresh clothes inside.

  “It wouldn’t do for us to walk inside naked,” Flint said as he pulled on a shirt that just barely fit over his lean yet muscular torso.

  Struggling to get his tucked clothes out of his bag, Ash shot his brother a look. “Flint, you’re the alpha here. You can do whatever you want.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure sauntering into Wolf Den naked would go perfectly!” Zander chimed in. Both grinned at Flint, knowing he’d roll his eyes and finish clothing himself in silence.

  Once they were all fully clothed, though, the trio walked the path into Wolf Den with their backpacks slung over their shoulders, smelling of the sea and shaking and swiping the sand off their bodies.

  Dimmed Christmas lights still hung from the trees just above their heads, and Zander noticed the small woodland homes that could just barely be seen through the trees as they entered. Because of how early the day was, Wolf Den remained relatively silent if Zander pretended not to notice the chirping birds and crackling of the bonfire in the middle of the den. Few shifters strolled about the place, though each and every one walked hand in hand with their mates. More than once, these couples would stop to greet Flint, waving to Ash and Zander in the process, and each time Zander was forced to hide his aching heart, the pangs of jealousy churning the wolf hiding away inside his boy.

  Past the bonfire was the main hall of Wolf Den, where every shifter who lived within Wolf Den came to munch on meals and share stories and gossip about their lives and the island. Even now as they approached the gigantic wooden hall, its walls echoed with the muffled sounds of amusement and passionate speaking. Zander could feel his blood rush at the excitement of spending time surrounded by people. Dining alone was the worst nightmare Zander ever knew.

  But before they could step up to the doors leading inside, two shifters arrived in front of them. One was a short, old, grinning woman with growing white hair that was tied together in a messy ball behind her head. The other, much younger and perkier, with long flowing brown hair and a sweet smile, came forward to plant a kiss on Ash’s lips. “Finally,” she said. “I thought you boys would never come back.

  “Ah, come on, Callie,” Ash cooed. “As if I’d ever let anything prevent me from coming back to you!”

  Zander found himself wondering what it would be like to come back home to somebody waiting for him and let his gaze drift away as Ash and Callie caught up. Flint moved forward to greet the old lady, whom every shifter knew as May Silver.

  “We were wondering when you’d get back!” May said, repeating Callie’s sentiment. Leaning in, May puckered her lips. “Come on, give me a welcome back kiss too!”

  Zander and Ash burst out laughing while Callie giggled as Flint’s eye twitched and he leaned away from May. Even May burst out laughing after seeing Flint’s reaction.

  “Remember, May, I’m taken now. Don’t forget that,” Flint said.

  May waved Flint’s comment off with a hand and spat into the earth. “Oh, of course, like I’d ever forget you’re no longer a lone wolf. It’d be a slap in the face to Addison, after all...but there is someone else still single here, isn’t there?”

  Suddenly the pressure of every pair of eyes fell on Zander, burning his skin, and he sighed heavily, though grinned. “Sorry, granny, but I have high standards.”

  Doubling over in laughter, Ash had to hold onto Callie to keep his balance straight. “Granny! He called May granny!”

  Even May chuckled, slapping Zander on the shoulder. “Uh huh, and if you say it again, I’ll slap you silly. Be
sides, I’m sure you’ll be snapped up by some woman sooner or later. We’ve had a lot of newcomers ever since your Addison arrived on Silverwood, Flint.” As her eyes flicked to Flint, they widened as well. “Speak of the devil! I almost forgot to tell you; there’s a new arrival coming later today.”

  Flint nodded. “The woman with the two children, right? Did she ever decide what house to buy? I know you were on the phone with her more than once about it...”

  Nodding vehemently, May gave a thumbs up. “We’ve finally got someone to buy up that little cottage on the western shore, just above the beach. Barely anyone knows about it, and the ones who do know have never even thought of buying it, so when I told the woman about it, she said she wanted to grab it up right away.”

  Zander instantly exchanged looks with Ash and Flint. “You mean that shabby one story we just saw?” Zander said, images of the rickety boarding and shattered glass windows coming to mind. He could imagine whoever this woman was coming to see the house and getting a shard of glass pierced through the sole of her feet for her effort, sobbing at the terrible state of the house in its entirety. “That place isn’t livable.”

  “Which is where you boys come into play.” May scratched her wrist, the sound of nails on skin prickling Zander’s ear. “Just fix the place up, like you usually do.”

  “Well, I guess we don’t have a choice,” Flint said, rubbing his neck.

  Zander sighed, but soon instead of listening to the rest of the conversation, his mind became entranced with the idea of a lone woman buying that cottage he and the others had seen just a mere hour or so ago. When he’d seen the cottage, Zander had thought it would have stayed lonely for the rest of its days, with most, if not all, people on the island forgetting it even existed. But now some woman was coming to live there? Why? And why bring her children? Zander wasn’t an expert on the schooling scene on Silverwood Island, but he was sure the schools would be limited. Generally, people did the best for their children, didn’t they, so Zander simply couldn’t wrap his head around how coming to a remote cottage would be good for anyone, let alone a single woman and her children.

  Inside his chest, Zander’s wolf cackled with delight as he began to take interest in a woman he knew absolutely nothing about. Surely if she were to buy up that cottage, she’d need to renovate it, fix it up so the roof wouldn’t cave in while she slept soundly at night. And if she were going to ask for renovations...

  “I guess Zander will handle this one.”

  Snapping his attention back to the shifters standing before him. Zander blinked. “What?”

  Flint stared back at him. “You heard me. I’m not just your alpha, Zander, but your boss. The cottage is small and doesn’t need a big team. When this woman arrives later today, give her tour of the place. Callie here will bring her to the cottage, and when she inevitably asks for renovations, you’ll agree and begin to make those renovations. Got it?” When Zander simply blinked once again, Flint smiled. “Don’t worry; I’ll give you a few men to help out. But you’re in charge of this one, okay?”

  Finding the means to laugh, Zander chuckled and ran a hand through his short, dark brown hair that fell down over his forehead. “You mean I came all the way here with you guys, just to learn I’m going to have to walk all the way back to that beach? Man, you’re a real slave driver, aren’t you, Flint?”

  Ash clasped Zander’s shoulder, winking at him and throwing up a thumb. “Look, well know you’re still without a mate, but try not to go too crazy on this woman, alright? We want her to stay and be happy on Silverwood, not go crazy after meeting a hulking guy like you.”

  Bellowing out in amusement, Zander returned the favor and clasped both of Ash’s shoulders. “Please, I’m tamer than that! Though I can’t guarantee she won’t fall madly in love with me.”

  “Alright, alright!” May said, waving him off with both her hands like he was some kind of vermin. “Shoo, already! Go take a good look at the house or do whatever you need to do already. It won’t be long until she arrives, alright?”

  Backing away, and still grinning from ear to ear, Zander nodded. “Fine! I’m going. You won’t be seeing me for a while, so get used to being bored, guys.”

  As Zander stomped off and exited Wolf Den the way he came in, Flint called after him. “I’ll send a few guys later, alright?” But Zander barely heard him. Instead, his mind was filling with all sorts of questions for this new client of his. Inside his chest, his wolf howled in delight, rubbing against its cage, wishing to come out. Maybe, just maybe, that connection Zander felt with the cottage earlier was something more than just a feeling.↡¶

  Chapter Five

  Ginny

  This may have been the gutsiest move Ginny had ever pulled. When the idea to flee from Danny and his home crossed her mind, it had come after a moment of panic and weakness, from a harsh slap across her face that echoed in the halls of the courtroom, the very courtroom she was fighting for custody of the children. Going into hiding had seemed easy. The kids were scared of Danny anyway, so it wasn’t like she was taking them against their will, and the fact that she’d found a place to lay low so quickly told Ginny she’d made the right decision. Hope had wormed its way into her heart as she sped from the suburban house she’d lived in with Danny.

  But now, while she sat on the ferry to Silverwood Island, Ginny couldn’t find a reason to be happy just yet.

  Despite the heavy salt air that seemed to calm her breathing and the spectacle of the flying fish that would jump in and out of the water, catching the bug-eyed stares of both Grace and Oliver, Ginny’s heart pounded with anxiety. The ferry was relatively empty except for a few couples and small families here and there simply enjoying the lapping waves of the ocean, but Ginny found her gaze darting over her shoulder every so often. The quiet pushing in on her nearly crushed her head under the pressure, her mind whirling from the fast-paced race to get away from Danny Krisher as quickly as possible.

  She knew it was impossible for Danny to simply show up on the ferry, to just pop his head out from the stairs leading into the lower level, and yet her irrational fear remained. Ginny couldn’t even be bothered to return the flirtatious compliments she received from one of the ferry’s crew when she boarded. Ginny wasn’t sure any man would be able to lift the hampering spell Danny had put on her.

  The only thing soothing enough to put Ginny’s mind at ease was the sound of Oliver’s and Grace’s awe.

  If Ginny remembered correctly, neither of the children had ever been to the ocean before. Danny never bothered to take them anywhere fun, so it was at least nice to see them both enjoying their short trip.

  But soon enough, Silverwood Island came into view, shedding the misty air shrouding it and appearing to stretch and ebb the closer the ferry sailed.

  “Is that Silverwood?” Oliver asked, his curls shifting in the wind.

  “It’s pretty!” Grace said, her blue eyes sparkling in the afternoon sunlight. “And big.”

  For a moment, Ginny’s fear of Danny vanished, and she stood and took two giant strides to kneel beside her two children as they clutched onto the railing and stared at the island coming to meet them. “Yes, it is. Big and hidden away. Plus, we’ll be living in a house on the beach.”

  Both whirled on her, eyes wide and joyous smiles growing on their faces.

  Ginny smiled, doing her best to look as ready as her children were to start her new life. “But you both need to stick close to me until we get to the house...actually, even after that, okay?” Daddy...won’t be happy that we left.”

  Both their smile shrunk, and both looked at each other, fear written all over their faces. Ginny wanted to punch herself in the face. Why the hell did she say that? She didn’t need to keep reminding them that Danny might be coming after them. She was stealing them away to give them a happier life, not make them look over their shoulders like she was.

  Thinking about taking the kids away made Ginny think about the court hearings for the custody battle and
how her case was pretty much over. There was no doubt that Danny would go to the court and judge and tell them about Ginny’s actions, probably resulting in him getting full custody. Was running really the right thing to do? Shaking her head, Ginny rose to her feet as the ferry slowed into port. Of course it was! Ginny could only imagine how Danny would have abused not only her but the children in his increasing madness. Keeping them locked up, refusing them treats, toys, and other necessities of a fun childhood, as well as hitting them when they got out of line, as Danny had put it.

  Her blood boiled as she thought about Danny and his torturous ways, but she forced herself to focus on the present when the captain of the ferry announced over the intercoms that the ferry had docked it was time to head onto the island.

  “Come on, guys, take my hands and don’t let go, okay?” Ginny said as she led the kids down the ramp and off the boat.

  It felt great to step onto solid land once again, even if the trip from the mainland only took around half an hour. As Ginny walked the planks behind the only other few couples and families making the trip to Silverwood, she looked around for the woman May Silver had said to expect when the ferry came in to dock. Long brunette hair, shorter stature, a big smile...Ginny’s mental notes on May’s description of the woman were lacking, which made finding this woman harder than it needed to be. As they trio finally reached the end of the docks, standing just before the road that led out into the rest of the island, Ginny found herself and the kids alone, surrounded by nothing but stale forest air.

  Gazing around, Ginny still didn’t find any woman matching May’s description, which she found odd. But sure enough, movement on the other side of the road caught Ginny’s eye, and within moments, a young woman, probably around Ginny’s age, jogged across the street with a big friendly smile on her face. Shiny, brunette hair sashayed down her back, and her vibrant eyes told Ginny all she needed to know about the first Silverwoodian she’d meet.