Just as Pierre went in for the kill, another wolf came out of nowhere and slammed into him from the side. The wolf had been going at top speed, so both of them went sprawling.
Louis howled and his heart raced as he recognized the female wolf who’d protected Gray. It was his mama. Before he could even begin to wonder what she was doing here, Pierre turned on her. His father had hurt his mama too many times when they were growing up. He’d been too young and weak to do anything about it then, but those days were over. No one hurt a woman on Salvation Pack land and got away with it. He owed Pierre for hurting Gray and for the many times he’d hurt his mama.
Louis attacked. Pierre sensed him coming at the last second and turned to face him. Something clicked inside Louis, blocking off all emotion. He became a fighting machine with only one goal—Pierre’s death.
The battle was brutal. Louis used his powerful jaws to bite his father and tasted blood. His deadly claws raked over every part of Pierre’s body as he maneuvered himself into attack position over and over again.
His mama was guarding Gray so Louis could concentrate solely on his father. This time, there was no one coming to Pierre’s aid. He was all on his own.
Louis knew Pierre was getting desperate. He could sense it. The tang of his father’s fear stung his nostrils. He didn’t want to kill the man but he’d been left with no choice. Pierre would not go back home and be content with what he had. If he lived, he’d attack again and again, threatening everyone Louis held dear.
Digging deep, he found both the physical and mental strength he needed to keep fighting. Pierre turned to run, but Louis had been expecting such a move. He jumped on Pierre’s back and clamped down on his throat. His father bucked and fought, but Louis held on. When Pierre collapsed onto the porch, Louis still held on, not falling for his father’s trick. Sure enough, Pierre began to fight again, but there wasn’t as much power behind it this time.
Louis waited until the last breath was expelled from Pierre’s lungs. Then he released him. His father’s head dropped to the floor. Louis was numb. He’d expected to feel something—anger or at least triumph. But there was nothing but a void. His father had been given so much but had squandered it all without ever fully appreciating what he had.
“Louis.” Gray called his name and he immediately turned toward her. He wanted to go to her side but he had to end this first.
He tipped back his head and howled. It was a challenge to all those who’d come here with Pierre. He’d beaten his father in a fight.
The enormity of the situation slammed into him. By pack law, he was the new alpha of the Louisiana Pack.
Louis shifted back into his human form, ignoring the various gashes and injuries that he’d sustained. His body was already healing. He was tired and hungry but he’d be back to full strength in a day.
Gray moved closer to Shadow, cradling the animal’s head in her lap. Louis was glad to see that the dog’s eyes were open. If Shadow had been killed, Louis didn’t know if she ever would have gotten over it. As it was, her hand was injured. He had no idea how severely. Gray was an artist. Her livelihood and her passion was her painting. What if the damage was something debilitating?
He couldn’t think about that. Not yet. Not until her safety was assured.
All around him, the fighting slowed and then stopped. Louis picked up his father’s body, still in wolf form, and walked down the stairs of the porch and into the yard.
“Louis.” Jacque was by his side and started to take their father’s body, but Louis shook his head. Jacque peered deep into his eyes and nodded.
Knowing he needed to get this done, Louis set Pierre’s body on the ground. “I killed him.” He glanced around the yard and his anxiety eased when he saw all his friends. They were looking a little worse for wear, but they were alive. Several dead bodies littered the ground around them. These were the men who’d followed Pierre LaForge all the way from Louisiana.
Such a waste of life.
Joseph Blanchard stood next to a female wolf that Louis recognized as Cole’s mama. He glanced over his shoulder and, sure enough, his mama was sitting next to Gray, still in wolf form. Yeah, that was a good thing. The last thing he wanted to see was his mama naked. Werewolf or not, that was something a guy just didn’t want to witness.
The other women had shifted and hurriedly pulled on clothes and were standing on the back porch. Gwen went to Gray’s side, removed the gun from her grip and wrapped a towel around her injured hand.
Jean Paul Dupointe stepped forward. “I challenge you for the right to lead the Louisiana Pack.” There it was, exactly what Louis had been waiting for.
Gray gasped, and he could feel her fear. It grated on him like fingernails on a chalkboard. All Louis wanted was a quiet life with Gray and his pack.
Beside him, Jacque growled. “What do you want to do?” his brother asked him.
Louis ignored his challenger and the others in the yard. He looked deep into Jacque’s eyes and found what he always did—love, acceptance and support. Why would he leave that? Even more importantly, why would he put Gray in danger by taking her into an unknown and most likely volatile situation?
Jacque nodded and stepped back. Louis stared at Jean Paul. He could see the calculation in the other man’s eyes. He wondered if this wasn’t the outcome Jean Paul had been hoping for.
Louis was tired of fighting, tired of the games. All he wanted was to take Gray inside and tend to her. “I don’t want the Louisiana Pack, Jean Paul.” He could tell he’d shocked all the wolves from back home but none of his friends. It warmed his heart that they knew him so well.
“What are you saying?” Jean Paul demanded.
Louis narrowed his gaze and took a step forward. “I’m saying go home and fight among yourselves. All we ever wanted was to be left alone.”
“But you won the right to be alpha,” Jean Paul insisted.
He shook his head. “Your first mistake, Jean Paul, is thinking that everyone has the same values and beliefs as you do. I’m happy here. I have good men and women at my side that I can depend on. Unlike you, I don’t have to worry about someday being stabbed in the back.”
Jean Paul gazed intently at Louis, studying him for a long moment. “You’re serious.”
“Oh yeah. What you don’t understand is that any male here could be alpha of his own pack.” His eyes went to Cole, Armand and finally Gator. “We’ve learned that a pack that respects and combines its strengths is stronger than one that fights from within.”
He rubbed his hands over his face. “Go back to Louisiana. And this time, stay there.”
Gray’s hand hurt like a son of a bitch, but the bleeding had almost stopped. Her werewolf genes were showing themselves in her quick healing. Beside her, Gwen applied pressure and the two of them watched the scene unfolding.
Louis had really killed his father to protect her. She tried to swallow, but her mouth was just too dry. Beside her, Shadow whined. She didn’t know how badly he was hurt, but her first priority would be his care. She stroked his fur but was unable to take her eyes off of Louis.
He could be alpha of his own pack in Louisiana but he’d turned it down, once again showing her he was a man of great character and depth.
The wolf beside her chuffed and sidled closer. Gray had no idea who the female was, but since Louis wasn’t worried about her, Gray wasn’t concerned either. She was a pretty medium-brown wolf with several other shades of brown running through her.
She was just starting to relax when a man strode forward. He was huge, his shaggy dark blond hair and features somehow familiar.
At first, Gray thought he might be another challenger. But Cole strode forward to stand beside the man, and Gray blinked when she saw the resemblance. “That has to be his father,” she muttered.
Gwen, who was hunkered down beside her, nodded. “And his mother.”
/> It was then Gray saw the pretty wolf next to Cole’s father.
“Joseph.” Jacque held out his hand to the older man who took it.
“Thank you for saving my life.” Louis’s sincere thanks sent a shudder down her spine. She had no idea what had happened, but things might have unfolded differently if not for Cole’s father.
Gray patted Shadow on the head and stood. The dog immediately pushed to his feet to stand beside her. She hoped that meant he’d only been stunned and not seriously hurt. With Gwen beside her, Gray walked to the edge of the porch. This unknown man had saved Louis’s life. Gray liked him already.
“Robert is dead,” Cole’s father told Jean Paul.
Sylvie came up behind them and whispered in a low voice. “Jean Paul Dupointe,” she pointed at the man who’d challenged Louis. “Robert was his brother.” Gray sometimes forgot that Sylvie had grown up in the same pack as the men.
Jean Paul accepted that announcement calmly. Gray couldn’t tell if he was good at hiding his emotions or he just didn’t care.
Joseph rubbed a hand over his chin and addressed Jacque. “Corrine and I were thinking about moving up north,” he began.
Jacque nodded and glanced at Cole, who inclined his head. “That sounds like a fine idea,” Jacque told him. “We’ll talk more as soon as these other folks head home.”
Jean Paul wasn’t stupid and immediately took the hint. “We will be going and will bother you no more.” He hesitated and added, “I paid a visit to that local hunter who bothered your woman. He should no longer be a problem, but I’d keep an eye on him if I were you. Just in case.”
Gray wished she had nerve enough to ask what Jean Paul had done but figured she was probably better off not knowing. Louis simply nodded.
Jean Paul’s gaze landed on the female wolf standing beside Gray. Then he addressed Jacque. “If she wants to come back and pack up her belongings, she has free and safe passage.” Then he looked at Joseph. “You as well.”
Jacque inclined his head and Jean Paul turned and walked away. The remaining members of the Louisiana Pack followed him. Gray got the impression they all just wanted to go home and put this chapter of their lives behind them. She hoped they did just that.
No one moved until the last of the intruders were gone. Then Cole dropped to his knees and hugged the female wolf next to his father. It was such an intimate scene that Gray turned away to give them privacy.
Louis came toward her and her eyes widened. She’d forgotten he was naked. How was that even possible? Okay, sure there’d been fighting and life-and-death circumstances, but Louis was naked.
She frowned. He was also injured. She wanted to run to him but wasn’t sure she if she should or not. She was unsure of his mood. She chewed on her bottom lip. “How bad are you hurt?”
He stopped short and shook his head. He came toward her, his step determined. He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it through the towel that was still wrapped around her fingers. “You’re the one I’m worried about. We need to get you and Shadow seen too.”
He wrapped one arm around her and turned her toward the female wolf that had intervened and saved her from Pierre. “But first, I’d like you to meet someone.”
Gray heard pride in his voice. More than that, she heard love. She straightened her shoulders, wondering if she was about to be introduced to an old girlfriend.
“Gray, I want you to meet my mama.”
His mother. Louis’s mother had saved her life, had through her actions saved Louis’s life as well. She’d just watched her son kill her husband. What did you say to a woman at a time like that?
Thankfully, all the manners her grandmother had drilled into her as a child came to her aid. Gray’s hand shook as she held it out to the other woman, who was still in wolf form. “I’m very glad to meet you, ma’am. I’m just sorry it had to be under such circumstances.”
The wolf dipped her head and nuzzled Gray’s fingers. Louis dropped to his knees beside the female wolf and buried his face in her neck. Then Jacque was beside him. The two big men hugged the small female wolf.
Tears rolled down Gray’s cheeks as she witnessed the tender reunion. Gwen put her hand on Gray’s shoulder. “Let’s go inside and see to your hand.”
She let Gwen lead her inside with Shadow by their side. The last image she had was of the two men and their mother. It was a moment she knew none of them would ever forget.
Gator strode in behind them with Sylvie by his side. “Anyone else hungry? I’m starved.”
Just like that, Gray’s heart lightened and she couldn’t help but smile.
“You’re always thinking about your stomach,” Sylvie teased him.
“Not always.” He growled and nuzzled his mate’s neck.
Gray had no idea what would happen next, but the worst of the danger was over. Her hand began to throb and she hurried into the bathroom. She prayed there wasn’t any lasting damage.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Gray stood at the bedroom window and peered out into the night. Two days had passed since the epic battle in the yard. Both Louis and Jacque had spent a lot of time with their mama, but Louis had included her at every turn.
Each night, they slept in his big bed. And that was all they’d done. Sleep.
She could understand why he might not be feeling quite so amorous with his mother sleeping a few feet away in the living room. And, hello, werewolf hearing. Yeah, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to make love knowing Elise could hear them either.
Both Louis and Jacque had offered their rooms and beds to their mother, but she’d insisted on taking the sofa, citing she’d be putting two people out if she took one of their beds, and there was only one of her. Then she’d kissed her sons’ cheeks and the love shining in her eyes had been almost blinding.
Gray liked Elise. She reminded Gray of her grandmother—strong and determined. Louis’s mother had endured hardships Gray could never imagine and had stayed with her abusive husband to try to protect her sons.
The door opened and closed almost silently behind her. “You’re not in bed.” Louis padded over to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
She shook her head. “Where’s Shadow?” Her pet was fully recovered and had decided to go running with Louis when he went out on patrol.
“Curled up on the sofa.” Louis kissed the top of her head. “I think I wore him out.”
They stood there quietly for a long time. Gwen had so many questions but didn’t want to break the peaceful atmosphere.
Louis roamed his hands over her stomach and veered up to cup her breasts. “We’re all alone tonight.” His voice was a low raspy whisper. “I’ve been dying for you these past few days.”
“Then why haven’t you done anything about it before now?” There, her biggest question was on the table. “Why have you been so distant?”
He tightened his arms around her and his sigh ruffled her hair. “Oh, chère. Don’t think for one minute I didn’t want you naked and under me or over me or however I could get you.”
She shivered as his words sent heat rippling through her. “Could have fooled me,” she muttered.
Louis turned her so she was facing him. She didn’t want to look at him but forced herself to meet his dark stare. He was frowning too, which made him appear even more forbidding. But he was her Louis and she loved him. That point had been driven home over the past few days.
“I was trying to be considerate.” He hooked one of her loose curls behind her ear. “I thought after all you’d been through, after everything you’d seen, you might need some time to process.”
He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. On one downward stroke, he captured her hands and lifted them. “I wanted to make sure your hand was fully healed too.” He kissed each finger, sending more shivers through her. The camisole and loose shorts she wore to bed
felt very constraining all of a sudden. “I’m so sorry you got hurt.”
The wounds were healed and the scars would mostly fade over time. Gray wasn’t worried as there’d been no lasting damage to any tendons or ligaments. Her dexterity was great and it hadn’t affected her ability to draw or paint.
“I’m perfectly fine.” Her voice was a little snappy, so she took a deep breath and struggled to gain control. The last thing she wanted to do was lose her temper and yell at him for being an idiot male. “How long do you think Elise and the others will be gone?”
Jacque, Gwen and Elise had left this morning for Louisiana. Joseph, Corrine, Cole and Cherise had followed. They were heading down south so the newest members of the pack could gather their belongings and bring them back to Salvation. Most of it would have to go into storage, but they were already planning four new mini-homes like the last one they’d built.
“They’ll be gone a few days. We need to take advantage of the time alone. As soon as they get back, things are going to get very busy around here.”
“Maybe I should go back to Wyoming.” There, she’d said it. She waited to see how Louis would react.
He stilled and the low growl that came out of his throat made the fine hairs on her neck ripple. “This is your home,” he told her.
“Not really. This is your home,” she pointed out.
Louis scooped her into his arms and held her close to his chest. He started toward the bed and then stopped. “I want to mate with you. I want you to choose me.”
The underlying need in his voice almost shattered her. “Are you sure you still want me now that the threat is gone? You don’t need to protect me any longer,” she pointed out. As much as she wanted to stay with Louis, she needed him to be sure. Once she made the commitment to stay, there would be no going back for her.
He buried his face in the curve of her neck and inhaled, drawing her scent into his lungs. She ran her hands over his shoulders, loving the flex and play of muscles.
Wolf on the Hunt Page 26
