Oh great! Another shifter.
Hayley whimpered as she tried to push herself up. The man glanced over his broad shoulders at her and she fell back to the ground in shock when she saw his face.
It was her next door neighbor, Grayson.
Grayson turned back to her attacker and growled. “Leave the humans alone, Strom.”
Strom laughed. “I know you're recently taken over the Silverfangs pack, Grayson. But the Red Razor wolves still outnumber your wolves three to one.”
“You are the Alpha of the Red Razor pack, one of the largest wolf packs in Wolves Hollow. You have enough willing females to satisfy you, Strom. Return the human women to their families. They've done nothing to deserve this,” Grayson said in a level voice.
Hayley detected the simmering rage and stern warning in his tone. Grayson's voice was calm but commanding. There was an air of authority to him that Strom lacked.
Strom smirked. “I'll let the others go. If—” He pointed at Hayley. “She comes with me. If I have her, the other human females can go.”
Grayson stepped in front of Hayley, blocking her from Strom's lecherous eyes. “You will never have her,” Grayson snarled.
Strom stepped up to Grayson. “Are you going to fight me for the little bitch?”
Grayson's blue eyes turned wolf in a heartbeat. As he stalked towards Strom, running footsteps could be heard. A petite, blond woman skidded into the alley and rushed towards them.
“Fight him in front of the pack, Grayson,” the woman snapped. “Everyone's waiting. The Sentinels and the Red Razor pack.” Her words were directed at both Grayson and Strom.
The woman crouched beside Hayley and gripped her shoulder. “Can you stand?” the woman said gently. “Come on, I'll help you.”
Hayley blinked and looked up into the woman's brilliant blue eyes. She gasped. She recognized those eyes. “You! It's...you!” It was the wolf who had stood guard in front of her house that night.
“Yes.” The young woman flashed her a quick smile. “I'm Ariana Edge. And that's my brother, Grayson. Let's get you out of here.”
CHAPTER NINE
Grayson glanced at Ari. She was crouching beside the dazed and bleeding human woman, and shaking her head at him. “The pack is waiting,” Ari snapped. “If you're going to kill him, kill him in front of his pack and finish it once and for all!”
Grayson forced his claws back. Ari was right. He'd issued a challenge to Strom and pack law dictated that every wolf in the Sentinels and Red Razor pack abide by the terms of the challenge.
He would gladly kill Strom here and leave his filthy carcass in this alley. But that wouldn't free those human women. Those innocent, defenseless human women who had been kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery by Strom. Strom called them his “wives”, making a bloody mockery of the title.
Grayson turned to take a proper look at the curvy, red-haired human. She fixed her startling green eyes on him and Grayson felt his body jerk as though an electric current had just coursed through him.
The woman was beautiful. The sight of her broken lip and the bruise on her face made his wolf rise and snarl angrily. His wolf wanted to rip Strom to shreds for hurting this female.
But Strom was the Alpha of the Red Razor pack, one of the largest and most powerful packs in Wolves Hollow. If he killed Strom now, the Red Razor wolves would avenge his death. No pack would let the murder of their Alpha go unavenged. He had to challenge and defeat Strom in front of his pack, or the Red Razor wolves would come after the Sentinels. They would make Grayson pay by slaughtering every single one of his wolves. Pregnant females, elderly grandparents and cubs would all be killed.
“Grayson!” Ari shouted. She had the woman's arm around her shoulder and she was hurrying the woman out of the alley. “Let's go!”
“Don't go too far, little human,” Strom called out. “After I paint the woods red with the blood of the Sentinels, I'll come and collect you, my pet.”
Grayson saw two Red Razor lieutenants at the mouth of the alley. They parted to let Ari and the human woman through. One of the lieutenants saluted and spoke to Strom, “Everyone's in position, Alpha.”
Strom smiled. “Your wolves have been surrounded, Grayson. Are you sure you want to go through with this? You'll have their blood on your hands.”
Grayson didn't reply. He simply watched Strom stroll out of the alley with his lieutenants. The echo of Strom's laugh reverberated down the empty street long after he'd left.
Grayson stepped out of the alley and saw Ari standing at the side of the curb. His sister was staring after a small, spluttering car that was trying its best to speed away.
“That's your neighbor,” Ari said. “The one I was telling you about.”
Grayson narrowed his eyes at her. “The new human in town is my next door neighbor,” he deadpanned.
“Yup. She told me her name. Hayley Winters.”
“Hayley,” he whispered. His wolf growled at the sound of her name on his lips. Grayson kept staring at the receding cloud of exhaust fumes. He had to fight the urge to go after her. “He hurt her,” he snarled at last.
“Strom hurt a lot of humans,” Ari said. She looked up at the purplish-black sky and said quietly, “It's time, Grayson. Scott just reported that our wolves are ready.”
Grayson exhaled roughly.
Each pack had its own rules, and each alpha had a different way of governing his or her pack. Grayson never interfered in another pack's business. But when innocent humans were savagely dragged into a pack to be raped and abused, Grayson couldn't turn away.
The other packs all stayed away from the Red Razor wolves. But the Sentinels would not walk away from this. Not while he was Alpha.
The Sentinels were taking on a much bigger and meaner pack tonight. It wasn't the wisest thing to do, but it was the right thing to do.
Might wasn't right. Not in his book.
“Ari, if I lose the challenge tonight...”
His sister scowled at him and raised a warning finger. “I will kill you, and kill you again if you lose. If you die tonight, Scott will be Alpha. Don't get me wrong. Scott is a great Beta. But he'll make a lousy Alpha. He talks too much.”
Grayson hugged his little sister hard. If he lost, the Red Razor wolves would massacre his pack. And their deaths wouldn't be quick and painless.
“I won't let anything happen to you, Ari,” Grayson said grimly. “But I can't do nothing. Those human women...”
“...are counting on you,” Ari said, hugging him back. “You will win, Grayson. For them, for us.” She jerked her head at the fast receding little car. “For her.”
CHAPTER TEN
Hayley gulped as she turned into yet another unfamiliar street. Shit! She'd made a wrong turn again. She glanced in her rear-view mirror and saw no cars behind her. A lone streetlamp in the distance was flickering and sputtering, valiantly trying to chase away the shadows that seemed to be closing in on her.
Her heart was thundering in her chest. She could still feel Strom's mouth and hands on her. His taunts and threats rang in her ears.
After I paint the woods red with the blood of the Sentinels, I'll come and collect you, my pet.
Hayley's face twisted as she swiped angry tears from her eyes. She had thrown her jacket over her torn blouse and driven away as fast as she could.
If Grayson and Ariana hadn't found her when they did…
“I didn't even thank them,” she muttered with a wince.
Both siblings were very good-looking, and Ariana seemed really nice. Hayley took an instant liking to the lively young woman. Ariana had guarded Hayley that night and saved her life today. “I have to thank her properly. It's the least I can do,” Hayley said resolutely. It wouldn't be difficult to find Ariana. Her brother lived just next door to Hayley. All she had to do was walk up to Grayson's house and knock on hi
s door.
She swallowed. The thought of being in contact with Grayson made her shiver in anticipation. Grayson was a formidable, commanding male, an alpha wolf. He was tall, strong, imposing, and...very virile. He was no doubt very skilful in bed and he had a huge, almost insatiable sexual appetite. What would it be like to be taken by a dominant alpha like Grayson?
Hayley huffed and blew a lock of her unruly red hair out of her eyes. She had just escaped from a deranged, sadistic pervert! How could she be entertaining these wild, inappropriate, crazy fantasies about her next door neighbor?
“Most unladylike,” she admonished herself. But...maybe she didn't want to be a lady. She just wanted to be a woman! If only she could meet a real man.
Hayley snorted. With her luck, she'd just get involved with another user and cheater again. She'd been blind and stupid enough to marry her ex-husbands. And now, she'd attracted the unwanted attention of Strom. She really did have the worst luck.
Hayley grimaced and peered out the side window. Where the hell was she? She wasn't familiar with this part of town. It looked totally deserted.
There were no shops, no houses, no one. Oh, there were one or two houses still standing, but these dwellings had been abandoned long ago. They were boarded up and almost completely hidden by tall, overgrown weeds. Towering, whispering trees flanked the other side of the street. Beyond the first line of trees, Hayley could see movement and...eyes.
Eyes?
No, no, no. Hayley blinked and shook her head hard. It must be a trick of the light.
She must be imagining things. She was tired and lost, and she was beginning to panic.
Don't panic and don't be silly, she scolded herself. How could she get lost in her own town?
Hayley stomped on the brakes. She'd come to a dead end. Her car's headlights illuminated the cracked, vandalized brick wall in front of her. A dead end.
Exhaling a shaky breath, Hayley gripped the steering wheel and stared at the brick wall for a long moment. This was the story of her life, wasn't it? She'd hit a dead end. Again.
She'd wanted to make a fresh start, live a new life in Wolves Hollow. But what if she'd made a dreadful mistake? Had she come out all this way just to hit a dead end?
Hayley balled her fists.
No! No more doubts, no more dead ends. She would find a way to turn her life around. But first, her car.
Determinedly, Hayley turned the car around as fast as she could. The engine whined and the tires screeched. Her car lurched forward with an ominous clanking sound.
“Oh God! No, no, no,” Hayley hiccuped, squeezing the steering wheel till her knuckles gleamed white. The headlights flickered and dimmed.
“No, don't you die on me, you…!”
Unaccustomed to such strong, colorful language, her car shook violently and exhaled a long hiss. The engine gave one last click and died.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Grayson stepped out into the clearing and faced the Red Razor pack. He glanced over his shoulder and saw every Sentinel wolf standing alert and ready.
The Red Razor pack was a much larger pack, but the Red Razor wolves weren't united and loyal. He could see the Red Razor wolves spread out across the woods. They thought they were caging the Sentinels in.
Grayson smirked. Haven't they learned by now? The Sentinels always fought as a team. His wolves worked seamlessly as a unit and they looked out for one another. Their unity was their strength.
The Silverfangs pack was here as well. They were now part of the Sentinels, but their loyalty was still untested. Grayson noticed that Scott had ordered the Silverfangs to stand guard at the periphery of the woods. It was obvious that Scott was keeping the Silverfangs away from the action. His Beta didn't trust the Silverfangs either. Scott made sure that only the Sentinels stood close behind their Alpha. The Sentinels had his back.
Grayson watched Strom arrive at the scene with two of his senior lieutenants, Suresh and Milly. Milly acknowledged Grayson with a barely perceptible nod. She was a good lieutenant, capable and responsible. Yet, even she did not dare stand up to Strom and put a stop to his atrocities. His wolves could have stopped him from kidnapping the human women, but no one did. They obeyed Strom out of fear, not loyalty and respect.
Strom was twenty minutes late. As expected, no explanation was offered. Neither did Grayson demand one. He wasn't here for bullshit. He just wanted to get this over with and get those human women out of Strom's clutches.
But he couldn't help wondering what had caused Strom's delay. Did Strom go after that sweet, red-haired human woman once Grayson's back was turned? Grayson swore under his breath, giving himself a vicious mental kick for not escorting the woman safely home. But—this challenge, this fight was a long time coming. There was too much at stake.
“You're still here?” Strom chuckled, strolling towards Grayson. “I thought you'd have given up and left by now. You really have nothing better to do, Grayson.”
“That is true,” Grayson answered flatly. “I can think of nothing better to do at the moment. You have my full attention this evening, Strom. We will finish this tonight.”
Strom snarled. “One last chance, Grayson. You can still take your pack and leave. But—I can't promise I will forget what was said and done. You have caused deep offense, Grayson. You have crossed the Red Razor pack, and for that, I will destroy you and your wolves,” Strom growled. “Every. Last. One.”
Grayson saw Strom's eyes turn from human to wolf. Strom's claws were already out and his features were contorting. His rage was forcing his maddened beast out. It seemed the rumors were true then. The Alpha of the Red Razor pack was losing control, of his passions, his wolf and his pack.
“Let the humans go,” Grayson said evenly.
Strom made a sound that could have been a laugh, but his voice was barely human. “They're mine,” Strom snarled.
“Let them go.”
Over Strom's shoulder, Grayson saw the four terrified human females. The four women were being guarded by the she-wolves in the pack.
As the Alpha, Strom decreed that he had access to all the females in his pack. But not all the females were his “wives”. Only the four kidnapped human women were bestowed the honor. It was an honor those poor, innocent women would much rather do without. They didn't deserve this and they didn't belong here.
“You're picking a fight with me over these women?” Strom laughed harshly. “I'm sure you can get your own females, Grayson.”
“These humans don't belong here,” Grayson answered. “Return them to their homes, their families.”
“They're my wives,” Strom said with an ugly smile.
One of the human women raised her hand to her mouth and Grayson glimpsed a gold band on her ring finger. The woman's eyes glinted with anguished tears, and she lunged forward and screamed, “I'm not your wife, you sick fuck! I have a husband, and two beautiful babies!” A she-wolf grabbed the woman and shoved her to the ground. Claws pushed against the woman's neck and the woman cried out in pain and anger as she struggled helplessly.
Grayson growled and sliced his palm with a claw. He flung his blood on the ground as an open challenge.
Strom's nostrils flared, and his eyes flashed with blood lust. “I will spill more of your blood, Grayson. And I will spill the blood of all your wolves!”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“No!” Hayley yelled and frantically tried to restart the engine. She turned the ignition key again and again but her car showed no signs of life. As she peered through the windscreen at the long, shadowy road in front of her, the light from her headlights continued to fade. Hayley closed her eyes. So did her car.
With a strangled sound, she looked around wildly. Could she just stay in the car until...someone came along?
But she knew that no one would be coming along this quiet road which led to a dead end. And morning was still many,
many hours away.
Whatever lay under the hood of her car made no sense to her. If she popped the hood and attempted to fiddle with the engine, chances were that she would end up making things even worse. For herself and her car.
There was only one thing to do. Get out and walk.
Hayley grabbed her bag and eased the car door open. She slipped out and closed the door, making as little sound as possible.
Without a backward glance, she began to hurry down the street. A low growl stopped Hayley dead in her tracks. She froze, not daring to move a muscle. Her eyes darted from side to side, and she had to stifle a scream when she saw a pair of glowing eyes moving between the trees. Another pair of eyes appeared. Then another.
The eyes were coming closer, past the first line of trees. Hayley staggered back, and stared down the long, lonely stretch of road in dismay. How far did she have to run? Would there be anyone to hear her screams?
Three sleek, gray wolves emerged from the woods and prowled towards her. Hayley opened her mouth but no sound came out. She kept her eyes on the wolves as the creatures circled her slowly. The wolves seemed to be scenting her, scrutinizing her.
A memory flashed in her mind. She had seen these three wolves before. She had seen them coming out of Grayson's house with their heads lowered and their tails between their legs. These were the three she-wolves she'd heard screaming and howling from Grayson's bedroom that night. She had seen them in their human and wolf forms. She was certain that these were the three female wolves she had seen and heard that night.
Inexplicably, she felt a surge of anger and jealousy. She knew she had no right to feel this way at all, but she just felt so damn jealous! Grayson had touched these three females, taken them and pleasured them so thoroughly. He had every right to fuck every female in town. He was single and available, and he was just her next door neighbor. He wasn't hers! But...but…
Alpha Next Door (Wolves Hollow Book 1) Page 3
