by Terry Spear
Crassus yelped before Darien planted his teeth into his neck. It was the last sound the bastard would ever make as Darien’s canines snapped the wolf’s neck in half, then released him.
“Where are you, Lelandi, Silva?” Nurse Grey cried out from downstairs as lamps and tables crashed downstairs.
“Upstairs, end of hail, Darien’s room. Hurry.” Lelandi shouted.
Darien eyed the lone red wolf standing next to Peter, but he tucked tail and lay down on his stomach.
Nurse Grey and Matthew bolted upstairs with a medical kit. “Oh my, what’s happened?”
“Can you take care of her?” Lelandi asked, holding Carol’s hand.
“Yes, let me get in there and I’ll see what I can do.”
“I’ll... I’ll be right back.” Lelandi dashed out of the room and down the hall.
“Leiandi” Sllva shouted. “No, wait!
Darien chased Lelandi down the stairs, and she was sure if he could, he would force her back into the bedroom to keep her out of harm’s way. But her brother was in the thick of it, and she couldn’t let anyone in Darien’s pack kill him, mistaking him for the enemy.
“No!” she yelled, trying to get beyond the grays to get closer to her brother, but one of the grays snapped at her, keeping her away from the reds battling each other. Her brother was fighting Bruin, and the grays were letting him? Then she saw another familiar red, her uncle, tearing into Bruin’s youngest brother, Cindon—as mean-hearted as Crassus and Bruin. It was rumored their father was a real psycho and bullied them until they became just like him.
Her uncle turned his head in her direction briefly. He shielded bared teeth instantly, his look shifting from her to Darien standing next to her, his stance protective. Her heart lifted to see both her uncle and brother back together again. But then she cringed when Bruin knocked Leidolf on his hip.
Leidolf quickly recovered and dodged the heavier wolf’s lunge. Bruin weighed at least forty pounds more than her brother, was shorter and stockier and thicker necked. But Leidoif had a regal way of moving, swiftly, silently, dangerously. He’d taken down a stag without a sound, killed a bear that had attacked her mother when they were living in the mountains, and now he seemed even more serious, determined, deadly.
Darien watched, as if he was ruler of all the land, and the tournament was for his and his courtiers’ sport. Everyone’s tongues panted from exertion and blood tinged a fair amount of the wolves’ pelts. A couple sat down. The rest stiffly observed, wary of the fight, promising to take on the pack leader and his brother if the reds who fought them lost the game. Old Mr. Hastings, who had shouted that her brother and uncle had arrived, was the only one in human form.
Darien glanced up at Lelandi and licked her hand. She crouched down next to him, wrapped her arm around his neck, and gave him a hug. “Thanks for avenging my sister’s tormenter.” She spoke loud enough for Bruin to hear.
He jerked his head in her direction, and Leidolf slammed into him, knocking the pack leader off his pads. He crashed into a table and broke one of the legs. Leidolf growled low at Bruin, then savagely attacked his throat. Bruin bit back, but Leidolf held on for dear life, growling. After several seconds that felt like hours. Bruin sank to the floor, dead.
Uncle Hrothgar seemed to smile, then he tackled Bruin’s last living brother, biting him in the face when Cindon turned his head to protect his throat. None could be left standing if they were to oust the red pack from their lands.
Two more of the grays sat down, the fight nearly ended.
Silva came down the stairs and gave Lelandi a somber nod. But Lelandi didn’t know how to take the message. She wanted to check on Carol, but she had to see her uncle win against Brain’s brother.
Leidolf watched their uncle for a minute, then turned his attention on her. He was heaving with weariness, but anger still filled his soul. His gaze shifted to Darien. He knew. He understood she was his now, and she sensed he didn’t like it. He didn’t have to like it. He’d left them to fend for their own, and she’d found her soul mate.
Uncle Hrothgar pounced again at Cindon, this time snapping his neck in two like Darien had done to his brother. Crassus. For several minutes, no one did anything, the grays watching what the red wolves did next, and the reds eyeing Darien.
“My brother, Leidolf.” Lelandi stood and motioned to the red wolf standing next to Bruin‘s dead body. “And Uncle Hrothgar.” She motioned to the other.
Darien panted, then licked Lelandi’s hand and ran up the stairs. Still, no one moved, waiting for Darien’s word.
A few minutes later, he returned dressed in his jeans, while he yanked a shirt on, a trail of blood running down his chest. “Leidolf,” he addressed Lelandi’s brother first. Then he bowed his head slightly at Uncle Hrothgar. “Welcome to my pack.”
The two considered Lelandi, then loped out through the front door.
Darien gave her a weary smile and kissed her cheek. “Change, and get this place cleaned up,” he said to his pack. He looked around and frowned. “Where the hell is Trevor?”
Uncle Sheridan jerked on his clothes and gave a disgruntled growl. ‘I’ll check into it and let you know.” He took off for his truck.
Darien still couldn’t believe Lelandi’s brother and uncle had arrived so unexpectedly, but he suspected Ural must have sent word to them.
Tall for a red, a man walked back into the house, his chestnut hair tinged red, his eyes as jade as Lelandi’s, narrowed, wary. Darien suspected his height had to do with his royal heritage and the fact he was directly related to the first lupus garou—a gray. His body erect, wiry, ready for confrontation, a proud and sturdy jaw, angry lips and brows deeply furrowed defined him. Again he looked at Lelandi like she belonged to him, and he wanted her back. Lelandi’s uncle walked in afterward, somewhat older, same height, more cautious, a lot less cocky.
“She’s mine,” Darien growled, unable to welcome the intruder like he’d intended, unable to curb his feral possessiveness when ft came to his mate.
Leidolf cocked his head slightly, his lips curving upward a hint.
Lelandi stood stock still, not saying a word, but her eyes were wide and expressive. She appeared worried that Darien and Leidolf would fight.
Darien took the aggressive red males cue though, and bowed his head as Tom and Jake flanked him. “She is mine,” he reiterated, not about to make any flowery speeches.
Leidolf kissed Lelandi on the cheek, and she appeared to be holding her breath, pale and unsure of herself.
“So it seems.” Leidolf said, his voice a deep, threatening timbre. “I had planned to bring Lelandi home to my pack.”
Lelandi let out her breath. “To Wlldhaven? You’ll lead them now?”
“No, In Oregon. Mother and Father have joined me there. Uncle Hrothgar will take on the pack in Wildhaven. Will you come with me?” He lightly took hold of her arm as if to persuade her to follow his lead.
“No, Leidolf.” Her cheeks reddened and she jerked her arm out of his grasp. “You left us two years ago! We could have used your help! You think you can waltz in here and dictate to me because now you’re a pack leader? That would be the day.”
“Then, that’s settled. Several prime-aged reds joined the pack and were looking for a mate and were very much interested when I said my sister was available,” but Leidolf gave a shrug and cast Darien a seething look.
So, had Leidolf already promised his sister to a pack member? When a pack had a severe shortage of females as many do, bringing in eligible mates could improve a new leaders standing, not to mention it tied more of the clan’s loyalty with the bond created. Darien folded his arms, trying to appear relaxed, but if Leidolf grabbed Lelandi’s arm again...
“I’m not available. I’m mated. And this is where I’m staying.”
Loving seeing Lelandi’s ire unloaded on her brother after what he’d pulled. Darien agreed.
Leidolf shook his head. “I don’t approve.”
Darien ground his tee
th. If Leidolf had any intention of taking Lelandi with him, Darien would shapeshift and change the red’s mind.
“But what’s been done, can’t be undone under our laws. If your mate should ever expire and you want a home with us, you’ll be welcome, Lelandi.” Leidolf turned to Darien. “If you’ll permit me, I’ll take Ural off your hands. He’ll return with me to my pack.”
“Gladly,” Darien said.
She kissed her brother on the cheek. “Be safe, my brother. I’d like to visit you and your pack soon.” She squeezed his hand, released him, then wrapped her arm around Darien’s waist. “With my mate.”
The phone rang and Lelandi gave a little start. Tom grabbed the phone half-buried under the sofa. “Yes, Uncle Sheridan? I’ll tell Darien you haven’t located Trevor yet. Darien wants Ural released into the red’s care and they’re leaving. Leidolf will meet you at the Jail.”
“Would you stay and share a meal with us at least, brother?” Lelandi asked.
“Some other time,” he said, his eyes still challenging Darien.
Darien pulled Lelandi out of the reds path, glad her brother was leaving. Jake finally moved aside, his posture stiff, his gaze intent on Leidolf.
Leidolf smirked at Darien. “You’re lucky you had brothers. Sisters can be so much trouble.”
Darien could imagine.
Turning to Darien, Tom asked, “Should I go with Leidolf?”
“No need,” Leidolf dismissed him with a wave of his hand, then stalked toward the front door.
Darien was glad Lelandi didn’t have any airs.
Leidolf yanked open the door and turned to Darien. “Take care of her, better than you did our sister Larissa.” His conveyed the deadly threat with a look of contempt.
Darien wouldn’t be tested, but Lelandi jerked free from him and slugged Leidolf in the shoulder. “You’re a real bastard. We had to fend for ourselves. You should have protected Larissa from Crassus’s brutality. You! And you should have forced Mother and Father to move before the demon took Larissa as his mate.”
Leidolf’s darkened eyes softened. “If I had, Larissa would have been alive, granted. But you would have been mated to one of my reds, and not to the one you’ve given your heart to.” He bowed his head and stalked out the door.
The phone rang In Tom’s hand, and he lifted It to his ear. ‘Uncle Sheridan? Sure.”
He handed the phone to Darien. “He’s steaming.
“That son of a bitch knocked Trevor out and already freed Ural from the jail. Trevor’s tied up like a calf, fuming, ready to kill a couple of reds. But he’s all right. What do you want me to do?” Uncle Sheridan asked.
“Release him.”
“Leidolf?”
“Trevor.”
Leidolf and her uncle got into the Humvee and Ural waved out the window. “See ya later, Lelandi. Don’t be a stranger,” Ural shouted.
Darien pulled Lelandi into his embrace and hugged her hard. “Whenever you want to see your family, I’ll take you.”
“You’re my family now. But I’d like to see my parents. Oh... oh, Carol.”
Darien motioned to Jake. “See how she is.”
Darien moved Lelandi back into the living room where the furniture had been righted and the table with the broken leg removed. Bruin’s body and his brothers’ and the rest of his men’s had been taken from the house. “Where’s the red who gave up the fight?” Darien asked Peter.
“He took off when Bruin died.”
Jake ran down the stairs. “I’m taking Carol to the hospital. Anybody else need patching up, come along with me. Nurse Grey and Matthew will take care of the injuries.”
“Is she... she…” Lelandi swallowed hard.
Jake scratched his stubbly chin. “You know how a little lupus garou genetics help with the healing process.”
“She’s... she’s turned?” Lelandi asked.
Darien took a deep breath. “That solves one problem.”
“Like hell it does.” Jake said, scowling. “She’s already bitching about wanting to be a nurse at the hospital... again.”
And there would be more trouble inherent with a newly turned lupus garou in the pack—particularly a female. Which of the wolves had so savagely bitten her? A red, because she was easy prey, or a gray to get rid of the threat to their kind. “Who bit her?”
Jake snorted. “One of the reds. Seems red females are going to be overrunning the pack.”
“Hmpfh. Guess you’ll have to get used to it.” Looking up at Darien, Lelandi tightened her grasp on his hand. “Now can she be on the hospital staff?”
Chapter 23
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, LELANDI TOOK A DEEP BREATH AS she and Silva headed for Carol’s hospital room, hoping Carol would be awake this time.
“Nobody’s turned a human in the last one-hundred and thirty years in Silver Town.” Silva said, her voice hushed. “I can’t even imagine what she might be feeling.”
“Angry maybe. Frustrated. Probably scared. I still can’t believe the bite turned her instead of killing her since she lost so much blood.”
“Carol’s a fighter.” Silva sounded proud of her.
“Good thing, too.” Lelandi was grateful Carol had survived but worried about how she would accept all the changes.
Guarding Carol’s hospital room, Trevor looked pissed. Silva straightened and put on her hopeful-smiley look, and Lelandi wanted to slap her. Trevor didn’t look at Silva once, but glowered at Lelandi.
“No visitors,” Trevor snapped.
“Try and stop us,” Lelandi said.
Silva turned her head to conceal a smile.
Immediately, Trevor rose to his six-foot height. “The sheriff said no visitors unless Darien approves.”
“Considering the circumstances, he means no human visitors.” Silva contradicted him.
“Or, maybe he’s concerned for her safety, but we’re not a threat.” Lelandi said.
Trevor stood firm, his hand resting on the pistol at his hip.
Not wanting to delay seeing Carol and tired of this macho bull, Lelandi stiffened. “Move, deputy, or I’ll call Darien. You don’t want to explain to him why you won’t let his mate see the patient.”
His eyes flashed murder, but he shoved his hand at Silva, stopping her from entering. “You’re not authorized.”
“She’s my bodyguard today, Trevor. Don’t make this hard on yourself.”
He didn’t budge.
Palm up, Lelandi extended her hand to Silva. “Phone?”
Silva dug around in her suitcase-sized leather bag. Trevor still wouldn’t move, but as soon as Silva found her phone. Trevor growled. “I’ll report this to the sheriff.”
“Do,” Leiandi said with a lift of her chin, jerk.
Grudgingly, he half-moved out of the doorway so that Lelandi had to brush past him to get into the room. She thought about shoving him out of the way, but rather enjoyed pushing his buttons in a more feminine way. Silva shut the door after them.
Carol watched them from the bed. Sitting up, her face was glum and she turned away. Her neck was bandaged and a light stain of red colored the cloth. Her skin was pale, her blonde curls tangled around her shoulders as if she’d had a bad night’s sleep.
Her skin was icy; Lelandi hated being in unfamiliar settings. Dealing with a newly turned lupus garou made her particularly uncomfortable, no matter how hard she tried to shake loose of the feeling. But she couldn’t leave the poor woman in isolation either. She wished Silva would help her out, like she usually did in a tense situation, but Silva seemed as unsure as Lelandi as to what to do.
“Carol, we came by to... sit with you for a while,” Lelandi said.
“He won’t let my parents see me,” Carol said softly, blinking away tears.
“Darien?” Lelandi pulled a chair close to the bed.
“Who else?”
“He... he’s afraid you’ll tell your parents what happened.”
Carol gave a derisive laugh. “My parents would have me cert
ified. Just as crazy as my sister. That would really go over well.”
“Would you like to see your parents?”
Carol’s dull blue eyes sparkled.
Silva wrung her hands.
“One of us will have to stay with you while they visit,” Lelandi warned.
Carol quickly nodded.
Silva let out her breath. “Are you sure Darien will approve?”
“Only one way to find out.” Lelandi called his cell phone, but there was no answer. Carol’s jaw tightened. Lelandi smiled. “Always another way to get around the big boss.” She punched in another number and was instantly rewarded.
“This is Tom.”
“Lelandi here, visiting Carol at the hospital. She’s pretty down. Can you authorize her parents’ visit if I stay in the room while they’re here?”
“Silva can stay, too,” Carol hurriedly said.
Silva smiled and pulled up another chair.
“I’ll check with Darien and get back with you.” Tom sounded so concerned, she wondered what was up.
“Where is he? I tried calling, but there wasn’t any answer.”
“The silver mine. An accident occurred with one of the tourist cars on the train.”
“Is anyone hurt?”
“I probably shouldn’t be telling you this. Lelandi, not until Darien approves. But, Angelina and Hosstene were on the car that Darien said was rigged to break free. The car tumbled down several hundred feet, striking a number of trees before it impacted with a boulder.
Lelandi stared at Silva in disbelief. “Were… were they injured badly?”
“Hosstene was decapitated. Angelina is on her way to the hospital now.”
“Why would they have been riding on the train? Only the tourists take that trip, right?”
“Meeting someone? We don’t know.”
“Murder.”
“Seems that way. Darien suspects Angelina, Hosstene, and Ritka were three of the ones blackmailing your sister. He believes whoever rigged the accident is the fourth and wants to eliminate his partners in the crime.”
