AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are you choosing him?” Jarred asked. “Because if you are, then…”
“No!” I said. “You’re both too damn thick-headed and stubborn to see that I’m choosing you! Both of you. The packs of Wild Lake. You don’t have to tell me about the wrongs Anson has done to me. They are legion. If killing him would solve all of that, I’d be first in line with that gun. But until we understand what happened upstairs, to you Jarred, nobody is laying a finger on Anson.”
“You’re not the leader of this pack,” my father said. “It’s not your call.”
“You’re not the leader of that barn,” Pat said. “It still belongs to me. As well as the roof that’s currently over your head. It’s my call. When you’re well enough to leave and go back to your own corner of Wild Lake, you can keep whoever out you’d like in whatever manner you’d like. For now, I’m granting that boy sanctuary. I’m trusting Tempest to keep him in line. Are we clear?”
My father opened his mouth to speak, then promptly clamped it shut.
Pat was right. She was queen of the Bonner lands. The day she died, they would pass to my father. But not before. As long as Pat still drew breath, she had the final say in who could stay in her house. I loved her for it. “Thank you,” I said.
She pointed a crooked finger at me. “See that you keep that boy in line. If he makes a move against any McGraw, I’ll be the one to do the shooting. And my aim is better than your father’s at the moment. I’ll put a Dragonsteel bullet straight through his heart.”
“He made me a vow,” I said. “For whatever else he is, Anson stays true to his word.”
“See that he does,” Pat said. “As for the two of you, back to bed. I’ll whip up some chicken soup and Tempest will bring it up to you.”
I don’t know what would have happened if my father and brother hadn’t still been deathly ill. Even so, they were both fearsome shifters, ready to battle to the death if it was needed. Maybe they would have argued. Maybe they would have refused to heed Pat’s warning.
But two sounds happened at the same time that changed everything. From upstairs, my mother’s cry.
“Jarred!” she yelled. My brother went rigid. My father hauled himself to his feet, his wolf eyes blazing.
The second sound came from outside. The barn. A wolf’s howl, strong and chilling.
I went to the window. Anson’s snow white wolf stood at the entrance to the barn. His eyes blazed like diamonds. He bared his teeth and pawed the ground.
Both my father and Jarred growled back, spoiling for a fight.
“Tempest!” Pat yelled. I knew what alarmed her. If either my father or brother went out to challenge him, there would be death in Wild Lake tonight.
“Go to her!” I said to my father. “Both of you. Take care of my mother.”
“But he’s…” Jarred started.
“Not going to hurt me,” I said. “I’ll handle it. I told you. He made me a promise I intend to make him keep.”
“Jarred!” My mother rallied again. Her voice stabbed through my heart. She was in pain. But it was the first word I’d heard her speak since I came back.
Anson howled once more.
“Go to her,” I said to my father, then to my brother.
I didn’t wait for their argument. I raced out the back door and headed for the barn.
Chapter Eleven
I shifted as I stepped off the porch. Anson’s white wolf stayed stock still, watching me. Only thirty feet separated us. His scent filled me. Strong. Musky. Primal. It called to me.
There were no more collars on either of us. For the first time, we stood before each other in our wolves. He knew me and I knew him.
Anson.
Mine.
No! I bared my teeth, growling out a warning. Anson pawed the ground. He sniffed the air and turned toward the woods. The message he conveyed was clear.
It was time to hunt.
