“They’re close.” I leaned forward, scanning the dark forest for any sign of life. I cursed my human vision, but scent was the dominant sense for wolves, and I had that.

Marissa rolled down the window and gasped when obvious sounds of a fight in progress pierced the night.

“Stop the van,” I demanded.

“Logan—”

“If you don’t stop, I’ll get out while it’s moving.”

We both lurched forward as she hit the brake hard and glared at me.

“I should’ve never let you talk me into coming with me,” I rumbled as I got out of the van.

“I shouldn’t have let you do this, either.” Even in the dark I felt her glare. “If you get hurt—”

“You’ll lose your job?”

“I’ll never forgive myself.”

“That’s what I’m thinking about you.”

Another howl made Marissa grasp my arm. She was probably regretting her decision to come, but it brought my power to the surface. Cindy’s scent was all over these woods. She’d been here and she’d been wolf.

I might not be able to shift right now, but my wolf was still ready for a fight. Picking up my pace, I followed her delectable scent. It was intensifying.

Another howl, some barks, and a whine didn’t bode well for whoever was in the thick of this fight. It should’ve served as a warning. Marissa tightened her grip.

A flash of fur dashed in front of us. They were moving fast, and I didn’t know all the players. Especially when they were wolf. A bear stalked across the road, stopping to stare at us in warning.

“Bjorn,” Marissa gasped. I couldn’t tell if she was impressed or terrified, and it didn’t matter. I broke into a run, because this was my new pack, and they needed me.

I was still arrogant enough to think I could help.

A brown wolf had its less fortunate opponent pinned in the dirt by his neck. A gray wolf with topaz eyes I would know any-fucking-where fought two wolves. Cindy was fucking magnificent, holding her own against the dual attacks. I ran toward her, and all the wolves stopped when they realized two humans had joined in the fight.

“Logan!”Cindy cried.

A wolf went straight for Marissa, but Bjorn flattened him. A few allies of the defeated wolf had the nerve to snicker at his misfortune.

Another wolf appeared from the darkness. There was blood in her fur, but she wasn’t out by a longshot. With one swift move, she took down one of the wolves that had been attacking Cindy.

He wasn’t dead, but he’d have to have a pretty strong will if he wanted to continue living. Damn. Bibi had bragged that no one had wanted to cross her in a fight, and she had more than proved herself.

The other wolf saw the opportunity in everyone’s shock and lunged at Cindy.

Oh hell no.

I stalked toward him. He had Cindy by the scruff, shaking her body. Bibi moved for him, but I was faster.

“Logan! No!” Marissa’s voice sounded so far away. Like it did right before I shifted. My body was on fire, and my sight was laser-focused. But it was my very human hand that reached for that wolf and tore him off Cindy with superhuman strength.

He skidded in the dirt, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake until he was gone.

“Someone isn’t to be messed with, even if he is human,”Bibi said. “You threw Joe right into the wash. I certainly hope he’s a strong swimmer.”

“You’ll pay for that,”a wolf growled as he stalked toward me.

“No. He sent you a message. Loud and clear.”A burly wolf who had to be Hugo stepped in front of me. “He beat you as a human. And no one’s gonna back you up once they realize you’re a fucking traitor. You just lost your protection in this pack. You better hope Pedro’s got bunks wherever he’s hiding out, because you have no place on Green Mountain anymore.”

“You can’t make that kind of declaration, Hugo. Are you challenging our alpha, too?”

“Like hell I am. I told you to keep Cindy safe because we hadn’t heard the last from Pedro. Instead, you betrayed me. Your pack. You’ll never do it again. Go ahead, run back to Pedro, tail between your legs, and tell him exactly what happened. I have no doubt you’ll make bigger fools out of yourselves next time. In the meantime, I’ll make sure the whole world knows that Logan Mathis won a wolf fight in his human form.”

“He didn’t win shit.”

“Try me,”I growled. “And when you join Joe in the drink, you can compare notes on how I fight.”

“Go.”Cindy stood beside me, her warm body pressing against my hip. “Tell Pedro what you did. How you took on a lone she-wolf and embarrassed yourself. Tell him to stay away from me and cut the shit.”

Tags: Kristen Strassel Paranormal
Source: readsnovelonline.net