N. Walters - Alexandra's Legacy

She thought about Joshua’s handgun and the two bullets left in it, but felt the knife was the better choice. A gunshot would be heard for miles. She’d use it if necessary, but for now the knife would have to do.

Hunkering down behind the trees, she listened. The woods had gone silent. The birds had stopped singing, the insects were silent, even the wind seemed to pause.

Her fingers squeezed the hilt of the knife. Who was after them this time? Bounty hunter? More werewolves? It didn’t really matter she supposed. An enemy was an enemy.

Joshua tipped his head to one side, as if he were listening intently to something only he could hear. Suddenly, she wished she could change too. If she could transform herself into a wolf then they would be able to speed through the countryside to their destination. She would be a help to him, not a hindrance. If he were by himself, he’d already be back within the safety of the pack.

Her ears perked up as she thought she heard a sound off to the left. It was faint. The sound of something brushing against the leaves that littered the ground. Her hands were moist and she shifted the knife, wiping her hand on her jeans before gripping the hilt again and moving it into position.

The longer she stayed in a crouched position, the more her legs began to cramp and her feet throbbed. But she stayed in the uncomfortable stance. There was no way she was moving until Joshua gave her the okay. His senses were much keener than hers and she knew he was hearing or smelling things she wasn’t able to.

A man stepped out into a small clearing a few feet away from them. He was tall and well built with a wide chest and long, muscular legs. “Striker.” His voice was low, but it carried well. “We’ve taken care of a couple of bounty hunters and a rogue wolf that were on your trail. It’s safe to come out.” He reached behind him and dragged the carcass of a brown wolf into the clearing. Alex recognized it as the one that had escaped from yesterday’s fight.

Joshua didn’t move, but turned his head to study the man. Alex wondered who he was. He obviously knew Joshua. Still, they waited.

“Come on man. We’re your escort back to the compound.” The man turned his head, his long blond hair ruffling in the slight breeze. “I know you’re close. I can smell her.” He turned his face from side to side, his nose in the air as if trying to find her.

Alex buried her face against her knees, huddled closer to the tree and tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. He could smell her? How humiliating was that? She felt something brush against her face and jerked her head up. Joshua rubbed his face against hers as if offering silent comfort.

She reached out, clutching her fingers in his soft fur, needing the reassuring contact. She didn’t think she was ready to meet anyone from his pack yet. But time had obviously run out.

Joshua changed back into human form. The transformation was quick. The strange thing was it was beginning to seem almost natural. And how weird was that? He bent close to her, his hair brushing against her cheek as he whispered in her ear. “You stay here. I’m going to go and talk to Luther.”

She nodded, but didn’t speak. Joshua faded into the bushes, circled around and stepped out behind the other man. “I wasn’t expecting you, Luther.”

The blond man spun around. He was slightly shorter than Joshua, but not by much. In terms of build, they were evenly matched. Still, there was something more dangerous about Joshua. Menace seemed to just emanate from him.

Luther took a step back and then seemed to check himself. “Thought you might need some help.” He jerked his head toward the dead wolf.

“How did you know where to find me?” Joshua was totally naked and should have seemed vulnerable next to the other man, but nothing could be further from the truth. He appeared even larger, more imposing and totally unconcerned about his nudity.

Luther shrugged. “Me and my brothers have been out scouting the perimeter of the pack land for the past two days. We figured you’d be along soon. And you found her, didn’t you.”

It wasn’t a question because he’d already said he could smell her. His eyes gleamed with lust. Alex shivered when the blond stranger licked his lips. Suddenly, she felt like the girl in the fairytale her father used to read her when she was a little girl. What was it? Oh, yeah, Little Red Riding Hood. This particular wolf looked like he wanted to eat her for lunch.

“She is safe.” Joshua kept his arms by his sides, his stance loose. She could tell he was ready to move or fight at any second.

Luther scanned the trees, searching. “Where is she? I want to see her.”

Revulsion filled Alex. She didn’t want to be anywhere near this guy.

“You will see her when the time is right. I’ll bring her back to the compound. You and your brothers can go on ahead.”

“I don’t think so, Striker.” Luther motioned off to his left and two wolves slunk out from beneath the brush. “We’ll take her from here.”

“You think you can take her from me?” Joshua asked, his tone almost mild.

“You Strikers think that you are so special,” the other man all but spat. His handsome features were contorted with rage. “Why should you have her? The Carlos family is just as deserving and furthermore, we don’t mind sharing. Do we boys?” The two wolves seemed to smile.

Oh shit. She was in trouble. The hilt of the knife dug into her palm she was gripping it so hard, but she took comfort from the pain. There was no way she’d allow herself to become some pass-around treat for Luther and his brothers. She tried to swallow, but her throat was impossibly dry. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but she didn’t dare move to swipe at it. The last thing she wanted to do was draw any attention her way.

Joshua bared his teeth as a menacing growl came from deep in his chest. “You are refusing a direct order?”

The other man smiled with smug satisfaction. “Things have changed since you’ve been away.”

Joshua stilled. Energy seemed to coalesce around him, making him appear even larger. “I always thought your family was short on brains, Luther. But now I’m certain of it.”

The blond man laughed as the two wolves slunk closer. “With all the Striker brothers gone looking for the little she-bitch, there was a change in the leadership of the pack.” He shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest.

She was almost afraid to blink, afraid she’d miss something as the tense scene played out in front of her. Her position from behind the trees allowed her to watch even as she was hidden from view. Joshua’s eyes narrowed, becoming even darker.

“I wouldn’t want to be the one to have to tell James LeVeau that you killed his brother.” Joshua’s tone was mild, but the other man jerked backward as if he’d been struck.

“He’s still alive?”

“Did you expect it to be otherwise?” Joshua shifted the tiniest amount, but the others didn’t seem to notice.

“Those damn hunters guaranteed they’d get rid of him.”

“It was you who fed information to the bounty hunters. You betrayed our people to those monsters who have preyed on our women and children.” His entire body seemed to vibrate with barely suppressed anger.

Luther shrugged. “Whatever it takes to get the woman. With James LeVeau’s daughter by my side, no one will gainsay my right to lead the Wolf Creek pack.”

“You think not?” Joshua shook his head as if addressing a wayward child. “The Striker family would definitely object.”

“Not if there are none left to do so.” Luther puffed out his chest, full of bravado now. Alex couldn’t believe he didn’t seem to realize the danger he was in. Joshua was only one man, but at this moment she’d put all her money on him.