Her faith and loyalty moved me.
A scuff of noise behind me almost had me turning. Grey stopped me.
Newcomers, he sent. Stay focused on the pair challenging you.
“It is our right and our way to challenge for control,” a familiar angry voice called out. “You have no right here. After Thomas finishes with these two, I challenge for pack leadership and rights to this land and these buildings.”
One of the two wolves facing me chuffed a laugh. Then they both leapt at me. Our snarls and growls filled the air. Most of the noise came from my opponents as I twisted to avoid teeth and claws. I flexibly dodged their attempts and feinted to try to wound either of the pair. While I was successful in drawing blood from one, the other got lucky and raked my head, tearing my ear with the tip of a claw.
I snarled and jumped on the back of the one with the torn muzzle. My legs tangled with his, and he buckled beneath me, exposing his throat. I dove for the opening and clamped down hard and fast. His yelp turned to a wet gurgle.
The second wolf sprang forward as I lifted my head. Charlene gasped at the same time I turned away from the attacker. His teeth tore into my skin, and I pushed backward into the bite. The challenger lost his footing and fell onto his back.
I ended the second challenger just as swiftly as I had the first one. Fur disappeared from their hides as they reverted to human form.
Sides heaving from the effort, I shook the rain from my eyes and looked around the clearing. Members of my pack stayed near the building. Some faces familiar around sanctuary since Charlene’s arrival blended in with them. The ones who’d left angrily remained in a group not far away.
The mutt who’d issued the final challenge stepped forward. Charlene’s attacker. This time he wouldn’t leave to cause more trouble.
“Stop,” Charlene said.
The male turned to her. “Do not interfere.”
I took the momentary distraction to calm my breathing.
Even tired, you will take him, Grey sent me as Charlene continued to speak.
I know. Because I wouldn’t allow anything else. For Charlene. For her safety.
“Two of your kind just died. Allow a few minutes for those who might know them to remove them and grieve. That’s not interference. It’s respect for your own people.”
The mutt snarled but nodded. A few males stepped forward and walked to the fallen pair.
“Thomas,” Charlene said. “Mary is worried about you. While they are grieving, can you speak with her?”
Not a hint of a lie contradicted her words. Yet, the scent of her concern told me it wasn’t just Mary who worried.
I trotted to her and bumped her with my nose to indicate she should go inside. I would have shifted and asked her to go, but my fur was hiding the extent of my injuries. I didn’t want to give the next mongrel any advantage.
Once inside, I reverted to my skin. Charlene didn’t stammer, blush, or look away. Her concerned gaze swept over every scrape and cut, lingering longest on my left eye, neck, and shoulder. The spots that hurt the worst.
She nodded toward the table, wisely keeping silent. I sat and waited as she retrieved a cloth then began cleaning my neck. The sting of the alcohol was unnecessary, but I didn’t tell her to stop. Her gentle touch and sweet scent were soothing.
Mary, who’d watched me walk in, emptied rice onto several plates and refilled the pots with water. As she worked, she kept glancing at me.
I’m fine Mary, I assured her. She nodded as she moved back to the stove.
Charlene gently touched my torn ear. Her sadness wrapped around me. When she started to step back, I wrapped my hands around her waist. I didn’t want her to leave just yet. Bloody and torn, I needed her.
She looked down at me. Tenderness and compassion reflected in her gaze. I sighed and leaned forward, resting my forehead on her chest. Her scent grew richer as she smoothed a hand over my hair. She touched my undamaged ear, bruised shoulder, and the undamaged side of my neck. I almost shivered at the feel of her touching me there.
Someone pounded on the door. “It’s time.”
I lifted my head and stood. She blushed as my hips brushed against her. I couldn’t look away from the innocent need in her gaze. Slowly, I lowered my lips to her. She met me halfway, sending my pulse racing before our mouths even touched. She placed her hands on my chest, and I deepened the kiss. She tasted like summer and sun and heat. I wanted to lose myself in her flavor. Instead, I pulled away and walked toward the door.
Shifting as I moved, I let Grey know I was ready, and he opened the door for me. I stepped out into the rain and moved through the gathered males.
The challenger didn’t wait until I’d cleared the observers. He sprang on me from the center of the circle. Rolling with the impact I carried him over so I was on top, biting through his foreleg on the way. He heaved with his hind legs, pushing me back and winning himself time to stand before he lunged for me again. His teeth pierced my shoulder, and I turned and sunk mine into his neck. He grunted, shook me off as he released me, and moved back.
The door behind me opened, angering him. He snarled and tried to circle me, turning our fight into a game of feint and circle as we both looked for openings. I was in no rush. Although I was sore and injured, it wasn’t anything that would slow me down. He, however, bled freely from his neck and was tiring quickly.
Each time he leaned in, I managed to draw more blood. His scent was slowly souring, and I knew he had already realized he would lose.
When he stumbled, I fell upon him, flipping him over and exposing his neck. I darted forward for the kill.
“Wait,” Charlene said, stepping into the circle as my teeth closed down. I pinned him and waited for Charlene to speak.
“Winifred said your kind is dying. Since I’ve been here, I’ve witnessed three maybe four deaths. You’re killing each other because you have different beliefs regarding the future of your people. But you’re forgetting your common belief, that your kind does have a future. Stop killing. Show tolerance and mercy.”
What does she want me to do? I sent Mary, who now stood beside Gregory.
“Thomas wants to know what you propose,” Mary said aloud.
“Ask him to join your pack,” Charlene said. “Spare his life if he consents. Give him a chance to understand your beliefs while giving yourself a chance to understand his.”
He’ll try to kill her again. When our backs are turned. It’s the same thing I would have done before I met her. Tell her we can’t trust him, and we can’t let him free when he won’t open his eyes to see what’s right in front of him.
“Thomas understands the pup’s beliefs well enough,” Mary said. “They were the same beliefs he held until he met you. This whelp has already met you and still will not open his eyes to see what’s before him.”
“And what’s before him, Thomas?”
“Certain death,” Mary said, answering as I spoke to her. “Whether by me or a future without Mates, his way leads to death.”
“I can’t promise there are more like me out there,” Charlene said. “But I want all of you to think on this: Your women are scattered and in hiding for their protection. It makes it hard for you to find and meet them. If we made this place into a true sanctuary, more women like Ann might come. If they can have their children here, and those children grow up here, the Mates you so desperately want will be more accessible. But only if you protect this place and that idea. Sanctuary for your kind.”
The mutt beneath me shifted from wolf to man. I kept my teeth tightly clamped on his shifting throat.
“I consent to join your pack… for now,” he rasped.
I growled and reluctantly opened myself to him. His link slipped into place, and he immediately began to resist my hold.
“I will not leave your pack because your pack will fall apart on its own,” the man said. “You and I both know you’re already holding eight to you. How many more do you think you can hold? So, I accept. I’m sure there are a few others who would like to join as well.”
I glanced at Charlene, wondering if I should end him anyway. It was within my right. But her pleading gaze had me releasing him.
Stepping on his chest, I stared him in the eye until he turned his head aside in submission. He’d been beaten and cowed. I hoped that was enough for his followers to lose faith in him and his motives.
I turned away and another man stepped into my path, killing that hope.
“I’ll join,” he said, smirking.
Don’t, Thomas, Grey sent me.
He was right. It wouldn’t be smart to accept more. The first man’s link continued to pull at my mind, tugging at the hold I had on the whole pack. Without resistance, I felt certain I could have held another ten without problem. I wasn’t sure how many more I could hold if they all wanted to resist.
“Excuse me,” Charlene said, moving to my side. Grey stayed close to her as well. “There will be plenty of time for joining a pack. Right now, the dinner Mary and I made is going to waste. Please, come inside and eat.”
“Later, then,” the second one said.
I dipped my head in acknowledgment then nudged Charlene toward the door.