Book 1 - Page 50 (1/2)

Even though her wolf coat kept her warm, she s.h.i.+vered. She couldn’t shake the fear that one of the reds might seriously injure Devlyn.

The wolves formed a jagged circle while Devlyn and Alfred faced off in the center. Although Alfred was decidedly smaller, he was wiry and moved quickly, pacing back and forth, highly agitated and aggressive. Devlyn’s larger build had the power of the pounce and the pinning that had always beat her when they played as youngsters and preteens. But this was entirely different. This was a battle to the death.

She a.s.sumed that, if Devlyn had not learned that Alfred was one of the killers, he would have let him live, barely, just to make the point that Bella was his and no other’s. Then Alfred could heal and come back to run the pack, if another hadn’t taken it over. But Alfred and his companions in crime warranted the death sentence, and Devlyn would mete it out if he could.

Devlyn stood stiff legged and tall — a show of dominance. His ears were erect and held forward, his hackles bristling. He held his tail vertical and slightly curled toward his back, alpha posturing at its best and not to be trifled with. His lips curled up, and he bared his incisors. Alfred promptly growled, showing off his canines. If Devlyn dove in and got Alfred just right, his powerful jaws — twice as strong as those of a German Shep- herd’s — could crush the large bones of his prey.

Alfred continued to pace, which was not normal for two wolves fighting for the alpha male role. She wondered if her kissing Devlyn with such affection had unmanned the killer red.

Appearing not to want to attack the red unprovoked, because of his size and the fact that he wasn’t in the red’s territory, Devlyn waited.

Alfred finally whipped around, as if he got the courage to take a nip at the gray, and leapt nearly six feet into the air.

Devlyn sidestepped where Alfred would land. As soon as the red’s paws were planted firmly on the ground, Devlyn attacked.

Devlyn’s teeth sank into the red’s flank. Yelping, Alfred scurried away, his side bleeding, his ears flattened, his tail straight down. The rest of the wolves waited, tongues panting, as if they stood at a sporting exhibition, watching to see which fighter won.

Bella squelched the urge to rush into the fray and bite the red who could have exposed their kind for what they were, to give back a little of what they’d done to the girls they’d murdered.

Devlyn watched Alfred, never taking his eyes off him, calculating his next move, conserving his energy for the next three in line. He was a crafty wolf, and she loved him dearly for his size, strength, and cunning.

Limping slightly to the side of the circle, Alfred paced again, only slower this time, not as steadily or as sure of himself. He never looked at her once, just at the ground, already exhibiting signs of defeat. The way he acted, he appeared to think he’d lost the fight before he’d even begun. He was probably right. The last two wolves might have a chance to take a bite out of Devlyn when he was tired and worn down. But not the first.

Bella hoped with all her heart that Devlyn wouldn’t be hurt, even a scratch, despite the fact that they healed quickly.

Attempting the same maneuver, Alfred whipped around and leapt through the air. Maybe it worked for him when he became the alpha leader for the reds, but with Devlyn, it didn’t.

Devlyn lunged this time and grabbed Alfred’s throat, instantly crus.h.i.+ng his neck. He had to end the game quickly if he were to conserve enough strength to fight the other three.

For a minute, no more, the reds watched him when he released the dead body of their alpha leader. The deed was done. No one had time to reflect on the sudden s.h.i.+ft in power.

Instantly, Ross attacked. His teeth snapped at Devlyn’s neck, but Bella’s gray mate lithely avoided Ross’s wicked canines.

Her heart pounded ferociously.

Grabbing Ross’s ear, Devlyn tore the leather. Ross whined in protest and dodged out of the way.

So much for the bad red wolf who’d killed his victim so brutally.

Sitting on her haunches, every nerve on edge, Bella tried to stretch her muscles to release the tension.

Devlyn faced Ross, but he got a glimpse of her. His tongue hung over his teeth as he panted, but his lips curved up slightly as if in a smile. He’d beaten Alfred, and he’d done it for her. He was one proud big gray wolf.

Bowing her head slightly to him, her eyes gazed into his, showing him how much she loved him and how proud she was of him.

Ross attacked again.

Bella stiffened her back, but Devlyn was prepared. He immediately responded with a bite at the red’s right shoulder. Bleeding profusely, Ross yelped and bolted away.

Bella glanced at Nicol; his eyes were darkened, his body tensed. As soon as Devlyn finished Ross, Nicol wouldn’t wait either, but which one was the sneaky Simon?

Fear niggled at her that he was an emergent leader. The kind that waited until the battle ended before he rushed in to take over. Was it as Ross and Nicol had said? There wasn’t any reason to take over the pack until she came along?