forehead.
“Marissa, take Lana to the safe room. Call Dean and give him a heads-up there may be trouble. Don’t come out until we come get you, okay?”
Eyes wide, she pulled Lana from his arms. The door shut with a hurried bang as she disappeared inside.
Grey leaned down and kissed Morgan on the temple, but it wasn’t enough. Not when terror was filling her like water in the cabin of a sinking ship. Desperate to keep her fear at bay, she stretched up and kissed his lips. A warm calm spread through her body at his touch. Grey dragged her closer and opened her mouth with his. He brushed his tongue against hers, and her legs went numb. Holy hotness, the man could kiss.
Easing back, his lupine eyes searched hers, his brow furrowed with worry. His attention returned to the road. “Posture,” he said gruffly, soothing her into a porch chair. “Don’t show them your fear.”
He sank comfortably into the chair beside her and waited for the car to arrive. He looked every bit like he didn’t have a concern in the world. For Wolf, posturing was instinctive, but it didn’t come so naturally to her. Pretense was something she had to work at.
When the dark gray SUV pulled up in front of the house, Grey rested his hand on her tensed thigh. Stay seated, he seemed to say. The doors creaked as they opened, and two men got out and came to the bottom of the porch steps. She tested the air. Werewolves. Fear snaked down her spine and settled somewhere in her gut. No doubt her eyes were a bright and vibrant purple. If posturing were a test, she would get an F-minus.
The men were a study in opposites. One had olive skin and dark hair, while the shorter one was fair-skinned with blond hair cropped close to his head.
“What can I do for you gentlemen,” Grey asked, apparently completely at ease with the situation.
“My name is Rodrigo Valderez,” the first man said with a Spanish accent to his deep voice. “This is my Second, Brian Mercer. I am alpha to the southern New Mexico pack,” he said formally.
“Greyson. This is my fiancée, Morgan.” Grey didn’t pay much mind to formality. He was more of a get-to-the-point kind of man.
“Is she the silver wolf?” Rodrigo asked directly.
Seconds ticked by as Grey stared through eyes as cold as ice. Slowly, he nodded. What would be the point in him trying to lie about what she was? Her damning purple eyes only existed in a silver wolf.
The alpha didn’t look surprised. “I have come to issue a formal challenge. I wish to challenge you for her.”
A challenge? She looked between Grey and Rodrigo. They were serious! They would fight and the winner got what?
Grey stilled, the tension in his hand the only thing hinting he wasn’t as calm as he seemed. Standing to his full height, he looked down his nose at this man who came onto his territory to try to claim his mate. Grey smelled more wolf than human. More fragrant fur than skin. Never had she smelled wolf so thickly while a man was still in his own skin. He was trying to hold him in. Wolf would get his fill of violence soon enough.
“Accepted, but since you have your witness, we will wait until my witness arrives.”
Rodrigo nodded as Grey pulled out his phone. Her heightened hearing pricked with each soft ring of Grey’s cell and on the third ring, Dean picked up.
“Dean, where are you at? I need a witness.”
“Shit,” Dean bit out across the cell. “Marissa just called and we’re already on the road. We’re a few minutes out. Don’t start until we’re there.”
Grey hung up and tossed the phone onto the table.
“What does that mean?” Morgan gritted out. “A formal challenge, what does that mean?” The rising fury pounded away in her ears.
He said it calmly, with only a hint of disgust. “It means winner gets you.”
Morgan set her blazing glare on the stranger. “Why do you want me? You don’t even know me!”
“I don’t have to know you. You are Silver Wolf.” Rodrigo said it so matter of fact, as if the title was the only important thing about her. “You will bring honor to any wolf you choose.”
“I choose Grey!” she cried.
Okay, she was a little hysterical. She should definitely rein it in, but it obviously wouldn’t deter this jack-wagon. He only cared about what she was.
Rodrigo made a show of sniffing