Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,77

this was anything but play.

Ian rushed her, snapping his teeth loudly to make her back up. Karen backed away, but the moment Ian turned, she followed again. The next time he charged her, he got even closer, but she refused to submit. The woman wouldn't even drop her eyes. Clearly, he'd given her a few warnings already, so Ian called her bluff.

He lunged, his teeth closing on her shoulder and she yipped. Down the path, a wolf barked, announcing the fight to the rest, but I was debating how to get down there. Trent huffed, making it known he was just as frustrated, but Ian bit in her direction again. Each time Karen refused to back away, his teeth snapped. The growl was constant, and intense enough to be a real threat.

Then Karen decided to just go around him. Ian had given her chance after chance, and this woman simply refused to learn. That left our alpha with no other option. I had a funny feeling he was counting on people watching so he'd have witnesses, because when he jumped on her, there was no doubt at all as to who would win. Karen was on the ground in seconds, and Ian wasn't pulling his bites.

He caught her leg, her side, and when he could finally get it, went for her neck. Karen barely managed to roll away from that, but Ian kept coming. He'd drawn the line in the sand, she'd crossed it, now her only option was to get out of his sight. I didn't even need words to know that. Ian was stalking her, and when she tried to turn toward him, he lunged again until she finally bolted.

The pale streak of her coat scrambled up the far side of the creek bed, and kept going. Unfortunately, she was heading the last place I trusted her to be in this mood - right towards Elena. I whuffed, making Trent look at me, then bobbed my nose after her. I hoped the whine that came next proved my concern, and when Trent nosed me in that direction, I knew he understood.

So I ran. I didn't worry about Ian. I didn't let Lane and Seth know. I just ran, hoping I could make it back to the parking area before Karen did something we'd all regret. David was there, but the man was kind and gentle. I had a feeling he'd still put himself between a pissed-off wolf and the women, but for how long?

And how far would Karen go?

She was wounded. Not bad, but I'd seen Ian bite her leg. Hopefully, that would be enough to let me catch up or even beat her back. I wasn't sure of her path, but mine was a straight fucking line following the smell of burning sugar and wood smoke. Just as I was sure I was too late, I saw her. Karen had shifted back to human and was maybe a hundred and fifty feet from the edge of the trail area. Still out of sight, but not for too much longer.

I reached her side and immediately shifted, blocking her from going any further. "What are you doing?" I demanded.

"Your fucking alpha bit me," she hissed.

I noticed the way she'd phrased that, but chose to ignore it. "Because you refused to take no for an answer," I told her, leaning into her face. "And if you so much as think about hurting my mate, I will finish the job."

"Fuck off, Pax," she grumbled. "I don't really need your crap tonight either."

"You," I said, pointing a finger in her face, "started this."

"I believe you started it when you gave me your virginity," she countered, dropping her eyes down my naked body. "Cold doesn't do much for making an impression, Beta."

"Then it's a good thing you don't have to worry about the size of my dick anymore, huh?" But she tried to push around me, so I grabbed her shoulders and shoved her back. "I'm not joking, Karen."

So she leaned into my face, ignoring the threats. "You can't do anything to me that you haven't already. I have nothing left to lose, Pax."

"No? You don't think the alpha's respect counts? Or should we talk about your life, because it's hanging on the line. You go after Elena as a lycan again, and you will be put down. Ian's made it clear, and your father knows. Get your shit together, leave our mate alone, or get the fuck out of Wolf's Run."

"This was