Page 5 of Sanctuary

Grabbing the baseball bat she kept beside the door, she slammed out of the trailer and past the enclosures with one purpose in mind—killing Lance Cutter. Or at least smacking him a few times with her bat.

The wolves howled as she passed them, but she tuned them out. The tension and rage the new arrival brought radiated through them. But she had to deal with Lance before reassuring her wolves. By the time she reached the truck, Lance and one of his men, Jase, were already out and heading her way.

Without pause at the sight of the shotgun in Jase’s hands, she raised the bat, pointing it at Lance. “You son of a bitch.” Gemma then positioned the bat for a good hard swing. “I just got off the phone with Rudy.”

Lance Cutter was a handsome man, older than Gemma by a few years. He was a country boy turned millionaire by cheating, stealing, and bullying his way to the top.

“Put the bat down, Gemma,” Lance ordered, his eyes narrowing.

“And if I don’t, you going to have Jase shoot me?” She stopped directly in front of him. “Call Rudy.”

“What makes you think I had anything to do with your problems with Rudy?” Lance cocked his eyebrow. “From what I hear, you are behind on your payments with him.”

Gemma made a low noise as her fingers tightened on the bat. “You heard wrong.” Gemma rolled her shoulders as if readying herself to swing. “Call him.”

All ease and false politeness faded from Lance as he took a step and leaned into her face. “I want the wolf that’s killing my stock, Gemma. I’m going to find it, and if you don’t point me in the right direction, Jase is going to start unloading that shotgun.”

She knew this was not a bluff. Lance would do what he threatened, or at least order someone else to do it, and he would get away with it because he had the sheriff in his pocket. No one cared for her wolves, no one except her and Larry.

Lance grabbed the bat forcefully from her hand, then brushed her aside as he continued toward the enclosures with Jase beside him. Gemma ran in front of them, but they continued to push past her until Jase gave her a hard shove, making her fall.

The wolf she had just hours earlier faced down with was now growling and biting at the enclosure with an aggression that was truly frightening.

“I’d say that one is the first to go.” Lance slowed as Jase took a few more steps closer and raised the shotgun.

Gemma scrambled to her feet as the wolf stilled and literally stared down the barrel of the gun in an eerily calm poise.

“No!” Gemma ran to the enclosure, putting herself between the gun and wolf. Her eyes went to Lance. “Please, Lance. You can’t do this.”

“Get out of the way, Gemma,” Lance ordered as he nodded toward Jase who had lowered the gun slightly.

“You’ll have to shoot me because I’m not moving.” Gemma’s voice was surprisingly calm. Her insides quaked with fear, but her voice remained steady. She even tilted her head slightly in a show of defiance. She could hear the wolf’s low rumbled growl behind her, but she ignored it, hoping it remained calm enough not to attack.

“Do it.” Lance gave the order, his tone indifferent. “She’ll move.”

“Boss?” Jase didn’t look too sure about pointing a gun at a defenseless woman.

“You may get away with a lot of things, Lance Cutter, but even having Sheriff Brennan in your pocket isn’t going to help you if you shoot me or one of my wolves.”

“Is that a threat?” Lance’s eyes narrowed. When Gemma didn’t answer, but just glared at him, he grabbed the gun out of Jase’s hand. “Get out of the way, Gemma. I’m not going to tell you again.”

“No.” Gemma even crossed her arms indicating she was not going anywhere. As Lance lifted the shotgun, Gemma briefly wondered if he had the balls to do it. She knew he was crazy enough. Lance Cutter had never hesitated to get what he wanted.

******

Eric watched in horror, edged with a rage he had never felt before, as he made his way toward Gemma and the men. Gemma being pushed down had set his blood boiling, but seeing the man holding the shotgun pointing directly at her pushed him over the edge.

Without hesitation, he ran straight toward the man, grabbed the gun with one hand while punching him with his other. The satisfaction of smashing his fist into the bastard’s face wasn’t quite enough, so he took his boot and held him in place by the throat as he tossed the gun to Larry who stumbled up behind him.

“Who in the fuck do you think you are pointing a loaded shotgun at a woman?” Eric growled as he reached down to pick the man up by the shirt. Eric punched the guy again but didn’t see the second man take a swing until it was too late. The hit was hard, knocking him back a few steps, but in no way did it stop the rage that rolled through Eric’s body.

Shaking off the strike, he back elbowed the asshole who’d hit him before thrusting a kick to the bastard who had held the gun. Eric’s booted foot hit the man in the stomach, sending him back and down on his ass.

Eric had been in many fights, mostly with his brothers, so two on one was nothing to him. He stalked toward the man who was trying to pick himself up off the ground while the other man was still bent over, trying to stop the blood pouring from his broken nose. His self-control was slipping because all he wanted to do was rip the son of a bitch to shreds, but the sound of a shotgun going off stopped him.

He turned to see Gemma had taken the gun from Larry. She held the shotgun pointed toward the sky, but then lowered it toward the man on the ground. Realizing she was safe, he also realized something else. She looked sexy as hell standing there all badass, aiming the shotgun at the bastard. Yeah, complete fucking turn-on and a perfect mate for an alpha. Eric was surprised by his sudden thoughts and even shook his head as if that would clear them out.

“Get off my property, Lance,” Gemma sneered, her eyes blazing with fury. “And if you ever come back, I will shoot you for trespassing.”

---