Page 60 of Howl For Me
“What if Gavin doesn’t come?” Damara breathed. Her wolf paced in her chest and paused as if waiting for the answer.
“He will. There is no way that other alpha is stronger than Gavin,” Spencer muttered. He leaned back against a tree and returned her stare. “Even if—and I know this is a long shot—Gavin fell, the enforcers won’t let anyone come after you. That is the point of them keeping watch, to ensure the battle was fair.”
Damara nodded. She still didn’t like the thought that she was to be hidden away. Gavin was an alpha who demanded the best from his enforcers. They were all highly trained in their wolf form along with their human forms.
Memories of going to watch him and his men train fluttered to the forefront of her mind. She stood from her perch on a tree stump and paced.
“I don’t like the waiting. My wolf wants to go to him. They are fighting over me—”
“And that is why I was instructed to take you away. Should Dreven beat Gavin, there is no way in hell I would let him get his hands on you.” Spencer crossed his arms over his chest.
She softened at his words. Spence, the protector. She blew out a deep breath and paced again. It was all she could do to keep her animal from coming forward. She lost track of time and paused, growing frustrated.
“How long—”
“Shh—” Spencer put a finger to his lips and pushed off the tree, his eyes narrowing on something off in the brush.
She froze and tried to pick up whatever he had heard. Her shifter ears strained, but nothing.
Quietness.
Then she realized. The forest had become way too damn quiet. Just seconds before, the sounds of the forest surrounded them. Birds chirping. Insects buzzing. The animals wouldn’t be scared of Damara and Spencer in their human forms.
But now, it was like the creatures were hiding from a predator.
Spencer motioned for her to come to his side. Her feet carried her over to him without a second thought. He reached out and pushed her behind him, putting his body directly in the path of whatever was approaching them. She braced her hands on his back, the muscles under her fingertips growing tense.
Time stood still while they waited for whatever was out there to present itself. Spencer was just as tall and broad as Gavin. Damara peeked from behind him.
It was close to morning, and the dark sky was lightening, aiding her shifter vision in seeing in the dark forest. Her breath caught in her throat as she picked up on the sense that something was truly out there, stalking toward them.
Spencer relaxed and released his breath. “Really, man? You couldn’t announce yourself when you approached?”
Damara recognized the massive black wolf that emerged from the brush.
Gavin.
Gavin’s wolf released a snort as it walked toward them. Damara moved from behind Spencer with her heart racing. She took in Gavin once he stopped in front of her. She could make out the damp parts of his fur along with the copper scent of blood.
His wolf’s eyes were level with Damara’s. As a human she was short, and even her wolf was slightly smaller than Gavin. But being the alpha wolf, he would be bigger than other male wolves.
“I take it if you are here, that you won the challenge,” she remarked. She reached out and ran a hand along the top of Gavin’s head.
His familiar eyes bored into hers, and without the telepathic link, she knew he’d answered yes.
His animal released a rumble in his chest, the equivalent of a cat’s purr while she continued to stroke his large head. The fur on his head was soft and thick.
His gaze didn’t leave hers, and she knew what was on Gavin’s mind.
“I think I’m going to go ahead and see if they need some help,” Spencer muttered, brushing past them.
“Spence,” she called out, breaking her gaze with Gavin. He paused near the edge of the thick brush and turned to her. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked, curiosity brimming on his face.
“For keeping this one sane while I was gone,” she murmured. She swiveled her gaze back to Gavin’s to find shock registering in his.
“He never gave up on you.” With a nod, he disappeared into the forest, leaving Damara alone with Gavin.
