Page 40 of A Wolf's Treasure
Pushing off his back legs, Duncan leapt over a tall fern and landed on the wolf’s back. He clamped his jaws around the back of its neck, holding on as the force of his hit threw them both to the side.
Duncan landed on his back with the other wolf on top of him, knocking the air from his lungs, but Duncan only sank his teeth in deeper.
The wolf pawed at the air and twisted his spine back and forth, attempting to break his hold. With a deep growl, he finally managed to loosen Duncan’s grip enough that he was able to scramble onto his feet. Duncan quickly followed suit.
They faced off, side-stepping in a slow circle. Heads down. Teeth bared. Yellow eyes locked with green. The other wolf feinted, then stepped back again, looking for an opening.
Calm and cool, Duncan studied the other wolf, learning his moves, his habits, his vulnerabilities. And when the chance came, he took it.
Both wolves reared up on their hind legs, coming together in a crash of teeth and claws. Growls rent the air, and the scent of blood joined the musky smell of wet fur and earth as they came together again and again until, finally, Duncan got a good grip on the other wolf’s shoulder and threw him to the ground.
He stood over the wolf, teeth bared in an angry snarl and blood dripping from his muzzle. Duncan waited for the other wolf to submit to his dominance. If he didn’t, he would have to kill him, and he really didn’t want to do that. No, he wanted this one to live so he could run back to Thomas and tell him he failed.
The other wolf stared up at him from where he lay on his side in the mud. He held his head off the wet ground and his mouth twitched with the urge to snarl back. But in the end, he let it fall, exposing his throat and closing his eyes in defeat.
The entire fight had only taken a matter of seconds. Crucial seconds when his lass was running for her life from two other wolves. Lowering his head, Duncan gave this one a warning growl. He didn’t want to see him again, or the next time he would not be so generous.
Backing away slowly, he watched for any sign the wolf was going to go back on his word. When he remained lying where he was, side heaving and eyes averted, Duncan spun around and took off at a dead run.
When he found the other two, they were circling the trunk of a large oak tree. Ryanne sat on a branch above them, soaking wet and shivering…and shouting obscenities.
What the hell was she doing?
Duncan immediately caught the scent of her blood. Cold air hit his skin as his fur bristled in outrage. The growl that rose up from deep within his chest was low and angry. How dare they harm his lass? The fact that she was safe in the tree and would heal as quickly as he could made absolutely no difference to him.
No longer two against one, the other wolves swung their heads in his direction. Ears pricked, they stared at him in challenge.
And Duncan was more than ready to take them up on it.
They charged him as one, and Duncan braced himself for the hit. The fact that he could not win this fight never crossed his mind. The moment they’d gone after Ryanne, they’d given him no choice.
The attack came from both sides at once, leaving him no room to maneuver. But he had a male’s rage on his side, and he fought like a wolf possessed, taking out chunks wherever he could, the blood lust so strong, every bite only made him want more.
As the two wolves circled their prey, searching for a way to hit a vulnerable spot, Duncan stood stiff with his tail straight and his teeth bared in a snarl. His eyes followed them, knowing it was only a matter of seconds before they were on him again.
The only way this was going to end was if they killed him. And he was prepared to go out protecting his female.
“Hey!”
The two wolves whipped around toward the sound.
Ryanne stood there, looking like some sort of angry goddess risen from the sea. Her dark curls stuck to her face, her jaw was set, her feet braced apart, and her hands fisted at her sides. Blood ran down her left arm and calf, the rain washing it away as quickly as it appeared.
No, no, no, no! Go back into the tree!
Dammit! What the fook was she doing?
She looked right at him then. “I know. Wolf’s honor and all that business. But I’m not just going to sit up there and watch you die, Duncan.”
He growled at her in warning.
Ryanne raised one eyebrow. “Did you seriously just growl at me when I’m here to save your life?” She eyed the two wolves slowly stalking her and shrugged. “Or, you know. Maybe you could still give me a hand.”
Duncan sprang forward at the same moment the first wolf went after Ryanne. By nothing but dumb luck, he’d chosen the right one. As she zapped the first one, he tackled the second one, taking it down to the ground. Jumping back up to his feet, he took a good chunk of bloody fur and muscle from its shoulder with him.
With Ryanne now in the line of fire, his purpose was renewed, and with the help of her zapping the first wolf, it gave him the time he needed.
In a flurry of snapping jaws and teeth, Duncan took out the first threat. When he turned to face the one who’d gone after Ryanne, he found it limping away, back legs dragging the ground, presumably hoping to find their leader.
