Page 128 of Unwilling Wolf

Garret leaned forward and lowered his voice. “You take my wolves from me, and they’ll slit your throat in your sleep.” He twitched his head toward his wolves, who had gathered in front of the front door. “You want to ask them?”

Clint looked from them to Garret. “Be that as it may, the Challenge stands. To the death, Shaw. I’ll avenge my son, or die doing it.”

Garret huffed a laugh, and paced away and back. He shook his head. “When?” he barked out.

“Saturday, high noon. Neutral territory. Roy’s place. It ain’t a duel Challenge, Shaw. It’s wolf against wolf.”

Garret tossed a glare at Anna. “Better get used to running a Pack. I don’t fuckin want any of your people.” He spat on the ground and strode toward the front door to get back to Eliza. “Get out of my territory.”

“Where’s Wyatt’s body?” Clint asked.

“I left him for the buzzards. A wolf with no honor don’t deserve a burial. He’s in a pile with the others. Follow the scavengers, Clint. You’ll recognize them fast enough.” He turned at the door and gritted out, “Scavengers know scavengers.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Garret stared at Eliza, his eyes trained on the rise and fall of her chest. She was getting better. It seemed so, at least. She had more color in her cheeks today.

Lenny was lying in the bed with her, sleeping soundly. The first time she’d crept in here, he’d nodded off, dozing lightly. It had been nighttime, and she was supposed to be tucked away in the hands’ cabin, but Lenny preferred to be in here at night now. She didn’t like being too far away from Eliza, and he understood. Lenny’s wolf saw her as a Packmate. Her instinct was to protect her body, same as his instinct.

“I have to go see Roy,” he murmured.

Lenny opened her eyes, and they were the light gray of her wolf. “Burke said Roy still isn’t right.”

“He said the same to me.”

“Then why go to him now? He won’t recognize you.”

Garret bent and picked up the stack of letters bound in twine. There had to be a hundred in the bundle, and all of them had the same return address. Elizabeth Flemm.

“I had Cookie retrieve these from Roy’s place. I’ve been remembering more lately since Eliza came back. He used to show me her letters when he got them. He was so excited every time he received word from her. I thought it was stupid at the time. Why hang on such hope that there will be a letter in the post from someone who abandoned him? But it wasn’t Eliza who abandoned him. It was her mother. Eliza…well, she stayed loyal.”

“That’s who she is,” Lenny said softly.

Garret nodded and stood. “Maybe these will anchor him. And maybe if he comes back, Eliza will have more reason to stay.”

Lenny sat up straighter and frowned. “You think she’ll leave?”

Garret stared at Eliza’s face, relaxed in unconsciousness. “I know somethin’ you don’t.”

“What?” Lenny demanded, sitting up all the way.

“Her uncle is dead.”

The frustration disappeared from Lenny’s face in an instant, and was replaced with shock. “No,” she whispered.

Garret nodded sadly.

“She always talks of him.” Lenny stared out the window, deep in thought. “How do you know?”

“Because I know her uncle. I didn’t realize who he was until she gave me her last wishes and said his full name.” He twitched his head toward his mate. “Take care of her while I’m gone? I’ll be quick.”

“She might not leave,” Lenny rushed out as he moved to leave.

Garret gave her a half-assed smile. “She’s been summoned back to Boston for the reading of the will.”

Lenny closed her eyes tightly and said no more as Garret made his way out of the room, the bundle of letters tucked under his arm.

It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right.

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