Page 25 of Howling With Wolves

“I know you will, love,” I whispered. “Keep your phone on you. Donovan or I are the first call if you need anything. Understood?”

Emma nodded. “What will we do if he’s not there?”

“He’s there.” I felt it in my soul. He wouldn’t send someone else to deal with Cyan. It was personal. He’d want to be the one to try to kill his nephew. The same as he’d killed Cyan’s father. As he’d killed his oldest son. The question was, had he also killed Claire and Sam Richards, or were they still alive?

Chapter Twelve

~ Donovan ~

I inhaled the scent of woodsmoke and autumn leaves through the open window of the SUV. My skin tingled with the urge to shift, to run, to shred skin and muscle and bone. To tear until blood soaked the ground and my enemy was no more. Anthony touched my shoulder as if he felt what went through my head. He probably did. We’d always been attuned to each other. I’d felt it the first moment I’d met him. Hell, I’d joined the James Pack with him. I would have walked away and remained a nomad with him, as well. He was the brother I’d never had. Since day one, we’d been in sync.

“You good?” he murmured and kept his gaze locked on mine even after I nodded. Yeah, Anthony could read me better than anyone.

We were waiting for word from Nico. He’d reached out long enough to warn us to stay put a little longer while he took care of something. The call had dropped before he could say more. So, we waited. Priority one was assessing who was at the farmhouse and making sure they didn’t leave. If Claire Richards was with them, we needed to protect her and try to get her out as unharmed as possible.

“This waiting is driving me insane,” I murmured back. I needed to do something other than sit and wait.

“If we go in too soon—”

“We’ll risk Emma’s mom. I know that.” I couldn’t curb the growl that spilled from my throat. “I want every singlemotherfucker who laid a hand on our mate. Every single one of them.”

I still saw the bruises and cuts that had been painted over her body. The broken ribs her wolf had been too weak to heal during the time it had taken for Wallace to get her to us. They’d hurt her. Her own father. The man who should have protected her. The one who should have loved her. Hell, I had loved her in one moment. How could he choose not to? How could anyone be near her and not love and protect her?

“No sign of Claire in the house,” West said as he walked over to the open window on Anthony’s side. “Your alpha is speaking with Nico again now. I said I’d come let you know before I join Rowan and the others.”

“Shit!” I muttered. “Is Clayton there?”

“Yes, along with about a dozen other wolves. The missing brother isn’t among them, either,” West told us.

“Damn it,” Anthony snarled, shoving open his door as West stepped back. “Let’s go.”

“I’ll see you guys out there,” West said then disappeared into the surrounding trees.

“What’s the plan?” I asked as soon as we walked up to join Bas, Cyan, and the others. Bas held up a finger, still on the phone, but Cyan answered.

“We’re going in. Nico found Claire. He’s got a couple of wolves bringing her to Bas’ place.”

“Now?” I demanded, and Cyan nodded.

“I’m calling Emma,” Anthony said and stepped away.

“Claire’s okay?” I asked Cyan while keeping an eye on Anthony.

“Nico only said he’d found her and was having her extracted. He didn’t request medical to meet her at the house, and he would have since he’s had thorough medical training.”

“Okay, good. That means we can kill these bastards.” And I was more than ready. Especially for Clayton Richards.

“I’m asking you to let me deal with Clayton,” Cyan said. “I know you want to avenge Emma, but…” He paused, shaking his head. “He killed my father. Robbed me of the childhood I should have had.”

“Emma’s ecstatic,” Anthony said as he rejoined us. “She says to stay safe and hurry back.” His gaze bounced between Cyan and me.

“Richards is Cyan’s,” I said. “But the rest of the fuckers are fair game.”

“As long as I’m spilling blood,” Anthony said. “Let’s show these fuckers who they messed with.”

Now that the time was here, I was ready to shift and go in. I was already slipping off my shirt while we waited for Bas. My skin rippled with the urge to trade skin for fur. Hell, I wanted to throw back my head and howl at the sky. To let the world know I was on the hunt and would settle for nothing less than blood.

We all turned as Bas hung up his phone and tossed it in the vehicle. Everyone gathered around.

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