Challenged (20 page)

“What the hell just happened?” she cried out, as soon as her mouth could form

words.

Chapter Ten

Stone had no doubts that he and Gabe could take down the back-mountain den of

Cariboo who fought like untrained pups. With one of them dead, the others hesitated,

backing off quickly. Their conquest was safe inside the cabin. And now the three

remaining cowards made quick decisions on whether they wanted to lose their lives

tonight or not. They opted to live.

Stone rushed after them when they turned tail and ran back up the mountain.

“Fucking cowards!” he roared with enough fierceness that it echoed up the

mountain while the three Cariboo ran off, disappearing into the darkness.

Stone was angry enough to rip a tree from the ground, send it flying across the

yard. One look at the dead werewolf lying on the ground, and then at headlights

coming up the mountain, and he curbed his temper.

Something told him that his probation in this pack was about to get revoked.

Ignoring the Bronco that screeched over the gravel and skid to a stop, Stone allowed

the change to take over. The cold night air did nothing to soothe his fury. Somehow he

managed to keep it in check and not tear his clothes.

After a quick sprint up the mountain, and then taking a look at some land that was

for sale that bordered the land Pamela’s den owned, his spirits had been high on their

return. There was no doubt in his mind that the pack grapevine had successfully spread

word about the challenge. Ali would have heard of it. One way or another she’d come

looking for him. And he was damned ready to see her.

But when the smells had changed, cold defiance adding to the chill in the night air,

Stone’s senses had gone on full alert. Gabe had noticed it too. Mere seconds had passed

before they’d heard the scuffle and howling down toward the cabin.

When he’d seen Ali being dragged backwards, smelled her panic, heard her

pathetic yelps, severe protector instincts had kicked in.

No one would hurt her—let alone touch her!

Carnal instincts that would never be tamed took over. Stone hadn’t given a thought

to how many werewolves would die. All he knew was that he had to protect Ali.

Even now, as he pulled his jeans up and glared at the Bronco that pulled in next to

the cabin, his instincts were still too raw for his human form.

Another car pulled up behind the Bronco. He didn’t give a rat’s ass about any of

them. He’d defended Ali. And he’d do it again without thought.

Ali fought to pull her sweater over her head when he barged into the cabin. Taking

his anger out on the door and slamming it wasn’t an option. Gabe was right behind

him. And Tip Rochester behind him.

“What the hell just happened?” Ali cried out, shaking so hard she couldn’t get

dressed.

Stone didn’t bother snapping his jeans. “That was the rest of that mangy den,” he

barked, hitting the wall hard enough that one of Pamela’s pictures fell to the ground.

“Stone!” Gabe yelled at him.

At the same time, Ali yelped. He looked down at her, seeing the terror in her pretty

blue eyes and the way her hands shook as she tried to pull her jeans up over her long

slender legs.

His anger ebbed just at the sight of her, terrified and helpless.

“God. My little bitch.” He reached down to where she sat on the floor, struggling

with her jeans, and lifted her into his arms. “Tell me they didn’t hurt you.”

“Sounds like they were after a little revenge.” Tip walked over to Ali, watching

while Stone helped her finish dressing. “You okay, Ali?”

Ali nodded, but Stone could feel how hard her heart pounded when he pulled her

close. She wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his chest. Her scent made

him drunk with need. His cock hardened, while an ache for her tightened every muscle

in his body.

“Everyone is okay, Dad.” Pamela hurried over to the Cariboo who’d entered behind

Tip. “Thank you for hurrying over here.”

Stone looked at the pack leader, who watched him and Ali carefully. Glancing past

him, he nodded to the older Cariboo that Pamela had just called sire.

“Does my den know about this?” Ali asked, looking up at Tip but making no effort

to move from Stone’s arms.

“They will,” Tip told her, his tone serious enough to bar no arguments.

Ali sighed, and then looked at Stone. “I thought they were you. I was coming to

find you. I was too close to get away but close enough to the cabin to get back here.”

“And I heard the lot of them,” Pamela added quickly. “That’s when I called you,

Dad. And you, Tip. I didn’t know how far away you two were,” she said to Gabe, and

then glanced at Stone. “We’re damn lucky you were so close.”

“I’d have to agree.” Tip crossed his arms, turning his back on all of them as if trying

to come to some decision. “You’ve killed two werewolves today, but you did save Ali’s

life from what it sounds like.”

Stone knew he was talking to him. Straightening, he kept Ali at his side, running

one hand down her slender arm. She straightened as well, sensing like he did that the

pack leader was about to make a decision.

Stone had no problem helping him along. “It’ll be three werewolves dead once

midnight strikes.”

Tip turned around, giving him a hard look.

“Tip. You can’t allow this challenge to happen. I don’t want Mickey and I never

have,” Ali spoke up.

His little bitch had a bad habit of not being able to keep quiet when werewolves

were talking. Something he had a feeling he would have to get accustomed to.

“I’ll talk to him.” Tip nodded to the group and reached for the door. He turned and

gave Stone his attention. “I assume you’ll see to getting her to her den.”

Stone nodded, realizing he’d just gained some respect in the pack leader’s eyes.

About time the werewolf realized Stone was a good Cariboo to have covering his back.

Pamela’s sire hung around for another minute or two, and then Pamela and Gabe

walked him to his car.

“Why did you run off into the mountains?” Ali asked the second they were alone.

She’d moved over to the couch and he narrowed the distance between them with a

single long stride. “I don’t go for being pressured into something,” he told her.

Ali stood up quickly. “They told me you announced the challenge,” she said, worry

suddenly clouding her pretty blue eyes.

She nibbled her lip, her scent growing richer while she searched his expression.

“I did.” His emotions were still too raw, too much on edge from fighting. He

grabbed her hair, pulling her head back while bringing her closer to him at the same

time. “No one else is going to have you.”

The way her face lit up, her smile spreading, giving her dimples in her cheeks,

worked him over harder than he’d anticipated. Something warm melted through him.

“I love you,” she whispered, her cheeks instantly turning an adorable shade of pink

while her embarrassment tickled his nose.

He shook his head, unable to stop the smile that threatened his own lips. “I know

you do,” he told her. Although for the life of him, he wasn’t sure why.

Her thin eyebrows narrowed, and she instantly started pouting. He tugged harder

on her head, watching her lashes flutter over her eyes as she relaxed against his grasp.

“That’s not what you’re supposed to say,” she said quietly.

“I told you I don’t like being pressured.”

“It’s more like you won’t admit it to yourself.” Again her voice was quiet, her body

relaxed.

He had her head pulled back, her neck exposed to him. He could see the red streaks

where that Cariboo had grabbed her neck. Something stronger than protective instincts

surged through him. Never had he wanted to possess, to claim and mark as his own,

the way he did right now.

The door opened and Gabe and Pamela entered the small cabin.

“Is she okay?” Gabe asked, walking over so that he stood next to Stone.

Pamela joined him, wrapping her arm around his waist while the two of them

studied Ali.

He let go of her hair and she straightened, glancing at each of them. “I’m fine, I

promise.”

“And now we all know why bitches don’t run without an escort,” Stone said,

intentionally scowling at her.

“Oh good grief.” Pamela rolled her eyes, and then reached out and punched him in

the chest. “He really is a pompous ass, isn’t he?”

Ali smiled. “He’ll need some training.”

“Like hell,” he growled at both of them, and then walked away from them, glancing

at the clock.

It was after eleven. “Let’s go, Ali. I need to get you to your den and then head out to

the clearing. Can’t miss my midnight date.”

“I’m going with you, wolf-man. Don’t think I’m not,” she snapped at him.

“You should probably call your den,” Pamela suggested.

“Yeah.” Ali wouldn’t look at him, but turned to the phone, quickly dialing the

number. “My sire and mother aren’t home,” she announced, after hanging up.

Stone didn’t really care where her parents were. He wouldn’t let her see that he was

more than pleased that she’d be staying with him. One way or the other, before the

night was over, he’d have her in his bed. Thoughts of her stretched over him, her naked

body pressed against his, had him simply standing there staring at her.

“I’m going with you,” she emphasized again, not able to smell his true emotions.

They couldn’t all fit in the truck. He pulled Ali to him, leading her over to the

driver’s side, and had her slide over while Gabe and Pamela took the car Pamela’s den

had given her.

Stone jumped into the truck, and grabbed Ali, keeping her by his side so she

wouldn’t slide all the way to her door. He needed to feel her, experience the heat of her

touch soaking through his clothes. Thoughts of the land he’d looked at with Gabe

earlier, of how they could easily put a cabin up in one of the clearings, and of keeping