Wolf's Bane (Shifted) (15 page)

Bryce saw Ashley shift before lunging at her friend. He didn’t know what was happening, but he had confidence in his mate’s decision. Raising his head, he signaled to the others to move. Taking down the three men was easy. The surprise on their face seemed genuine. It was clear they were not aware Ashley had been guarded by more than one. In the end, their confidence had worked against them.  The original plan to leave Frank alive was tossed out as soon as the were shifted. Frank was Alpha, and Alphas didn’t back down. Bryce was not leaving anything to chance. He still had the rest of the pack to worry about.

Drew and his father were
formidable opponents, but with Bryce and his brothers gone, they were down on man power. The end came swiftly with Matt taking out two of them while Bryce took Frank Bane down in a bloody battle. The man was Alpha, the fight evenly matched except for Bryce’s drive to protect his mate at all cost. He knew in his heart leaving any of the Bane Alphas alive would mean his mate was still not safe.

Ashley shifted back to human form as soon as Yasmin’s body stilled beneath her. The loss of her friend was cooled by the betrayal. Yasmin had wanted Richard but was willing to switch to Frank. She was obviously after the Alpha bitch position and would be willing to do anything to get it, including conspiring to have Ashley killed. How had she not known?

Sobbing behind her turned her focus away from
Yasmin’s motionless form to her true friend, a friend that had been willing to risk her own life.

“Bri
?” she said approaching her friend slowly. Brianna had warned her, tried to help her. She owed the girl a debt.

“Ash
, oh Ash, I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know,” Brianna sobbed wrapping her arms tightly around herself.

“I know, Bri.  It’s over.”

“
But how?” Brianna asked seeing four weres shift on the edge of the lawn. “They thought you were alone.”

“That was the idea. Come on inside
while I get the men something to wear.”

“
Who are they?”

“
My mate and his family.”

“ Mate?”

“It’s a long story,Bri. You’re safe now. . .”

“Safe
,” Brianna muttered.

Bryce rushed to his mate as soon as they entered the ho
me. “You’re covered with blood!” she said with alarm.

“
Not mine, Ash. You seem to have some on you as well.”

“
Not mine,” she mimicked.

“You
okay?”

“No,
but I’m better. Bryce, Yasmin was in on it from the start.”

“And
her?” he growled looking at Brianna who had curled into a corner of the couch as soon as the men entered the room.

“
I’m sure she had nothing to do with it. Brianna, this is Bryce. Bryce, I’m sure you want to talk to her, but could you put some clothes on first?”

“I
was thinking the same thing. I love when you’re naked, but not in front of my brothers,” he laughed. “Matt, call Maverick. Tell him we have this situation under control. See if he can help at home. Ten minutes, boys, and we move out.” Ashley looked at him questioningly. “I have other Bane men to take care of. No one will ever threaten you again.”

18

Bryce left Brendan to take care of Brianna. She was in no condition to go with them
, and, since Ashley insisted on helping, he had to leave the girl with someone. Truth was, although he didn’t like Ashley coming with them into what might be an inter-pack war, he didn’t want to leave her side either.

“
Have you reached them?” he asked Matt who was busy trying to call the compound.

“Not
yet. I have to think they are busy. Bryce. Our men are better than Banes. He won’t win.”

“I
have no doubt we will win this, but at what cost?’ Bryce mumbled pressing his foot harder on the gas.

As soon as they were in range
, it was clear that the Bane pack had taken the biggest hit against his pack. The fact that bodies of shifted weres were visible meant that this had been hard to contain. They would have to run interference with the human population. Wolf pack attack sounded about right to Bryce as he headed for the pack house. All was quiet now. Whatever had happened there earlier was over.

“Bryce?” Ashley questioned
, looking at the door to the pack house that had been ripped off its hinges.

“Stay
here!” he ordered bursting from the car with Matt and Colin close behind.

“Bryce
skid to a halt at the sight as he entered the home. Practically every were in his pack was there. Some were injured and being treated.

“Report
,” he yelled to one of the enforcers.  Before he could answer, he heard the familiar voice of Maverick.” I see you missed all the fun too,” Maverick said slapping him on the shoulder.

“Hardly
. We had our own wave to contend with. Where’s Drew and my father?”

“
They are in the great room along with your brother.”

“Aiden
?”

“Yes
.”

“And
Bane?”

“I’ll let them fill you in.
We were just on our way out.”

“
Thank you for coming. I appreciate all you have done, Maverick.”

“It was really nothing.  Your pack had the situation handled even before we arrived.
My men only batted clean up. There is really no need for thanks, Bryce. You are family. The packs are united now.”

Thank you just the same.” Bryce nodded at Hank and Sam
, the enforcer’s Maverick had as his guard knowing they were also Maverick’s brothers-in-law. Family was important to the Alpha, and Bryce was proud to be counted among them.

“Is it over?” Hearing his mates voice drew Bryce’s attention away from the crowd.

“I
thought I told you to stay in the car?” he teased, pulling her to his side to let her know he was just kidding.

“I figured when M
averick strolled out of here, that it was safe. So, what’s going on?”

“I
have no idea. Come on,” he said grasping her hand firmly and making his way through to the front of the commotion.

The sight of his mother and
father sitting beside Aiden took a heavy weight off of his heart. Looking for Julie and Drew next, he found them both seemingly healthy and whole.

“Bryce
, Ashley, oh thank god,” his mother said running to embrace them.

“We’re
fine. Drew, how are we?”

“
The pack lost only three.”

“
And Bane?”

“Dead
,” Aiden mumbled.

“Dead?”

Lars stepped forward to address Bryce. “Bryce, Aiden killed Bane.”

“Warren
Bane?”

“
Yes.”

“
The Alpha?” Ashley asked to make sure.”

“Yes
.”

“And Jack?” Jack was the only other Bane male left.

“He took off. Ran like a coward. As soon as Aiden took the Alpha down, the others stopped fighting.”

“So
that means...”

Drew finished the sentence that Bryce began
by announcing it loud and clear to the others packed into the room. “That means that Aiden Woodland is the new Bane Pack Alpha.”

The news spread quickly. Aiden was Alpha
. According to pack law, he had taken on an Alpha in a fight to the death and won. Whether he intended to be Alpha didn’t matter.

“Always
trying to one up me, aren’t you?” Bryce teased.

“
Right, that was the plan all along… Bryce, I don’t know a thing about being Alpha.”

“Aiden
, you have the support of the Reiner and Cheveyo packs. You can do this.”

“But
it’s such a mess.”

“So
clean it up. After all, you are the Alpha now. What you say goes.”

“I guess
you’re right.”

“
At least you know the women will love you.”

“Women
always love me, Bryce.” A smirk crept across Aiden’s face.

“Not
what I meant. Although I’m sure you are right. I meant all you have to do is tell them things will change. Demand that the males treat their women with respect or force them to leave.”

“I can do that,” Aiden said with conviction.

“My brother, the Alpha,” Bryce dipped his head to Aiden with a smirk.

“
You are Alpha as well.” Drew interrupted.

“Bryce looked at Drew with question in his eyes.

“Bryce, I think it’s time. I am too old for this kind of excitement. I have no doubt you are ready. Julie and I have discussed it. I think it’s time I stepped down.”

“Drew?”

“Before you answer, hear me out. You are young and much stronger than you give yourself credit for. You not only took over the pack in my absence, you thought of the pack first. You rushed here to assure we were all fine. I’m old, and, to tell you the truth, I’m tired. With Ashley by your side I have no doubt you will do right by our people.”

“Lars
?” Bryce heard his mother’s protest and turned to his parents.

“Jane
, they are grown. Bryce is mated. You saw Aiden take charge.  Our sons were born to be Alpha.”

“They
are so young.”

“I
know dea,r I know,” Lars said holding Jane as she trembled.

Bryce approached his parents.
“Mom, I know you will worry, but, tell me, is a few years going to make the difference. Will you all of a sudden not worry if I’m older?”

“I’ll
always worry, Bryce… Aiden.”

“We
know and we appreciate it. Drew I would be honored to follow your lead,” Bryce said taking Ashley’s hand. Feeling his mate’s firm grip only strengthened his resolve.