Page 23 of Silver Claw

Zach was injured as well, but he didn’t look quite as torn up as Remy. “They’re rough,” he said, “even for wolves. Why are they sneak-attacking Silverwood, Kait? If their alpha wants the territory, why doesn’t he do what alphas do and challenge you to fight for it?”

But I couldn’t have guessed.

Sam started toward the house. “I’ll check on Lucy.”

“I’ll get dressed,” I told Remy and Zach as we walked across the yard, “and then I’ll ask Ben to make a house call.” I also needed to go fetch my car.

But before I reached the porch, I stopped, lifted my nose to the air, then slowly turned to face the woods at the right side of the house. “Sam,” I said quietly.

He was at my side instantly. Remy and Zach, as well, but they were already injured. They didn’t need another fight before they’d healed from the last one.

We were weaker, and as I saw several huge, naked men step out of the trees, I understood the reason for the initial attack.

The Iron Fang alpha had come to Silverwood.

Chapter Nine

Gavin Voss wanted to feel us out, and he wanted to weaken us.

He held up a meaty hand. “I just want to have a talk,” he called. “Not going to hurt you, child.”

I snarled, hating him immediately.

“Kait?” Zach asked, his blades back in his hands. “Attack?”

My first instinct was to shift and go make the trespassing alpha regret his decision to come to my territory. But two of my people were injured, and it didn’t matter that Sam and I could take on the alpha and his warriors and probably run them off my land.

Zach and Remy were not going to go inside and sit out a fight, no matter how injured they were. And I wasn’t going to put them at risk if I didn’t have to.

“No,” I said. “Let’s see what the bastard wants.” WhatIwanted was to call Jared again, but I wouldn’t. I could take care of myself and my pack and defend my small territory, even without my magic.

I could.

“Remy,” I said. “Can I borrow your shirt?”

He took off his button-up shirt immediately, and I saw that the blue T-shirt beneath it was wet with blood. I needed to get Voss out of the way so I could get the doctor to Silverwood.

I hurriedly buttoned the shirt, feeling better. I didn’t want Gavin Voss’s stare on my body. I had a feeling he wasn’t the type to ignore another shifter’s nudity.

There were seven of them, and when they walked to the edge of the cleared front yard where we stood, Voss glanced at thewolves scattered across the ground. His smile was rueful but not in the least concerned for his people.

“I was hoping a good fight would gentle you some,” he said.

He and his men, without either clothes or weapons, should not have been quite so intimidating. They stood there, huge, tall, shaggy with their long hair and bulging muscles, blazing, eager stares, their bodies practically vibrating with energy. They all had scars, scars from silver or attacks from an alpha, most likely, and there was no doubt they wore those scars proudly.

And there was no doubt they believed I was beneath them.

After glancing at me—taking in the shirt that covered my body, lingering on my lips and my legs—they settled their cooling stares on the men at my side.

Bastards, all of them.

All of the men were just a tad smaller than Gavin, and I wondered if he chose his warriors based on that fact. He didn’t attempt to downplay his nakedness. On the contrary, he put his hands on his hips and thrust his pelvis forward slightly, his shoulders massive, his scars many, his grin flashing as he appeared to be waiting for me to admire him.

The Iron Fang alpha of Ironridge was…iron. His eyes were a metallic silver-gray, his long, shaggy hair the color of rust, and his skin was darkened and scarred, like old steel that had been left in the elements for decades.

“What do you want to talk about, asshole?” I asked, my voice hard. “Let’s get this over with so I can decide whether to run you off or kill you.”

His men sneered, and Voss laughed, hearty and loud. My hounds didn’t leave their shelters, but they began braying at the sound. I couldn’t blame them.