The woman didn’t flinch as she glared at Jermaine once before answering. “We’ll stay.”
Jermaine’s face flushed scarlet before he stepped toward her. “You’re coming with me, bitch.”
Danko dashed forward, grabbing Jermaine by the back of the neck. “She stays and you go, now. You won’t be given another chance. Leave or face the consequences.”
Zohar felt a presence at his back, the heat of a body so near that he was on the verge of spinning to attack . . . until her scent assaulted him. What the hell was she doing? She was almost touching him she was so close. Nobody voluntarily approached him, ever. Most ran in the opposite direction so her actions confused him, even though his Wolf appeared to welcome her.
Looking over his shoulder he stared down into those deep green pools, his heart speeding up as she tilted her head and looked at him. Her face covered with sadness and grief but something else too, uncertainty, doubt, and disbelief.
“What are you?” she whispered.
Zohar frowned, not sure what she meant. Not who was he, but what was he? “I’m an Enforcer.”
“I know that,” she replied, her skin puckering on her brow. “But your scent is . . . I can’t describe it. It’s like nothing I’ve come across before.”
Zohar refused to admit, to her or himself, that her scent was . . . what? Delicious, tempting, out of this world. No. He would never voice that so he simply shrugged. “It’s the blood.,” he said coldly before forcing himself to tear his eyes from hers.
Danko had seen the interaction between Zohar and the girl earlier, and now this. His mind turning over and remembering his friend’s reaction in the forest too. Well, damn, it looked suspiciously like the Hunger was indeed what he’d thought and his friend had found his mate.
He was under no illusions that Zohar would accept this effortlessly though. It looked like Danko would have to give fate a helping hand. He waited until Jermaine and his men were herded away, ordering several of their men to ensure they left Pack land before returning to Zohar.
“Why don’t you go and get cleaned up and I’ll assemble the Pack and discuss how they move forward?”
The woman at the door came down the stairs. “My name’s Gwenola, and since that bastard is gone and until a new Alpha is in place, this is my home. You are welcome to come in and freshen up. I’m afraid I don’t have any clothes that will fit so I hope you have a change with you.”
Danko chuckled. “Yes, we do. I’ll send for our vehicles and drop off his bag. This is Zohar and I’m Danko.”
“That’s settled then.” Gwenola waved her arm toward the door. “Welcome, Zohar, you and your men have our thanks for freeing us from that tyrant’s reign. My daughters will prepare food for you all so when you’re ready let me know.”
Danko nodded. “Thank you for your kindness, Gwenola. I’ll be in shortly to advise of my findings.”
Gwenola looked up to the cabin. “Girls, can you please show Zohar to the bathroom. I have to take care of Maisy and prepare Libby for her burial.”
Danko watched as Zohar paused, watching as Gwenola approached the small She-Wolf, whose name they now knew, enveloping her in her arms as she wept. Gwenola patted Maisy’s back. “I’m so sorry, darling. Libby was so brave trying to save you from that bastard. I know that doesn’t stop your hurt, but I hope you know that she wouldn’t have it any other way. You were the most important person on this earth to her and she died doing the only thing she could . . . protecting you.”
Danko saw Zohar hesitate, his feet hovering as if he fought an inner battle, his face drawn and tight as he watched Gwenola comfort Maisy.
“She was the only person I had left. What am I going to do now? I have no one. I’m alone now. All alone.” Maisy clung to Gwenola, tears streaming down her face, the sorrow in her words tearing at everyone’s hearts.
Zohar cursed under his breath before spinning around and stomping up the stairs and disappearing inside the cabin. His actions only confirming to Danko he had much more work to do than he first thought.
He was never one to shirk from a challenge and he’d do whatever it took to force his friend to accept what was right in front of him. No matter the cost. If he lost his friendship, then so be it. He only hoped he didn’t lose his head . . . literally.
Danko went to work, ordering Kovak to assemble the Pack and then he instructed some of the men to help Gwenola with the burial of the fallen She-Wolf.
Maisy looked shell-shocked, her grief palpable in the air as her friend was wrapped in a white linen sheet. Silent tears streaming down her white as snow face. Danko joined her, standing quietly beside her for a few moments before offering his condolences.
“I’m sorry we didn’t arrive earlier,” he kept his voice soft and low, afraid he’d spook her. “If we’d gotten here just a few minutes sooner then perhaps we could’ve helped your friend.”
Maisy looked up, her green eyes darker as they were filled with tears. “It’s not your fault. It’s Jermaine’s. I hope Zohar was right about that other Alpha finding him though. Do you think he will?”
Danko couldn’t help his lips tugging up in a smirk as he thought of Shade Shawcross. “I know the person Zohar spoke of, he’s a strong Alpha, and he’s deadly when angered. One thing he won’t stand for is anyone hurting someone he cares for and as his new mate is someone that Jermaine has sent people to hunt down, well, yeah, he’ll deal with him. It’s because of Shade that we’re here. He contacted Zohar and called in a favor, one that’s been owed for over five years. We
