much had happened for her mind to keep up.
Cash turned to the crowd, which included Layne. “I challenge Layne for Alpha of Wyoming.” Whispers of shock and disbelief ran over the crowd.
Layne’s gaze narrowed. “Is that so?”
Cash’s nod came harsh. “Do you accept my challenge?”
“I do,” Layne declared, and he stepped forward. His shoulders rose to show his size. He shifted, as did Cash.
In the wake of two men were two strong wolves. Layne was black and deathly. Cash, a mixture of sand and white. Both powerful in height and weight, ears pinned to their heads, eyes glowing, and teeth barred in a growl.
As if hit by cold water, Rylie awakened to the realization of what was about to happen. Her heart may have been overwhelmed by his claim of her, to know she was not alone in these feelings of love, but now Cash was in danger. “No, you have to stop him,” she shouted at Blaine. “He could die.” Die for me.
Blaine tightened his arms around her. “He won’t.” His voice held strong and sure.
She would have said more, argued more, demanded that this stop, but the fight had already begun.
Fur.
Teeth.
Growls.
Blood.
Rylie couldn’t watch. She spun around into Blaine’s hold and he held her tighter. His body was tense, trembling as if he was holding himself back from stepping in and assisting his friend.
Howls of pain made her raise her hands to her ears. Cash looked strong enough to defeat Layne, but then again, so had her father, and he was now dead. If his life was lost here, she couldn’t bear to watch him die. Never had she needed anyone as much as she needed him.
Blaine reached up, cupped her head, and brought her as close to him as he could. He was protecting her, just as an Alpha should one of his wolves. Men shouted, encouraging the fight. Rylie wanted this to be over. Cash had come here to protect her, had come to prove himself as her mate.
Something she had longed for had finally happened. She belonged to someone she wanted, someone who loved her, and who’d die to keep her. But now, she could lose him.
Loud howls shook right into her soul. She hadn’t known Cash long enough to recognize his howl. One of the wolves was growing weaker. She couldn’t tell if it was him. The mate bond held strong, but that meant nothing. It would only diminish at the moment of death.
Needing to know, she turned her head away from Blaine’s chest. Blood drenched the grass, as well as pieces of wolf. As her gaze followed along the ground, relief came instantly. Layne was panting, his back legs dragging behind him as Cash circled him, stalking, his lips raised to show bloody teeth.
A second later, it was over.
Layne was dead.
Cash shifted. His voice came out powerful and demanding. “Acknowledge me as Alpha.”
The pack of Wyoming shifted, the magic shedding their clothes. Rylie followed bowing down in submission to her Alpha. But soon after, a finger under her furry chin brought her gaze up. Cash had a smile that sent desire, love and a lifetime of happiness through her. “My mate will never submit to me or to anyone.”
Her shift came instantly. Tears spilled from her eyes. “You saved me.”
Cash reached up, cupped her cheek, and ran his thumb across her skin. “Our bond may not have been destined, but it holds just as true¯two souls j oining to save each other.” He lowered his mouth to hers and whispered against her lips, “And you have saved mine, Rylie. For that, my heart will always be yours.” With his mouth still on hers, he lifted her into his arms. Her legs straddled his waist as her arms wrapped around his neck.
Here, was safe.
Chapter Six
Rylie felt Cash’s muscles tremble beneath her hands while she felt her way along his strong shoulders. She could hardly believe how this had all played out. He had come for her. She still wasn’t sure if she accepted this as true. But she ignored her disbelief and focused on him. And just how happy she
Cash turned to the crowd, which included Layne. “I challenge Layne for Alpha of Wyoming.” Whispers of shock and disbelief ran over the crowd.
Layne’s gaze narrowed. “Is that so?”
Cash’s nod came harsh. “Do you accept my challenge?”
“I do,” Layne declared, and he stepped forward. His shoulders rose to show his size. He shifted, as did Cash.
In the wake of two men were two strong wolves. Layne was black and deathly. Cash, a mixture of sand and white. Both powerful in height and weight, ears pinned to their heads, eyes glowing, and teeth barred in a growl.
As if hit by cold water, Rylie awakened to the realization of what was about to happen. Her heart may have been overwhelmed by his claim of her, to know she was not alone in these feelings of love, but now Cash was in danger. “No, you have to stop him,” she shouted at Blaine. “He could die.” Die for me.
Blaine tightened his arms around her. “He won’t.” His voice held strong and sure.
She would have said more, argued more, demanded that this stop, but the fight had already begun.
Fur.
Teeth.
Growls.
Blood.
Rylie couldn’t watch. She spun around into Blaine’s hold and he held her tighter. His body was tense, trembling as if he was holding himself back from stepping in and assisting his friend.
Howls of pain made her raise her hands to her ears. Cash looked strong enough to defeat Layne, but then again, so had her father, and he was now dead. If his life was lost here, she couldn’t bear to watch him die. Never had she needed anyone as much as she needed him.
Blaine reached up, cupped her head, and brought her as close to him as he could. He was protecting her, just as an Alpha should one of his wolves. Men shouted, encouraging the fight. Rylie wanted this to be over. Cash had come here to protect her, had come to prove himself as her mate.
Something she had longed for had finally happened. She belonged to someone she wanted, someone who loved her, and who’d die to keep her. But now, she could lose him.
Loud howls shook right into her soul. She hadn’t known Cash long enough to recognize his howl. One of the wolves was growing weaker. She couldn’t tell if it was him. The mate bond held strong, but that meant nothing. It would only diminish at the moment of death.
Needing to know, she turned her head away from Blaine’s chest. Blood drenched the grass, as well as pieces of wolf. As her gaze followed along the ground, relief came instantly. Layne was panting, his back legs dragging behind him as Cash circled him, stalking, his lips raised to show bloody teeth.
A second later, it was over.
Layne was dead.
Cash shifted. His voice came out powerful and demanding. “Acknowledge me as Alpha.”
The pack of Wyoming shifted, the magic shedding their clothes. Rylie followed bowing down in submission to her Alpha. But soon after, a finger under her furry chin brought her gaze up. Cash had a smile that sent desire, love and a lifetime of happiness through her. “My mate will never submit to me or to anyone.”
Her shift came instantly. Tears spilled from her eyes. “You saved me.”
Cash reached up, cupped her cheek, and ran his thumb across her skin. “Our bond may not have been destined, but it holds just as true¯two souls j oining to save each other.” He lowered his mouth to hers and whispered against her lips, “And you have saved mine, Rylie. For that, my heart will always be yours.” With his mouth still on hers, he lifted her into his arms. Her legs straddled his waist as her arms wrapped around his neck.
Here, was safe.
Chapter Six
Rylie felt Cash’s muscles tremble beneath her hands while she felt her way along his strong shoulders. She could hardly believe how this had all played out. He had come for her. She still wasn’t sure if she accepted this as true. But she ignored her disbelief and focused on him. And just how happy she
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