Read Online Wolf Claim (Wolves of Willow Bend Book 3) by Heather Long - Free Book Online Page B

didn’t give a damn what he thought of it. She bought Owen time and that was all that mattered. Releasing a slow breath, Dalton withdrew his hand and placed it over his heart. “You are correct, Miss Whitford. You were to meet me at my home, but a few minutes after I received Mr. Chase’s text announcing your nearness, we had another death. The wolf who passed was neither old nor in anyway infirm.”
    Concern erased her irritation. “How far?”
    Dalton gestured to the woods. “About a hundred fifty yards that way. I promise you, this wasn’t an ambush. One of my scouts spotted you two settling in to eat and brought me word. That said—” He lifted his gaze from her to Owen. “My apologies Hunter of Willow Bend. It was never my intention to begin a war, but time is of the essence and you are both here.”
    The two men locked gazes, and their wolves took each other’s measure. In the space of three heartbeats, they’d settled the near fatal insult. “Understood. Give me the address and I’ll drive Gillian there.”
    Bless Owen, he wouldn’t make an issue of it. Knowing how close they were sent a fresh wave of anxiety skating over her.
    “I’ll ride with you.” He didn’t ask, but Owen didn’t seem to mind… much. Brett glanced behind him and whistled once. A man emerged from the woods and jogged in their direction. “Leave the food. We’ll clean it up and I’ll get you more after we’re done.”
    Owen cupped her elbow, and she let him guide her back to the truck. Before he could open the door, Brett said, “Wait.”
    She pivoted to face the Alpha, but couldn’t see him through the wall of Owen suddenly standing between her and the other wolf. Gillian refused to smile because it wasn’t funny, not when every tense, nerve wracking moment could lead to bloody conflict.
    “I have a dozen of my wolves there. You both need my scent.” Dalton didn’t seem remotely bothered by Owen’s actions. When her steadfast knight refused to move, Gillian rolled her eyes and circled him.
    The Alpha smiled at her, and the warmth of him crashed down around her. No one would ever mistake him for anything other than a deadly, powerful predator, even if he did look like a sophisticated beast. Deciding the only way to avert another pissing contest lay in simply taking the issue out of their hands, she held her hands out to Dalton, palms up. “We should be quick about it,” she said, keeping her tone brisk.
    Accepting her offer, Dalton closed his hands over hers and drew her to him. She went, rising on her tiptoes and accepting the gentle kiss he brushed to her lips. “Welcome to Hudson River, Gillian Whitford. You are my guest and as such you may call upon me and mine for protection. No harm will come to you and any man, woman or wolf who raises tooth or claw in your direction shall feel mine.” The stubble on his cheek rasped hers as he pulled her in for a hug.
    Behind her, Owen’s violence practically darkened the air. The energy of every Alpha was different, Emma had advised her of it before she left. Since Gillian had witnessed the fall and subsequent rise of two very different Alphas in Willow Bend, she wasn’t surprised at how odd the brush of Dalton’s wolf against her felt.
    Inside, her wolf’s hackles rose as she sniffed cautiously. Neither cared for a strange scent covering them, but it was merely foreign and not unpleasant. Dalton stripped off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “If you wouldn’t mind, lady healer, wear this for a few hours. I want to be sure they know you’re mine.”
    Oh. Crap.  
    This time, Owen didn’t bother to disguise his growl. He snapped a hand forward and with a speed Gillian hadn’t expected, Dalton moved her and intercepted Owen. The two men slammed into each other and stopped. Frozen to the spot, she could only watch as Dalton held Owen’s fist in a steely grip. Nothing about either man suggested give.
    “To blood?” Dalton asked, his tone damn near