To Right a Wrong by Abby Wood Page B

and leave him alone yet. She struggled to breathe.
    She finally gave up and let her wolf take control.
    “Okay, little one, step back. Remember what I told you.” Ethan looked up at her.
    Dani dropped to her knees and threw her arms around the wolf. She kissed the side of his furry neck. “I love you. Don’t leave me too.”

    “I won’t. I love you too much not to win.” He stepped forward and pushed her away. “Go now.”
    Holding her head high, she managed to find the will to keep walking. She refused to cry or show any doubts. If Ethan could stroll into the challenge without showing any fear, so could she. Inside her body, her wolf caressed her soul.
    Her wolf was the one creature who knew the real anguish and apprehension she was going through…and understood.
    Ethan’s wolf stood motionless, staring across the open space nestled between the river and the forest. He straightened his ears. Warmth came from her core. Looking at Ethan was like catching a glimpse of God. The legend, the prime alpha, the pack’s savior had returned.
    Someone touched the small of her back. She whipped around and let herself relax at the sight of her friend. “Hi, Shelley.”
    “You hanging in there?” Shelley crossed her arms and looked at Ethan.
    Dani licked her lips. “Yeah.”
    “This won’t end up like the last
    challenge…with your dad.” Shelley turned and gave her an understanding smile. “He’ll be all right regardless if he wins or loses.”
    “He’ll win.”
    “I’m just saying…” Shelley reached over and gave Dani’s shoulders a pat. “I’m going to go stand with Brad, but if you’d like to come with me, you’re more than welcome.”

    Dani gazed over to her left. Stan Jenson and Keith Pegrow stood beside Brad talking. Her wolf growled and she covered it with a cough.
    “Thanks, Shelley, but I’ll stay right here.”
    “Okay. I’ll talk to you afterwards.” All quiet conversations stopped. On the opposite side of the clearing, the cluster of werewolves parted. A large tan wolf led Greggoire's woman—Dani refused to call her Greggoire's life mate since he claimed two females—toward the edge of the grass. Her heart quickened. Greggoire had arrived, but where was the other woman? Had Greggoire found Jordan?
    Was the human woman at his home caring for Dani’s baby brother?
    Glancing around the circle, she spotted no one with a small child. She raised her hand to rub the base of her neck, stopped, and lowered her arm. Everyone’s eyes were either on Ethan or her, and she damn well wouldn’t give them any sign that showed her not one-hundred-percent confident that Ethan would walk away the winner.
    The alpha and the challenger slowly walked toward the middle. There was no whistle, no bell, and no giant red flag that waved in the air signaling the start of the fight. It came down to the wolves. She stared at Ethan and sent all her energy to him. Unable to speak with him or distract him in anyway, she hoped that her obedience and support would empower him.
    The two animals circled each other, stopped, and picked up their path around an invisible barrier that neither one of them were willing to break until the moment was right. Ethan kept his head lower than his shoulders, and never broke his gaze from the tan wolf.
    Greggoire trotted toward Dani’s side of the field. Muscles rippled along Ethan’s back and he lunged between Dani and Greggoire. Her breath caught in her throat. Her nerves threatened to snap.
    Ethan growled and surged forward only to stop before making contact. She fisted her hands at her sides. This was too much to take.
    Greggoire changed directions. Ethan lunged, this time toppling the tan wolf. She gasped and covered her face before quickly removing her hands. Not knowing was worse than hiding away from the action in the circle.
    Jaws snapped shut with a spine-tingling clink . Lips curled back, the white canine teeth gleaming in the moonlight. Blood flew in the air as both