Wolf or Love

Sensing that Gio’s wolf was far from at ease, Danica snuggled deeper into Gio’s arms and began to softly pat his chest, scratching him lightly with her nails through his t-shirt. A growl of contentment rumbled up his chest and he curled his arm tight around her. They sat that way for the next few hours, chatting and laughing with everyone. James and Danica even did a little reminiscing, talking about her mom and sharing some of the many stories that perfectly demonstrated just how dizzy the woman had actually been. Even Lindy had laughed. It was because the atmosphere was so cheery and relaxed that Danica sensed the change the second it happened.

“What is it?” she asked Gio who was speaking to Max – who was on guard duty – on his cell.

“What?” he snapped into the cell. “I’ll be right there.” Flipping his cell closed, he stood upright and then placed her on the chair.

“Stay here, Danica.”

“What? Why?”

“Baby, just stay here for me.”

He didn’t say please, but Danica heard it in his tone. If he was so wary about a situation that he was pleading with her as opposed to barking at her, it couldn’t be good. She nodded once and he kissed her quickly before disappearing into the forest. Duda and the enforcers followed him.

“What’s going on?” asked Lindy.

“No idea.”

Mike’s Alpha instincts kicked in and he straightened in his seat.

“Maybe James, Asher and I should go see if -”

“No, when Gio’s wolf goes on high alert he sees anyone outside his pack as intruders – he’ll just think of your behavior as interference.”

Lindy huffed. “So, what, we just sit here while there’s obviously trouble going on?”

“I didn’t say that.” Danica stood and pointed hard at the others. “Stay here.”

Of course they didn’t, and she wasn’t exactly in a position to preach at them. Taking the same route Gio had, she traipsed through the forest toward

the front gate. As she stepped out of the trees near the security shack, two things made her halt. One, there was a group of approximately ten people –all wolf shifters, her nose told her – standing near the front gate. Two, although the gate had been opened to allow them through, Gio and the guys had formed a protective wall in front of the shack – a warning that they weren’t to move any further. Despite there only being eight of them, it was a pretty impressive and intimidating display, and it was working. The eyes of every stranger moved to Danica, scrutinising her intently. There was nothing confrontational in their posture or manner, but that didn’t ease her tension.

“Who are these people?”

Gio replied without turning his head, not wanting to move his gaze from the wolves in front of him. He wasn’t one little bit surprised that Danica had disobeyed his order. It wasn’t in her nature to sit around twiddling her thumbs when there was trouble, just as it wasn’t in his nature either.

“These are some of the wolves from my old pack.”

He felt her confusion, knew she was wondering why he wouldn’t be at least a little glad to see them. Simple: he didn’t trust anyone from his old pack around her right now.

For all Gio knew, in spite of what they said, they were in league with Kevin. Even his wolf who recognised their scents wasn’t comfortable with their presence at all. When Danica came to stand beside him he lifted his arm to create a barrier, wanting her to remain slightly behind him.

“Apparently they’re here to see you.”

Danica frowned, both at his words and how he seemed to be shielding her. Only the fact that she could sense his distrust and apprehension kept her from stepping around his arm. It wouldn’t be a good idea to distract him if he truly had good reason to be suspicious.

“Why is that?”

“This is your mate?” asked a tall male – who Danica thought had a slight resemblance to Ray in an extremely deep voice. She had to roll her eyes at the surprise in his tone. Okay, so she was small and Gio was big – it wasn’t that odd a match.

Gio responded with a curt nod.

“But…I thought healers couldn’t heal themselves.”

Disliking that he wasn’t addressing her directly as though she didn’t count, Danica answered, “They can’t.”

“I don’t understand. You look…fine.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Gio explained. “It would seem that Jefferson overheard Kevin talking to the wolves who attempted to attack you last night. Everyone you see here knows Kevin ordered it done. What they don’t know is that the wolves were lying their asses off when they assured Kevin that you were in a bad physical state.”

“So the guys who interfered in the attack stopped it before it even started,” presumed Jefferson.

Danica frowned. “What guys?”. A smile curved Gio’s mouth. “The ones who supposedly stumbled upon you being attacked and kicked the wolves’ asses.” She laughed. “I can’t say I blame them for that sweet little lie.” Jefferson’s brows pulled together.

“Then who was responsible for their injuries?”

“Oh that would be Danica,” replied Duda, his pride in his Alpha female clear in his voice and his grin. The other males wore similar smiles of pride.

A curvaceous peroxide dark female who Danica noticed was eyeing up Gio like he was a snack snickered.

“She did it?

Her?” Her voice rang with scepticism.

Danica felt a spike of anger. “Her is standing right here and is Alpha female of this pack. I’m also very, very close to wiping the floor with your face for ogling my mate. Would you like that?”

Gio doubted that he would ever find it any less amusing to watch the shock on people’s faces when his little mate let her bitchy attitude come out

to play. Quickly the blonde averted her gaze and edged closer to Jefferson. Each of the wolves of Gio’s old pack once again appraised his mate, seeing not the delicate tiny female she appeared at first glance to be, but the tough, strong, powerful alpha that she truly was.

“Well, well, well…This is quite a turn out.” Lindy came to stand beside Danica, her arms folded and her expression judgemental and suspicious. James, Mike, and Asher were now behind them.

“Shame none of you bothered to visit us sooner. Like fifteen years ago when a teenage boy was banished instead of being given his place as Alpha.”

Some of the wolves did look a little shamefaced, but not enough to satisfy Danica.

A male who was basically an ancient version of Richard stepped forward, staring at Lindy adoringly – Danica smiled, brows raised, as the old woman blushed. “You look well, Lindy. We just wanted you all to know that it wasn’t the pack as a unit acting against you or your mate, Gio. Not all of us agree with Kevin’s challenge. Of course we’d love for the pack to again be whole, but not for it to happen like this.

“A roundish, greying woman spoke in a placatory tone. “We may not have been much help to you all those years ago, but we wouldn’t wish you harm.” Her gaze settled on Ray. “I certainly wouldn’t want anything for my nephew other than happiness.”

The other wolves here, including Andrew’s parents who were staring at their son with glittering eyes, nodded in agreement. Gio was surprised to see

them given that they had been loud supporters of his banishment – an attitude that had backfired when their son left along with him. Even with their

seemingly harmless behavior, however, neither he nor his wolf was happy about them being around Danica.

“Well, you’ve seen that she’s alive and well. Now you can go.”Exclusive content from NôvelDrama.Org.

Duda’s older brother, Brian, who was ironically much smaller than Duda spoke up then. “I was sort of hoping I could talk to my bro, you know.

It’s been a while.”

“Whose fault is that?” said Duda, sounding deceptively aloof. Gio looked at Brian incredulously. “You don’t honestly think I’d allow

anyone from the Tefy Pack near Danica after what happened yesterday, do you?”

“Gio, come on man, you can’t think we’d hurt your mate.”

“I take it that brown headed female you’re holding is your mate?”

Brian nodded. “Yeah. We mated a few months ago.”

“Then you should have a pretty good idea of how I’m feeling right about now.”

“None of the wolves you see here would hurt her, Gio,” vowed Jefferson.

“I won’t take chances where my mate’s concerned. Her safety is my first priority, and right now my intention is to be more vigilant than ever.

Fortunately Kevin had greatly underestimated Danica and she was unharmed despite his efforts. If there’s a next time, he won’t underestimate her, and I don’t intend for there to be a next time.”

“Gio?”

It was spoken in a low, gentle, appealing tone by a very thin, dark, middle-aged woman who was gazing at him in a motherly way, surprising Danica.

“I can understand you being a little surprised by us showing up like this, but you know that I’d never do anything that would hurt you or

yours. You trust that, don’t you?”

It was clear to Danica that the woman was very much expecting the answer to be ‘yes’ and she wondered why.