Her Wolf Protector Read online

  HER WOLF PROTECTOR

  ELLEN LANE

  © Copyright 2019 - All rights reserved.

  In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher.

  All rights reserved. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 1

  Wolves didn’t usually hunt at night.

  Their preys were more plentiful during the day - and though they had excellent night vision, it was easier to ensure that they remained in their own territory with the sun to light their way.

  But this wasn’t a normal hunt.

  Solomon had been on edge since they left the settlement a half-hour ago. They were still far from the boundaries of Belleview pack land, but things hadn’t been the smoothest between them and the Doziers lately.

  When his brother, Hunter, pulled up short before him, his fur standing on edge, Solomon’s lips pulled back from razor-sharp fangs as a growl rumbled deep in his throat. A long beat passed before the lighter-colored wolf turned to his Alpha, eyes eerily glowing in the darkness.

  They didn’t need words to communicate the pervading sense of wrongness.

  Solomon took one step forward, and then another. There were no unfamiliar scents and nothing seemed out of place.

  It was strange enough that they were hunting at night - tension with the Doziers led to this precaution in the first place. Of course, the Elders scoffed at the idea, believing it completely unnecessary. But Solomon’s instincts had never led him astray before. Though he had trusted the wisdom of those older than himself, it had been decades since they had seen a battle. Their senses were somewhat dulled by the years of peace that Solomon and his father before him awarded them.

  A peace that, unfortunately, seemed less and less stable with each passing day.

  When a branch snapped in the distance, Hunter swung around once more. Now his own growl echoed his Alpha’s. They had, Solomon realized with growing horror, set themselves up perfectly for an ambush. No one would ever believe that Doziers were bold enough to launch an attack this far beyond their territory - nor that they’d be cowardly enough to do it at night.

  Which was exactly why it was a perfect strategy.

  Solomon raised his head to bellow a distress howl back to the settlement, but in that precise moment, all hell broke loose. Dozier wolves materialized out of nowhere - more than ten of them altogether, and none of them looked to be in a very friendly mood.

  Solomon was one of the biggest wolves on the east coast, but that didn’t mean that he and Hunter could hold their own against ten of the Dozier pack. Six-foot-high at the shoulder and bristling with lean muscle, their adversaries were battle-hardened from years of internal conflict.

  Even faced with all of this, a part of Solomon didn’t quite believe they would attack. After all, they were still on Belleview land, and technically, a pact of no violence existed.

  He held onto that shred of hope until the moment a dark-furred Dozier leaped forward, going for his throat.

  Considering the odds, the battle was relatively short.

  The Dozier wolves broke into two groups, one intent on Hunter while the largest of their number went for Solomon. The Belleview Alpha acted on instinct, tearing into the first wolf that barreled into him. The smaller male must have imagined he could catch him by surprise, but Solomon quickly proved him wrong with a brutal bite to his flank that crippled his rear leg immediately. No sooner had his attacker gone down than Solomon whirled on his back legs, razor-sharp claws ripping furrows into the belly of another adversary. With a pained yelp, the wounded wolf tumbled head over heels - but Solomon hardly noticed. His teeth sank deep into another enemy’s tail, snapping it with a decisive crunch of his jaws.

  Leveraging his grip on the animal, Solomon tensed his back-leg muscles, swinging the screaming wolf into his packmate so the two went bowling into the nearest tree in a painful, bloody tangle.

  Every inch of him was alive, the coppery-sweet smell of blood filling his nostrils as pink-tinged saliva dripped from his jowls. Bloodlust had taken him, and the violent need tore through muscles like a virus, shoving his humanity to the furthest recesses of his mind.

  Just now, the man would only hinder him.

  A screaming yowl of pure, unfettered agony snapped him around to where the remaining Dozier wolves ripped at the prone figure of his brother. A snarl ripped from his throat as he darted into the fray, his eyes gleaming with dark intent.

  Within seconds, he’d detached two of the Doziers and sent them backward, yipping, blood trailing from their haunches. Another of their number fled behind its fellows, but the two remaining Doziers merely met Solomon bite for bite, tearing and clawing until blood ran into his eyes and down his snout, matting dark gray fur.

  Like hell they would take his brother from him.

  Grabbing hold of a tattered front leg, Solomon dragged his enemy away from Hunter’s unmoving body, shaking his head savagely until a snap like a gunshot split the air. Only when his current opponent screamed in pain did Solomon turn back to his final quarry. In the dim, moonlit grove, Solomon looked every bit the monster the world was convinced he was. Bloodstained fangs dripped and a constant growl rumbled through him - he was savagery incarnate.

  When he collided with his final adversary, he knew neither of them would back down. This wolf was the most savage of the lot - Solomon dimly remembered seeing him by Ephraim Dozier’s side on more than one occasion. He had to be just as crazy as the wolf he followed.

  Solomon could smell his brother’s blood on the bastard’s breath. If Hunter bled out, it would be this one’s fault. He would pay for violence with violence.

  Despite his enemy’s furious savagery, Solomon had about fifty pounds on him. In short order, he wore him down, pummeling him with paws the size of dinner plates and goring his thick coat with fangs that rivaled those of a full-grown lion. When the smaller wolf faltered, Solomon’s jaws closed around his neck. He didn’t hesitate. Jerking his head sharply, he broke his enemy’s neck, ensuring that no amount of healing would save his life.

  By the time he stood over the lifeless body, the remaining Dozier wolves had all fled, leaving only bloodstains and bits of flesh in their wake. Solomon’s heavy breath misted the cool air as the pain of his own wounds finally rushed in on him, agony erupting through his battle-weary form.

  But none of that - absolutely none of it - mattered. In a trice, he was at his brother’s side.

  Hunter was unusually still, the puddle of blood around him larger than any Solomon had ever seen. Raising his head, he bellowed a call of distress, heart pounding against his ribcage.

  They had attacked. Attacked on Belleview land.

  Solomon had hoped they might still repair the failing relations between their clans, despite rapidly declining negotiations. But Raymond Dozier was stubborn. He refused to cull his brother, no matter the cost.

  If Hunter died... Solomon would have no choice but to declare war.

  Chapter 2

  Georgia stared at the double doors that led into the emergency room beyond,
her lips pressed into a tight line of indecision. Her shift had ended an hour ago - technically she was home free. She could walk out of the hospital, march across the parking lot and get while the getting was good.

  And yet...if she did that, she wasn’t sure if she’d ever been able to forgive herself.

  Exhaling a long sigh, she shrugged out of the sweater that covered her scrubs, tossing it over her shoulder. She swiped her keycard and pushed through the double doors, making a beeline for the nurse’s station she had only just vacated. The moment she set her stuff on the counter, she was bombarded by no less than three of her coworkers.

  “No. Nope. No way, Georgia! Get out!” Beverly, the head nurse, scrunched her freckled face in disapproval. “You’ve already done fourteen hours today.”

  “You have got to be kidding me.” Dark-skinned Latoya leaned over the front desk, eying Georgia in exasperation. “You know, most people can’t wait to leave work.”

  Georgia gave them her best guilty smile. “Come on, guys. I know the floor is overcrowded. You’ve got five people waiting on beds and you’re two doctors short for the night shift.”

  “And we’re going to be down a nurse when your ass collapses from exhaustion.” Penny, who had only just arrived for her shift, scooped Georgia’s things up from the desk and handed them right back to her. The expression she wore, however, softened at the lines of fatigue around Georgia’s eyes. “Honey give it a rest. We’ll manage here. Lord knows you’ve already pulled enough doubles this month to put us all to shame.”

  When Georgia opened her mouth to argue, Beverly beat her to the punch. “Georgia, everyone on the floor is stable. No one is going to die if you leave us a little shorthanded. You, however, need rest. Just go, before I ban you from the hospital for a week.”

  The threat was enough to get the blonde moving. She looked from one terse face to the other before finally exhaling a sigh of defeat. “Fine. But you know I’m only a call away if you need me.”

  The memory of a little boy who’d stuck his finger in his father’s cigarette cutter was almost enough to make her turn around once more once she’d left the station, but somehow, Georgia made it all the way to the ground floor.

  For the tenth time that month, she wondered why on earth she had become a nurse. Of course, she’d always wanted to heal people, but she’d never known how intoxicating the fulfillment of helping someone in need could be. Certainly, the job had its rotten days. There were at least as many patients that didn’t want her near them as those who desperately begged for her help - but Georgia didn’t go into nursing for herself.

  She did it because she never wanted to fail anyone like she had failed her own parents.

  The thought was enough to make her stomach tighten as she swallowed thickly. She promised herself that she would spend the rest of her life helping people, and if that meant a few extra hours on the clock, she wouldn’t balk from it.

  Georgia waved goodbye to the night security guard, shifting her bag to one shoulder so she could check her phone. When she took in the three missed calls there, she inhaled sharply. Speaking of helping people...how the hell had she missed three of Everly’s calls?

  Stepping off to the side in the waiting room, she hurriedly dialed her sister’s number, her heart in her throat. Usually, she kept her ringer on all the time for situations just like this, but she’d had to turn it off for one of her last patients and now...now…

  “Hello?” Everly’s voice came through after the third ring, faint and weak. Georgia almost had a heart attack where she stood.

  “Ever! Are you ok? What’s going on? Where are you!?”

  “Jesus, Georgia, take it down a few decibels...I was asleep.”

  The blonde took a deep, steadying breath as relief seeped into her very bones. After that split second of gratitude, however, a flickering tongue of irritation rose within her. “You’re asleep? Everly, you called me three times in the past hour.”

  “Of course I did!” Her sister fired back almost immediately. Despite being younger, she’d never been cowed by Georgia’s mood swings. “You were supposed to get off almost two hours ago and I hadn’t heard from you!”

  The revelation was enough to melt away any inkling of anger that threatened. Jesus, she’d been so wrapped up in work that she hadn’t even thought to tell Everly that she’d be dropping by her place late - and this wasn’t the first time it had happened.

  Sheepish, Georgia ran a hand through her tangled blonde ponytail. “Sorry, Ever. I didn’t mean to get snippy. Long day.”

  “No kidding,” the little spitfire muttered sullenly. “You’ve been at the hospital for fourteen freaking hours. If you don’t watch yourself, Georgia, I’m not the only one who’s going to need extra care.”

  Georgia frowned deeply. She didn’t like when Everly talked so flagrantly about her illness, but in this case, she supposed she deserved it. In the past few weeks, there’d been a huge upswing in Emergency room admission, and Georgia made it her personal mission to make sure that no patient went unseen.

  Of course, Everly would call her on neglecting her own health. “Ok, ok. I’m on the way to your place now.” She strode through the hospital doors and into the crisp fall evening air. Even beyond the admittance lane of the hospital, the immense parking lot was awash with lighting that made her blink rapidly.

  “I’ll take pizza as an apology.”

  Georgia rolled her eyes exasperatedly, even though she couldn’t keep the corners of her mouth from turning up in amusement. “Cheese and Mushroom?”

  “You’re the best sister in the world...even if you’re obsessed with your job.”

  Georgia’s smile lingered until she ended the call.

  She wasn’t the best sister in the world - for a plethora of reasons. Her mouth set into a tight line; she made a beeline for the back of the parking lot - where she’d parked her old yellow VW beetle. Everly had been trying to get her to trade it in for at least two or three years, but Georgia refused. The little car reminded her of better, more carefree times - when she hadn’t known the world was cruel or terrifying.

  She had tossed her things into the trunk and was preparing to open the driver’s side door when a long shadow fell over her. When Georgia looked up, the breath whooshed from her lungs and her heart plunged into her stomach.

  “You don’t look very happy to see me, darlin.”

  Never had truer words been spoken.

  She found herself trapped in a cool, amused brown gaze as the man before her took her in from head to foot. It had been at least six months since she’d seen him last, and he could still make her skin crawl. Georgia had to admit to herself, if to no one else, that he probably always would. After all, five years of marriage to the devil couldn’t simply be forgotten.

  “V-Vincent.” She took pride in the fact that she was more annoyed at her unsteady tone than she was afraid - but only just. “What are you doing here? The restraining order says one hundred yards at all times.”

  The mere mention of said order was enough to melt the smirk from a face she’d once thought unbearably handsome. Those broad shoulders, dark eyes, and tousled hair...God, she’d been so naive.

  These days, Georgia couldn’t think of anyone more hideous than her ex-husband.

  “Can’t I have a simple conversation with my sweetheart without any complications?” When his smile returned, it didn’t reach his eyes - but Georgia wouldn’t have been fooled even if it had.

  “I’m not your sweetheart.” She took a steadying breath, reaching behind her for the handle on her car door. At Everly’s insistence, she’d bought a little pink taser online three months ago, convinced she would never use it. After all, the threat of the cops should be more than enough to keep Vincent away...shouldn’t it? “And we’ve already done more than enough talking.”

  “My sweet Georgia,” when he took a step towards her, Georgia’s breath hitched in fear. “Have you already forgotten how close we used to be? So very close-”

&nbs
p; Panicking, Georgia whirled, yanking the car door open as she lunged for the taser left forgotten on the passenger seat. A millisecond later, a sharp, intense pain shot up her arm from her elbow, turning so white-hot that it took her breath away. Vincent cut off her scream with a hand over her mouth, his face mere inches from hers.

  Through a haze of pain and panic, Georgia barely managed to understand what had happened. She hadn’t even gotten a head start into the car before Vincent yanked her from it, slamming her arm in the door as he pinned her between the unyielding car and his powerful form. Though she was terrified of him, Georgia’s revulsion at having him so close coupled with her anger at his boldness made her lash out.

  Even she was surprised when she sank her teeth into the flesh at the base of his thumb. Georgia didn’t let up until she tasted blood - her ex-husband cursed and shoved her away from him.

  “You little bitch.” Vincent’s eyes glittered in fury as he looked from his dripping hand to her. “I’m trying to help you, do you know that?”

  It was a miracle Georgia wasn’t sick on the spot. She could only imagine what she looked like, her bruised arm lying limp at her side, Vincent’s blood smeared over her chin. How many times had Vincent trapped her just like this? “Help me?” She wiped her chin disgustedly. “Like you helped me into a depressive hole? Like you helped ruin my life?” She couldn’t help the single tear that betrayed her terror, brutally warm against the autumn chill. “Like you ruined Everly’s?”

  Almost immediately, Vincent rolled his eyes. He had long stopped even pretending to be sorry for everything he’d done. “Jesus, Georgia. Can’t you pull your head out of your ass and be present for once? There are bigger stakes at hand here than your fucking sister.”

  If she were braver, Georgia might have gone for the taser again. He might not expect it a second time. But her arm was throbbing - and Vincent’s lightning-quick moves had done well to remind her exactly what he was. “Everly is all there is for me,” she managed in a whisper, straightening with a wince. “You know that.”