Patrick was on his heels as Gabriel hurried after his brother. Pulling on their coats, they ran toward the front of the village. The howling continued, a mournful sound that filled the night. Sentries and hunters rushed about with no clear direction. The front gate was securely barred and armed guards held their positions on the walls, but anxious energy kept the hybrids in motion.
“Report,” Gabriel called out as they reached the front entrance to the village.
“We’re surrounded, sir,” one of the sentries responded. “There are hundreds of wolves encircling the village.”
“Have the eagle brothers finally arrived?” Alex’s deep voice boomed from beyond the wall. Sarcasm shaped each word, making the question disrespectful and provoking.
Gabriel rushed forward and climbed the ladder leading to the wall walk. “You had me convinced you were better than your predecessor,” Gabriel shouted. Alex stood at the edge of the clearing, his beta at his side. “I should have known better than trusting a wolf.”
“I want only what we’re due,” Alex insisted, shoulders squared, head held high. “There are roughly three hundred females. I’ve captured twenty-five. That means these attacks will continue until my wolves have secured the other seventy-five.”
“All of the women in Eagle Village have already been claimed by birds,” Gabriel lied.
“Your brother claimed one. Three are being courted. Send out the others and I’ll be on my way. There’s no need for bloodshed. Zion will give you more females. We both know he’d tell me to go fuck myself.”
With an angry snarl, Gabriel climbed back down and faced his brother. “Did you hear that bullshit?”
“We’re not giving him the females,” Raphael said adamantly.
“Never even considered it,” Gabriel assured.
“I’ll go get help,” Patrick said.
Gabriel shook his head. “It needs to be me. Zion knows damn well that I’m the one who pulled back from the alliance. If we want the cats to help us, I’m going to have to kiss his ass.”
“He’ll make you pay, but not tonight,” Raphael countered. “Let Patrick go. He’s faster and I need you here.”
Reluctantly, Gabriel agreed. He looked at Patrick and instructed, “Fly up the mountain then circle around. Alex will have archers in the trees.”
“Understood.” Patrick held out his arms and tilted his head back. His knees bent, then he launched his body skyward. His human form disintegrated in an instant and a massive golden eagle emerged. With a few flaps of his wings, the bird melded withthe darkness, and Patrick’s clothing collapsed in a heap on the ground.
“It will take Patrick twenty minutes to reach the feline village. Even in lion form, it’s going to take an hour for Zion’s soldiers to get up here,” Raphael pointed out, drawing Gabriel’s attention. “Will Alex talk to you? We need to stall.”
“There’s only one way to find out.” Gabriel took a deep breath and focused on the task awaiting him. He was furious. Thanks to Alex, Gabriel looked like a gullible fool. He had been arguing for political neutrality and fair treatment for all hybrids while the fucking wolves surrounded Eagle Village.
Gabriel usually faced conflicts head on with a calm, analytical demeanor. But wolves were savage by nature. The only characteristic they responded to was strength. He approached the perimeter fence and signaled for the guards to open the gate.
Allowing his anger and frustration to build, Gabriel stormed up to Alex and punched him in the face. “What the fuck is wrong with you!” he yelled.
Caught off guard by the violent aggression, Alex stumbled back a step. He recovered in an instant, however, and a menacing growl rumbled in his throat. His hands folded into fists and he charged toward Gabriel.
Gabriel twisted sharply, avoiding the first blow as he threw another punch. Alex was ready this time and easily ducked. Gabriel countered with his left arm, catching Alex in the eye. The wolf kicked Gabriel’s legs out from under him and followed him down to the ground.
The two males rolled across the forest floor kicking, bucking, and punching. They were soon surrounded by excited wolveswho shouted encouragements to their alpha. Alex was bigger and stronger than Gabriel, yet Gabriel was agile and fast. Alex could have shifted and ripped out Gabriel’s throat, or Gabriel could have shifted and escaped into the sky. This wasn’t a lethal fight and they both knew it.
“Had enough?” Alex asked as he pinned Gabriel against the ground.
“You’re a lying sonofabitch,” Gabriel sneered, thrashing in the wolf shifter’s hold. “I defended you. I trusted you. Get the fuck off me!”
Alex heaved himself off Gabriel, then held out his hand.
Gabriel snarled and got up without assistance. He wiped away blood from his nose with the back of his hand while Alex rubbed his bruised jaw.
“You’ve got a mean left hook,” Alex admitted with a chuckle.
Gabriel was not amused. “I compromised the safety of my village because you promised you wouldn’t attack!”
“I haven’t attacked,” Alex pointed out with a smirk, then he shoved Gabriel back. “And I never promised you anything. I told you I had no plans to attack and at that point the statement was true.”
