Free The Alpha's Ardor by Rebecca Brochu Page B

brought both Law and Trace running, but he ignored them as he continued to trade barbs with Lachlan. After all of their talks about being careful Lachlan had managed to run headlong into a small pack of hunters in a town just on the other side of Law’s territory boundary to the south.
    Declan, angry and scared, demanded Lachlan tell him where he was at, was prepared to shift and track him down by scent if he had to. Lachlan was just as adamant that Declan stay put, that he stay where he was, safe and protected. He was unable to suppress the snarl that twisted his features, the way his eyes flashed and his claws slipped out when Trace snatched the phone away from him.
    “You’re in the south edges, right? Then you need to head north and cross over the territory line. There are beta patrols out in that area, and the hunters won’t dare cross into our territory. I’ll call ahead and tell them that you’re on the way and that you might have heat on your tail.” Trace spoke, his voice urgent and serious in a way Declan had never heard before.
    “Who the fuck are you? Where the hell is Declan?” Lachlan’s loud and angry voice could be heard over the phone’s speaker easily.
    “I’m Trace, he’s here, now shut up and do what I told you.”
    Trace managed to snarl across the line before Declan grabbed the phone back.
    “Lach! He’s right. Just ditch the hunters and get across the territory line. We’ll figure the rest of it out later.” Declan didn’t care about anything but making sure Lachlan was safe.
    “Fine! I’ll call you back when I’m at the border. That son of a bitch had better make that fucking phone call, or I swear I’ll rip his spleen out with my teeth.” Lachlan hung up abruptly, and it was only Law’s comforting hand on his shoulder that kept Declan from rushing out of the house in an attempt to track Lachlan down.
    “It’s going to be alright, little wolf. I sent out word that Lachlan was to be protected the minute you told me he was scouting the territory lines. Trace makes one call, and he’ll have half a dozen wolves out looking for him and safe passage into the territory.” Law’s calm and confident voice helped Declan to pull back his anger and his worry enough for him to be able to breath normally again.
    “So, Declan, this twin of yours ... you two are identical, right?” Trace asked like he didn’t already know the answer, but his question broke some of the tension in the kitchen, and Declan was almost grateful. “Should be fun having two sweet little bits around the house.”
    Helpless amusement warring with worry, Declan nodded, but he couldn’t stop a faintly confused grin from turning up his lips at the way Trace was so obviously excited. “You should know we’re only physically identical. Lachlan’s not as … peaceable as I am, as I’m sure you just figured out.” It was a longstanding joke between him and Lachlan, the fact Lachlan’s temper ran hot and wild while Declan had always favored the cunning and calm approach. It made them an excellent team, and Declan knew it was one of the things that had kept them alive for so long despite not having a proper pack.
    “He’s feisty. I approve.” Trace chuckled lowly from where he was standing halfway through the kitchen door way.
    “That’s putting it mildly.” Trace looked like he wanted to ask more questions, but he shook his head sharply and turned to head out the back door, hand digging into a pocket and coming out with a sleek black phone as he moved. He was in the yard in seconds, and Declan heard him barking orders to someone on the other end of the line for a few a moments before Declan heard him hang up.
    “Law, I’m going to the diner. It’ll be a few hours, but I’ll call when he’s through the line.” Trace spoke from the yard, and Declan could hear the sound of clothes being shed and dropped on the back porch as Trace, without waiting for a reply, shifted and took off.
    Declan had a sneaking