Free Heir To The Pack (The Cursed Pack Book 1) by Laura Welling Page A

already tried to
take him.” Dash clenched his fingers into fists, trying to keep a lid on his
rage. “I beat the shit out of them. But I don’t know who they were, or what
pack they were from.” He filled Gaelan in.
    When Dash was done, G let
loose a string of Norwegian swearwords. Some of them Dash hadn't even heard from
him before.
    Elaine said, “We could do
with your help solving this. And for protection.”
    Gaelan nodded. “I'm here to
help. Maybe smash in a few heads. It's what I do.”
    “Are you planning on
making the trip up to the ranch with us?” his aunt asked.
    “With you, behind you, in
front of you. Whatever it takes.” The blond reached out his hand and Dash
clasped it in the arm-wrestle shake they’d used for twenty years.
    “You’re not all bad, G,
but I’d prefer it if you didn’t flaunt yourself in front of Annie.”
    “I’ll try not to show
myself off too much. But I can’t hide my Gods-given gifts, now, can I?” He
grinned. “I wasn’t kidding about the Russian wolves, either.”
    Dash’s ears pricked up. “What
do you mean?”
    “I took out a scout in
your back yard. Watching the house from the woods.”

 
 
 
 
    CHAPTER
SIX
    “Took him out? Tell me you
didn’t kill one of our theoretical allies right in my territory.” Shit. This
could get ugly.
    “Nah, I whopped him over
the head with a chunk of wood. He’ll get over it. Assuming he can find his way
out of your neighbor’s dumpster when he wakes up.”
    Dash turned it over in his
head, drumming a foot on the floor. “I don’t like it.”
    “Well, duh.”
    He stared out into space,
thinking. “Where did you hear the rumor that brought you here?”
    “I called the house a few
hours ago to see when you were leaving. Bill told me you’d sent the others on
ahead and were tied up with houseguests. He wasn’t too shy about giving out
details, either.”
    Dash swore. “I thought I
could trust him. That’s why he’s here.”
    “I don’t know that he meant
anything by it. He’s stupid. That’s why he’s at the bottom of the pecking
order. You know it.” Gaelan shrugged.
    Dash knew G had issues
with the lower ranks. “Stupidity isn’t confined to submissive wolves. I’m
feeling pretty gods-damned stupid myself right now.” He stood up, walked over
to the window. “The abduction attempt was this morning. Annie and Jack were
over here yesterday for a brief visit. Word had already gotten out, and
somebody had time to act on it. We’d better talk to Bill.”
    “I want to know who else
he told,” Elaine added. He could tell she wasn't happy from the V between her
brows. That was fine. Neither was he.
    Gaelan stood up, flexed
his biceps. “I’d be happy to take care of that for you. I never liked his
weaselly little face. Be a pleasure to rearrange it.”
    “There's no need for
violence,” Elaine said, crossing her legs, and giving them her ladylike version
of a scowl.
    “I don’t know about that,”
Dash growled. “He needs to learn to keep his mouth shut.”
    “Let’s go.”
    “I’m with you, brother.” Dash
and Gaelan reached the door at the same time and bounced off each other’s broad
shoulders. Dash snarled and leapt through the doorway, Gaelan right on his
heels. He charged into the family room where Bill sat in a corner, watching out
the window while Annie played on the floor with Jack and Daisy. A scene of pure
domestic bliss. Except that the guard who was supposed to be maintaining that
bliss wasn’t paying enough attention to his duties.
    Dash rushed over to Bill
and picked him up by the neck, Darth-Vader-style. “You stupid bastard,” he
growled. Bill’s eyelids moved up and down slowly, and his face began to purple.
    “Dash,” Annie said, her
voice clipped and calm. “I don’t know what the issue is, but you need to take
it outside. Jack and I are playing here.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I’ll
take my business elsewhere.” He took one of Bill’s arms and