Free An Everlasting Bite by Stacey Kennedy

her palm as he glanced at the crowd. The Grand Hall was located just off the main lodge at Wolf Creek—with typical high ceilings of dark wood beams, crystal chandeliers and candles provided dim light. The table where he, Rynn and Valor sat had a deep silver cotton tablecloth with sleek matching covered chairs.
    “So, what’s going to happen?” Rynn whispered to Briggs.
    He would have responded, if Tiago’s entrance in the hall didn’t steal his attention.
    Briggs watched as Tiago inhaled deeply. Immediately, he scented out that Rynn had been claimed, sending his eyes into slits.
    Within seconds, the look faded and he gave Briggs a firm nod of acknowledgment as he found his way to his table. Sod. Tiago was not a man he liked at the moment and it would serve him well to stay clear.
    It took a few more minutes for all the wolves to find their tables—of course, Valor’s table sat a little apart from the rest. Briggs could sense Rynn didn’t enjoy the fact she was displayed in such a way. He found her lack of comfort amusing but did scoot her chair a little behind his so she was hidden further.
    As the last of the wolves took their seats, Valor stood. “Hendrix. Sayer.” His voice rang clear in authority, a sound Briggs had gotten used to and respected. “Come forward.”
    The two men stood from their chairs—both puffed up, muscles clenched, death gazes hard on their faces. Briggs could only hope no blood would be shed here in front of Rynn, which was very likely. She’d yet to see how violent his kind could be and enough had happened already. He wasn’t sure she could take much more.
    Hendrix and Sayer stopped in front of the table. Hendrix immediately got down to business. “Return my daughter!” he roared at Sayer.
    Briggs tensed, ready to move Rynn out of the way if he needed to. Hendrix looked about a second away from shifting. His entire body trembled beneath his khakis and black cotton tee shirt. Even his charcoal shoulder-length hair seemed to shake and his dark eyes raged with fury.
    Sayer stepped in closer to him, nose-to-nose. “I do not have her,” he said through gritted teeth. The challenge had been issued, and Sayer wasn’t stepping down. The look in his eyes was just like his cropped honey hair, soft and relaxed. Exactly how an Alpha should look like when presented with a situation like this—not guilty.
    Valor sighed and gave his face a rub as he examined the men. “You have not heard anything of this?” he asked Sayer.
    Sayer glanced at him, his gaze conveyed truth. “Nothing at all, nor am I involved in it. Furthermore, I doubt any of my pack is either.”
    “How can you be so sure?” Valor asked.
    “I am as sure as you would be. I trust my pack. They are not capable of doing this.
    My wolves are well looked after. They do not go without. They wouldn’t need her for anything. What would the motive be?”
    Valor leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, his brows furrowed in contemplation. “Hendrix, you heard him. He does not have her or any knowledge of her whereabouts.”
    Hendrix breathed deep through his nose, his fists clenched tight against his sides. “I do not care. If the trail ended in Minnesota then she must be with the wolves there. He needs to pay for their lack of discipline.”
    Valor turned his gaze to Sayer, who stood cool and collected. “That does pose a question. Have you had any rogue wolves come into your area?”
    Sayer pondered that for a moment, then shook his head. “Not that I know of. I would have been informed immediately. No one has presented themselves to me.”
    Briggs leaned over and whispered in Rynn’s ear, sensing the conversation confused her. “When wolves are without a pack, they are known as rogues. An Alpha’s permission is needed for them to stay in his territory.”
    Rynn smiled a soft thank you, then looked back at the men.
    “You see,” Hendrix accused, drawing Briggs’ gaze back to his. “No rogues. It must be members of