Free Wolf's Bane (Shifted) by Lynn Leite

Gage interjected. “The more he sends, the weaker his pack is. I know that Ashley is the main focus, but we do need to consider the bigger picture. Bane can’t be allowed to continue. I know both my Brother and the council agree on this point. I don’t see this ending without Bane being eliminated.”
    “ Then what would happen to the pack?” Ashley asked. She had no love for Bane, but there were good people in the pack.
    “ These sons of his, are they likely to take the lead if their father is eliminated?”
    “I don’t know. Richard was the one Bane had been grooming to take over. Jack and Frank didn’t seem too interested. I think taking Bane out would cripple the pack. I don’t see either of them challenging.”
    “ So we, the Cheveyo pack and the Reiner pack, could absorb the Bane Shifters into our community. Letting one of his sons take over might not be the best plan.”
    “ You’ll kill Warren?”
    “Ashley , you are my niece. That makes this a direct threat to my family. As Alpha I have the right to take out that threat.”
    Bryce was thinking that gave him the right as well. He wasn’t the Alpha yet, but, as the Alpha heir any threat to his mate being eliminated was within his rights according to pack law.
    Bryce hadn’t made his claim on Ashley known to the men in the room. The timing was bad. He knew he needed to go slow when it came to Ashley’s well-being. She had been through so much in such a short time. A growling, possessive mate wasn’t going to help the situation. She may not be ready for a full mating which involved a bite during sex. She might not be up for either at this time, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t his. The mate fever was all the claim he needed. He was about to make his claim known when Drew continued.
    “I have a lake house not too far from here . I could take her there; make sure the weres Bane sent are watching. Then when they come, they won’t know we expect them. We will have the advantage.
    "I’ll take her, “Bryce snapped. Drew gave him a curious look.
    “ Sorry Alpha, but you are needed here. If I take her, they will think she had only a guard. If you go, they will be less likely to make a move on an Alpha. They don’t know I am Alpha. I’ll just look like one of the guard.”
    “ Brother, there is no way we are letting you go alone,” Aiden snapped.
    “ May I suggest the boys go on ahead to the house? Then, Bryce can follow with Ashley. They will follow Bryce, thinking he is her only protection.” Jane Woodland’s family nodded at her in agreement.
    “ And we will be there waiting,” Matt chimed in.
    “That might just work.” Ashley said, seeing for the first time there was hope.
    “It better work,” moaned Bryce.
     
    Bryce didn’t like the plan , but he saw the wisdom in it. As far as he was concerned, he would lock Ashley in the Alpha house and never let her go. His need to protect her was over riding his common sense, and he knew it. Keeping Ashley locked in his care would only hurt her. What kind of life would that be for his mate and for his future children? He also had the pack to think about. If they remained there, then the Reiner pack would be targeted. He would someday be Alpha. He had to think of the big picture.
    As the others milled around discussing time tables and attack plans , Bryce could see that Ashley was fading. She looked dead on her feet from the day’s events.
    “ You need some rest,” he whispered to her as soon as he got close to her.
    “I am tired,” Ashley smiled at Bryce. His concern for her showed on his face.
    “Go to bed. We’ll figure the rest of this out in the morning.”
    “Like I believe that. You boys will be up half the night planning. Look at your brother Matt. He’s all wound up at the prospect of a fight.”
    “He’s the one that should have probably trained as an enforcer. Matt never backs down from anything.”
    “I do feel as if I’m in good hands.”
    “You are in good hands. Now go