Free Wild Dream by Donna Grant

Kane? You would do it for your brothers.”
    Lincoln started to deny her claim. Then he closed his mouth and let out a long sigh. “Shit. I hadn’t thought of that. He’s family.”
    “And that’s his brother,” she said and pointed to Kane. “What wouldn’t you do for your brothers?”
    “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them.”
    “And Solomon? Don’t you think he feels the same way?”
    Lincoln ran a hand down his face and turned away to pace a few steps before he faced her once more. “We’re taught at an early age that family means everything. We hunt to protect the people of this parish, but family comes first. Solomon was taught the same.”
    She really hated being right. “We won’t know if Solomon is helping Kane or not until I start to go for the canoe.”
    “Then we don’t go. We stay right here.”
    Ava took his hand. “Do you trust your brothers to help get us to the house?”
    “I trust them with my life.”
    “Then let’s give it a go.”
    “Ava,” he began.
    She held up a finger to his lips. “You know these bayous, Lincoln. I trust you with my life.”
    A low growl came from the darkness opposite Kane. Ava watched as Kane’s fur stood on end again. Her head swiveled in time to see another wolf, this one silver, step from the shadows.
    It had begun.
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER TEN
     
     
    Lincoln wanted to call the entire thing off. He was no longer sure of Solomon’s intentions. There was a chance Ava would never make it to the house. It was a long way to Chiasson land.
    Solomon walked around the oak along the barrier in werewolf form, his silver coat almost glowing in the moonlight. The closer he got, the louder Kane’s growls. Solomon’s big silver head turned to Lincoln. He met the werewolf’s yellow eyes before Solomon issued his own warning growl to Kane.
    What would he do for his brothers? Everything. And Lincoln knew damn well Solomon felt the same.
    Lincoln took Ava’s hand. The tension between Solomon and Kane was escalating at a rapid rate. Any minute now they would begin to fight, and holy ground or not, Lincoln wanted Ava far from them.
    There was a flash of light in the darkness over the bayou. Lincoln’s gaze jerked to it and found Christian in the canoe hiding behind a crop of cypress trees. Lincoln backed Ava to the edge of the water. They had barely taken two steps when Kane launched himself at Solomon. The growls and general sounds of fighting filled the night like an explosion.
    “Go,” Lincoln softly urged Ava.
    Ava stepped into the water, and Christian paddled furiously to them. To their left another form came out of the shadows. Lincoln let out a sigh when he recognized Vincent. His brother moved to Ava’s other side, and the three of them walked deeper into the water.
    As soon as Christian was near enough, Lincoln lifted Ava into the canoe and got in behind her at the rear. They both picked up paddles and helped Christian turn the canoe around.
    “Hurry,” Vin whispered and gave them a push.
    The water was like glass, and they glided over it effortlessly. As they rounded the crop of trees, Lincoln looked back to see the wolves still fighting.
    “Beau is waiting up ahead,” Christian whispered over his shoulder. “Vin will also go around and set up in case Kane gives chase.”
    “And Solomon.”
    Christian’s silence told Lincoln they too had doubts about Solomon. Lincoln put his energy into getting home. He put his oar in the water and steered them around submerged trees and shallow water while Christian and Ava paddled.
    The oars barely made a sound as they sliced through the water. None of them spoke. Until the howl of a wolf cut through the night.
    Lincoln set his jaw. If he had to, he would kill both Kane and Solomon. He had vowed to keep Ava safe, and that’s what he would do.  
    A second howl, this one longer and deeper, sounded near them. Solomon and Kane were no longer fighting. The question was, who was