Free Alpha's Arrangement (Troubled Fork Shifters (Book 2)) by Gabrielle Demonico Page B

down his legs. Alexander’s fur was a cascade of gray, white and black. Taut, hard musculature rippled beneath their fur as the two combatants moved around one another in a small circle. As they did, low growls and snarls emitted from both of them.
    The women pressed themselves against the vehicle and braced for the worst. Emma had seen her share of fights over the years but none quite like this. Two enormous wolves, both in their prime, sized one another up. She knew from experience that it would be a matter of seconds before it was an all out war. Hackles up, both of them measured each step with sinewy precision.
    The tension of the moment was evident in their haunches and now, the only question was who would be the first to strike.
    Devon bared his fangs and Alexander countered.
    As Emma looked on, she felt Trina go limp. She turned to see what the problem was only to discover that she had passed out and was about to hit the pavement.
    “Trina!” Emma shrieked.
    Distracted by the commotion, Alexander turned his attention toward his sister. It was the moment Devon had waited for and he seized it. He launched himself at Alexander and with a horrendous thud, the pair hit the pavement. The force of the impact knocked the wind out of Alexander and weakened him just long enough for Devon to bite first.
    Alexander yelped as Devon sunk his teeth into his upper back. He writhed about and flipped Devon over behind him. As he did, he landed on top of Devon, whose bite still held firm. Alexander struggled to regain the advantage and kicked at Devon with his hind legs. The force jarred Devon loose from him but a high price. The wound on Alexander’s neck drenched his upper back with blood.
    For several minutes, they traded positions of strength as the battle continued. Emma wanted to shift and help Alexander but that would have left Trina vulnerable. If Devon was to somehow defeat Alexander, she knew that she would need to save her strength to protect her, if it came to that. She turned for a moment to make sure that Trina hadn’t fallen when from behind she heard a bloodcurdling cry.
    She turned to see Devon down flat on his back. Alexander had him pinned. Devon appeared to be unconscious from the impact but for the most part, not injured. Alexander bared his teeth and looked as if he were about to finish the fight that Devon had started.
    But, just as he leaned into his haunches, Emma cried, “Alexander! No!”
    The wolf turned and looked at her. His eyes glowed crimson with streaks of amber. It seemed that he was no longer the Alexander she thought she knew but a stone cold killer that was prepared to do whatever it took to win. Tears welled up in Emma’s eyes as she looked at him. He stared at her for several more seconds and then looked down at Devon who lay motionless.
    “Don’t…” she whispered. “Please don’t.”
    The wolf dropped his head and within moments shifted back into his human form. He seemed out of it. Emma had never seen anything like it during a shift before but, there was no time to talk about it. They needed to just get out of there.
    “Emma…” Alexander said. “T ake Trina’s keys and get her home. I’ll deal with him and you have my word that all I will do is make sure he goes back to Troubled Fork. No harm will come to him. I swear. I am sorry if I frightened you earlier.”
    “I…” she said. “Okay. Should I wait for you at Trina’s house?”
    “No. Just drive her car back to my house.” He replied. “Now go.”
    “But…” she said.
    “No buts . Just go, Emma. Now!” He demanded.
    Still in shock, Emma helped Trina into her car and within minutes they were back on the road. After she got Trina in her house and in bed, she got in the car to hurry back to Alexander’s home. Curiosity got the better of her and she cruised by the Wobblin’ Wolf on the way there. There was no sign of either one of them.
    She hoped that meant good news.
    At last she pulled into Alexander’s