Free Opposition: Montana Wolves, Book Four (Montana Wolves series 4) by Chloe Cole

those doors opened?
    It was as if the air itself had exploded.
    Like total pandemonium as wolves toppled on top of each other, grappling and growling until the air smelled of iron and sweat and salty tears.
    There was no sign of Maggie’s sable fur anywhere.
    Maybe she was doing as he asked and trying to stay as clear of the fray as possible…
    Even as the thought ran through his head, he knew it couldn’t be true. She would never leave her pack to fight without her. She was here somewhere.
    And hopefully unharmed.
    He froze in his tracks as a familiar howl rent the air nearby. He spun to find Willa pinned beneath an enormous gray beast. Fury blasted through him as he leapt at her attacker, closing his teeth over its haunches, tearing at the ligaments just hard enough to immobilize but not maim.
    Willa rose to all fours, snarling as he released the yowling animal.
    Remember. Fight, but no killing, he reminded her before moving along with single-minded determination, not wanting to waste one precious second.
    Got it, boss.
    Grey barely heard her response as his father’s voice sounded in his mind.
    Fight on! Never give up, my people. Not until every last one of them is dead.
    This time, the pull of the alpha was far less compelling. Almost like a fly buzzing around in his head instead of a deep and resonating voice as strong as a wolf’s own consciousness.
    Strange. Grey paused in his tracks, and looked around the battlefield. He was still searching the warring wolves for a sign of his father’s silvery fur when a movement in the woods captured his attention.
    In the distance, a flash of movement…a creature, skulking away from the battle into the heart of the forest.
    Willa had started heading back into the fray, but he called out to stop her.
    Have you seen my father?
    She shook her sandy head and he nodded toward the animal’s still retreating form. It passed through a small clearing and a moonbeam struck its fur.
    Silver.
    Willa’s mental gasp reverberated through him.
    Search the battle , he commanded grimly. She met his gaze for a long moment before loping off. A rush of anger warred with the wash of anticipation. If that son of a bitch had led his pack into battle and then abandoned them in secret to protect his own ass, he deserved the gravest of punishments. It would explain why his will had seemed so weak when he’d tried to command. Because, instinctively, Grey’s wolf had already known that Joseph was no longer alpha.
    That meant this could be it.
    The end for Joseph West.
    He paced the edges of the forest, sending out mental feelers to connect with his father to no avail.
    Maybe it was a mistake. A trick of the light, or a Pray wolf who resembled his father from afar. But the fact of the matter was that he knew what Willa would say before her voice sounded in his head again.
    He’s not here. I looked everywhere.
    He breathed deep and then let out a low, wavering call to his packmates that remained.
    Big Sky wolves, I ask that you take a look around. Where is your leader?
    The battle raged on, but the difference was notable. Between jumps and lunges, every wolf was turning left and right, checking every inch of the field for something they could not—and would not—find.
    He has abandoned you to bleed for him. Is this the life you’ve signed on for? Is this your idea of an alpha?
    More low growls joined his own.
    As you fight, wonder why you’re fighting, and consider ending this. We can start anew. No longer do you have to live in fear. Let me bring this pack into the future.
    He closed his speech with a snarl, and then shook his head.
    Part of him expected to feel some sadness. His father was even more of a bastard than he’d thought. It was one thing to be a crazed monster, stuck in the days of old. It was another to be a coward and a hypocrite.
    The only good news was that at least the pack would finally see just how bad it was. Even now, some of them were backing away, disengaging, probably