Declan climbed the wooden stairs to the fighting area and stood in front of Gabriel. His clenched fists push Noelle and Maria backward. Declan could hear the crowd whispering amongst themselves. His tuned senses picked up much more than before.

“I know Gabriel’s bigger, but look at the size of Declan, he’s so much more than he was before,” a pack member whispered to his mate.

The girl whispered back. “Do you think that'll be a fight to the death?”

“We’ll have to wait and see,” the guy responded. “Declan—Declan!” His fists were in the air. There were mixed chants, and Declan could hear all of them. The pack members at the front were all pro-Declan, yet the cowardly ones at the back were pro-Gabriel.

“SO!! Declan, you think you can take back what’s yours, eh? Or should I say, what you think is yours.” Gabriel snapped and snarled his words.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but this pack’s always been mine. You might have a few converts but that’s only because they’re shit-scared of your leadership methods,” Declan boomed back.

Gabriel cracked his neck and flexed his claws, he lunged toward Declan. A solid hand around his throat stopped him in his tracks. His feet were lifted from the floor.

“You think you’ve got it in you, to take ME on?” Declan snarled into Gabriel’s face, before throwing him against the wall.

Gabriel stood with anger and hatred on his face. He stooped to all fours and took a flying leap at Declan. Declan tightened the lips of his snout, and a thick black line appeared. The back of his paw smashed into Gabriel’s jaw and sent him reeling against the blood-splattered sheeting.

Gabriel stood. A trickle of blood ran from the gash on his lips. He fumed, and his nostrils flared as he launched his body at Declan. His paws hit square on Declan’s chest and pushed him from the area, just to scatter the crowd. Screams filled the air as the group pushed back and a few pack members headed to the door.

“See Declan, I can take you if I want,” Gabriel added as he stepped down the stairs.

His foot hit the cold concrete as he threw himself again. Declan ducked and grabbed ahold of Gabriel’s neck and belly, and threw him, crashing him onto the table. It was full of half-empty bottles and glasses. Gabriel stood. Patches of crimson red ran through his fur. Shards of glass fell to the floor as he picked up the neck of a bottle.

“Come on then, you chicken-shit! Let’s see what you’ve really got!” Gabriel held the broken bottle in front of him.

Declan stepped forward, and the steely-gaze of his wild eyes burned into Gabriel. “Since when has a wolf fought with a weapon? Is that being scared or is that being a coward?” Declan retorted with a giggle. “Or is it BOTH!”

“DECLAN!” His voice was full of rage.

“You’re on your own Gab, your converts have left, already. What you gonna do?” Declan asked in a relaxed tone. “You want this to go all the way? I’m not the same as before, you must see that, even with your cowardly eyes.”

“Take the motherfucker down!” a voice yelled from the back of the remaining pack.

“It’s not my way,” Declan said. “He might be a bad leader, and he might’ve forgotten he used to be my friend, but he is a wolf, and I don’t kill wolves, not anymore.”

“You’re WEAK!” Gabriel shouted as he lunged with the bottle held in front of him. Declan held his paw out. The bottle hit and disintegrated before Gabriel’s startled eyes.

“Gab, didn’t you listen to a word I just said?” Declan looked into Gabriel’s eyes. “I told you, I’m not the same as before.” Declan snapped back to his human form and continued walking toward Gabriel who was now taking steps backward. “Here, I’m human, now you can take me,” Declan said, as his eyes turned to Noelle and Maria. They were walking level with him at the front of the pack.

Gabriel saw his chance and pounced. He leaped the ten feet between them. Before he was halfway, Declan was already back in his werewolf form. Gabriel’s eyes widened as Declan planted his fist right against Gabriel’s eye. Bone crunched on bone, and the thin skin over Gabriel’s eye tore. Blood streamed down his fur and ran toward his mouth. He tasted the saltiness of his own blood as his eye started to close. His wiped his eye as his vision blurred.

Gabriel stepped forward swinging at Declan. He was fighting a losing battle, and Declan knew he could finish it when he wanted. Declan had known Gabriel for years, and there was no way he was gonna end it. He might’ve toyed with him and humiliated him, yet he was going give him the option of leaving the Creek. He could take the members of the pack who wanted to follow, and they could start a new pack somewhere —nowhere near the Towers.

Gabriel made a final lunge toward Declan. His jaw went wide to make a fateful bite. Declan grabbed hold of Gabriel’s jaw and pulled. Gabriel’s attempts to snap and bite, failed. His jaw was held wide open. His claws swung, yet Declan’s reach was too far, and Gabriel was swinging wildly in midair.

“I’m gonna give you one chance, and one chance only. Get out of town tonight,” Declan explained as Gabriel began gargling to get air. Declan threw him to the floor as Gabriel switched back to his human form.

He pointed his finger at Declan. “You wait, you think you’re all high and mighty. I’ll fucking show you!”

“GO! Before I change my mind.”

Gabriel knew deep down he was beaten. He'd prepared for this moment, and his preparations hadn’t been enough. Declan had done something that had made him more of a man (and more of a wolf) than ever before. It was time for Gabriel to leave —with his tail between his legs.

Gabriel pulled the handle of the double doors and stepped into the hallway. He saw a few of his followers waiting impatiently by the stairs. “What are we gonna do Gab?” Tanya asked, still rubbing her shoulder from where the knife wound from Noelle was healing.

“We’re gonna go, and I’m gonna have a good think about what’s just happened.”

The few pack members parted on the staircase, and Gabriel made his way up to the lobby. The others followed, and they made their way to the twisted metal of the front doors.

Hmm! I said they’d have to drive a truck through. I wasn’t expecting Declan to be that truck.

Gabriel turned to face the large staircase where he'd spoken to all of the pack. He shook his head and muttered. “This isn’t over!”

* * *

Declan stood on the stage and raised his hand. “I know this has come as a shock to some of you, and some always knew I’d return. For that belief, I’m thankful. For now, this party’s over. And if anyone can fix the front doors before we settle down, I’d appreciate it. I seem to have made a mess of them,” he said.

Damn it feels good to be back where I belong.

“It’s good to have you back,” Declan heard from the side of him as Maria smiled.

“Maria, it feels good to be back, and now I’m home,” he replied. “One more thing, if anyone has plans of taking meat from the freezers, don’t —it’s been contaminated. I think you’ll be human before morning if you eat it.”

I wonder where that sneaky Edmund is? More than likely, he’s somewhere where he’s way over his head.

Noelle ran to Declan and grabbed ahold of his arm. Her eyes shone brightly as the wild glow in his eyes stared deeply into hers. “Declan, I’m so happy you're okay. I’ve been worried sick about you,” Noelle murmured.

“That makes two of us. I heard Edmund dumped you in Mount Arapaho?” he replied.

Together, they walked down the hallway to the lobby. Noelle cast a fleeting glance at the freezer room then turned her gaze back to Declan. “I was going crazy, and I broke my leg. That would’ve been the end of me if it hadn’t been for Lucas,” she explained.

Declan stared at Noelle. “Who’s this Lucas dude?” he asked, not really wanting to know. He was very mentally exhausted.

“He’s just a wolf, a lone wolf. He doesn't hang with a pack. His house is way back in the middle of the forest. He patched me up, and then I made my way back here,” Noelle explained. “I'd fought one girl and wounded her, but I thought I was done for.”

Declan nodded. “Yeah, I saw. I was at the back of the crowd,” he replied with a grin.

Noelle slapped him on his arm. “And you let me go through with that fight?”

Declan smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “I wanted to watch you in action. It’s been a long time, you know.” He used a joking tone. “From now on, you’re under my strict protection.”

Noelle looked at Declan with a provocative gaze on her face. Her eyes went all gooey, and she busied herself with biting her bottom lip. “Does that mean I’m spending the night with you?” she asked.

Declan pulled her closer to him. “It’s been a few months since I felt the warmth of someone else,” he whispered. “How about you?”

Noelle swallowed before she answered. I bet you don’t tell him the truth. “Yeah, I’ve nearly forgotten what it’s like to have sex!” she replied.

“Is there anyone in my old apartment?” Declan asked.

Maria called from behind him as they climbed the large staircase. “No!” she said.

Declan paused halfway and sniffed. “Was this Gabriel’s speaking place?” he asked.

“Yup, he used to look down on everyone,” Maria replied.

“That’s my Gabriel. That was always his problem. He always looked down on everyone,” Declan said, as they finished climbing the stairs to the floor Declan’s apartment was on.

“We’re neighbors!” Maria walked past Declan and Noelle, smiling profusely at the lovebirds. “I’m beat, I’ll see you in the morning.”

Declan reached the top of the doorframe, his fingers ran through the dust until he touched the metal of his spare key. “You never know when you’re gonna lock yourself out,” he said, smiling at Noelle.

They stepped into the small apartment and Declan relaxed. He was finally home, and overwhelmed all at the very same time. His mind filled with memories of Cassidy and how she'd fixed everything in the apartment. That time seemed so long ago.

“Well, before I do anything else, I think it’s time for a shower,” Noelle said, grabbing ahold of Declan’s fingers and leading him toward the bathroom.

“You want a shower together?” Declan asked.

Noelle grinned. “Well, I wouldn’t expect anything less!”

Declan reached for the lever in the shower. His hand touched the cold water until it started to warm. He faced Noelle and took ahold of her t-shirt and lifted it over her raised arms. Declan’s eyes glinted as his gaze fell over her ample breasts. He dropped her shirt to the floor and cupped them. Her body trembled with his touch as his thumbs flicked over her budding nipples.

Noelle tugged at the belt on Declan’s jeans, she then pulled his button and the zipper. His jeans loosened. She pulled them over his muscular hips and let them fall to his ankles. Noelle sucked in a deep breath as her hand slid inside the elastic of his shorts. Her hand caressed Declan's shaft, and she felt it filling and warming from her tender touch.

Declan dropped his shirt onto the floor and reached forward and pushed Noelle’s hair over her shoulder. He bared her neck. He kissed her softly as she pulled his shorts over his firm buttocks. Declan felt his hardening shaft ping into life as Noelle wrapped her fingers around him again and started stroking the full length of his shaft.

Noelle held her hand under the water and stepped into the shower. As the hot water flattened her hair on her head, she reached her hand to Declan. He took her fingers and stepped into the shower. Their bodies pushed together as the water cascaded over their naked bodies. Noelle placed her lips on Declan's broad chest and kissed him through the streams of water. It felt good how the water was running over her tired body. She could feel the hardness of his cock pushing against her belly as she thrust her hips closer to him.

Declan stepped back and ran his hand over Noelle's flat stomach, then his hand lowered as she spread her legs to accommodate him. His fingers traced lines up her inner thigh and brushed against the soft folds of her private place.

Declan pushed his finger in between her lips, and then his hand raised until the tip of his finger pushed against the nub of Noelle's button. He pushed hard and rubbed up and down as Noelle bit hard, onto his chest. Declan winced with pleasure and pain as he slid two fingers inside of her.

The palm of his hand slapped against the junction of Noelle's thighs, the warmth inside her clenched as his fingers teased and probed. Declan pushed his hand harder and faster as Noelle dug her fingers into his large, muscular arms.

“Sweet God,” she murmured, as Declan curled his finger to pleasure her fully. Her legs trembled, and her body shuddered.

Declan pushed himself harder inside her as Noelle looked deep into his eyes through the wet strands of her hair. He brushed it to the side and locked his lips against hers. Their tongues swirled and entangled as his finger drove her closer to her long-awaited moment. Declan could taste the short, sharp, erotic pants that Noelle was making as she moved closer to her glorious orgasm.

Her fingers dug deep, and her knuckles whitened. “Declan, harder. I’m gonna come.”

Declan's hand slapped hard against Noelle. Her legs buckled, and her head was nuzzled hard against his chest. Noelle made an uninhibited cry of satisfaction as her body was pushed over the edge.

“Declan… yessss!”

Noelle’s body slumped as she gasped for air. She gazed up into Declan's sweet eyes. “Declan, I’m tired. I’m tired of us…” Noelle murmured as a final wave of pleasure flooded through her.

“Tired of us?” he asked.

Noelle giggled as her hands ran over his chest and she enjoyed the hard slab of the muscle that was there. “Tired of us fighting with each other. I want to stop fighting, we’ve been through enough to last us a lifetime.”

Declan looked down. “I understand what you’re saying, and I agree. Let’s sleep on it and talk in the morning.”

Noelle Nodded. “What are we going to do now, then?” she asked.

Declan laughed. “Were gonna dry off and then get to bed,” he mumbled.

“Why! Are you tired after this evening?” she asked in a naïve tone.

“Who said anything about sleeping?”

“Oh goody!” She smiled. “I want to come again.”

“Oh, you will, don’t worry.”

“I'll promise not to hurt you —I'll hold you like China.”