CHAPTER ELEVEN
Grayson stepped out into the clearing and faced the Red Razor pack. He glanced over his shoulder and saw every Sentinel wolf standing alert and ready.
The Red Razor pack was a much larger pack, but the Red Razor wolves weren't united and loyal. He could see the Red Razor wolves spread out across the woods. They thought they were caging the Sentinels in.
Grayson smirked. Haven't they learned by now? The Sentinels always fought as a team. His wolves worked seamlessly as a unit and they looked out for one another. Their unity was their strength.
The Silverfangs pack was here as well. They were now part of the Sentinels, but their loyalty was still untested. Grayson noticed that Scott had ordered the Silverfangs to stand guard at the periphery of the woods. It was obvious that Scott was keeping the Silverfangs away from the action. His Beta didn't trust the Silverfangs either. Scott made sure that only the Sentinels stood close behind their Alpha. The Sentinels had his back.
Grayson watched Strom arrive at the scene with two of his senior lieutenants, Suresh and Milly. Milly acknowledged Grayson with a barely perceptible nod. She was a good lieutenant, capable and responsible. Yet, even she did not dare stand up to Strom and put a stop to his atrocities. His wolves could have stopped him from kidnapping the human women, but no one did. They obeyed Strom out of fear, not loyalty and respect.
Strom was twenty minutes late. As expected, no explanation was offered. Neither did Grayson demand one. He wasn't here for bullshit. He just wanted to get this over with and get those human women out of Strom's clutches.
But he couldn't help wondering what had caused Strom's delay. Did Strom go after that sweet, red-haired human woman once Grayson's back was turned? Grayson swore under his breath, giving himself a vicious mental kick for not escorting the woman safely home. But—this challenge, this fight was a long time coming. There was too much at stake.
“You're still here?” Strom chuckled, strolling towards Grayson. “I thought you'd have given up and left by now. You really have nothing better to do, Grayson.”
“That is true,” Grayson answered flatly. “I can think of nothing better to do at the moment. You have my full attention this evening, Strom. We will finish this tonight.”
Strom snarled. “One last chance, Grayson. You can still take your pack and leave. But—I can't promise I will forget what was said and done. You have caused deep offense, Grayson. You have crossed the Red Razor pack, and for that, I will destroy you and your wolves,” Strom growled. “Every. Last. One.”
Grayson saw Strom's eyes turn from human to wolf. Strom's claws were already out and his features were contorting. His rage was forcing his maddened beast out. It seemed the rumors were true then. The Alpha of the Red Razor pack was losing control, of his passions, his wolf and his pack.
“Let the humans go,” Grayson said evenly.
Strom made a sound that could have been a laugh, but his voice was barely human. “They're mine,” Strom snarled.
“Let them go.”
Over Strom's shoulder, Grayson saw the four terrified human females. The four women were being guarded by the she-wolves in the pack.
As the Alpha, Strom decreed that he had access to all the females in his pack. But not all the females were his “wives”. Only the four kidnapped human women were bestowed the honor. It was an honor those poor, innocent women would much rather do without. They didn't deserve this and they didn't belong here.
“You're picking a fight with me over these women?” Strom laughed harshly. “I'm sure you can get your own females, Grayson.”
“These humans don't belong here,” Grayson answered. “Return them to their homes, their families.”
“They're my wives,” Strom said with an ugly smile.
One of the human women raised her hand to her mouth and Grayson glimpsed a gold band on her ring finger. The woman's eyes glinted with anguished tears, and she lunged forward and screamed, “I'm not your wife, you sick fuck! I have a husband, and two beautiful babies!” A she-wolf grabbed the woman and shoved her to the ground. Claws pushed against the woman's neck and the woman cried out in pain and anger as she struggled helplessly.
Grayson growled and sliced his palm with a claw. He flung his blood on the ground as an open challenge.
Strom's nostrils flared, and his eyes flashed with blood lust. “I will spill more of your blood, Grayson. And I will spill the blood of all your wolves!”