Lelandi let out her breath. “To Wildhaven? You’ll lead them now?”

“No, in Oregon. Mother and Father have joined me there. Uncle Hrothgar will take on the pack in Wildhaven. Will you come with me?” He lightly took hold of her arm as if to persuade her to follow his lead.

“No, Leidolf.” Her cheeks reddened and she jerked her arm out of his grasp. “You left us two years ago! We could have used your help! You think you can waltz in here and dictate to me because now you’re a pack leader? That would be the day.”

“Then, that’s settled. Several prime-aged reds joined the pack and were looking for a mate and were very much interested when I said my sister was available, but…” Leidolf gave a shrug and cast Darien a seething look.

So, had Leidolf already promised his sister to a pack member? When a pack had a severe shortage of females as many do, bringing in eligible mates could improve a new leader’s standing, not to mention it tied more of the clan’s loyalty with the bond created. Darien folded his arms, trying to appear relaxed, but if Leidolf grabbed Lelandi’s arm again…

“I’m not available. I’m mated. And this is where I’m staying.”

Loving seeing Lelandi’s ire unloaded on her brother after what he’d pulled, Darien agreed.

Leidolf shook his head. “I don’t approve.”

Darien ground his teeth. If Leidolf had any intention of taking Lelandi with him, Darien would shapeshift and change the red’s mind.

“But what’s been done, can’t be undone under our laws. If your mate should ever expire and you want a home with us, you’ll be welcome, Lelandi.” Leidolf turned to Darien. “If you’ll permit me, I’ll take Ural off your hands. He’ll return with me to my pack.”

“Gladly,” Darien said.

She kissed her brother on the cheek. “Be safe, my brother. I’d like to visit you and your pack soon.” She squeezed his hand, released him, then wrapped her arm around Darien’s waist. “With my mate.”

The phone rang and Lelandi gave a little start. Tom grabbed the phone half-buried under the sofa. “Yes, Uncle Sheridan? I’ll tell Darien you haven’t located Trevor yet. Darien wants Ural released into the red’s care and they’re leaving. Leidolf will meet you at the jail.”

“Would you stay and share a meal with us at least, brother?” Lelandi asked.

“Some other time,” he said, his eyes still challenging Darien.

Darien pulled Lelandi out of the red’s path, glad her brother was leaving. Jake finally moved aside, his posture stiff, his gaze intent on Leidolf.

Leidolf smirked at Darien. “You’re lucky you had brothers. Sisters can be so much trouble.”

Darien could imagine.

Turning to Darien, Tom asked, “Should I go with Leidolf?”

“No need,” Leidolf dismissed him with a wave of his hand, then stalked toward the front door.

Darien was glad Lelandi didn’t have any airs.

Leidolf yanked open the door and turned to Darien.

“Take care of her, better than you did our sister Larissa.”

His conveyed the deadly threat with a look of contempt.

Darien wouldn’t be tested, but Lelandi jerked free from him and slugged Leidolf in the shoulder. “You’re a real bastard. We had to fend for ourselves. You should have protected Larissa from Crassus’s brutality. You! And you should have forced Mother and Father to move before the demon took Larissa as his mate.”

Leidolf’s darkened eyes softened. “If I had, Larissa would have been alive, granted. But you would have been mated to one of my reds, and not to the one you’ve given your heart to.” He bowed his head and stalked out the door.

The phone rang in Tom’s hand, and he lifted it to his ear. “Uncle Sheridan? Sure.”

He handed the phone to Darien. “He’s steaming.”

“That son of a bitch knocked Trevor out and already freed Ural from the jail. Trevor’s tied up like a calf, fuming, ready to kill a couple of reds. But he’s all right.

What do you want me to do?” Uncle Sheridan asked.

“Release him.”

“Leidolf?”

“Trevor.”

Leidolf and her uncle got into the Humvee and Ural waved out the window. “See ya later, Lelandi. Don’t be a stranger,” Ural shouted.

Darien pulled Lelandi into his embrace and hugged her hard. “Whenever you want to see your family, I’ll take you.”

“You’re my family now. But I’d like to see my parents. Oh… oh, Carol.”

Darien motioned to Jake. “See how she is.”

Darien moved Lelandi back into the living room where the furniture had been righted and the table with the broken leg removed. Bruin’s body and his brothers’ and the rest of his men’s had been taken from the house. “Where’s the red who gave up the fight?” Darien asked Peter.

“He took off when Bruin died.”

Jake ran down the stairs. “I’m taking Carol to the hospital. Anybody else need patching up, come along with me. Nurse Grey and Matthew will take care of the injuries.”

“Is she… she…” Lelandi swallowed hard.

Jake scratched his stubbly chin. “You know how a little lupus garou genetics help with the healing process.”

“She’s… she’s turned?” Lelandi asked.

Darien took a deep breath. “That solves one problem.”

“Like hell it does,” Jake said, scowling. “She’s already bitching about wanting to be a nurse at the hospital… again.”

And there would be more trouble inherent with a newly turned lupus garou in the pack—particularly a female. Which of the wolves had so savagely bitten her? A red, because she was easy prey, or a gray to get rid of the threat to their kind. “Who bit her?”

Jake snorted. “One of the reds. Seems red females are going to be overrunning the pack.”

“Hmpfh. Guess you’ll have to get used to it.” Looking up at Darien, Lelandi tightened her grasp on his hand. “Now can she be on the hospital staff?”

Chapter 23

EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, LELANDI TOOK A DEEP BREATH AS she and Silva headed for Carol’s hospital room, hoping Carol would be awake this time.

“Nobody’s turned a human in the last one-hundred and thirty years in Silver Town,” Silva said, her voice hushed. “I can’t even imagine what she might be feeling.”

“Angry maybe. Frustrated. Probably scared. I still can’t believe the bite turned her instead of killing her since she lost so much blood.”

“Carol’s a fighter.” Silva sounded proud of her.

“Good thing, too.” Lelandi was grateful Carol had survived but worried about how she would accept all the changes.

Guarding Carol’s hospital room, Trevor looked pissed.

Silva straightened and put on her hopeful-smiley look, and Lelandi wanted to slap her. Trevor didn’t look at Silva once, but glowered at Lelandi.

“No visitors,” Trevor snapped.

“Try and stop us,” Lelandi said.

Silva turned her head to conceal a smile.

Immediately, Trevor rose to his six-foot height. “The sheriff said no visitors unless Darien approves.”

“Considering the circumstances, he means no human visitors,” Silva contradicted him.

“Or, maybe he’s concerned for her safety, but we’re not a threat,” Lelandi said.

Trevor stood firm, his hand resting on the pistol at his hip.

Not wanting to delay seeing Carol and tired of this macho bull, Lelandi stiffened. “Move, deputy, or I’ll call Darien. You don’t want to explain to him why you won’t let his mate see the patient.”

His eyes flashed murder, but he shoved his hand at Silva, stopping her from entering. “You’re not authorized.”

“She’s my bodyguard today, Trevor. Don’t make this hard on yourself.”

He didn’t budge.

Palm up, Lelandi extended her hand to Silva. “Phone?”

Silva dug around in her suitcase-sized leather bag.

Trevor still wouldn’t move, but as soon as Silva found her phone, Trevor growled. “I’ll report this to the sheriff.”

“Do,” Lelandi said with a lift of her chin. Jerk.

Grudgingly, he half-moved out of the doorway so that Lelandi had to brush past him to get into the room. She thought about shoving him out of the way, but rather enjoyed pushing his buttons in a more feminine way. Silva shut the door after them.

Carol watched them from the bed. Sitting up, her face was glum and she turned away. Her neck was bandaged and a light stain of red colored the cloth. Her skin was pale, her blonde curls tangled around her shoulders as if she’d had a bad night’s sleep.

Her skin was icy; Lelandi hated being in unfamiliar settings. Dealing with a newly turned lupus garou made her particularly uncomfortable, no matter how hard she tried to shake loose of the feeling. But she couldn’t leave the poor woman in isolation either. She wished

Silva would help her out, like she usually did in a tense situation, but Silva seemed as unsure as Lelandi as to what to do.

“Carol, we came by to… sit with you for a while,” Lelandi said.

“He won’t let my parents see me,” Carol said softly, blinking away tears.

“Darien?” Lelandi pulled a chair close to the bed.

“Who else?”

“He… he’s afraid you’ll tell your parents what happened.”

Carol gave a derisive laugh. “My parents would have me certified. Just as crazy as my sister. That would really go over well.”

“Would you like to see your parents?”

Carol’s dull blue eyes sparkled.

Silva wrung her hands.

“One of us will have to stay with you while they visit,” Lelandi warned.

Carol quickly nodded.

Silva let out her breath. “Are you sure Darien will approve?”