Chapter 64

Ryker had never been in a fight this big before, large enough to be called a battle if this was the start of...no, he didn't want to think that way. Luckily, his white hot rage was enough to burn away any focus that wasn't on what he was doing right now, which was hunting down Duncan.

He had to know by now. Duncan had to know that Blake was fine because Blake was right there. Standing on a picnic table, scattered paper plates and plastic forks and spoons beneath his feet, cheap table covers ripping as he dug his claws into the wood. Which Ryker didn't appreciate, but that was the least of his worries.

One of Duncan's werewolves lunged at him, but Ryker surged forward and slammed into him first, knocking him to the ground. He bit into the other wolf's shoulder and shook him once, getting a squeal out of the scrawny grey creature as it squirmed to get away. Ryker released him, concerned with more important opponents.

Was this a bid for power? The stupidest one ever? The Callahans were here, too, and the Monroe pack wasn't weak. And the group Blake had talked to didn't seem bent on starting a war. But what else could Duncan be up to, if he wasn't calling his people off? Unless he was so blind with the need for revenge over his not-dead Beta that he was just moronically pushing his pack to fight for no real reason. Or he did want a war and had just decided on it?

Ryker moved closer to Blake, growling at him in an attempt to tell him to call off his pack. And some of the wolves seemed to be trying to stop fighting, but some...

It was starting to seem like there was maybe a bigger divide in the Duncan pack than Duncan had been aware of. If only half his pack were listening to his Beta in his absence, then that was a real problem. Duncan's problem, not Ryker's, but it had suddenly become his problem as well.

And that was not okay with him.

Accept surrenders, Ryker sent out to his pack. Try not to kill.

His dad's growling message came through right after–even though Ryker was next in line, his dad wasn't fond of him ordering the pack around when Malcolm was right there. What's going on?

Not entirely sure, Ryker sent back, pausing a moment to swipe at a young wolf who stupidly thought he was going to take on the next Monroe Alpha. But I'm thinking we're mostly fighting wolves loyal to Jake, not Duncan.

If Ryker's guess wasn't right, then Duncan was going to have a lot to answer for when he showed up. As it was, Duncan was probably never going to be his favorite person.

Ryker! Now Lexi? It was taking a lot of focus to keep the communications going while also fighting off these idiots.

What? He growled back impatiently.

There's another group coming in from the East, just heard from AJ.

Damnit. He swung his head around, trying to spot Charlie to see if he was able to lead a group to head off the newcomers.

Don't worry, I got it.

Lexi!

I've got a group I can take, and Aaliayah's got the pack's kids, don't worry.

Ryker growled fruitlessly, because he could tell the distance between them was already increasing. She must have gathered a group up the moment she heard the news. He whipped around to see if he could see her leaving the house, but instead he caught sight of his beautiful girl, and was momentarily stunned at the sight of her, arms encircled by flames, eyes fierce as she scanned the yard. Their eyes met for a long moment, and then suddenly she shot a flame straight toward him.

If he didn't know her, he might have thought for a second that she was betraying him–but this was Jo. And so he dove to the side and was rewarded by a yip of pain from behind him. He turned to see that she'd grazed the hind legs and tale of a wolf that'd been trying to spring on him from behind.

Ryker turned back to give Jo a wolfy grin. Atta girl. All he got back was an eye roll and pointed glare that very clearly communicated that he needed to focus back on the fight.

That was why Jo was the perfect woman for him.

Lexi, do not compromise your safety, got it? There are a lot of confused wolves out here right now, they may not be predictable. Ryker was pretty much mind-shouting at her as he blocked a wolf from attacking Brett. The doctor, really? C'mon now!

We'll be careful, but we're gonna protect the pack, Ryker.

Well, she was gonna be the one to explain it to their dad if she got hurt.

"Hey, can we wrap this up?" Brett asked as Ryker circled around him, snapping at the wolf who had tried to bite his brother. At the moment, Brett was staying human in case he needed to be automatically on hand, but if this kept up, he would be forced to shift too. "We haven't even cut the cake. I thought you had this handled?"

I'm working on it, Ryker growled back, unamused by Brett's teasing. He nudged his brother as he passed by, his attention caught again by Jo's flames.

One of the Duncan wolves was coming closer to her, leaping closer between shots of her fireballs. It was a skinny brown and grey male, but he looked determined for all his weakness.

Jo backed up, moving toward the house, which put her in a corner but kept her back from being exposed. The scruffy wolf went down low and sneaked toward her, skittering out of the way as she threw another fireball. In the space between shots, the wolf lunged at her.

Ryker surged forward, crossing the yard and hurling himself in front of Jo, bent forward, lips yanked back in a snarl. He caught the wolf before it could get to Jo, his teeth clamping down on the other wolf's shoulder. The smaller wolf was temporarily his chew toy as he wrenched him back and forth, giving him a fierce shake to drive home the point that he was an idiot for going after Jo.

There was a pained yelp, and the other wolf twisted around, pulling out of Ryker's grip, which left fang marks across his shoulder. He whirled around and made another go at Jo, trying to attack the person he saw as weaker. A stream of fire lashed across his face, and Ryker swiped his legs out from under him, sending him to the ground in a heap.

Ryker stepped on his head, his claws pressing into his thin fur, nearly piercing the skin. It wouldn't be so hard, making sure this guy didn't try to hurt Jo again--

"He's not worth it," Jo said behind him. A small, familiar hand rested on his back. "That's the right movie line, isn't it? Or should I go with, 'Don't bother?'"

That was enough to cut through his current bout of rage. With a huff, he shoved his paw against the wolf's muzzle and then let up. The wolf rolled over onto his back, exposing his belly in a show of deference to Ryker. Ryker made a face and growled, which sent the Duncan wolf scurrying off.

"You know, I had it handled," Jo said as she stepped up beside him, her hand traveling up to play with his ear. "But I appreciate it."

He wished he could talk to her, but he had to settle for bumping his nose into her cheek. There wasn't any time for talking anyway. She patted him on the head as he glanced around, wondering why no one else had come to help the Duncan wolf he had just fought. The Duncan pack was weird; they weren't attacking like a normal pack, with groups helping each other. They were all acting like alphas, off on their own and doing their own thing. What was going on here?

"Ugh, I smell like a Monroe." Ryker turned to find Blake now in human form, wearing a pair of sweats that distinctly carried the scent of the Monroe pack's favorite laundry detergent. All Free & Clear–Ryker had it memorized from the many grocery trips he'd been forced to make as a teen. Blake smirked at him as Ryker gave a short annoyed growl before Blake's expression turned serious. For once.

"Anyway, I shifted back because there's been a rift, Ryker. Several of the Duncan wolves are stepping back or trying to help, but there's a group here only listening to Jake. My friends said Duncan ordered them not to attack until he got here but Jake changed the orders."

Well, that explained a lot. And wasn't much of a surprise with everything going on in the last 24 hours.

Ryker looked over at Brett, still in human form. Tell Blake I've asked our side not to kill. But if Duncan wolves attack, we''re going to defend ourselves.

"I wish I could hear you too," Jo murmured quietly, echoing his earlier thought as Brett came over to pass along the message. Ryker pressed himself against her side–at some point he'd re-open the discussion of how marking her might allow that to happen, but as he wasn't really sure if it would, he didn't want to pressure her either.

It would be really, really nice though.

"Back off!" Jo suddenly snarled, hands raised again. Blake growled softly as well in warning to a wolf that had been trying to sneak up to their group. Apparently sneak attack was the only method the Jake-Duncan wolves knew.

Got him. Charlie reported cheerfully before snagging the black wolf by the scruff of his neck and dragging him away.

Blake glared at the whining wolf as it was pulled away, eyebrow raised. "Don't look at me like that, I told you that wasn't a good idea." He shrugged and then glanced at Ryker. "Look, if you've got a holding cell to put Jake's wolves in until Duncan gets here..."

Ryker stared. Did they look like they were the Vanderbilts, overlords of some kind of castle structure? Holding cells, for real?

Brett snorted. "We've got some caves and the house you were in, that's about it." He stiffened and cursed under his breath. "I think Hannah just got injured, sorry, gotta go." He was already moving away, focused on his doctor responsibilities. As he should be.

Lexi's mind-link suddenly broke through the conversation. Ryker, we're coming!

Last he'd checked, they were going somewhere. We? And where?

We're coming back to the house! There was a pause, a hesitation, and then a defiant note when she spoke again. My mate and I!

What the hell?

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A/N: Sorry for missing the Wednesday post again! This time of year is crazy. I'll try again this week! Thanks for reading along and commenting and voting!