Rogue Wolf (25 page)

He did believe her. Margo lowered her gun without him saying a word. She believed Luciana as well.

“Go,” he told Rayne and the wolf bolted towards his mate. Facing them, Salvatore steeled his will. Whether she realized it or not, the tie to Luciana still existed and it was time to sever it. “Luciana Esposito Barrows,” he vocalized her full name. “I repudiate you. Seven Hills is closed to you and yours. Never darken our land, never call to us for help, never invoke us to your need. You wished to be alone, so shall you have it. We do not know you.”

Cutting the tie sliced away a piece of his heart. Luciana gasped, and all the color fled her face. Reality slammed into her. The wolf turned his back, but the man—the man wanted to comfort his sister, to tell her it would be all right. Yet he refused. She desired her freedom, so he gave it to her. Margo touched his arm, and his wounded heart bled a little less.

He’d lost his sister, but found his mate. One did not equate to the other, yet he would return home richer. “She is yours,” he told Margo. “The Enforcers may do as they will, I withdraw my protection and free you from the promise you made.”

“Salvatore…” Luciana took another step toward him and he turned his back on her fully.

Keeping his gaze on Margo, he said. “When you are ready,
il mio amore
. We will go.”

Exhaling a breath, Margo glanced behind him and he knew she stared at his sister, then she pulled out the phone. “This is Margo Montgomery to all Enforcers. The matter is going to be handed to Willow Bend.”

Surprise filtered through him. What was she doing? She hung up the phone, then dialed another number. Her gaze never left his sister. Mason answered on the first ring.

“That was quick,” the other Alpha’s tone was guarded.

“She has a full pack, at least a hundred or more wolves. The pack is bonded. This is no longer a matter for the Enforcers. Seven Hills has withdrawn its protection.”

Silence met her statement. In the distance, motors turned on and Salvatore caught the sound of a helicopter.

“Can she hear me?” Mason asked.

His sister must have nodded because Margo said, “She can.”

“Luciana Barrows, this is Mason Clayborne. You have invaded land that does not belong to you and you are on the border of Willow Bend pack lands. As I speak, a hundred of my Hunters are deploying around you. Your wolves and you are to remain within the boundaries of the town you currently occupy. The five humans who belong to Willow Bend will surrender themselves immediately. If you test my patience, we will wipe you out. Do you understand?”

Everything in him said defend his sister, react to the threat, but he refused it. She had made her choice. One by one, his wolves returned to him, they surrounded him and Margo. His mate’s hand on his arm grounded him.

“I understand,” Luciana said, her voice ringing out. “And hear me, Mason Clayborne of Willow Bend pack. We claim this land, this unclaimed territory, for our own. If your Hunters enter our town, we will defend ourselves. The humans may go if they choose. If they do not and declare themselves to me, I shall defend them.”

“If you want a war, Luciana, you will have one.”

Margo dug her claws into his arm, and he accepted the bite of pain. She needed him as much as he did her.

“I do not want war,” Luciana said, growing confidence and authority firming her shaky voice. “I will not shy from it, however.”

“Very well. We shall see.” Then Mason said, “Thank you Margo, for your service and defense of the packs.” The phone clicked off.

“You can get off our land now.” The cool tone carved another slice from his heart.

“You know what, sweetheart?” Margo’s tone dropped to near frigid levels. “Be a bitch at someone who gives a shit. Your brother loved you enough to chase across a continent and dare the wrath of five Alphas to save you. God only knows why he loves a selfish little shit like you. He even loves you enough to give you what you want, to let you go, but freedom comes at a price. That’s a truth every Lone Wolf in your pack will understand. If
you
don’t? If you don’t learn and appreciate it soon? Your pack won’t exist and you’ll be responsible for the death of every wolf you purportedly came here to save. He can’t tell you, or maybe he won’t, but I wish you luck. Not for you, but for them. For
my
wolves, the ones that you have, and for all the wolves there. They deserve the best.”

The night air seemed to cool further, and only the sound of motors drawing closer filled the air. Margo leaned into him. Freeing his arm from her grasp, he wrapped it around her and brushed his lips to her hair. “I love you.”

“I know,” Margo said with a smile. “Let’s go. We have some other matters to attend.”

Yes, they did. His wolves closed in around them as he guided his mate to the vehicle.

“Salvatore…” Luciana called, but he ignored her. Maybe in time—maybe in time they could talk. Luciana and her pack was the U.S.’s problem now.

He saw Margo to the driver’s side door, then circled the vehicle to open the back, one by one his wolves leapt inside and made themselves comfortable in the SUV. He didn’t give Luciana a glance as he joined Margo.

“Salvatore!”

“Drive,” he told Margo. “Please.”

He didn’t have to ask twice, she put the vehicle into reverse and Salvatore kept his gaze on the night rather than on his sister. Ten minutes later, they were on the highway and Margo asked, “Are you all right?”

“No,” he told her honestly, and took her hand. “But I will be.”

The drive to the airstrip passed in silence. A mile from the airport, Margo pulled over to meet Hadley’s vehicle. The Centurions took advantage of the time to shift back to human and change. His wolves were a silent, sober lot—reflecting his mood, he supposed.

Salvatore kept watch as Margo talked to the other Enforcers. They would return to the area outside the zone demarcated by Mason’s Hunters. The land was technically unclaimed, and other Lone Wolves lived there and would need to be relocated. After she bid the other Enforcers farewell, she limped back to the car. His gaze narrowed at the hitch in her step.

“Don’t start,” she said. “Yes, I am hurting and the sooner we return to Willow Bend, the sooner I can rest. I don’t think you want to stay in range here.”

“No,” he said. “I don’t. But Giovanni can fly the plane so you can rest.”

“Giovanni can drive, too.” His Centurion grinned. “And you two can have the backseat if you like.”

Margo chuckled and tossed Salvatore the keys. “You’re Alpha, I’ll let you decide.” The concession eased him on so many levels. He handed the keys to Giovanni and picked Margo up before she could protest.

“How badly are you hurt?”

“Not that badly,” she said, then snuggled to him and rested her head on his shoulder. “Bruised all to hell. Still recovering from shift-a-palooza.” The reminder of her injuries kept his touch gentle. He carried her to the car and held her on the drive. The constant petting and her letting him take care of her went a long way toward settling his mood. She didn’t wake when they arrived at the airstrip, nor when he transported her to the plane.

They were nearly back to the municipal airport within Willow Bend’s territory, when it dawned on him that Margo gave in to his need to take care of her for exactly that reason. Stealing a glance at her dozing face, he shook his head. She’d played him beautifully. Giovanni spared him a look and raised his brows.

“She’s sleeping.”

“She is a fine mate, Salvatore. I am happy for you.” In addition to being his Centurion, Giovanni was the closest thing he had to a best friend. They’d spent a lot of years working side by side, and he could always trust the playboy with whatever task he put before him. “I’m very impressed.”

In his own way, he attempted to offer sympathy for the loss of Luciana. By all that was holy, Salvatore would have to explain the repudiation to his mother. She would be furious. Perhaps he should introduce his mate and invite his mother to plan a wedding before telling her.

“If you do not mind a moment of candor,” Giovanni said into the quiet. The other Centurions were dozing or staring out their windows.

Contenting himself by stroking Margo’s hip, Salvatore nodded. “Speak.”

“What you did for Luciana, I know it cut you, but I believe you made the wisest choice. You could have ordered her home, but then her misery and resentment would have infected the pack.”

“
Grazie
.”

Giovanni nodded, then returned his attention to the controls. They would be landing soon.

“He’s right,” Margo curled her hand against his chest, her nails stroking his skin. He’d not bothered with a shirt. The skin-on-skin contact soothed his beast nearly as much as holding her did.

“We do not tell Giovanni he is right. It gives him a big head and an even bigger mouth.”

“This is true,” the wolf called back, a good-natured grin in his voice. “But your
bella
may tell me I am right as often as she likes. One never tires of a beautiful woman’s compliments.”

“Hmm, only believe half of what he says unless it is about him directly, and then believe far less than half.”

Margo laughed and eased upward. He helped her to sit, but kept his arm around her waist. “How far out are we?”

“Landing in ten.” Giovanni announced. “Buckle your seat belts and keep your mates in an upright position.”

A fresh wave of laughter lightened the mood further. After they landed, Margo stood on her own two feet, though she allowed him to lift her out of the plane. She stretched on her way to the car. They were officially in Willow Bend territory once more. They would leave the smaller plane to Mason’s people. Later, his private plane would be fueled and readied for return across the Atlantic. He’d only used commercial air to arrive in the first place because he’d wanted to leave the private plane with his Centurions. A wise decision, because he’d needed them swiftly.

Margo took the time to send Mason a text, letting him know they’d arrived. Protocol had to be observed, and the Willow Bend Alpha had been notified of each step of their journey, so he would know when they re-entered his territory. Though Mason had granted Salvatore’s Centurions entrance to Willow Bend, Salvatore sent them on to ready the plane and make all the arrangements. The rest of the night he planned to spend with Margo and she would need to see her parents before they left, especially if it might be years before she returned.

If ever.

Family was too important.

After the others drove off, Salvatore turned to find Margo leaning against her car and watching him. “See something you like,
bella
?”

“Maybe.” Though weary, her smile was warm. “We’re alone.”

“
Si
.” He closed the distance between them. “Would you allow me to take this opportunity to tell you I love you again?”

“Hmm.” Smoothing her hands down his chest, she chuckled. “You mean when I can jump your bones?”

“Something like that.” Tracing the line of her cheek with his finger, he said. “Truly, Margo. I love you. I love your strength. I love your wisdom. I love your kindness.”

Her nose wrinkled, and she fisted his shirt. “Don’t let that part about my kindness become public knowledge. I’ve got a rep to protect. I’m a hard ass don’t you know?”

“Your ass is a fine feature and quite firm, but also lush and wonderful.” As playful as he found her words, he did not want to tease. “I am going to claim you tonight.”

She shivered. “Only if I don’t claim you first.”

A footstep on gravel caught both their attention and, as one, they turned toward the sound. Though downwind, Salvatore half-expected to see one of Mason’s Hunters or perhaps his second if Mason himself was too busy. But the man approaching them wasn’t a wolf at all—he was human.

Margo growled and straightened. The tension in her aroused every violent instinct Salvatore possessed. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“You should be dead,” the man spit, and the smell of metal betrayed the weapon in his hand before the light struck the gun. Salvatore studied the human, from his blood shot eyes ringed by bruises to his trembling hand to the spittle flying from his lips. Injury, fear and fury soured the air around him. “I shot you four times and I used silver bullets. You
should
be dead. You’re a fucking monster.”

This man shot her?
“Friend of yours,
bella mia
?”

“Not even close.” Margo glared at the human. Cold rage radiated from her. “You seriously shot at me, David?”

“Shot at you?” He trembled, the closer he came the more visible his bruises grew. Someone had beaten the hell out of him. “I shot you. I saw you bleeding. I saw you fall. I used silver. It should have worked.”

“Care to introduce me?”

“This is David Conklin. He’s married to one of my best friends from school. He likes to abuse his soon-to-be ex-wife. I reminded him you don’t hit women.” She leaned against the back of her car. Her relaxation pleased him, because despite her anger and irritation at the situation, she trusted him.

“You took her away, and when you’re dead she’ll come back to me.” The shaking in his hand increased. Salvatore grew concerned—more that the human might accidentally fire than he’d actually hit either one of them.

“David, you beat her, you abused her—you treated her like crap and for some damn reason she loved you enough to keep coming back. Why don’t you try loving her enough to let her go?” Margo’s tone remained even, controlled.

“Put the gun down,” Salvatore said, tired of the standoff. Tired of the Americans. Tired of people trying to hurt his mate. Tired of waiting for others to make a move. Power flared over him and the man’s gun hand trembled violently.

“Get out of my way, I just want her…”

“Too bad.” Mason’s voice echoed in the darkness behind David. The man jerked, spinning around only to have the gun taken away and his throat seized by the arriving Alpha. His scream cut off abruptly with the squeeze of Mason’s hand. He glanced at Salvatore. “Do you object?”