Page 97 of Taken by Moonlight

Because without Dante, the pack would belong to that slimy bastardEarl.

Alex’s aura glowed so brightly it looked to light up the room. Yet I knew no one else could see what Isee.

Could detect the energy of another living being, and know exactly what that beingplanned.

“Peyton, you have to go back to the bunker, honey.” Alex took my arm. “If the worst happens, Dante would want you to besafe.”

I shook off hishand.

I had to distract Earl, help Dante win thisfight.

“No, listen. I have a plan… but I need Dante to pretend he’s badly hurt, beyond help. Bring him out to the garden and hidehim.”

Alex stared. “Noway.”

“Alex, it will work. This battle is all about me. Earl wants me. He didn’t raid the ranch for any other reason.” I framed my face with steady hands. “Trust me. I can read auras and I can tellmoods.”

“Peyton…”

“Please. We have to help Dante kill Earl. It’s the only way to winthis.”

Minutes later,I paced in the diningroom.

My cell phone tinged, and I glanced at the text.Alex.

Plan A set to go. Dante inbushes.

That worried me even more. If Dante had agreed to this stunt, he either had full confidence in me or he was more badly injured than Alex hadsaid.

As for me, I wasn’t certain if I was crazy, stupid orboth.

Or just plain terrified, offering myself to a feral wolf like EarlBrown.

I texted back,Won’t Earl smell himthere?

No. Dante covered himself with female scent to further enticehim.

I smiled and put away the phone. And then paced more, worrying. The plan was for Alex to lure Earl here and then bolt. Once Earl saw me, he’d bedistracted.

I went outside, to the garden to the bench inscribed with the names of Dante’s parents. Sounds of fighting raged nearby, but this garden was a quietoasis.

Fornow.

Wolves were dangerous, but a male alpha trying to kill his enemy and berserk with rage was beyondlethal.

Once a wolf’s teeth sank into your skin, they refused to let go. They were pack hunters, and when one attacked, the others wouldaid.

Going for thethroat.

Even a smaller alpha like Earl could easily kill me with his strong jaws and predatory instinct. But I was hoping to trigger a different kind of instinct, the one that made him want me in the firstplace.

His male instinct tomate.

A low growl filled the air. Glancing to my right, I saw a massive black wolf emerge from the bushes. He started to pace toward me and then pushed at me with his snout, herding mebackward.

In the direction of thebunker.

The protective instinct had surged. I was afraid of this. Had to reason with him. I stared him straight in theeye.