"She's not yours yet, Striker." Her father kept coming toward them, ignoring Joshua's brothers who looked none to happy with this announcement. "There has been no formal ceremony and my daughter is yet unmarked."

That bit of information made her cheeks heat and she shuffled her feet uncomfortably. She dipped her head down to her chest, wishing her hair was longer so that it would cover her face. Honestly, listening to her father talking about her being marked by some wolf was just too much.

Joshua began to growl as her father stopped in front of them. Her father emitted a sound unlike anything she'd ever heard before. Part growl and all challenge, the two men faced off against each other and she was the prize caught in the middle.

She wrapped her arms around herself. "No more." She stumbled back and a large hand caught her from behind. Her stomach lurched as she pulled away before Isaiah could get a grip on her. "No more fighting. No more death." She was finding it harder to breathe now, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"No more," her father promised as he took a step toward her. "Come here, Alexandra." He opened his arms, offering comfort. She glanced at Joshua and then at her father, totally confused, knowing whichever one she went to the other one would be hurt.

Turning her back on all of them, she started toward the trees. All she wanted to do was to curl up somewhere, close her eyes and sleep. Maybe when she woke, she'd be able to think more clearly.

Thick forearms wrapped around her, stopping her in her tracks. She didn't need to turn around to know whose arms they were. Sighing, she leaned back against Joshua's chest. He leaned down, his breath brushing across her neck as he whispered in her ear. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you choose between us. That was uncalled for. Unworthy of you after all you've sacrificed." His lips grazed her ear, making her toes curl in her boots. "Your father needs you. Go to him."

With his hands on her shoulders, he turned her around so that she was facing the group again. She ignored the four brothers who were watching the scene unfold with avid interest. Her only concern was her father. He stood apart from them, his feet braced apart, his hands open by his sides. It was his face that told the tale. His golden brown eyes were filled with such sorrow and pain that her heart began to throb.

Everything she'd been through the past few days rose up to haunt her. She had no idea where her father had been or what he'd had to deal with, but he was here right now. He'd come for her. To protect her as he always had.

Giving a small cry, she ran to him. Her feet tripped on an exposed tree root and she stumbled, but before she could fall, strong arms caught her. The familiar smell of sandalwood washed over her as her father hauled her into his familiar embrace and held her as though he'd never let her go. "My Alexandra. My precious little girl," he crooned as he rocked her slightly in his strong embrace.

She didn't mean to cry. Didn't want to cry. She wanted to be tough and confident. But tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, staining the front of her father's shirt. She felt a hand on the small of her back and realized that Joshua had come up behind them. Reaching out blindly with her hand, she tugged him closer, needing both of them.

Taking a few deep breaths, she got control of her wayward emotions and raised her head. A shiver shot through her body and goose b.u.mps rose on her arms and chest, reminding her that she was only partially dressed. Her father swore as he stepped back and ripped off his shirt and wrapped it around her. He helped her tuck her arms in the sleeves, being careful of her injuries, and then b.u.t.toned it like he had many times when she'd been a child.

"Dad."

He finished slipping the last b.u.t.ton through the hole before he looked at her.

"I'm really okay."

"No you're not," he growled. She could hear that anger in his voice and knew he was angry with himself. Her father and Joshua had much in common.

"Yes, I am." She caught his face in her hands and made him really look at her. "By rights I should be dead, or at the very least captured, and I would have been without Joshua." Going up on her toes, she kissed her father's cheek and released him. Taking a step back, she stood at Joshua's side. "I need to see to your injuries." She was worried about the long gashes on his chest, back and arms even though they were no longer bleeding.

Joshua twined his fingers with hers, but his gaze was still on her father. The two men stared at one another as the tension rose again. Finally, her father gave a curt nod. Joshua inclined his head and at last gave her his attention. She wanted to be indignant over the fact that the two men had just seemed to have decided her future between them, but she was just so relieved they weren't going to fight that she couldn't work up a good mad.

Honestly, the testosterone level was enough to suffocate a woman. They could decide whatever they wanted. She planned to just go ahead and do what she wanted anyway. Let them have their male rituals if it made them feel better.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Joshua released her hand and slung his arm over her shoulder, pulling her closer. She winced at the pressure. Her poor body was protesting all the abuse. Joshua pulled his arm back and swore. "We've got to get you back to the compound." She could see the worry in his eyes, so she patted his chest to try to rea.s.sure him.

Someone cleared his throat. "We need to get moving."

She peeked around Joshua and found all four of his brothers still standing there waiting. Straightening her shoulders, she strode toward the men. Stopping just in front of them, she extended her hand toward the largest. "I'm Alex Riley. Pleased to meet you."

The corners of his mouth kicked up, but that didn't make him appear any less scary. His large hand engulfed hers. "Isaiah Striker." His eyes were as dark as Joshua's, maybe even darker as they stared down at her. She had a feeling he was trying to see straight to her very soul and that he was succeeding. She wanted to look away, but was ensnared in his gaze. Eventually, he seemed to find whatever it was he was searching for, released her hand and stepped away. Leaving her there with the other three, he strode toward Joshua and her father.

Alex turned back to the remaining brothers. They were all formidable men, but not in the same league as their older brothers. One of the men stepped forward. This one had medium brown hair and chocolate brown eyes that held a hint of mischief. He stuck out his hand. "Micah Striker." She shook his hand and blinked furiously when another man almost identical to him stepped up beside them.

"Levi Striker." He elbowed his brother out of the way and took her hand in his.

The last brother stepped forward. His hair was a deep, rich black and his eyes were somber as he gripped her hand. Unlike his brothers, he brought her hand to his lips and placed a tender kiss on the back of her hand. "Simon Striker." His voice had an almost musical quality about it. She found herself smiling at him.

"Thank you for making Joshua happy." He gave her hand a squeeze before he released it.

"I'm glad to meet you all." She glanced around the forest floor and then averted her eyes from the bodies. "I just wish it could be under better circ.u.mstances."

"We've got to get moving." Joshua walked over to stand beside her and she leaned into his side, just wanting to touch him. "There's trouble back at the compound. I'm not sure what we're going to find when we get there. Luther said there'd been a change in leadership. I don't think we're going to find Ian alive."

Her father swore and turned away. The man might not be real to her, but he was her uncle and her father's brother. Her heart ached for him. It would be horrible to come home after all these years just to find his brother dead.

She watched as her father stared off into the distance, wishing she knew what to do to comfort him. The last few days had brought brutality and death into her life, but it had also brought love and hope. So many mixed emotions swirled around inside Alex. Her father seemed so alone, so removed from the rest of them. She wished he had someone to share his life with, especially now that she'd found Joshua.

Joshua released a long, steady sigh. "I hate to break this up, but we need to leave. There are probably others scouring the woods and we're still about a two- or three-hour hike from the compound."

Isaiah nodded. "I'll go on and scout ahead. Not all of the men of the Wolf Creek pack are stupid enough to follow Luther and his ilk. I'm willing to bet that many of them don't even know what's happened. I expect the Carlos family didn't exactly challenge Ian in the traditional manner. Knowing them, they probably attacked Ian when he wasn't expecting it."

"I'd say you're right about that." Tension flowed from Joshua in waves. "Go."

Isaiah inclined his head and began to strip off his clothing. When he was naked, he shifted and loped off into the woods. Simon came forward and gathered his brother's clothing.

Levi and Micah went around the clearing, gathering all the weapons. When they were done the group headed out in the direction that Isaiah had gone.

James' blood began to boil as the reality of his brother's death washed over him. He would have his vengeance. Somehow. His gaze landed on Alex and a sense of peace enveloped him. Her presence alone was enough to bring him some comfort. This was why he was here. His daughter would be safe, no matter what the cost to himself. He owed her that much.

As he continued to watch her, Alex reached out and twined her fingers with Joshua's, following him into the woods. She was limping slightly and he could see blood had seeped through his shirt in several places. Joshua's back looked much worse, but he ignored it as he leaned down to listen to whatever Alex was saying to him.

They might not be officially bonded, but James could see the connection was there. Alex glanced back over her shoulder then and smiled at him. His little girl was gone forever, replaced by a woman any man would be proud of.

No, his daughter no longer needed him, but his pack did.

It felt strange to be returning home after all these years. But it felt good. The time had come for James LeVeau Riley to reclaim his lost life.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Joshua kept all his senses sharp, constantly searching the wind for the stench of bounty hunters and rogue werewolves. From what he'd learned, they not only had to deal with enemies from without, but traitors from within the pack as well.

Alex stirred beside him, drawing his attention. "How are you feeling?" He didn't like the fact they'd been unable to do anything about her injuries. He wanted her home where he could take care of her.

"Shouldn't that be my line?" She rubbed her hand gently over his injured arm. "I can't begin to imagine how you're feeling right now. To have your own people betray you like that." Alex sighed and shook her head. "I know you've got to be hurt and angry. I know you feel as if you failed Ian and want to avenge him somehow."

Once again he was reminded of just how lucky he was to have found this special woman. She understood him better than anyone else ever had. "I did fail him. We all did. We are the Striker family, the protectors of the pack. We never should have left him unguarded in the compound."

That's what burned in his gut worst of all. He and his family had always been responsible for the safety of the pack and the alpha couple.

"It's not your fault."

"Then whose is it?" he countered angrily. "It is our responsibility. My responsibility."

"You have to let it go, Joshua." Her fingers tightened around his. "You were doing what Ian asked you to do, what your alpha commanded you to do. You were fulfilling your duty to him and the pack." Alex scowled at him. "We've had this discussion before. You're not omnipotent."

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease some of the tension that rested there. The gashes on his arms, back and chest pained him, but it was the ache in his heart that hurt the most.

"Give it time." Her voice was low and soft, a balm to his battered soul.

He knew Alex was right, but that didn't make it any easier. All any of them could do was go forward and face whatever lay on the path ahead of them. They were almost at the compound.

Alex stumbled and he caught her easily in his arms. She had to be close to collapsing, but she never uttered a complaint. Her face was chalky, her lips pale. Dark circles ringed beneath her eyes and the bruise on her face was a sickly yellow and black. He knew her body was battered and bruised as well and that her arms and feet needed tending.

He pulled her to a halt, picked her up and placed her on a tree that had fallen across the path. "Rest." She didn't like his order and made to stand. "We need to wait for Isaiah. It won't do for us to go into this blind. We're less than an hour away."

"Oh." She settled back on the log and sighed. "I guess that makes sense."

Joshua fought back a grin as he watched her. "Glad you think so," he added wryly.

The others came up alongside them with James in the lead. "How much longer until Isaiah gets back?"

"Not long." Joshua knew his brother would be back as quickly as possible.

The words were barely out of his mouth when Isaiah appeared from between two trees. He didn't waste any time, shifting back to his human form immediately. He launched straight into his news. "Ian and Patrice are dead." The news was as stark and blunt as his voice. "Luther and his brothers took them unawares. They didn't make it."

Joshua flicked his gaze toward James. The older man stood there, still as a statue, and absorbed the blow. His brother and sister-in-law were both gone.

"What about the others involved in this betrayal?" Joshua turned his attention back to Isaiah.

"Some of the younger pups of the Brody family are waiting at the compound." An unholy smile lit Isaiah's face as he took his clothing from Simon and pulled on his jeans. "Seems they want to challenge you, brother. They think they can defeat the Striker."

Joshua swallowed back his anger. So much loss. So much death, and all of it unnecessary. No wonder their kind was dying out. They couldn't stop this incessant fighting amongst themselves. He felt Alex's hand at the base of his spine. The heat from her palm, the contact between them, soothed him. "They are welcome to try."

He felt Alex's fingers jerk against his skin, but she said nothing, made no protest. She'd faced nothing but violence since she entered his world. He honestly was afraid she wouldn't want to stay with him in Wolf Creek. And who would blame her? Certainly not him. At this point, he wasn't sure he wanted to stay any longer. He was tired. Tired of all the fighting and death. And what was it all for?

Alex leaned into his side, her softness nestling against his hard body and he swallowed back the surge of emotion that threatened to overwhelm him.

This is what he fought for. For the chance to have a few moments of peace. To protect a special woman like Alex. For a chance to rebuild their society.

He wanted to howl, to change into his wolf form and run free through the woods with Alex by his side. He wanted to curl up after a long hard day with Alex in his big bed and spend all night making love to her. He wanted to fall asleep with her curled in his arms and wake in the morning with her still there.

And he would have it too. Determination fired him again, pushing away his fatigue. "What about the elders of the family. Donovan Brody isn't a stupid man." The Brody loyalty had never been in doubt until this moment and Joshua found it disconcerting. Donovan was not only a good friend, but also a man whose opinion he respected.

Isaiah smirked. "You might not get a chance to meet the younger Brodys. When I left, Donovan was headed for the compound with blood in his eyes."

"d.a.m.n it. That's my job. They challenged me." He knew his friend would handle the problem, but he would pay a terrible cost. It wasn't easy to have to kill a member of your own family, even if it was an extended member. "Which Brodys are involved?"

"His younger brother's children." Joshua knew they were all young males, ranging from the ages of twenty to thirty-five. Old enough to know better and young enough to be stupid. "It has to be the influence of the boys' maternal uncle. Their father is mated to a Carlos, isn't he?

Isaiah nodded.

It all made sense to Joshua. All those young men thinking they could destroy the fabric of the werewolf society and take over. What they didn't yet realize was the very survival of their race depended on that same society and the rules that were in place to protect it.

"We have to get going." James prowled forward. "The deaths of Ian and Patrice must be avenged. Then we will deal with the Brodys." He didn't wait for the rest of them, but moved off on his own.

The rest of them followed quickly. They knew the pain James was feeling. They'd all experienced it at one time or another. It was never easy to lose family.

Alex trudged forward. Each step was b.l.o.o.d.y painful. She wanted to ask if they were almost at the Wolf Creek compound but couldn't muster the energy. It had to be close.

She was so intent on just staying on her feet that she didn't realize Joshua had stopped until she plowed into his back. She grabbed onto his waist for support and managed to stay on her feet.

She could see the worry in his eyes when he gathered her close to him. "I'm okay." She patted his chest, loving the hard feel of it beneath her palm. She could tell he wasn't convinced, but there was nothing either of them could do about it right now so there was no point in talking about it.

"I wanted to show you something."

She heard it then, a loud rushing sound just beyond the trees. She was shocked she hadn't heard it before now. Stepping beside him, she let him lead her off their original path. The trees seemed to part suddenly and her breath caught in her throat.

About thirty feet in height, the rock wall reached to the sky. Cascading over it was a shower of water, wild and fierce. Plants of all sorts grew along the banks of the river. The lush green was peppered with a splash of red and white as some flowers and berries flourished. A fine spray of mist shimmered along the top of the pool that formed at the base of the falls. It was completely untamed and absolutely breathtaking.

Joshua's arms came around her from behind. His chest was nestled up to her back and she leaned against him, careful not to put much of her weight against his injured chest, but wanting-no needing-the contact with him. His fingers slid beneath the fabric of her shirt and rested lightly on her stomach. "This is part of Wolf Creek," he whispered in her ear and she understood why he didn't speak aloud. There was something about this place that seemed almost magical and certainly awe inspiring.

"It's beautiful." Her words were totally inadequate to express what she truly felt, but she sensed he understood what she was trying to say.

His lips skimmed the curve of her ear. "When this is all done, I'll bring you back here and we'll swim in the pool."

"Really?" She tilted her head back against his shoulder. Reaching down, he brushed a lock of hair off her cheek as he skimmed his finger along her jaw.

"Absolutely." His lips curved upward. "I think it's something we'd both enjoy."

His smile was filled with such promise she forgot all about her aches and pains, forgot all about his injuries. When his head dipped toward her, she leaned upward to meet him. His tongue skimmed along her bottom lip and she gasped. Heat flooded her body, pooling low in her groin. A gnawing restlessness grew within her, goading her onward. She wanted this man, wanted his hardness within her. Thrusting. Claiming.

Joshua pulled back, his eyes closed as he sucked in a deep breath. "Not now." His eyes opened and the heat in them almost singed her flesh. "But soon."

It was a promise she planned to make him keep. "Soon," she echoed, returning his vow. He growled low in his throat as he took her hand and tugged her away from the majestic falls and back on their trail.

They hurried their pace until they'd caught up with the others. His brothers looked at them, but didn't say anything. Her father glanced her way and smiled, but it was a sad smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

The tension mounted as they moved closer to their home. They stopped and waited several times as three of the men slid soundlessly into the brush only to reemerge a short while later with their fists clenched and their faces set in anger.

Finally, the entire group came to a halt behind a stand of rocks. From here, Alex could see a ten-foot-tall wooden fence that surrounded a group of houses. The large gate in the front was open as if in invitation. This had to be the compound.

Levi and Micah stepped forward. "There were two scouts in the woods, but we left them alone." Levi shook his head. "Honestly, one of them is barely twenty. The Brodys managed to coax two of the young Tallant pups into joining them."

Joshua shook his head at the foolishness of youth. "We'll catch them later and leave them to their uncle." He knew Grady Tallant very well and his nephews would rue the day they'd ever got involved in this mess. The Tallant family was much like the Striker family and prided themselves on their loyalty to the pack.

James stepped forward. "It's time to end this." He glanced behind them. "I don't trust them not to bring in more hunters. This might be our territory, but with so many traitors in our midst it would be easy for them to slip through. They might even take the opportunity to attack our women and children."