Winter's Rise (The Winter Series Book 1)

by Breezy Jones

  Chapter Thirteen

  The short walk from the café back to Ryker’s was a silent one. The heat behind Ryker’s eyes made me keep my mouth shut despite my curiosity. Snow began to fall in large flakes coating the already white ground. If it kept up, we’d be snowed in by nightfall.

  Ryker constantly looked over his shoulder, checking out the surroundings. His tense muscles, though hot as hell, had me on edge. I didn’t like this. Ryker was always in control, and now thanks to Vixen and Seth’s cryptic message, we were walking at a pace that had me jogging to keep up. Not that I had much of a choice as he kept his hand firmly on the small of my back the entire time like he was afraid I’d either run off or get snatched up at any moment.

  The minute we reached the front steps, relief washed over me. I let out a breath as we made our way into the house. Ryker did as well, finally allowing his shoulders to relax. I was acutely aware of his hand on my back as he guided me to one of the recliners by the fireplace. Ryker busied himself with lighting a fire as Pops, Seth, Mason, and Eric all appeared from the kitchen.

  Pops took my hand in his. “It’s nice to see you again, Nina.”

  I smiled as Seth tilted his head in my direction in silent greeting. I hadn’t seen them much in the last few days since the vampire attack. They’d been out on regular nightly patrols.

  “What’s she doing here?” Eric growled from the other end of the room.

  “We don’t have time for this, Eric,” Pops scolded, letting go of my hand and taking a seat on the other recliner.

  “Pops is right. What’s going on?” Ryker demanded. “Did you find out anything on patrol?”

  Seth glanced at me apologetically and took his seat on the couch next to Mason.

  “Just news from the other packs. Shifters are—”

  “Disappearing,” Ryker cut in. “I already know. Vixen came to see me at the diner.”

  Pops didn’t seem surprised, but Seth’s eyes widened and even Eric sat taller. “Today?” Eric asked. “In the daylight?”

  Ryker’s jaw clenched before replying, “Yes.”

  “This is serious,” Seth said. “If packs are openly admitting to loosing ranks, and Winter Fae are walking around in broad daylight among humans, something big is brewing.”

  I listened intently with my fingers wrapped around my necklace.

  Ryker nodded. “Vixen said Christmas and Winter Fae have gone missing as well. Nick was taken just last night.”

  “Nick is Santa Claus, right?”

  Everyone’s eyes landed on me.

  “Yes,” Ryker said.

  “What did Vixen want, anyway?” Seth asked.

  Ryker came over to me and sat on the chair arm. “Our help,” he said as I glanced up at him. “She wants us to look into these missing Fae and wolves.”

  “Helping Christmas…” Seth said with a whistle. “That’s dangerous waters.”

  “How is it dangerous to help Christmas?” My gaze darted from Ryker to Set and back to Ryker.

  “Christmas Fae are dangerous because theirs is the only magic powerful enough to rival a djinn. And djinn and Christmas Fae are major rivals. It’s just better not to get in the middle.”

  I glanced at Ryker. “But if Vixen asked you to help find Nick, and he’s been taken along with several werewolves, aren’t we already in the middle?”

  Ryker sighed. “You see my problem.”

  “This is big if Nick has gone missing,” Mason said. “He’s powerful as hell. I mean, who would even attempt it? Do we have any idea who’s behind this?”

  “Could be vampires,” Seth offered.

  “Could be,” Pops acknowledged. “We know they tried to get to Nina on Thanksgiving. We still don’t know who sent them.”

  Eric tsked loudly. “Does it matter how?” He seethed. “I’m betting all of it has something to do with Nina.”

  Mason clenched and unclenched his hands as if preparing for a fight. Clearly, he didn’t mind who was at fault as long as he got to hit someone.

  But Ryker directed another growl at Eric before holding up his hand. Eric leaned in, looking like he had no intention of backing down.

  “Now this could be entirely unrelated,” Pops said looking between the two men, his eyes wrinkled at the corners in worry.

  “Oh, come on, old man,” Eric said. “First someone sent the vampires after Nina, and now wolves and Fae are missing. Nina’s got to be their target.”

  “Either way, I’m keeping my eye on her,” Ryker voice rumbled.

  Eric snorted. “Yeah, we can see that.”

  Ryker glared.

  “Of course,” Seth agreed, removing his glasses and cleaning them with the edge of his shirt. “But we still need more information. Why go after other packs? Are they really looking for Nina? It’s got to be well known by now which pack she belongs to. And what do the Fae have to do with her?”

  I looked from one man to the other, trying to understand how this was connected to me.

  “And why hasn’t any of our own been targeted?” Pops asked.

  No one had an answer for that.

  “I say we let her go and find out,” Eric grunted. “She’s endangering the entire pack, and we need to do what’s best for the whole pack, not one tiny female.”

  Ryker tensed. The alpha energy rolling off him made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “That is not an option!”

  “You’re going to let one female, who can barely protect herself, jeopardize the entire pack?” Eric accused.

  “We protect our own, Eric.” Pops voice was tense with a warning.

  “She can hold her own,” Ryker added, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. I shifted in my seat, smiling a little at his vote of confidence. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long before I was back to worrying about endangering the lives of others.

  “Clearly she has you bewitched,” Eric spat. “You look at her like you should be looking at a mate. And we all know she’s not an option for you. Or haven’t you told her?”

  “We’re not having this conversation right now,” Ryker said, his voice harsh as he took another step closer to Eric.

  “She’s not a princess,” Eric hissed.

  I stared at him, confusion blotting out my anger. Did he mean a pack princess? What did that have to do with anything?

  “None of that matters. She has alpha blood.” Ryker’s words had me stopping short, trying to piece together his meaning.

  Eric paused shifting his weight to his other leg. “That alone doesn’t make her an option for you. And you can’t treat her like she is.”

  My gaze hardened as I glanced from Ryker to the other men. Seth had gone completely still as if he was just as shocked as me by their exchange.

  “I hate to say it, but Eric is right.” Pops looked away as if it hurt to say the words. “She could bear us pure pups but not with you. She’s still not a pack princess.”

  Ryker spun around to Pops, his gaze flicking between him and Eric. I waited for him to argue with them. To order them to stop discussing me as if I were a piece of property to be awarded. But he didn’t say a word.

  “I tried to remind you with Yasmin, but you didn’t listen,” Eric said quietly.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Ryker demanded. “You were the one who brought her to Thanksgiving?”

  “You needed to concentrate on the choices in front of you,” Eric said.

  I shook my head, my stomach sinking as I sat back in my chair. Eric had set up Ryker’s date to push him away from me.

  “I know my choices,” Ryker said through gritted teeth.

  “Are you sure about that?” Eric demanded. “You’re not fooling anyone. You forget I can smell the attraction on her, and you for that matter.”

  My stomach dropped further, this conversation was going down a road I
didn’t want to be on.

  Ryker snorted. “That’s enough,” he said his nostrils flaring. “I’m Alpha, and I’ll make that decision.”

  “Without a marriage to give us alliances the pack won’t keep following you, and you know that.” Eric stomped out before Ryker could answer, a snarl following in his wake.

  Everyone’s eyes swiveled to me. The silence hung in the room like an invisible weight making my chest heavy. I squirmed against the chair cushions under the awkward stares.

  Ryker grumbled low in his chest, looking to each of the remaining three men. Seth and Mason threw their hands up in unison.

  “Yeah, I think that’s our cue to go,” Seth said, standing.

  “See you, Nina,” Seth and Mason said together, and they left the house.

  Pops made his way over to Ryker and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry man,” he said before he turned to me. “Goodnight, Nina.”

  Then he too left.

  Ryker turned from me, running a hand through his hair. My gaze dropped to my lap as anger and hurt swirled in my gut.

  “Nina…” Ryker started swiveling around to me. I glared up at him, and he shut his mouth again.

  “I get it—not a pack princess.” I said, standing.

  Ryker took a step toward me. “Let me explain.”

  I crossed my arms and tapped my foot.

  “As alpha I have certain responsibilities. Sacrifices…”

  I snorted, “You didn’t think about that much when you were sacrificing my feelings.” I shook my head and looked away. “There’s nothing left to say. You can’t be with me. I get it,” I said the last words with a huff as I made my way to the front door. “I’ve got to get to work.”

  I opened the door with my chest heaving from the knife that seemed lodged into my heart. Ryker didn’t follow me, but he must have texted Seth as he came up beside me on the sidewalk. We walked in silence, snow billowing around us as we made our way toward town.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I shuffled through the aisles of books—stocking the light brown shelves was a reasonably mindless task. Which meant it did little to keep my mind off what had happened at Ryker’s or tonight’s full moon. Seth’s constant presence wasn’t much help either as he sat by the register reading a book. Since the vampire attack and now with the disappearances, Ryker always had someone watching me. Seth was here tonight during my shift. His being around distracted and reminded me that I couldn’t be with Ryker.

  Finished with restocking, I made my way back to the front and smirked as soon as my eyes landed on the book Seth held. The brown hues in his hair highlighted from the golden light coming in from the window behind him.

  “Harry Potter?” I asked.

  Seth quirked a brow behind his thick-rimmed glasses. “I like these books.”

  I pursed my lips together to stop myself from smiling too hard. “Well, of course they’re fantastic books,” I exclaimed, eliciting yet another raised brow from Seth. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you’re a Harry Potter fan.”

  Seth shrugged, handing another stack of books to me. “What’s not to love? There’s magic, werewolves, and awkward teenage love.” He paused. “I read them as a kid—it’s nostalgic.”

  I took the stack he offered with a teasing glare and made my way back through the store, placing them in their proper places.

  The store had stayed pretty empty today. Hardly five people had come in. That was normal this time of year though. People always took a few days’ break after Black Friday to replenish their wallets.

  Usually, I didn’t mind, but after the past few weeks I’d have welcomed the distraction. Returning to the front desk, I took the seat on the other side of Seth.

  “So…” I started glancing around making sure we were alone in the store. “Why does Eric think all these kidnappings are my fault?”

  Seth turned to me while closing the book and said, “I think because all this started shortly after you joined the pack.”

  I thought about it for a moment before replying, “What do you think?”

  Seth sighed, pulling his glasses off to wipe them on his shirt. “Nah,” he said, placing them back on the bridge of his nose. “I think it’s a separate issue.”

  I tilted my head to the side thoughtfully and pressed, “Why?”

  “We know the vampire attack was to get to you, but these kidnappings…. That would take much more planning.”

  I tucked my thumbs into my pockets, processing his words. “Yeah,” I hummed more to myself than him.

  “Especially going after Winter Fae and Nick,” Seth continued. “Santa is super powerful. It would take a lot to take him down. Whoever is behind this has been working on it for quite some time. A lot longer than the month or so that you’ve been with the pack.”

  I stared at the pile of books in front of me without really seeing them, too deep in thought. Who could be behind it all then? And why are they doing it in the first place? Enzo said someone was after me, but it seemed strange that someone would go after so many different types of supernaturals just to get to me.

  “Why do you look like you don’t believe me?” Seth said, jerking my attention back.

  I gaped at him. Taken aback I said, “I don’t.”

  Seth pinned me with a narrowed stare.

  I rolled my eyes and continued, “When I first met all of you, I could swear someone had been following me home a few times.”

  “Did you tell Ryker?” Seth’s brows furrowed, and his shoulders tensed.

  I whistled low. “No, at first I thought it was him but then….” I paused. “I asked him if he was still following me, and he said no.”

  Seth ran a hand over his forehead as he looked away.

  “Now with everything, I’m wondering who it could have been,” I said with a frown.

  Seth’s gaze locked onto mine. He stared for a moment or two with his lips set into a firm line. “I don’t know if this is all connected, but that’s even more reason for you to stay close to the pack and Ryker.”

  I hummed in agreement turning my attention to the stack of books in my lap. The last thing I wanted right now was to stay close to Ryker after hearing he could lose the pack for being with me. But I couldn’t deny that something was going on, and I could be a target.

  A shiver ran down my spine at the thought as Seth returned to his book.

  I began placing price tags on the books.

  Over the last few hours only three other customers had come and gone. My mind had ample time to run through everything going on between kidnappers, vampires, and my feelings for Ryker—a jumbled mess. I pushed aside the thoughts and focused on closing up. Methodically going through the rows, I straightened the shelves and turned off the lights.

  Seth walked out before me and stood guard as I locked the door. I smiled to myself as I circled toward him and headed down the sidewalk. He matched my pace easily. His eyes constantly scanned the empty streets around us. The yellow glow from the street lamps guided our path as the sun had almost disappeared over the mountain tops.

  “What is so important about a pack princess?” I asked, trying to keep my voice passive, wrapping my coat tighter around me.

  Seth sighed and shrugged. “The kind of alliance they offer gives protection to our pack.”

  I stopped in my tracks and gaped at him again. “But isn’t the pack already really strong?”

  His smile was tight lipped as he said, “Yes, of course, but with people disappearing and vampires forming group attacks, the pack needs that partnership.”

  The sentiment calmed me slightly. I chewed my bottom lip and started to walk again.

  “We’re going to need allies to go up against anyone strong enough to take out Nick Claus, and a marriage union is the best way to secure that help.”

  I jacked a brow and side-glanc
ed at him. “Really?”

  “Yeah. I know it must be hard for you, but for Ryker these decisions have been in play for centuries. This is how it’s always worked. The pack must always come first.”

  “I guess.”

  He glanced my way. The smirk teasing his lips made my stomach clench at the loss of what could have been with Ryker. “If it helps, Ryker really does care about you. Believe it or not, there are some that don’t feel as strong about tradition as Eric does.”

  “Huh.” I huffed. Seth seemed like he was on my side, but I couldn’t deny the pack would need help in this fight. I just didn’t like that Ryker might have to marry someone else to make that happen.

  I was still contemplating the conversation when we reached my apartment. Seth had a car parked outside and reality hit like a brick to my stomach. He was parked there because he was going to drive me out to the woods tonight for the full moon—not Ryker.

  “I’m just gonna run in and change,” I said, running up the few steps to my apartment door. “I’ll grab some more clothes for Ryker’s house.”

  Ryker planned on me going back to his place after the full moon. The last place I wanted to go at the moment. My stomach pulled and twisted at the thought. Torn between attraction and longing for what I couldn’t have.

  “I’m coming with you.” Seth was right behind me as I opened the door and stepped into the warmth of the foyer.

  Beside me, Seth tensed, whipping his arm out to stop me from going any further.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  He sniffed the air. “Someone’s been here,” he said, his voice low.

  My heart raced as my eyes darted from him to the hall. I could make out the kitchen island from here, but a wall blocked my view from the rest of the house. I sniffed the air and picked up an unfamiliar scent.

  Carefully, Seth stepped further into the apartment, tugging me behind him. As we turned the corner, I gasped, my breath hitching in my chest at the scene before me.

  Pillows were ripped to shreds, books were thrown about the room, and my furniture was tipped over too. My eyes bounced from one end of the room to the other, adrenaline and fury racing through my veins so hard it was almost painful.