by Breezy Jones
Jack took a deep breath as she regarded Ryker and then me. “But the secret is that not one Fae holds all the power of Christmas. It’s divided amongst the Claus and Kringle family by way of a magical amulet. These crystals…” her voice trailed off. When no one else spoke, she said, “They allow us to control the magic within us.”
“So, take the crystal and you take the magic?” Ryker asked.
Jack took in a deep breath, blowing out with puffed cheeks. Suddenly, her face was paler than it had been a moment ago. The conversation was taxing for her.
“No, it doesn’t work like that. It’s a bond between crystal and Fae allowing us to channel our magic properly. Santa can access our power, however, by accessing the crystal. Doing it will slowly drain us of the magic.” She placed a tentative hand to her own neck almost delicately as if that was where her own crystal had been.
“But why would Santa take the crystals? Isn’t he in charge of Christmas?” I asked.
Jack rubbed a finger across her jaw. “No. Like I said the magic is divided. No one Fae holds all the magic.” Jack sighed. “Our crystals were taken by the wolves.”
She gestured to Ava and herself.
“I think he is taking the crystals and combining them—siphoning the magic into himself. But I can’t be sure. Nick and his brother Kris are the two strongest of the Christmas Fae, but even for them that amount of magic would be overwhelming. It would drive either of them to insanity before it finally killed them.”
The room buzzed with tension after Jack’s confession. Ryker resumed his incessant pacing, probably taking in all the information.
“So, then the power will kill him. We just have to wait him out,” Mason said in a voice full of hope.
“I don’t know,” Jack said clearly upset with the idea of letting her father die slowly even if he had gone evil.
“Do we really want to take that risk?” Pops asked.
“What’s the risk?” Mason argued. “She just said that’s what would happen.”
Ryker bowed his head. “If Nick dies, the role of Santa would then pass to the eldest right?”
With a trembling chin, Jack said, “Yes, but he has all three of my brothers—Jonas, Steven, and Adam—along with their crystals. They could die as well.”
“Right. What if it doesn’t kill him?” Pops added.
“The only way Dad would survive is if he had help in harnessing the power,” Ava added. Her hands fidgeted in her lap.
“Could someone be helping him?” I asked.
“What about the brother?” Joe said. “I mean no one’s seen or heard from him in ages right.”
“Brother?” Ryker questioned.
Joe nodded.
“I mean if Santa’s really after all the magic, he would need Kris’s magic too right,” Joe said, waving his hand palm up.
I pressed my lips together for a moment and cocked my head to the side. “But I thought he hasn’t been seen in ages.”
Joe tilted his head, tucking his hands together in front of him. “Well, he wouldn’t be. I mean with his job he’s kind of a hermit, right?”
“That’s right,” I remembered. “You said that Kris Kringle Klaus was Krampus.”
“Yes. Do we know if this evil version of Santa has Kris? What if Kris is actually helping the bad one?” Jack shook her head. “I didn’t see him while I was there. He wasn’t in the cell blocks with us. I guess he could be helping, but it’s unlikely.”
“Okay. Well, I don’t think we can afford to wait this out. Not after what he pulled tonight. How do we stop him?” I asked.
Ava and Jack glanced at each other, then back to Ryker.
“Nothing like this has ever happened before,” Ava said.
Ryker huffed impatiently. “How do we stop someone with that kind of magic?”
“We could unite all the packs. Go back in there and show this Santa Klaus who he’s messing with.” Mason balled his hands into fists.
The action was so like Mason—the muscle of the operation. I almost snickered. Ava actually did.
Pops pursed his lips. “If we go in now, we’ll only be slaughtered. Between those mystery werewolves and his collection of Fae, shifters, and vampires, Santa has an army.” Pops paused rubbing his temples. “We barely made it out tonight. What we need is a way in, or a way to break the spell on his followers.”
I looked to Ryker, flexing his fingers in front of him. Watching him, I could almost forget the world around me as his muscles bulged and straightened over and over again. I buried my face in my hands trying to ignore my lascivious thoughts. Feelings that weren’t needed now—or ever.
Ryker dipped his head once to Mason.
“We need to get messages out to the other packs,” Ryker ordered.
“On it boss,” Mason said and left.
“Girls,” Ryker said turning to Ava, Jack, and Vixen. “I think we need to get you somewhere safe.” His brow furrowed. “And stay there this time. Leave the rest to us.”
“They can stay with me,” Pops announced, making his way toward the girls. He helped Jack stand.
“We can still help,” Ava protested.
Ryker glared at her,. “Without magic? No.”
“Ava, come on,” Jack said, putting an arm around Ava. Daggers shot from Ava’s eyes, but she relented and the four of them made their way from the house.
Ryker’s shoulders slumped with the weight of the day’s events. His hardened expression didn’t give me a clue about his mood. He could have been angry with all that had happened or just plain defeated.
When he faced Lexi and me, the sternness dissipated. Gently, he said, “Go on Lex. You should get some sleep.”
Lexi’s whole body sagged, her tears gone now. She gave Ryker a quick hug before heading upstairs. I didn’t want to say it but after Santa or Nick—or whatever had been here—I didn’t know if sleep was even a possibility.
I wanted to go home—my home.
As if he could read my mind, Ryker strode over to me and caught me up in his arms. “I won’t let anyone get to you, I promise,” he whispered into my hair as he stroked a hand through the soft strands.
I buried my face against his chest, allowing myself to forget if just for a moment everything that told me I couldn’t. After tonight’s events, I didn’t fight, instead I basked in his warmth, and in the comfort of knowing I was truly safe in his embrace.
Too soon, however, he dropped his hands. “Sleep, my little wolf,” he whispered before taking me by the hand and leading me to the stairs.
I rocked back on my heel once then made the climb by myself. Between Joe, Lexi, and Ryker—my family was safe. That thought at least allowed me to relax a little. Hopefully, Lindsey was safe too.
Chapter Twenty
The next morning, I toweled off my wet hair as the sun illuminated the bedroom. The deep reds and browns of the decor around me painted a warm picture. I wished my insides felt as relaxing. From Evil Santa out to get me to Lindsey being the one to try to warn me, I was anything but calm. I took in a deep breath hoping to loosen the weight that had settled into the pit of my stomach.
Numerous footsteps pounding on the stairs snagged my attention. I wrenched on a pair of jeans and rushed to the door. Swinging the door wide, I saw Eric and Mason carrying an unconscious Seth down the hall toward one of the other bedrooms. Lexi followed shortly behind them, and I inched into the hall. I kept my eyes down, doing my best to ignore the heat building in me as Ryker came closer. He didn’t stop. Instead, he headed for the same room.
A gentle hand touched my shoulder, and I glanced up. Pop’s eyes crinkled encouragingly at me before he followed the rest down the hall. I took the chance and walked to the room. From the looks of it, I’d guess it was Lexi’s old room. Everything was done in bright pinks and blues. I smiled in spite of myself at the girlishness of the space
.
Lexi rushed over to Seth, pushing Mason and Eric out of the way. The small room was crowded with all six of us crammed into it. Eric caught me studying him and shot me an angered look. Instead of retreating, I glared.
“All right, everyone out,” Lexi announced. She stood and shooed everyone away. “I need space to work.”
Eric shoved past me, growling just loud enough for me to hear as he jostled my shoulder. I grimaced, settling him with a stare which quickly evaporated as Ryker walked past me. The heat wafting off him collided with me and shook me to the core.
I closed my eyes, breathing in the smell of him. My whole body relaxed. I heard Ryker’s quick intake of breath—mirroring my own—as he left the room. I exhaled, a little too loudly, and followed him out.
I closed the door behind me as I entered the hall. The tension in the narrow space was thick as everyone stood huddled around.
“Where did you find him?” I asked, breaking the silence that had stretched through the area.
“About twenty miles outside of town,” Mason replied.
My eyes grew, fidgeting with my hands as we waited for Lexi to finish. “What happened to him?”
Mason’s forehead creased, his hands tucked into his pockets. “Not sure yet, that’s what Lexi’s looking for.”
“Maybe it was vampires, or those controlled shifters?” Pops said.
“Hmmm…” Ryker grunted. “Could be. Or maybe it was those mysterious wolves.”
Eric snorted but gave no opinion. He just stood there seething and shooting daggers in my direction.
I didn’t doubt he thought this was somehow my fault.
“How is Jack doing?” Ryker asked, glancing towards Pops.
He tilted his head from side to side. “Well she’s healing slow, but I think she’ll be fine. Joe’s with her. Without her magic though…” He trailed off.
My gaze whipped to him. His tone didn’t sound good.
The corridor grew heavy with worry again. I rocked back on my heels silently praying Jack and Seth would be okay. Somehow we would figure out a way to stop this villain.
Just then the door opened, and everyone eyes turned to Lexi as she stood in the open doorway.
“Well,” Lexi started. “He’s going to be okay. He’s going to need a lot of stitches. There are broken bones, but nothing that won’t heal quickly.”
A rush of air left every person in the hall, easing the tension a bit.
“Do we know what did this to him?” Ryker asked.
Lexi folded her hands in front of her solemnly, glancing toward me with sympathetic eyes.
“A werewolf would be my guess but judging from the wounds it had to have been a massive wolf. The claw marks alone are at least twice the size of what even you could do, Ryker.” Her brows knit together. “Also, it looks like a vampire was in on the fight as well.”
“A vamp and a werewolf teaming up?” Pops asked, disbelief lacing his words.
I frowned, glancing from Lexi to Ryker. “Maybe they were being controlled like the ones at the warehouse?”
Ryker licked his lips looking to Lexi to continue.
“There’s something else,” Lexi said. She turned to me, an apology in her watery eyes. “He also has vampire blood in his system, which is why he’s healing remarkably fast and probably the only reason he survived at all.”
Ryker’s head jerked up. “Why would a vampire attack him and then heal him?”
“Vampires don’t attack. They kill,” Mason said.
Eric snorted. “Except that damned vamp your girl keeps hangin’ around,” he pointed out.
I growled.
“Lindsey didn’t do this,” I defended.
But now I understood why Lexi had looked at me like she was asking forgiveness. It didn’t take a genius to suspect Lindsey might have had something to do with this. And she had been here last night when Seth went missing.
Eric stomped toward me. “To hell she didn’t,” he said his hostile glare hard and piercing, as Ryker wedged himself between Eric and me. “She was here, wasn’t she?”
I squared my shoulders defiantly. “Lindsey came to warn us. She tried to save us, Seth included,” I exclaimed.
Eric threw up his hands and faced Ryker. He snarled, hurling an accusation, “This is your fault you know.”
Ryker squared his jaw, puffing his chest out as he uttered, “Careful.”
“This is bullshit, and we all know it,” Eric said, his voice rumbling. “Nick is picking us off one by one while you’re here shacking up with the bitch he really wants—sniffing around her ankles like she’s in heat.”
Ryker moved so fast it was hard to tell what had happened until Eric was pinned against the wall by his throat. Ryker, his claws digging into Eric’s skin, leaned in close. Blood trickled from the punctures in Eric’s neck.
“You do not question me. I am Alpha,” Ryker roared. “One more word from you, and I’ll consider it a challenge.”
Ryker dropped Eric with a low, menacing grumble.
Eric straightened. His eyes blazed with indignation. Nobody spoke, waiting to see if Eric would indeed offer up a challenge. After a tense minute or two, he scoffed and folded his arms over his chest.
A groan sounded from inside the bedroom, and everyone swiveled toward the doorway.
“Seth’s awake,” Lexi said over her shoulder, making her way deeper into the room. Ryker gave Eric one more stern look before he followed Lexi.
I took in a deep breath and traipsed behind him with everyone else. As everyone I filed in, I remained in the doorway. Some knelt by the bed while others huddled closer to the end. When I caught sight of Seth sitting up and alert, I exhaled. But then his eyes landed on me. They grew wide.
“Get her out of here!” he shouted.
My gaze bounced around the room as everyone looked at me.
Lexi laid a gentle hand on his arm. “Hey, it’s just Nina,” she said. “Relax.” But he shoved away, pushing himself back against the headboard.
“Exactly. She’s the one that attacked me.” His voice was urgent as he looked to Ryker, his expression pleading.
I took a step away. “I didn’t.” I stumbled on the words, confused at his reaction.
Ryker moved closer to the bed with his palms out. In a calm voice, he said, “Seth, Nina wouldn’t have attacked you.”
His clean-shaven face turned white as a ghost, his body rigid.
“I… I didn’t,” I mumbled.
“Those eyes,” Seth proclaimed, his voice shaking. “I’d know those green eyes anywhere.”
I took another step toward the door, covering my mouth with my hands as my eyes burning with unshed tears. My body tensed with the cold that ran through my veins.
“Seth, tell us what happened,” Ryker said, and I could hear the strain in his voice.
Seth glanced to Ryker then to me, his eyes large and frightened. I’d never seen him so scared. Or scared at all.
“I woke to a noise outside and saw her vamp friend in the backyard just on the edge of the woods. But when I looked again she was gone, so I went out to investigate. Someone grabbed me and knocked me out.” He took a deep breath as if recalling the events were painful for him. “Next thing I remember is waking up to a giant wolf standing over me. She was huge. But those eyes… I’ll never forget them. They’re hers. Nina’s eyes.”
“Seth, Nina is smaller than me in wolf form,” Ryker said. “It couldn’t have been her.”
His words had no effect on Seth however as he continued, “Those were her eyes, Ryker. I’d stake my life on it.”
“Lex, you said last night that a vamp attacked him too?” Mason asked.
“Lindsey,” Seth said. “She was with the wolf. She attacked me too. They were going to kill me,” he declared.
He was wrong. I didn’t know
how or what he saw, but he was wrong, and I was sure of it.
Mason looked over at me, and my argument died on my lips. His stare was hard and suspicious, and I could see the doubt already starting to take hold. Despite Ryker’s words, he wondered if Seth was right about me.
His expression pushed me over the edge, and I gave up trying to hold it together. Instead, I whirled and ran from the room. I pounded down the stairs loudly enough that I was almost sure someone was going to come after me.
I ran from the house straight to the woods bordering the backyard. When I reached the cover of the trees, I let the tears fall in heavy streams down my face. Sucking in deep puffs of air I forced myself to shift into my wolf form.
Chapter Twenty-One
Fur sprouted from my skin as my bones snapped and pulled. Twisting fingers rounded into padded paws and my nose lengthened into a sharp snout. After a few moments, I gave myself a sharp shake, releasing the last remnants of ripping pain.
The sun filtered through the canopy of trees overhead. I stared at it for a moment before looking down at the snow-covered earth. In the next second, I took off running through the thick forest. The air rippled through my fur as the cold air chilled my lungs.
My senses prickled, and I glanced over my shoulder to find Ryker in wolf form running just behind me. No time for him. Run faster. Harder. The crunch of the snow and our heavy breathing echoed around us. Ryker was beside me in minutes, but he said nothing as we ran through the woods.
When I reached a small alcove devoid of trees, I stopped and shifted back into human form. I bent down folding my body to hide my nakedness as best I could. Ryker came up beside me and shifted himself.
He stepped in front of me and bent down, placing his hands on my shoulders. His golden eyes searched my face. “Little wolf…”
My shoulders sagged, and I had to look away before I started crying again.
“I know it wasn’t you,”
I tilted my head forward, but kept my eyes locked on the trees. When I felt his fingers on my cheek, I relaxed into his hand as he gently guided my face up to his.
