by Colt, Shyla
“There she is. See how long she allowed you to suffer before she showed her treacherous face?” The mass of people blocked her view. Walking forward, they split down the middle. Her heart rose and stuck in her throat. Her mother lay on the ground, legs and arms tied down to stakes. Her back was a shredded red ribbon. The Alpha stood above her, with a maniacal gleam in his eyes.
“You have sullied us all. And now I must cleanse!” He held the whip up high and brought it down on her mother’s back once more. She screamed, and the others cried out in sympathy
“You will stop this now.” Joss ground the words out through her teeth.
“She’s forgotten her place.” He held the whip out toward her. “Look what she brings amongst our midst. And yet where is my son?” Spittle flew from his lips as he raved.
“Kidnapped!”
The crowd gasped.
“He contacted me through our link. I’m the only chance you have of finding him alive, so I suggest you put down the fucking whip.”
“You think to threaten me?” His eyes bled to amber.
She allowed her eyes to glow in response. “No, I’m promising.”
“Abomination!” he roared.
“Look at her eyes. They’re purple.”
Well, that’s new.
“You’ve destroyed us all,” the Alpha roared. “I won’t allow it. One last sacrifice to Odin, one he won’t ignore.”
Is this where he finally offs himself? He reached into his robe and pulled out a dagger. The blade glinted in the moonlight. Surging forward, she changed her shape. The world moved in slow motion as he brought the blade down on her mother’s tailbone. She leapt, aimed for his throat. A beta pummeled her side, knocking her off course, and her mother’s screams rent the air. Shaking her head to clear her daze, she squared off with the light gray wolf with silver hairs. John. Snarling, she snapped her jaws. Lunging forward, another beta head-butted her side, blocking her from the Alpha. Their mission was to contain her.
Her mother’s anguish increased. She glanced up to see the Alpha raise an ax.
“Kaz!”
John went flying, followed by his beta counterpart, Malcolm. Kaz crouched beside her, eyes red, and fangs distended.
“I need to get to my mother.”
“Then you shall.” They sped forward, pausing to battle wolves, dog-piling on top of Kazimir and trying to block her from the Alpha. She slashed with her claws, bit deeply with her fangs, and used her body to bulldoze through, backing Kaz every step of the way. The sickening sound of metal on skin, bone, and her mother’s cries drove her to the brink of insanity. The moment her mother stopped moving, her brain broke. Her vision blurred, and her conscience receded to the background as power flowed into her body. The stone around her neck in a pouch grew hot. Her body changed once more, increasing in size. Muscles swelled and bulged, tearing as they reformed. Bones grew longer and heavier. She howled as anger, sorrow, and pain hit at once. Wolves joined in, echoing her. The Blackfoot pack was accepting her.
She stumbled forward, standing heads above the rest of her pack. This new form dwarfed the betas, who backed off, whimpering as they fell to their bellies. They were loyal, not stupid. This wasn’t a battle they could win, and they knew the Alpha had gone too far. Blocking out her humanity, she walked forward, staring down the man whose hands were still red and slick from her mother’s blood.
“I challenge you for the leadership of the White Creek pack.”
Kaz moved to stand beside her.
“You can’t interfere in this, Kaz.”
“I understand.” He battled with the warrior inside of him as the Blackfoot pack closed ranks around them.
Tension spread as the wolves waited for a response. The Alpha brought his ax down one last time, severing the backbone completely to create a blood eagle. Kicking her mother’s body over, he exposed her organs. Her nostrils flared. Rage exploded inside of her, turning her vision red. Kaz’s hand on her shoulder pinned her in place, keeping her from charging him.
“Win this for your mother.”
Holding herself in check, she watched horrified as he dipped his fingers in the blood pooling around her body and painted a solid line across his face and around his eyes and two lines down his face on either side, bisecting his eyes. She pawed the ground, eager to draw blood for blood.
“I accept your challenge, Moon Maiden.” As Alpha, he was already bigger than most in the pack, but he couldn’t touch her new size. He changed into a fierce silver wolf, still coated in the markings of her mother’s blood. The scent muddled her brain, making it hard to think straight.
“He’s doing everything he can to distract you. Don’t let him. Fight smart, and when you see your opening, show him no mercy.”
Kaz’s level-headed voice kept her from losing herself to grief.
“Do not let him control this fight. Make the first move.”
Trotting over, she reared onto her back legs. The Alpha met her as they batted each other with their powerful paws. She sank her claws into his face, and he returned the favor, grazing her shoulder before they returned to all fours. Their mouths nipped at each other’s neck. She flung her larger arm over his neck and sank her teeth into his flesh. His blood flooded into her mouth. He bucked her off, snarling. His breath puffed into clouds, and his eyes flashed a dark gold. She licked her lips, mocking him.
Body stiffening, he prepared to jump to her left. She feigned to the right, and he faked her out, pinning her to the ground. His claws dug into her shoulders. She yelped, scrambling to get her legs underneath her. Delivering a blow to his under belly, she thrust him off her. He ripped free from her, taking flesh. Blood sprayed through the air and settled on the white layer covering the ground. Ignoring the pain, she circled him, hungry for her pound of flesh.
The Alpha reared up on his hind legs, and she struck, clamping down on his left leg. Her teeth bit through to the bone. She jerked. Crack. His leg snapped. He dug his razor-sharp claws into her flank and dragged them up her body as he went down. Yelping, she shook him off. Blood welled up from her wounds, and exhaustion threatened. Hobbling, he continued to track her slowed movements. They were both injured, but neither planned to give up. The wolves howled. Kaz opened their link, infusing her with his energy. She stood taller, preparing for the last strike.
Watching the Alpha’s every move like a snake charmer, she waited. Driving forward, he came at her. One-hundred and fifty pounds of silver furred muscle pounded. She remained still, waiting, waiting. At the last moment, she launched herself up and locked onto his neck. Sinking her teeth in, she set her jaw. He bucked, pummeling her body, and sinking his nails into her flesh. She hung on like a bull rider. His spicy, hot blood flowed into her mouth and onto her skin. Closing her eyes, she remembered the way her mother looked, life seeping out of her, the bite of the whip as he cleansed her growing up, and the way he broke Isiah. They collapsed together on the ground in a heap. Days could’ve passed by as she drifted in and out of consciousness.
“Let go. He’s gone, Joss.”
She pried her jaws apart and rose shakily to her feet. A wave of movement swept through the crowd as the community shifted and lay on their bellies in submission. Limping over to her mother, she licked her face, threw back her head, and released a mournful howl. I’m an orphan. Dropping her head, she swayed as the blood loss caught up with her.
“And yet, you will never be alone.” Kazimir appeared beside her. The wolves growled. Eyes gleamed in the darkness. An unsettling mix of confusion, mistrust, and anger filled her nostrils. The betas stood together, uncertain. Ignoring the exhaustion setting into her battered and bleeding body, she waited. The betas didn’t disappoint. John rocketed toward her, a gray missile intent on harm. Malcolm followed suit. Kazimir caught Malcolm by the throat, and she knocked John down with a well-aimed blow to the face. Landing in the snow, hard, he whimpered. Lumbering to his feet, he shook his head back and forth and crouched.
Malcolm lost consciousness fro
m lack of oxygen and dangled in Kaz’s hold like a limp rag.
The crowd shifted restlessly.
“Let Malcolm go.”
Kazimir dumped the wolf unceremoniously onto the ground.
Forcing her body to shift, she stood.
“This is my mate. You will show him the respect due to that of the Alpha’s chosen. If anyone wishes to challenge me for my position, come forth now. I’ll show you as much compassion as I did Ian.” Her voice boomed over the crowd. Lightning cracked in the sky. The wind stirred as snow began to fall. Her hair whipped in the wind, flying out behind her like a banner.
“I am Joss Weber. Your Moon Maid, and the new Alpha of this pack. Obey me or suffer my wrath. I will rule justly. There will be many changes, but I promise, they’ll be for the better. The wolves you see before me are allies. The legendary Blackfoot pack has agreed to stand beside us in the upcoming battle. Ian had one thing right. We are facing a time of change. I intend to do what I was born to—make sure we’re on the right side. The White Creek pack is done being out here isolated like sitting ducks. I plan to lead the charge on our enemies and rescue Isiah.”
Grumblings rose through the crowd. Sending forth her power, she called them all to change. Furry shapes burst forth as they hit their knees. She couldn’t afford to be timid.
“Go back to your homes, treat your wounds, rest, and be ready. I will prepare my mother’s body for a proper funeral. You all owe her a debt of gratitude. One I will never allow any of you to forget.” She balled her fist and fought down the urge to sway. “Leave me.” They scurried away like the lemmings they’d become under Ian’s rule. I can’t fix everything in one day. Right now, my mind must be set on survival.
Leaning heavily on Kazimir she blinked, seeing spots.
“You need to take my blood before you pass out.”
She allowed him to bite into his wrist and feed her. The minute his life-giving elixir hit her system, the wounds began to repair themselves from within. His caramel-like taste coated her tongue and throat, and she knew peace amidst the storm. With the Blackfoot pack on guard around them, Kazimir’s people on scout outside, and the other part of her soul nourishing her, she was safe.
“How do we complete our bond?” Her mother’s death blew a cavernous hole in her soul. Willingly walking around missing another piece wasn’t a viable option.
“I must drink from you as well.”
“Do it.”
“I do not think now is the ideal time.”
“I refuse to lose anyone else I love, Kazimir.”
He blinked. “When you’ve had your fill.”
She continued to drink, basking in his endless well of love and comfort. Full, she pulled back, licking her lips, and bared her neck. Swiftly he bit. A quick sting gave way to intense pleasure. Closing her eyes, she slipped away from the present and into him. The door between their minds was thrown open, and she knew all that he was. In the blink of an eye, she traversed his life, seeing things from his perspective, gaining his knowledge and knowing the full extent of his love. For him, she was color and light. He lived to see to her well-being and happiness. It was overwhelming and completely endearing.
They breathed as one—mind, body, and soul—as they became more than vampire and wolf.
A throat cleared.
“I know this moment was a long time coming, but I needed to see for myself you were okay.”
“Brook.” Turning, she threw herself into her friend’s arms.
“I am so sorry, Joss.”
Burying her face in her friend’s neck, she inhaled the scent of a true packmate.
“There are no words I could say, so I won’t even attempt it. I just wanted you to know I’m here. It’s not much, but I’m here.”
She hiccupped. “It’s everything, Brook.” They pulled apart, and she swiped at her face. Crying would come later; she couldn’t afford to lose it now.
A male throat cleared.
Joss pulled back to a smiling Mingan.
“What would you have us do next, White Creek Alpha?”
“I have to take care of my mother. She deserves to be sent back to our ancestors.” At least now, you can be with father again. Her gut churned. They’d been on abysmal terms, and she’d never get to apologize for her harsh words. Her vision wavered. Did she know how much I loved her? A lump of guilt sat heavily in her stomach.
“He deserves nothing. Leave his body to rot and become carrion devoured by predators.”
“You will make a fine leader,” Koko said.
The unexpected compliment stunned her.
“It’ll be our honor to do this for you,” Mingan promised.
“Somewhere he won’t be found?”
“Take care of your mother. We will find you when this is finished, and we’ll regroup,” Mingan assured her.
“We thank you,” Kaz said.
Forcing her stiff legs to move, she walked over to her mother who lay in the snow, a fallen angel, encircled by her own blood. Kneeling beside her, she closed her eyes and brushed the hair from her face. True to her word, Brook remained by her, silently lending support on her right side as Kaz did the same from her left.
Even in death, her mother’s face held the horror she’d experienced in her final moments. Bowing her head, she bent down to her mother’s ear. “I’m sorry, Mom. I thought we had more time to fix things between us. I know you did the best you were able to do. Rest well.”
Shoving the crippling grief that threatened to crash over her like a wave to the back of her mind, she slid her arms under her mother’s slight weight and lifted her up. The pack power made a task that would’ve been nearly impossible as easy as breathing.
A solemn silence fell over the somber group as they walked from the compound, deeper into the woods. They came to a stop beside the Sacred Dancing Lake where Joss and Brook gathered wood. The Blackfoot Pack stood a distance away, and Crew and Nakeeta approached.
“Please allow me to help you with this task.”
Joss paused. “Okay.” Her voice wavered. Nakeeta helped them arrange the wood for a bonfire.
“I want her to be free, distributed into the wind, the water, and the earth,” Joss whispered. Her mother had been caught in a cage alongside her.
“I think it’s beautiful. We are dust, and to dust we return,” Nakeeta replied.
“After this, we’ll finish the spell. I think I understand why it didn’t work before. I hadn’t reached my full potential.” She turned to Brook. “I won’t make you leave, but I’ll warn you that this is incredibly dangerous.”
“I learned tonight that everywhere is.” Brook glanced down.
Joss reached out and grabbed her hand. “I promise you nothing like that will ever happen again.”
“Why are you rescuing Isiah?” Brook questioned.
“Because I know he’s a part of this. You were right. We’re meant to do this together.” Earth Mother had given her clarity and strength. Becoming Alpha had given her knowledge. All that the wolves before her knew, so did she.
Arranging her mother’s body on top of the wood, Joss stepped back.
“Would you like me to do it with magic? I can make it … faster than the normal means,” Nakeeta stated. They shared a unique sisterly bond since the cave.
“Please.” Stepping back, she stood between the two women, three female warriors bidding their sister good-bye.
A brilliant violet streak came down, swallowing her mother’s frame. Closing her eyes, she listened to the crackle of the wood as the empty shell that once housed her mother’s spirit. Be free, Mama. The grief she’d held in broke over her like a dam, giving way, and she choked on her sobs as her shoulders shook. Her legs gave away, and she hit her knees. Covering her face, she purged. Kaz’s strong arms wrapped around her, and he pulled her into his lap. Wrapping her arms around his broad chest, she burrowed her face into his neck.
“If I could take this pain from you, I would, my love.” He rocked her back and forth, stro
king her back until she was spent.
“Where did the others go?” she asked shakily.
“Back to the cabin.” He kissed her forehead. “Do you need more time?”
“There will be time later.” She sniffled. “We have other things to tend to.” Leading meant setting personal issues aside. Ian had shown her everything she didn’t want to be.
He brushed his thumb over her cheeks, clearing away the tears. “My beautiful mate, so strong even as her heart is breaking.”
“I’m faking it until I make it, Kaz.”
“No.” He kissed her lips softly. “You underestimate your abilities.”
“I feel like a child playing dress up. I never intended to be the pack Alpha.” She shook her head, disgusted by the things she’d done. “I have blood on my hands and in my belly, and I forced them all to change, stealing away their will—”
He placed a finger against her lips. “All of which was necessary.”
Her voice shook. “How can you be so sure?”
He placed a hand over her chest. “Your heart is pure, Joss. The strongest desire you have is for the betterment of your pack. Every choice you make reflects that. Don’t let fear make you believe otherwise.”
His words penetrated the slow creeping self-doubt that had begun to bind her like vines. Nodding, she pressed her forehead to his. “What would I do without you, Kaz?”
“You’ll never have to find out. We should finish up here. The others are waiting at the cabin.”
“What about the pack?”
Kaz paused. “Nakeeta has adjusted her magic to include them to our location.”
Rising, she walked over to the pit of ashes. She bent, gripping a fistful. A gentle breeze blew through as the sky turned from deep blue to purple. The wind took the dust from her hand, and it danced on the current, carried away. Repeating the process until there was nothing left, and the magnificence of the sky resembled a watercolor, she knew she’d done the right thing. Moving to the lake, she rinsed her hands in the sacred waters. Tell Daddy I said hi, Mom.
