by R L Medina
“I’m getting nowhere with the curse. How are the others doing?”
Kohl sighed. “Same. I haven’t found anything new either.”
“And Diego? Any more trouble with him?”
“Not as of this morning, but there’s still plenty of time left in the day for him to do something stupid.”
My eyebrow arched. “Let’s hope that he doesn’t.”
We fell quiet. Somewhere downstairs, someone was laughing. The sound reminded me of my older sister, Mel. Pain punched me. Of course, it wasn’t Mel. Mel was dead. Like the others. Conversation drifted to us. I couldn’t make out the words, but the tone sounded casual and relaxed. Bitterness filled me. When was the last time I’d been able to relax and not have to deal with every problem?
As if reading my thoughts, Kohl squeezed my hand. “Are you okay, Kenzie?”
The gentleness in his voice cracked my stony façade. Holding back tears, I forced a smile for him. He wasn’t fooled.
“I’m queen of a dying coven. Trying to stop the end of the world. None of this is okay, Kohl. I shouldn’t be queen. It was supposed to be Mel.”
Pain etched his forehead and before I could stop him, he pulled me into a tight embrace. I wrapped my arms around his solid frame and let his warmth blanket me. He smelled like waxy candles and minty aftershave. I looked up and met his soulful, hazel eyes. The intensity of his gaze sent a shiver up my spine and flooded me with renewed sorrow.
I couldn’t give him what he wanted. My chest tightened. I couldn’t be the queen my sister would have been, the one my coven needed, and I couldn’t be the one for Kohl. Pushing away the guilt, I withdrew from his embrace and went to stand by the window.
Heaviness hung in the air between us.
“I have to get back to reading. See you at lunch?” I softened the dismissal with a smile.
Kohl straightened and gave me a curt nod, no hint of disappointment or regret. I watched him leave, my emotions crashing together like tidal waves.
There was work to do, and no time for me to dwell on the past or my best friend’s desires. Whatever happened to my coven was on me now.
8
Valeria
I stood by the fire, facing my pack. Their haunted faces were illuminated by the dancing flames and my wolf sensed their uneasiness.
Besides the people still on guard duty, we were all there. Even the humans, who I’d hoped would remain in their tent, unseen. Drew’s dark eyes shot me daggers while his twin scanned the crowd with a narrowed gaze. I had the feeling if I ordered them to go, they would resist, and I didn’t need my pack to witness any weakness from me.
Jay and Tati arrived at last. I bristled. I’d told him to return to camp. Where did he go? He met my eyes, face just as wary as the others.
The lack of confidence from him and Tati burned. They’d always been supportive of Elijah. Why couldn’t they trust me just the same?
Ignoring my own doubts, I addressed them. “We were unable to save the human girl. She’s buried outside of camp. There’s been no sighting of any of Diego’s pack or vampires, so we should be in the clear. However, we should remain on guard and stay within the confines of our territory.”
I glanced at Drew and Becca, who stared at me, disbelief and confusion written on their faces. Worry prickled at me as I held their gazes. Would they speak up about Jen? Stir up trouble within my pack?
After a moment of silence, my concern settled. They wouldn’t tell.
“Tomorrow the humans will return to the city.” My words grew louder, drowning out the crackling of the firewood.
Jay took a step forward. “I think I should go with them.”
My head snapped to his. “What?”
He met my stare. “To find Elijah.”
I clenched my fists. “Elijah doesn’t want to be found, Jay. He told us not to come after him.”
“You mean he told you. None of us saw him leave.”
Heat spread up my neck. Was he… accusing me? Of hurting Elijah? Anger burned inside me. My wolf snarled.
“He didn’t want to have to say goodbye to the pack,” I snapped.
Jay’s dark gaze swept over my face, his lips flattened. Even his mate, Tati didn’t look super convinced. Behind me Cruz and Leah, two of my most faithful friends, moved closer to me to offer support.
“You will stay here with the pack. Where you belong, Jay.” My voice was steel.
His big, broad shoulders tensed visibly, but he fell silent. I watched him, waiting to see if he would speak out of turn again. He didn’t.
After dismissing everyone, I went to my own tent to get some rest. Sleep didn’t come easy, but eventually it won over. Despite the harrowing events of the day my dreams were pleasant.
Memories of Elijah and I exploring and chasing each other flashed before me. Jaime was there too, trying so desperately to impress his idol and future alpha, Elijah. The beautiful brown eyes of my mate bore into mine and in my dream, his laughter rang around me. So genuine and endearing. I almost wept at the familiar sly smile and mischievous twinkle in his gaze. Elijah before the world broke him.
Just as he pulled me into a dance, his face dipping toward mine, I was yanked from the dream.
Danger, my wolf warned.
Footsteps thundered toward my tent. I shot up. My head spun and I stumbled to my feet, still disoriented from the memories and images. I turned, looking for Elijah, but reality caught up. Cold washed over me.
He’s not here, my wolf reminded me with a whimper.
“Val, you need to see this.” Tati’s voice broke my thoughts.
Slipping into my boots, I unzipped my tent and stepped out. My beta’s stricken face made my heart lurch. I didn’t bother to correct her wrong address. Following her, I strode out of the tent toward the others.
A tall figure, more skeletal than flesh walked among our camp. Its bony legs jerked from under a faded dress as it moved, long dark hair caked with dirt swished behind it.
My heart leapt to my throat. The witches. The witches were rising.
“What is it?” Someone’s question echoed in the distance.
More corpses followed, coming from the forest. All in different various stages of decomposition. The pungent smell of death spread in our camp and burned my throat.
Some of my wolves shifted, shedding their clothes. Their growls filled the air.
In unison, the gruesome bodies turned toward me. My inner wolf’s hackles rose. Their decaying skin and parched white bone moved slowly and oddly. Like puppets pulled by a string.
Nausea rolled in my gut.
The one in front stopped in front of me and pointed an arm, mostly bone at me. “The forest is ours. Leave or you will die.”
I gaped at her.
Growls emanated from my pack along with whispers of shock.
“This is our home. Who are you?”
She didn’t answer me. Her eyeless sockets stared into my very soul.
Kill it. Sink your teeth into its neck and thrash it until it dies. Again.
I pushed my inner wolf back. My teeth were going nowhere near that decomposed body. Bile rose up at the thought. Despite my wolf’s bravado, I could sense her fear underneath.
My wolves skirted the witches, watching and waiting.
“Alpha?” Jay’s silver eyes narrowed on me.
Right. I had to make the call.
Kill, my wolf demanded.
“Destroy them,” I answered.
Unleashing my inner wolf, I leapt into battle along with the others.
The sky was tainted with the smell of death. The woods trembled. My wolves surrounded me, and I let out a howl—a command.
Kill them. Kill them all.
My beta charged first, leading the others. I snarled at him. I was alpha.
The first kill was mine.
He dropped the twitching skull to the earth. My eyes swept the area and landed on the witch who’d threatened my pack. She’d moved forward, way too quickly for those brittle bo
nes. Before I could launch myself at her, a gunshot rang out.
I whipped toward the sound. The humans. Anger burned hot within me. I raced toward the girl who was now the bigger threat. I would tear out her throat before she could hurt my wolves. My human’s alarm echoed in the back of my mind, but I ignored it.
Smoke and the scent of rotted bodies filled my lungs. I leapt over the dying fire and landed in front of the two humans. The end of the gun greeted me. Shouts and snarls rang out around us.
I jumped for the girl. She fired. My body jerked, anticipating the hit.
It never came.
The boy shoved her out of my path, and I collided with him instead. My teeth grazed his shoulder. He let out a cry.
“Get off of him!” His kin pointed her weapon at me once more.
I turned to find a crumpled body in the spot behind where I had stood. Bones and tattered clothing. Realization struck me as I backed up.
They weren’t after my wolves… they were on our side.
A howl of pain caught my attention. I took off toward it. More and more bodies lumbered into our camp from the trees. Ice filled my blood.
How? Why? There were so many witches—too many.
One came for me, his nails long and sharp. I bit his wrist and slammed him into the earth over and over until he stopped moving. Another yelp came from one of my wolves.
I moved toward the sound, clawing my way through the mass of undead bodies. Their slick bones brushed against my fur. Nails dug into my back. Pain blossomed along my spine.
Snarling, I lashed out against the onslaught.
I bit. I clawed. Ducked and dove.
Blood—my own blood, dripped from my head into my eyes. I shook it off. A witch caught me by the ear, sharp nails ripping into the sensitive part.
Rage boiled within me. I tore myself from her grip and launched myself at her throat. She collapsed under my weight. I yanked her head clean off the rotting neck and spat it on the ground.
When I looked up, dread washed over. More witches were coming. They crowded our camp and blocked my view of the tents. I watched as three of them pushed one of my wolves into the dying fire. They struck fast and relentless, nails cutting into him again and again. My paws moved me forward, but it was too late.
His last howl pierced a hole inside me.
My heart thundered. This wasn’t working. My pack was dying, and the witches were… unkillable. Already I saw the ones who’d been struck down rise back up as if their puppet master had pulled on their strings. Even dead and without their magic, we couldn’t take them all on. There were too many.
I had to end this.
I let my human take back control. Stop this. Save the pack.
Naked and trembling, I scanned the bloody scene before me. Where was the head witch now? Spotting her near Cruz’s tent, I made my way over.
A fallen wolf made me stumble. Her pained eyes burned into my soul. My inner wolf howled.
Fury rose up inside of me.
“Stop this! Stop it now. We’ll leave. Do you hear me? We’re leaving!” My throat was raw.
The witch who’d spoken to me appeared at the front. “Leave the forest. Don’t return.”
My wolf growled. We both wanted to rip her apart, but I couldn’t endanger my pack. I couldn’t lose anyone else.
I turned to my wolves. “Retreat. Shift now and get all your things. Hurry.”
Jay shifted first, his eyes narrowed. “Where are we going to go? The other packs won’t let us stay in their camps for long.”
Pain lanced through me. “Then we go to the city.”
Everything stilled. The witches paused in unison as if a switch had been turned. Their sunken eyeholes turned toward us, and their frail bodies swayed. Shame flooded me.
Bony corpses. That’s all they were and yet… I couldn’t stop them.
My eyes swept the damage, heart shrinking. Two. Two of my wolves dead and how many injured?
I took a shaky breath and turned to find myself staring into Drew’s widened eyes. His gaze dipped down and snapped back up, a flush appearing on his face.
My eyes followed his, and I realized that once again I was naked. Only this time, I didn’t care. My wolves were dead.
And that was on me.
My wolf had gone unnaturally silent, but I could sense her anguish. Our failure struck her even harder than it did me. This was our pack. We were supposed to protect them.
We failed. Her words rattled me.
Yeah. We failed.
Swallowing the lump in my throat and fighting the urge to strike the witches who continued to watch us, I went to get my stuff.
Once dressed, I helped the others tear down the tents and pack up our things. The witches stood guard, their creepy eyeless stares unnerving and infuriating. I wanted to knock their heads clean off. Becca aimed her gun on them while Drew helped with packing.
When he looked at me, I averted my gaze. I’d apologized to him numerous times for the injury I’d given him. Thankfully, the bite was too shallow to do much damage and Cruz had cleaned and bandaged it up nicely.
The air was thick with grief and anger. Numbness filled me as I moved along the camp. I spotted Cruz and Leah taking care of the injured. Would any of them be able to make it to the city? I refused to leave them behind.
“Alpha.” Tati’s voice made me pause.
I turned to her.
“What about our dead?” She asked, wiping blood from her chin.
“We bury them.”
I moved toward one of the bodies and fought back the wave of sorrow. My wolves. I’d failed them. Hot tears burned in my eyes.
Where the hell were you when we needed you, Elijah?
Pushing away the rage of emotions, I carried the wolf to the edge of the camp. Jay and Tati brought the others. Whimpers and howls echoed around us.
Jay’s eyes met mine. I shuddered at the accusing glare. Though he didn’t say anything, I knew it was coming. I should have told him. Warned him and Tati of the danger, but I didn’t. I thought it could wait, and I’d been wrong.
Not that their knowledge of it would have helped us anyway, but it was a betrayal of trust.
After the bodies were buried and I’d spoken a little prayer to mother nature, I turned to help the others finish the packing.
Jay stood in my path. Tati was beside him.
“I saw it, Alpha.”
My eyes narrowed on the big beta. “Saw what, Jay?”
His jaw hardened. “That creature. Half human. Half vampire, and half wolf.”
Jen. He’d seen her back in the clearing with Drew and Becca? Or had she risen again with the witches?
I scanned the camp but didn’t see the monster.
“I was going to discuss it with you in the morning. So, we didn’t scare the rest of the pack unnecessarily.”
Jay issued a harsh laugh. “Yeah, how’d that turn out?”
My wolf growled at his tone.
“Jay,” Tati warned, her eyes wide.
He ignored her. “Two are dead. Three seriously injured. Brian’s wolf was blinded. You think Cruz can heal that?”
I stilled. His words rattled me to the core.
Silence fell over the camp and I didn’t have to turn my head to see that everyone was watching us.
“Since when did we start keeping secrets from the pack? Huh? Elijah never—”
“Elijah is gone, Jay. He’s gone. He’s not coming back. And he did keep secrets. You think you knew him? That he was your best friend?”
My anger was unraveling, and I couldn’t stop the words now. The poisonous, piercing words seeking release.
“You might have loved him, but he didn’t love you. Any of you. And especially not you, Jay. Do you want to know what he really thought about you?”
Stop.
I ignored my wolf. It was too late. I couldn’t stop.
Jay glared at me, his lip curling.
Don’t.
“He thought you were a pathetic lo
ser. An idiot jock, perfect to be his mindless soldier.”
Someone gasped.
Jay reeled, eyes flashing silver to brown. He gave me a look of pure anguish and turned away, marching off in wounded silence.
Heat spread across my face, regret instantly flooding me.
Tati’s silver eyes narrowed on me. My wolf could sense her wolf and the anger boiling under the surface. They wanted to strike me.
And I deserved it.
Eyes fell on me. Shame spread through me at their stares. Though I’d spoken a half truth, I knew it was wrong. Elijah did love Jay. He always had.
Why did I say that?
Human emotions. They make you weak.
My wolf was angry with me too. Jay and Tati were my betas and despite their hesitation to follow me, they’d still done it. Been faithful to me.
I was a terrible, terrible alpha.
No response came from my wolf. I took her silence as agreement. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced the emotions back down.
“I promise, I’ll do better.” I spoke to no one.
Or maybe it was to Elijah. The broken boy who’d left me just as broken.
9
McKenzie
Night came quickly, and the day passed uneventfully. Still no progress with the spells. The werewolf, Elijah, remained as tight lipped and hell bent on revenge as ever. At least there were no more run-ins with Fane or Diego.
After finally giving up on my reading after the tenth time I’d dozed off, I set the heavy book on the nightstand and blew out the candle. Delicious sleep overtook me as I snuggled into the cool sheets and soft pillow.
A knock on my door pulled me out of a dream. Fane’s beautiful face evaporated into thin air. Dream? I splayed a hand on my chest, cheeks flooding with shame. Nightmare, I corrected myself. Because what kind of girl would I be to dream about him… like that?
Another knock sounded.
“I’m coming.” My voice was hoarse.
Throwing off the covers and grabbing my silky robe, I padded barefoot to the door and flung it open.
The witch—Riley, maybe—blinked at me, mouth gaping.
“What is it?” I prodded her.
