by M H Soars
Revving up the engine, I veer left toward town. I haven’t given Nina much time to come with up the intel I need, but maybe seeing my face again so soon will motivate her even more to get rid of me.
It’s past ten, which means Hell’s Hole is slowly filling up with its usual clientele. I park my Ducati on the street parallel to it, not wanting to advertise I’m in the establishment in case Nina is not there yet. She might avoid the place if she’s not ready for me.
Heads turn when I walk in, making me feel like I’m in a western movie entering a saloon. My presence here is not unusual, but tonight, it seems the animosity toward me is turned up several notches. Releasing the wolf energy I usually keep contained when I venture into town, I let those motherfuckers know they’d better not start anything with me or it will be hell to pay. I have a lot of suppressed aggression I’d be more than happy to unleash.
With a purposeful stride, I make a beeline to the bar, and the conversation that had ceased for a moment when I came in resumes. Parking my ass in one of the high chairs, I make eye contact with Baldwin, the bartender.
“Twice on the same day.” He wipes a glass, then raises it toward the light to make sure he didn’t miss a single spot. “Things getting rough?”
Rubbing my jaw, I lean forward. “You have no idea.”
“I’m not sure about that.” He turns to the counter behind him, letting me stew on that not-so-subtle comment.
“What have you heard?” No sense beating around the bush.
Flipping the dish towel over his shoulder, he turns to me. “What everyone who wasn’t deaf heard last night from the mouths of two of your people.”
“I need to know whose ass I’ll be kicking later and what they said.”
“Harold and Deacon. I had to give them a dose of Goodnight, Cinderella to get them to shut up.”
“Right, you gave them a potent sleeping concoction to help protect my pack. I don’t buy it.”
The half-troll smiles with his full teeth, his eyes gleaming with danger. “They were getting rowdy. I didn’t want a fight to break out here, not when the sheriff’s department is too busy to send an officer.”
“Since when do you need law enforcement assistance to deal with your customers?”
The smile vanishes from Baldwin’s face. For a brief second, his troll markings appear on his arms. Oops, sore subject.
“Since I received a warning from our illustrious mayor that if I use magic to deal with humans again, she’ll shut down Hell’s Hole.”
He must be referring to the two assholes who were harassing Gretchen. Damn, the mayor is not winning any points with the supe community. What the hell is her end game? Why is she antagonizing the very people who put her in power and siding with the enemy? I would bet my right arm that whatever scheme Valerius is concocting, the mayor is involved.
Son of a bitch.
And now we have a possible demon on the loose that can only be dealt with by magic or celestial powers. Since the angels have pretty much deserted us, we can only count on garden-variety spells from druids and witches—witches she controls.
“What did Tweedledee and Tweedledum say?” I veer back to the problem at hand.
“They think your mother’s leadership is weak, and that someone ought to challenge her for the alpha’s position.”
My hands curl into fists, my nails becoming claws that dig into my skin. So it has started already. My father has not been dead for two days yet, and those vultures are already vying for power. Mom would never allow us to stay put to offer her protection, though. She also knows that now that we’re mated to Red, our primal instinct is to protect her, not our own mother. It’s the way of the wolves, but it doesn’t make me feel less guilty we can’t be there in case she’s challenged.
“Did they say who they think should be the new alpha?” My voice is low and dangerous. I’m not doing anything to hide that I’ll kill those disloyal bastards when I get my hands on them.
Baldwin crosses one leg over the other, leaning against the counter behind him. His gaze narrows while he studies me. He either doesn’t want to tell me or he doesn’t know.
“No names were mentioned, but they were clear that neither you or your brothers were good contenders. They said you were weak. That it’s high time the Crimson Hollow pack has a different type of leader.”
“What type of leader?” I growl.
Baldwin shrugs. “Someone who respects the hierarchy of wolves.”
Ah. So the fact we helped Red and welcomed her in the pack is coming back to haunt us. I wonder where those poisonous thoughts are coming from; Harold and Deacon are incapable of an original idea of their own.
“Anything else?”
Baldwin shakes his head, then looks over my shoulder. “No. That’s when I gave them the Goodnight, Cinderella and dumped their sorry asses on a bench in the square. I hope they got arrested for loitering.”
We both know that’s highly unlikely considering Sheriff Arantes’s officers are spread thin, according to the report Tristan gave us. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was also a fucking lie. As much as I would like to believe the sheriff has our backs, she has always been the mayor’s right hand. Maybe she’s also dirty.
If that were to be true, it would be a huge blow to all of us.
Baldwin’s attention gets diverted to the entrance of the bar. “The person you’re looking for just came in.”
I turn halfway, trying to be inconspicuous but failing miserably at it. Nina indeed had come in, appearing a little rattled from what I can see. The moment she spots me, her spine goes rigid, and she strides in my direction.
“Did you get my text?” It’s the first thing out of her mouth.
Pulling my cell phone out of my jacket, I check the screen. Sure enough, there’s one text from her. I must have missed the ping while I was busy getting murderous thoughts about Harold and Deacon.
“Never mind,” she says, pulling up a chair. “You need to get your girl out of Valerius’s territory.”
My heart immediately goes on overdrive. I’m already off my seat, ready to get the hell out of this bar and fly back to Shadow Creek. “Why? What happened? What did you see?”
Nina grabs my arm, pulling me none too gently onto the chair. “Settle down. You’re making a spectacle out of yourself. And I haven’t given you any information yet, you idiot.”
“Spill it out already then.”
“When I was out in the Shadow Creek woods, I encountered something vile and…” Nina closes her eyes, body visibly shuddering. “I have never been so scared in my entire life.”
“What did you find?”
For Nina to confess she was terrified of something, it must have been truly terrible.
“A demon was roaming freely through Valerius’s woods. I’ve never felt a more malevolent presence, and that’s saying a lot in my line of business.”
“How did you get in there without being seeing?”
Turning to the bar, Nina taps the counter once to catch Baldwin’s attention. He returns a moment later with two shots of tequila, which Nina polishes off in two seconds flat. Both of them.
“I took advantage of the cloaking spell Wendy and Brian cast.”
“So you’re basically saying you have not found a way into Shadow Creek that won’t alert Valerius’s sentries. Is that it?”
“There’s a way to get into his territory, which is not well patrolled. Between Shadow Creek and Xander’s territory, you’ll find a forgotten hunting cabin. Not too far from there, across a creek, the wired fence surrounding Valerius’s lands is falling apart. That’s how I slipped in. I would have gotten more intel if that demon hadn’t showed up. But fuck it, I’m not going back there.”
“Fine. I don’t need you.” I stand up.
Nina’s gaze changes, as if she’s worried about me.
“That’s suicide. The sentries alone would be a hard challenge, but with a demon around, you can’t hope to escape alive if he catches you. You need ma
gic to fight that kind of power, a lot of magic.”
An idea sprouts in my head, and I realize what I need to do first. “Then I guess I’ll have to ask Mrs. Redford to give me some kind of amulet to help conceal my presence.”
Wouldn’t a cloak of invisibility be handy now? Why do all the cool magical gadgets only exist in movies and books?
“Wait, don’t go yet.” I watch Nina pull off a ring from her middle finger. It has a blue stone in the middle, with intricate swirls around it and on the band. “Here.” She hands it to me.
“What is it? A marriage proposal?”
“You can’t be serious for one second?” She glares at me, but then her criticism sobers me up. She’s right. I shouldn’t be making jokes, but it’s how I react in times of extreme stress. I’ll either joke or make very bad decisions.
“It’s a special ring. It’s has the ability to store a spell for a few minutes or hours, depending on the type and how you use it. That’s how I was able to slip under Wendy’s cloaking spell even when I was nowhere near you guys.”
I bring the ring to eye level, inspecting it. It doesn’t look like anything special or expensive. “Where did you get this?”
“Where I got it is not important. If Wendy agrees to help you, then you can store the spell in that ring and use it when you arrive in Valerius’s territory.”
“Ingenious.”
Not understanding why she’s suddenly been so helpful, I ask, “Why are you giving me this, though?”
“Like I said, that demon is bad news. I don’t know why he’s roaming the Shadow Creek lands. Whatever it is, it’s not safe for your mate.”
Narrowing my eyes, I stare hard at the fox. “How did you know Red is my mate?”
“Leo didn’t blabber if that’s what you’re worried about. But I also can’t tell you how I know.”
Under other circumstances, I would have insisted she tell me the truth. Brian cast a silencing spell on everyone present, after all. But I need to find Wendy and convince her to give me some kind of spell for tonight’s mission. I’m getting Red back whether she wants to come with me or not.
Chapter 19
Tristan
I don’t say a word during the trip to the compound. Xander, who is driving, doesn’t attempt to engage in conversation, either. His people, two burly bears who have the don’t-mess-with-me vibe are mute as well. That’s why I chose to ride back with them, instead of with Brian, Mrs. Redford, and Dante.
The bruises on my body and the scratches on my face sting, despite the fact they’re already healing, but the pain in my chest is another story. I lost to Valerius, badly. I failed my pack. Most importantly, I failed Red. I’m not surprised she renounced the bond even if my head tells me there’s a reason why she did it. My heart is dead, as if by denying the bond and refusing to come back with us Red tore it to pieces.
I don’t notice we have arrived at the compound until Xander parks the car and slides to face me. “We’re here.”
Blinking out of my stupor, I stare at the alpha’s manor, which is shrouded in darkness. Not a single room is lit inside. Mom must not be in the house, which is not surprising. I wouldn’t want to be in that mausoleum either—not where every nook has my father’s memory etched in it. Maybe I should have gone to my apartment in the city, but that place is now filled with bittersweet memories.
With a deep breath, I open the door, but before I shut it close again, Xander speaks. “It will be okay, Tristan.”
That coming from the guy who didn’t want to help to begin with is rich. He’s only being supportive now thanks to Dante’s vision. I can’t even summon the strength to resent him. He’s the alpha of his sleuth; he needs to put his members first and foremost.
Without a word, I shut the door, not moving from where I stand until Xander drives off. Then, I turn away from the house and head in the direction of the forest. I don’t know where my feet are leading me; I just want the solitude only nature can provide. In another time, I might have shifted into my wolf form, but I don’t have the will to do so.
I don’t realize where I’m going until I recognize the spot where Red was attacked. I’m in Irving Forest, which means I’ve been walking for at least thirty minutes without noticing. The pressure in my chest intensifies, almost caving it in. With a closed fist, I massage the spot, as if by doing so it will make the pain go away.
Damn it, Red. Why didn’t you come back with us? Why are you risking your life like that?
With heavy steps, I amble toward a mossy boulder, the same one Dante threw the rogue wolf against, killing him instantaneously. Leaning against the rocky surface, I slide down until my ass hits the ground. Bringing my knees up, I rest my forearms on them, letting my head fall between my shoulders. Being away from her is agony, and the constricting in my throat soon becomes a burning in my eyes.
My ears prickle at the sound of leaves being crunched. I raise my head, now in high alert as I search my surroundings. Then her scent hits me, and I manage to relax a fraction. Lyria breaks through the trees in the next moment, her steps sure as she makes her way to me. In her hand, I notice she carries a bottle.
“You’re a hard wolf to track.” She plops next to me.
I snort. “I find that hard to believe.”
“True that. You weren’t at your father’s funeral.”
Fuck. Why does she have to remind me of that? “I want to be alone, Lyria.”
“Fine. Don’t tell me why you missed such an important event. Here, I brought this for you. I figured you would need it.”
She hands me the bottle of whiskey, my favorite brand. I curl my hands around it, not making eye contact with her.
“How was it?” I ask finally.
“Sad. Your father was a respected alpha.”
I nod. He truly was, until he fell prey to Valerius and that controlling chip.
“I know you’re hurting, Tristan, but you need to get your head straight. The pack needs you.”
“The pack has my mother. She’s the alpha.”
Lyria laughs without humor. “You don’t truly believe she’ll be able to hold that position for long, do you?”
I whip my face toward the enforcer. “What do you mean?”
“Half the pack hasn’t accepted her as a true alpha. You need to intervene, Tristan. You need to take what’s rightfully yours.”
“You want me to challenge my own mother? You don’t think killing my father was enough?” My voice comes out as a growl that echoes in the silence of the forest.
“I’m not saying you should engage her in a fight. But you should talk to her. If she steps down in your favor, the pack will back you up as the new alpha.”
A bitter laugh bubbles up my throat. That’s until they learn Valerius kicked my ass.
“I’m serious, Tristan. If you don’t do it, someone else will challenge your mother.”
“Warning duly noted, Lyria. You can leave now.”
She stands, brushing her pants as she goes. “Fine. Be stubborn like that. No one can say I didn’t try.”
She’s halfway out of the clearing when I say, “Thanks for the gift.”
Lyria doesn’t stop or turn around. Soon, she disappears into the forest. I wait until I can no longer hear her footsteps to break the seal of the bottle and drink full swallows from it. It was wishful thinking to believe the wolves would just accept Mom as their alpha. But there’s nothing my brothers and I can do to stop her from being challenged. The alpha role has to be earned. If we intervene, she wouldn’t be a natural alpha, much like Valerius isn’t one. I could sense his wolves don’t respect him. They fear him, which is not the same thing.
My throat burns as the liquid goes down, and the warmth that spreads through my limbs is a welcome balm. Soon, the ache in my chest become less noticeable and the thoughts in my head turn fuzzy. After a few more sips, I can’t even remember anymore why I was so worried. My last coherent thought is that I never reacted this way from drinking whiskey before. But then, welco
me darkness takes over me.
Chapter 20
Samuel
It’s a little before midnight when Mrs. Redford finally returns home. I headed to her chalet in the woods as soon as I was finished with Nina. Needless to say, I was going out of my mind waiting. Sitting on her front porch step, I jump to my feet when her car’s headlights reach me. She parks it by the side of her house, and I wait for her to walk around. She doesn’t seem surprised to find me there. Without a word, she walks by me, unlocks the front door, and then leaves it wide open for me.
“Would you like some tea? I’m going to brew some.” She heads for the kitchen, and I follow.
“I’ll pass on the tea. I came here to ask you a favor.”
She fills the kettle with water from the sink, then turns on the stove before she replies, “I thought as much.”
“I need you to cast a cloaking spell again.”
She chuckles as if my request is a joke. “Pray, dear boy. What for?”
“I’m going back to Shadow Creek. I’m getting Red back.”
My answer finally extracts a reaction from the elderly woman. She turns to me with round eyes and mouth agape. “She doesn’t want to leave. She made that very clear.”
“Things have changed. I’ve learned there’s a powerful demon roaming freely in Valerius’s territory. Red can’t go against a demon; you know that.”
“You’re underestimating my granddaughter.” The lady frowns.
“Are you going to help me or not?”
“You know if Red doesn’t want to leave, there’s nothing you can do to change her mind.”
I open my mouth to say I’ll bring her back even if by force, but Mrs. Redford continues. “If you kidnap her, she’ll never forgive you. Remember how poorly you handled her transition into the pack.”
Fighting for control, I plant my hands on the kitchen table, leaning on it. She’s right. We pretty much forced Red to stay with us, then threw her at the wolves without training. We did her wrong.
