Werewolves and Wranglers

by Kristen Banet

  “Let’s hope that’s helpful,” Easton muttered, spurring his gelding into action.

  With a sigh, seeing how Tobias glared at Easton’s back, Adalyn began to move. She rode up next to the Nephilim and reached out, hitting his elbow. “I said play nice,” she reminded him.

  The side glance he gave her wasn’t anything close to compliance, but his words were at odds with it. “Yes ma’am.”

  “I’m serious, Easton. Tonight is going to be dangerous. We’re going to see humans. You know that. We’re going to be on werewolf territory during a full moon and they’re probably going to be agitated. I can’t have the attitude tonight.”

  “We’ll make it through tonight,” he promised. “I’ll behave. I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you.” She was so tired of these men. She looked over her shoulder to see Remy riding next to Valen, who had Tobias on his other side. He shrugged. She knew he was trying.

  Protect Redstone. Well, if I have to throw all these men out of my life, at least I’ll still be able to do that.

  The ride to the Ranch was slow. She’d now been there more times than she could count, all preparing for her night of defense. None of them spoke for the short trip, and when they arrived, they dispersed as if they couldn’t stand being within ten feet of each other anymore. She made a beeline for Lawrence, who was wearily staring out at his fields. Poor man was exhausted and the night wasn’t going to be easy on him.

  “Lawrence, how are you?” she asked kindly. Since she had tossed him around, their relationship had changed a bit. Now he was more cautious with her and she played sweet, knowing she had him living in a state of fear. “Any challenges?”

  “One. I handled it,” he answered. “Otherwise, everything has been fine.”

  “To think, someone would challenge you over having me help out.” Shaking her head, she moved to stand next to him and stare out. “Felicity is going to take care of you tonight, right?”

  “That’s right. In my basement, like always.” He seemed anxious.

  “You’re worried,” she noted.

  “I am. Everyone is on edge. We have breakouts when people are on edge. Harder for the werecats to deal with.”

  “Are you saying we should expect more trouble than just humans?” She figured as much, but it wasn’t something they had said out loud. They had planned for it, though. There were silver bullets ready and waiting in her pack. She just needed to activate the right spell on her gun and it would reload with them instead of her standard ammunition.

  “Yes. As much as I wish I could say we won’t be the problem tonight, I think we’re going to give you trouble. Or the humans. I would rather any breakouts go after the humans.”

  “We have Tobias,” she reminded him. “He knows how to handle a werewolf. Valen can shift and deal with one or two of yours. We have silver, and if it comes to that, then it’s a tragedy—but it has to happen. We’re going to be fine.”

  “I trust you,” he said softly. “I just wish it wasn’t like this.”

  It wouldn’t have to be if you had opened up to us about your problems earlier. She didn’t say that to him, but it hung in the air. “Go get ready,” she ordered. “We can handle the herd.”

  “Still waiting on Felicity,” he answered.

  “I’m here!” the werecat called out. Adalyn looked over her shoulder and smiled. Felicity was geared out to go to war, it looked like. She had never seen it before, and it was quite the sight. “I was caught up with Madam. She’s going to have the vampires roaming the town in case of breakouts. Free of charge, even. David is also setting up some shifters to protect some of the homes outside of town.”

  “Good. I was hoping Madam would join in the effort.” She already had David working on it, in case werewolves broke out tonight, but the town was vulnerable. “This is a lot of extra protection we normally don’t use, but I think it’ll pay off.”

  “Agreed.” Lawrence touched her shoulder as he turned and walked towards his mansion. Felicity waited until he passed her, then turned to follow. Adalyn looked around to see the entire werecat Pride was herding wolves into their homes and down into the large basements. They would be chained and caged, like they were every full moon. The werecats would keep them down there.

  In theory.

  It was sad to watch, but she saw how the werewolves walked with their heads held high, like they were about to fight a great battle. It was fairly inspiring. If only any of the men in her life had stopped to witness it before running off into the fields to get to the herd.

  She took Dark Prince’s reins, leaning on his side as they walked out into the fields to find their spot. Her only good man now? Her horse. “At least I’ll always have you if none of them work out,” she told him, rubbing his neck.

  He nickered softly, his head bobbing up and down, sending his pitch-black mane flying around. She smiled, rubbing her fingers through it.

  “Yeah, you’re a good boy,” she whispered to him, kissing his shoulder.

  She saw the others as she entered the furthest field from the homes. Easton and Remy were setting up their camp. They weren’t trying to hide. Really, they were just watching the herd for the night, keeping their eyes out for any of the humans, who were bound to show up.

  “Why do humans have to be such a problem?” she asked loudly as she drew closer.

  “Because they rule the earth,” Valen answered. “There’s no other answer for it. It’s not like the gods were a good example for them either. They learned from the best how to be troublemakers and self-important.”

  “Aren’t you witches and warlocks human?” Remy asked, looking between her and Tobias, who was with their horses further away. There weren’t many trees on the property, but there were some. He’d tied up most of the horses to a small bundle of them. When he looked up, he clicked his tongue and Dark Prince went to him to stand with the others. Her horse was a traitor.

  “We technically are. Regular humans can have us. We can have children who are regular humans, though it’s rare. But we identify more with supernaturals; we live and work with you all more. So, there’s a divide there. Humans don’t look at us as one of them, either. Look at what happened in Salem. Most of those girls weren’t even real witches, but just the idea that they were…” She sighed, shrugging.

  “Humans hate what’s different from them, too,” Easton said softly. “And there’s so many of them, but they aren’t the most powerful thing on the earth.”

  “Well, they are,” Valen disagreed. “But the moment magic gets involved, they stop being the most powerful thing. They dominate the earth and all things—except things like us.”

  It was a fairly interesting conversation. She sat down on a log they had set out on a previous trip. “Humans are basically the worst,” she said, kicking out her feet. “Let’s be real. They tend to screw everything up.”

  “Does someone have a grudge?” Easton asked her softly, raising an eyebrow.

  She didn’t answer. She most certainly did, though. She and humans had never really played nice. She was too unpredictable and wild for them. They imposed their ridiculous moral ideology on everyone, and even supernaturals were beginning to take it and make it their own. Half her problems probably wouldn’t be problems if they just let her be the witch she was meant to be.

  The conversation died because she never answered. The camp was set up quickly and they all began to nibble on jerky provided to them by the werewolves. Tobias started coffee on the fire and they settled in for what was probably going to be a very, very long night.

  18

  Valen

  Valen watched Adalyn sit quietly at the campfire, the obvious factions flanking her on each side. Everything was going wrong for the little witch. He hated it beyond all measure. None of this should have happened to her. She should have been enjoying her life, enjoying her job, finding herself again.

  No. We’re all fucking it up for her.

  Him. Tobias. Easton. Hell, the only person he couldn’t r
eally blame was Remy, who took a chance to start talking to him and making a bridge. He appreciated the shifter’s attempt and found the man refreshing. Like he’d told Adalyn, he never hated the men. He just wasn’t sure he could trust them, because they proved to be evasive and closed off. He had when they were just bounty hunters roaming through Redstone on a job, but as members of their community? They weren’t fitting in as well as he had hoped, and that said something.

  And that was before the emotions of the men in the group got involved. Tobias and Easton were downright mean to each other. He and Remy weren’t sure how to bridge the gap. Even if they could get the two to trust each other, they would always be looking over their shoulders, wondering which one got the witch.

  I have a horse in this race, too. If it weren’t for her heart, I would hope they both bow out and fail so I could swoop in and win her heart before Maxwell returned. But that would kill her.

  He could see it in the way she looked at her deputies that giving them up was never going to happen. Not for him, not for Tobias, not for Maxwell. No, they were permanent fixtures in her heart, even if she screamed to the high heavens she wasn’t ready for an emotional commitment.

  As the sun set, it was really all he could think about. As the full moon filled the night sky and werewolves began to howl in the distance, angry with their confined spaces and chains, he could really only think about her and the predicament they had all found themselves in.

  He couldn’t even think of a person to blame. Not her. She had never expected Tobias or him to fall for her. She had been so oblivious to it. She hadn’t expected Easton to grow so massively territorial and push away the men who had been her friends for years, or the growing feelings she had for him and Remy.

  This is no one’s fault, but it’s what we’ve done to ourselves at the same time. And look at her. She’s so tired. She just wants us to get along, and we’re failing her every step of the way.

  “The wolves are done transitioning now,” Tobias said to the group. “It’s about that time.”

  “Good to know. When should we expect a breakout?” she asked, staring into the fire.

  “Much later in the night. If things get really loud out here, there’s a chance that will rile them up further. Chains can break. They can bend steel if they feel it’s necessary. Depends on how threatened they feel.”

  “What would make them feel threatened?” Remy asked.

  “If we make too much noise, they’ll think intruders are in their territory. We’ll be the threat, or the humans. Depends.” Tobias shrugged. “It’s just what we have to deal with.”

  “It’s why only the werecats come out here on full moons,” she explained. “They can handle being seen as a threat and survive a tussle with one. Us…not so much.”

  “You. I would probably be just fine,” Easton said, smirking. It was said teasingly, and even got her to smirk back.

  “Arrogant much?” Tobias asked.

  “I’m a Nephilim. I think I have a right to be,” Easton snapped. “And while you are doing whatever little peaceful magic you do, I’ll be the one taking the shot.”

  “By the gods, you two, stop it,” Valen ordered before Adalyn had to step in. “There’s just no damned reason for this. Yes, Easton, you will probably be fine. So will I. I can handle a werewolf in my bear form without an issue. Remy, maybe you. Adalyn, most shifters, and Tobias would have more of an issue. Don’t be an ass because you’re powerful. Tobias, don’t insult him because he has a well-earned ego. We have to work together tonight.”

  “Thank the gods someone said it other than me for once,” she muttered, shaking her head. None of them tried to stop her as she got up and walked away from them.

  Valen watched her going out into the field, staring at the full moon. It was probably calling to her, hoping she would do some great magic under its glow. Even he could feel the magic, deep in his veins. It was like a drug, the light of a full moon. She looked radiant, basking in it, trying to clear her mind, probably.

  “Are you thinking about doing a ritual?” Tobias finally asked her.

  “Next full moon,” she answered. “Not this one. It’s been a long time since I’ve done one, though. I miss it.”

  “What would you normally do?” Remy asked this time.

  “Strip. Dance. Perform small rare magic or just let the magic decide what I should do,” she answered. “Be one with the magic. It’s nothing…big, like it sounds. It’s refreshing. Magic is normally so practical now, but there was a time when witches and warlocks would perform great things under the full moon. It’s a way to reconnect with the past and what truly drives us. It reconnects us to the magic of the world, reaffirms the bond we have with it and our duties.”

  “Duties?” Easton asked. Valen was glad to see they were all finding her the most interesting thing in the world right now. She was the only thing they all had in common.

  “Witches and warlocks, any human magic user like shamans, have a duty to help maintain the balance. Supernaturals and humans, magic and non-magical. We help the flow. We can help ghosts pass on, if needed, because their existence is against the balance. Shamans now do most of that without us, because…” She huffed. “Well, many witches and warlocks forgot those duties. It’s why we have things like ghost towns. Literal ones. No one wants to go do that duty anymore. Now, they use magic for status and their own self gain.”

  “In a way, you being sheriff is like fulfilling those duties,” Valen told her. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but…”

  “You’re right. I hadn’t thought of it that way either, but it makes sense.” She turned and smiled over her shoulder. “Thank you for saying that. Sometimes I feel like I’m just running against a brick wall.”

  “So, you used to do this every full moon?” Remy sounded like a boy learning something new.

  “Not every full moon, but a few times a year. Sometimes with Tobias and Maxwell, one or the other or both. It can be a bonding experience for magic users as well.”

  “It’s been a couple of years,” Tobias added. “It would be nice…”

  Easton shifted uncomfortably, obviously not liking the idea of another man he disliked being naked and dancing and performing magic with the woman he liked.

  “Wouldn’t it?” She laughed sadly. She had noticed Easton’s behavior and looked away again.

  Valen’s heart broke a little more. They were making her so unhappy. They all cared for her, and should be bringing her joy and laughter and supporting her as she took flight. Not dragging her down with their petty problems with each other.

  A wolf howled and reminded them all why they were there that night. She finally rejoined the group, sitting back in the middle of the mess that was the men around her.

  “So when do you think we’ll start seeing humans show up? Midnight?” Remy was trying to keep the conversation light.

  “Yeah, I think so,” she answered. “The dead of night, when there’s less chance of anyone being around…” She shrugged. “So it’s the most likely.”

  They went back to waiting, staring out at the quiet herd.

  “At least it’s a clear night,” Remy said.

  “There is that,” Valen agreed. “Don’t need any more of the damned rain. We’ve had enough rain for months.”

  Everyone chuckled a little until Adalyn held up a hand.

  “My spell was just triggered,” she whispered. She pulled out her pocket watch and grinned. “Just before midnight. They’re right on time, boys.”

  Valen stood up and watched for anything on the horizon. Adalyn had set up a small ward that didn’t block anyone, but alerted her to someone crossing it. The little tricks the witch could do, when she had a reason to do them, were amazing. He figured it was something she was about to start setting up everywhere.

  Easton pulled his revolver and stayed at her side. Tobias flanked her other side. Remy shifted and darted into the dark, probably off to catch a scent. Valen just stood where he was. The humans woul
d come to them. He wasn’t worried.

  It took a few more minutes for them to see the silent riders. The humans were smart, moving quietly, trying to get around the herd.

  One of them did eventually see the group though.

  “Well, I think this is where I say you’re under arrest,” Adalyn called out to the one staring at the lot of them with wide eyes.

  “The fucking witch is here!” he called out. He spurred his horse into action. Easton took aim as he tried to ride off. The humans all started yelling at each other, calling for everyone to get out.

  Valen grinned. He shifted into his bear form and began to run, roaring. It stirred up the herd, which ran towards the main area of the Ranch and not further away. Just as planned. They would send the herd closer to the werewolves and away from the humans.

  Remy darted out of the dark now, jumping to tackle a human off a horse. A blast of magic passed him, making him jump to the side as their impressive little witch sent a rider off another horse. Valen stayed with the herd, moving it away from the action. It wouldn’t be a stampede, but they were moving fast. He knew the moment he backed off, the dumb beasts would slow down and rest again.

  “Run!” a human yelled. “The fucking monster is here!”

  Remy howled loudly and took off again. Valen appreciated the speed the hellhound could run. He was a fast bear, but he wasn’t that fast. Shots continued to go off as the wranglers were taken off their horses, unable to get behind cover in the mostly-empty field.

  “Like shooting fish in a barrel,” Adalyn called out, laughing. “Good work, boys!”

  Valen finally turned away from the cattle and went for a human who was too close. He went up on his hind legs and roared, spooking the horse beyond control, and it bucked the rider off. Valen landed over the human, roaring again in his face until the human fainted out of fear.