Dirt Road Redemption (Dirt Road Series Book 2)

by Chelsea Handcock

  Dani kicked a branch on the ground in frustration, realizing too late it was actually a root and started to fall. Atticus was at her side in a second, straightening her, helping her back up until she had regained her balance.

  “Careful, little wolf.”

  Dani didn’t want his kind words.

  “Why? Why do you do this to me?”

  “Danica I’m just trying to help.” Atticus stepped away, holding his hands up in supplication. “I can’t bear to see you hurt.”

  “Damn it, why? One minute, you covet me, demand I’m your mate, and take me from everything I know, tell me we’re going to mate, that is the way it will be, and the next, you’re staying away like I’m unworthy. Avoiding even meeting my eyes like some scared little boy. You are a coward and a fraud, Atticus Masters.”

  Atticus took her shoulders in a firm grip, his look menacing, but she wasn’t scared, not even a little. She knew instinctively this man would never willingly hurt her. His voice was a gruff scratchy growling, indicating his beast was close to the surface.

  “You speak these things to me? I’m trying to do what is right! Doing what YOU asked, giving you a choice. Don’t confuse that with being a coward, Danica. I am many things, but a coward is not one of them!”

  They never got to finish their argument because before either of them became aware, they were surrounded by the coven. The leader confused Dani. He was but a boy—lanky and tall, cute, but in a boyish fashion. He looked all of thirteen years old. She couldn’t reconcile her mind he was much of a threat.

  Atticus had pushed her behind him as he addressed the boy.

  “Killian, what are you doing here?” He didn’t sound as if he was concerned about their situation, and for just a second, Dani took comfort until two brutes, larger then even Atticus or Matt, emerged from the forest, Sage shackled between them, blood dripping from her nose. Now, these two she feared. She briefly looked at the boy Atticus had called Killian. When Sage came into view, he shook his head as if trying to figure out what was going on, but that look changed to one of menace, and he was pulled back to face Atticus.

  His body jerked in such a way, Dani wondered if it was even natural—not fluid like a normal person, more like a puppet being pulled on a string. That was when she realized they were dealing with more than just the coven. Atticus’ Master had arrived via surrogate.

  Needing to figure out a plan, Dani turned her back to Atticus, backing up into him so no one could circle in around them, but it had already happened. Glowing red eyes met her every glance, they were surrounded in all directions. Dani reached out to her wolf—closer but still of no help. She used her other power, reaching out to the animals in the area. The wolf pack was long gone, but she wouldn’t be able to call on them again, anyway.

  There was a deer close with a hurt hoof, but it was a tiny fawn, a flock of geese, one with a small infection, but what she needed was a predator, preferably a lot of them. She also needed to find Matt. She couldn’t sense him at all which was unusual. With pack bonds, her sister and brothers were always there in some way. Had he been injured or even killed, she knew she would have felt it.

  One of the coven stepped out of the shadow of the forest and faced her. His eyes weren’t lined with red—this was a Warlock. He had a glow about him, not bright like the McClane witches, muted and blurry but still there. She imagined if it had been daylight, it would have looked like a shadow of black surrounding the man. He regarded her with a bland, bored expression but despair started to cloud her mind. They had no weapons. Sage was captured, her sword not by her side, and Matt was gone. Atticus was stronger but not at full strength, and all she could do was call on animals that would be of no help to them. Then she felt Atticus’ touch, the thin bond between seeming to grow stronger by the simple touch. Dani's mind cleared, and with it came something else—she could feel Atticus too. He was fearful but determined. His fear was for Dani, not Sage, himself, or Matt—just Dani. As she had suspected, he did find her weak. She would prove him otherwise.

  Dani sent a wave of comfort and hopefully, strength through the bond before returning her attention back to the Warlock. There was only a small trace of black magic in her body, but she sent it directly at him. His brow furrowed, but his focus remained on her until he wavered slightly. Usually, she required contact with her patients, or in this case, her enemies, but Atticus wasn’t the only one getting stronger.

  When the Warlock fell, two more coven members came out of the shadows, stepping over the downed man, coming straight for her. She didn’t have any dark magic left, all she had was her natural birth-given magic now. Dani found every animal, big and small, helping where she could and calling them to help in return. She didn’t know if it was going to be enough. Atticus turned slightly, keeping both the coven members and Killian in his sight, his body loose as though it was just another day, but their bond showed her that wasn’t the truth at all. She marveled at how fast his mind worked. He was examining every possible outcome so quickly, she missed most of it.

  “Killian,” he said, addressing the boy. “If you leave her alone,” he said moving his head to indicate Dani, “I will go with you without a fight.” Dani took Atticus’ hand in hers—no way in hell was she letting him sacrifice himself for her.

  “The Master doesn’t want you, Atticus,” the boy said through clenched teeth. “he already has you and Sage, just like he has the rest of us. He wants the wolf.”

  “He can’t have her!”

  Dani watched in horror as the boy bent forward as if in a lot of pain, blood pouring through his eyes, ears, and nose, straightening as if on a string.

  “Killian! Fight it, fight him,” Atticus demanded. Sage had spoken of this boy. She and Atticus both considered him as one would a brother, but Dani could tell the boy no longer had the capacity to do the same in return. The boy seemed to try, but the power held over him was too strong.

  “Give me the healer,” Killian demanded, lifting his hand, beckoning her forward like it was that easy. All the while, Dani still gathered animals far and wide.

  Instead of addressing the boy, Atticus said, “I would die before I ever handed her over to you, Bane.”

  The boy's voice changed, the tone more masculine, harder, startling Dani. Atticus and the others seemed to accept it as normal when it was anything but. Dani had seen some freaky shit living near the McClane coven, but this, a person possessing another, was something else altogether.

  The boy laughed maniacally in that eerie voice, sending shivers up her spine. When he continued to talk, they only got worse. This being had untold power, and all of it was dark. The slime of it started to coat her and everyone else. Atticus was standing firm, but Sage had wilted in her captor’s arms. The other coven members were also feeling the effects, not as sure on their feet, pain etching the features on their faces. It clicked then—emotion. She just had to provoke the right one, and the bastard would do what they couldn’t, and she had just the word to use… she hoped. Atticus had become pissed when she used it, maybe Bane would be the same. She listened to him as he continued to speak through the boy.

  “You don’t have a choice, I have won. The wolf is mine for the taking, and you are but an annoyance.” The coven was creeping closer. Dani spotted one set of golden eyes, so briefly, she almost thought it was an illusion. Dani stepped forward and away from Atticus.

  “They might be your minions, but I’m not, and I will never go with you. I would kill myself before I followed or obeyed a man who chooses to use boys to do his dirty work. One who doesn’t even have the balls to face us on his own. No… you are coward.”

  The boys breathing was now in sporadic short pants, his pallor turning greyish. Dani had to restrain her natural instinct to help—she didn’t want this boy to suffer, but she didn’t have a choice. The boy stiffened again, his spine as straight as a board, his eyes completely enveloped in red—even the whites of his eyes had changed this time.

  It was working, the coven was weak
ening from the assault from their master—anger.

  “Is this chase and show just the temper tantrum of another spoiled man? No, I think I’ll take my chances with the ones brave enough to track and confront us, not a being hiding behind a boy.”

  “I will enjoy beating that defiance out of you, wolf. It has been a long time since one as challenging as you came to my coven for training or,” he paused, “death.”

  “No,” Dani laughed, crossing her arms over her chest, glaring at Bane’s emissary. “I think you are weak. If you can’t even control your own coven members, you have no chance of making me do anything. Stronger men have tried and failed. Just ask Atticus. Wasn’t he your enforcer, your linchman, and trusted second? If he failed, I have no doubt you will have no influence over me whatsoever.”

  “Danica, stop,” Atticus demanded. She looked at him hoping to show what she was doing, adding a little extra support and strength to their bond, but Dani couldn’t stop. The coven was weakened but not enough to help them or give them any advantage. She needed something more significant to piss the fucking vampire off.

  “Wait a minute,” Dani exclaimed. “I get it, you choose to rule your minions from afar because your impotent. All the bravado, the big show, it’s all to hide the fact you are a lesser man. I wonder if that’s the reason you choose to go after and change helpless little boys who don’t know any better?”

  Oh, shit, that did it. The wave of magic that went over all of them was suffocating her, but she ignored it. This time, taking Atticus’ hand, she drew power from him, instead of giving. The animals she had healed had drawn closer, and she called to them, asking for help. They attacked the coven members in force, just as several of the coven members dropped to their knees.

  Atticus released her, going for the sword, making quick work of members as if they were standing still. Sage was fighting the brutes who still held her, but Matt charged through the woods, rendering them useless in seconds flat, and Sage was in the battle. By the time they were done, the only coven member standing was Killian—or Bane, but it was only by the sheer will of the Master Vampire, Killian hadn’t been strong enough to hold the monster.

  Dani watched as Atticus walked to the boy, blood and grime covering his body and sword.

  “You haven’t won, Bane, and you will never get her, she is mine, and I will die before I allow anything to happen to her.”

  Dani was thankful when he punched the boy/monster, instead of using his sword. The boy crumbled to the ground, and Atticus bent to him as Sage ran over.

  “Killian’s okay just knocked out, but we must leave—now.”

  Dani sent a quick thank you out to the animals, releasing them, a small smile gracing her lips. That was until Atticus turned to her.

  “What the FUCK were you thinking? Do you know how dangerous that was?”

  Chapter 17

  Being around Danica had been a test of patience from the start. She placed herself in danger at every fucking turn, and he knew without a shadow of a doubt, she would continue to do it again and again. Hell, the woman needed a keeper, not a mate. She needed someone to stop her from getting killed.

  Growling at Sage and Matt, he demanded, “Get us somewhere safe!”

  The two surprisingly did as he asked without question, objection, or attitude. Sage flashed with Dani. Too pissed, Atticus started running, instead of accepting Matt’s wolf back to ride on. Atticus needed these precious moments to calm himself before he faced his mate again. The vial in his pocket hit his thigh, and he stopped. Matt, who had easily kept up with him in wolf form, stopped as well. Atticus used his Alpha powers and yelled, “Change!”

  Matt’s change back into a man was swift, but he wasn’t exactly happy about the order. Before he could say anything, Atticus said, “Promise me if anything happens to me, you and the Valentin pack will always care for and keep Danica safe. That you will keep her out of the battle that is to come, and the rest of her days are ones of happiness and health.”

  “What are you doing, Atticus, why are you asking this of me?”

  “I would rather die and place Danica in your care then EVER be in that position again. Until this magic is gone from my body, I am no good to anyone, including my mate. Bane will just send more to get her, but even he isn’t arrogant enough to believe he can take on the Valentin Pack and the McClane witches.”

  He held up the vial, uncorking it.

  “You will have scant moments if this vial contains just another trick. I won’t be in control long enough to hold the beast back. If you sense or see it taking me over or feel the black magic entering me again, take me down.”

  Atticus was surprised when Matt grabbed hold of his wrist, preventing him from drinking the potion.

  “If you are dead, what good is risking anything with that potion? We’re just a few days from the pack lands. We can and will get there where everyone can be safe.”

  “You think that contingency was it, Matthias? That was the first wave, he will send more. He has hundreds of minions under his control, and if that’s not enough, he will just make more. Killian is the weakest. That back there,” Atticus pointed, “was a fucking test!”

  “Well, it looks like we passed it with flying colors,” Matt preened, not realizing the gravity of the situation.

  “No, we didn’t! We showed our hand—all of us! We gave him the ammunition he needs to plan better—he knows Danica isn’t just a wolf with some healing abilities, I have lost my magic and have to fight with a fucking sword, and you will burst into battle to save Sage, regardless of circumstance. He found all our weaknesses! The risk of taking this outweighs the worry, don’t you see? You and Sage can keep her safe, I can’t. But if this works, I will,” Atticus vowed as he jerked his hand away from Matt’s and downed the contents.

  The potion burned much like the other he had taken, but it was slow, not setting his veins on fire, only warming them. He felt his wolf first and almost wept with joy—his wolf had been lost to him for too long. He would have been happy had the potion stopped at that. He called out to the animal, and although he was as surly as ever, he was ready to help Atticus in his quest. Next, came his Vampire side. He realized quickly he hadn’t missed the bloodlust that accompanied this creature within him. He also knew it had been too long since he had fed and would need to change that quickly.

  Damn, he thought a minute later, Sage hadn’t fed in days. At least, not that he knew of. Animal blood would sustain them to a degree, but they needed human blood to survive and thrive. Atticus felt strongly he had been remiss in his responsibilities. He didn’t have time to dwell on the fact. As the potion coursed through his body, the next and final piece finally snapped into place. The Beast.

  His transformation was swift, faster than before, and the beast only had one thing on its mind—Danica. Atticus held him back long enough to growl words to Matt, more bestial then man.

  “It’s safe, it worked.” He took off running at the beast’s full speed, the trees and rocks of the forest whizzing by him in a blur. He knew Sage couldn’t have flashed far, and in mere seconds, he scented his mate—wildflowers and sunshine.

  He presented himself to her in full beast form. He wasn’t sure exactly what he had expected, but her walking up to his shifted form and dropping her head to his belly wasn’t it by a long shot. Careful of his claws, he brushed her back, bringing her in closer when he noticed she was crying. His tough little mate—who had faced down a coven full of vampires and others, not to mention the current King of Vampire—was crying in the arms of a beast.

  Allowing the shift to man to take hold, Atticus never let her go.

  “ Ah, little wolf,” Atticus said, all the anger from earlier dissipating instantly, “why are you crying?”

  Danica’s voice was muffled from her pressing it against his chest, but he heard her clearly.

  “I had to do it, Atticus. That boy, I didn’t want anything to happen to him, but I had to try. I couldn’t let them take you or hurt you. I just c
ouldn’t.”

  Atticus said her name softly which seemed to be a mistake because his beautiful mate backed away, wiping at her eyes.

  “I’m not weak, I can be a good mate to you, I just…”

  “Enough, little wolf, I know you're not weak. It is me that’s weak.”

  “No, how can you say that?”

  Taking her hand, he led her over to a log and sat, taking her into his lap.

  “I am weak because of you.”

  She stiffened at his words.

  “You don’t understand what I’m saying, little wolf. I’m weak because you are the most important thing to me, not because of what you can give me or that my beast calms around you, but because you have taken my heart.” Using one of his fingers, Atticus tipped her chin up when she kept her head down, buried in his chest, kissing her softly on her plump lips.

  “I have never, in all my years, seen a braver woman than you, Danica Valentin. You astound me daily.” He laughed a little, “To think you feel I thought you were weak.” Shaking his head, he said, “I’m the weak one.”

  “But your magic is back—the beast, wolf, and vampire, all of them—I can feel it,” Danica said, placing her hand on his heart again. He felt her welcoming magic as it kissed his soul.

  “I would fight a million coven members or enemies to keep you safe. When you stepped in front of Killian, taunting Bane, I wanted more than anything to take you and run. To wrap you in cotton and never let a trace of his taint touch you again. But I have never been prouder of another person as I was you. I am in awe of your love and strength.”

  “I’m not strong, just determined, and I knew that with you, Sage, and Matt at my side, we would prevail. My strength came from all of you.”