War: Feral Hearts Book One

by Knight, Gwen

  “That’s all right.” She smoothed her hands down her dress. She didn’t feel like sleeping. Every inch of her was fired up with excitement. It was practically her wedding day, after all.

  “Seriously.” Snow rested a hand on her shoulder. “It could be a long day, you don’t want—”

  The sound of a door slamming shut silenced Snow. Emma gasped, then clutched her long dress, and ran inside. The instant she spotted War, a grin broke out on her face, and she launched herself into his arms. This was where she belonged. He made her feel whole.

  “I could get used to this sort of welcome,” he muttered into her hair.

  Emma chuckled against his shoulder. “Just wait and see how I welcome you when we don’t have visitors.”

  War’s arms tightened around her. “Temptress.”

  “Is everything all right?” Emma asked as she leaned back.

  “For now.”

  She meant to ask him to explain what he meant, but before she could, the world suddenly started to shake. War and Emma froze, their hands gripping one another for balance. The ground beneath them swayed like liquid as the walls shuddered. Possessions clattered on the shelves before spilling onto the floor and shattering. Picture frames fell as cracks spiderwebbed up the wall.

  Emma sucked in a sharp breath. “Earthquake!”

  It seemed so unrealistic. The East Coast rarely suffered earthquakes, but what else could it be?

  War’s grip turned viselike as he guided her toward the kitchen table. But before they could make it, a massive tremor shook the house and sent Emma sprawling into War. The two nearly fell in a tangle of limbs. A loud growl rumbled deep in his chest as he fought to keep them upright.

  Emma pushed off his chest and rose. But something else caught her attention. A sight unlike anything she’d ever seen. “What the…? War, look!”

  He followed her gaze, a frown knotting his brow as he stared outside.

  Right before their eyes, the sun vanished, as though swallowed whole by darkness. It was almost like someone had reversed time. Every bit of sunlight faded, snuffed out like a candle, and a full moon rose high in the sky.

  Emma stared at her garden, her jaw agape as the moon cast a strange blue light down on the land. War grabbed her hand, and, together, they stumbled into her backyard.

  “What’s happening?” Emma whispered.

  War’s response was a pained grunt. Emma whirled around to face him as fur sprouted on his skin. She’d seen him shift many times. But this was different. Faster. Explosive. He’d never shifted like this before. And from the fear in his eyes, he’d realized the same thing.

  Slipping her hand from his, she backed away and watched as he collapsed onto all fours, his wolf tearing free of his human skin. It wasn’t long before his pack followed suit, and an army of wolves faced her. Within seconds, her garden echoed with a haunting howl.

  “War,” she whispered, daring to reach out to him.

  He snarled and snapped, his teeth barely missed her.

  Gasping, Emma leaped backward, her hand clutched to her chest.

  That wasn’t War. He would never hurt her. Nor would his pack. Something had happened to them, and from the sight of the odd blue light bathing over them, it was something mystical.

  “War…” Emma stumbled away from the pack and toward her house. She considered the pack family, but right now, she needed to seek safety. She could see it in their eyes. They weren’t her friends anymore. And War wasn’t her mate. He seemed crazed. Rabid.

  Feral.

  Zero recognition in his eyes.

  Crying out, Emma bolted into the house and slammed the patio door shut just as Snow and his brother, Ice, leaped after her. At the last second, they changed course to keep from slamming into the glass door. Emma flipped the lock and continued to put distance between them. A glass door wouldn’t keep the wolves out, but what else could she do?

  Another howl rent the darkness. One full of command and strength.

  Snow and Ice turned as one, the pack parting like the Red Sea to allow War through. Emma met his gaze through the glass, her heart hammering in her chest. This couldn’t be happening. War was her mate. He loved her. He’d never hurt her.

  But the truth stared back at her.

  For a brief moment, it looked as though War would crash through the window, but a second later, he turned and bolted into the darkness with his pack hot on his heels.

  Emma sank to the floor and drew her knees to her chest as she panted for breath.

  Soon, the sound of wailing sirens cleaved the darkness. Screams tore through the streets. Growls echoed in the night. And throughout it all, Emma sat huddled in her living room, cheeks wet with tears.

  Hours passed before she finally found the courage to stand.

  Wiping her face, she scrambled through her house in search of her phone. When she finally found it, she had dozens of missed calls and texts from Luna. Choking back a cry, she dialed her friend’s number and held the phone to her ear while biting her nails.

  “Emma!” Luna’s voice instantly calmed her fear. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m okay,” she said, her heart fluttering in her chest. “You?”

  “For now. Mom and I are on our way to your place.”

  “You are?”

  “Tell me what’s happening! Everywhere I look, people are being ripped to shreds by werewolves. Is War involved in this?”

  Emma squeezed her eyes shut, and fresh tears spilled over her cheeks. “Yes. I don’t know what happened. That earthquake struck, and then he and his pack suddenly shifted and—”

  “And what?”

  Emma shook her head. She couldn’t admit aloud that they’d tried to kill her. “Where are you?”

  “A few blocks away. I just hope we make it to you in time. The werewolves are attacking anyone they see. The radio is broadcasting a message on repeat. They’re telling everyone to take cover, stay inside where it’s safe until this blows over.”

  If this blows over. But Emma could barely even think those words.

  “We’ll hole up with you. We’ll be safer as a group.”

  Emma silently nodded. They’d be safe in her basement. There was a storage area down there, enclosed with a small square door. It wasn’t ideal, but it would protect them from the wolves should they return. She always kept water and rations down there in case of an emergency.

  “Just hurry,” Emma urged her friend. “I’ll be waiting at the front door.”

  “Emma.” A brief silence filled the line before Luna sighed and said, “I’m sorry this is happening.”

  A few more tears escaped. Emma knuckled them away and squared her shoulders. Just because the world was falling apart didn’t mean she could. “Be careful.”

  She ended the call, then raced to the front door. It didn’t take long for Luna and her mother to arrive. Emma threw open the front door and winced at the sound of people screaming in the streets.

  “Hurry!” she shouted.

  Luna took her mother’s hand, and they bolted into the house. Emma slammed the door shut and locked them in, then grabbed Luna’s hand and led them down into the basement. Just as she opened the storage room door and ushered them inside, her patio glass door shattered upstairs.

  “Get in!” Emma cried out.

  The wolves had returned. But she had no idea if it was War or his pack. She couldn’t risk finding out, either.

  Once Luna and Marianne were safely inside, Emma dove in headfirst and slammed the door shut behind her. They were trapped beneath the house, but at least they were safe.

  For now.

  9

  “Em? Hey, Em? Wake up.”

  Emma startled awake, finding War bent over her with a concerned look on his face.

  She sat up. “What’s wrong?”

  “You were crying in your sleep, love. You were really deeply sleeping. I’ve been trying to wake you for a few minutes.” He sat on the bed and brushed tears from her cheeks. “What made you cry?�
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  “I was dreaming about the night of the curse. It felt so real, like I was right back there in our home, in the safe room with Luna and Marianne.”

  She scrubbed the rest of the tears from her cheeks and sniffled.

  “Why do you think you dreamed of that night?”

  “Maybe being back with you brought all that up.”

  He stared at her, a single candle illuminating his handsome face. Frowning, he asked, “Did something happen that I don’t know about? That night, did. . . did I attack you?” He looked stricken.

  She’d never lied to War. While it was tempting to hedge the truth of that night, it was possible that eventually the truth would come out and her attempt to shield him would upset him. Inhaling deeply, she said, “What do you remember about that night? After you shifted.”

  “Not much. Just being unable to stop myself from shifting. Then everything from there is kind of fuzzy. What should I remember, Em? What is it you aren’t telling me?”

  She told him everything that happened after he shifted. Her panic watching him shift into his wolf by force. Him almost biting her hand off after he shifted and the attack by Snow and Ice.

  He took her hand and linked their fingers, and the fear that had risen in her during the dream receded. “I’m so sorry I made you fear for your life.”

  “I knew it wasn’t really you, that something terrible had happened to you. To all the wolves.” She leaned into him, and he pulled her close, tucking his head into her neck. She put her arms around him and sighed deeply, the last bit of fear from the dream easing away with his nearness. “I don’t think I ever stopped being afraid after that first night. I just wanted you back. I just wanted everything to be normal again.”

  “We’re together now, love, and that’s what matters. We’ll break the curse, set the wolves free, and get our ‘normal’ back.”

  “I want that more than anything.”

  “Me too.” He kissed her throat and eased away. “We need to get ready.”

  They got off the bed, and she changed into the clothes she’d worn in the woods the night before—black shoes, black pants, and a black shirt. Using a hair tie, she pulled her long hair back into a bun and tugged the blue stocking cap over it. War had found dark clothes in the house, even though they were on the tight side.

  On the back porch, he spoke in his mind to the wolves, and then he told her the final plan.

  “We’re going to use the tunnel to gather any supplies we can, as we discussed. Then we’ll intercept the weapons convoy, secure the humans, and drive back here with the vehicles and weapons.”

  She nodded. “I’m ready.”

  War led her off the porch, and they headed into the woods with the pack. Snow and Ice stood on either side of them, and a small contingent of wolves spread out behind them. Ash, the best scout in the pack, moved ahead of them, his dark gray fur disappearing into the shadows. They were silent as they moved. She kept her eyes peeled and her ears tuned for anything out of the ordinary. It was nearly nine o’clock, which meant they had two hours to get supplies from the tunnel and head off the convoy.

  A half-hour into their trek, War put his hand on her arm and stopped her. “Ash found the tunnel. He said the scent of humans is old, so he doesn’t believe anyone’s come out of it since you left. There’s a guard on the tower, but he’s not looking toward the tunnel entrance.”

  They crept silently forward. She walked behind War, following in his footsteps. She saw the fence first, and then the tower where a guard stood holding an automatic weapon. He was standing with his feet braced apart, the weapon casually laying in the crook of his arm, his side to the section of the woods where they waited.

  “Let me check if the door is still unlocked,” she said.

  War braced his arm in front of her. “I’ll go.”

  She started to argue, but he said, “If he fires, I have faster reflexes, which means a better chance of getting away without being hit. If I get hit, I heal quicker.”

  “Damn you and your rational thinking.”

  He chuckled and kissed her. On silent feet, he reached for the tunnel door, his gaze trained on the guard. The door opened with a tug, and she breathed out a sigh of relief. He moved down into the tunnel, and she knew he was using his enhanced senses to determine if anyone else was in the tunnel too. A few minutes later, his head appeared, and he motioned for her to join him. She kept her gaze locked to the guard, who was still turned away, hurrying toward him and through the door. War pulled it shut behind them.

  She flicked on the flashlight. They made their way through the passageway, keeping close to the wall. Because of the incoming shipment, they had to be quick. War’s wolf rumbled in his chest. She could hear him sniffing the air, using his enhanced senses to ensure they were alone in the tunnel.

  Finding medical supplies was top priority. At an alcove full of boxes, War unzipped the duffel and two backpacks he’d taken from the farmhouse. Using the flashlight to illuminate the stack, Emma found a box full of general medical kits that had basic first aid supplies, along with a huge canvas medical bag stuffed with everything imaginable. She thought the canvas bag looked like what paramedics used on an ambulance. After taking several of the small kits and putting them in the duffel, Emma grabbed everything she could think of that they might need, filling up the duffel and one backpack. While she worked, War filled up the other backpack with MREs and dried fruits and vegetables.

  He stopped at her side. “I found plenty of seeds, too, so we can get a garden going.”

  “Nice,” she said. “I’m ready.”

  “Let’s go, love.”

  She put the large medical kit across her chest and pulled the strap tight, then shouldered a backpack. War carried the other backpack and duffel. Once they made their way back down the tunnel, Emma turned off the flashlight, plunging them into darkness. War lifted the door slowly, listening and looking to ensure it was safe before they moved out.

  She heard a soft growling sound, and War froze.

  “What is it?” she whispered.

  “Snow says the guard is facing this way. Shit.”

  She pressed the top button on the watch he wore. It was nearly ten p.m.

  “What do we do?” she asked.

  “They’re handling it.”

  She opened her mouth to ask who was handling what when she heard a commotion in the woods—howling wolves and thundering paws.

  “Oh,” she said as understanding filled her. “The wolves are distracting the guard. But how?”

  “Making a ruckus to turn the guard’s attention away from us.”

  She heard the guard shout and a few shots rang out. War lifted the door further and looked around, then jerked his head to indicate she follow him. Setting the door in place, she kept her head down and raced away from the tunnel and the fence, concern rising to the front as she and War reached safety.

  Emma set the bags down and leaned against a large tree, trying to still her racing heart. War stood in front of her, hands on his hips, and head tilted as he focused on the pack.

  “They’re fine,” he whispered. “No injuries.”

  “Good.” She breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Ash found the convoy. They’re a few miles away and traveling at a quick clip. We need to hustle to meet up with the pack and intercept them.”

  Emma rose onto her toes and kissed him. “For luck.”

  “We’ve got this. But I’ll take all the luck we can get.”

  She put the bags back on her shoulders and jogged with him into the woods. She had no idea where they were going, but she’d never had a good sense of direction. War could get anywhere. He seemed to have a sixth sense about where he was. She, on the other hand, had relied heavily on GPS apps on her phone. He used to tease her, but she’d never worried, trusting him to get her where she needed to be.

  Now, she was thankful he could navigate the woods without any help. If it were up to her, they’d end up hopelessly lost and probably in a
nother state by the time they were finished.

  They jogged at a fast pace, the bags bouncing uncomfortably on her back. He had long legs, but he shortened his stride so they stayed together.

  He stopped suddenly, and she nearly fell over, coming to such a hard stop. Righting herself, she heard the rumble of engines in the distance. “How many are there?” she whispered.

  “One,” War said. They set their bags on the ground under the boughs of a huge pine tree.

  “Guards?”

  “Ash said there are two visible in the cab, a driver and probably his back up driver. We should expect that they are both armed. Ash believes there are two more guards inside, hidden behind the canvas that covers the back of the truck.”

  “Okay.”

  The wolves appeared, led by Snow. She noticed Ash was missing.

  “He’s watching the vehicle and reporting to us,” War clarified. He turned to face her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Follow the plan.”

  “I know. Don’t get hurt, okay? I just got you back.”

  With a snort, he kissed her. “I promise. And the same goes double for you.”

  “Aye, aye, sir.” She gave him a saucy salute, and he laughed.

  They picked up their bags and followed the wolves. When he could hear the engine more clearly and knew it was close, War left Emma and approached the road, careful not to stray too far lest he turn back into a wolf. Ice stood by her side, his ears flat and his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air. Bay, Thorn, and Rain stayed with her too, and while she was worried for War, their presence comforted her. Ash appeared, sitting on his haunches next to her, eyes on War.

  War shouted. She squatted down and peered around the tree, watching as War stood in the truck's path, yelling and waving his arms.

  “Hey, help! Stop, please!”

  The vehicle slowed, and she worried it wouldn’t stop. Holding her breath, she watched as it jerked to a sudden stop, the brakes squealing.

  “Thank you! I need help!” War said as he lowered his arms.

  The passenger lowered his window. “What are you doing out here? Why aren’t you at the fort?”