by Connor Crowe
Pack potlucks were one of my favorite parts of Nox Bay.
Elliot squeezed my hand so hard I could practically hear his heart skip a beat. “Look!” He gasped, pointing.
I followed his gaze. One of my pack mates sat on the floor with a small child, surrounded by pots and pans. The child, not even able to walk yet, scooted around the circle with a wooden spoon in her hand, banging on each of the dishes in succession. Her father watched her with all the pride in the world, crossing his arms over his knees and pointing out which pot she could explore next.
Elliot’s grip didn’t waver. He watched the two of them, his eyes wide. And something shifted between us. Old alpha instincts reared up. Paternal instincts.
I wanted that more than anything. A child. A family.
Even the cacophony of banging dishes.
I turned to Elliot to say as much, but he’d already regained his composure. “Let’s eat,” he said, a little too hastily. “Come on.” He tugged at my hand and pulled me away from the father and child. “I’m starving.”
People could say what they wanted about Nox Bay. The luncheons were nothing short of legendary. Today we had a full table worth of roasted ham, duck, and potatoes. Plates of steaming veggies lay on either side of the meats, surrounded by various dips and sauces. And that’s not even counting the dessert platter, piled high with maple candies and sweet rolls.
I think Elliot’s eyes just about fell out of his head when he saw all that food. And after what I’d seen of the conditions at the Black Hand compound, I couldn’t blame him. For now, I decided, he deserved to enjoy this moment, free from any worries.
So I put the thought of children to the back of my mind and joined him at the table next to Felix and Markus.
The thought of babies didn’t stay away for long, however, once I noticed Felix’s belly.
“It’s so good to see you!” Felix beamed, jumping out of his seat to wrap Elliot in a hug. “I was worried!”
Elliot muttered something I couldn’t hear and Felix laughed. I tried not to stare, but there was that look again. That momentary flicker of something—nostalgia? Fear? It passed his face again for only a moment, but enough to make me worry.
Something was bothering him. I may not have been good at reading people like Markus was, but even I could tell that much.
I had the decorum not to say anything during the luncheon, but after? We were going to have to talk.
“You’re positively glowing,” Elliot said to Felix from across the table. “What’s it like being pregnant?”
Felix thought for a moment between bites of what looked like a raw tomato. He bit into it like an apple, juices and seeds going everywhere. “It’s exhilarating and exhausting all at once.” He said with a smile. “Not to mention the weird-ass cravings.”
“And he’s always hangry, don’t forget that!” Markus cut in with a teasing smirk. Felix nudged him, and some good natured bickering broke out.
It was nice, seeing this new family so in love with one another. Soon they would have a new one to add to the pack.
“So the hybrid thing,” Elliot started, glancing from Markus back to Felix. “Wolf and fox are...compatible?”
Felix let out a laugh at that, holding his belly. “Hybrid shifters are more common than you might think. They often split off on their own, from what Markus tells me, but yes. Our baby will be a mix of both our animals.”
“Wow,” Elliot agreed. “And that works for...any...kind of shifters?” He shifted in his seat next to me, avoiding my gaze.
“Far as we know,” Markus said.
I couldn’t help but think of a small shifter baby. Half dragon. Half wolf. One part of each of our souls, combined into a single spark of new life. Was Elliot thinking the same? And had our night of passion and knotting already planted that seed inside him?
“So Arric,” Markus piped up, leveling his gaze at me. “We’ve found some information on that map you and Elliot dug up. We identified the place marked on the map as the Emerald Isles, a dragon colony to the south. In fact, we met one of their representatives only recently, if you remember.”
Elliot froze next to me, his muscles locking up in an instant. I held my breath. My military and diplomatic training was the only thing that kept me from a similar reaction. That foul-mouthed woman who’d demanded Elliot and threatened the pack? Looked like she was far more dangerous than we’d expected.
I let out a breath. The Emerald Isles were Elliot’s homeland, but those bastards had abused him so badly that even working for the Black Hands was preferable.
I clenched my jaw and chose my next words carefully. Elliot’s grip on my arm under the table started to cut off circulation, and I was ready to get him out of here if we had to. “You’re saying they’re the Keepers of the Third Key?”
“That’s what it looks like. The Heart of the Hearth, they called it. Fire element, naturally. Makes sense that dragons would be guarding it, but if the Emerald Isles operative that showed up at our gates wants to cause more trouble...”
I swallowed, my mind racing through the implications in an instant. “You’re right. This just got a lot more complicated.”
“Tell me about it.”
By this point, my hand was starting to go numb from Elliot’s panicked grip. “If you don’t mind, we’ll take our leave.” I nodded to Felix and Markus, springing out of my chair and helping Elliot to his feet. “My mate isn’t feeling well...you understand.” I gave them my most diplomatic smile before turning on my heel and leading my omega out of the room.
Visions of flames filled my mind. Screams. Creaking, crashing rubble. Just like the burning compound. Was that what they’d do to us, if they had the chance?
We needed to prepare. And if necessary, we needed to fight. But first, I had a mate—and possibly even a child—to protect.
No matter how much fire rained from the sky or how many houses they burned, I swore right then and there that they would not take my omega.
9
Arric
He felt so small in my arms. So tender. So fragile.
Each tremor of his tired muscles spiked another pain through my heart. Pain at those who had done this to him. Anger at those who would rather see him a slave than the unique, beautiful man he was.
We ducked into one of the fortified safe rooms near the tower and I sat Elliot down on a bench, rushing around to find a towel and dampening it from the wall faucet in the room.
Vague memories flooded through my mind.
Panic attack. He was having a panic attack.
“It’s gonna be okay,” I soothed, spreading the cloth over his clammy skin. “Breathe with me, baby. Can you do that?”
Part of me—the alpha wolf inside me—wanted to go out there and hunt down every last one of them that would hurt my mate. Rip them limb from limb. Make sure they never bothered him again.
But the rational part of me knew that wouldn’t make matters better. Not really, anyway, besides getting momentary vengeance. Elliot needed me here with him, now more than ever. It was my duty as his mate and his alpha.
“I won’t let them get to you,” I breathed, rubbing small circles on his back as Elliot sobbed.
“It’s not just that,” Elliot wailed, sniffling. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”
I gulped. “Does it have to do with how sullen you were looking at the luncheon?”
He glared at me.
“Yeah. I noticed.”
Elliot studied the ground for a long moment, but didn’t let go of me. “I saw that kid...” he started at a whisper. “And then we talked to Felix, and it seems like everyone’s having babies and...” He choked on another sob. “It’s not just that I can’t shift. For my people, if we can’t shift, we can’t have children. I’ll never be able to give you the son or daughter you deserve. Do you understand that?”
My heart positively ached for him, and not because of the children we may never get to have. What pained me most of all was the torm
ent and self loathing on his face. I would do anything to make that go away, but I knew it wasn’t that easy. Never was.
“I understand,” I said evenly, continuing to stroke his back. “And you know I love you all the same, right? You don’t need to worry anymore. We’re not the same assholes as your old family—if you can even call them that. Here in Nox Bay, we look after one another. Just like we’re going to look after you.”
Elliot sniffed again and wiped his face on my shirt, leaving a big wet streak. “All I’ve ever wanted is a family,” he whispered. “A real family.”
I tilted his head up to meet mine. “And you’ll have that,” I promised. “Nothing is going to happen to you here, okay?”
“Okay,” Elliot breathed, his heart finally slowing against me. “I’m sorry I got so upset. I didn’t want to tell you, and have you be upset at me, and...” He wrung his hands. “It’s just another way I’m broken.”
How deep had those poisonous words cut him that he actually believed that? It broke my heart to think, and I couldn’t even imagine what he was going through. “Stop,” I whispered. “Just stop, sweetheart. You’re not broken, and I’m not upset at you. It doesn’t matter to me if you can or can’t shift. Can or can’t have children. What matters is you, and that you’re safe and happy and loved.”
Elliot nodded. “If she...” He faltered. “If they come back...Emerald Isles...I think I have an idea how we can defeat them.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” I didn’t expect him to turn on his own countrymen, even after they’d treated him so badly. But he, more than any of us, would have the insider information we needed to get the upper hand.
He straightened, seeming to come back to himself now. “I’m going to need everyone’s help. Do you still have the Fist of the Mountain?”
“Yeah,” I said slowly. What was he planning?
“Good,” Elliot said. “We’re gonna need it.”
“And someone had the gall to call you weak.” I shook my head in disbelief. “Come on.”
We strode toward the door hand in hand—just in time to hear the clang of a large brass bell, echoing all throughout the pack.
One bell. That meant scouts were returning. No big deal. Or at least, it wouldn’t have been if it had stopped there. It didn’t.
Two bells. Diplomatic envoys.
Elliot’s wide eyes caught mine just as the third bell rung out, loud and clear.
Three bells.
Enemies attacking.
10
Elliot
“We’re under attack.”
Arric’s voice was harsh. Clipped. He grabbed my hand and drug me down the hallway, away from the shouts and movement.
“Now would be a good time to tell me about that plan of yours,” Arric said as we turned a corner and came upon the armory. “Looks like we’re gonna need it sooner rather than later.”
I winced. Didn’t think they’d return so soon. But for the sake of Felix, and Arric, and all the rest of my new found family, I had to try.
“We need the Fist of the Mountain if we hope to stand against her, but there’s no time!”
Tiratina’s terrible voice echoed through the walls, even louder than the warning bells. “This is your last chance, Nox Bay. Turn over the omega and we won’t have to burn your land to the ground.”
A pause.
“Oh, and think you can hold your own against a couple dragons? Don’t forget, we have something you don’t.”
A fireball soared through the sky like a comet, easily over the high protective walls. I watched in horror as it smashed into the ground and spread outward in snaking tendrils of fire. People scattered. People screamed. The smell of burning flesh filled my nostrils and made me want to gag.
All of this just for me.
“That’s right, wolves! We have the Key of Fire, the unholy Heart of the Hearth! Return the omega, or face the fires of Hell!”
I shook my head and clenched my teeth. Scared though I was, there was another feeling there too. Defiance. Justice. Responsibility.
“I have an idea,” I started. “But you’re not going to like it. Do you trust me?”
Arric watched me, his eyes creasing with concern. “You’re not going to do something stupid, are you?”
I smiled. “On the contrary. We’re going to make her do something stupid. Those rules and traditions she clings to? There’s a loophole, and we’re about to exploit it.”
I stepped toward the gate with my hands up. Arric and Markus fell into step behind me, both in their wolf forms and ready to pounce. I was what she wanted, after all. For me to come peacefully. If we could just make her think she was getting what she wanted...
“Tiratina!” I called in the loudest voice I could muster. “I present myself to you peacefully in exchange for the safety of these people. We do not need to spill blood here.”
The fireballs stopped and the world fell silent for a single, terrible moment. Then she appeared, her red razor-tipped wings stretched to their full span and her teeth bared for a fight.
“Is this true?” She asked, still glaring at Markus and Arric behind me. “Do you relinquish him?”
“I come to you of my own free will,” I added, praying that my voice wouldn’t shake. “But there’s something you need to know first. Something you didn’t plan on.”
She narrowed her eyes and gave the sign for her men to hold their fire. “What are you talking about, worm? You know you belong to me by the contract of our people!”
“Do you remember the provisions of that contract, Tiratina?” I called. “It remains valid only if I’m not what you call ‘sullied’ — that is, mated by another.”
She hissed, steam rushing from her nostrils as she took a step forward. By some miracle of courage, I held my ground and prepared myself for what I had to say next.
“And you think some legal loophole is going to keep you away from me? It doesn’t matter if every one of them fucked you silly, I’m still taking you home where you belong!”
“Wait!” I cried, throwing my hands up. “You remember the bloodlines, don’t you?” I held my breath. It was a risky gambit, for sure, but I was banking on her love of blood and purity to save my ass. That, and a little divine interference would be nice right about now.
“What about them?” Tiratina snarled. “The laws don’t cover random alphas fucking you. It’s only for rules of succession in omegas that can have children. And we all know that you can’t do that. So let’s stop these games and go home, shall we?”
“I demand a Test!” I cried. “Let it decide my fate here today. We’ll follow the old traditions to the letter, Tina. Isn’t that how you always liked it?” My lip curled in disgust.
A hush came over the group of Nox Bay wolves gathered behind me.
“No...” Arric muttered. I stood my ground.
“It’s the rules, Tina. I will take the Test. Right here. Right now. In sight of everyone. If it shows that I am not with child, I will go with you willingly. If it does not...then you will leave us forever.”
She huffed out a few steamy breaths. The silence stretched out like an eternity, and there I stood. Not knowing if I was about to be roasted alive.
At length, she sniffed arrogantly and pointed her snout upward. “You are stalling, my worm. But if it is public embarrassment you wish, who am I to refuse you? We will do this stupid Test, we will see that you are not and will not ever be with child, and then I will make you watch as I burn every man, woman, and child here. How’s that sound?” Her mouth stretched open, showing rows of deadly sharp teeth. “Deal?”
“You cannot do this!” Markus yelled, ready to pounce.
“I won’t let you take him!” Arric cried beside him, lunging forward.
“Deal!” I cried over them both. In that moment, the die was cast.
Now I just had to have faith in the strange feelings I’d been having ever since meeting Arric. The thrum of peace and energy in my soul. The way my tail had come out, and the ti
niest sliver of hope that perhaps it was possible.
We were fated mates, after all. I knew it. Felt it in my soul. Enough to stake my life and the lives of my family on it.
I just hoped I was making the right choice.
“Whatever.” Tiratina spat. “Rakk, prepare the Test. Let’s get this over with.” She waved away one of her men and then turned the fury of her gaze back on me. “And Rakk? Do make sure he or any of the others don’t tamper with it.”
We followed Rakk in a line down to the riverbank, and I realized with no small irony that it felt like a funeral procession.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Arric growled, his eyes flickering to gold and back. “You’re just going to throw your life—our lives—away like that?”
I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. “I told you,” I said. “Trust me.”
“Hey!” A body slammed between us and cut off my words. “No talking. No funny business. Don’t want you getting any plans or ideas in mind.”
I staggered, rolled my bruised shoulder, and continued on in silence.
With a deadly weapon trained on both me and Arric, there was nothing we could do to escape. The Test would decide not only my fate, but the fate of their pack, as well.
Rakk fished around on the riverbank for a few smooth black stones while two of his other cronies stood guard, making sure I wasn’t about to make any sudden movements. Tiratina followed, her steps like earthquakes behind us to cut off any method of escape.
“Here,” Rakk grunted when he found a few round stones. He lobbed them at my head and I ducked just in time for the stones to go skittering across the muddy grass. “You know the rules. Stones of green, child to be seen. Take your piss already and let’s get out of here.”
