by Holly Hook
Cayden mutters something. He's in a dreamland.
“Under his nose?” Remo asks. “He's been in this area for a long time? And our parents moved us here?”
My muscles tense. The Russell Coven abandoned us. All because two of their members made a mistake. They left us to rot. Buried our real heritage. What if I'd had children, not knowing my heritage? They would have been in danger. We all could have died.
“The Savage King is great at hiding,” Edwin explains. “We do not know how he does it. He also has a powerful coven on his side, worshipping him. Powerful spirits around him have been feeding on their attention for a long, long time.”
“Then what are we supposed to do?” I ask, because it's better than blowing up at these people. “I'm the Royal and everything rests on my shoulders. No pressure, right?”
“Royals,” Edwin explains, “are at their most powerful if they are in power. Royal Nobles—and Savages—both shine at their brightest when they are alpha. It's their natural state.”
Everly shoots a glare at me. The tension's rising. My hair stands up on the back of my neck as if I have hackles right now. “It worked for Matthew,” I say.
“Yes. Leonora told me what you plan to do,” Edwin continues. He lifts one of Cayden's legs. His arms tremble with fatigue. “You will become more Noble than any Wolf if you take Cayden's position. It's possible you've seen your Noble traits heightened already, from being in charge during Cayden‘s absence.”
I think of how I reacted to Matthew earlier today. “I didn't want to kill our enemy,” I say, voice hoarse. “When I had no problem with going after Matt before.”
Edwin nods.
“But I killed a person,” I say. “I fought back against Mr. Hayde.”
“That was before you took charge of the pack,” Leonora says.
“And I still feel like crap about it.”
“Don't,” Cayden says. One eye flutters open. “I think I'm okay now.”
I sniff the air to make sure no Savage scent rides on the wind before I nod to Edwin. Cayden makes no motion to break away. I don't feel his protectiveness. He's suppressing the instinct.
We let Cayden walk, but by then, we're almost up to the cabin. Leonora has already informed her parents of the intrusion, and before we reach the house, I hear the Russells and Aunt May shuffling around inside. From a few hundred feet away, I listen to the conversation going on within.
“I'm not ready for this fight,” Mrs. Russell says.
“They need to forgive you,” Aunt May tells her. “It happened years ago, and it's not as if you did it in malice. Someone just overheard you. You murdered no one.”
“But we murdered the Noble line,” Mr. Russell says.
“You did not. My niece still lives.”
“But she is in danger now.”
“You had nothing to do with that. Your silence protected her until now. This was inevitable. Brie has hope. She did what no one else could do.”
“But she might become like the other Nobles again,” Mrs. Russell says. “It's what got Remus killed. He wouldn't kill his brother first.”
“She's only half Wolf. It may be different for her,” Aunt May says. “The influence might not be as strong.”
I look at Cayden. His eyes widen as we walk side by side. He's hearing this, too. Aunt May doesn't know I'm coming.
“Is it true?” he whispers, slipping his hand into mine.
I gulp. “It might be.”
Could being too kind kill me?
Killing hurt us. Or did it? Mr. Hayde would have murdered Cayden right there in the shack. He would have ordered his dark spirits to finish the job. I ended him, passing the torch to Brett.
“Brie, resist. Don't do whatever Remus did to get killed.”
“You're saying I have to destroy the Savage King myself.”
“He has so many defenses, I don't know if that's possible,” Edwin says behind us.
I hadn't realized he was listening to our conversation. I look over my shoulder, facing him. Edwin wears a very serious expression and keeps his shoulders squared back.
I don't want to be here for the family tension even if they can figure out how to better protect Cayden. Aunt May goes silent as she must hear me coming. She opens the front door and lets us all cram into the tiny space.
No one hugs Leonora's parents, but her father looks at her with something that might be gratitude, or even pride. It's the first time I've seen that look on his face and wonder if my father would have felt the same. I don't even have any anger towards the Russells for their slip-up that ended my own parents. Neither did it on purpose. How can I be angry when I made too many mistakes myself?
And how can these people be angry with them when I'm not? It's as if they're being offended for me.
“Ask Ellie and Olivia if they're all right,” Cayden whispers in my ear.
I look at him. He's sad. If he could take control of the situation, he'd do it himself. “I will,” I say, “after you accept my challenge.”
Cayden swallows. “I still think the Savage King wants you to be alpha.”
“He also wants you dead. So long as you live, we're mates.”
"True." Cayden turns his mouth up in a smile. "Very true. We'll do it tonight. I'll still want to protect you, but you might not have to subdue me with poison herbs."
I'll become more powerful once I win.
Maybe I'll become more kind. Vulnerable. Just like Remus. Unless my guilt over killing Mr. Hayde is just getting to me, it's already happening.
Once I win, I'll have to resist it. There will be more Mr. Haydes.
"Brie?" Cayden asks. "It was wrong of me to leave you with everything. But you handled it. You can handle being alpha. It might be the only way."
I swallow.
I want it.
I hate it.
"Outside," I say. "Now."
Chapter Sixteen
We leave Leonora, her parents, and the extended Russell family to figure things out and to talk about the past. Edwin refuses to bend while the younger cousins are more open.
“The Nobles are in danger. We should forget about what happened in the past.”
“The coven is back together. We can't be fighting.”
I wait at the back door, one of Leonora's bath robes wrapped around me. Cayden wears one of Mr. Russell's robes. We're both wrapped in fuzzy warmth, but the air leaking in through the door is anything but. The night has settled into the wee hours of the morning. Edwin has taken a seat at the kitchen table and he keeps looking at his watch like he can't wait to get to his hotel room and away from Mr. and Mrs. Russell. He reminds me of Mr. Hayde with his unmoving attitude. I can't believe he's related to Leonora.
“Uncle Edwin,” Mr. Russell pleads. “We made a mistake years ago. It was an accident. We took our punishment. My wife and I punished ourselves. Isn't that enough?”
“We don't need to stay for this,” Cayden whispers in my ear. “The challenge.”
“How does it work?” I ask.
“You beat me in a fight. I have to submit. Or die. The fight has to be real, or it doesn't count.”
“How will I know if it's worked?” I ask.
“You'll feel it. It's unmistakable.”
I lean over and kiss him on the side of his mouth. “I don't want to hurt you.”
“I'll heal. Injure me enough to make me submit by force.”
“Discussing the logistics of the fight?” Remo asks, walking up to us. “The air is thick with family drama in here. I need fresh air.”
“So do I,” Aunt May says. She smiles at me, and though worry lines gather around her eyes, her eyes smile with pride. “Brie, you've already proven yourself and you can do it again.”
“She already knows she can beat me in a fight. Look at how she fought Travon's pack,” Cayden says, pushing the words out.
He's proud, too. Proud for me and proud for himself. I know part of the reason Cayden left, and it was to preserve his pride. The guy vibes, t
he alpha vibes, come off him in waves. We look at each other and he hunches his shoulders up.
“I know this is hard for you,” I whisper.
“Are we ready?” Everly asks.
Cayden mouths, “She'll challenge you, eventually.”
“I heard,” she says.
“So you read lips?” Cayden asks her.
“You're my twin, Cayden. I know you.”
The two grin at each other. We're all back and together, the way it should be.
I hate to break the moment by pulling open the door. “Leonora?” Remo asks. “Can she watch?”
“Yes. She can watch,” I say. It's not as if she hasn't seen us disrobed. And it's not as if she'll care.
We step outside, leaving the family arguments and discussions behind. But they still float out the closed door. Edwin won't give up. He still wants to be in charge and doesn't want to let Leonora's parents take part in the coven.
A short trail leads to a small clearing behind the Russell cabin. I walk in the lead as I must do from now on. I have to hurt Cayden to save him. It's the only way. And then I'll undergo changes. I'll find out how strong Cayden's protective instinct is.
Neither of us speak as we walk down the dark trail, leaving the light of the cabin behind. I sniff, taking in the surrounding scents. The air is still tonight. No wind helps or hurts us.
But Romulus could still be in town.
He got close to us twice.
And so could Brett.
“No one's close except for the Russell coven,” Cayden says.
We look at each other. “We shouldn't linger,” I say. “Cayden, I challenge you for alpha.”
He nods. “Challenge taken.”
We stand in the middle of the clearing, which is only twenty feet wide. I back away from Cayden and throw off my robe, letting the icy air wrap around my bare skin.
I let the animal sweep over me. It pops my joints, stretches my skin, and casts protective fur over my body. The world tilts and grows as the trees spin overhead. The wave of agony vanishes as I focus on a sharper world. Scents pop. Cayden's forest air fills everything. A few terrified deer run away from our location. Twigs and branches crack. Everly, Remo, and Aunt May stand behind Cayden, still in human form, while I face down a gorgeous black wolf with hazel eyes.
I can't bear to attack him.
I must.
Cayden and I circle, waiting for someone to make the first move. Pine needles crunch underneath as we don't dare take our gazes off one another.
If I love him, I have to hurt him.
With a growl, I leap onto his back.
We go down, snapping at each other in silence. My teeth catch shoulder blade skin and I bite down, drawing blood as Cayden growls in pain. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. I can‘t apologize. It'll ruin the challenge. Instinct tells me that. So I maintain the bite, digging deeper, drawing more blood. I'm saving him. The thought is the only thing that keeps me going.
Cayden bucks me off and charges. I land on my back, throwing up paws to block his attack. He leaps on me, dripping blood and snapping at my throat. His instinct is to keep his position. He might hurt me.
“Brie!” Aunt May shouts.
I roll and cast him off with a kick. Cayden flies off, landing on a bed of pine needles, and I jump again, ramming into his side. We slide together, snapping and clawing at each other. I rake mine across Cayden's snout. Blood flows. His hazel eyes lock on me as if he can't believe I'd do this.
But I'm nothing compared to Mr. Hayde's dark spirits.
I claw and claw, drawing crimson lines on Cayden's fur. Blood mixes with black hair, forming a sticky coat on his side. Cayden rolls and gets up, growling with anger at me. There's nothing but the fight now. He charges me, pinning me to the ground. A rock juts into my jaw, exploding pain as Cayden sinks his teeth into my back. My spine screams in protest. I try to get up, but his weight holds me down. I might lose. Cayden will remain alpha. He can't let me win. We're bound by tradition.
I have to save him from himself.
Closing my eyes, I find the strength to rise and throw him off. My limbs tighten as Cayden flies into a tree trunk. Pain burns along my back and tingles as flesh tries to pull together.
I leap at Cayden.
He tries to rise, but not before I find his throat.
I sink my teeth in, finding soft flesh and blood. Cayden kicks. He growls, and I recognize the submission.
“Brie!” Everly shouts. “That's enough!”
“Stop!” Remo shouts.
“Don't kill him!” Aunt May yells. Her hands wrap around my body and pull.
She's enough to snap me out. I release Cayden as the wave of despair races for me. And I let Aunt May pull me back with still-human hands. Cayden lies at the base of the tree, bleeding from his neck. Blood stains the ground. He kicks at me even though I'm no longer there.
Ice fills my chest.
I might have destroyed him. The dark spirits only had to wait for me to do the worst. They‘ve tricked me.
Even as his flesh closes with a peeling sound, I turn away.
Even as a new strength fills my limbs and a sense of power sweeps over me, I face the trees instead.
Aunt May releases me as I let my body go limp. Cayden continues to heal as the wave of despair stops, then retreats.
He will live.
And now I need to keep him alive at all costs.
I face him. Cayden opens his beautiful hazel eyes, and though he still seeps blood from his wounds, I can read the look he's giving me.
I did it.
I've never felt more alive in my life. My senses pop and even in the dark, I make out every pine needle around me. Strength fills my body and I feel like I can take on the Savage King myself.
I've done it. I'm alpha.
I run over and lick his closing wounds, urging him to heal and be whole again. I'll do anything to protect him now. I almost killed him. Had I bitten down one more second, I would have.
And I'll make up for that for the rest of my life. Even if I want to run now, I can't. Cayden and the pack are my responsibility.
Please, Brie. This is embarrassing enough.
I don't care. I continue removing the blood from his wound.
Hey. That tickles.
That's light for Cayden. I'm sorry.
You had to do it. I would have killed you, too.
Then we're even. I lie down beside Cayden, putting my head over his wound. We breathe together as the night wears on and the others wait.
I know deep down we're one step closer to being together.
Chapter Seventeen
“Aunt May, you can't be serious. I'm not going to school tomorrow.” I pull my robe tighter around me and look for a place in the Russell cabin to change into my normal clothes. It's a no go. People occupy every room, engaged in low conversations, while Edwin still dominates the kitchen table. “I'll fall asleep during class.” Pops sound as Cayden changes back outside. He groans as he returns to human form.
She holds me in her bright blue glare. “Yes, you are.”
“So much for having this authority,” I say.
“You may be alpha, but school is not a Wolf matter,” she says.
I can't argue, despite all the new power flowing through me. I feel as if I could win against anyone, but with that thought, I let out a slow breath. Romulus is still terrifying. My urge to fight Cayden melted the second I won the fight. It could happen with any other Wolf, including the Savages. But at the same time, I want to hunt them down and protect the pack. I want to lead.
And the thought of killing Mr. Hayde is more revolting than ever. Just letting myself look at that memory fills me with sickness. I want to throw up. “Oh,” I groan, leaning away from the Russells' old couch.
“What's wrong?” Aunt May asks. She wraps her arm around me and pulls me close.
“I'm even nicer than I used to be,” I say. “Great. Our prediction was true. Now I'm super Noble.”
“How do you know?”
“It's just the way I feel inside. I'm strong but I don't want to hurt anybody.”
“You shouldn't want to hurt anyone,” she says.
“Just thinking of Mr. Hayde makes me sick. It wasn't that bad before.”
“Then that tells you you're still Noble. And that you might not become Savage at all. It's an empty threat. Focus on that thought, Brie. Mr. Hayde only said that to upset Cayden and make him attack you.”
“But I'm still just half Wolf. Right? And too nice.”
“Brie, you need time to adjust. You'll figure this out. You're more powerful and likely to survive any Savage attack. But I have to admit, your scent is stronger.”
“That's great. I still need to check on Ellie and Olivia,” I say.
“I did that for you,” Everly says. She walks into the room from the kitchen. “If you heard me tapping my phone, that's what it was. They're okay.”
“Thank you.” I separate from Aunt May and study the way Everly looks at me.
Cayden comes back into the room, back in his normal clothing. He‘s fully intact with no wounds. “Leonora's room is free,” he says. “She and Remo are out back.”
I listen. They're making out. I can't blame them after the things that happened. A smile spreads across my face for a moment before I recall the fight. “Cayden, I'm so sorry--“
“Stop,” Everly says, raising her palm at me. She steps in front of her brother. “You did what tradition dictates. Challenges are always bloody. We might be Noble, but we still have the wilds in us. Accept that. We might be more human than the Savages, but we are still Wolves.”
“Listen to her,” Aunt May says.
“I can't help it!” The guilt will drive me crazy.
Cayden pushes around his sister. “Don't be like Remus. I bet he died because he couldn't find it in him to fight his twin. The Savage King might expect you to do the same. Only he has a worse fate than death ready for us.”
He's right. Cayden talks sense.
“If I can swallow my pride, you can swallow your guilt,” he says.
“I hate to admit it, but you're making me feel better,” I say.
