by Lilly Wilder
A second later, something came flying in my direction. I dodged and hugged the ground, nearly eating a mouthful of dirt in the process.
Landon’s foot made its way toward my face. I rolled, narrowly avoiding a broken nose.
Quickly, I rose and climbed a nearby tree. While in the branches, I made my transformation. I was lithe enough to travel from tree to tree. The boys followed from below. Roman was aiming arrows. A few were so close to hitting me that I heard the whoosh as they whizzed past my ears. “You’re going to have to do better than that!” I shouted, effortlessly shifting back to my human form and landing on my feet. I didn’t hesitate for a moment before breaking into a sprint.
The boys were hot on my trail. I could practically feel them breathing down my neck but I wasn’t going to let them catch me.
My lungs begged for mercy and maybe I was pushing myself a bit too far but all this training was making me feel fearless and strong. If I became strong enough, then there was nothing in this world that could hurt me.
Dropping down, I grabbed a few rocks off the ground. They were dense and smooth. I knew they would work wonderfully as projectiles. I just needed to wait for the right moment in order to throw them.
I was coming up on a curve. I pushed myself to run a little bit faster, determined to get there before my mates could catch up with me.
It was nothing short of a miracle but I managed to make it. I swung behind a boulder and used it as coverage, as I made my shot. The rock rolled from my fingertips and honed in on its target — Roman.
Thump!
He was knocked askew by the blow. I could already see the blood flowing from the cut I had created. Guilt swallowed me whole.
“I’m so sorry…” I came out of hiding, on the verge of tears. In my need to prove my strength, I had forgotten myself. “I didn’t mean…”
“That was one hell of a shot,” said Roman. “I swear, that arm of yours just keeps getting stronger and stronger.” He took off his shirt and used it as a rag to stop the blood.
“I agree with Roman. That was quite impressive.” Landon offered me a skin of water. “But I fear that you are pushing yourself too hard. You must think about the baby’s health as he grows. You cannot continue at this pace with a little one inside of you.”
“You were the one that said I should train and become stronger so that I could protect him in case of an emergency.”
“I did,” he said with a nod. “But our pup will soon be joining us and as a result, you’ll need to slow down.”
I wiped the excess water from my mouth with the back of my hand. “How am I supposed to slow down when you keep reminding me of the threat that’s still out there? They could come for us at any moment and when that moment comes, I want to be prepared.”
Roman had tied his shirt around his head like a bandana. “I think you’re more than capable of defending yourself.”
“Am I?” I countered. “Because staying away from the two of you is hard enough and I know that you’re holding back even if you refuse to admit it.” Agitated, I snapped a twig from a nearby branch and proceeded to pull at its foliage. “What’ll happen when you’re replaced by actual enemies? Maybe I’ll kick and I’ll scream but I won’t be a real match for any of them.”
“It isn’t about brute strength —” Landon started but I didn’t let him finish.
“Sometimes it’s better to run away and live to fight another day,” I recited his mantra. “I’ve heard it a thousand times, Landon. But you really can’t expect me to run away, while you and Roman stay behind and fight to your deaths. If that pack comes for us, then I am staying by your sides until the very last breath.”
“Listen to what you are saying.” Landon stepped forward. There was little space between our bodies, forcing me to look up at his face. “Your only concern is with protecting the baby. You have no reason to worry about us.”
I shook my head. “I’m sorry but I’m going to worry about the two of you whether you want me to or not. I’ve fallen in love with you two and there’s nothing you can do to change that.”
Landon sat down.
“What are you doing?” I snapped in his direction. It irritated me that he was not taking things seriously.
“I’m letting you calm down.”
“Big mistake. You never tell a woman to calm down,” whispered Roman.
I was close to pulling my hair out. “I can’t keep doing this. What’s the point of all this training if we don’t do something about the threat that continues to loom on our horizon? I say we go after them before they come after us.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Big mistake number two. Never tell a woman that she’s crazy.” This time, Roman’s voice was barely audible. He took a step back like he was ready for me to explode.
“No, I’m not crazy.” It was taking every fiber of my willpower to remain in control of myself. “I think it’s our best option. What are we doing hiding out here like a bunch of terrified bunnies? Last time I checked, we’re wolves and we don’t cower. We fight and we defend what is rightfully ours. Those crooks took your pack from you and what are you going to do about it? Sit around and wait for them to take me away too?”
Landon got up so fast that it made my head spin. His fingers were wrapped around my arms, cutting off circulation. I didn’t even have the breath to complain about the pain.
“Of course not,” he growled. “I fear that we’ll lose you, each and every day. It is the reason why I do not let you out of my sight. You and this baby mean the world to me and just the thought…” He was grinding his teeth together with such force that I could actually hear them gnashing together. “But it is too dangerous for us to infiltrate their hideout — especially in your condition. I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to you.”
“But how am I supposed to bring a baby into this world?” I countered. “When it could be massacred in the middle of the night like its ancestors.”
“Maybe she has a point,” said Roman, finally breaking his stretch of silence. “If we play our cards right, this might work. We’ll have the element of surprise on our side. They’ll never see it coming.”
Landon released his grip and turned on his heel. I thought he was going to walk away but after a few steps, his fist flew into the nearest tree trunk. The whole thing rattled. A crack echoed through the forest followed by the sound of splitting timber. The tree crashed into the ground a minute later.
I didn’t breathe.
“We can’t.”
“It might be our only option,” said Roman. “And it is our duty as mates to see this through — to create a safer environment for Jane and our unborn cub.”
“You two can’t possibly be thinking of doing this on your own,” I protested. “I’m coming with you.”
Landon took my hand and brought my knuckles to his lips. “You have to trust us on this one. Destroying this rival pack is our fight. It is not yours. Stay here with Cynthia where we know you’ll be safe.”
“How am I supposed to stay here while you two go on a suicide mission?”
He cupped my face. “You’ll just have to trust that we love you enough to want to see your pretty face one more time.”
I didn’t like the idea but I knew that there was no sense in trying to argue with the man. “But if you two manage to get yourselves killed, I will never forgive you.”
“Then I guess we just won’t get ourselves killed yet.” Leave it to Roman to try and make light of the situation. There was even a smile on his face but it did little to cheer me up.
Already, my mind was conjuring up the worst. This was a bad idea — a very bad idea.
“Please, be careful,” I begged. “Because I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t,” promised Roman. “We’ll be coming back.”
***
Cynthia’s treehouse was making me crazy. It felt like the walls were closing in on me. Unable
to stand it any longer, I made my way towards the door but I was intercepted by the shaman. “Where do you think you’re going?” She looked and sounded like an overbearing mother. I had half a mind just to barrel right through her.
“I need some fresh air.”
She shook her head. “I’m afraid that I cannot let you leave.”
“It’ll just be a minute. I won’t run away, I promise.” As I spoke, I had my fingers crossed behind my back. “I just need to clear my head. It’s so stuffy in here.”
“This tree is the purest air you could ever breathe. If you intend to lie, then I suggest you make it at least halfway believable.”
“So, what, you’re just going to babysit me until the boys come back? We have no idea when that will be.”
“You’re right, we don’t,” Cynthia confirmed my worst nightmare — she was going to keep me trapped in her home.
“Please. All I need is a minute. Are you really going to deny a pregnant woman?”
“I’m not going to allow you to do anything that will put you in harm’s way. Landon entrusted me with your safety and I take that responsibility rather seriously.”
“Too seriously,” I muttered under my breath. “You might want to consider giving up being a shaman and apply as a prison warden.”
“I’ve thought about it,” she countered.
Seeing that the conversation was getting me nowhere, I returned to the nursery. The bright colors and cute decorations did nothing to soothe my worries. I could sense that something was wrong. Maybe Landon had gotten himself hurt or Roman had bit off more than he could chew. They were risking their lives and here I was, lounging around. It just wasn’t right.
Suddenly, a stab of pain pierced through my chest like someone had taken a dagger to it. I doubled over, finding it hard to fill my lungs with air. My stomach tightened with a contraction like the pup was about ready to come leaping out of my stomach.
A silent scream had my lips locked in an ‘o’ shape. A cold sweat covered every inch of my body.
“Jane!” their voices came crashing into my head as a plea for help. There was no way in hell I could ignore such a thing. Without thinking, I made my transformation and went straight for the window. In my head, I understood that it was several stories from the ground but with adrenaline coursing through my veins, logic had been thrown aside.
Glass tore through my skin but I couldn’t feel the pain. The adrenaline was still pumping.
Outside, the air felt fresh and crisp. It slowed down time and gave me the opportunity to plan my next move.
I reached out and grabbed a thick branch. My shoulders felt like they were going to pop but I managed to hold on.
“Jane!” Cynthia called my name from the broken window but there was no way I was going to stop. I allowed myself to drop to the branch below. It was a hard landing but it was a landing all the same.
“Guys, talk to me!” I pleaded through our headspace but there was no response.
My heart tightened. Was it already too late?
No.
My mates would see the birth of their child and I’d be damned if it was any other way.
The earth gave way underneath my claws as I followed my instincts, using them as a built-in GPS that would lead me straight to my partners. Only, that connection seemed to be getting weaker and weaker. What was happening and why did I feel this way?
“Please,” I begged. “Answer me. I need to know that you’re still alive.”
I was barely thinking. The forest was an afterthought.
Somehow, I wound up at the bunker where we had spent our first night together. Their scent was strong but there was something else in the air. It was like a batch of eggs had been left to rot in the baking sun. It made me sneeze. That sneeze had me back in my human form.
And that’s when it happened.
A net went over my head. I tried to fight it but a strange electrical pulse was powered through the fibers and as soon as I made contact, it was lights out for me.
In the growing darkness, I saw unfamiliar faces. They sneered and they laughed at my misery. I tried to cuss them out but my mouth was no longer functional. My body fell into someone’s arms as nothing more than dead weight.
The electricity continued to buzz in my ears.
Fight, I urged myself with every little bit of strength I had but it was no use. I had played right into the hands of the enemy…
Chapter 23: Roman
A few hours earlier.
“Let me take the lead,” said Landon.
“Are you sure about that? You’ve never been very good at stealth. It might be better for me to go first.”
“No.” Landon was about to pick the lock but I caught him by the wrist.
“I am not going to let your Alpha nature ruin this. You aren’t the man for this job. I am. So, let me play my part and when the time comes, you can play yours.”
I had never seen Landon look at me the way he did at that moment. I swear, his eyes were about to bug right out of his head.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to injure your ego but this is critical to our survival. One mistake and we get slaughtered without a second thought. And I don’t know about you but we made a promise to Jane that we’d return to her and our pup and I intend to keep that promise, no matter the cost — even if it means standing up to my superior.”
Landon didn’t answer me. Instead, he stepped out of the way and allowed me the freedom to proceed. It was good to know that I could stand up to the most powerful man that I knew.
Carefully, I started to work the tumblers on the door. I didn’t know whether it was the silence of the alleyway or whether the door was exceptionally loud but each move I made sounded like it had been shot by a canon. The beating of my heart was another cacophony that was sure to alert the rival gang to our arrival.
Sweat gathered upon my upper lip.
“Come on,” I whispered under my breath, waiting for that telltale click. My fingers were shaking and it was hard to steady my nerves when I knew that everything was on the line.
Jane, I thought. Do it for Jane.
Finally, the lock came undone. While still holding my tongue, I turned the knob. Landon was right beside me, ready to combat whatever was behind that door.
I tensed up, expecting an army, but in its stead we got… nothing.
The night club was empty. There wasn’t a living soul under that roof.
Landon and I exchanged a look of complete disbelief. “How could we be so stupid…?” I whispered as it dawned on me. “No music. If they were here, this place would be packed.”
“What does this mean?” asked Landon. “Have they moved on to another territory.”
“No. This is prime hunting ground. They wouldn’t give this up without a fight.”
Landon sniffed around but there was nothing to find. It was like they had sterilized the place.
My eyes widened. “Jane!”
“What?”
“They went after her!”
“How do you know?”
“A wolf’s weakness is his mate. It is the kink in his armor — the one thing that will crush his soul. We were not yet mated with Jane when they came after us but I am sure that they were able to put two and two together…”
Landon shook his head. “And we left her? I knew that this was a bad idea and yet, I allowed her to convince me otherwise.”
“Well, we do nothing by standing here. We have to find her.”
“She’ll be with Cynthia and only an army of tanks could take down that treehouse,” said Landon.
“Right.” I tried to let that thought console my fears but it did little. There was something not right with the air. I could feel it creeping into my bones. “But let us not waste time.”
We headed for the door and that’s when I noticed the yellow slip of paper that had been slipped underneath. It was an eviction notice.
“Wait.” I paused to read
it. As far as I could tell, it looked authentic. There was even a seal from the city government. “You don’t think that it was as simple as the pack forgetting to pay their bills, do you?”
“It’s never that easy,” said Landon. “They’re up to something and I do not like it when people plot against me.”
“Neither do I. Come on, let’s get to the bottom of this before it is too late.”
Again, we were just about to make our way back to the forest, when yet another item in the room caught my attention. It was happenstance, really. For at that exact moment, the moon made its way into the building. Its light was bright enough to illuminate a gemstone lying on the bar. But it wasn’t just any regular gemstone — it was the family heirloom that Landon had been desperate to find on that night that we saved Jane.
“Look!” I snatched it up and held it by the leather cord. “How did they get their hands on this?”
Landon yanked it away from me and ran his thumb across the smooth surface. It was as clear as glass. His reflection mirrored the anger on his face. “Those bastards,” he snarled. “They have been watching our every move from the very beginning. We underestimated them… and it might prove to be our downfall.”
“It’s impossible,” I said. “How could they be right under our noses without us knowing it? We would never be so careless.”
“And yet, we were,” snapped Landon. “We’ve been nothing but a play toy for them to torment.” He was holding the necklace with such force that I feared the gemstone would turn to dust under his grasp.
“There’s a note,” I said.
“What does it say?”
“It says: We have the fate of your clan in our hands. Now, you had better play nice if you ever want her back. Meet us at the river where this necklace was lost and we can talk this through like civilized wolves.” It was difficult for me to keep my voice steady.
Each word tested my patience. They had already taken everything from us and now they wanted to do it again.
“We have to save her,” I said. “Because we do not know what they are capable of.”
“Hell will freeze over before I let them get away with this.” Landon howled at the moon and made his transformation. I didn’t know whether it was a trick of the mind, but he seemed bigger and stronger than usual.
