I found Halbread once again and shoved him into a tree. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
He spun around to face me, his face a mask of rage. “If it isn’t the wolf lover. Come to watch her die?”
I sneered and indicated the surrounding men. “You’re going to get them killed. You need to—” We both jerked away from an oncoming wolf, one with a soft grey coat sprinkled with streaks of black and gold-flecked eyes.
Halbread fell backward only to scramble quickly to his feet. The wolf growled, a deep rumble in its throat as it advanced on the two of us.
“Shoot it,” Halbread order.
I shook my head. “The Pack isn’t my enemy. I’m not here to help you, I’m here to tell you to abandon this fool’s mission. You’ll only get yourself killed.”
“Spoken like a wolf lover,” he jeered.
The wolf lunged, and I shifted to my left at the last possible second, letting it sail past me. Halbread spun with me, bringing his sword up in a deliberate arc and slicing the wolf’s left flank.
It crashed to the ground and rose up on shaky legs. Blood dripped down its hind leg, and when it stepped forward, its limb buckled.
Halbread smiled. Shit. He strode forward, a look of determination on his face.
I stepped into his path. “No.” What the fuck was I doing?
His eyes flicked down to the bow in my hands. He was too close for me to shoot, so if he decided to press things, I’d be left with my fists while he had a steel sword. “Whatcha going to do, Red?”
I didn’t answer. My meaning was clear enough. With my back to the wolf, I prayed it wouldn’t attack me as I faced off with the man in front of me. Hopefully, Lindy had somehow communicated to the wolf that I was friendly, because in this moment, Halbread was the bigger threat.
With a bellow, he came roaring down on me. I shifted my weight, bracing myself for his strike. Arrogance had him hefting his sword high above his head. As soon as he was close enough, I dropped my bow, slipped into his guard, slammed my elbow into his gut, gripped his sword hand, and used his momentum to throw him over my shoulder. His sword kissed my left thigh as he went down, tearing the denim of my jeans, but the slice wasn’t deep enough to break the skin.
He landed with an audible “oompf” and I danced back away from him. “I’m not one of your unseasoned Hounds,” I reminded him. I was a trained soldier. I’d served two tours overseas. I wasn’t someone he could take down with a clumsy swing of a blade.
Rage twisted his features as he rolled to his feet. Those close by paused but didn’t intervene.
“Order your men to retreat. This isn’t the way to solve your problems.”
Regaining his feet, he charged again. I swept Halbread’s feet out from under him, hitting him in the chest with both hands before he’d even had the chance to raise his sword.
He crashed down to the ground again. More men stopped to stare. “This is your fearless leader.” I could see the wolves begin their retreat through my peripheral. “Go home. The fight is over.”
The men looked to one another, blood dripped from their wounds. Some stumbled and fell. They were a poor excuse for an army, and Halbread knew it judging by the look in his eyes as he surveyed the men from his position on the ground.
“You don’t give the orders.”
I glowered down at him, not bothering to hide my disgust. “Neither do you.”
Halbread climbed to his feet. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
Two men had snuck up behind me and in a sudden flash of movement, Halbread and the other men descended on me. One took my left arm, the other my right. And the third man latched onto my middle, making it impossible for me to fight free.
“Sit on him if you have to. We’ll deal with him when we get back to town. The rest of you, kill these fucking animals,” he roared.
“Don’t make this harder on yourself,” Niles whispered in my ear as I struggled in his hold.
“Fuck you.” I thrashed and head-butted one of the men before catching a fist to the face. My vision swam as my head snapped back.
“Grab a rope. We’ll have to tie him to the tree.”
A vicious snarl jerked my attention to the right to see Lindy in all her glory barrelling towards us. My gaze connected with hers and then widened when Nox came out of nowhere, swinging his sword toward her.
I shouted out a warning as fear seized my chest, flooding my veins with ice.“Noooo….”
His sword sank into her uninjured shoulder and her steps faltered. Just as he ripped out his blade another wolf lunged for him and tore his throat out, his body dead and lifeless before he even hit the ground.
I stared in horror as the new wolf circled her, growling warnings to anyone who got too close. Lindy tried to stand but fell, blood seeping from her open wounds.
I fought harder to get away, but the men’s hold on me was merciless and I took another fist to the face, seeing stars. “Lindy.” My voice slurred, my vision going dark. I fought against the impending blackness to no avail.
Fuck.
Lindy
My front legs buckled beneath me and my nose slammed into the unforgiving dirt. I shook my head and pressed my paws into the earthen floor. Pain rippled through my body and a whine escaped my throat.
“Lindy, we have to move.” Embry’s voice boomed through my mind.
No shit, Sherlock.
I tried, and failed, for the second time to get up, watching in horror as Red was trussed up like a turkey, bound with rope and shoved flat on the ground. His head lulled to the side, his eyes were closed and his expression went slack.
Just unconscious, I told myself. “I can’t just leave him like that.”
“You can. And you will. He’s human. We have to go. Now.” Embry’s order made my teeth snap, his dominance flooding my mind and wrapping itself around my will. “Shift.”
What? The order crashed into me. I met his gaze through the chaos of bodies, his wide eyes amber flecked with gold. “Shift, Lindy.”
“I—”
“You’re bleeding. David is bleeding. I can’t carry both of you out of here. The others have gotten enough of a head start. We need to get the hell out of here. Shift.”
I fought against the order, but it only took a few seconds before my wolf submitted and the shift took hold, forcing my limbs to elongate and fur to recede. I screamed as my body fought through the change. Pain seared my insides and my blood boiled.
Naked and shaking, I glowered at Embry. He dipped his head in David’s direction. Shit. He was shifting too, but much slower. I stood on shaking legs and rushed over to him, my injured arms wrapped protectively around my chest to keep them from jostling as the humans advanced. A man wearing wolf pelts draped over his shoulders took a menacing step closer, a wild glint in his eyes as he took in my naked body. I stood protectively in front of David as he shifted.
Come on. Come on. Come on.
The human was too close, and I didn’t have my wolf to protect me. My shoulders screamed in pain, and I chanced a look behind me to find David naked and panting on the ground.
“Get up,” I gritted through my teeth, keeping the humans in my line of sight.
David pushed himself to his knees. His leg bled like a faucet, the wound running from the top of his thigh down to his knee. Blaine and Chayton barreled down in our direction, scattering the humans who’d been advancing on us. Using the distraction, I leaned down toward David. “Use me to pull yourself up the rest of the way.” His jaw ticked, but he nodded. I planted my feet as I crouched down beside him, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. When I felt his hold tighten, I stood on shaking limbs, using my leg muscles to help support his weight.
David’s face paled, but he didn’t cry out. “I can’t carry you,” I told him. “You’ll need to lean on me and hold on. My arms are shot.” He nodded and together we hobbled back to the mouth of the Den.
The others kept the humans busy, giving us the chance to retreat.
&n
bsp; When we made it back to the mouth, my father was there, his eyes hard with steely determination.
“Dad?”
Embry surged through the opening—Blaine, Chayton, and Grayson close on his heels. Embry shifted, the other three staying in their wolf form as they protected the entrance to buy us a few more minutes.
“Go.” My father tore off his shirt before kicking off his boots.
Wide eyed, I stared at him in horror. “What are you doing?”
Embry strode to the first doorway and retrieved some clothes he’d stashed there earlier. He slipped into a pair of sweatpants, helping David quickly and carefully do the same before turning toward me. He took in my injured shoulders. One had sealed though it still throbbed, while the other bled profusely, painting my side crimson. The wound burned, making me think the blade I’d been struck with had been made with silvery alloy. It would heal much slower, and other than giving it time, there was nothing I could do.
Embry helped me slip into an oversized shirt that fell to my knees, before tearing another shirt into strips and wrapping it around my still bleeding shoulder. He turned to my father and gave him an assessing look of respect.
My father didn’t look at me, instead he met Embry’s stare. “Take care of her.”
Embry nodded. “I will.”
“Good.” The finality in his tone made my heart plummet. “Go.”
Embry tugged on my arm but I fought his hold, planting my feet firmly. “No.” I shook my head at my father. “You can’t do this.” I tried to rip away from Embry but he refused to release me. His fingers wrapped around my uninjured forearm like a vice.
“Melinda—” My father’s voice was filled with determination. “I will defend my Pack with my dying breath. Do not shame me in my final act.”
A sob lodged itself in my throat and silent tears slipped free from my eyes. Embry tugged on my arm again, urging me to move. But I couldn’t. I shook my head in denial.
He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t sacrifice himself.
My father cupped p my face. He pressed his forehead against mine and wiped the tears from my cheeks. “I love you, but it is my time. You must go with Embry. The others are safe, but you six need more time.” He turned to David, and I followed his gaze. Propped against the wall, he was visibly pale. His injured leg not healing either.
“Go with Embry. Protect our people. Get out safe.”
“I can’t. Please. Please, don’t do this. I need you.”
His eyes warmed. “You’re all grown up. My strong, beautiful daughter. Your mother would be proud, and I will honor her by defending the daughter I know she loved so fiercely, but never had the chance to meet.”
My vision blurred. More tears spilled down my cheeks and I swiped them away.
“I’m ready to join her, It’s been far too long.”
My chest broke open and a violent sob tore through me. This time when Embry pulled me toward him, I allowed him to lead me away. He urged me forward, taking a moment to help David.
David wrapped his left arm around Embry’s shoulders and I came up on his right. Together we helped him walk, our staggered steps morphing into a fitful run.
I watched over my shoulder as my father shifted into his wolf and paced forward to face the oncoming threat.
A wolf’s howl broke the silence and my heart clenched, knowing it was my father’s final farewell. As he charged out, the others retreated further into the Den, following us and covering our backs as we made our way out the Den’s rear entrance.
We ran for miles. As time went on, David’s leg slowly healed and he was able to take on more of his own weight. The bleeding had stopped in my shoulder, though it still carried a dull ache. I was sore, tired, and my heart felt like it’d been torn open.
Embry looked over to me every few minutes, his gaze concerned. I tried and failed to ignore the gnawing ache in my chest. My father was gone. It was like my heart had been ripped from my chest, leaving behind a deep, throbbing pain.
I thought back to Red and another flash of guilt would threaten to overwhelm me. I’d left him behind. He’d saved me. Struck out at one of the humans who’d gotten too close but… my gaze flitted toward Chayton who’d had the shaft of an arrow protruding from his shoulder. Embry had had to rip it out. The silver of the arrow head burning his hand when he’d touched it.
He’d also shot one of my Pack. I didn’t know what to think or what to believe. I didn’t want to see Red as an enemy, but he’d been in that clearing, armed and engaged in battle like everyone else. Did he regret saving me? Was that why his men had trussed him up?
I shoved thoughts of Red out of my mind. It didn’t matter. I couldn’t go back.
It took nearly an hour of hard running to catch up with the others and thankfully sounds of human footfalls never followed us. The rain washed away any obvious tracks, though Embry, and I still took turns doubling back to confuse any would be pursuers.
We came to a small cabin. The Pack’s Jeeps parked close by. Two men stood outside on the porch, guarding the entrance. Their shoulders visibly relaxed when they saw our approach.
Tired and chilled to the bone, we dragged ourselves up the cabin’s front steps. I recognized the men as we got closer. Asa and Finn.
“Where is—”
Embry shook his head. “He protected his Pack to the very end.”
Both men nodded, their gazes solemn before Finn asked, “Who’s in charge now?” His gaze flicked between Embry and I. Embry reached down, grabbing my hand. He twined his fingers with mine and I frowned.
“We are.”
I tried to pull my hand away, but he refused to release me, his gaze boring into mine. I shook my head and met Finn’s confused gaze. “I… I’m not. Embry is our Alpha now.” My voice cracked, but I kept my tears at bay.
“We’re going to lead our people together,” he said, and pulled me into his side, tucking me beneath his arm.
“Embry.” My voice held a warning. I wasn’t going to be his mate.
“We need some privacy,” he said, to no one in particular. One after the other, everyone filed inside, leaving Embry and I alone on the porch.
He turned me to face him, his hands cupping my face. He stroked his thumb over my cheeks. “We will lead our Pack together and we will rebuild what we’ve lost.” His tone was gentle, his eyes earnest.
I shook my head. “I can’t be your mate,” I told him.
“I know,” he said, taking me aback.
I sucked in a breath. “If you know then…”
“I don’t want to lead our people alone. It’s not the way a Pack is supposed to work. We operate in pairs. If the Pacific Northwest Pack’s wolves can be led by two brothers, then our Pack can be led by you and I.”
“Why would you do that? Why would you give that to me?” Embry had no reason to share his position. It’s true that Packs worked best where they were led by a pair, but it was almost always a mated pair.
“Because I love you. Because I still believe you are destined to be mine. And because you’ve lost enough already. I won’t take this from you, too.”
Tears threatened to spill down my cheeks, but I held them back. What he was giving me was priceless. But… “What if—”
“Shhh….” He cut me off. “We’ll have time to figure the details out later. Right now, we need to assure our Pack that we are a united front and that we will come through this.”
I nodded. “We can’t stay here long.”
His face grew solemn. “I know. We’re going to need help.”
I could see a plan already forming in his mind.
“What do you want to do?” Embry might be willing to share power with me, but I would still defer to him. It was the only way this would work.
“We’re going to petition aid from the Pacific Northwest Pack.”
The story continues in
To Claim a Wolf, Magic & Bone : Book 2 - Coming Soon
But guess what? Lindy’s Pack is going to be crossing
paths with the Pacific Northwest Pack. If you’d like to learn more about them, check out the Blood & Magic series, now complete. Or turn the page to read the first two chapters of Cursed by Fire. Book 1 in the Blood & Magic series
Cursed by Fire - one
Blood soaked my hands and coated the walls. It stained the concrete flooring of the abandoned warehouse and dripped from fixtures that hung from the ceiling, trickling like a slow rain.
My vision blurred and a wave of anguish rolled through me.
Dammit.
It wasn’t fair.
My knees buckled. I slammed my fist down on the concrete floor, unable to register the pain. How could I have let this happen?
I stared down at the lifeless body of a child. A boy.
Kneeling in a pool of congealed blood, I reached out and ran my fingers through his chestnut hair. I ignored the now-cool moisture seeping into the denim of my pants and hugged his limp body to my chest. Rocking back and forth with him in my arms, I whispered apologies and murmurs of comfort. Not that he could hear me.
My chest constricted.
I was too late.
I hated myself for that.
His face was unrecognizable. Gone was the boy with the dimpled cheek and brilliant blue eyes. Left behind was a brutalized mass of flesh and bone—a ruined body drained of life at such a young age.
God, what had they done to him? I blinked several times to clear my vision.
His skin was mottled. Through a veil of blood, shades of blue and purple covered every inch of exposed skin. His clothes were torn. His right arm bent at an unnatural angle.
No child should have to go through this. I hugged him tighter to my chest and prayed he’d been dead before whoever had done this wreaked havoc on his body. Prayed that the twin punctures on his neck were the cause of death and that the rest had been—
Reality snapped like an elastic band, bringing me back to the present. I sat at my desk in Sanborn Place, ripped from the haunted memories of finding Daniel’s broken body.
Trouble with Wolves: An urban fantasy romance novel (Magic and Bone Book 1) Page 12
