I glanced in the direction where Victoria and the others had left. “No, but our pack isn’t united in shifting. We should all be in sync, but we’ve got three on the opposite shifting schedule, one who shifts without notice, and the rest of us who are captive to the full moon.”
“And one who shifts at will,” he said.
I glared at him.
Soleil came over and put an arm around Brick. “I’ve got some resources. There’s a healing spring hidden in a secret tomb of a pharaoh thought to be only a legend. I was best friends with his daughter for a while, so I can assure you that neither the ancient king nor the spring are a myth.”
“Sounds like the spring didn’t do him much good,” I pointed out.
“He lived over two thousand years.” She arched her brows.
“Why’d they hide the spring?” Brick asked.
“And how do you know it’s still there?”
“I snuck in not long ago to help a friend. It’s there.” She turned to Brick. “They buried him with it because it was his most treasured possession. Most pharaohs wanted valuables. He wanted the spring, sure it would be just as valuable in the afterlife.”
I thought about it. “How will a healing spring help us? We’re not sick. Nobody’s wounded.”
“But you’re cursed. Maybe you don’t need to be cured, but rather, to be healed.”
Brick and I exchanged doubtful glances.
“Your loss.” Soleil went around the bonfire and joined Ziamara.
“It’s worth a try.” Brick grabbed a marshmallow and jammed it on a stick. “Even if it does nothing else, it’ll cure you of your jealousy.”
I sucked in a deep breath. Even my good friend could see my true feelings.
He stuck the marshmallow-laden branch into the flames and arched a brow at me.
“Victoria and I are each other’s one true love. Nothing—including past lovers—is going to get between us.”
“Glad to hear it.” He gave a nod.
I glanced into the woods, trying to see or hear anything, but couldn’t beyond the rustling of leaves from a slight breeze.
“Enjoy the party,” Brick said. “They’ll be back soon enough. Want me to put on some more steaks?”
My stomach rumbled. The full moon wasn’t far away, so all of our appetites were increasing—that would continue until the day of, when we would be ravenous, eating as much as six regular men. “Sure. I can help you.”
Brick pulled out the flaming marshmallow, blew it out, and ate it. “If you want. I’m happy to work on them while you relax.”
Relax. Right. “Haven’t you figured out by now that I find cooking with you relaxing?”
“Let’s get to it. If everyone is as hungry as I am, these are going to disappear as soon as they’re done.”
I had a feeling he was right. We went over to the cooler, pulled out some tinfoil-covered steaks, and stuck them on the metal panels Brick had assembled for cooking.
“We should cook these wings, too.” Brick grabbed some more food from the cooler and handed them to me. I arranged them on the panels, my mouth watering.
Jet came over. “Oh, good. More food.”
Brick laughed. “You can always tell when the full moon is approaching around here.”
Jet put a hand on his belly. “I feel like I haven’t eaten in weeks.”
Ziamara came over and put her arm around him. “You’ve already had two steaks tonight.”
He chuckled. “It’s a good thing Brick knows our hunger.”
Brick lowered the panels down into the flames. “They’ll only take a few minutes.”
Bobby, one of the younger werewolves, came over and shoved Jet. His blue eyes shone. “You mean that he knows your hunger.” Bobby made oinking noises and put his hands up to his blond hair, making the shape of pig ears.
“I could say the same about you.”
I waited for them to break out into a fight or to start wrestling, but Jet remained standing with Ziamara. He’d been less volatile with the pack members since Dillon’s death. He’d felt guilty for their bantering since Dillon had perished at the now-burned-down Jag.
Bobby made more pig sounds, trying to egg on Jet.
Jet pulled Ziamara closer. “Go pick on someone else. I’m assistant alpha, and I’m not going to get pulled into pup games.”
“You’re no fun lately.” Bobby sulked and joined some of the others.
I turned to Jet. “You know, it’s okay to have fun. Just don’t be harsh with them.”
Jet shrugged. “I need to take my role more seriously, anyway.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but Ziamara shook her head. Instead, I turned to Brick. “How’s the food coming? It smells delicious.” The spices Brick had added to the meat now filled the air, making me even hungrier than before.
“Just another minute or two.” Brick checked on the food. The meat and spices filled the air all the more.
My stomach roared. “Let’s check.”
Brick raised the panels up and we opened up some of the tin foil, careful not to get burned. Steam shot out.
“They’re fine for us,” Brick said, “but I’m going to put some in longer for the non-wolves.”
I stuck some food on plates and passed them out to the pack and then finally dug in. The steak melted in my mouth, though it was a little on the raw side in the middle. I’d had much rawer in my wolf form.
After my second steak, Victoria finally returned, wearing a different outfit than before. She must have shifted back into human form far away from where she’d stored her clothes before shifting. That was why we kept spare clothes stashed in various places around the woods. She and Carter were both in human form, and behind them trotted our three wolfborns. I dropped my paper plate into the garbage, ran over to her, and swung her around. “Finally, you’re back.”
She frowned. “Toby, I’m sor—”
I put a finger to her soft lips. “Don’t say it. You apologize too much for things out of your control. I’m just glad you can shift. If you couldn’t…” I shuddered. We all knew one more un-shift likely would’ve killed her. “Are you hungry? Brick and I are cooking more meat.”
“You think I apologize too much?”
“It isn’t a big deal, sweetness. Let’s get you something to eat.”
“I’m actually full. We came across a… snack.”
I wiped a drop of blood from the corner of her mouth. “I can see that. Come on. We’re celebrating.”
Soleil ran over, eyes wide and mouth gaping.
“What’s the matter?” I exclaimed.
She studied Victoria. I looked at her, but didn’t see anything wrong beyond her being tired, but that wasn’t unusual after shifting—especially with as often as she’d been turning into a wolf. It was like she was trying to make up for the missed full moons.
Soleil put her palms on Victoria’s face. “Something’s wrong with your essence.”
My stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”
“I’m going to need to drink some to find out.”
I pulled Victoria closer. “She just shifted. Let her rest.”
Soleil turned to me and narrowed her eyes. “You don’t seem to understand the severity of this. The fact that I can see something wrong without drinking any means there’s real trouble.”
Victoria turned to me, her eyes wide. “What could it mean?”
Chapter 3
Toby
I kissed Victoria’s cheek. “Let’s find out. You’ll let her inhale your essence?”
“Drink,” Soleil corrected. “I drink essence.”
She stepped closer to Soleil. “See what you can find out.”
Soleil put her hands on Victoria’s face again and closed her eyes. Her wings burst out of her clothes, tearing the fabric. The massive wings flapped back and forth as Soleil opened her mouth. The familiar purple mist swirled from Victoria’s mouth into Soleil’s.
My heart pounded, wondering what the valkyrie woul
d see. Another threat on my love’s life?
Soleil’s eyes flew open and they turned into an electric shade of green as she continued drinking the essence. She closed her mouth, sending the purple mist back into Victoria. They both snapped back their heads.
I put my arms around Victoria to steady her. Soleil’s eyes continued growing brighter for a few moments until her wings disappeared. She blinked a few times and her eyes slowly returned to normal.
“What is it?” I exclaimed.
She stared at Victoria. “Run.”
Victoria gasped.
“From what?” I demanded.
Soleil turned to me, her face paling. “Your essence is off, too.”
“What—?”
She put her palms on my cheeks, closed her eyes, and opened her mouth. Her wings flew back out and my eyes shut on their own. I felt the pull of my essence leaving my body. The silky swirls ran up my throat and out of my mouth. My entire body relaxed nearly to the point of going limp, but I managed to remain standing.
Eventually, my essence snapped back into my body and my strength returned. My eyes shot open. Soleil’s eyes were fading from electric green to a normal shade of green.
“What did you see?” Jet asked. When had he come over to us?
Soleil, wide-eyed, looked back and forth between Victoria and me, stopping on Victoria. “You have to get away from here—now.”
I grabbed Soleil’s shoulders. “What’s going on?”
She gasped for air and stared at me. “The short story is that your father’s pack wants her. They’re hunting her. You’re their point of reference—a homing beacon, if you will. Something to do with your bloodline. She’s in grave danger, and the farther she is from you, the better.”
Rage ran through me. “You’re sure of this?”
“Essence doesn’t lie. It can be vague, but it doesn’t lie.”
Everything spun around me. “How far off are they?”
“I don’t know. The both of you are marked—but hers will go away as soon as we get her away from you.”
I clenched my fists. “I’m going to kill my father with my own two hands.”
“Great,” Soleil said. “I suggest doing that after Victoria is in hiding.”
“I’ll get you far away,” Carter said.
This was getting better by the moment. I shook my head and then gained everyone’s attention by whistling. “Pack meeting now. We’re going inside.” I turned to Soleil. “We’ll discuss this as a pack.”
Everyone grumbled, but headed inside.
“Why are we breaking up the party?” Bobby asked.
“Because something more important came up,” I grumbled.
Victoria slid her hand into mine, and we hurried inside the mansion. My mind raced and fury built up. I had known better than to think things could go back to normal while my father and his pack still lived and breathed.
We gathered around the large kitchen table. I led Victoria to my spot at the head of the table then I paced, having too much nervous energy to sit. Once everyone was at the table, I went over what Soleil had found. Then I turned to her. “Did I miss anything? What else did you see?”
She frowned. “Just that they’re on a mission. They intend to torture her to make you suffer.”
“Why not torture me?” I exclaimed.
“They know that would be easier on you.”
I threw my hands in the air and paced faster. “You can’t see anything else?”
She shook her head. “If I drank the essence of one of them, I could find out a lot more, but I can only get so much from you two. You’re marked. She’s in danger. They’ll surely find her if she stays near you.”
“So, they’re coming after me?”
Soleil nodded. “To get to her.”
I stopped pacing and stood taller. “Good. They’ll have to fight me. I’ve already killed my father once, so I can do it again. And this time, the other side won’t open up since it’s been permanently sealed. He’s going to stay dead. She can stay here, hidden when they arrive.”
“You’re putting her in danger. Kill them first, and then bring her back home.”
I spun around and punched the wall. “I won’t allow them to drive us apart again!”
Jet glanced at Soleil. “Do we have time to sleep on this? Make a decision in the morning?”
Soleil shook her head. “They’re growing closer—I can feel it. They’re also greater in number than us. We’re definitely putting her in danger if she stays.”
A mixture of strong emotions ran through me. Obviously, I didn’t want to put her in harm’s way, but I also couldn’t let my old pack get in between us again. “You don’t think I can protect her?”
“You have the strength, but not the numbers. They have a larger pack than you, and given how much both of your essences are affected, you’d practically be handing her over to them if she stays.”
“I’ll take her,” Carter said.
Of course he would. Why had I ever agreed to bring him into the pack? Maybe it was time I stopped being such a nice guy.
“I know plenty of local hiding spots those wolves will never find,” Carter insisted. “Plus I can shift whenever she does.”
“Ow.” Victoria rubbed her side.
I swore. “We’re stressing you out.” I turned to Ziamara. “Take her up to her room and help her relax.”
“And pack,” Soleil added.
“Just relax.” I rubbed Victoria’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t worry about any of this. We’ll figure something out.”
Ziamara got up and waved Victoria over. They headed toward the stairs in silence.
“Let me take her,” Carter insisted. “I know of a place where magic won’t work.”
I arched a brow.
“If she’s there, locator spells won’t work.”
“Then I’ll take her. They’re using me as the homing beacon.”
Carter shook his head. “It’s owned by bear shifters, and they hate werewolves.”
I gave him a double take. “There are werebears in the area?”
“Obviously. Where there are bears, there are shifters.”
“Why do they hate us?” Jet asked.
“Because werewolves haven’t been careful around the humans. Every person has heard of werewolves, but how many know of bear or jaguar shifters?”
I gritted my teeth. He had a point—not that my pack and I were like the typical werewolves. “You can’t take Victoria there. She’s a wolf, remember?”
“They’re protective of females,” Carter said. “It doesn’t matter the species.”
My brows came together. “That’s rather convenient.”
Carter rose. “What are you trying to say?”
“That it sounds like you’re pulling all this out from your arse.”
“You think I’m spewing hot air?” he exclaimed. “I’m trying to protect her from your pack.”
I marched over to him, stopping only an inch from his face. “This is my pack—my only one. Never forget that. I haven’t been a part of the other pack since they killed Victoria.”
“Okay. Doesn’t change the fact that I can help her.”
Gritting my teeth, I stepped back and looked around the table. What would Victoria think?
“We need to listen to Soleil,” Brick said. “No matter who goes with her, she’s better off far away if your father has his mind set on torturing her. We know he’s headed this way.”
Soleil nodded. “I’ll go with her.” She turned to Brick. “You should come, too.”
“That goes without saying, but I also think Carter should come. She needs someone who can shift when she does.”
I hated that everyone else could leave with her, except me. But at least she wouldn’t have to go with Carter alone. I glared at Brick. “You really think so?”
He nodded. “I can’t shift when she does unless it’s at the full moon.”
“Well, it’s up to her. If she
doesn’t want to go, then I’m not going to force her.” I paced, my mind spinning out of control.
Brick got up and stood in front of me. “You don’t think she should go?”
“I don’t know what to think other than I want to be the one with her, but obviously, that can’t happen.”
Carter stepped closer to us. “The bears’ anti-magic area is the best place for her. They created it for those who are in danger from those who possess deadly magic.”
I glared at him. “I’m going to talk with her and let her make the decision. Does anyone else have anything to add before I present her with all the facts?”
Everyone shook their heads. I stormed up the stairs, taking deep breaths, trying to calm myself. She was already upset and on the verge of shifting for the second time that evening. I couldn’t allow myself to be what sent her over the edge into another shift. She needed a break.
Once upstairs, I paced in the hall for a few minutes until I’d calmed myself down enough that I was sure I wouldn’t upset her.
In her room, soft Celtic music played, and Ziamara was painting Victoria’s toes a lavender color that matched half of the things in the room. I sat on the bed next to my love and put my arm around her.
She leaned her head on my shoulder. “How did it go down there?”
I filled her in, taking all the stress out of the discussion we’d had. “So, what do you think? Do you want to risk going to the bears’ anti-magic area, knowing they hate werewolves?”
Victoria bit her lower lip, appearing deep in thought. “Carter is sure they’ll protect me?”
“He says they’re very protective of females—it doesn’t matter the species.”
She laced her fingers through mine and gazed into my eyes. “Maybe that’s what I should do. What do you think?”
My insides twisted. I didn’t want her going anywhere with Carter, but her safety was what mattered. That and the fact that I trusted her wholeheartedly. It was the jaguar I doubted. His feelings were clear every time he looked at Victoria. “I just want you safe while I remove my old pack from the earth.”
She squeezed my hand and pressed herself against me, her mouth almost touching mine.
My pulse raced. I could feel her every curve as her breath tickled my lips.
Hunted Wolf Page 2
