Hunted Wolf

by Stacy Claflin

  Something inside urged me to keep trying. I paced the length of the cage several times before giving up. Who was I kidding? James hadn’t left anything to chance. He’d given me a cage no werewolf could escape.

  I leaned against a couple bars and slid down to sitting. Across the cage, Charles whined again.

  “What am I supposed to do?” I asked. “I can’t get out of here.”

  A breeze blew by, giving me the chills. I pulled my knees up and wrapped my arms around them as best I could.

  Instinctively, I reached for the engagement ring, but I’d removed it before leaving for the werebears.

  Sighing, I leaned against my knees, ignoring the protests of my neck. I had two choices—figure out a way out or give up.

  But how? What could I do? I was caged like a dog—collar and leash included. The only thing they hadn’t given me was a water bowl. With as parched as I was, I’d have used it. If Benjamin guarded my cage, I would ask him again. My mouth was so dry.

  Tears threatened, but I was too tired to give in. Too exhausted to cry. I was pitiful.

  “I love you, Toby,” I whispered and then gave into sleep.

  When I woke, more of my pains had healed, though I had a new crick in my neck. I sat back and rubbed it as best I could around the spiked collar. Charles lay close to my cage, curled into a ball and sleeping. Wilson still stood over by the trees. No, wait. That was Benjamin. I rubbed my eyes. Definitely Benjamin. He was bigger and didn’t carry a domineering posture.

  I rose, dropping the chain leash on the cement. Charles jumped to his paws and Benjamin turned my way. He walked over toward the cage. I held my breath. Hopefully, they hadn’t convinced him to be cruel to me, too.

  He dug into his inside coat pocket and pulled out a water bottle. “I thought you could use this.”

  I nodded vigorously. “Please.”

  Benjamin loosened the cap and handed it to me through the bars. I grabbed it and gulped down the warm liquid as fast as possible without choking on it.

  He took the bottle and placed it back in his jacket. “Anything else?”

  I glanced around. “Pen and paper.”

  “For what?”

  A lump formed in my throat. “I need to write a note to Toby.” My voice cracked. “Will you make sure he gets it if I’m not able? Mail it to Moonhaven or something.”

  “A goodbye letter?” he asked.

  I looked away and nodded. That was exactly it.

  “Yeah, I’ll make sure he gets it.” He glanced around. “I’ll have to leave and come back.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I know. I just don’t want to get caught.”

  “Don’t worry about the paper. You’ve already done more than enough for me.”

  Benjamin shook his head. “It’s not a big deal. I’ve already decided I’m going to abandon the pack.”

  My eyes widened. “You are?”

  He nodded.

  “Why stay and help me, then?”

  “You need someone on your side.”

  “I’ll write in my note that you’ve been helping me. You can join our pack. I think you’ll fit in.”

  “You’re about to go through the—I mean, you’re in a cage, beaten, and you’re worried about me?”

  “You’ll need somewhere to go, and we have a pack full of ‘abandoners.’ Like I said, you’ll be right at home.”

  Benjamin looked around again. “I’ll be right back. Think about what you’re going to write, because I doubt you’ll have a lot of time.” He jogged away, continuing to look back and forth as he went.

  I leaned my head against a bar and closed my eyes, considering how to say goodbye to the love of my life through a note. Tears stung my eyes and the lump in my throat grew larger. Even with this amount of pain, my wolf didn’t even try to escape. I allowed the tears to flow freely until Benjamin came back into sight.

  He handed me a small pad of paper and a silver pen. “James and Wilson are busy with something, so you have a little time—but not a whole lot. They’re eager to get back to you.” Benjamin frowned.

  I wiped my eyes and sniffled. “It’s okay. I know what I’m going to say.” I looked into his eyes. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  “I wish I could do more.”

  “As long as you get this to Toby, you’ve done all I could ask.” I pressed my back against the bars and stared at the blank paper. The lump in my throat grew larger and my vision grew blurry again.

  Where would I start? We’d been through so much together, but had so much more taken from us. Should I focus on what we’d had or what we never would?

  “You might want to get started,” Benjamin whispered.

  I cleared my throat and blinked my tears away.

  Dearest Toby,

  Out of everything I’ve ever been through, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I’d die for you a thousand times, but saying goodbye… It’s infinitely worse.

  I’ll never forget the first time I laid eyes on you. I don’t know if you remember that day, but I can’t forget. We were young, and our fathers were arguing about some boundary line or something. Then you stepped out from behind your father. At first, I thought an angel had dropped down from Heaven—don’t laugh. It sounds so corny, but that was the first thought in my young mind.

  You were gorgeous, and when our eyes met, I thought my heart would give out. Then you smiled at me, and I felt like the most important person in the world. I’d expected an angry glare, but you only showed kindness despite our packs’ rivalries. Then later, you came over and told me how beautiful I was. Never before that day had a male werewolf made me feel worthy.

  In just a single moment, you swept me off my feet and stole my heart. There was no going back from the handsome Tobias Foley after that. Now, all these years later, I only love you more.

  My only regrets are the could-have-beens. I’m sorry I didn’t stay with the werebears. Now I’ll never see you again. Never hold you in my arms and stare into your loving eyes. That’s my biggest regret.

  Please don’t waste any time mourning over me. The pack needs you now more than ever. Also, Benjamin from your father’s pack would make a fine addition to ours. He’s risked his own back to help me.

  Stay strong for our family and always remember that I’ve never loved anyone more than I love you.

  I’ll see you on the other side (in a really long time).

  All my love,

  Victoria

  I folded up the paper and handed it to Benjamin through the bars along with the pad and pen.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  He nodded and slid it into a pocket. “I’ll make sure he gets it.”

  James and Wilson appeared out from the woods.

  Chapter 23

  Toby

  My friends and I all sat back to back in a circle. Several of my father’s men walked around us, carrying their weapons in position to shoot at a moment’s notice.

  I wanted to kick myself for not figuring out that we’d been going in the wrong direction. The fact that Frida’d had such a hard time with the spell should’ve been my first clue that another spell was fighting to prevent her from finding the location. When before had a witch conducting a locator spell suffered a nose bleed or fought against a darkness?

  Now, if Norman was telling the truth—and I had little reason to doubt him—Victoria was alone and beaten somewhere. Probably being taunted by my father. How he loved to let his mouth run, and a captive audience made him even more giddy. Though, giddy for him usually meant welts, open wounds, and concussions.

  My father’s cronies continued marching around us. I had to find a way to escape. Victoria needed me, and I needed to kill my father again.

  As though reading my mind, Brick, who sat on my right, glanced over at me and nodded toward the door. I arched a brow. He nodded again, and intensified his expression. I gave a quick nod in return, not sure what I was agreeing to.

  Brick held my
gaze a moment longer. He was trying to tell me something, but I had no idea what. I had a feeling I’d soon find out. He turned and shared a look with Soleil. Then he jumped up and ran between two of Father’s men, shoving them to the side.

  Soleil cried out.

  Brick turned around and stared at me. “Go!”

  The barn rang out with chaos and confusion. I scrambled to my feet as guns blared. Red splattered from Brick’s chest as bullet after bullet hit him. He looked at me one last time and pointed to the door before falling to his knees, then to his face.

  My heart broke as I ran for the door.

  Soleil told the rest of us to get out. She rose and opened her mouth. She was going to take the essence from everyone in the room.

  “Come on!” I cried.

  A sharp pain tore through my middle. I looked down to see red covering my shirt from the small hole in the fabric. It was only one bullet. I could make it—I had to. Victoria needed me, and now that Brick had given his life, I owed it to him to take down my father.

  No pain came from my wound. My body was in shock. I took advantage of that and ran before the pain registered. My essence tugged backward as I ran, but snapped back as I broke free of the old building.

  The others called out as they exited the barn. I had no time to turn around. I could only hope they would follow me. The gunfire stopped. That had to mean our captors were all dead.

  I ran toward the Hummer, slowing with each step. The pain of the wound broke through my shock. I gasped and pressed my hand against it. Moisture covered my palm. I fell against a tree trunk, fighting the pain. It shot out in every direction from the bullet hole.

  “Toby!”

  I pushed myself up.

  Tap ran over. “What happened? We heard the shots and screaming.”

  I grunted, pushing myself up more. “It was a trap. We need to get to Victoria. Did the others arrive?”

  “Everyone ran toward the sounds of the gunfire.” He pushed my arm away from my stomach. “We have to dig that bullet out.”

  “I hope by ‘we,’ you mean you.”

  “Yeah. Lay down.”

  Stars danced in front of me. “Hurry.” I lowered myself.

  He stuffed something cotton into my mouth. “Bite on this. You’ll need it.”

  Beads of sweat broke out around my forehead. I took a deep breath.

  Horrible, mind-melting pain exploded in my stomach as Tap dug into my wound for the bullet. I screamed, unable to control myself. The cotton muffled some of the sound. Sweat drenched my hair and dripped into my ears. The pain intensified as my friend dug around some more.

  “Almost got it.”

  I screamed again, unable to take the torture. Where was Ziamara’s healing blood or Frida’s magic when I really needed it?

  “Just about… There!” Tap pulled his fat little fingers and the bullet from my stomach.

  Stomach heaving, I gasped for air. My vision blurred. I couldn’t give in. I wouldn’t. Victoria needed me.

  “I’m going to have to sew that up, my friend. It’s not going to feel good.”

  “You don’t say.” I closed my eyes.

  “First, some antiseptic ointment.”

  Warm liquid splashed onto my stomach and drained down inside my wound. It stung with an intensity I’d only ever felt a few times—all in horrific battles. I bolted upright, screaming again through the cotton.

  “Down!” Tap pulled string through a needle.

  My eyes rolled back and everything turned black.

  When I regained consciousness, I was reclined in a middle row seat in the Hummer. Clouds rolled by quickly out the window. I moaned and raised the seat. Frida drove, Soleil slept in the passenger seat, and Tap stared out the window next to me, appearing deep in thought.

  “What’s going on?” My tone was harsher than I’d intended. I cleared my throat and looked in the back seat. No Jet or Ziamara. “Where are we going?”

  Tap glanced over at me. “Frida tapped into Soleil’s strength and ran another locator spell. We’re on our way to what we think is the real location.”

  Soleil sniffled. “The only strength I have is from drinking all that essence.”

  The memory of Brick sacrificing himself hit me like a truck. “I’m so sorry, Soleil.” My voice cracked. “I didn’t expect him to do that.”

  “Me, neither.” She wiped her eyes.

  I leaned my head back and took a deep breath. “I don’t know how I’m going make it through this without my best friend. He’s been with me for so long…”

  “We’re here,” Tap said. “I’ll make sure his sacrifice was worth it. I’ve called others to let them know where we’re going. We’ve got this.”

  It felt like I was going to choke. “Thanks.”

  We rode in silence for a long time. My mind flooded with memories of Brick, who had been at my side for centuries. As one of my guards, he’d always claimed it would’ve been his highest honor to die for me, but somehow I never thought that would actually happen. And now with the other side permanently closed, I would never see him again in this life.

  I put my face into my palms and allowed myself time to grieve. Tap put a hand on my arm.

  Finally, I sat up and wiped my eyes. “How close are we to Victoria?”

  “Almost there,” Frida said. “You were out a while.”

  “Did you see any visions about what we’ll be up against?”

  “No. My powers are weak, and even with tapping into Soleil’s strength—”

  “Which is at an all-time low right now.” Soleil blew her nose.

  “I barely had enough to see where Victoria’s being held,” Frida finished. “At least whatever spell had been blocking her has lifted.”

  “Did you see her? Is she okay?”

  “She’s locked up. That’s all I know.”

  “Okay. But she’s alive?”

  “Yes.”

  I sighed in relief and reach over to squeeze Soleil’s arm. “We’ll have a huge memorial for him.”

  She nodded, but didn’t say anything.

  “Do you want me to drive, Frida?” I asked.

  “We’re almost there.”

  “Just let me know.” I lifted the hem of my bloody shirt and looked at my stomach. The wound had completely healed and it didn’t hurt to the touch. I took a deep breath. Everything felt back to normal inside, too. At least I had that going for me. Now all I needed to do was to tap into my anger, and I’d be ready to face my father and his pack. He’d already done so much, and now my emotions were as raw as the day I’d lost Victoria.

  “We’re here,” Frida said. The Hummer slowed and we pulled onto a dirt road in a forest.

  My breath hitched at the thought of finally being near Victoria—hopefully for real this time. If this was another diversion, I would likely lose it.

  “Does this look familiar?” Tap asked me.

  “Why would it?”

  “I thought maybe this was where the pack originated. Perhaps where you grew up.”

  I shook my head. “That was far from here.”

  The car stopped. The road had ended and nearly two dozen other vehicles were parked along the trees.

  “This looks like the end of the line,” Frida said. “Do we march in, or wait for the others?”

  I clenched my fists. “We go. This isn’t just for Victoria. It’s for Brick, too.”

  “Just the four of us?” Soleil asked. “I’m already feeling sick from drinking all the essence back there. Actually, you know what would help—in more ways than one?”

  “What?” I asked.

  “If I teleport out of here. I’ll use up a lot of the essence that’s making me sick. I’ll round up some of the toughest supernaturals I know in the area, then I’ll teleport back here ahead of them. Then we’ll have more on our side and I won’t feel like garbage.”

  I nodded. “Go.”

  She ran off to teleport in silence.

  “Then maybe we should wait,” Tap said.r />
  Images of Brick taking the bullets filled my mind along with thoughts of Victoria being held against her will. “We make plans A, B, C, and D. Maybe all the way through Z and back through the alphabet again. Then we go in with a large number and a plan that’s sure to succeed. How far off are the others?”

  Tap checked his phone. “Jet and Ziamara are heading over with a local pack. Other supernaturals from all over are making their way here as we speak.”

  “If we wait, we stand a chance at outnumbering your father’s men. We don’t know how many others he’s recruited. We have to assume he’s recruited an army.” I looked behind the others, where I heard the low rumble of vehicles. “Sounds like a caravan is arriving now.”

  Cars of every make, model, and color rolled in and parked. People piled out. My nose tickled with all the scents—werewolf, vampire, mesmer, bear, djinn, faerie, troll, and more. From within the woods, the sounds of hooves grew louder—some were arriving on unicorns with their horns full of deadly poison.

  Tap turned to me. “Suddenly, I’m feeling a lot better about this.”

  “It still isn’t going to be easy.”

  He pulled out a sword nearly as large as him. “I don’t expect it to be, my friend.”

  The unicorns arrived, led by vampires dressed in regal battle gear. Several dismounted and stood tall, looking at me for direction.

  I opened my mouth to speak, but the noise of powerful wings flapping stopped me. Between the trees and the moon flew hoards of dragons. They slowed and landed, gracefully avoiding the branches. Some shifted into human form. Two stepped forward. One, a former dragon king, and the other his wife, a vampire-dragon hybrid—Ziamara’s half-sister and also the daughter of my dear friend Marguerite, queen of all vampires.

  Eylin wrapped her arms around me. “Mother wishes she could be here and has called for vampires worldwide to help.”

  I returned the embrace. “Thank you for coming.”

  She backed up and grinned, looking just like her mother. “Let’s kick some ancient werewolf butt.”

  “That we will.” I stepped onto a stump and held my fist high into the air.