Immediately, a flood of people began to rush out of the arch. Pack members that already occupied the entrance were in various states of undress, in the process of pulling off clothes, or simply burst into their beast without any concern for apparel shrapnel.
“Jace,” Lucas called as he grabbed me by the arm and began dragging me to a man with reddish brown hair; he appeared to be assembling a sniper rifle. The kind civilians can’t legally obtain.
For a second, I assumed he was older then I recognized him as the young guy who distracted the U.S. Hunter in the airport.
“Take Claire,” Lucas barked. “I need you to keep her safe if shit goes sideways.”
Jace looked startled at the command. “What about West?” he asked before seeming to catch himself.
“He’s got his hands full. Keep my mate safe, Jace. I’m counting on you.”
Jace nodded gravely before saying, “With my life, Alpha.”
Lucas nodded and then turned to me, his eyes were fierce and burned amber. “I need you to do what he says.”
I just stared at him, taken aback by the whirlwind of the last two minutes. Of the chaos surrounding us as hundreds, if not a thousand, wolves poured all around us. I felt like I was in the middle of a maelstrom. Or a colony of busy ants. If ants could prepare for war, that is.
I lowered my voice, “If this is what I think it is…” If this is my fault…
“Baby, just stay with Jace. Promise me?”
I opened my mouth, trying to get my words out. I couldn’t just let the second half to my soul face this alone. I didn’t have a wolf inside me, but if I did she’d be howling. Deep down, everything inside me felt rooted to the spot.
I couldn’t leave.
I was strong now: a succubus who had come into her power and knew how to control it better. I could help.
Before I could say any of it, Lucas mashed his lips against mine. As I caught my breath, he turned me around and pushed me toward Jace. “Go!” He pivoted and assigned two ferals to gather up all the children and keep them safe in the Den.
Jace grabbed my hand and began leading me toward the arch.
I struggled and yelled, “Lucas!”
But Jace, like any feral, was strong and a part of me didn’t want to add to the confusion by putting up a real fight, not if I needed to conserve my energy for the real showdown. He pulled me through the arch and I experienced unpleasant resistance, like pushing through a thin wall of cotton.
He rushed forward and I almost stumbled over my feet because I was too busy memorizing our path. A good thing, considering this cave was designed like an ant hill with lots of intersecting tunnels. Thankfully, the cave was well-lit with evenly spaced torches.
“Speed it up,” Jace barked at me.
I glared at the back of his head and dragged my feet.
“Get your hands off me,” I spat, trying to wrench my forearm free.
Jace whirled on me. “Look princess, I’d much rather be out there protecting my pack, not babysitting.” He roughly adjusted the strap of the rifle slung across his back. “But my job is to protect you, so my hand is staying right where it is until I can assure that you’re safe and sound for my Alpha. You got that?”
Judging by the stern tone, this guy meant business. His grip never tightened beyond the loose ring of his fingers, but they might as well be shackles.
Maybe I was going about this the wrong way? He obviously didn’t respect me, but he sure as hell respected Lucas.
“I don’t think my mate would appreciate you manhandling me like this.”
Jace’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think my Alpha would appreciate his mate getting killed either.” Suddenly Jace jerked me toward him and hauled me over his shoulder.
“Hey!” I yelled. “He’s going to make you pay for this!”
“I’ve never been punished for following orders before. I think I’ll take my chances,” Jace replied as he started jogging along the intersecting, beehive of a tunnel system.
“Fucking asshole,” I muttered under my breath.
“I’ve been called worse.”
Before I could come up with more creative insults, he froze and yelled, “Lily!”
I twisted around to see a pale blonde woman freeze and look over at us. She almost looked ghostly in her white dress, but the effect was ruined by a samurai sword sticking up past her shoulder.
What she expected to do with that against a helicopter, I had no idea.
Clearly, Jace was just as confused, “What the hell, Lily? Get over here.”
“It’s my pack, too. I’m going to defend it.”
“The hell you are, Lils,” Jace snarled. He set me down with a warning glare before turning back to Lily. “You’re staying with me. Where you’ll be safe.”
His tone brooked no argument, nor did the growl that trickled out of his throat.
The albino girl immediately dropped her eyes to the ground, but the stubborn jut of her chin told another story.
I tuned them out and focused on my surroundings, half tempted to make a run for it — unfortunately, I needed a distraction first. I faced a massive cavern. Two gigantic doors were left ajar to highlight a great throne in the distance.
I shivered.
It was the same sinister throne made of bone and fur. The one where the purple-eyed woman cut off Lucas’ hand. The same chair from the dream. Then I noticed all the children huddling in the corner. A few adults seemed to be keeping them calm. One of them came up to the doors and closed them. Probably so the children wouldn’t get upset since Lily and Jace seemed to be quarreling louder.
“Stop protecting me all the time…I’m not as weak as you think I am!”
I tuned them out again. I needed to know what was happening outside. I sent ardor to my ears. It took a bit to breach through all the rock, but eventually I zeroed in on the chopper.
Not five seconds passed before I heard the confirmation of what I’ve been dreading.
“Bring Claire Sommers forward,” a familiar voice drawled over a speaker. “Or Imma start blowing shit up.”
***
U.S. Hunter Carson Vicks was here.
He seriously found me already.
Fuck.
From the looks on the two ferals’ faces, I could tell they were thinking the same expletive.
“You two are a couple, right?” I asked, pretending that my enhanced ears hadn’t picked up what they no doubt heard, too.
My life for theirs and probably everyone they loved. That was the offer on the table.
Jace looked at me like I was crazy to be asking about relationship statuses in a moment like this. Lily simply nodded.
“Good,” I said, lifting my hand toward them. “Now I don’t have to feel guilty about this.”
A blast of blue electricity shot out of my fingertips. The current of ardor forked midair and connected with both of them. Unfortunately, my aim was crap and it barely grazed Jace. Lily took the brunt of the lightning directly to her chest. She flew back into the wall and cracked her head before crumpling to the ground.
Oh, shit…
“Lily!” Jace shouted, racing to her side. She remained unresponsive to his attempts to stir her. He rounded on me, “What the fuck did you do to my mate!?”
I stared horrified at her still form. That was a lot more extreme than I’d imagined. I had no idea projecting my ardor could produce a violent reaction like that — I wasn’t even sure it was possible until I did it. Yes, it was a form of energy, but it wasn’t supposed to turn into a kinetic blast! I needed to talk to Gabe about this.
Shit, I needed to fix this. I really hoped I didn’t just kill the girl.
“She’ll be fine,” I said, trying to convince myself more than anything. What the hell had I done? Moreover, how was I going to keep Vicks from starting a bloodbath? I had a sinking feeling my attempt to distract was about to cost more time.
Time none of us had to spare with Vicks’ threat hanging in the air. At this point, I knew
him well enough to know it wasn’t a bluff. He’d do it. Probably relish in it too.
Jace started to shake with rage as he glared at me, the hints of blue from my ardor faded to give way to the venomous glare of his beast — a luminescent, traffic-hazard orange. Although I knew feral eyes came in variety of colors, suddenly bright orange seemed the most sinister of all.
He ripped the gun over his head and threw it at me. I clumsily caught it. What the hell, why was he giving me his gun when it looked like he wanted to use it on me?
“I vowed to protect you with my life,” he growled with his fists clenched. Then his fingers stretched out menacingly — vicious looking talons shot out from the tips. “That was before you attacked my mate.”
The cords of his neck thickened and bulked out with the rest of his muscles. His clothes began to tighten and rip at the seams. I’d seen this before…
Oh God, Jace was hulking out, transforming into his half-man mode.
I clutched the rifle and fumbled with the safety.
“I suggest you aim for the head because when I get my hands on you, I’ll rip your fucking throat out,” he screamed at me.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
OK, think Claire. I had to come up with a solution fast. A fight/chase took too long and I sure as hell wasn’t going to use his gun against him unless I absolutely had to. Especially since he handed me the gun in one final bid to obey his Alpha. I was the dumbass who violated the biggest rule in feral culture.
Never harm their mate. Especially not in front of them.
How did things go so terribly awry? They were just supposed to start making out with each other while I snuck out. Now this?
My mind frantically skipped around, trying to calculate my options, scrambling for any last ditch effort to mend things.
I looked over at Lily’s unconscious form. That seemed to incense Jace even further, judging by the deafening roar in my face. My grip on the rifle tightened.
Maybe there was someone who could help, who could get us out of this mess.
I closed my eyes and let my inner succubus take over. The prowling thing inside me that never seemed to sleep anymore rushed to the surface. I gasped as she took control.
Wake, she said. Her voice was like mine, but it sounded more sultry and echoed.
Neon blue eyes snapped open.
Holy shit! It worked!
Jace hadn’t noticed yet. Instead he raised a clawed hand, preparing to slash it down on me. He seemed to be warring with himself and his duty. His Alpha or his mate. I stepped back and lifted the rifle, aiming the barrel in the spot between his eyes. At this range, it would be impossible to miss.
Distract him. That sultry voice whispered in my head.
Suddenly, Lily sprang toward Jace and latched onto his back. Fast as lightning, she sank her teeth into the side of his neck.
Jace dropped to his knees and his eyes just about rolled back in his head. In pleasure or pain, I couldn’t tell. That is, until he moaned in pure ecstasy.
That was my cue.
I turned around and sprinted toward the arch. Just as I turned the corner, I glanced back at the couple.
It was strange to see a thin girl like Lily dominating a big guy like Jace — though I had my suspicions that he was allowing it. Even so, it was absolutely bizarre to see the fragile girl towering over the kneeling man. She had one hand down his pants and the other wrenching his head to the side by his hair.
If I didn’t know any better, it looked like she was marking his neck like Lucas had marked mine. Claiming him.
“Goddammit,” I cursed as I forced more blue energy into my pumping legs. I sprinted faster than ever before. It was more like flinging myself forward; I barely touched the ground.
“Fuck!” I yelled, cause ‘goddammit’ didn’t cover it. I really was poison, ruining lives wherever I went. Who knew what can of worms I just opened with that stunt. I’m pretty sure I just messed up pack dynamics by getting a submissive wolf to mark a dominant one.
But I couldn’t focus on that. Not with Vicks threatening the life of my mate and all of his people.
It was up to me to stop a war from breaking out.
Double fuck.
I gave into my mindless run, frightened that I’d be too late. I could feel the edges of a panic attack come on, but I shoved it back down my throat and focused on breathing.
Lucas! I screamed in my head.
Vicks was a scary fucker. But so was my guy. They’d kill each other if I wasn’t there to play mediator. I was sure of it.
I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and tore out of the arch like a bat out of hell. I skidded to a stop as soon as I became blinded by the sunlight. As my eyesight adjusted, I expected to see a crowd of ferals and an invading army. But it was empty.
I looked around, confused. Less than three minutes ago, it had been bustling with activity. And now, nothing. I slowed my breathing and closed my eyes — wishing I had five minutes to freak the fuck out and center myself. But I didn’t have five minutes, Lucas needed me now.
I tried to concentrate on my hearing, attempting to locate the sound of the helicopter rotor, but I was too stressed to focus on extending my hearing.
A frustrated little scream escaped me. I roughly scrubbed my face and closed my eyes again. Come on, Claire! You can fucking do this. For Lucas.
I took a deep breath again and slowed my heartbeats. But instead of blowing energy, I realized there was something else I could use to locate Lucas.
Our bond.
Just like that, I tasted my mate’s rage on my tongue, and caught up on what’s been happening on his end.
Vicks harnessed, suspended midair with a big gun in his hands. The helicopter overhead, keeping Vicks hovering hundreds of feet over a ruined arena, but level with Lucas who stood on top of a giant wolf statue.
Talks of napalm and drones capable of air strikes.
If Vicks really had all that at his disposal… Oh God.
My legs burned with exertion. I hadn’t even realized I was running toward the place called The Pit.
What are you doing? My mate’s voice growled at me from the bond. In my mind’s eye, his furious gaze snapped in my direction. I saw a small figure burst out of the woods. It took a second to realize it was me from his point of view.
Lucas quickly drew his attention back to the U.S. Hunter.
Get back behind the tree line! His voice was frantic in my head. I did as he begged, but I also aimed Jace’s rifle at Vicks’ suspended form.
I briefly considered whistling to get his attention, but there’s no way he’d hear me over the chopper.
Instead, I started side-stepping around the arena, never dipping the barrel of the gun. A perfect calm washed over me. I’d be having an asthma attack if I had to fight for myself. But this wasn’t for me. Lucas was on the line, and that’s all I needed to know to go into predator mode.
It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Cold. Hard. Lethal.
The focus was unreal.
I felt no fear, just a serene knowledge that if Vicks hurt my mate, I’d make him pay in blood.
A small frown marred my brow. These weren’t my thoughts. This wasn’t my personality. Compared to my usual soft as butter self, I felt like the sharp end of a honed blade.
Could I be adopting part of Lucas’ personality?
I glanced over at my guy and tuned into his emotions. His stomach was roiling in fear. I heard him chanting inside his mind. Don’t look at our mate. Don’t draw his attention to her.
It reminded me of a glimpse inside my head when I was in full panic mode but trying to keep a cool exterior. My God, we really were channeling each other. Except Lucas got screwed over with my flighty panic, despite his intimidating bravado. The way he stood strong and alone, facing down Vicks could have been an inspiring and iconic war photo.
All eight feet of his half-man form looked poised and ready to strike, under the guise of negotiation.
I turned my
attention back to the suspended Hunter. I understood why he wouldn’t want to be on the ground with a bunch of ferals, but why the hell hadn’t he stayed in the chopper? Apparently, Vicks wanted to chat — well taunt — my mate.
What a psycho.
I slowly continued making my way around the perimeter, never taking my scope off Vicks.
What the hell are you doing, Claire? Get back to the Den!
I ignored the angry voice in my head and continued making my way toward the wolf statue. I was so focused, I barely noticed massive ferals in their beast form were hiding in the trees with me. One growled at me when I got close, but I harshly shushed him.
Oddly, it worked. I guess they smelled Lucas on me and knew who I was. Thankfully, Lucas was too paranoid about attracting attention toward me, he couldn’t raise the alarm for his wolves to stop me.
As far as they knew, I was acting on his orders.
Though I will admit, seeing a sea of glowing eyes in my periphery would normally send me into a blind panic. But not today. I had something far more important to focus on.
Finally in position, right behind the statue and out of view, except for maybe the helicopter pilot if he bothered to look. I steadily climbed up the statue and joined Lucas at the tip of the wolf’s nose.
Lucas tensed and all of his muscles bulged. He wasn’t happy I was here. Not one bit.
In fact, he refused to acknowledge me beyond a low growl.
I ignored him and focused on Vicks.
“Well, look-ee here. Claire-Bear has decided to join the party,” his voice rang out over some speakers coming from the helicopter.
“I should have killed you instead of leaving your ass to rot in a cage,” I yelled over the wind.
Lucas’ head snapped toward me, eyebrows lifted in surprise.
I almost rolled my eyes at him. How else did he expect me to escape? Granted, Lucas was under the impression that I’d abandoned him willingly, so it probably hadn’t crossed his mind.
“Now Claire-Bear, that would stir up some good ol’ fashion retribution. You sure you wanna be responsible for the deaths of all yer furry friends down there?”
The Hunter: A Sinful Supes Novel (Red Crescent Book 3) Page 14
