by L. P. Dover
When we get to the car, Micah opens my door, and I hop in. “What are we going to do?”
Micah glances over his shoulder and sighs. “I’m going to call the others. If what that cocksucker says is true, we’re in some serious trouble.”
He shuts the door and hurries around to his side to get in. The engine roars to life, and he steps on the gas. As I look in the side-view mirror, I see him … the unknown wolf from yesterday, standing close to where we were parked. Quickly, I turn my head to see out the back window, but he’s gone.
“What did you see?” Micah asks, pressing harder on the gas.
Dread settles into the pit of my stomach. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, but it doesn’t help. “Orin’s speaking the truth,” I say, meeting his gaze. “I think the one we really should be worried about is already here.”
Chapter 4
Faith
“I can’t believe that happened today.” With her arms crossed over her chest, Amelie stares out the living room window at Micah. He’s been on the phone for the past two hours, pacing the yard.
I grab a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and join her. It’s late, which means it’s dark outside, and anyone could be around. I scan the woods, wondering if I’ll see glowing eyes staring back at me. With these wolves being able to conceal their presence, there’s no telling where they are. Now I know how ordinary wolves feel about royals. I didn’t realize how intimidating it feels to know someone could sneak up on you. “Tell me about it. I thought I was getting close to freedom, but I couldn’t be further from it now.” I open my bottle and take a sip. The whole cabin smells like the chicken and pasta Amelie and I cooked tonight, but my stomach’s been too unsettled to eat.
Amelie snorts. “You got that right. You’re going to have the whole pack watching after you now.”
Groaning, I turn away from the window and sit on the couch. “Great. Just what I need.”
Micah’s footsteps pound up the front porch steps, and he comes through the door. Amelie joins me on the couch as we wait for the verdict. Micah looks at us both and sighs. “A meeting has been called with the surrounding pack alphas. They’re all going to be here in two days. If these bastards want to start a war, then so be it. They’ll lose.”
I lean my head against the couch, turning my focus to the wood beam ceiling. “So, what happens now? Am I on house arrest?”
The room falls silent, and I have my answer. There’s no sense in arguing because it’s not going to get me anywhere. When I drop my head to look at Micah, I can see the turmoil on his face. “I’m sorry, Faith. With these wolves being able to conceal themselves, it puts them at an advantage. I don’t want anything happening to you.”
I nod in understanding. “What are we going to do?”
He glances over at Amelie and then back to me. “I think it’s wise I stay here for a while. I know you don’t want me up your ass, but …”
I hold up a hand to cut him off. “Micah, it’s fine. You can stay here. We’ve lived together pretty much my whole life.” When we moved to Wyoming to join the Teton pack, he had a small cabin built close to mine. That way, I could have my own space, and he’d still be nearby.
Micah lifts his brows at Amelie. “Are you okay with me staying here?”
Amelie snorts. “I’m fine with it. I like having you around, especially when I win all your money at poker.”
I snicker and the mood in the room lifts. Micah chuckles and raises his arms in the air. “What can I say? I suck at it.”
“Speaking of cards,” I say, getting to my feet. “I think it’s time we break them out. I need something to get my mind off the shit going on in my life.”
Amelie stands and heads to the kitchen. “Sounds good. I’ll grab the kettle corn.”
Micah comes over to me, his blue gaze full of concern. “It won’t be like this forever, Faith. I promise. Just hang in there for a little while longer.”
“I could say the same to you. One day, I’ll be able to set you free.”
He nods. “Yeah, when you find a mate. I just pray to the goddess of the moon it’s not with one of the fucktards stalking you.”
A chill runs down my spine. “Let’s hope not.”
We spent a couple of hours playing card games, and Amelie beat Micah and me both every time. She doesn’t even need a job with all the money she wins from us. It’s now half past midnight, and I can barely keep my eyes open. Micah stayed downstairs for a while, most likely staring out the windows. He’s now in the guest bedroom, but I doubt he’ll get any sleep, just like I know I won’t.
I change out of my clothes into a pair of pajama shorts and a T-shirt. Watching TV isn’t going to help, so I lay on the bed and close my eyes. Being a wolf comes with many advantages, but those perks can also be nuisances. Take, for instance, hearing. I can listen to squirrels scurrying through the woods, the crickets chirping, and both Micah and Amelie’s heartbeats. It’s easy to shut off, but I’m on high alert.
When it’s apparent sleep isn’t going to come, I get up and pace the floor. Time seems to tick by slowly, but an hour has passed when I look at the clock. Sitting back down on the bed, I hang my head. I want to knock on Amelie’s door, but I can tell she’s asleep by the sound of her breathing. The same goes for Micah, which shocks me.
Lifting my head, I roll my neck and stretch out my arms. I have no choice but to try and sleep. Tossing the covers back, I slide into bed and bring the blankets over me. I close my eyes and block out the sounds all around me. It’s not long before sleep closes in on me when a noise startles me awake. I hold my breath and listen.
Footsteps. That’s all it is at first, but then their presence hits me like a ton of bricks to the chest. They want me to know how strong they are.
I suspect three alphas, one of whose scent I recognize from earlier. Orin. Only he’s not the strongest of the three. Heart racing, I jump out of bed as quietly as I can. I expect Micah to charge out of the bedroom, but there’s no movement coming from his room. His breaths are slow, just like his heartbeat. It’s not the sound of a wolf on alert. The same goes for Amelie. I tiptoe out of my room to hers and open her door. She’s passed out on the bed, and I rush over to her.
Grabbing her shoulders, I shake her and keep my voice low. “Amelie, wake up.” She doesn’t budge, and I know why. The second I touched her, I could feel the coldness all around her like she’s cloaked in it. Magic. “You have got to be kidding me.”
What terrifies me is Micah. I don’t like the thought of any kind of magic being able to take down a royal arctic. My pulse pounds even harder now as the footsteps edge closer. I hurry over to Micah and open the guest bedroom door. He’s on the floor with the sheets torn off the bed as if he grabbed them right before the magic took over. I slide across the floor and take his head in my hands.
“Micah, please, wake up. You can fight this. You’re one of the strongest wolves I know.” He doesn’t respond, which terrifies the hell out of me. The door to the cabin opens, and I can hear three men enter. I’m not afraid to fight them, but I worry about what will happen to Micah and Amelie. I refuse to leave them defenseless.
Slowly, I set Micah’s head down and get to my feet. The three men are still downstairs, casually walking around as if they own the place. None of them have tried to get me, which is odd because I’m positive they know I’m here. Before I can get to the door and step out, that’s when one of them calls out to me.
“We know you’re here, Faith. Might as well come down.” His voice is strong, dominant. But yet, he says my name with affection just like a lover would.
Clenching my fists, I take a deep breath. I’m not going down without a fight. With my head held high, I walk out of the bedroom to the stairs. All three of the men look up at me. Orin stands off to the left of the living room while another shifter stands off to the right, his power not as strong as Orin’s. They aren’t the ones who concern me; the guy in the middle does. He’s the one I saw in town first when I was
with Amelie. Out of all three men, he’s by far the most powerful. His emerald green eyes bore into mine and he smiles.
“I’m happy to finally meet you, Faith. My name’s Killian.”
I stalk down the stairs, one at a time. “Whoever you are, you can cut the crap. I know why you’re here.”
His brows lift curiously. “You do?”
I cut a glance over at Orin and then back to him. “Yeah, Oreo, over there explained it all.”
The shifter to the right tries to hide his smile and fails while Orin’s jaw clenches. Killian smirks and shakes his head. “I’m sure you have a million questions. If you come with us, I’ll explain everything.”
A growl escapes my lips, and I can feel my fangs and claws start to lengthen. I’ve never killed another wolf before, but I’ll do it in a heartbeat. Killian notices the change and his grin widens. “We don’t want to hurt you, Faith.”
“You came into my home uninvited. Do you seriously expect me to believe that?”
A wolf’s howl echoes from the forest outside, and all three of them go on alert, their eyes glowing. I know that howl very well; it’s Cedric. Killian growls at Orin and the other guy and jerks his head toward the door. “They know we’re here. Go!”
Orin runs out and the other guy follows, both shifting into their wolves as they take off into the woods. While Killian’s distracted, I lunge for him, hoping to detain him long enough for my pack to arrive. He grabs me around the waist, and we tumble across the floor with him ending up above me, his body pressed into mine. Everything happened so fast it knocked the breath out of me.
Killian’s gaze locks on my lips, and I’m almost sure he’s going to kiss me, but he doesn’t. It’s a good thing because I’m prepared to rip off his lips with my teeth. I try to get out of his hold, but he’s too strong. “Do you know how many men want you?”
I narrow my eyes. “I don’t care who wants me. Trying to kidnap me isn’t the way to my heart.”
He chuckles. “That’s not what I’m doing here, Faith. I was hoping you would agree to come with me. Don’t you want to find your mate? It has to be hard with a protector following you around twenty-four-seven.”
“What I want is none of your business.”
“Oh, I think it is,” he says, breathing me in. “I can smell your desire to be free. I can give you your freedom.”
It’s as if he can see into my soul. There is a desire inside of me to be free. “What’s in it for you?” I ask.
He slowly slides off of me and takes my hand, helping me up. “I was hoping you could help me with that. No one is going to harm you if you come with me. On the contrary, you’ll be treated just as you are … a royal. Something to be cherished.”
Another howl sounds through the night, much closer than before. Killian starts for the door and stops, his glowing green gaze on mine. “You could have everything if you come with me. Think about it. I’ll be back for you.”
He takes off in a blur, and I suck in a breath. In the room above me, I can hear Micah’s heartbeat kick into overdrive. His steps race across the floor, and he’s downstairs in a flash along with Amelie. He helps me up, and I can see the desperation in his eyes.
“Are you okay? What happened?”
With Killian being able to put a wolf down with whatever magic he has protecting him, nothing can stop him from getting what he wants. I honestly don’t think I stand a chance against him.
“We need to come up with a game plan and fast.”
Chapter 5
Faith
It’s not long before wolves surround the cabin from our pack, including my brother and sister. The second Bailey sees me, she rushes over and pulls me into her arms. She’s a little older than me, but we look exactly alike with our whitish-blonde hair and blue eyes. Most arctic wolves have the same traits, just like gray wolves and reds. The reds are easy to pick out because their hair usually ranges from deep auburn to strawberry blonde.
Bailey holds me tight. “I can’t believe this is happening to you.”
“You went through something similar.” And she did, only it was her mate’s brother who tried to steal her away. Killian didn’t use force or hurt me to make me go with him.
Bailey lets me go and cups my cheeks. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Who’s watching over my nephew right now?”
She smiles. “Asher’s with Tyla, Sebastian, and little Brooke.”
Ryker finishes talking to Micah, and they head straight over to us. He stands protectively next to Bailey, just like a mate would. “Tell us everything.”
“I will, but how did you know something was wrong?”
A car pulls down the driveway, and it’s Cedric and Laila. Ryker nods at them and sighs. “Laila’s the one who felt the magic and said it wasn’t good. Cedric called, and we got everyone together.”
With a hand protectively over her baby bump, Laila hurries over to us. “I thought the worst when I felt the magic,” she sobs, flinging her arms around my neck.
“I’m okay,” I assure her. “You don’t need to cry.”
“It’s the hormones,” Cedric adds. “She cries over stupid ass commercials too.”
Laila lets me go and glares at him. “That’s not the reason why I’m upset. I know the kind of wolves who were here. I’m surprised things didn’t go worse than what they did.”
Eyes wide, I stare at her. “There were three unmated alphas, but the main one was Killian. Do you know him?”
She hangs her head and sighs. “Yep.” She meets my eyes. “I recognized his witch’s essence. His name is Killian Vilkas and the witch is Tia Bishop. She comes from a long line of witches with powerful magic. I met her a few years ago when Killian brought her with him to visit us. When I felt her magic, I knew something bad was about to happen. It’s a good thing we live close by, otherwise I wouldn’t have sensed her.”
“Who is this Killian Vilkas?” Cedric asks, his voice a low growl. I’d like to know the same thing.
Everyone turns to Laila, and she looks at us all. “Killian Vilkas is the alpha of the Blue River pack on the northeastern side of Canada. He owns the town of Baker’s Ridge.” My family is from Canada, but we always stayed on the northwestern side.
My sister looks up at Ryker. “Have you heard of him?”
Ryker shakes his head. “No.”
“Which isn’t shocking,” Laila adds. “Killian liked to keep a low profile. With Tia by his side, he can do anything he wants. He’s not the in-your-face kind of guy like my brother, which I think makes him more dangerous; a silent killer.”
Colin crosses his arms over his chest. “And now he wants my sister.”
Micah scoffs. “So do a thousand others from what we heard. We’ll be overrun here if more wolves show up. It’ll be a bloody mess.”
Laila holds up a hand, her brows furrowed in concentration. “What I don’t get is why Killian had two other alphas with him, especially if they’re interested in Faith too. When he’d come around the Sierras, it was always because he needed something. The man is worth a ton of money.”
“What are you thinking?” I ask her.
She shrugs. “I don’t know. The last time he visited my old pack, a couple of our men left with him and never returned. Nothing was ever mentioned.” That’s very strange. Wolves are generally loyal to their packs.
Colin stands next to Micah. “I think we should hunt the fuckers down instead of waiting for them to come back. Laila could use her magic to help us find them.” Micah agrees with a nod.
Cedric shakes his head, but Laila grabs his arm. “I’ll do anything to keep Faith safe. For now, she has to stay with us until things get settled. We’re the only ones who can protect her. With those of us who are fully mated, our power exceeds Tia’s. She won’t be able to take us out like she did Micah and Amelie, even if Micah is a royal.”
I happen to glance over at Micah, and her words hit him hard by the despair on his face. It breaks my heart. For the first time in
his life, he can’t protect me.
“What about Amelie?” I say. “I can’t leave her alone.”
Amelie snorts behind me. “Those dumb ass wolves don’t want me, Faith. I’ll be fine by myself.”
I glare at her over my shoulder. “Either you come with me willingly, or I’ll make you.”
Amelie throws her hands up in the air. “Fine. I’ll go. I just don’t want to be a burden.”
Laila smiles sadly at her. They were good friends long before either of them knew me. “You’re never a burden, Amelie. It’ll be like old times having you both stay with me.”
Cedric comes up behind her and squeezes her shoulders. “Maybe now you can have the girls watch your Hallmark movies with you instead of torturing me with them.”
She smacks his hand. “You know you like them just as much as I do.”
They banter back and forth while Micah takes my hands. “I am so sorry, Faith. I wish you knew how much it kills me I couldn’t be there for you.”
I squeeze his hands. “It’s okay. We’re going to get this figured out. I think you would’ve been proud of me. I told them I wasn’t going down without a fight. And believe me, I was ready.”
“It shouldn’t be like that. They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
Shaking my head, I lower my voice. “That’s what’s surprised me. Killian didn’t hurt me at all, even when I attacked him. He did say he’ll be back.”
Micah’s jaw clenches. “I have no doubt. Just stay close to Laila.”
Staying close to Laila puts her and her baby in danger. There has to be another way. I need to figure it out and fast.
Chapter 6
Faith
Laila sets a steaming hot mug of coffee in front of me. “You’ve been quiet the past couple of days.”
I breathe in the smell of the coffee. “Sorry. My mind’s been all over the place.”
