by Kim Faulks
I winced from her words and swallowed the stench. Three padlocks guarded the door. “Wolf law says no humans.”
He snickered and swung his hand palm up. “If you haven’t figured it out yet wolf, we abide by our own set of rules.”
“Let her go or I’ll….” My voice faltered as he took a step inside and gripped the thick metal handle. With a growl he wrenched the massive wooden door shut. The clang of metal rollers lingered well after the thud.
“You’ll… what?”
“I’ll go to the Sheriff. The humans won’t stand for this, they’ll come after us with guns. They’ll….”
My skin crawled with the sound of his silence. I craned my head, slowing my breaths listening for a scuff of his boots, or the sound of his heart—and found, nothing.
“Who do you think gave us the green light? Who do you think lines his pockets with a share of the profits?”
His voice was at my back. I spun, lifting my hands, ready to shift.
“He’s lying. He lies, it’s what he does.” Joslyn whispered.
“Quiet!” My ears rang with the boom. “I never lied to you, Joslyn. I never….”
“You told me you loved me!”
My heart boomed. I kept my steps light and raced for the door. Please… my fingers fumbled for the handle, skirting the metal before I clenched tight.
Thunder hit the door. Vibrations shuddered the handle before something shoved me against the wood. “Where do you think you’re going? I thought we were just getting started.”
His breath scattered my hair, blowing strands into my eyes. I winced as his chin gouged my shoulder and ground against my ear. I closed my eyes and gripped the handle as his hand slapped against my breast. Calloused fingers clawed my flesh and pinched my nipple through my shirt. “They say you carry the curse of the Alpha. Is it true?”
I forced spit around the lump in my throat as I swallowed. “If you keep your filthy fucking hand on me you might just find out.”
His hand stilled for a second before plummeting south. “I always loved a good challenge.”
My teeth pinned my lip as he shoved my head against the door. My scalp stung with the burn as he fisted my hair and yanked. “Let’s see how much fire you have in you, wolf. “
The door squealed, grazing my cheek as it slid open. Sol’s blue eyes widened as he stared into my eyes, then slowly turned to the wolf at my back. “Abrial. Are you hurt?”
My thighs tightened around the wolf’s hand between my legs until I felt the crunch of bones. “No.”
“Good.” The Alpha turned his gaze to the wolf at my back. “Nicholas, don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
The wolf dropped his fist from my hair as I relaxed my thighs. My gaze bore into those blue eyes as the wolf’s hand fell free. The hiss of pain at my back was enough to tug the corners of my lips as the wolf snarled. “Yes, Sol.”
“Then, go there.”
The sadistic bastard charged my shoulder, sending me flying. I threw out my hand to stop the fall and grasped Sol’s deformed arm. The hard end of a bone slithered under the skin, spongy creases made a sound no body part should.
I snatched my hand away, fighting to keep the revulsion from my face. The Alpha never noticed. His gaze skimmed my breasts and lingered. “I think it’s best if you stay close to me. Your sister will need a hand with dinner.”
Those blue eyes met mine. “Besides, tonight we’ve something to celebrate, don’t we? And we’ve yet to discuss the sleeping arrangements.”
In the space of a heartbeat he stole my courage. Fire turned to ice, then melted to a puddle as he slid his fingers down my cheek. “Now, I would promise to be gentle. But that’s not really my nature.”
He dropped his hand, and yet his touch still lingered. That cold, dead weight wrapped its arms around me and held tight. I forced my feet to move, following his shuffled steps past the pens to the trail.
A woman broke from the middle and crawled to the edge of the pen as I passed. I held her tortured gaze, then her focus slipped from me to the warrior at my back. “Please, just a little water, that’s all we want. We’re dying here. Can you hear me? We’re dying here!”
The timber railing sang behind me. I yanked my head, catching his fist whip through the air. The crack sent the woman flying into the filth. She lay there, her body shuddering with great gulping sobs and in that moment her pain and her hopelessness became mine.
The spineless piece of shit dropped his head backwards, his sniggers gripped something deeper than my belly. I spun and covered the ground to the scattered packs around the fire and scrambled for as many water bottles I could find.
His chortle died, along with his smile as I yanked back my arm and sent the bottle through the air. The container hit the ground with a thud inches from the prisoners.
“Goddamn, bitch.”
Flesh turned to fur as the warrior lunged. His clothes fell like autumn leaves before the beast hit me head on. His paws pinned me to the ground. The heat of his breath buffeted my face.
I stared at the gaps of his canine’s as fear turned to fury. “You want to kill me? Go ahead. You’d be doing me a fucking favor.”
“Stop. I said, stop.” Sol snarled. “Harm a hair on her head and I’ll wear your pelt.”
The wolf sank back, sweeping those amber eyes from me to his Alpha. His lips slid back, covering white teeth. The beast shook his head, ears flapped, flattening his shackles as he stepped away.
The sky turned to dusk as the shadow loomed overhead. Sol’s blue eyes sparkled as he muttered. “Stay close to me now, Abrial.”
I climbed to my feet and glanced over my shoulder. I’d never seen a human treated like a wolf. They looked like us, but were not subject to our laws or our way of life. We were primitive, animals—used as fodder for their wars, but were not welcome in their towns or their cities. If the laws of wolves were changing, then who’s side would we be on?
I lengthened my side, catching up to the Alpha as the small hut came into view. She hated me. My little sister hated me. Why be silent? Why be safe? I had nothing left to be safe for. I stared a hole through the back of his head and spat. “Did you know that woman in the barn is a human?”
Silence answered me. Not good enough. “Was the wolf lying when he said the Sheriff had a hand in this?”
He never slowed. “It’s none of your business. You cook. You clean and you fuck. You’ll do what you’re told and you’ll keep your mouth shut.”
“They’ll come for her you know. This place will be crawling with humans. They’ll bring guns. They’ll bring dogs. They’ll tear this fucking place apart. You won’t have a pack left, Sol. You’ll have nothing left.”
He stopped and turned faster than I could pivot, snatching my hand and twisting. “You think you’re so tough don’t you? You think I’m that stupid. By tomorrow you’ll be sleeping in a new bed and you’ll be staring at a different mountain. No one’s coming for her… just like no one’s coming for you.”
Toe-to-toe, eye-to-eye. I met this mongrel with all the strength I had left. “You think I care about myself? When you turned my sister against me you lost the only leverage you had. So why should I do a damn thing you say?”
“Sol, what’s going on?” Rowen growled.
A whimper slipped from my mouth as the Alpha tightened his grip. I clenched my teeth and my jaw popped under the strain. His eyes never moved from my face. “Take off your clothes.”
My heart thundered at the command. One slip and I caught my sister’s eyes widen, turning to me, then back to this monster she called a husband. “Sol. No, please. She didn’t mean anything. She’s just angry.”
He shook my arm, grinding bone and snarled. “I said. Take off your damn clothes. Or would you prefer I made your sister strip instead?”
The thought of her naked with this monster twisted something inside me. I needed to protect her. I needed to keep her safe. “No.”
My fingers shook, dancing along the seam as I squ
eezed the top button of Marcus’ pin-striped shirt, exposing the black singlet underneath. The flaking scalp of his thin hairline glistened. A bead of sweat caught my gaze as it raced through sparse blond strands.
“I’ve been thinking about this moment for a long time now. Sometimes, when I’m inside her, I call out your name. I love the way she freezes. I love that little whimper that slips from her lips.”
My fingers stopped half-way down. The shake raced along my hand and into my arm. Pins and needles followed as he released my arm and swept the shirt from my shoulder. “I’m going to take my time tonight. I’m going to get to know every place. I'll fill your body with my seed, in more places than one.”
My body jerked and cloth tore. The last of my buttons popped free and hit the ground near my feet.
“I wonder if you’ll cry for your mother like your sister did, the first time I took her? I wonder if you’ll cry and beg and bargain… I hope so.”
His nails gouged my skin as he grasped the straps of my singlet. I closed my eyes waiting for the cool lick of air, waiting for this animal to take what he wanted.
“You fucking bitch!” Rowen screamed.
I yanked open my eyes to a see a black blur on a darkening sky. My shoulder crunched as she charged me. My body crumpled. My head smacked the ground. All I saw were stars.
“Get your filthy fucking hands off my husband.” My head snapped to the right, fire lashed my cheek. I tried to inhale, but there was nothing but the vice around my chest.
Her knees dug into my ribs as Rowen straddled my chest. She grasped my wrist, pinning my arm above my head and leaned close. “He’s mine. You hear me? Mine!”
From her mouth came lies. For when I looked in her eyes, I saw the truth. Fear lingered in the sparkling green starburst. Fear—not for herself—but fear for me.
His snigger couldn’t draw me away. Under the mask of pain and the torment I saw my sister—the real one. The one I’d fought for—the one I’d killed for. And all anguish and the heartache just seemed to melt away.
The vise around my ribs eased. I inhaled the dust and the dirt. The scrape of boots sounded, but I couldn’t drag my gaze away—not now that I knew the truth—not now I’d finally found my sister.
“Hush now. Don’t upset yourself woman. You know you come first with me—always first. Your sister can sleep on the floor outside our room. How’s that? You like that better?”
He brushed Rowen’s hair, soothing her like a wounded animal, and with each stroke the spark faded in her eyes, and the mask slipped into place once more.
The vision dug its claws into my mind and held tight. I gouged my fingers into the dirt and dragged myself toward Abrial. The wolf’s blood stuck her matted fur against her body. I strained to find a rise, a tremble… anything. Please be alive. Please be alive.
The warmth leaked from my body as I crawled. My shirt stuck, something squelched as I moved. I held my breath and wrenched my leg upwards and kicked against the ground, let the movement was so slow. My foot barely moved. So tired. So heavy. My fingers skimmed the ground, then the bristles of her fur and came away inky.
No. The word lodged in my chest, sending a shard of agony tearing through me. Did you hear me! Do. You. Hear. Me! The wolf’s rust colored fur blurred. “Yes, she’s worth dying for.”
Feathers brushed my mind, so soft, so careful. Inanna whispered. I’m glad you agree dragon. The ground stole my warmth, leaving me to shudder and the shaman’s words mingled with my mothers. Now, let me ask you something else. Something more important than killing, or death. Something more important than pain, or sacrifice. Tell me Taurus….
Is she worth living for?
I opened my mouth to speak and finally understood. I'd somehow forgotten, just like the legends—like the wars, like the terror and the fear—like love. I’d forgotten love… how does that happen?
How does one survive?
There will be a sacrifice. There will be blood… and there will be torment. Are you ready for that? I now knew the price I had to pay.
“Give her life. Do you hear me? I’ll do anything you ask. But protect her, give her life.”
Our blood joined together to form a crimson lake. The tide of blood ebbed, then lingered on the crest of the motion, before rushing toward me. My blood. Her blood filled me, searching for the hole inside my chest, filling me with the scent of the wolf. My words nothing more than a mumble. My thoughts scattered above me, just like the stars. Mother….
The last plea hovered on my lips, until the wind snatched the words away. I shifted my head to where the lone figure stood on the hill.
Zadoc turned to stare at me and the moon shone black against his skin. He raised his hand. The tip of the knife dripped with blood. Bodies littered the ground like fallen leaves in a storm. No one touches a woman, or a child and lives, Marcus. Not while I breathe fire and walk this earth. No one….
The shaman’s voice ripped through the sky. “The power was too great. I warned him. The dragon bleeds out, but the wolf sustains him.”
“No!”
A cry pierced my head. My sister’s tortured sound wrenched a single beat from my chest. Xael! I opened my eyes to see my sister’s fury. Her spiked tail shot from behind her body. Her black serpent skin shone in the sun as she reared her tail back and struck. Three barbs drove into the tree beside the witch’s head. My sister wasn’t ready to kill—not yet. “Bring him back to me. Do you hear me old woman? If you value your fucking life you’ll bring him back to me.”
I tried to lift my hand as the bright colors blurred into one. “Xael.” My voice was barely a croak. “Xael, stop.”
Her head turned, fire winked in those thin pupils. “Marcus?”
I caught the shaman’s lips move as I shoved my palm against the ground. “The shell of the Guardian you knew is dead—but the dragon lives. The dragon breathes… The Bloodletter is alive once more.”
Was that a smile on the old woman’s lips? I clenched my jaw and pushed my upper body from the dirt. Boots beat the ground, heading toward me. I yanked my gaze up. Victor’s storm blue eyes held mine as he grasped my arms, helping me to my feet. But it was the rush of elation which pinned me to the spot. Happiness, protection, fear, love, hope, anger, hatred, defiance all mingled with the scent of earth and musk. I knew that scent. Abrial. I closed my eyes and felt her energy as though I could touch her, as though she was standing right in front of me. But she wasn’t in front of me—somehow, she was inside me.
“Marcus, what happened?” Isaiah’s panicked voice ripped the last trace of darkness from my head. “Are you okay? What the hell happened to you?”
“I….” I sought the old woman’s gaze. “I think I’m now part wolf.”
“What?” Evander’s eyes glinted in the sun as he knelt. “What did you say?”
I shook my head searching for the tether right back to green eyes and red hair. “I don’t know, somehow I’m connected to her. Yet I feel… myself.”
“Connected, yes. But not one of.” The witch’s words dragged my gaze down. “You wanted the wolf, and now you have her.”
Her thin mouth curled. Eyes sparkled as she turned back to my sister and glanced up to the massive spikes protruding from the tree, next to her head. “Now Scorpion, swallow that venom in your eyes and get off me.”
Xael’s top lip curled. I shuddered at the sound of her hiss. Bark cracked and the tree wept as she wrenched her talons free. “One day, old woman, we’ll finish what we started a long time ago, and this time no one will stop me.”
The movement was slight as the old woman nodded. “And on that day when you wear my blood, maybe then you can finally forgive me.”
Xael stepped back, her gaze never wavered as her tail slid back into her body. “I doubt that.”
A shadow passed over me. I jerked my head upwards and found my Aries brother. “Zadoc.”
My brother reached out his hand. I slapped his palm tight. His silhouette blocked the sun, casting a shadow. And for a
second I was back in that never-ending night, staring up at the warrior. His pledge ringing inside me.
“You were with me in spirit, will you stand with me in flesh? Will you come with me to find Abrial? She’s with the Echo pack—”
“I know where she is. I tracked her east, until I lost the trail.” Zadoc growled. “There’s a dark magic around that place. I can’t get in. I doubt any of us could.”
Abrial’s energy buzzed through my veins. I knew I could get in, but going in alone would be suicide.
“I can try to get you through, but I’m weak.” The old woman muttered. “Maybe if I had….”
“I’ll help.”
I yanked my head toward the sound and inhaled the scent of wolf. Xael growled, taking a step toward the woman. “And who the hell are you?”
The wolf met her stare, and stayed true.
“Stop Xael.” Victor strode forward, placing himself between the two. “She’s part of the pack. She might be able to help us.”
“And what if she can’t? What if this is all for nothing? This pack, this wolf… and this damn ultimatum from our Creators. We were fine before. We were safe before, and now….”
“We’re exposed.” I finished for her.
“Yes we’re damn well exposed. I want our old life back, Marcus. I want our family back. Just us, no one else… just us, okay?”
The tremor in her voice rocked me. I crossed in front of my brothers and reached for her. Xael lifted her head and I caught the shimmer of tears for a second before she melted into my arms. Hard bones, brittle spirit. I felt one more than the other as I brushed my hand against her hair. “We’re dying Xael, because we were born to fulfill a role, to protect the innocent—to keep the balance. We haven’t been part of this world for a very long time, but we should’ve been. We should’ve been right here in the thick of things protecting those who need us the most. I know you’re scared, I’m scared too. The seasons can change. The world can change. Our home can change. But, I promise you one thing, our love for each other, that will never change.”
