Wolf Hollow (Wolf Hollow Shifters, Book 1)

by Nikki Jefford

  Tabor knew all too well he couldn’t protect the ones he loved at every moment. Sometimes survival came down to the individual and—with Sasha’s help—he intended to teach Elsie to master her wolf senses until they became second nature.

  He looked to the last place he’d seen Sasha, but she was no longer there, nor had she joined any of the groups gathering near the cauldron. She’d disappeared from the glade more suddenly than his father, and without the smoke cloud to show she was ever there.

  chapter twenty-six

  As she watched Tabor guide his sister away from the buzz of the pack, Sasha’s body weighed her to the ground like an avalanche. Of course he wanted a moment with the sister he never knew he had, but she couldn’t help the twist of envy as he gazed with open adoration at the beautiful young half-breed like he would protect her above all others—including Sasha.

  “Frail thing, isn’t she?” Camilla said.

  Sasha hadn’t noticed her and Rosalie until they’d enveloped her at both sides.

  “Pretty,” Rosalie said, fingering her hair.

  Camilla snorted. “The males certainly think so. Good thing Tabor’s too engrossed to notice all the gawking.”

  “Yeah, especially Zackery.” Rosalie nodded. “Poor guy looks like he fell head over tail right after being denied a mate for life. Tragic.”

  Camilla rolled her eyes. “Zackery would never go for a half-breed, and it’s not much of a punishment when you really think about it. It’s not like he’d ever attract a mate, anyway.”

  Rosalie sucked in an exaggerated breath. “You’re so mean.”

  “Why do people always call me mean for saying what they’re all thinking? Zackery is a bully and a brute—no female would ever want him and he knows it.” Camilla’s head jerked to the side and she huffed. “Look at Emerson getting all up in Raider’s business just because she’s on the council. I’m going to rip this at the roots before she gets her claws in too deep.” Camilla lifted her chest and strode over to where Emerson was leaning into Raider, flashing her most charming smiles. “Emmy! Congratulations!” Camilla shouted. When she reached her big sister, she flung her arms around her. Raider took that opportunity to slink away.

  Rosalie chuckled beside Sasha. “Oh, she’s good.”

  Sasha inched back before Rosalie had a chance to notice she’d slipped away more stealthily than Raider, meandering past clusters of shifters making their way to the line forming at the cauldron. Immediate threats having been averted, the pack now followed their stomachs to the smell of boiled meat.

  Sasha’s stomach ached, but it wasn’t for food.

  Heidi’s head turned as Sasha took even steps toward the forest path leading to her cave. Sasha averted her eyes, not wanting to make eye contact and risk more banter when all she wanted was to be alone.

  Even that wasn’t true.

  She was tired of being alone; she wanted to be with Tabor—to finally claim him and start their own family, but now that he’d been reunited with family, would he still be eager to start one with her?

  The waning moon slipped along the trees beside her. She could feel it receding at her core like a tide sweeping back, sucking away the dream of their own happy family joining the den.

  There was always the next moon—and the next—but after years of waiting, it felt as though she’d missed a planetary alignment or something equally extraordinary—a comet, meteor shower, or total solar eclipse.

  The muscles in Sasha’s leg throbbed as though her heart had sunk down to her thigh where it pounded incessantly now that it had her undivided attention. No more distractions. Shifting would risk reopening her wound and definitely mess up the bandaging Tabor had so carefully secured, but only if she shifted back out of wolf form. Her wolf would also help the wound heal faster, especially with the bullet removed.

  Done with being human, Sasha removed her dress, crouched over the shaded ground, and let her wolf take form—diving forward at a run the moment she had four legs. Every root, rock, and shrub came rushing into sharp focus. She cut through the forest like a moonbeam—soaring to the mossy knoll where Tabor had first openly stared at her like he’d just opened his eyes and seen her for the first time. She inhaled as though reuniting with Tabor was simply a matter of sniffing him out.

  The hairs on the back of Sasha’s back lifted, not forgetting that this had also been the location of a vulhena attack. She growled and looked around, but even the shadows appeared permanently stuck in place. The trees only moved when she did. Sasha raced down the hill and back into the forest, running free and running fast. After a quick drink of water at Skyler Falls, Sasha ran to the Forest of the Ancestors and whined at the canopy overhead, inviting her family’s spirits to cross out of the shadow realm for a run with her. She didn’t wait to see if they answered, instead flying forward as though racing a phantom wind.

  The shadows tilted with the moon as the great glowing orb wandered westward across the sky.

  Tired of running with indifferent spirits, Sasha chased the moon for a time before losing interest and heading south to the bluff. It wouldn’t have been her choice destination on two legs, but her wolf now led the charge. She slowed and trotted along the path and up the short, steep incline to the bluff.

  Cool night air slid over Sasha’s fur. A white rabbit nibbling on clovers lifted its head and froze in place. The rabbit wasn’t fooling Sasha, but she had no appetite and walked past the critter—even ignoring it when it took off running for cover.

  The shadows, which had felt so solid before, were now slipping into the void between night and day. Paws lifting the fine-powdered dirt, Sasha approached the bluff—a place laden with passion and joy, anguish and heartbreak.

  As she approached the bluff’s edge, a howl rose up her throat and parted her lips—echoing across the horizon. It died out and the world went silent until an answering howl cried in the distance. Fire sizzled in Sasha’s veins and danced in her eyes. She howled louder and was again answered—this time from much closer. Her tail twitched.

  Tabor repeated his howl, and this time Sasha answered. They called back and forth until Tabor reached her side, setting her tail wagging. She went still as he walked directly up to her and licked her face. Sasha closed her eyes briefly, smiling between wolf lips. She pushed her nose into the ruff around his neck, snuffing at him joyfully.

  Together they lifted their heads to the moon and howled.

  Sasha led Tabor through the forest, down the path, and to their cave where she carefully shifted. While she’d run around in fur, her wound had scabbed over, holding the blood in. She pulled Tabor down into a soft patch of mossy earth and sat by his side. The quiet felt like a soothing balm over her blistered soul. While the sun rose, they remained silent, seated peacefully as daybreak cast a hazy glow above their heads.

  As light seeped through the foliage, Sasha spoke. “Where is your sister?”

  “Heidi took her in—better she sleep in the den. You know what the unmated males are like around new females, especially after you made it appear acceptable to be with a half-breed. And Elsie’s never slept a night of her life in the outdoors.”

  Sasha shook her head. “I can’t imagine.”

  She tucked her hair over her ears and watched Tabor closely. He scratched his chin, staring into the trees.

  “My mother never knew about Elsie—or the other female shifter Lazarus impregnated. I’m glad she didn’t. It would have broken her heart.”

  Sasha had never given any consideration to Lucinda’s anguish over a wizard, but after falling for Tabor her heart ached with understanding and empathy. She only wished she could have gotten to know Tabor’s mother better before illness took her.

  “Did Elsie’s mother give her up to the wizards?” Sasha’s throat tightened. Could a mother wolf really do such a thing? According to Lazarus, Lucinda had wanted Tabor to go to Balmar Heights. Perhaps the fe
male didn’t deserve her empathy. Whatever her reasoning, it didn’t change the fact that Lucinda had loved both Lazarus and Tabor—perhaps to the brink of insanity.

  “Elsie’s mother died when she was still a baby.” Tabor bowed his head as though in silent mourning for both his and Elsie’s mother. “All she’s ever known is life at Balmar Heights. She assured me that she’s been well treated—doted on, even.”

  Sasha had no trouble believing that, but seeing Tabor’s deep relief brought back the stab of uncertainty.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go to Balmar Heights with your sister and see it before you decide where you want to make your home?”

  “Sasha, you are my home.” Tabor turned to her, eyes shining green.

  Sasha’s heart thudded inside her chest. “Do you mean that?”

  Tabor took her hands in his.

  “I’ve wanted to spend my life with you from the moment you called me a fool.”

  Sasha snorted and rolled her eyes, but Tabor caressed the top of her hand with his thumb, not masking the affection in his gaze.

  “You were right,” he said. “I was a fool—repeatedly—but I will never love anyone as much as I love you. Nothing can change that.” He placed her palm over his heart and breathed deep. Tabor gave a slight shake of his head. “I do not want to live behind stone walls. I want you, Sasha, and I want our children to be wild and free, born under the stars and the moon.”

  Sasha nodded and blinked back tears, but somehow they leaked out. Her heart expanded, filled beyond capacity with love for this half-breed, this shifter, wizard, wolf—her one true mate.

  “Elsie claims Lazarus isn’t a danger to the hollow and that we don’t have to worry about his conflict with the Bear Mountain shifters—some kind of ongoing land dispute that began before we were born. My sister’s assurances aside, I would never let Lazarus hurt you or any children of ours,” Tabor said.

  Sasha sniffed and blinked her eyes clear. “It’s our children he should be afraid of. We’ll raise them to be the strongest shifters the hollow has ever seen. If they have any magical abilities, you will work with them to strengthen their gifts. I will teach them to hunt, track, and defend themselves and the hollow.”

  “A family of our own,” Tabor murmured happily, leaning against her.

  “There’s only one thing left to do.” Sasha eyed his neck.

  “You mean—?” Tabor raised his eyebrows, the corners of his lips lifting.

  Grinning back, Sasha bent forward and bit into the soft skin of Tabor’s neck until she tasted blood. Tabor sucked in a breath.

  After she released his neck and swallowed his blood, Tabor sat up taller and stared into her eyes

  “You didn’t want to wait for the new council’s blessings?” he asked.

  “Screw the council,” Sasha said. “We’ve waited long enough. I’ve claimed you; you’re my mate.”

  Tabor’s smile reached his lips. “It’s not quite official . . . yet.” With eyes that flared with the brightness of twin moons, he leaned forward, inhaled the skin above Sasha’s lower neck and bit down.

  As soon as he’d bitten hard enough to pierce through her skin, Tabor let go and grinned.

  “Now why didn’t we do that sooner?”

  Sasha smiled and shook her head. “Because we were both fools.”

  “Right.” Tabor chuckled. “And how soon until the next full moon?”

  Sasha threaded her fingers through his and sighed happily. “Not soon enough, but I have it on good authority I’ll be with child once it cycles back around.”

  Giving her hand a loving squeeze, Tabor grinned. “Now that’s a promise.”

  acknowledgements

  To my copy editor, Hollie Westring, for her patience and kindness during multiple stages of this book. Your initial feedback was empowering and made me believe this book could turn into a thrilling story.

  This book would not be what it is now without Jordan Rosenfeld’s in-depth developmental edit. Thank you for digging in deep and pushing me to take the story to new depths. This has been one of the most gratifying edits of my writing career, and I have a master storyteller to thank for that.

  To Sara Meadows for her final proofread and fearless leadership in online reading communities, and kindness to authors. I am grateful to have met you online and in person!

  To Melissa Haag for opening my eyes to the countless possibilities when creating a desolate world outside of Wolf Hollow—and giving me the courage to step into that wasteland on page one. I am ever grateful for your support and suggestions, especially on this particular project to receive feedback from the alpha queen of shifter romance!

  Special thanks to Stacey Marie Brown for all the brainstorm sessions, friendship, laughter, and naming the vulhena; and to Karen Lynch for the early read, sage advice, and testimonial.

  To my mom, my first reader. When my first-grade teacher said I was the worst reader in class and couldn’t hold a pencil correctly, you made it your mission to catch me up, no matter how much I resisted. It worked so well you turned me into a bookworm and writer! My life has been enriched by all the stories you’ve placed in my hands, and by your friendship—the most precious gift of all.

  To Seb, my heart and soul, for backing this passion of mine, and always being willing to step in and help in so many ways. You’ve touched my heart with your kindness toward all living creatures and noble advice not to jump to conclusions or be too judgmental when it comes to two-legged critters. You are my hero. You make me a better person. I never knew it was possible to love someone as much as I love you.

  To Cosmo for your faithful love, loyalty, and companionship. I know I repeat myself all the time and you can’t understand most of my words, but you understand my eternal love and gratitude for every moment we have together. You’ve brought so much joy into our lives from the second I first scooped you up and held you against my heart. Thank you for your patience through eight moves—from Alaska to California then back up the West Coast; for warming my lap during the long winter reading months; keeping me company while I type; posing for Instagram photos; and bolstering my compassion for all animals.

  To my treasured author and reader friends for inspiring me to reach for the stars and, more recently, howl at the moon. You are my tribe; my pack. Your friendship is everything.

  And finally, thank you for purchasing this book! I hope Wolf Hollow has entertained you and that you will return to the hollow in book two, Mating Games. In the meantime, look for the beauty, take good care, and run forever free.

  about the author

  Nikki Jefford is a third-generation Alaskan now living in the Pacific Northwest with her French husband and their Westie, Cosmo. When she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys nature, hiking, and motorcycling. Nikki is the author of the Wolf Hollow Shifters series, the Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter series, and the Spellbound Trilogy.

  To find out more about her books and new releases, check out her website.