by Ally Parker
The den was designed with a series of tunnels that were impossible to unravel unless you were pack and familiar with the layout. As a part of patrols, pack members would go through each tunnel systematically as precaution, spreading fake scent trails. With as many threats as their kind had, one couldn’t be too prepared.
He slowed to walk beside Mackenzie. It was his duty to keep her safe. Nothing and no one would harm her while blood pumped through his body. But who would keep her safe from him? Already, his wolf itched to complete the mating. He’d be lying if he said his human side wasn’t impressed with what he had seen so far. Mackenzie had saved Milly. It spoke of a good heart. The fact she made it out of the facility spoke of her skills, intelligence, and determination.
Not to mention what they’d already shared together; she would make him crazy when they completed the bond. What would happen when she found out about the claim he’d marked on her skin? It had been the only way to ease her suffering. She didn’t know it yet, but his fate was in her hands. With the bite, he had taken her pain as his own and bound himself to her in every way possible. All that was needed was for her to mark him and consummating the mating with sex.
From behind him, he heard his mate sniffing the air, and knew she would be able to smell the fresh breeze that drifted in from the exit around the bend.
“Where are we?” Mackenzie asked
He brushed past her, needing the contact to soothe his nerves. “The edge of Shadow Moon’s territory, near Meadowlark Lake.”
Mackenzie slowed. “Meadowlark Lake,” she echoed.
He slowed to match her pace. “Yeah, have you heard of it?”
She didn’t answer. Instead her gaze spanned around them, and back toward the tunnels. The pounding of her heart echoed between them. His ears twitched, honing his focus onto her. Anxiety peppered her scent. What had spooked her?
Visibly shaking herself, she said, “It’s beautiful here.”
“Are you okay?” He closed the distance between them.
She shook her head. “As fine as anyone can be after changing into a wolf.”
He couldn’t begin to imagine what his female must be enduring. The only thing he could do was make it as easy a transition as possible. He nudged her forward, and they cut through the thickest part of the trees. The babbling water rippled over a cluster of rocks on the edge of the stream and he knew they were close. This was his cut of territory, solely reserved for him when he needed a quiet place to anchor his wolf. It was the only special thing his wolf could offer their mate.
Darting through the long grass he led them past the mouth of the cavern, the space only big enough for their wolf forms to fit through. Spectacular displays of stalactites and stalagmites connected along the walls, carved to perfection from years’ worth of minerals and water sculpting the crystal-like structures. Millions of glimmering glow worms hung along the walls. The low light filled the area with an intimate atmosphere, just as he intended.
Mentally she gasped. “Wow.”
She walked over to the shallow stream running through the center of the cave and dipped her head for a drink. Suddenly, she stopped drinking and stared at her reflection. Worry peppered the air and he moved closer.
“What is it?”
“Look at me. It’s a lot to take in.”
“Of course. If you have questions, I can try and give you answers.”
Through their connection, she laughed. “I only have about a million of them.”
“That might take some time. We better get started.” He brushed his body against her, needing to touch her, to ease the fear he knew she carried. It also covered her in his scent, telling other males she was off limits.
“Okay, why don’t people know about you… us?”
She looked around and walked over to some rocks, sniffing around them.
“Our council works very hard to keep the paranormal under the radar, by any means necessary.”
Her ears straightened. “You have a council?”
He tried to look around and take in everything as she would. He took several steps toward her. “You sound surprised.”
“I am.”
Her smooth voice floated into his mind, placing a band aid over the parts that had been hurting for so long. This was what it was meant to be like. How had he survived without it? He could only imagine how perfect it would be once he was fully mated. Entice. Lure. Mate. His damn wolf had no morals—only instinct, and it was pushing him to claim what was his.
“Jaxx?”
He blinked hard and chased the shadows filling his head. “There are several leaders from every pack to represent their people. Our kind have many enemies. Other packs, vampires, and, of course, hunters. Though we all agree secrecy is best for the collective safety of our kind. All but the hunters. They’d do anything to see us extinct.”
Her head popped up from behind the boulder, ears pulled back. “I knew it. Vampires are real.”
“That’s what you picked up from all that?” he chuckled. “You are standing in front of me as a wolf.” Mentally, he blew out a breath. “Our kind is complicated. Lucas is a were—he bit you, and now you’ve become a were, forever bound to the lure of the moon. I am a shifter, free to change at will but ruled by my animal that’s linked to my glyph— the marking on my body. I’m compelled to search for the one and only woman capable of becoming my mate and saving me before my glyph completes.”
“What happens if you can’t find her?” She rounded the rocks and made her way back to him, her head cocked to the side.
He watched her closely, judging the smallest changes in her body. “Unless I am saved by my mate, I will lose my humanity and become a monster.”
“Jaxx,” she breathed out.
So many emotions bound to his name. Maybe winning her over wouldn’t be as hard as he thought. Before she could say another word, a rustle on the wind curled around his ears. He froze, his ears twitched, searching the air for information.
A pebble skated outside.
“Stay here,” he ordered.
Without waiting for a response, he approached the mouth of the cave. Drawing in a deep breath, he cursed. The stench of rogue assaulted his senses. Just what he needed. His wolf was already struggling for control, and with danger so close to his unclaimed mate, he could cut loose at any time. Crouching low, he made his way to the fracture in the rocks. “Whatever happens, stay in here until I say it’s safe.”
He sent out a call. Any pack member in their wolf form would know a rogue was in Shadow Moon.
“I’m on my way,” Saint’s voice sounded flat. He was probably thinking the same thing as Jaxx. That Xavier had returned.
He tilted his nose to the wind and smelled the wild flowers along the river, but no rogue. Striding forward, a spray of rocks sprinkled over his body. His head jerked up as a wolf nose-dived straight for him. He rolled, bouncing up to face his opponent.
Xavier.
Xavier’s matted fur was coated in fresh blood, which glistened under the moonlight. High off a fresh kill by the looks of it. It wasn’t uncommon for rogues to return to their pack and attempt to kill them one by one. Jaxx needed to honor the warrior Xavier had once been and put him to rest. He couldn’t let him hurt anyone else. Xavier growled and shot forward, and Jaxx jumped, twisting mid-air, and maneuvered his body to attack. Ducking low, his teeth closed around Xavier’s shoulder. The rogue yelped, and both of them scuffled in the bedrock. Jaxx clamped his jaw tight, shaking his head. Xavier spun and sunk his teeth into Jaxx’s leg. His flesh split, and he struggled to keep his jaw clamped.
“Jaxx!” Mackenzie’s voice filled his head, and he abruptly clamped his pain off. He’d better remember the connection worked both ways.
“I’m fine.” His teeth slipped along Xavier’s slick fur, and the rogue darted away, bounding straight toward the cave. Straight toward his female. Jaxx saw red. Snarling, he ran toward his mate. He would not fail her. He couldn’t fail her. Growls sounded from the alcove, an
d he was sure his heart stopped beating.
“Mackenzie!” he shouted
Silence.
Urgency bit at his heels, and he ran faster. A yelp echoed from inside the cave. “Hold on. I’m coming.”
He would save her. Nothing else was acceptable. Ignoring the bite on his leg, he gunned it toward the cave, his back legs sliding out from under him as he raced through the entrance. In the back corner his mate was backed up against the wall, bleeding from an injury on her side. Her muzzle dripped with crimson, and Xavier circled the front of her, waiting to attack.
Leaping from where he stood, Jaxx landed on the rogue. They rolled, teeth snapping, and claws slicing at each other. He was going to end him once and for all. Xavier, the warrior, had died already; the creature before him was nothing more than an animated corpse. Ducking low, Jaxx sprang up and sank his teeth around Xavier’s throat. Blood gushed into his mouth, and Jaxx bit harder, shaking his head. Bones crunched, and Jaxx released the rogue. Xavier’s body sagged, and Jaxx gently lowered him to the ground.
Sorrow and relief filled Jaxx. He silently wished his pack brother better luck in the next life, and lifted his head and howled. Not for the death of a monster, but for the passing of a warrior that had fought valiantly and deserved so much better than Jaxx had delivered. Xavier was free. No more innocents would be hurt at his hands. His female whimpered, and Jaxx’s attention snapped back to her. Leaning heavily against the rocks, her breaths panted out a little too quickly. He rushed over to her, his head rubbing against her neck. “Tell me you’re okay.”
“I think I’ll live. I just feel a little woozy.”
Blood coated her pelt and dripped onto the cave’s floor. The only way in or out of the cave required them to be in wolf form. “Can you make it out of the cave?”
Kenzie glanced at the opening and without responding, pulled herself straight and limped outside. He followed closely behind her. Glancing up, the sky was clear and stars twinkled, framing the full moon; dawn hovered on the horizon. His gaze drew back to Kenzie. The moon’s lure would still be too strong for her to change back to her human form, and he wouldn’t allow her to hobble back to the compound in her current state. In a smooth fluid motion, he changed back into a man.
From beside him, she made the most peculiar noise. He had no idea what she was thinking and since he’d changed forms, she had no way of communicating with him. About a hundred yards away, Cade’s blue gaze glimmered as he approached. Kenzie jerked her head around to where Cade hovered in the darkness. She growled; the hair on the back of her neck rose. Reaching out, he ran his hand across the back of her head. “Cade’s with us; he’s here to help.”
He turned to Cade and said, “Xavier’s body is back in the cave. Kenzie is injured I need to get her to medical.”
Cade inclined his head and made his way to the cave. In a swift move, Jaxx scooped Kenzie up and she whimpered. “Rest. I’ll take care of you.”
Untangling from the darkness, Saint moved into their path. Kenzie’s muscles tensed. As an outsider and new to the supernatural world, Saint was intimidating. Hell, as a shifter, Saint was intimidating. The alpha was massive, even by shifter standards. Saint’s perusal was nothing if not assessing. Jaxx was well aware that Saint could scent how important Kenzie was to him. Saint would know what he’d done.
“I’m glad to see you are both alive.” Saint’s voice filtered telepathically to him.
Saint sure looked for the silver lining.
“Jaxx, take your mate to the infirmary, have her patched up, and then take her directly to a holding cell.”
“What?” he spat. Kenzie’s ears straightened, brushing against his chin. Out of reflex his arms tightened. Like hell he would be locking up his mate.
“This isn’t optional, Jaxx. She is to remain in the holding cell. I have questions for her. I need to find out what she knows. It’s for the good of the pack.”
With that menacing order Saint continued toward the cave. Jaxx wondered what would happen if Saint didn’t like the answers Kenzie gave him.
9
Jaxx needed to see his mate. He needed to care for her and make sure all her needs were taken care of. He picked up his pace and gunned down the tunnels toward medical.
“Is she well enough to be transferred to a cell?” Saint stepped out from a hallway and fell into step with him.
After lighting the pyre for both Ethan and Xavier, and placing their eternal light on the wall of life, his emotions straddled a bladed knife. Rage flashed through Jaxx at the thought of anyone locking up his would-be mate. “Regardless of her health, she won’t be going to a cell.”
Saint paused mid-step and turned to face him. “What did you say?”
His muscles tensed, but Jaxx held his position. “I’ve just found my mate. She’s injured. Would you deny me my duty to care for her?”
“This is bigger than just you, Jaxx.” Saint walked closer. “I’m sorry you may suffer. I have to think of the pack. I’ve been too soft, and look where that’s gotten me—the pack? Tend to your mate and be assured she will be safe and well protected by Shadow Moon. Until I can question her—.”
“You mean interrogate,” Jaxx interrupted.
Saint stepped into his personal space. Jaxx’s hands fisted, and he knew the danger he was enticing, just as Saint knew locking up his mate would hinder her feelings toward him and therefore their mating. A low, unearthly rumble escaped Saint. “I’m happy you’ve found your mate, but I will not risk the pack to avoid her being upset. She’ll get over it. End of conversation.”
Jaxx’s body shook with fury, and he clenched his jaw to prevent any further argument. He wouldn’t be able to help his mate at all if Saint decided to teach him a lesson. “See to your mate and join me in my office in twenty minutes.”
Saint left without another word. For a moment Jaxx couldn’t move. His thoughts and emotions spun like a carnival ride. How would he be able to face his mate now? Jaxx understood Saint’s need to keep the pack safe, but surely his mate—a victim—wouldn’t jeopardize that. Jaxx craned his neck, stretching the tension corded along his muscles. Damn it, Saint could kiss his furry ass. Dawn was moments away, and as the sun stretched into the sky it would bring Kenzie back to her human form.
Jaxx headed back to medical and pushed through the heavy wooden door. Taryn drew up a sheet, covering his female. He moved closer to Kenzie. Seeing her lying there passed out from exhaustion ate at his hollow insides. Taryn smiled and patted him on the hand. “It’s okay, Jaxx, your mate is exhausted but fine. She’s just transformed back to human and passed out. Her iron is low, which was to be expected after all the blood she lost.”
His gut twisted.
“I’ll get her something to eat.” Taryn squeezed his hand, and Jaxx nodded. “Thank you, Taryn… for taking care of my female.”
Mackenzie’s complexion, only a shade or two darker than the white sheet covering her, lay deathly still. He ran his hand over his head and gave in to the need to touch her. His fingers grazed along her cheek. Soft as silk. Her lips parted; a sigh escaped. Chunks of mud flecked off her forehead. Even covered in dirt and blood, she still had the ability to make his heart pound. His hand towered over her delicate features. It would be a mistake to assume she was fragile. As a new were, holding her own against a rogue was an amazing feat.
Fragrant water steamed from a bowl on a nearby trolley. He picked up the cloth beside the bowl, dipped it in water, and began washing the blood from around her mouth. Xavier’s blood, by the smell of it. A low growl rumbled out of him, and his mate stirred. Rinsing the cloth, he continued down her shoulders and arms. The scratch mark, and Lucas’s bite, had healed. Her were genes had been busy, costing her more energy. The only mark that would permanently imprint her porcelain skin would be his bite.
With all exposed skin cleaned, he eyed the sheet. As her mate, it was his duty to tend all of her. He licked his lips. Even if it killed him. Peeling back the material, the attempt to be noble seemed
an impossible task. On their own accord, his eyes drew to her breasts, and he watched as her nipples pebbled. His gaze trailed down her body, and he cursed. The apex of her thighs was bare and on show for his perusal. He tried to ignore the flood of arousal rushing to his groin. He was a sick bastard.
The deep gash on her side still trickled blood, and seeing Xavier’s wound sobered him up. He could have lost her. There would be plenty of time to explore every inch of his mate’s body when she was safe, well, and conscious, he chastised himself. With care, he kept his movements quick and methodical, covering her as the smell of food wafted through the doors. Taryn shouldered into the room, and Jaxx walked over and grabbed the tray. “Here let me get that.”
“Jaxx, time’s up.” Saint spoke through their connection.
He tensed.
Eyeing the door, his gaze returned to his resting mate. She would be safe; anyone who came within a ten-mile radius would smell him on her and know that she was his.
“I can stay with her, if you need to go.”
Jaxx placed the tray on the table beside Kenzie and turned to Taryn. “I’d appreciate that.”
He lingered a moment, decided to hell with it, and leaned down, brushing his lips across her cheek. He straightened and said. “Thanks Taryn. For everything.”
“Jaxx… I’m glad you found your anchor.”
He was too. I just hope I can win her over. Something Saint was trying to make as difficult as possible. Making short business to Saint’s office, Jaxx walked in and plopped in the chair opposite his alpha, really not in the mood for whatever shit had to be discussed. Saint picked up some papers from his desk and waved them around before meeting his gaze.
“Before we begin, I wanted you to know I have arranged for Lucas, his wife, and child to be transferred to Wolfden as soon as Leila is fit for travel. For the moment, I have a room close to the infirmary for Lucas and Milly.”
