by Sedona Venez
They were nose-to-nose, huffing and rearing to shift as Cruz looked on anxiously, knowing that conflict between the leaders had the potential to break the pack forever.
“Fuck you, Torch,” he spat. “I’m going to get my woman back.”
“Dammit, Boulder! We are this close to getting our official pack status. You’re going to fuck it up. You’re not even thinking about what you’re asking us to really do… declare war on the High Council.”
Boulder snarled. “I swear if you don’t back the hell up, I’m going berserk on your ass, and to hell with the consequences.”
Kara sighed heavily. “Will you two stop? This problem is easily solved. I’ll request an emergency meeting with the New York Other Council and we’ll get their approval to stage an attack against the Degrassi pride.”
Torch scoffed. “Are you out of your damn mind? The Council will never sanction that shit. No one wants to go against Glen.”
Kara’s violet eyes flashed angrily. “I do!”
“Then you do it. Go toe-to-toe with him, but leave us out of this shit,” Torch barked.
“Speak for yourself, Torch.” Boulder hissed then looked at Kara. “I’m in.”
Torch threw his hands in the air. “I’m so done. This shit is suicide.”
Kara glowered. “We have time. The High Council will wait to intervene on the tiger-shifters’ behalf, but this is a no-go if we don’t get the Other Council’s blessing to go against the Degrassi pride. Without it, the Others will see us as another threat. And we need allies, not more enemies.” She sneered. “As much as it annoys me, we have to play the political game and not ruffle feathers, at least not yet.”
Cruz stepped forward. “Has anyone even thought about the fact that none of us has pull with the Other Council?” he stated flatly.
Kara arched a brow. “Let me worry about that. In the meantime, work your connections for any information on where Mason took her.”
Boulder looked at her coldly. “You do realize that once you open this door, Infinity will never be safe?”
Kara laughed bitterly. “This was bound to happen. She can't help who she is… and neither can you.” She looked at him coldly. “Besides, I’ve held my tongue for far too long. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to get my daughter back… alive.” She dusted off her clothes, then nodded over to the waiting SUV. “Shall we go raise some hell, wolf-shifters?”
The cold wind changed, sending the scent of copper, blood, and tiger through the air. Boulder tilted his head, staring intently toward the thick trees covered with moss. He felt his wolf prowling, readying to shift. Finally, he would have someone to take the brunt of his pent-up aggression.
He smiled coldly when Factor, his lead tracker, emerged from the woods, pulling a tall, muscular man who was struggling and snarling. The energy between Torch and Boulder thrummed with tension when they realized who the man was. It was none other than Nick, Mason’s second-in-command and best friend.
“You damn bastard. You betrayed her!” Kara screeched at Nick as she tried to run past them, but they both blocked her path, but not for her safety. With a silent nod at each other, they agreed that Boulder would take care of Nick. Nick was huge, but Boulder was bigger.
“We have her now, and Mason’s never going to let her go,” Nick yelled, struggling to get out of Factor’s grip, but Factor was unyielding with the gun he pressed to the man’s temple. “By the time you find her, she’ll be mated to Mason and under his control. She’s…”
Boulder had heard enough, and with pure brute force, he slammed Nick against a tree, crushing his throat with sheer brutality. Torch, Cruz, and Factor watched with bloodthirsty smiles, enjoying Boulder’s attack.
“You took my mate!” Boulder roared, unrelenting with his hold on Nick’s larynx.
An evil smile broke across Nick’s face. “I’m enjoying seeing you suffer, wolf. And you’ll suffer even more when Mason claim’s your mate.” He croaked.
Boulder smashed Nick’s head against the tree so hard that bark went flying.
“Where’s Infinity?” Boulder spat at him.
Nick spit in his face. “Fuck you, wolf. I’m not telling you shit.” He sneered, spitting blood in the air with every word he spoke.
Boulder’s apple-green eyes were like glaciers. Infinity already had major trust issues, and with Nick and Mason’s ultimate betrayal, she was probably confused and scared. He wanted to hurt them like they hurt his woman.
In a low voice, he dished out Nick’s fate. “Tonight you will die. I am going to make you regret betraying my mate. And when I watch the life drain from your body, you better beg the Immortals for mercy on your pathetic soul.” He banged Nick’s head. “Now, when I let you go, I want you to run… and run fast because your worthless life will end in the next couple of minutes.”
Boulder released him. Nick didn’t waste any time and tore through the woods with clothes sailing through the air, preparing to shift.
Boulder ripped off his pants and dress shirt within mere seconds, instantly shifting into his wolf. Howling, he took off running through the woods. His wolf wove through the trees, scenting his prey. He stopped, bending low against the moss-covered ground, hearing Nick’s low roar in the shadows. Racing at full throttle, he took off toward his kill. The image of Infinity’s face raced through his mind, fuelling his fury and the need to avenge their betrayal. He wanted Mason’s blood coating his tongue, but Nick’s would suffice… for now.
Fearlessly, he bounded into the shadows, and the white tiger roared loudly, backing up a few steps. The thrill of the hunt raced through his veins. He knew the tiger felt his eminent death. He padded toward Nick, growling menacingly. The tiger roared as if provoking his wolf to attack with haste, but his wolf was smart. He wanted no mistakes. He wanted Nick to die a slow, painful death.
Circling Nick, Boulder bared his teeth. Moving forward, he snapped, ripping off a huge chunk of Nick’s fur. Blood sprayed onto the ground. Nick whined in pain but did not retreat. The huge tiger advanced with speed, snapping at his body. Teeth sliced Boulder’s flank as blood and fur flew in the air. His wolf stayed strong, refusing to let the burning pain detract him from his goal. He leaped forward, his teeth clamping onto Nick’s pelt. He roared, trying hard to shake Boulder off, but he held on, sinking his teeth even farther into the hard tissue.
Nick tried to maneuver away in a tight circle, a fatal mistake he realized too late when he toppled onto his back, baring his throat and stomach. Smelling victory, Boulder went to release his hold. Nick, in a final attempt for his life, snapped his teeth. Boulder struck fast, sinking his teeth into Nick’s neck. Blood ran into his mouth as he tore into the fur and tissue. He worked slow, tearing Nick apart until his target stopped moving. Releasing the tiger, he stepped back, waiting for Nick to transform into his human shell.
His wolf howled, signaling his team that the deed was complete. Nick was dead. Biting back the discomfort from the shift, he transformed slowly. His bones altered, cracked, and realigned as skin replaced fur. He howled again with sadness. Nick’s death was not enough, confirmed by his inner beast scratching at him, agitated, telling him to find his mate now.
CHAPTER 6
New York… Friday
“So what brings the Valkyrie to this side of town?” Selena said without looking up from scanning the reservation list. “Slumming?” Selena’s head snapped up, giving Kara the onceover.
Kara sighed dramatically before narrowing her violet eyes on Selena. “What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment.”
“And I know how much my brother loves punishing you,” Selena responded cheekily before walking around to hug Kara. “Welcome back to Cortez’s den of sin. And how are you going to serve him?”
Kara smiled, hugging her back quickly. “I’m not back. I’m here on business.” She stepped back quickly, smoothing down her sheath dress.
“Uh-huh.” Selena flipped her jet-black hair while giving Kara a s
ceptical stare. “Just don’t destroy the restaurant. Last time, we had to shut down the restaurant for a day to repair the mess you two made.” She clucked her tongue. “All that blood and destroyed fine dinnerware. Why can’t you two just have make-up sex like regular couples?”
Kara grunted with displeasure. Her last showdown with Cortez left her more broken—emotionally and physically—than she cared to admit. “We’re not a couple anymore, and when we were together… it damn sure was not like any regular couple that I know of.”
“Exactly.” Selena arched a well-manicured brow. “True-mates are very rare. Maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to throw away what you two have.”
Kara gave her pissed glare. “And maybe you should stay out of my fucking business, Selena,” she barked, losing a little bit of her signature cool.
Selena’s eyes narrowed. “Never. We’re friends… despite your attempt to distance yourself from me because of him.” Her eyes filled with hurt before she smiled sadly. “Despite his faults… he loves you and you love him. How hard is it for you two to work this shit out?”
“I don’t want to talk about this,” Kara responded through tight lips. She couldn’t deal with the truth of the rotten hand she’d been dealt. She turned on her heels and began to walk away. “No. You know what? I do want to talk about it.” She turned back to look at Selena. “You want to keep it real, then we will. The only thing your brother and I can do without killing each other is fuck.”
Selena shrugged. “And what’s wrong with that?”
Kara looked at her incredulously. Selena was just as warped as her brother. “Cortez and I are like oil and water. We don’t mix.” Selena stared at her silently. “He’s a ruthless killer who kills for the sheer joy of killing. I cannot be with someone like him. Shit! I left that life years ago and I’m not going back… ever.”
Selena shrugged. “He is who he is… and so are you. It doesn’t mean it can’t work. Besides, you two are miserable without each other.” She pursed her lips. “Has it ever occurred to you that maybe if you stuck around and showed him you’re willing to give him what he needs, then maybe you could finally tame the wild vampire?”
“Tame?” Kara looked at her as if she was crazy. “He tried to kill me, multiple times.”
Selena smiled widely. “He has a temper. He’s working on it.” She pointed at her. “And your temper’s not any better. You tried to kill him too. That’s sazón… passion. Either way, make this shit work because I can’t stand being around him lately. His violent outbursts are getting worse.”
Kara’s emotions raced before she could push them away. She hated what he made her feel. He was her only weakness and he knew it. “He’s a vampire. That’s what he does… kill. He’ll never change. Not for me. Not for anyone.”
Selena sighed tiredly. “I give up. You know the way.” She turned her back on Kara. “Make good decisions, Valkyrie.”
Kara fluffed her hair anxiously before walking through the ultra-chic restaurant. She had to get her energy focused on her impending showdown with one of the most ruthless vampires in New York… Cortez Taron. This time she would make sure her faceoff with him would be different. She had a strategy, but she knew there was no getting side-tracked by his cat-and-mouse games. Absolutely no conversation about sex, and for fuck’s sake… she was going to avoid talking about their relationship or lack thereof.
And every one of her strategies went flying out of her head when the vampire from hell, Cortez, strolled up to her, looking handsome and impeccably dressed in his trademark black custom-made suite.
Standing like he was preparing to fight, he loomed over her.
His eyes narrowed. His sensual lips pulled into a thin line. Her heart raced, remembering how hard those lips were when he licked her own. When he kissed her neck, God, she shuddered… His lips and tongue were wickedly lethal. She bit back the lusty sigh before it slipped out.
“Ah, Querida.” His sinfully delicious voice was like a caress against her breasts.
She barely fought the delicious shiver that ran down her spine.
She hated and loved the way he stubbornly refused to stop using the Spanish endearment, Querida—darling—instead of her name.
His lips curled up into a smile as his eyes slid from her black stilettos to her long tanned legs, then her curves encased in her tight, caramel sheath dress.
“You look beautiful, as usual.”
Before she could protest, he pulled her close with one smooth move, sliding his hands up and down her body. Her sex clenched from the hottest frisk in damn history. Annoyed at herself, she smiled coldly before spinning away, stepping back quickly.
“Behave, Cortez. I’m not carrying a weapon on my body.” Technically true. It wasn’t her fault his cockiness prevented him from checking for the gun she stashed in her designer clutch. “Trust me.”
He laughed tauntingly before waving away his hovering enforcers. “Trust is something that must be earned, Querida, and you are far from earning mine.” He pulled her close, their lips almost brushing, millimeters apart.
She gazed up at him, desperately trying to tamp down the image of his hands on her body before stepping back, resisting the urge to run her fingers through his dark hair. She turned away, looking pointedly at the decked-out table set for one with lit candles. It was too romantic for her taste.
“Aw… the vampire did all this for me?”
He scowled. “Everyone has to eat.”
She cursed herself for noticing how ridiculously sexy his scowl was. “You’re a vampire. You don’t eat.”
“I do eat and well.” His gaze lingered on her body, sending a jolt of lust whipping straight to her sex. She squeezed her legs together, smothering the delicious pulsing.
His nose flared with a knowing smile. “It’s been a while, but believe me… my tongue game is still on point.”
She swallowed hard. He was still the only man on earth who evoked both rage and lust at the same time. Pulling out her chair, he tilted his head. “Have a seat, Valkyrie.”
Kara sat down smoothly, taking the napkin from the table, giving it the tiniest whip before laying it on her lap. Cortez caressed her back before walking over to the opposite side of the table. Her body tensed and she slipped her hand into her clutch, palming her gun.
Cortez sat down, leaning forward menacingly. “Hands on the table. Now!”
She grunted before slowly putting her hand on the table. “Can you blame me? Last time you tried to kill me.”
Casually, he poured champagne into her glass, then filled his glass with blood. She reached forward, grabbing her glass. She swallowed the liquid hard, thinking.
He swirled his half-full glass of blood with a brooding stare. “Correction. I tried to kill the bear-shifter who was touching my mate.” He looked at her pointedly. “You just got in the way…” His lips curled up with distaste. “Next time, think before flaunting your lovers in my fucking restaurant. It’s damn disrespectful.”
She bristled. “You don’t own me, Cortez. Besides, he had no clue about you and me.” No one knew Cortez was her ex-lover and she planned on keeping it that way. “You almost killed him.”
Cortez stared at her for a few seconds. “I was in a very forgiving mood that night.” He shrugged. “I granted him mercy. Now he’s learned a valuable lesson: don’t fuck with what’s mine.”
She skewered Cortez with an enraged stare. “You don’t…” Her voice rose and she caught herself, giving him a now-composed stare. “Own me, Cortez.”
“Are you sure?” Cortez responded, looking at her coolly before taking a sip of blood. He deliberately ran his tongue slowly over his luscious lips, taunting her. Kara bit back a whimper.
“What do you want, Querida?”
She swallowed over her pride and did something that under normal circumstances she would move heaven and earth not to do… ask for his help.
“I need your help.” She gritted the words through stif
f lips.
He calmly placed his glass onto the table, twirling the stem. “I give. You take. However, you refuse give me what I want. Now is that fair?”
She looked at him incredulously. “You know that I can’t give you what you want,” she sputtered. No matter how much she wanted to.
He sneered, “Then why the fuck should I give a shit that Infinity was taken by the Degrassi pride?”
She didn’t blink. Nothing was secret in the Others’ world, especially to a powerful man like Cortez. “You know why. She’s my daughter.”
His face tightened. “She’s not your daughter. She’s property of Glen and the High Council. You would do well to remember that.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I love her just the same.”
He tilted his head, eyes transformed to blood red. “Love?” He snarled. “You and I don’t know the meaning of love.” He leaned forward, grabbing her face. “We understand lust, greed, death, and power. Love is not in our fucking vocabulary.”
Her heart raced as she pulled her face away from him. If only he knew how much she understood what love was, but a cold-hearted man like Cortez would never understand. Cortez wouldn’t understand how much Infinity had changed her life for the better. Infinity made her a better woman—a woman who now put selfish things aside and was willing to lay down her life for her daughter.
Steeling her heart, she looked at him coldly. “This is not about you or me. I need an audience before the Other Council. I need her back, and the only way to do that is by breaking the pact with the tiger-shifters.”
“You want us to go against the High Council?” He laughed mockingly. “That’s a very bold request. To go against Glen is a death sentence.” He raised a brow. “Personally, I don’t give a shit about Glen or the High Council. They don’t give a shit about me, but I’m not putting my clan in danger to save Infinity unless there’s a damn good reason. And this is not it.”
She arched a brow. “You’re telling me that saving your sorry vampire ass is not a good enough reason?”
“If you’re talking about that bullshit rumor that Glen plans to use her to kill all Others, then no. No one believes that shit except you and a bunch of crazy rogues. Besides, the Others have grown very strong and will fight Glen to survive. And last but not least, there’s no way in hell I’m putting my destiny in the hands of a girl that doesn’t even know the truth about who and what she really is. I don’t trust her.”
