Without thinking, she snatched up the bear gun. Smoke poured from the wagon as she flew by.
He yanked harder on Daisy’s led.
Giving a loud yell, she tried to fire the gun. It didn’t go off. “Damn!” She’d forgotten the shells. Frantic to stop him from stealing Daisy, she charged the Indian swinging the gun butt wildly. “Leave them alone! Get back! Get away, you vulture!”
The Indian threw back his head and laughed from deep in his gut. He mocked her!
A surge of adrenalin fueled her temper. Sonja’s eyes glowed golden.
The Indian smirked. “Vulture indeed.”
Sonja froze. She’d seen that smirk before. That voice – so familiar but quiet impossible. The Crow Indian stepped toward her.
“Did you think you’d be rid of me so easily, my pet?” Robert had always used the endearment for her.
“Robert?” Her heart froze in her chest.
“In the flesh, or should I say in the undead flesh.” He spread his hands and kept advancing.
Sonja stumbled backward and turned to flee. He grasped her around the neck and threw her to the ground. Every bone in her body shook with the jar of hitting the hard packed earth. Her focus was gone. She struggled to see. Two and three of Robert swam in front of her eyes. “Ty! Help me!” She cried. Rolling sideways, she did her best to escape. Robert’s strength was immense and Sonja, so addled, couldn’t focus on shifting. He punched her hard across the face. Vampire fangs hovered over her face before the lights went out.
Chapter 10
Rescue
After all they’d been through, why would the Indians pick this particular night to show up? Ty cursed low as he shot another. The Indian slumped and fell. The fact they attacked after nightfall disturbed him most. He’d never encountered an Indian attack after the sun went down. Grateful Jeb had been able to locate the children and whisk them to safety, he struggled hand to hand with yet another Crow Indian.
Sheer terror filled him as the call of his name came to him on the smoke coated breeze. The sound drove the wolf to surface in record time. Snarling at the startled Indian, Ty lunged for his neck and tore at his airway. The Indian dissolved into dust.
Stunned, a couple of seconds passed before Ty realized the trouble all around them. Using his telepathic connection with Sonja, he could see the Indian vampire bit her neck. “No.”
Surging toward her, Ty berated himself for taking time to finish off the other bloodsucker. Using all his weight, he charged the attacker. Rolling with the Crow, he managed to pin him on the ground before he recognized the stench of Robert. “You!”
Robert’s mouth, coated liberally in Sonja’s blood, shown plainly in the glimmer of the full moon. “You’ll be sorry you were ever born, wolf.” He spit in Ty’s wolf face, the blood of Sonja’s mingled with his spit.
“You’re their leader, aren’t you?” Ty said as his eyes widened with the realization.
“Bravo, wolf, you’ve solved the puzzle of how I can still live.” He struggled to loosen Ty’s stance on his body. “You’ve got more sense than I gave you credit for. Too bad, you’re a Lycan. I could use your intelligence.”
“What you could use is a long, slow death, you son-of-a bitch.” Flicking a glance in Sonja’s direction. She didn’t move. “If you’ve killed her, I’ll keep you alive for as long as I can to make sure you suffer as much as possible.”
The vampire’s eyes glowed red as he licked his lips. “Um, I can feel her life’s source coursing through my veins. Her gift is powerful. I knew she was the one. Even when Hortence’s spell didn’t bring me back to life, I waited patiently to reclaim her as mine. The vampire leader was an old one and couldn’t stop me from taking over the coven. I fought my way to the top and took him out as well. Perseverance and I managed to survive until I have her at last. No one will defeat me now!” With his words, the vampire knocked Ty off him as if he weighed nothing. Standing, he surveyed his condition. “Humans are so simple to kill. Don’t you agree, Lycan?” He waged a finger at Ty. “Oh, I forgot, you still hold on to ‘right and wrong’, don’t you, wolf?”
A glimmer of something flew past Ty’s side. The werewolf-god stood nearby.
“Guardian, come to protect your protégé?” Robert licked his lips. “I’ll enjoy this for sure.”
Guardian tossed Ty a sword. Looking closer, the gleaming steel was his own weapon. He’d lost the sword the night of the battle. “Where—”
“I’ve been with you since the start, Tyler. You weren’t alone then and you aren’t alone now. Finish the hell bound scum so we can be on our way.” The Guardian flashed a wolfish grin at him.
Ty couldn’t contain the smile creasing his lips. Their blades sang out in unison and Robert’s head went flying off his shoulders. “Are you sure he’s dead this time?”
The Guardian nodded. “Taking a vampire’s head is the surest way to rid those you’re protecting of his sorry ass.” The werewolf-god smiled wickedly with the comment.
“Ty?” Sonja’s voice was nothing more than a whisper.
Rushing to her, Ty examined the wound, which had already started to heal. “Don’t worry. He’s gone. The others will run without their leader.”
Sonja smiled weakly and glanced behind him to see the Guardian standing there. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Neither of you needed my help. You had each other from the start.”
Sonja studied Ty. “He’s right, you know? I’ve been such a fool, Ty, trying to protect you and attempting to do everything myself. Can you forgive me?”
Ty’s breath warmed her cheek as he lowered his head and kissed her soundly on the lips. “There’s nothing to forgive, Nymph. You’re my mate. I love you no matter what and I always will.”
Chapter 11
Celebration
Cheers rose up from the Rebels as they gathered around. “We’re so grateful to you.” The people on the wagon train crowded near. Major Blakely shook Ty’s hand with enthusiasm. “You did it. We weren’t sure what happened. Somehow you managed to save us.” Major Blakely’s wife, Effie gripped Ty in a hug. If you hadn’t taken that vampire out, I don’t know what would have happened.” Effie reached up and kissed him on the cheek.
“I didn’t do anything really.” Ty tried to downplay the whole attack. The less expanding on what had occurred the better off for everyone.
Mrs. Blakely stepped toward General Stewart. “We’re grateful to you too, sir.”Mrs. Blakely reached out and took his hand in hers, pumping it in excited appreciation. “My but you’re cold. Are you coming down with something?”
Major Blakely took his wife’s hand. “That’s enough, dear, the General’s had a long night. We should let him get some rest.”
Briann slipped an arm around Jeb and smiled up into his face. “You are my hero, General.”
He pulled her close as Ethan and Nathanial stood next to them.
Ty’s arms came around Sonja and drew her into his side. “How are you?”
“Better. The wound is almost gone. The bandage is for the others.” She smiled hesitantly at him. “You saved all our lives, Ty. Thank you!” For the first time in over five hours, she could breathe without a weight on her chest. “You’re wonderful!”
With relief and joy, she flung her arms around Ty’s neck and hugged him hard. “I could kiss you!” Her arms looped around his neck and her mouth hovered under his so close she could feel his breath, all warm on uneven exhales. Did he feel that? The exquisite rush of fire up his neck and down his backbone had to be intense, it was for her. Sonja slowly released him and inched back. “I’m sorry. I’m so happy, I’m afraid I got carried away. Everyone’s watching.”
Ty reached out and snatched her back into his arms. “No, Nymph, you have every right to share in the victory. I couldn’t have done it without you.” With a wicked grin, he growled, “Let everyone watch.”
Their lips met in a coming home kind of kiss where body parts molded to familiar territory.
&n
bsp; The End
Books by Catherine Wolffe
The Lady in the Mist (The Western Werewolf Legend #1)
The Civil War took Sonja Brooks' husband and left her alone. Unprotected and scared, she runs headlong into a life-changing event when she is attacked by a wolf. Her fate as a werewolf is sealed. When she stumbles upon Ty Loflin, a Rebel soldier dying of his wounds, she nurses him back to health. He is the perfect mate but will he want her once he knows the truth?
In Book 1 of this new series by Award-winning author Catherine Wolffe, the Western Werewolf Legend weaves a new blend of western romance with paranormal elements involving werewolves and vampires.
Buyer’s link: The Lady in the Mist http:/tinyurl.com/bbm7ggk
The Lady in the Mist – Free Sample http://tinyurl.com/ammhgwg
Comanche Haven (The Loflin Legacy: Book 1)
From the moment Celia, the emerald-eyed, Comanche half-breed, gets off the stage in Tyler, Texas, Seth Loflin realizes he is on a collision course with the past. She was his first love and now the Shooter Creek's ranch boss can't allow her to succumb to the danger that stalks her. Someone wants to kidnap her and sell her as a slave, but now that she's in his protective arms, he intends to keep her safe.
Celia can't run back to the safety of her former life in South Carolina. If she stays at Shooter Creek with Seth, she'll be putting the man she has always loved and his ranch in danger of harboring a Comanche. Seth refuses to leave her side, and his vow to protect her gives Celia the hope and courage she needs. Now she'll fight for her new life with Seth...or die trying.
Buyer’s link: Comanche Haven http://tinyurl.com/asbadal
Comanche Haven – Free Sample http://tinyurl.com/bps6rtp
A Dance in Time (J.T. Leighton, Time Traveler #1)
J.T. Leighton was a good Marine until one extraordinary night in Iraq. Now he’s a good Private Investigator with special skills. He’s on the trail of a woman who’s acquired a priceless necklace. His superiors want her killed, but J.T. wants her. Discovering why will put their lives in jeopardy.
Jessie Colter always wanted to be a dancer. Now, her life’s on hold until she can understand what the strange request left by her deceased parents means. She turns to J.T. Leighton, the only person who believes her, and in doing so, understands more than she’d ever imagined.
Buyer’s link: A Dance in Time http://tinyurl.com/c24lup9
Learn more at www.catherinewolffe.com
catherinewolffe.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/AwardWinningAuthorCatherineWolffe
http://twitter.com/catherinewolffe/
http://www.freado.com/users/34241/Catherine-Wolffe
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Catherine Wolffe enjoys writing. She loves experimenting with the genres and her latest book reflects a blending of the traditional western romance with paranormal elements. Dabbling in time travel, fantasy, as well as witchcraft, she mixes elements of the fanciful or otherworldly with solid historical figures. Showcasing cowboys, Indians, strong-willed women and steamy romance is her passion. In her romances, her heroines will have a mind of their own, while her heroes will have hearts of gold. All her characters will follow their dreams, because without them, there wouldn't be a story.
Waking Up Dead (The Western Werewolf Legend #1) Page 15
