by Kim Faulks
She slashed and hacked, slipping in behind the beast to drag the blade across its neck. Black fur shone in the night vision hue as the blur slumped to the ground. But it wasn’t dead…not yet.
I lunged for her, bringing my weapon high and squeezed off a shot.
The bullet whipped, shredding branches until the round found its mark. An inhuman shriek tore free. This thing was no monster…and no shadow. Green eyes settled on me as an enormous panther clawed the ground.
Jesus…Jesus…
My father’s warning came to life.
Midnight monsters that move through the forest without a sound. The wolves were afraid—keeping in close to the fire and whimpering. Have you ever heard a pack of grown wolves whimper? The sound is terrifying.
X jerked her gaze to mine as I punched through the brush. But she wasn’t afraid—she was merciless.
Heavy breaths from the beast filled my ears. It lifted its head and stared at me with a murderous gleam.
Footsteps moved through the brush to my left. The silver glint of a wolf’s stare was punctured by the chilling green. Wolves and panthers moved as one to surround Major General Philip Kava as he stepped into view. He turned his head, stared at the beasts through night vision lenses and gave an order. “Kill them. Kill them all.”
15
X
The bitter stench of feline flooded the air and a low rumble followed. My wolf whimpered and the echo deepened, matching the black beast’s guttural snarl as it flanked right.
Easy, I whispered in my head. Easy now. A shudder raced along my spine as my wolf’s coarse hair rose along her hackles. They were everywhere, and nowhere—moving in like silent predators, and we were the prey.
And it was all my fault.
“Kill them,” the human snapped.
I found his scent amongst the others, it was weaker, putrid—the taste of a coward mingled with the sour tang of unease. He was afraid…and not just of us.
“They can smell it you know,” I murmured and stepped away from the still body of the feline at my feet. “That sick smell of fear. I can smell it too.”
The foul taste grew stronger as I moved.
“Kill that bitch last.” His voice broke as he whispered. “I want her to watch them die.”
“Been there, done that,” I answered as the memory of my pack surfaced.
There was nothing left now—nothing that hadn’t already been carved into my soul. I’d bled the same as my pack bled. I’d screamed the same as they screamed. All that was left for me now was to find the peace they found.
Hate pricked my skin and moved through my veins. I was a different beast—not just wolf—not just shifter. Pain and Hate made me what I was today…but Alpha…Alpha was something unexpected. He made me feel…whole.
Alpha took a step toward the wolves. Moonlight glinted off steel as he raised his hand and took aim. “To get to her, you’ll need to go through me.”
My pulse picked up pace, thrumming through my veins like a stampede. I could feel him more keenly than I felt myself. He was so focused, trained right down to every snap of a twig and every twitch of a shadow.
I sought out the center of these beasts and picked off our enemy in my mind. Bang…bang…bang…I knew where every round would hit. He took a step, pine needles crunched under his feet and I felt them under my own. He knew this terrain, knew how long he could run flat out before his hands started shaking.
He knew it all…and as this knowledge settled deep, I knew something else. Something that made my chest ache, something that made living not seem like a way out.
He loved me.
He truly and completely loved me.
I was everywhere, in his head, under his skin. The feel of my body encased his senses and the deeper I traveled the more powerful these desires grew—as though he somehow kept part of me nestled hard up against his heart, enclosed by the confines of his chest. He shifted his stance, his senses keenly aware of where I stood.
“I’m disappointed, Alpha,” the commander growled. “Being a Marine is in your blood. We’re your family. Your real family. You should’ve obeyed your uncle. You should’ve kept your mouth shut and stayed where you were.”
Alpha shook his head. I could feel his rage through our connection, like a sickness he couldn’t heal. “You threatened my family once before. You won’t threaten them again.”
A cry of No! ripped through the air as the shot rang out. The wolf moved fast, lunging in front of the commander as the bullet hit and drove him into the human.
A feline snarl came from my right. I swung my hand as the rest of the enemy closed in.
Alpha!
My focus narrowed and then divided to just me and him. Flashes of light filled the air, and the deafening blast of shots followed.
Alpha sprang forward, running for the pack of wolves and fired. I took one last look at the young soldier behind me.
He gripped his leg and motioned me forward. “Go. I’m fine.”
The scent of blood lingered around him. The slash was deep, but not deep enough to find a vein. I gripped the tomahawk and shot forward. But the black beast was waiting, closing in the minute I moved.
Green eyes widened as the panther came for me and claws slashed the night. I relaxed my hold, letting the handle slide in my right fist and gripped the shaft with my left.
I blocked the swing with the end of the hatchet and punched with my right, burying the blade between the beast’s eyes. The animal stumbled, slowed, and those green eyes widened. I gripped tight and yanked, but the steel was wedged tight.
Ivory fangs glistened in the dark as the beast reared, dragging me along with it.
Not dead…
A shot punched the air and the animal shuddered. The fragile scent of mortal danced across my senses as Alpha’s father moved into view.
“Not dead!” I roared. “Stay back.”
But he never moved, only stared at the panther. His eyes were wide, hands trembling. He fired again, and then again, and with each shot, the beast bucked. One massive paw lashed out, extended claws raked the air and burrowed into the ground.
Muscles rolled under thick fur. The panther pushed upwards, lifting my feet from the ground and climbed to its feet.
Alpha’s father was a blur as the beast shook its body, whipping me from side to side. The blade was my only hope. I wrapped my legs around its belly and gripped the handle of the hatchet.
Come on…
I yanked until my tendons screamed and my shoulder popped. But there was no give. Panic reared, fighting its way to the surface.
“Dad!” Alpha screamed as the panther hunkered down. “Dad!”
I could feel the tension, feel the ripple of muscle as the animal paused ready to spring, and in that moment, I could see the end.
Blood coated my vision in a vibrant hue, and my wolf rushed to the surface. Fangs carved the inside of my mouth. I clenched my thighs and wrenched the blade. My face slammed against thick fur as the panther drove its body into the air.
Canines carved deep. I gnawed and punctured, holding on as the powerful animal bucked underneath me. Warm flesh called to me. This was the rabbit all over again, its life in my hands, thundering with purpose. Fighting…fighting. I drove my fangs deeper, until the warm splash hit my face as we hit the ground. The brunt knocked my legs free. I held on, biting deeper, and drove my claws into the other side of its neck.
White-hot pain raked my side, but it was nothing…just a flare against the endless dark. The beast bucked, thrashing as the blow came once more. Wicked claws sliced deep and I held on, for Alpha, for his pack…for my pack—they were my pack now.
The panther’s paw hit the ground. The thunder against my lips was softer now—the storm sliding away, leaving blood to drench the ground. I drove my claws deeper, parting flesh, finding bone.
There was only one way…a final way to end its suffering. My wolf struck, digging deep, and shook her head with a sickening jolt. The brutal crack filled
the air, and as the sound echoed inside my ears, gunshots took its place.
Muzzle flashes lit up the night, but the beast was silent in my arms. I opened my mouth and dragged my fangs free, meeting lifeless green eyes.
“You saved me.” Ragged words broke through the deafening blasts.
I wrenched my claws free and lifted my gaze. Alpha’s father was mesmerized by the panther. He jerked his head up, meeting my gaze. “The midnight beast…you weren’t afraid.”
My muscles trembled as I dragged my hand through the air and swiped my mouth. Agony flared, burning deep into my side. I probed my ribs and hissed with the pain.
“You weren’t afraid,” he murmured once more. “Not like the others.”
He talked in riddles. His tone too high, too…fragile. I dragged my foot along the ground. My knees shuddered with the strain as I climbed to my feet. “It would’ve killed you.”
He flinched and looked at the ground. “Yes…yes it would have.”
“You are my mate’s father,” I murmured. “I could not allow that to happen.”
His eyes widened, white peeked out from the sides. “You and my boy, huh?”
My heart sped. My hands throbbed. Human and shifter…he wouldn’t…
Alpha’s father took a step. The movement too fast and my wolf was too close to the surface. My lips curled, a warning growl slipped free, filling the air with the throb of danger.
Alpha’s father opened his hands, palms up, and curled his shoulders, staring at the ground. Blood coated my hands and my face, filling my nose with the sickening scent of feline. Kill, my wolf whispered. Protect yourself, kill them all.
“I wanted to welcome you to the family,” he murmured to the forest floor. “I am so very glad to have you at my side.”
The snarl softened as he stilled. I dragged in the air as he bowed deeper with arms out wide. My heart thundered in my ears. But it wasn’t my pulse I could hear. I lifted my head and found Alpha through the trees.
“No!” A roar cut through the night. The cry unmistakable—Alpha. Gunshots cracked, coming from all directions. I stumbled in the dark, hypnotized by his pain. My knee gave way, twisting underneath me and the ground seemed to rise up.
Broken branches rammed into my side. I howled and rolled, spearing my claws into earth and shoved to my feet.
Alpha roared, firing shot after shot. He needed me…and I wasn’t there.
I wasn’t there…
“X!” Alpha’s father screamed behind me.
My claws slipped against the moss eaten rocks. I pushed forward, digging my nails into the soft bark of tree after tree.
I’m not there. Desperation drove me through the brush until the ground slipped from under my feet. I hit hard. Sparks danced behind my eyes, leading me down a path paved with agony.
Someone gripped me and pulled. My feet found traction, my knees wobbled and then locked tight. Shadows swayed, dancing together as the echo of gunfire dulled in the distance. I tried to focus on the outline, finding the hard curve of thick shoulders and glanced to the trees. “The others.”
The grip on my arm tightened, pulling me closer as a hand clamped over my mouth. The scent of sweet chemical pinched and twisted, stealing my breath as Diamond growled in my ear. “You don’t need to worry about them anymore.”
I sucked in a breath, driving the drug deeper into my lungs and tried to run. Senses fired, but the message was lost. In my head I was lunging, clawing, screaming for Alpha, but my feet never moved.
My claws were slow as I swung for his face. Nails gouged, barely leaving a mark, but his hand never moved from my mouth, drowning me with that suffocating scent. I dropped my hand, my fist felt like stone.
Cruel hands found me as my knees buckled. Moonlight splashed across his cheek as he came closer and those bottomless eyes consumed me. Bloodless lips curled into a smile.
He dropped his hand and gripped my waist. “Nighty night, X,” Diamond growled and heaved me into the air. “Won’t be long and we’ll be home.”
Darkness rushed in, surrounding me like the enemy I couldn’t escape. In this emptiness, I found no peace, and I found no family.
Rocks tumbled as I landed across his shoulder. Gunshots rang out. The sound so faint now, blending into the murky mess of nothing.
“X!”
The echo was haunting as my eyes drifted close.
“X! X, where are you?” Alpha screamed in the distance.
The heavy thud of boots resounded. I bounced with every step and in my mind I was calling…I’m here! Alpha, I’m over here.
A slick tear slipped from the corner of my eye to answer and as the darkness opened wide to claim me, I heard Alpha call me one last time.
“Ayita!”
I bounced and jolted, slamming against something soft, and I wrenched open my eyes. A steady hum wore at me. There was something familiar about the sound, almost like…tires—as if we were in a car.
“You’re awake.”
The hiss came from my right. I blinked as a light washed through the cabin. The Vampire blinked, his crusted, bloody face inches away. He cast a wary gaze over my shoulder and then moved close.
“Thought you’d never wake.”
I fought the urge not to recoil. “Where are they taking us?”
“Hell,” he answered and the life dulled in his eyes. “They’re taking us down to Hell.”
Agony ripped through my chest and the glare of headlights filled the car once more to light up the shattered bone shards in the Vampire’s face.
I swallowed the taste of terror and forced the words. “The others? Are they alive?”
“I don’t know.” Sadness filled his eyes. “We left before they…”
Air left my lungs. I nodded, not needing to hear the rest. Before they killed them all.
Inside my mind, the white walls of Hell closed in, and as they did, a cold, hard truth settled deep…
I’m not going back there, not ever again.
I’d rather die. I’d rather they kill me.
Towering buildings flashed by outside in the blink of an eye. Diamond gripped the wheel, his focus on the streets ahead, and cast one glance into the rearview mirror.
“Get us…to the building. The demons will do the rest,” the Commander snapped. His panicked words were punctured with a moan, and the scent of fresh blood filled the air.
“You asked me about the babies.”
I jerked my gaze to the Vampire. His eyes were alight, burning with need. Pointed fangs peeked out from split lips as he spoke. The skin on his face was cracked, empty fissures opened wide, and for a second I was spellbound. He glanced at the front seat before whispering. “The wolf and the dragon”
My stomach clenched tight. I nodded, watching a battle rage in his eyes. He didn’t want to tell me before, so why tell me now?
Because he thinks I’ll get out alive—and he’s suddenly not so sure he can keep them safe.
“There’s a cabin halfway along Cutney’s Hill. One hundred and three, point six miles southwest of the welcome sign to Newtuck. You will find them there…if they’re still alive.”
The babies…it was all too late. I wouldn’t survive in Hell, not for another second…not for another day. Joslyn…I’m so sorry.
My body hummed with an unseen current. Power burned, searing through my mind as Alpha roared to the surface.
Hold on…X. Just, a little longer baby, hold on for me. Jesus, can you hear me? Can you…feel me?
Warm brown eyes filled my mind followed with the heat of desire. A beep came from the front of the car, followed with another, and then another.
“Sonofabitch, does this bastard ever fucking die?” Diamond growled.
“Just get us to the goddamn building,” Kava moaned.
The smell of blood was choking. I could almost taste the tang.
Beep…beep…beep…
“Kava, he’s right behind us, getting closer.”
“There’s something else,” the Vampire
whispered, but I was gripped by the echo of that incessant sound. The Vamp’s voice grew louder, dragging me away. “Something no one’s told you. We aren’t…”
Movement came from the front. The gun was a blur.
“The fuck you do,” Diamond growled and pulled the trigger.
The gunshot was an icepick through my ears. The Vampire’s head snapped backwards, bits of skin and skull smacked me in the face.
Diamond’s murderous gaze settled on me for a second before he turned away, leaving me staring into the undead’s lifeless eyes with his words ringing in my ears…
There’s something else…something no one’s told you.
16
Alpha
“Wait, Alpha,” Artemas growled. “Just give me a second…you can’t go in there alone.”
“Can and will. There’s no one else, Senator.”
I gripped the wheel and stared straight ahead. Cars whipped past as though they were standing still. I urged the Jeep faster as though my will alone could bend time and speed.
A wave of pain blurred the road.
“Alpha…Alpha?”
I dropped my hand to the bullet wound in my thigh. “I’m here…Gunny, tell her…”
There was nothing but silence in my head. What could I say that hadn’t already been said? The image of her with the Dragon reared. She wasn’t the same…but love had a way of changing you. “Tell her, I hope the Dragon makes her happy, and if he doesn’t—well she knows how to kick ass better than anyone else I know.”
“Alpha, I don’t…”
Agony bit deep. I clenched my jaw, riding the cusp. “You’re the only one she’ll listen to…if it was anyone else she’d shoot them.”
The voice stilled on the other end, then deepened. “Please, let me call.”
“No time,” I murmured and glanced to the phone.
He was my last line…my last damn call. “Tell the others I love them, and I’ll meet them on the battlefield.”
My damn hand shook as I pressed the button, cutting off Senator Artemas Roth.
