Loved by The Alpha Wolf (The Lone Wolf Book 1)

by K. T. Stryker

  The rain began to fall again, dropping through the trees and falling heavily on them. Even with their water-repellent fur, they could easily get soaked in a heavy downpour. Ross’s chest rattled in frustration. They might have to find somewhere to shelter if the rain kept up. A soaked-to-the-skin wolf wasn't a good idea.

  Finally the sound of the river grew closer, the raindrops splashing on the water enhancing the sound. This way.

  The three wolves moved a little faster, picking up speed as they reached the river. Deliberately splashing through the water, Ross looked to his right and left, listening for any other sounds. The rain soaked through his fur as it continued to pour.

  We have to go, he said, making a decision. We’ll shelter if we have to.

  Connor and Jenny waited in the river for him to pass, allowing him to take the lead. They would have to keep to the river for some time, making sure their scent was hidden. Tension rippled down his spine, but Ross forced himself to walk slowly, barely able to see where he was going at times. Thunder rolled overhead, lightning flashing a few miles away. A low growl crept from his chest, echoed by Connor. They had to find somewhere to shelter soon.

  Chapter Nineteen

  I’ve never been this cold.

  Jenny snuggled closer to Ross, her nose still working furiously as she sniffed through the rain, trying to find the scent of anyone following them.

  Nothing, Ross said to reassure her. We’ll just need to stay here until it stops raining so heavily.

  The small, dug-out cavern they’d found just to the right of the river was dry at least, but even with the three of them pressed tightly together, Jenny still struggled not to shiver. Her fur was soaked, which hadn’t ever happened before. Normally she was quite happy trotting about in the rain, but this torrent had worked its way past her fur and seeped into her bones.

  To her surprise, Ross licked the side of her face gently, as though he realized just how cold she was. It was such an intimate gesture, something that spoke to her about a future and about a life together with him. A slow certainty wrapped itself around her heart as they sat in hiding. She had found her mate for life. Ross licked her again, cleaning the water drops from her face before nuzzling into her side for a moment. Jenny pressed her face back against his, drawing reassurance and strength from him. Whether he decided she would have to stay with the East River pack, Jenny knew her heart would be with him. She'd have to return to him. Her wolf wouldn't let her stay away for too long.

  Exhaustion filled her as warmth finally crept back into her limbs. The sound of the raindrops on the water was peaceful music pushing her toward sleep when she knew she should be waiting and watching.

  Go to sleep, Jenny, Ross said, touching his muzzle to hers. They can’t find us just now. The rain’s too heavy. I’ll wake you when it’s time to move.

  Jenny wanted to protest, wanted to say she was fine, but she couldn’t even think straight. Trusting Ross would protect them all, she closed her eyes and let herself drift off to sleep.

  Jenny.

  A cold nose dug into her side.

  Jenny.

  Blinking, Jenny’s body came alive at once, taking in all the sights and sounds. The rain had finally stopped its torrential downpour, now much lighter and less able to pass through her fur. Pulling herself to her feet, Jenny dragged in a breath but couldn’t smell anything strange.

  Are they here?

  Connor stepped outside of their small hideout, his paws splashing in the water. No. We need to move.

  Ignoring the growing hunger in the pit of her belly, Jenny followed Connor and Ross, moving quickly through the water. They were going in the opposite direction to the water, climbing up the small hill before descending a little and then climbing another one.

  Jenny didn’t know how long she had walked. Her paws were cold, although the rain had stopped some time ago. Her mouth hung open as she panted, steam slowly rising from her bodies as the sun began to shine in earnest. Her entire body was still tense, desperate to pick up even the slightest sound that would alert them to danger.

  Not long now, Connor said, turning to face her. East River Pack live at the top of this hill.

  Glancing up, Jenny saw the steep path they had still to climb, trying not to think about catching a delicious rabbit to fill her empty stomach. Lowering her head, she drank greedily from the river, with Ross and Connor doing the same.

  This is where we leave the river, Ross explained, stepping out on to the bank. The river continues to flow downstream. We’re going up.

  Coming out of the water made her sense of danger practically double. Her ears twitched, listening all around as she followed Ross. Connor took his place behind her, making her feel a little more secure, but something still felt wrong. Her steps slowed as her sense of uneasiness grew.

  Something’s wrong.

  Ross turned to look at her, his eyes almost luminous. She saw his ears stand up straighter, listening intently. I don’t hear anything. What’s wrong?

  She couldn’t explain it. Her wolf instincts were going crazy, warning her that danger was nearby.

  We’re only a mile away from the pack, Connor said, walking up beside her. They’re waiting for us.

  Jenny kept her nose low to the ground, sniffing hard for any kind of unfamiliar scent. There was nothing. She kept walking, keeping close to Ross and Connor, still unable to get rid of the feeling that forced her hackles to rise.

  Ross too had his nose to the ground, his ears taking in every single sound. Her wariness had him on edge. She knew he’d been trying hard not to lead Davidson and the others to the East River pack, which is why they’d taken such a roundabout road and were now walking the last few miles. Trying to convince herself that she was just anxious about finally meeting the East River pack, Jenny lifted her nose from the ground and trotted forward.

  A sudden crack made them freeze, immediately motionless. Connor’s lip drew back as a growl came from his throat. Ross’s tail pointed straight up, his own growl sounding as there came a strange whisper from the trees ahead.

  Jenny looked around, trying desperately not to move her head. Who was there?

  A loud retort had her jumping to the left, away from Connor and Ross and into a cluster of bushes. Her throat rolled with a howl of fear, but she kept it pressed down as she pushed her body into the dirt. Looking back at where she’d come from, she couldn’t see either Ross or Connor. What she did see chilled her to the bone.

  It was a tranquilizer dart.

  Chapter Twenty

  Ross threw himself to the side, his paws scrabbling in the dirt as he found a place to hide. His hackles rose as he lay next to Connor, his ears pressed firmly back against his head as he looked all around.

  There’s an upwind.

  Frustration filled Ross as he realized what Connor was saying. Their scent had been blowing up the hill toward whoever was there, which meant it had been almost impossible to anticipate anyone lying in wait for them.

  Ross’s mind filled with questions. How had they known they were moving up this way toward the East River pack? Had they been hiding, just waiting for them to appear? The edge of the hill led to a steep drop on his right side, which meant they would have had to have gone all the way around to the other side of the hill before climbing up. He'd not heard an engine. Maybe they'd parked it somewhere and walked uphill when they'd been sheltering from the rain, although that still didn't explain how they'd known Ross and the others were traveling toward the East River pack.

  His chest rattled in warning as his eyes picked up the small tranquilizer dart stuck into the ground, just where they'd been standing. He had no doubt that it was Davidson and his allies, the Damsons. They were obviously still trying to tranquilize them just so they could have their fun before killing the shifters in some twisted form of revenge.

  What are we going to do?

  Ross had no plan of attack, not yet. He couldn’t even see where the dart had come from, still hearing the echo of the snapp
ing branch jangle through his mind. Jenny’s instincts had been right. They had been in danger.

  “I know you’re here,” came a familiar voice. “No good hiding her from me now. I will have all of you.”

  Ross felt Connor tense immediately as Davidson stepped out into the clearing, the tranquilizer gun dangling from his hand. His face was filled with evil victory, his mouth more of a leer than a smile.

  His wolf pushed back into Ross without warning, forcing his human skin to burst out. With a groan, he stood as his bones finished snapping back into place, breathing hard as the pain left him. Walking toward Davidson, Ross held his head high, completely unashamed of his nakedness. He was a shifter after all. He was proud of that. No one, not even a man like Davidson, was going to intimidate him.

  “Out of hiding are we?” Davidson jeered. “It won’t matter, I’m afraid. I want all of you.”

  Ross met his gaze steadily. “And that includes your own two shifters, does it?”

  Davidson shifted uncomfortably, his grin fading slightly. “They work for me. They’re not like you.”

  “Like me?” Ross asked, tipping his head a little. “What do you mean? I didn’t kill your wife.”

  Shock flooded Davidson’s face, which was then swiftly replaced with anger. “You’re all murdering savages,” he spat, his face now a deep red. “It’s unnatural, your abilities. Utterly abnormal. This world doesn’t need your twisted kind. They’ll thank me, one day, for putting you in the ground.”

  Ross opened his mouth to speak, suddenly aware of a slight rustling to his right. Jenny. Inwardly, he begged her to stay still and to stay silent. He couldn't let her get hurt, not now. To his surprise, a long, drawn-out howl came from his left, startling both him and Davidson. It came again before the rustling grew louder as Connor moved away from where he'd been sitting.

  “Go find that wolf,” Davidson screeched as two other people emerged from the trees. “And the other one, my beautiful Jenny. I would prefer to kill them myself, but if you have to…” He shrugged, lifting his tranquilizer gun and pointing it directly at Ross’s chest. Being so close, Ross knew there was no way he was going to miss.

  Still, tension left his body. Connor had risked a lot in letting out that howl, but Ross knew immediately what his intention had been. The East River pack were waiting for them. Hopefully, one of them would hear his howl and come looking. It was just as well. It looked as though they would need all the help they could get.

  “Your wife’s death must have been terrible,” Ross continued, trying to stay calm in the face of sheer fury. “But no one in my pack was involved. I promise you. Shifters aren’t killers.”

  “Of course you’d say that,” Davidson mocked, his finger jumping near the trigger. “You’re not going to confess to killing her, are you? All because she married a human instead of one of your kind.”

  A slight frown crossed Ross’s face. “That’s what you think happened?”

  Davidson’s face twisted with pain and fury. “She told me about herself, about her shifter abilities,” he sneered. “I was surprised, of course, but we were married by then, so what could I do? In time, I grew to accept it. She never shifted when I was around, didn’t want to expose me to the other side of her.” He swallowed, hard. “She always told me shifters were expected to marry within their own kind, laughed about how she’d made an exception for me. Sometimes she joked they’d come to get her for it.” His eyes narrowed. “Looks like you did.”

  Ross knew it was a lost cause, trying to convince Davidson that he and his pack weren't involved. He couldn't even be sure that it had been shifters who'd killed Davidson's wife since many true wolves roamed the forests. Davidson's anger had pushed him toward insanity, where he was hell bent on killing as many shifters as he could, eking out his revenge in the only way he could.

  “So, you’re going to kill the Damsons when you’re finished, then?” he asked quietly. “They’re shifters too, Davidson.”

  “I need them,” Davidson roared, his eyes blazing. “I don’t like it, but I need them.”

  “What did you give them to get them to help you?”

  Davidson snorted. "I didn't give them anything. I found them first, but they begged me to let them help so that I wouldn't take their lives. When I'm finished rounding you all up, they'll be the only two shifters left. They're brother and sister, so the shifter genes will die with them. It'll be all over."

  Ross shook his head at the man’s naivety. “You’ll never get all of us.”

  "Oh, I will," Davidson retorted, his voice lowering to an almost deadly whisper. "Your pack is just the beginning You're all connected, aren't you? Somehow, I'll make sure you're all just a pile of bones left on the ground." His grin widened. "After all, no one's going to think anything of a pile of wolf carcasses in the forest, are they?"

  “We will never tell you anything about our kind,” Ross spat. “Our loyalty is -”

  “Your loyalty is a joke!” Davidson interrupted, his voice growing louder. “How do you think we knew where you were headed? The East River pack are near here, aren’t they?” He snorted. “Some loyalty.”

  Ross tensed as the man’s finger moved near the trigger. He didn’t know what to do or where to run. His wolf tore through his skin, pushing him to the ground. At the same time, another wolf jumped from behind Davidson, jaws open, as it bit Davidson’s arm, forcing him to drop the tranquilizer gun.

  Rushing forward, Ross pulled on the gun with his jaws, pulling it toward the edge of the hill, knowing there was a steep drop. It bounced off the rocks as it fell, Ross’s ears picking up the sound as he raced back to where Jenny was growling at Davidson.

  “Ah, so this is Jenny,” Ross heard Davidson say. “You escaped once, but not this time. I’ll be more than happy to kill you right here.”

  He pulled a knife from his pocket with his good hand, pressing the latch so that the blade flashed forward as he gripped the handle.

  Ross growled loudly, circling behind Davidson. He saw Jenny on the other side, her teeth bared as she stood her ground. There was no sign of fear as they encircled Davidson together, who stood with a look of uncertainty in his eyes.

  A sudden yelp caught Ross's ears. A force slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. Righting himself, Ross backed away slightly from the hill's edge, keeping his eyes fixed on the dark gray wolf who was now defending Davidson.

  You’re a traitor to your kind, Ross growled, hating the shifter who stood in front of him. Chasing down your kin just to save your own hide. His hackles rose, his teeth bared as growls poured from his throat. His eyes caught sight of Jenny jumping away as Davidson’s slashed his knife, attempting to wound her. Thankfully, it missed by a good few inches, but the danger was clear. Ross made his way over to her side, hoping that Connor was OK. He’d not heard a single thing from him for a few minutes, and the other Damson shifter was out there somewhere. They had to put a stop to Davidson’s scheme. They had to take a stand.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Jenny bared her teeth, refusing to back down. Her hatred for Davidson overwhelmed her fear, forcing her to action. She wouldn’t kill him—she wasn’t a murderer, but she wanted him brought to his knees while they waited for the East River pack to come. Connor’s howl would bring them soon.

  Moving forward, she avoided Davidson’s knife once more, seeing the blood dripping from his other hand where she’d bitten him. The sight only fueled her further.

  I can do this, Ross.

  She didn't need to look at him or even need him to respond. She just needed him to trust that she could be part of the pack, work with him to bring Davidson down. Even with the Damson shifter attempting to defend Davidson, Jenny didn't lose focus. Everything around her became still as she focused entirely on the man in front of her—the man who had locked her in his cellar, who had tried to force her wolf out of her so that he could put a knife to her throat.

  With a harsh bark, Ross launched himself at the Damson shifter, becoming a
whirlwind of teeth and fur and growls. Suddenly distracted by what had happened, Davidson glanced away, giving Jenny the opportunity she needed.

  Springing forward, she sank her teeth into Davidson’s arm, hearing his scream of pain. The knife fell from his hand, and she kicked it into the grass, ignoring the sudden pain in her paw as she loosened her grip. She couldn’t let him get it again.

  “You evil bitch,” Davidson shouted, his face paling as his eyes bulged from his head. “I should have killed you when I had the chance!” Stumbling back, he pressed his arm to his waist, blood soaking his shirt.

  Jenny advanced, refusing to let him run to safety. He would see that she was strong, that her pack was strong. He would be held by the East River pack until they found out everything they needed to from him. What happened to him after that wasn’t her concern. Her mouth rippled with a quiet growl as she saw the sudden sheen of fear in his eyes.

  Without warning, Davidson turned and ran. Stumbling through the bushes and long grass, he looked back to her as he ran, attempting to get away. Jenny leaped after him—only to see him disappear completely.