Ashton Grove Werewolves (Boxed Set, Vol. 2)

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  Deacon nodded, flashed a smile at Kendall, then headed down the hall.

  “I don’t remember meeting him before,” Kendall said.

  “He’s been at all of the practice fights, but he’s kind of quiet. Unless Colin pulled him over to introduce you, I don’t think he’d approach you. Not until he got used to you being around, anyway.” Chloe smiled. “He’s one of Ramsey’s best friends, and since Ramsey is one of Kiera’s best friends, you’ll see him around here often enough.”

  “There are just too many people to remember.” Kendall sighed. “I should make everyone wear nametags.”

  Chloe laughed. “I know how you feel. We’ve had a huge influx of wolves and other shifters since Ramsey took over recruitment. I know it was mostly to bulk us up before the demons get here, but I really do hope everyone makes it out okay. I’ve come to care for all of these people and I can’t begin to imagine my life without them. I know if Ramsey looses Deacon he’ll be devastated.”

  “Not half as much as if he lost you,” Kendall said. “That’s what has me so scared. What if I make it and Colin doesn’t?”

  “Then you’ll lean on the pack and we’ll pick you up and carry you as far as you need us to. We’re here for each other, no matter what. And I’d like to hope that everyone would do the same for me if I lost Gabriel,” Kiera said.

  “You’re not going to lose Gabriel, don’t even think that way,” Chloe told her. “We just have to think positive. If we believe those we love will pull through, then they will.”

  Kiera shook her head sadly. “No, I know we aren’t all making it out of this alive. Aislinn refuses to tell me what’s going to happen, but she’s seen it. Whatever you do, make sure your loved knows you how much you love them. Don’t hesitate to say the words.”

  Kendall traced the edge of the counter. “Colin and I haven’t gotten that far yet. We’re still learning about each other. I know I care about him, deeply, but I don’t know that it’s love. And he hasn’t said anything about loving me, so I’m sure he feels the same. Just because you’re destined to spend your lives together doesn’t mean love comes automatically.”

  “I think he loves you,” Chloe said with a smile. “It’s in the way he watches you, his eyes track your every move. And he smiles when you laugh, that goofy endearing smile of his. And I’ve watched the two of you together. When he’s talking to you, or even just standing with you, you have his attention. No one exists but you in that moment.”

  “Really?” Kendall asked.

  “I’ve noticed it, too,” Kiera said. “So maybe you need to figure out what it is you’re feeling.”

  Kendall nodded.

  Chloe pulled out a bottle of chilled white wine. “Come on. Let’s go watch something sappy and romantic and drink a glass of wine. We can’t really do anything until Levi and Deacon are done, anyway.”

  Kiera grabbed a bottle of grape juice from the fridge and poured a large amount in a wine glass. “I may not be able to drink alcohol right now, but I can pretend.”

  Chloe handed Kendall a full glass and grabbed one for herself before putting the wine away. The trio went into the living room. Chloe and Kendall curled up on the sofa while Kiera selected a movie. Once the disc was loaded, she joined them and flicked the TV on with the remote.

  “I hope you like older romantic comedies,” Kiera said.

  Chloe groaned. “You put on Overboard again, didn’t you?”

  Kiera just grinned and sipped her juice.

  Kendall enjoyed her girl-time with Kiera and Chloe, and she liked watching the movie, even if she had seen it once or twice before. About halfway through, the guys came in letting them know they were finished with the tables. Not two minutes after that, two of the shifter women arrived with their hands full. It seemed it was time to get to work.

  * * *

  The hours flew and eventually the house and yard were full of werewolves, shapeshifters and their human mates and lovers. Gabriel, Terrell and two other wolves were grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. Marin and Cole were handing out drinks, while Kiera played hostess. Colin and sneaked in with a group of wolves and taken Kendall by surprise.

  His arm curled around her waist. “Have you had a good day today?”

  “Yes, I’ve enjoyed my time with Kiera and Chloe. They’re both great.”

  “Good.”

  “Your brother and Aislinn seem tense tonight.”

  “I think they’ve been fighting, which isn’t good, because those two never fight. It means something big is going to happen, and I mean that in a bad way. I think he wants to tell us what’s going to happen and she won’t let him,” Colin said.

  “Why would she want to keep it from us? Maybe it could save a life.”

  “She probably thinks it would distract us. If you knew one particular person you loved was going to die, wouldn’t you shift your focus to that one person during the fight instead of doing your best to stay alive and keep those around you safe?”

  Kendall nodded. “I see your point. It’s not a burden I would want to carry.”

  A whistle rent the air and Colin looked at his twin.

  “Can I have everyone’s attention?” Connor said. “I know we’re celebrating tonight, celebrating life, but Aislinn has had another vision. The demons will be here tomorrow. So enjoy yourselves tonight, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, because in the morning we’re gathering in the woods on the edge of town. We’ll meet there at dawn.”

  Kendall gripped Colin’s hand.

  There were murmurings around the yard. Levi stepped forward.

  “I just wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed being part of the Ashton Grove pack. I know I haven’t been here long, but I’ve made some good friends. It’s unrealistic of me to think we’ll all make it, but that’s what I’m hoping for.”

  Connor gripped his shoulder. “We’re happy to have you with us, Levi.”

  Kendall watched the couples pair off and hold one another. The single men and women kind of grouped together to offer comfort to one another. The gaiety of the night had faded, and now they were faced once more with the seriousness of their situation. No matter what tomorrow would bring, she needed to tell Colin how she felt.

  “Colin, I—“

  He placed a finger over her lips to silence her. “If you’re going to tell me you love me, just because of what we’re facing tomorrow, save it. I already know how much you care about me, and I hope you know how I feel about you. That’s all that matters. We don’t need words.”

  She smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tight. “You’re one amazing man, Colin Tierney.”

  “You’re the one who’s amazing, sweetheart. Now come on, let’s finish our food and drinks. I’d like to get you home to celebrate in our own way.”

  She gave him a warm smile and turned back to her plate. No matter what tomorrow would bring, tonight would be a night for making memories.

  Chapter Ten

  The wolves were in position, alphas out front with Aislinn and Eric. The women and children were in the center of the group with Ben, Lucas, Hunter and Tyler for protection. Colin was nearby, not wanting to be far from Kendall, despite his brother’s order to remain near Aislinn. He loved his sister-in-law and understood his brother’s fear, but Colin wasn’t going to leave his mate unprotected just because his brother was focused on one thing only.

  Ramsey, Deacon and Levi were on his left flank; Terrell, Monroe and Seybrook were on his right. They were all braced for trouble and spoiling for a fight, even though Colin knew Ramsey was worried about Harper and his unborn child.

  He glanced over his shoulder at his mate and gave her an encouraging smile. They were in the woods on the outskirts of town, as far from the residents of Ashton Grove as possible. As they waited, poised for anything, the sound of engines met their ears. At the edge of the woods, the engines died. Colin was tense, watchful, not knowing which direction the demons would come from. A rustle off to the right drew his atten
tion, his gaze sharpened on the wooded area. There, he could just make out the form of someone, or something slinking through the shadows. Another rustle, this one off to the left, had him looking in that direction. Another shadowy form. It seemed they weren’t going to attack from one direction, but from all directions. He was torn, not knowing where to focus first. The demons had forgone their human forms and were present in all their demonic glory, light gray skin, inky black hair and pitch black eyes.

  The decision was taken from him when a body hurtled toward him, knocking him off balance. The scent of sulfur was heavy in the air and he tried not to gag. The guy was huge, at least six inches taller than Colin, and twice as broad. It was like coming up against a wall of steel, but he fought to get the upper hand. The demon pinned him by the throat, straddled his body. Colin tried, in vain, to pry the demon’s hand loose. When that didn’t work, he reached up and shoved his thumb into the demon’s eye, making the beast howl. Black sludge oozed from the wound and an unholy fire lit his remaining eye, but his grip loosened just enough for Colin to slip free.

  Jerking a knife from his belt, a knife blessed by the angels, he slit the demon’s throat, watching as the black blood pooled on the ground. A hand clasped his shoulder and he whirled to face his attacker. Except it wasn’t an attacker, it was the angel Adriel.

  “Easy, wolf. I’ll watch over your mate. Your cousin needs your help.”

  Colin scanned the chaos around him. Wolves fought in both human and animal form, but he immediately saw the problem. Two demons had Gabriel pinned. One had raked his claws down the alpha’s arm and across his thigh. The other held a blade against his ribs, and Colin had little doubt that it was forged in the fires of hell, just like the branding iron used on Kendall. He knew his cousin would suffer greatly and the wound would not be healed easily, if at all.

  With one last glance at his mate, who was also battling a demon, he sprinted the distance to Gabriel’s side. Digging his knife into one of the demons’ sides, he sliced hard and deep, spilling a good deal of blood and drawing the demon’s ire. When the monster turned to face him, he fought with everything he had, hacking and slashing. It only seemed to enrage the demon further. As the beast moved in for another attack, Colin dug the blade into its belly, spilling its intestines on the ground. One down. He turned to his cousin, who was still grappling with the other one.

  Gripping the demon’s hair, Colin jerked the monster’s head back and sliced his throat. Gabriel was covered in black blood, but at least he was safe. Bloodied and battered, but safe. Colin looked around at the carnage. Angels and wolves fighting side by side, demons falling one after another, but they weren’t the only ones. Austin, Ben, Thomas, Jeremy, James and several other wolves had fallen. His heart stuttered in his chest when he looked at the women. Four women were down and he watched in horror as a demon attacked Kiera and her infant daughter. Colin and Gabriel both ran for her. Colin’s eyes widened in horror as the demon snatched the infant from Kiera’s arms. A moment later, the squalling baby was silent. Too silent. After dropping the child to the ground, the demon reached for Kiera. She screamed, an unholy sound of pain and fury, and hacked at the demon with the knife clutched in her hand. The demon batted the weapon away and with his claws tore out Kiera’s throat.

  A sound unlike any he’d heard before was ripped from Gabriel as he ran to his wife and daughter. Colin launched himself at the demon, tackling him to the ground. He felt his flesh give several times as the demon tore at him with his claws, but finally, he put the beast down. Staggering to his feet, his heart ached for his cousin and for the loss of Kiera and the baby. Gabriel was on the ground, cradling his dead wife and child in his arms, tears streaking his cheeks. Colin wanted to offer him comfort, but there was no time.

  Michael was down, but he was still fighting. Cole had blood running down his arm from a shoulder wound and a cut across his brow. Connor was by Aislinn’s side, battered and bloody, but still on his feet. Aislinn herself was surrounded by the glow of magick and didn’t have a single scratch on her.

  Colin looked across the group of women and found Kendall, holding a vial of blood. With a smile, he realized she’d bested the demon who’d branded her and had acquired his blood, all on her own. He was proud of her, and so very thankful that she was alive and well. If anything had happened to her, his life would’ve been over. She’d only been a part of his world for a week, but already she was the most important thing to him.

  Jophiel, another angel, stepped to his side.

  “The demons are retreating,” the angel said. “We’ve depleted their numbers, only a handful survived.”

  Colin sighed. “Yes, but at what cost? Look at how many of ours have fallen.”

  Jophiel looked at Gabriel. “Yes. If I could change things, if I could give life back to those who lost their lives today, I would. But that isn’t within my power.”

  “What about Remiel and Zadkiel? Or Adriel? What about them?”

  He shook his head. “None of us can give you back what you’ve lost today. I’m truly sorry. It’s time for us to return to Heaven. Your sorcerer and sorceress will heal your wounded.”

  “Thank you for everything you did here today,” Colin said. “We wouldn’t have fared as well without you. If you hadn’t blessed our blades, given us strength in numbers, it would’ve been a slaughter today.”

  “It was our pleasure. Keep your mate close and cherish her always. She’s a strong one.”

  Colin smiled. “I know. There’s not another like her in all the world.”

  Jophiel grinned, and in a flash of bright light, was gone.

  Colin hurried to Kendall’s side and took her in his arms. He wiped a smudge of demon goo from her cheek and kissed her. Never had he been so happy to see someone. He breathed in her scent and held her close, loving the feel of her body against his. Her heart was still racing and a slight tremor raked her from head to toe, but she was safe and that’s all that was important. Nothing else mattered.

  His gaze strayed to Gabriel. Cole had a hand on his brother’s shoulder, trying to lend comfort. Marin, looking like she’d fought her fair share, knelt at his side, tears streaking her face. Colin looked for Michael and saw him still down on the ground. Aislinn knelt over him, her hands glowing as she healed his injuries. Needing to make sure his cousin was all right, he tugged Kendall along with him as he made his way across the corpses of both demons and wolves.

  “Is he going to be okay?” Colin asked.

  “His walk will never be the same again, but yes, he’s going to be fine. Demon blood seeped into his wound on his knee and infected the bone. I’ve healed as much of it as I can, but he’s going to have a slight limp from this point forward.”

  “I’m alive, that’s all that matters,” Michael said. He looked around. “Where’s Chloe? Morgan?”

  “They’re both fine,” Colin assured him. He glanced over his shoulder. “They’re... they’re with Gabriel.”

  Michael tensed. “What’s wrong with Gabriel?”

  “Your brother is fine. It’s Kiera and Radha. They didn’t make it.”

  Tears gathered in Michael’s eyes. “Get me to my brother.”

  Releasing Kendall, Colin helped Michael stand. Together, they made their way to Gabriel’s side. He had yet to release his wife and tiny daughter. Colin knew it was worse than just losing his wife and child, Gabriel had lost two children. He didn’t know if the alpha would ever recover.

  The sorcerer came over and knelt in front of Gabriel. “It’s time to let go, alpha. There’s nothing you can do for them now.”

  “I should’ve protected them, stayed by their side.”

  “You had other responsibilities, an entire pack to guard. You can’t blame yourself for this,” Eric said. “Give them to me.”

  Gabriel’s arms tightened around his precious bundle.

  “Your wounds need to be tended. Demon blood is seeping into them.”

  The alpha pressed one final kiss to his beloved’s forehe
ad and then handed her and his daughter to the sorcerer. Eric gathered them close. Murmuring words no one could hear, a light surrounded Kiera and Radha, and then they vanished.

  Gabriel gave a hoarse cry and reached for them.

  “Easy, wolf. They’re safe. I saved you the trouble of burying them. There are now two new graves in the Andrews plot in the local cemetery. You can visit them once you’re well and your pack has been tended.”

  Eric began healing Gabriel’s wounds, but as the claw-like tears in his arms and thigh healed, they left behind white scars, as did the jagged streak down the right side of his face. But far worse were the scars left on his heart, the ones left by the loss of his wife and children. Colin had no doubt that Gabriel would be forever a changed man.

  The sorcerer and Aislinn made their way through the fallen wolves and women, healing those who needed it. Connor began making a pile of bodies, separating the wolves from the demons. Colin knew he should help his brother, but he was loathe to leave his mate’s side even for a moment. She’d fought like a warrior princess today, but it had left her shaken and she needed him. Even more, he needed her.

  Aislinn approached him. “Colin, it’s your turn. You need to be healed.”

  He held still while she worked her magic, knowing he would have scars from the day’s battle thanks to demon blood seeping into his wounds, much like it had Gabriel’s. But he would wear his with pride and honor, wearing them as a badge of courage and victory. He knew his cousin wouldn’t see them in the same light, and for that, he was truly sorry. He wished there was something he could do, some way to change the events of the past few minutes.

  By some miracle, Kendall only had superficial scratches, which were easily healed without any scarring. His mate had done well, very well. Once she was healed, he gathered her in his arms and kissed her, needing to taste her. He wanted nothing more than to carry her away from the carnage, back to their home, and make love to her for the rest of the day. But he wouldn’t leave until he knew he wasn’t needed.

  He watched as the remaining wolves, those who’d survived the attack and been healed, stood around, looking lost. His gaze strayed to Gabriel and Connor. His brother consoled Gabriel, who looked like someone had ripped his heart out, and in a sense, they had. Obviously, his alphas weren’t going to be of any use right now. Michael and Cole had gathered their wives close and were both lost in a private moment.