WOLF (Wolf River Book 1)

by Alaska Angelini

  My head lowered as my mind swirled. The sheriff began arguing in the background, but I heard none of it. If Morton had bad blood and he was the one who attacked me, then…

  “You catch on quickly. You’re a smart woman. I knew that from the first moment we spoke. But you don’t have to worry. I’m going to do for you what our poor sheriff was too kind-hearted to do for that young man.”

  Faster, I moved back, bumping right into the deputy who I’d forgotten was standing behind me. His hands locked on my arms, holding me as I thrashed against his hold.

  “But what if I don’t have bad blood? What if you’re wrong?”

  Caleb glanced to the other cops. “This needs to happen. It’s for the best.” He paused. “Take her deep into the woods so her blood doesn’t mix in with the evidence we’re going to stage. I don’t want her accident a part of this scene.”

  “No.” The grip tightened as I was dragged to the door. “Detective Perkins, please! You’re making a mistake.”

  “The only mistake I made was not finishing you off the night I barreled into your car. If Alex hadn’t shown up when he did, you would have been another statistic I could have easily swept under the rug.” He waved his hand. “Get her out of here.”

  “No!” I thrashed, fighting with everything I had as the door was jerked open and I was pulled out. The moment our feet stepped off the stairs, what felt like a freight train slammed the deputy’s hold clean off of me. Razor sharp nails shredded down his stomach before his body slid to a stop.

  My eyes darted to the front door and I pulled out my keys, racing for my car.

  “Let’s go!”

  I threw open my door, diving in, and pausing as Alex was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he had already began to run home? I didn’t know, but I had to get the hell out of here. Caleb had every intention of seeing me dead and if I didn’t hurry, that’s exactly what was going happen.

  Chapter 30

  Alex

  There were many things I’d do for love—lie, steal, protect …. kill. What I would not do is risk it all over something I could prevent. Keeping Erin safe was my number one priority. If that meant I’d lose her over while making sure she still held breath, so help me, I’d live a miserable life following and pining after her, but at least she’d still be alive.

  That had been my thoughts as I raced through the forest to Gregory Morrison’s house. From what I thought was going to be a normal meeting for her and Gregory changed when I broke through the trees and saw the multiple cars. I recognized each one of them and I knew. My wolf surged to the front and there was no stopping the change that tore its way through my body. The threat my wolf felt for what was his had been all it took. I stayed hidden, lurking and waiting. I could hear their conversation. Erin’s fear was a live grenade in the pit of my stomach, waiting to explode. And it had, the moment I saw her fighting to get free.

  At the first chance I had to save her, I took it, launching myself from around the house and tearing through the deputy’s stomach until the contents leaked through his skin. But it wasn’t enough. It wouldn’t kill him and I had known that.

  Erin began to run and I took the chance, throwing him around the house and leaping on top of his body, twisting and jerking his head free with the strength of my jaw. I could feel the cracking and tearing under my teeth. To my wolf, it was glorious. He took to the violence like a murderer who’d been locked behind bars for far too long. And that’s exactly what he was, but did I care anymore? No. Not if I could use him to save the one person I would have done anything for.

  The engine of Erin’s car hummed as it got further away. A sense of peace tingled within, but didn’t last as footsteps pounded across the small porch and stairs.

  “What the fuck just happened?” The sheriff’s voice was filled with anger and confusion. “Surely Wes didn’t take her car? I thought we talked about ditching it.”

  “No,” Caleb whispered. “Look at the snow over there. Blood.” There was a pause. “Alex. Come out, I know you’re there.”

  My wolf growled, faced with the threat.

  “Come on, Alex. You know how this works.”

  Warmth ran from my chin as I kept low on all-fours, snaking around the corner. The sheriff and other two deputies watched my every move. I knew only from their admission that they were wolves. I had known them my entire life and I would have never expected it.

  A smile tugged at Caleb’s mouth. “See,” he said, glancing at the sheriff. “This is a wolf. This is what it’s all about. I made that. Not happily at first, I’ll admit. But you can’t deny what a beautiful sight it is when you see him in all of his glory. Especially in the daylight.” Caleb took another step toward me and I began walking wide, keeping my distance.

  “He’s bigger than I’ve seen before,” Logan said lowly to the other deputy.

  “Not too much taller, but definitely wider.” Zach responded.

  Caleb’s eyes flickered while he cocked his head. “Why don’t you go ahead and turn back so we can talk. I think we’re in need of a good conversation. It’s time we put our past behind us. Bury the hatchet, so to speak.”

  I bared my teeth and he rolled his eyes. “Alex, really, you’re being overdramatic. You of all people understand the importance of protecting what we are. So you’re a little upset over Erin. You’ve known her for what, two months, give or take? You don’t need her. You won’t even be able to control her.”

  The need to argue, to use words, was almost overpowering.

  “Okay.” He sighed. A few seconds went by as he crossed his arms over his chest. Just as he went to speak, the sheriff’s voice caught my attention.

  “Let’s hurry it up. We’re running out of time. Roland will be here any minute with Kitty, and he don’t know. It’s one thing setting up the scene and killing her, but I ain’t losing another deputy because of him seeing a wolf.”

  “Come on, Alex. Game over. Let’s negotiate.” After a few seconds of me not changing over, I could see Caleb’s anger spark. “I’ll tell you what. You turn around and disappear back to your little cottage in the woods and keep you damn mouth shut about what you saw here, and we’ll talk about your girl later. I’m in no rush. I know she’s not going anywhere … being a wolf and all.”

  “Caleb,” the sheriff growled.

  Caleb threw the sheriff a look. “What’s it going to be, Alex? Are you going pretend none of this ever happened or am I going to have to take you out and then head over there and kill her?” He pulled his Glock free, letting it dangle at his side. “Silver bullets. They’re in all of our guns. Your call. ”

  Movement from the men had me calculating my odds. I could attempt to attack them, but if I failed, they’d get to Erin. And they would kill her. Now wasn’t the time.

  I edged back, not daring to turn my back to them. Four werewolves. Four. And if I was right, there were more. A world within this town that I wasn’t even aware of.

  The house was at my side and I spun, racing for the woods not far away. I had no idea what was going to happen now, or if Erin would even be at home when I returned, but I had to figure out a way to keep her safe. To keep both of us safe. For so long my isolation had kept me under the radar, but things were different now. She and I were both targets and there was only one way I knew to handle a threat to my existence.

  I blurred through the trees, putting everything I had into making up time. It didn’t take long to approach my place. Erin was there. Her wolf’s scent was stronger than ever, but that wasn’t a good thing. Her defensiveness kept me in form and I slowed as I approached the tree line. Her car was parked next to my truck and she was inside the cabin. Just as I was about to change, the front door flew open and she rushed out, holding a gun in each hand. She made it two feet out and froze, searching the surroundings.

  “Alex?” Panic had her rushing more into the yard. “Alex? Is that you?”

  Cracking sounded in my ears and I flexed my jaw through the change. My form shifted and I stood erect, w
alking closer so that she could see me.

  “Alex! God, I was so afraid. I was about to try to find you.”

  I continued forward, taking in every flicker of fear that flashed over her face. Although they stood out, only one thing matter the most to me and that was the relief she had upon seeing me. Tears were welling in her eyes and she broke into a run, throwing herself in my arms.

  “I was so scared,” she sobbed. “I thought you had come home but you weren’t here.”

  I held her, tight, still heading for the front door. My lips pressed into hers, my own release to the distress that was leaving my mind spinning.

  “We have to leave. We have to get out of this town while we still can.”

  Our eyes connected as I shut the door and she let out a small cry as I put her down. She knew her words were for nothing. We couldn’t leave. Not so close to the full moon. We were prisoners of circumstance. Not only by morality, but by the pull of this land. Our wolves could leave on short trips, but the hold was unescapable. Wolf River was our home and it always would be.

  “You know that’s impossible. I need to get dressed.”

  I didn’t have to tell her to follow. Erin was on my heels as I stalked to the room and pulled out a pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt. While I put on my clothes, she paced, holding tightly to the guns.

  “That won’t kill them,” I said, glancing over. “Not unless you have silver bullets.”

  She looked down, letting out an aggravated sound. Her anger had her wolf flaring. Now that I knew the scent, I was so much more in tune with that part of her.

  “Where the hell am I going to get silver bullets on such short notice?”

  I threw her a smile. “My shed.”

  “You mean you have some?”

  “I do. Let’s play this smart, though. Caleb’s going to come back. If not tonight, definitely before the full moon. We have to come up with a plan.” I frowned. “I’m not so sure we should kill him. If we do, we’ll have to kill them all. You were a detective. That’s too many deaths. Too much suspicion being brought to us. We’re talking about nearly the entire police force. It’s asking for trouble, especially since we don’t know who else is a werewolf, too. Maybe we can negotiate something. There has to be a way around this.”

  Erin’s eyes went wide. “I don’t think so. He wants to kill me! Caleb, he…. says I have bad blood. Alex,” her eyes searched mine. “What does that mean? What’s going to happen to me?”

  My arms outstretched and she rushed into them while my hand stroked down her hair. “I don’t know, baby. Whatever it means, you don’t have to be afraid. I’m going to be right there with you through everything. You’re going to be okay and no one is going to hurt you. I promise.”

  Chapter 31

  Erin

  Caleb didn’t come by that night, or the next. Or even the following night. For days Alex and I stayed on full guard. Every little sound or change in energy had us ready to attack. Now it was the night of the full moon and on top of worrying about my change, I had to worry about the real wolves of Wolf River coming after us. And they would. The question was, when? Tonight could possibly be a blood bath and there was nothing I could do about it. Especially from behind the bars of the cage I was in. Alex sat on the other side, free from the prison that had been his safe haven for all of these years. Now, he was risking the ultimate sacrifice just to keep me safe. I didn’t understand why we couldn’t be in here together. His reason—me.

  Inside this cage I was protected from not only harming others, but harming him. He wasn’t sure how his wolf would react if it were attacked, even by mine. It made sense. Especially with how unstable we were in wolf form. The cell was the best plan we could come up with. My only fear was, if Caleb and the men returned, I’d be a sitting target. One who couldn’t escape a silver bullet to the heart or head if that was the route they planned to take. To make things worse, I knew Alex would fight to protect me. But who was going to protect him?

  “How are you feeling?”

  Sweat poured down my face despite that it was in the teens outside. The moon was pulling at my wolf and I knew it wouldn’t be long. “Not feeling so good. How are you?”

  Alex’s hair was slightly wet from his own battle. Both of our breathing was getting heavier. I could see the rise and fall of his chest pause from time to time as he gritted his teeth through the tremors we were both having.

  “Probably the same as you, but I’m used to this.” He grimaced, pausing. “I worry about you. The first change hurts the most. Just remember that as you’re going through the pain. This one will be the worst. I’ll hold off as long as I can, but you’re not going to be so lucky. You’ll transform first. Mine will come at some point, but if I can turn back, I will. I’m going to be here for you. Tonight. Next month. Every full moon from here on after.”

  I moved to my knees, gripping the bars. Alex rose to meet me and I reached through while we laced out fingers through each other’s.

  “I love you.” His voice wavered just the slightest bit and I tightened my hold, pulling one of his hands through the bar so I could push my lips into his skin.

  “I love you, too. I’m scared.”

  “I know, baby, but I’m right here. You have nothing to fear.”

  My headed nodded, but I couldn’t stop shaking. The pains and the nausea were getting worse. My stomach was twisting and wringing as my insides began to warp. My hands broke away, jerking to my mouth as the need to gag overpowered me.

  “Shh, it’s okay. It’s beginning. Just breathe through the process. Don’t try to fight it. The effects will only be worse.”

  What felt like bugs crawled over my arm as the skin lifted and waved along the muscle. A horrified cry tore from my mouth. Instinct had me wanting to slap my palm over the sensation, but it was too late. A crack along my side had my upper body jerking back from the sheer agony. I fell to the ground, holding to my stomach as I was frozen from the pain.

  “Breathe,” Alex yelled.

  His hands were gripped to the bars so tightly that I could see how white they were through the glow of the lantern.

  Multiple cracks raced the length of my ribs, cutting off the oxygen I was trying to take in. As fast as the bones broke, they readjusted and I screamed through the process. My ragged pants mirrored his and just as I took a deep breath, they made a sickening cadence as they snapped again. Only this time, it was on both sides. I inhaled deeply through the shock, feeling my back bow as my spine moved on its own accord. It was growing, getting longer while the bones in my limbs lengthened. The tears and scorching sensations had the room going black, but coming back in flashes.

  Deep cries left me and I jerked to my side, raking my nails along the ground with everything I had. Alex’s voice sounded in the background, but the tone was so far away that all I could pick up was an unrecognizable echo. I held to it, trying my best to convince myself that what was happening wasn’t real.

  Crunching crackled in my ears and the pain was so shattering in my face that I did gag, then. I gagged, repeatedly, feeling my features pushed out and my cheek and jaw bone widened to unimaginable portions. In and out, the bones replaced, almost as if they weren’t sure they wanted to stay. With each adjustment, I relived the hell of my new life, and there were no words for the amount that I hated it.

  A piercing scream blended with the mass of noises in my ears and it took me a minute to realize that it wasn’t me. It was her. My heart was racing, making itself known for the first time since I’d began my change. It stretched, growing, and bringing an unbearable ache with it. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did. Like someone detonated a bomb, I felt the unsteady bones and growth explode from the inside out, locking everything into place. Locking her into place.

  And then the agony was gone, replace with a different kind—a hunger so intense that it rumbled through my stomach and drove me springing to my feet. Strength like I never felt before drove me into the bars, once. Twice. I
saw nothing but the trap door above me and I had to find a way to try to get out of it.

  “Jesus. Erin, look at me, baby. It’s Alex.”

  The voice had my head jerking down and my arms shooting through the bars as I tried to grab at the meal I could so clearly see before me.

  “No,” he said, staying still. “You can’t have me like that. Look who you’re trying to get. Really look into my face. See me.”

  His words made no sense. I didn’t care to look, I wanted to taste.

  A growl poured from my throat as I turned, trying to push myself even more though the bars. At the threatening roar that followed, I felt my hand still. The man was breathing out in heavy bouts, shaking as he glared at me.

  “Look at me! Look into my eyes!” His hand grasped my wrist with incredible strength. I swiped at him with my other hand, trying to use my claws to catch on to any part of him that I could so I could bring him closer, but he grabbed the other wrist too, managing to draw my attention to his face. “That’s it,” he said, tensed as I fought to wrestle free. “Look what you’re doing. You dare to hurt me? Me? The one you love!”

  The yell had me blinking as I searched the bright gold of his eyes. Something else was sinking in with his delicious smell. Something I couldn’t quite figure out. I knew it, but I couldn’t place what it was.

  My foot wedged on the bar and I jerked myself back making him loose his grip and stumble forward. I lunged with everything I had, snagging his shirt as he dove to the ground and rolled out of the way. Before I could calculate my next move, the scent of blood registered, and I went crazy. I began ramming the bars with everything I had. Sounds poured from my mouth, a mix between snarls and a high pitched whimper. Over and over I crashed into the cage, getting nowhere closer to my prize.