Black Werewolves: Books 1–4

by Gaja J. Kos

  “Okay, ruthlessness and supernatural strength, but that still doesn't make us any different than most of the deranged killer supes out there,” Zarja said, and murmurs of agreement rose around the table.

  “Has nobody been teaching you the history of your kind?” Veles asked without any hint of sarcasm, the bafflement showing visibly on his face. “When working as a pack, The Dark Ones' individual strength connects, amplifies to an almost unimaginable magnitude.”

  “No wonder nobody told us,” Zarja said, her face stern. “I bet it was a decree from The Keepers to keep us in the dark, keep us in check.”

  “And since we are a minority in the werewolf community, that wasn't hard to achieve,” Rose agreed, keeping the rising anger contained. It was wrong to deny them their history, spinning The Dark Ones into some tale from the past. Especially if that particular bit of history had the tendency to repeat itself.

  “I guess the alternative was to imprison all of our kind?” Jens's question sounded like a snarl as he bared his teeth at no one in particular.

  Veles looked at them calmly, but Rose could feel the pulse of his power getting stronger. “Not imprison. You are too strong for that.”

  “Genocide.” They all fell silent, eyes fixed on Evelin as the single word left her lips.

  Rose cursed under her breath, and she was certain she wasn't the only one. “The Gamayun knew. That's why she came to us.”

  Veles gave a solemn nod. “She may not have told you much, but she counted on releasing the power of The Dark Ones. Whether you were aware of it or not.”

  Tim released a long breath before speaking, his gaze turned to the god. “Won't this put us in The Keepers' line of fire?”

  “Eventually, yes. But I think even they would allow your power to surface in order to win against someone who threatens to destroy the balance of the world.”

  Rose was the only one who knew the exact weight of those words, but none of the werewolves questioned Veles further. They had all sensed the toxin was intended to bring destruction, and they didn't want to burden their minds with the technicality of it. All they needed to do was win.

  Zarja was the first to get to the practical part of their task. “Any idea of what we're facing?”

  “As I said, I couldn't risk staying at the location of the deaths for long,” Veles began, the annoyance showing on his face. “I saw werewolves, but they could be nothing more than foot soldiers.”

  “Werewolves we can take.” Jürgen smiled, his canines on display.

  Evelin ignored the grinning werewolf sitting by her side. “But there must be someone else in the shadows, yes?”

  “I believe so, yes. It would be foolish of them to set a trap with only werewolves to stop you. I don't think someone who has the ability to create the toxin and use it in such ways would underestimate you.”

  Veles fell silent, observing each member of the pack before his eyes finally settled on Rose. He turned towards her, brushing her cheek with the back of his palm. Rose didn't fight the affection but placed her hand on his thigh, squeezing gently. She knew what he needed to say, and she understood just how much it angered him.

  “I can't come with you,” Veles finally said, his voice quieter than before. “I will transport you to the scene, but I will have to retreat afterward.”

  “The trap isn't set just for us,” Rose said, unburdening the god. “We believe it was primarily set to get us out of the way; but since they baited Veles with the location and left no breadcrumbs for us to find, it's more than a good bet that they intended for him to come with us.”

  Veles leaned forward, clasping his hands on the table. “It is possible they even considered we may realize that something's up, so we would come in full force, or maybe that when you would be ambushed once getting there, in case we were foolish enough not to smell the reek of a trap, I would come to aid you.”

  “They want to get rid of the inconvenience we represent, but ultimately they want to speed up the process of whatever it is they're doing. Killing Veles would get them exactly that,” Rose concluded, still gripping the god's thigh.

  She searched the werewolves' faces and was glad to see agreement gleaming in their eyes. She trusted her pack, but she had nonetheless feared they might not be willing to walk into a trap and protect an immortal, not with the sparse information they had. Yet there was nothing but resolution in their gazes, no loose questions about why someone wanted Veles gone. They knew what had to be done; and Rose couldn't help but wonder if this kind of connection was, in fact, the beginning of The Dark Ones.

  She looked around at the determination on her pack mates' faces one final time before speaking again. “We'll need to gather as much information as we can when we're there. This is our chance to actually discover something, help us advance in our fight. We capture if we can, but not at any cost. Bringing back bodies might be enough.”

  “How are we supposed to do that? We couldn't carry the White weres back. How will this be any different?” Tim said, a frown line appearing between his eyebrows.

  Rose looked at the god sitting next to her. “We'll have Veles to transport us.”

  Tim opened his mouth, but Veles was quicker. “I'll be able to bring you to a safe location the moment Rose tells me to. However, you will need to make sure there is a fair amount of distance between you and the attackers before I'll be able to do so. If you manage to capture somebody, that won't pose a problem, since he won't live for long after we interrogate him. But I would like to keep this particular means of transportation unknown to the foes for as long as possible. Besides, it wouldn't do any good to bring a horde of enemies with you to the safe place by mistake.”

  It was Zarja who spoke first. “What means of transportation?”

  “Drink your coffees, and you shall see.” Veles smiled. “But be prepared. I will try to place you out of harm’s way, but we don't know what safety precautions the enemy has taken. There may not even be a temporary safe zone, so I would advise you all to sharpen your claws beforehand and be ready to strike the second you enter their territory.”

  Mark looked around, fixing his gaze on each of the werewolves seated behind the table, except for Rose. “I suggest we shift before we get there.”

  Deep growls of agreement erupted from the weres, the twins already flashing the sharpness of their canines.

  “I see you're well-prepared.” Veles laughed. “We won't need to waste any time; if you are ready, we leave in ten minutes. We'll meet in the alley behind the bar; it wouldn't serve our cause to attract any unwanted attention here.”

  He stood, offering Rose his hand; she took it without any hesitation. They were about to walk into a shitstorm. The snickering that once again spread around the table truly didn't matter anymore. He walked Rose into the bar, his fingers tightly wrapped around hers.

  Frank stood behind the counter, fiddling with his phone.

  “Winning?” Rose smiled at him; she could always tell when the werewolf was drawn into a game he was playing, and it usually meant things were going his way.

  “Yeah.” A wide smile spread across his face as he put the game on pause, looking up to meet their eyes. “You guys want some privacy?”

  “Thank you.” Rose nodded, observing the werewolf as he made his way towards the door.

  Frank braced his hand on the doorframe and turned to face them. “I'll make sure no one comes in.”

  Rose nodded and the werewolf left them in the calm interior of Pri Sojenicah.

  Veles pulled Rose closer, hiding her in his embrace. She felt the warmth of his lips as he kissed her forehead, the touch lingering, offering her a sense of safety. He pulled away just enough for their eyes to meet.

  “You be careful out there,” he whispered. “I wouldn't mind having you down below with me, but I really do appreciate your corporeal form.”

  His hands gripped her waist, pressing her so tightly to him that Rose could tell his body had meant it, too.

  She grinned. “My corp
oreal form is going to have a blast with you when I get back.”

  “I expect nothing less.”

  She found the light plumpness of his lower lip, closing her eyes to let the essence of the god wash over her. A trickle of power passed between them, and Rose realized that not all of it came from the god.

  “I think you are already becoming one of The Dark Ones,” Veles whispered into her lips, keeping his grip on her waist firm. He pushed her mouth open, reveling in the sensation. “You taste like the movements of the earth dipped into darkness.”

  It took her all the control she had to break away from his embrace; she looked into the olive green of his eyes, finding in them that alluring warmth which only she could bring out. “I can't wait to come back to you.”

  He brushed her cheek with his finger, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I know.”

  The pack had already gathered in the deserted alley behind the bar when Rose walked out, her arm curled around Veles's waist. The werewolves had already shifted, the silk-like texture of their striking black fur glistening in the sun. Rose walked over to them, her claws elongating with each step. She had double-checked her weapons before leaving the bar, making sure she could draw them with ease when the opportunity arose. She flashed her canines in a smile, the gold filaments in her eyes fixed on Veles, who stood a short distance away from the pack.

  “I think we're ready.”

  Veles stalked over to the werewolves, placing himself in the midst of their massive bodies.

  “The trip won't take more than a few seconds.” He smiled.

  “He's going to teleport us,” Rose added matter-of-factly. They had discussed when to tell the pack just how he was going to transport them and decided that the element of surprise would work best, pushing their level of attentiveness a notch higher.

  “When the darkness dissolves, be prepared to sink your teeth into anything that moves,” Veles said with a nod, and the werewolves hunched down, their bodies tense with the anticipation of battle.

  The god turned to Rose, the green embers dancing wildly in his irises. She could hear him whisper to be careful just before the world turned to darkness.

  Chapter 22

  The darkness lifted, giving the illusion of an approaching dawn. Rose's lungs filled with the particular blend of sharp air only the Alps in the summertime can offer. She heard the environment before she could wholly see it. Voices in the distance, but no approaching footsteps; she let out a sigh, her fisted hands relaxing.

  When her vision finally returned, a valley stretched out in front of her; the pack was surrounded by rocky mountain peaks coated with a fine layer of snow at the very top, which seemed almost painfully white as it reflected the sunrays, the crust glimmering like a delicately spread blanket of crushed diamonds. The view was different from where they were standing, but the unique structure of the Alps, combined with that unmistakable smell of freedom that seem to linger above 7000 feet, assured her that her guess of the location had been correct from the start.

  The Rhône-Alpes spread around them in their serenity, making the fact that their enemy had chosen them as their camp even more sadistic. She took in the familiar surroundings, fighting the warm memories of her childhood trips; she needed to keep herself alert, not to be seduced by the nostalgic images of roaming across the diverse terrain of the Alps with her mother.

  The mountains took her breath every time she saw them, and she was glad to notice her pack mates shared the sentiment. Since the six weres hadn't had the opportunity to visit any high grounds such as the Alps that towered around them before, the sensation was even stronger. They stood on all fours, breathing in their greatness, but Rose could sense the deadly power resting, waiting beneath the astonishment; none of them had forgotten why they found themselves in the seemingly idyllic alpine setting.

  The enemy had been smart, but they came prepared. Nature spoke to the werewolves, to their primal senses; had they walked into the trap blindly, they would have been too busy fighting the urge to explore the untouched land to keep their reactions sharp.

  Silently, they stalked down the valley towards the source of the voices, separating into three groups when they were on the border, but not yet truly inside enemy territory. Jens and Jürgen cut off to the left, climbing the hillside as they pushed farther, keeping themselves out of sight in the brush. Mark turned right with Tim following on his heels, mirroring the twins' movements as they reached for higher ground.

  Mark had been reserved when Rose requested that Evelin remain with her but didn't argue the decision; he understood the werewolf must have had her reasons for her choice of partners, even if she didn't voice it. Rose was glad for the older were's cooperation; she still hadn't told anyone about the unique surge of power she had sensed in Evelin, but whatever it was, it made the werewolf more dangerous than the rest would believe. When Rose offered the remaining center position to Zarja, the were took it without hesitation, the loyalty in her eyes telling Rose that she had left any traces of their unpleasant personal history behind; Zarja was aware of her own ruthlessness and understood that the three werewolves who would lead the centerline of the attack needed exactly that. Zarja had more kills written in her ledger than any other were in the pack, and she understood her value without a hint of arrogance.

  The werewolves on the hillside slipped out of their field of vision, but Rose knew they were attentively watching the trio's movements. She continued to walk calmly, with Zarja and Evelin positioned one on each side. Evelin let out a low growl. She exchanged a glance with Rose, who confirmed that she could sense the enemy’s camp, too.

  They slowed down for a moment, knowing the small stretch of land in front of them, where they were still shielded by the untouched nature, was the last point of safety they would get. A trickle of power passed through the three werewolves; Rose felt her skin shudder with the sensation as the strength of The Dark Ones not only washed over her but rose from within her as well, creating an aura that bound them together. It stretched across the hillside to encircle the more distant weres, making them aware of each other's presence.

  The threads of power remained as they pushed forward, giving the sensation of a rope that had been tied between them, yet never acting as a restraint; it seemed to have the ability to stretch endlessly, and despite its lightness, it felt firm, unyielding. Rose could feel something change in the bond, an inexplicable sensation, like feeling the color of something shift, even if you couldn't see it with your own eyes.

  It didn't take her long to understand the unique vocabulary of the bond between them; in truth, it was as if she had been reminded of a language she had once known but had been buried somewhere deep within her mind. Until now. She turned to the two werewolves by her side, their eyes filled with the same understanding. The bond was speaking to them, letting them know Jens and Jürgen had taken out a scout positioned on their hillside.

  The noises of the enemy camp grew louder. The three werewolves launched forward into a run, heading directly into the core of the hostile territory, while the remaining four descended from the steep terrain, slashing their way through the sentries.

  Veles had told Rose everything he could gather about the layout during his brief visit. She knew there would be a clearing before they reached the hostile werewolves; it would leave them vulnerable, but a head-on attack like the one they were leading was unexpected among their kind. In all the battles she had fought, none of the werewolves ever thought of running directly at them. Instead, they stalked slowly around, closing in on their enemy and taking their time to build up the attack. She hoped the opposing side shared the classic experience. The element of surprise was what the Black weres were counting on, confusing the enemy for just long enough to buy time for the two teams to claw their way down into the camp from the sides, entrapping them from behind.

  Brown furs became visible across the clearing, and at that instant Rose knew that at least part of the plan had worked. The foreign bodies hes
itated for a brief moment, staring at the running trio who seemed to clear the open space in a frightfully short amount of time. The enemy hadn't had the chance to fully organize when the three Black werewolves flung themselves into the crowd of brown bodies, cutting through the mass of flesh. Rose didn't even flinch as she read the vibrations of their bond. The twins, as well as Mark and Tim, were closing in from behind with ease, and she didn't need the bond's commentary to know Evelin's and Zarja's body counts were steeply rising.

  Rose crouched, turning her body sideways and plunging her claws into the werewolf who tried to jump her from behind. Her fingers wrapped around the warm intestines, securely gripping the slippery tissue before tugging her hands back in a quick motion, allowing the insides to spill across the ground with a wet thud. She barely had time to regain a steady crouching position when the sharp pain of claws sunk into the skin just over her ankle. She blindly kicked back at the werewolf's head with her free leg, feeling the grip tighten.

  She turned around, prepared to throw herself on the were, but Zarja was faster. Her canines sunk into the thick brown neck, blood running down the dark fur of her breasts. She shook the werewolf as if he were nothing more than a lightweight deer and flung the corpse to the side.

  The surrounding crowd seemed to abate. Some of them had noticed the four werewolves who were leaving a trail of bodies behind as they pushed towards the center of the camp and turned to help those who were trying to hold their ground rather than fight the smaller group up front. Zarja and Evelin blocked the remaining werewolves from reaching Rose, slashing at the closest ones with fluid movements, buying Rose time to reach for her throwing knives. She felt the perfect balance of the blades in her hands before she launched them forward, taking down four of the brown bodies who had turned to run towards the core of the encampment which Mark, Tim, and the twins had already infiltrated, blood spatter clashing with the deep blue of the sky as they tore out the throats of the approaching weres.