Trinity Bound

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  “So we’re going to hunt together. My family will most likely be hunting with the rest of the Pack or not at all. We don’t have to change at the full moon if we don’t want to.”

  “Is Willow going to change?” Hannah asked.

  “She can, changing into a wolf doesn’t hurt the baby, but she won’t most likely,” Reed said. “Melanie wants to go out tonight with Kade, so Finn will be hanging out with Jasper and Wil.”

  “Are they okay with you not joining them?” Josh asked.

  Reed shrugged. “We don’t have to go out as a Pack. It’s nice, but since you two aren’t wolves, it might be dangerous.”

  “Would they hurt us? I thought wolves retained their humanity, even after the change.” Josh sounded worried.

  Reed shook his head. “You have to remember, at three years old, pups can start to change. So there are toddlers and adolescents out there who are still learning their control. They are never alone, which makes it safer, but I don’t want there to be an accident.”

  Hannah wrapped her arms around him and kissed under his chin. “Okay. Now get naked.”

  A discreet cough over Reed’s shoulder stopped him from laughing. Damned wolf was too good at hiding and he hadn’t sensed him until now.

  “Hello, Maddox,” Reed grunted.

  “Don’t sound so happy to see me or anything, big brother.” Maddox casually strolled into the backyard and said hello to Hannah and Josh, but there was nothing casual about his little brother. Energy and tension rolled off him, something Reed was used to. The power that Maddox held would kill a smaller man. Since he could feel every emotion in the Pack, Maddox always had to have a higher control than anyone else.

  “Sorry, Maddox, I was just surprised to see you here.”

  Maddox shrugged. “I thought I’d hang out with you guys for a while then go off on my own.”

  Something the Omega does well.

  “Plus, I thought if Hannah had any questions about being part of the Pack in a position as the Healer, she could ask me. Or at least know I’m here if she needs me.”

  “Oh.” Hannah bit her lip. “I don’t have any right now. I don’t feel any different. I guess it’s because I’m not part of the Pack yet.”

  Maddox shrugged again, looking out in the forest at something Reed couldn’t see. If there was even anything there. “Okay. Just let me know.” He turned to Reed. “Is it okay if I join you then?”

  “That’s fine with me as long as it doesn’t bother Hannah or Josh.”

  Hannah nodded.

  “Sure, man,” Josh put in. “I don’t see why not. Plus, I’d like to see another wolf change, if that’s okay.”

  Maddox nodded but didn’t smile. His brother never seemed to smile these days.

  “Fine, but don’t be showing off your junk to my mates,” Reed joked.

  Well, it wasn’t that much of a joke.

  Maddox raised a brow. “Worried?”

  Reed’s only response was a growl.

  Hannah laughed then looked Maddox over. “He is kind of cute.”

  She squealed when Reed threw her over his shoulder and carried her to the other side of the lawn.

  “And you?” Maddox asked Josh. Reed could hear the humor in his tone.

  Josh just laughed and held out his hands. “Not interested, man. Sorry.”

  Maddox just stared. “Didn’t think you were.”

  The skin on Reed’s arm rippled.

  Damn, he needed to change. Soon.

  “Reed, are you okay?” Hannah whispered.

  Reed looked down at her wide-eyed face. “Yeah, I just need to change soon. But it doesn’t hurt; don’t worry. The moon’s pulling at my wolf. I haven’t changed in the two weeks you’ve been here. Not since the cabin.”

  “You shouldn’t hide your wolf.” Maddox stared at him.

  Reed looked at Maddox and swore. He could never hide anything from the dammed wolf.

  “I’ve been preoccupied. But I haven’t hid anything. My wolf understands,” Reed said quickly.

  His wolf didn’t respond. Shit.

  “You shouldn’t deny your nature,” Maddox argued.

  Hannah jumped in. “Hey, don’t fight. Reed’s doing great. He doesn’t deny anything. He’s never hidden that he’s a werewolf or anything like that from us.” She paused and turned toward him. “Right? Have you?”

  “I hope you haven’t,” Josh added. “Not because of us.”

  “I’m fine. Don’t worry. I’ve just been doing other things,” Reed sputtered. “I’m going to change now.”

  Hannah poked him in the chest. “You better. Because I love that you’re a werewolf. I think you’re cute.”

  Maddox coughed.

  Bastard.

  “And,” Josh continued, “I like you as a wolf. You need to show me this side of you. Plus eventually I might turn. If you don’t show me how it is, how am I ever going to know if this is right? I need to know everything and you can’t deny who you are any more than Hannah can deny that she’s a witch. Change,” Josh ordered.

  Happiness filled Reed. Josh was thinking about the future and was actually considering becoming a wolf. Thank God. Why the hell was he hiding from them? He hadn’t changed over the past two weeks because he hadn’t wanted to scare them. Hadn’t wanted to remind them of the inherent danger that came with being mated to a werewolf. But why?

  Reed shook his head. He was an idiot.

  “Okay,” Reed replied. “I’ll show you.”

  “Touching,” Maddox deadpanned.

  For a guy so in tune with everyone else’s emotions, he sure was an ass.

  Josh pulled Hannah into his arms and smiled. “Go for it.”

  Reed kissed them both then stripped down. Hannah whistled and he shook his ass.

  “Dude. Never. Do. That. Again.” Maddox rubbed his eyes. “I think I’m blind.”

  Whoops, forgot he was there. Whatever.

  Maddox took off his shirt, and Reed growled. “Hey, what did I say about your junk?”

  “You just whipped yours around. I’m going to bend so they can’t see. Geez. Get over it. If they want to live with the Pack and go on hunts, they better get used to nudity.”

  Hannah laughed. “Oh, I’m fine with it. Continue, Maddox.” She yelped when Josh bit her neck.

  “I will deal with you later,” Reed growled playfully.

  “I’ll count on it,” Hannah purred.

  That’s great. Get an erection right when you have to change in front of your brother. Not awkward at all.

  Thankfully Maddox was already in the throes of his change so he couldn’t remark about Reed sporting wood. Reed bent down and pulled on his magic. His skin rippled again, fur sprouting. His muscles and bones stretched, broke, and rearranged.

  Soon he sat on his haunches as a wolf, breathing in the mountain air that seemed crisper to his new scenes. Hannah walked toward him and kneeled by his side. She kissed his muzzle then petted his flank and rubbed behind his ears. He leaned into her touch. If he were a cat, he’d be purring by now.

  Josh slowly stepped forward and crouched near Hannah.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  Reed gave a slight nod, and Josh rubbed his back. He sighed inwardly. Both his mates felt so good and understood who he was. This was perfect.

  Maddox grunted behind him and nipped at his heels. Reed turned and looked at the gray and tan wolf with green eyes. So, he wanted to play? He loved fighting with his brothers, but Maddox usually stayed away. This should be fun.

  Reed let out a short bark and tilted his head at Josh and Hannah.

  “Go,” Josh said. “I can track you. We’ll find you. Have fun with your brother.”

  “But be safe,” Hannah added.

  Maddox and Reed took off into the forest. His paws beat down on the dirt floor, and the wind rustled his fur. Why did he deny himself this? This was part of him. He was a werewolf.

  “It’s about time. I’ve missed this too, you know.”

  Reed sig
hed at his wolf. Yeah, he’d fucked up.

  “It’s okay. I understand why you did it. But we need to mate with Josh and Hannah already, then everything can go forward.”

  Reed wanted to laugh. If only it were that easy.

  A gray ball of fur slammed into his side as Maddox came out of nowhere.

  Shit, he really needed to pay attention.

  Both of them yipped and growled, biting but not using too much force. They fought and rolled through the brush until finally Maddox pinned him.

  He always won. Stupid brother.

  Maddox bit into Reed’s scruff, growled, then released him. Sometimes Reed could best one of his brothers, but Maddox always knew what Reed’s next move was. Eerie.

  His brother inclined his head then shot off into the distance, most likely going home. Maddox always stayed alone unless someone needed him. He might be an ass, but if someone needed him for something, he’d be there in a moment’s notice. Being the Pack’s Omega wasn’t a job for him but a duty. A calling.

  He heard footsteps on the dead leaves behind him. Hannah and Josh.

  “Found you.” Hannah laughed.

  Reed batted her hand with his head so she would pet him. He leaned into her side when she gave in.

  “Needy, aren’t you?”

  Reed merely looked up at her and blinked.

  See how cute I am? Pet me.

  Both his mates let out a laugh.

  Josh picked up a stick and waved it at him. “Want to play fetch?”

  Reed lifted a lip to show off his elongated canine.

  Seriously?

  Josh threw the stick, and Reed refused to follow its trail. He wasn’t a dog for fuck’s sake.

  “I don’t know, man. What do wolves do? Do you want to go find a rabbit or something?” Josh asked.

  “No. Not Thumper,” Hannah said.

  Josh boomed out a laugh. “Not every bunny is Thumper, babe. But seriously, Reed, what do you want to do?”

  “Well, not play fetch. I was surprised Reed didn’t bite you. How about a game of chase?” Hannah asked.

  Reed perked up. Hell yeah. With Hannah as the prize, he’d totally hunt and chase for her.

  Hannah smiled and grabbed Josh. With a look over her shoulder she laughed. “Come and get us.”

  Reed let them get a head start. He could scent them and would find them easily, but it was more about the chase. And odd feeling crept up his spine, tangling his fur. He inhaled, trying to figure out what it was but could only scent Josh, Hannah, and the land. What was it? He listened for what it could be and only heard a deer run away in the distance.

  Odd. He shook it off. He needed to get to his mates and that would make him feel better. That must be it.

  Reed ran on all fours through the undergrowth and found Josh first. The human wasn’t trying to hide but stood near a tree, looking the other way, shaking his head. Reed made no noise as he crept up behind him. Josh, the SEAL that he was, turned quickly and tackled him. Reed rolled with him until Josh lay pinned beneath. He licked the other man’s face.

  “Hey, not nice.” Josh laughed.

  Reed quirked his head.

  “Hannah? This is so odd, by the way. She went off that way.” He lifted his head. “She didn’t go too far; she just wanted to give you more of a chase.”

  Reed let Josh stand then bumped his hand. Josh scratched behind his ears, stroking his fur. He could get used to this.

  They followed her honey and bitter apple trail until the scent of sulfur hit his nose.

  Shit.

  Smoke filled the trees, and Josh coughed.

  Fire.

  A scream sounded in the distance.

  Hannah.

  Chapter 18

  Hannah coughed and sputtered as the smoke burned her nose and throat, filling her lungs.

  Dammit, why did she leave Josh and Reed to play? It wasn’t safe. Yet she’d forgotten that in the heat of the moment and run off alone.

  The fire grew closer, and Hannah didn’t know where to go. A rock face was the only thing she could see that wasn’t burning around her. The fire had come up so fast; she didn’t even see where it started.

  The air grew thick, dry. She’d known it felt drier than normal all day, and that fact scared her. Between the lack of moisture in the air and the decade’s worth of undergrowth, the fire would spread fast, not only potentially killing her but endangering the entire Redwood den. With most of the Pack on the hunt, this would be the perfect time for the enemy to attack them. It only made sense that this was at the hands of the Centrals or another enemy, and not something natural.

  The earth screamed in pain around her. Her magic wanted to heal, to save the dying plants and animals. But she couldn't. She only healed humans. And she couldn't even save herself, let alone something else.

  The fire urged its way closer, dancing in the moonlight. Hannah ran to the rock face and looked up to the cliff. There was no way she could climb it. She coughed again. All other paths were blocked by the fire or debris. She was trapped. What would she do?

  "Reed! Josh!" she screamed, but she didn't think they’d hear her. Dammit. She felt more alone now than she ever had before. She’d had but a taste of what life could offer, and now it would be wrenched away from her.

  She used her powers to pull the dirt and soil on top of the fire, trying to bat them down. But every time she did, the flames came back harsher, higher. She couldn't manipulate fire or even water. She could only heal and play with dirt. Her powers were to heal and aid, not destroy. What use was that now?

  A wolf howled in the distance.

  Reed.

  At least she prayed it was.

  "Reed!" she called again but choked on smoke.

  Reed jumped through the flames but didn’t make it to her side of the flaming wall as he hit an unknown barrier. She could smell burning fur in the air, and she bit back a sob. What was he doing? He was going to kill himself. There was no way out. He needed to leave, save himself.

  "Reed, you need to go you can't save me. Go, run fast. It's too late for me."

  He growled, jumped again through the flames, this time making it passed that unknown barrier and threw himself over her as the flames licked higher, hotter. It raged out of control, faster and louder than she thought possible without any aid. This wasn't normal fire. Reed licked her face and covered her with his body when the flames reached them.

  Her brain grew dizzy. So much smoke.

  Reed growled again and licked her face, covering her body more when she pulled her legs up.

  "We need to get out of here. Please. We need to get to Josh." Hannah coughed, and he licked her chin.

  She shifted from under his body and stood up. They began to move, but the fire grew. Fire shaped like arms reached for them. No, this was demon fire aided by witches, magic so dark and evil she didn't even know if there was a counter spell against it. They weren't going to make it.

  Reed used his teeth and pulled on the sleeve of her burned dress, careful not to touch the slight burns on her arms. She stood on shaky legs, followed him to the rocks, and found a small alcove.

  "We'll still burn here."

  He growled, pushed her to the ground and covered her body with his. The flames licked around him, hunting them, and Reed groaned in pain.

  She screamed. He was dying in her arms, and there wasn't a thing she could do about it.

  He howled in pain again and shifted to human.

  "No! What are you doing?" Hannah screamed.

  "I can't shift. No magic," Reed rasped. Burns marked his skin and his flesh boiled in some spots.

  Tears ran down both of their faces as she coughed.

  Why hadn’t she mated with him fully before? What was holding her back? She'd been ready. Dear goddess, please let us live. Spare us.

  She framed his face with her hands. "I love you."

  Reed closed his eyes, strained agony on his face. "I love you, too."

  He held her closer as she sobbed.
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