by D. Fischer
Kenna double blinks at Irene’s bubbly attitude. Turning to Evo, she gives him a blank look. “You’re leaving me here?” she asks in a toneless voice.
“You’re pregnant. You’re not coming with,” Evo replies.
Kenna’s fist ball up at her sides. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Reese steps forward. “Why don’t we give you an ultrasound. You can see that sweet baby of yours.” Reese glances at Evo for confirmation. He gives her a nod. “Ira, why don’t you take Kenna upstairs while I grab the machine.”
Irene gently turns the furious Kenna and steers her toward the stairs. Kenna squints back at us in disbelief.
Hear my words, Bre. I’m having a home birth over my dead fucking body, Kenna spat telepathically.
Reese heads back into the cold for a portable ultrasound machine, followed by two Riva Pack wolves.
Evo turns to Kelsey and Jeremy. “Why don’t you two plan to stay here to guard Kenna.” They nod and follow Kenna and Irene up the stairs. Evo turns to Jacob. “Thank you,” he says to Jacob as soon as Kenna is out of earshot.
Jacob inclines his head. “My pleasure. Now, what’s the plan here?”
Chapter Nine
Benjamin Grobin
In our wolf forms, Bre and I lead several Riva Pack members onto the Gray Pack territory. Evo and Jacob have the other group on the other side of the property. The weather is working on our side—the blizzard and howling winds will help conceal us.
Bre’s beautiful white wolf is nearly invisible in the blizzard. My black wolf is a dark contrast to hers and sticks out in the snow, forcing me to stick to the shadows of the trees.
My group stealthily makes our way to the barbwire fence, stopping in the shadows every now and then to make sure we aren’t discovered. Stepping aside while one of the wolf shifters clip the barbed wire fence, I look to the direction of our assigned outpost. With our tree cover and the blizzard, it’ll be hard to see us, but that still doesn’t mean I’m not paranoid about it. I’m in charge of these wolf shifters and if anything happens to Bre, I don’t know what I’ll do. I won’t survive it.
Picking up on my mood through our mating bond, Bre’s wolf rubs her muzzle against my wolf’s.
Has Evo been able to contact Dyson or Flint yet? Bre asks.
He hasn’t said so, yet.
The wolf shifter steps aside as soon as the last wire springs free from the wooden post. One by one we make our way through and continue to stick close to the trees as we head toward the outpost.
Hearing a snap behind me, my wolf whips his head around to see one of the Riva wolves, Lincoln, grabbing a Gray Pack wolf shifter and cover his mouth. The wolf shifter’s eyes glow wolf as he surveys our group with frightened eyes.
I inform my wolf to nod at Lincoln. Lincoln presses a pressure point in the Gray wolf shifter’s neck and he slowly slumps unconscious in Lincoln’s arms. He drags the Gray wolf shifter to a nearby tree and rests him against it. That shifter is no threat to us, though I feel Bre’s heart pound through our connection—she isn’t used to this kind of adrenaline.
Reaching the outpost but still in the cover of the trees, I again instruct my wolf to nod to our group. Three of them break off and swiftly make their way to the ladder of the outpost.
The outpost is at least thirty feet high, but it’s hard to tell in the dark and blowing snow. I hear a faint struggle before one of the Riva Pack members pokes his head out of the outpost window and gives a thumbs-up. Continuing forward, we’re soon joined by the wolves who disabled the outpost.
Hearing a growl coming from my left, my wolf whips his head just in time to see two wolves barreling toward us. A gray wolf rams me in the shoulder, tackling me to the ground.
Rolling us in the snow, my wolf slams the other into the ground and lands on top of him. My wolf yelps after receiving a bite on the shoulder. He grabs the ear of the gray wolf and yanks in one swift motion. The gray wolf cries in return and releases my skin and fur. Taking the opportunity, my wolf seizes his throat and bites down, breaking the skin and sinking into the muscle. Hot sticky blood fills my wolf’s mouth and he releases a low growl as the wolf below gurgles for air. My wolf plants his feet and yanks, ripping the throat out of the gray wolf. The gray wolf’s eyes widen in shock and pain as he squirms below. Shortly after, his body goes limp when life leaves him.
Glancing around, I see Bre’s wolf standing not far from me. Blood covers her muzzle and one of her legs. Scoping the scene behind Bre’s wolf, I see the other Gray wolf attacker motionless against the snow. Bre’s wolf had ripped out his throat. I take note that she isn’t limping when her wolf makes her way to me. Rubbing her jaw against mine, she reassures me that she’s fine.
A female Riva Pack member gives me a nod that all was well to continue. My wolf nudges Bre to continue forward. Licking my muzzle once, her wolf steps aside, allowing me to lead.
How is it going on your side? Evo sends.
We’ve disabled three wolves. Two are dead, one is unconscious. The Riva Pack took care of the outpost and we aren’t far from the cabins, I reply.
We’re getting close, too. It’s been very quiet on our side. Once we get closer to the cabins, we better hope like hell most are still asleep. Evo cuts off communication.
Five minutes later, we wait in the tree line a few feet from the first cabin and scope the area. A short distance off, I see Evo poke his head around the corner of a cabin—he had remained in human form. Making eye contact with me, he gives a nod.
My wolf turns his head toward Bre’s and nuzzles her neck.
I’ll be fine, Bre sends, reassuring me that she is well to move forward. She felt my worry. She and I work well as a team, so, though I’m concerned, it isn’t based on her capabilities. She’s a strong wolf and took down that Gray wolf shifter with ease. Instead, I’m fearful this could end badly. Though Bre came up with this well-designed plan, Evo and I have a different ending in mind. I just hope it works in our favor. There’s a very real possibility that things could end very, very wrong. And that’s something to feel fear for.
Brenna Johnson
Using the cabins as cover, one by one, we make our way to the main house. I hear people snoring inside them as we pass by. All is quiet on the territory, besides the wind, but it won’t be that way once we enter the Alpha’s house. If George is smart, he’ll have guards inside. I’m hoping he isn’t smart. I’m hoping he’s vastly self-centered and wherever he is, the guards will follow. However, I doubt he’ll leave his captive’s side, which poses a problem. More than likely, we’ll have to fight our way to Flint and Dyson and fight our way out of here.
My leg hurts from the bite, but my wolf and I are determined to not show any sign of weakness in the off chance Ben will try to send me back. I’ll outright refuse, which will waste precious time while we bicker back and forth. Flint has become a dear friend of mine. Like hell I won’t be part of his rescuing.
Adrenaline courses through my veins when I think about the possibility of Flint or Dyson being injured. There’s a very real possibility this is the case. We’ll need all the wolves with us to get them safely off the property. If Ben tries to send me back, I’ll have to take some of the wolf shifters with me as protection, which would decrease the number of wolves here to rescue them.
My wolf is keeping her fear tightly reigned in. We shared the same fear—we know we wouldn’t survive the loss of our beloved mate, nor would we want to. This man is wrapped around us so completely that he’s our lifeline, our reason for being. If he’s lost, all will be lost.
Soundlessly, Evo’s team meets us on the front patio. The Gray Pack Alpha house isn’t large, but it’s immaculate for its size. Now that I’m up close, away from the winds of the blizzard, I’m able to make out the finer details. Snow covered humps show signs of vegetation underneath. The house has dirt markings on the red siding that indicates vines grow there in the summer. All the windows are polished to a shine. A few of the windows have bright
ly colored curtains, telling me that people are in these rooms.
Ben and I remain in wolf form as Evo gives everyone a nod. Jacob, who’s in position at the front door, waits as Evo counts to three with his fingers before he kicks the door open with his foot. The door hits the wall inside the house with such force, but Jacob keeps his hand on it so it won’t slam shut.
Stepping inside, Evo holds up his hand to the rest of us, signing for us to stay put until he gives the all clear. My wolf peaks her head around his leg. A dark-haired woman abruptly stands from her seat on a living room couch with the sound of our abrupt intrusion.
“Evo?” the woman whispers in disbelief after her eyes widened. She scans the interior hallways for anyone in her Pack to come running due to the sound we made from breaking through the door.
Turning her shocked eyes back to our group, she whispers in an angry voice, “What are you doing here? Did you bring Skylar?” She peeks around Evo’s shoulders as she makes her way to us. “What are you doing? Why are you here? You can’t be here!”
Evo cocks his head to the side. “You mean Makenna? No, of course I didn’t bring her here.”
Jacob leans toward Evo. “Whose Skylar?”
“Skylar is Makenna’s birth name,” Evo rumbles. “This is Darla Kenner, Alpha female of the Gray Pack … Makenna’s biological mother.”
Ignoring their exchange, Darla’s turns from shock to panic. “You shouldn’t be here. You must go before anyone realizes you’re here.”
Evo steps further inside but halts his advance when she steps in his path. “We’re not going anywhere. Where’s the Alpha?” Evo asks.
Darla pleads with Evo. “He has your wolves, Evo. You can’t let him have her. You can’t exchange them. You must go and never come back.”
“Darla, we aren’t leaving without our wolves. Your mate won’t be getting anywhere near Kenna. Tell me where he is. Tell me where our wolves are,” Evo growls.
Darla’s shoulders sag. “How many wolves did you bring with you?”
“We brought enough,” Jacob snarls.
She spares Jacob a brief glance. “George is in the East shed with the one whose name is Dyson. Your other wolf is in the South shed, though I don’t know his name,” she whispers in defeat. I mentally frown. She’s talking about Flint, but why wouldn’t Flint give his name when Dyson did. My wolf whines and nudges Ben’s wolf.
Evo put a hand on her shoulder. “Stay here, Darla. We’ll come back for you.”
Evo steps out of the house. Looking to mine and Ben’s wolf, he nods his head, indicating we go south. Ben’s wolf nudges me in that direction. Lincoln and Michael, Riva Pack wolf shifters, follow us while the rest head east with Evo and Jacob.
We race to the South shed, kicking up snow as we run. A strange wolf barrels into our path with his ears pinned back and his teeth bared.
Furious that someone dares to block the path to our Pack mate, my wolf barrels right into the chest of the Gray wolf, snarling and biting any area she can grab. Minutes or seconds pass—I’m not entirely sure which—as my wolf and I temporarily lose ourselves in the ferocity.
Baby … Ben sends tentatively, breaking my wolf from her now very limp chew toy. Baby, the wolf is dead. You can let go now.
Still gripping the neck of the dead wolf, my wolf snaps out of her feral moment and inhales, filling her lungs with shocking cold air, before dropping the dead body from her mouth. Ben’s wolf walks the short distance to mine and rubs his black fur against my white. Come on, baby. Let’s go, he sends before his wolf nudges mine back to the direction of Flint’s shed. His wolf takes off first and mine follows directly after. Ben’s wolf, larger and faster than mine, skids to a halt twenty feet from the large shed and scents the air. He’s waiting to see if there’s any activity inside the shed.
The shed’s metal sides are rusted in several areas. There’s a tall window on the side that reflects light onto the fast falling snowflakes. Lincoln and Michael catch up to us, breathing deeply from the run, and take positions on both sides of the shed door. Though all continues to remain quiet outside the shed, I can hear people breathing inside it.
Satisfied that no other Gray wolf shifter has noticed us, Ben nods to Lincoln. Lincoln shifts his body toward the door, turns the nob, and thrusts it open hastily. Swirls of snow blow into the shed and two men shout their surprise and emerge out the door at a run. Lincoln and Michael engage them in hand to hand combat as Ben and I slip inside.
I skid to a halt next to Ben. The sight I’m taking in is one that I’ve feared. The shed’s dirt floor has several patches of wet dark blood. Flint’s wolf’s brown and black fur is matted in several areas with his blood. He lies on the floor in the corner of the shed, his back leg bent at an odd angle. When his wolf catches sight of us, he curls back his lips and lets out a fierce snarl. My heart thuds in my chest and my wolf whines. Why isn’t Flint recognizing us?
Changing back to human form, I immediately shiver as snowflakes drift across my naked body. “Flint?” I whisper. Ben’s wolf nudges my hip—he doesn’t like me in such a vulnerable form and situation.
I bend closer to the ground and tap the dirt floor. “Flint, look at me. It’s me, Brenna. Flint?” He continues to growl and snarl while trying to stand up. “No, don’t stand. Flint, listen to me. You need to change back now. It’s over—we’re here to take you home now. We’re going home. Do you hear me?”
Lincoln enters the shed making Flint’s hackles rise as he watches the unfamiliar wolf shifter. Ben growls at Lincoln and begins to shift back. “Stay where you are. Flint isn’t stable,” Ben orders.
“Do you need a tranquilizer gun? We brought a few,” Lincoln whispers sympathetically. In my peripheral vision, I can make out Ben staring at the side of my face, waiting for me to answer Lincoln.
I try a few more times to coax Flint to shift back but it’s useless. Flint’s wolf continues to threaten me because he’s terrified. Flint isn’t in control here, which can be very dangerous. It can happen in times of great stress or when a wolf switches to survival-mode; they won’t let their human half have control for fear of their competence. It’s what happens to Rogues. The animal in us converts to being the master and the human half is shoved to the back with zero control. I’m sure Flint can hear me, but his wolf won’t let him take the lead. Flint’s wolf is seeing everyone as a threat.
My body sags in defeat and a warm tear streams down my cold face. I hold out my hand to Lincoln. If we’re going to get him home and assess his injuries, we won’t be able to do it while he’s in this state.
Lincoln places a cold skinny tranquilizer gun into my hand. Taking aim, I whisper, “I’m sorry, Flint.” Shooting the dart, Flint’s wolf yelps as it hit his skin, the dart’s orange feathers a strong contrast to his brown and black fur. More tears stream down my face as he wobbles and sways from the sedative coursing through his system. He awkwardly lays down, silent growls still escaping his throat until he becomes completely silent and still.
Ben, completely naked like me, walks over to Flint’s wolf’s side. “Bre …”
Following Ben and wiping my tears away with the back of my hand, I bend toward the sedated wolf to assess his injuries. “His leg is obviously broken. But these wounds … some of them look like knife wounds and some look like whip wounds,” I observe.
Lincoln peeks over my shoulder and whispers to Ben and me, “What the hell did they do to this guy?”
I squint at him from over my shoulder. “How’s your other Pack mate?”
“He’s unharmed. I left him outside to stand guard.”
Nodding to him, I look back at Ben. “We need to get out of here.”
Lincoln pulls clothes out of his backpack and hands them to us. There wasn’t room to pack winter coats, but at least we have clothes.
Once fully clothed, Ben scoops up Flint’s wolf and we head back to meet Evo and Jacob at the other shed. The wind whips my hair and freezes the tear stains on my c
heeks. My heart breaks for Flint and his wolf. I keep seeing his smiling face in my head. I fear for his future and how much this hostage situation will alter him from the person he was this morning.
Reaching the other shed, we slow our pace as we assess the scene unfolding ahead. The Gray Pack, all of whom have emerged from their sleep, have created a circle around Evo, George, and another man I don’t recognize. All three men are having a heated discussion. Off to one side of the circle is Darla, who’s standing next to Jacob. Jacob has his arms crossed over his chest while he glares at the back of George’s head. Riva wolf shifters are dispersed throughout the small watchful and curious crowd, which means the Gray Pack isn’t causing a fuss with us being here.
Reaching the edge of the circle, Ben lays Flint’s wolf on the cold ground next to Jacob’s feet.
“What’s going on?” I ask. Continuing to glare at the back of George’s head, Jacob doesn’t answer.
Evo, having noticed we’re now amongst the crowd, nods to Ben. Ben returns the head gesture and turns toward me, grabbing my face in his hands. “I love you, Bre. No matter what happens, stay next to Jacob. Do not leave his side.” Ben leans down and softly pecks my lips before I can ask any questions. Turning toward the inner circle, Ben makes his way to Evo’s side.
“What the fuck is going on?” I ask again.
Darla raises her voice above the wind. “Evo had declared a double challenge.” My body stiffens and I gape at her with wide eyes.
A double challenge is two challenges at once; Alpha versus Alpha, Beta versus Beta. A challenge such as this is to ensure no wolf shifter will be left to take over when the Alpha and Beta are dead. If this goes wrong—if Evo and Ben don’t win, then we will be under the reign of George Kenner, Alpha to the Gray Pack. Of course, it could go the opposite way, but my mind can’t focus on the positive right now. My mate and my brother are getting ready to battle to the death.
Slowly pivoting back to the inner circle, I see the men already disrobing. Ben, what are you doing? I ask him telepathically. His eyes meet mine but he doesn’t answer. You don’t have to do this. We can figure something else out … Ben? He returns his focus to the man he’s expected to challenge—the one I didn’t recognize when we first came up on the circle. If Ben is challenging him, that means this strange man is the Gray Pack Beta.
