by Dannika Dark
Reno touched her hand, and she smiled. Tiny threads of blue light weaved between their fingertips as she borrowed his energy to heal. It’s not something a Mage did with other Breeds, because it wasn’t polite—not to mention taking too much energy could drain or even kill them—but only a minute amount was needed for something as trivial as a blister.
I watched the exchange in awe. While it was just a simple transference of energy, it represented something far more tender and beautiful. It was as if I could see the chemistry between two life mates—the love that exists in the threads of our being that weaves itself to another soul.
He retracted his hand and went to help Wheeler set up the tent.
“Holy smokes,” April said on a breath. “Where did he come from?”
I spied our feline companion nestled inside Wheeler’s bag—his nose and whiskers protruding through the flap. “That’s a great story I’ll save for supper, but suffice it to say I have a feeling that Sparty just earned his keep in this pack, which is more than I can say about me.”
April put her arm around my shoulder. “I think we both know that’s a lie. Lexi Cole can hold her own. Remember that showdown years ago at the club?”
I laughed. “How could I forget? Austin owed that guy a lot of money in repairs.”
“And who was the one who single-handedly broke up a fight between eight wolves at a peace party?”
I thought back to the party a few years ago and rolled my eyes. “That fight wouldn’t have broken out if Denver hadn’t screwed up the meat order. We ran out of steak—what did he expect when the next guys in line got hot dogs?”
She laughed while putting her boot back on. “Well, you got right in there and grabbed them by the scruff of the neck, showing no fear. The women in this pack look up to you. Heck, Lexi. The men look up to you. Izzy had to sit out a few times when she was pregnant, so this has nothing to do with your skills. The pack’s instinct is to protect the weakest.”
“And I’m the weakest link?”
She patted my belly. “No, but this one is. Any movement today?”
I shrugged. “A little.”
“Maybe she misses her daddy.”
I bumped my shoulder against hers and smiled. April had been buying books for the baby, everything from Green Eggs and Ham to A Little Princess. But she was indulging me with more books aimed at girls than boys.
“I guess you really can’t have children now,” I said glumly, my thoughts traveling to her becoming a Mage.
Her eyebrows arched. “Lexi, I was almost forty anyhow. No baby was coming out of this body, and I don’t think I’d want to carry a child that wasn’t Reno’s. Anyhow, I’m fine with being Aunt April. I’ve never wanted kids of my own. I know that’s a strange concept for a Shifter, and humans for that matter, but this is my life, and I’d have it no other way.”
I rubbed my belly and considered that maybe it was meant to be since now she was an immortal. I couldn’t imagine outliving my children and their children.
“The pack’s here,” she said, dusting off her hands. “I can feel their energy approaching.”
I used her knee as a crutch to stand. “Sorry.”
She smiled warmly. “You’re fine.”
When Austin appeared in the distance, my heart soared. I couldn’t take my eyes off his body as I searched for injuries or blood. His gait was confident—no limp or impairment to his stride. He didn’t have on a shirt, and the right side of his torso was caked in mud.
He dropped his bag and cradled my head in his hands, pressing his forehead to mine. “Just let me breathe you in,” he whispered.
I touched his chest, feeling a thunderous beat. “Where is everyone?”
Maizy passed by us, and I heard her chattering with April.
Austin kissed the corner of my mouth. “They needed to rest. Axel reported fewer attacks on his end, but he still can’t be sure if anyone’s slipping through the cracks. Church sent some of his men, and they’re joining up with William’s camp.”
“William?”
“He’s the highest in rank. The best move I ever made was accepting him into this pack. Only Reno can be second-in-command, but Will’s got experience, and that gives me two betas. I’m dividing the pack, and he’ll be in charge of the rest of the crew.”
Austin’s hands ran down to my belly, and it seemed as if the worry lines in his face smoothed away. “Maizy was worried about you, so Denver made her come with me.”
“Is Naya with them?”
Austin put his arm around me, and we walked toward the camp. “Everyone’s accounted for, but Naya said she was joining our group a little later. I think Denver is giving her an ulcer.”
I snorted. “Sounds about right. Not to mention her and Maddox’s animals get along like—”
“Cats and dogs?” he said, finishing my thought. “Most cats are loners and don’t work well together. I still can’t believe Lynn talked him into living with us.”
“I think he enjoys the company of our pack more than he’d like to admit.”
Austin slowed his pace as we neared a fallen branch. “Maddox split off to monitor the western half of the property line. He thought a mountain lion pissing all over the territory would confuse the hell out of them.”
“Yeah, nothing will scare off a bunch of grown men like Maddox’s pee.”
He popped me on the behind. “Come on, smartass. My mother killed some rabbits, and they’re in my bag. We’re building a fire and having stew tonight.”
“Yum. Freshly killed meat. My fave,” I teased, tucking tighter against him.
We had agreed to only light campfires on the rare occasions when we needed something of more sustenance. While the thought of eating a hot meal filled me with excitement, I couldn’t shake off a sense of foreboding that settled deep in my marrow.
Something told me that a mammoth of a storm was on its way.
Chapter 29
Nightfall.
Whether you’re indoors or out, a fire always brings a primal sense of comfort to the soul, with its reassuring warmth and generous light. Shifters are naturally drawn to the sense of unity it brings to a pack, and we usually kept one going in winter, even though our home had sufficient heating.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I’ve never tasted anything so delicious,” I said, slurping on my second bowl of rabbit stew.
Austin puffed out his chest and tossed a stick into the fire. He’d put on a long-sleeve shirt to make the mosquitoes work for their meal. Most of us had gathered rocks to sit on, except for Reno and April, who were relaxing on towels. Earlier, Reno had attempted to drag a log to our campfire but had failed to notice the beehive inside one end. After he fought off a swarm, he decided comfort wasn’t worth suffering for. April set down her bowl and leaned against him.
They sat in front of me on the other side of the fire, and we watched the mesmerizing flames, which had mostly died down. The woods behind me had dense ferns, wild grass, and what appeared to be poison oak. Behind April were twisted limbs and shrubs so thick they were impassable.
“Not my usual cup of tea, but delish.” Naya patted my left hand. “All we’re missing are yeast rolls for sopping.”
“Now you’re speaking my language,” Wheeler said, drinking his bowl without a spoon.
Maizy raised her water bottle at Reno. “Thanks for walking five miles to get the fire pot.”
We had a stash of utensils and cookware at a nearby campsite. Instead of moving, Reno took off and picked up a few items to cook up the meat. We probably wouldn’t be having a hot meal for another week or more, so we couldn’t let the rabbit go to waste. We didn’t have a bunker at this location, but at least we had two tents.
I set down my bowl, listening to Wheeler and Naya talking about artists.
“Hey, you want to lie down?” Austin asked me, his voice quiet.
“What makes you ask?”
He kissed my neck. “Your blinks are getting longer. Come on.”
&
nbsp; With a little help, I stood up and leaned against Austin while we headed toward our tent.
“Put the fire out in ten minutes,” he said to Reno. “Bury the ashes and clean it up good.”
“How do you know they won’t come after us?” I asked.
He hugged me close. “The men we fought were in no condition to traverse through the woods at night and start another battle. None got away, but with the casualties they’re suffering and having to get past Axel’s men, it’s wearing them down.”
Once we got inside, he zipped the flap closed and switched on the lantern. “What’s wrong?”
I sat on my sleeping bag, my legs folded beneath me. “I want to go home.”
“You know we can’t do that.” He took a seat and draped one arm over his knee. “It’s not just us out here, Lexi. None of the packs are hiding in their homes. That’s not how you win battles. Church gained control, so he can afford to open his doors again. I’m willing to bet he’s only letting the young kids and injured stay in the house, but he also has more packmates.”
“I know, I know. I just want to go home. I want it to be over so we can go back to the way things were. I can’t even enjoy my pregnancy because I’m worried all the time.”
He pinched my chin and scooted closer. “What did I tell you about worrying? I’m always going to make sure you’re protected.”
“Where’s your medallion?”
His fingers traced up my leg. “Packed up where it’s safe. If I shift, it’s easier to go back and find my bag than it is to dig through all that damn poison ivy looking for a pendant.”
“Why didn’t anyone bring the bug spray?” I scratched a mosquito bite on my ankle, enjoying the sudden sense of normalcy that unremarkable conversations brought. I liked real moments when it was just us, with nothing important to say.
“Strong odors draw attention.”
I poked his chest. “In that case, you better take a bath tomorrow.”
He nuzzled his face in the crook of my neck, giving me kisses. “Mmm, I thought you liked me stinky.”
His whiskers brushed against my skin, and I found his lips.
“Not now,” he growled sexily.
I nibbled on his bottom lip. “If not now, when?”
Austin sat back, and his nostrils flared. The pale color in his eyes thinned as his pupils dilated, but it wasn’t passion I saw.
He placed a finger on my lips to stay quiet.
That’s when I noticed what had caught his attention. The crickets had stopped singing their summer song, and the conversation outside had turned off like a faucet.
He switched off the lantern since it was casting our shadows across the tent. When he reached for the zipper, I clutched his shirt.
Austin emerged from the tent, and I knelt at the edge, peering out.
What I saw stopped my heart. It was an ambush. Our pack was surrounded by men who stood as still as statues, each one holding a gun.
No one in our pack had moved from their spot, not even Reno. The men must have moved in quickly for no one to have noticed, and April had probably been distracted by a hot meal and the conversations around her that were lulling her into a sleep when Austin and I had gotten up to leave.
“Who’s the Packmaster?” one of them asked.
No one dared reply. These men had come for one thing: to kill the alpha.
“I asked you a question,” the man repeated. His rifle was obscuring most of his face. Like all the other men, he was dressed in black. These didn’t look anything like the rogues we’d been fighting. They were polished, clean-shaven, armed, and looked like experienced soldiers. Judas had sent in the Shifter equivalent of a SWAT team.
Reno stayed seated, his eyes on the fire and his hands in sight.
Two men appeared on either side of me and grabbed my arms, forcing me to my feet.
Austin turned, fury in his eyes.
One of the men peered inside. “All clear.”
The man leading the group, who had spoken a moment ago, lowered his gun. He adjusted the dark bandana that fit tight around his entire head. His dark eyes scanned the faces in the pack. “Ever played Russian roulette?” He nodded at a rotund man with a handgun. “Kellerman.”
The man called Kellerman stepped forward and pulled out a revolver. He emptied all but one of the bullets and spun the cylinder, then placed the muzzle against the back of Naya’s head.
The leader narrowed his eyes at every man in our group. “Who’s your Packmaster?”
They could have just shot us all down, but they must have been on orders to take out the Packmaster. They couldn’t confirm the task was done based on assumption when the Packmaster could have been in another group or roving through the woods on his own.
The energy was too diluted for them to sense Austin’s alpha power, and not all Shifters could. The locals could always spot them because of the recognizable tattoos or if they channeled that power into their voice, but otherwise, alphas could blend into a crowd if they chose to.
The fire crackled, sending up a flurry of sparks.
Wheeler’s eyes remained downcast. “You better take that gun off my woman.”
I stepped closer to Austin, my heart racing.
The leader nodded at Kellerman, who pulled the trigger.
I jumped when I heard the empty click.
Wheeler rose to his feet slowly. “And boom goes the dynamite.”
Before the words left his mouth, he spun around and assailed the man with a series of blows to the face. When the shooter fell onto his back, Wheeler straddled him and placed the gun against the man’s forehead. He pulled the trigger, and the man flinched.
“How’s that feel?” Wheeler growled.
None of the other men moved. Their guns remained steady, locked on their targets. They weren’t a true pack; they didn’t care what happened to the other men in their group.
Wheeler crawled off the man and put the gun to his crotch. “Feel like another turn, sweetheart?”
A click sounded, and the man wet his pants. Someone in the group chuckled before saying, “Jesus, Kellerman. Take it like a man.”
Wheeler checked the chamber and then tossed the gun on the ground as if it was useless.
The leader tapped Reno on the shoulder with his gun. “I think it’s you, big boy.”
Wheeler launched to his feet and kicked Kellerman in the balls before positioning himself behind his woman, hands resting on her shoulders.
“Shoot ’em all,” someone suggested. “Isn’t that the plan?”
The barrel of the man’s gun slid up to Reno’s cheek, raking over his skin. April squeezed her hands into tight fists.
“That takes the fun out of watching them bargain for their lives. I’d like to give you men a chance to reconsider if this is the pack for you. It’s not too late to join our unit. The first one to turn over the Packmaster will get a free pass. You have my word.”
“Then that would be me,” Austin said.
Reno’s eyes swung up. “Don’t cover for me, brother.”
The leader flicked his gaze between the two men, and a look of irritation flashed in his eyes.
Another man put the barrel of his rifle beneath Maizy’s braid and flipped her hair around. “I say we take the bitches and go, Swanson.”
“You do as I say,” Swanson, their leader, commanded. “We have explicit orders to kill the Packmaster, and I’m not going back to Judas, saying we think we got him, but we’re not sure.”
Reno and Austin shared a glance. Reno wasn’t going to give up his Packmaster; that wolf would take a bullet for his brother.
And Austin would tear down the world for his pack.
April sprang to her feet. “Why don’t you put the guns down, and let’s settle this Shifter style?”
A few men quietly laughed.
Swanson regarded her with amusement. “Sweetie, you couldn’t handle me.”
Maizy stood up. “I think it’s you who can’t handle us. Years from now, you�
�re going to have to tell this story over and over again. Either people are going to see you for the cowards you are, or you’re going to lie and leave out the part with the guns. Then each time you tell the story it’ll change, because that’s what happens to a lie until you’re caught. You guys are real brave standing there with your guns pointed at unarmed Shifters who are more than willing to fight with dignity.”
Some men didn’t care about honor and dignity, but deep down, Shifters were a different Breed. It’s all we had. I could already smell the shame in the air as the men looked between one another, some lowering their guns.
Austin folded his arms. “Seems like you boys have a dilemma,” he said. “If you want to settle it like men, then I’ll be more than happy to put every dog in his place.”
With that last remark, he threw off so much alpha power in his voice that it rippled through the air and raised the hair on my arms. Everyone there felt it.
Everyone knew.
Austin was the alpha.
He peeled off his shirt, his muscles flexing as shadows danced across his bare flesh. “Did you come from the north side?” he asked, wondering the same thing I was thinking… William’s group.
Swanson tossed his gun down and pulled his bandana off. He didn’t have a single hair on his head. “There’s a breech on the east side. If those men were in your pack, then you have my condolences.”
My relief was quickly replaced with regret that either Lorenzo or Axel had lost more men.
Austin and Swanson approached each other, walking in circles. The men began dropping their guns to the ground, their animals feeling the itch to fight.
Naya, Wheeler, Maizy, Reno, and April all circled the fire with their backs to it, forming a ring enclosed by a much larger one. Realizing I was in a dangerous situation since I couldn’t shift, I backed up close to a gun that was in my line of vision. At this point, I wasn’t going to risk diving into a tent and digging through my pack for my own.
Some of the wind blew smoke from the fire my way, and I blinked as it stung my eyes. Our adversaries began shifting one at a time. Their wolves held their positions, waiting for their leader to make the first move. I counted sixteen against our group of seven.
