"That's because you whine too much," Flynt said, punching him in the side as he grabbed the bag and disappeared into the trees.
Steve looked appalled. "I do not."
Liam lifted a brow at Steve, but said nothing. He turned to me instead. "We're going to have to be in wolf form."
I nodded. "How am I going to keep up with you? Won't I slow you down?"
Liam smirked. "You, my dear," he said, pointing a finger at my chest, "are not walking." He turned from me with a smug little chuckle as he started towards the shrubs to 'change'. I jogged after him.
"Wait, what are you talking about? What do you mean I'm not walking?"
Liam grinned, giving a shrug.
"Liam, if you want to stay in wolf form, you better tell me what's going on."
"Who's the pack leader now?" Flynt said with a chuckle.
"Shut up," Liam said, elbowing him as he passed on his way to the bushes.
I giggled.
Liam shifted his gaze to me. "You wouldn't."
"I would," I said, hand on my hip.
"Fine, I'm carrying you," he said.
"Carrying me?"
"How do you think you got here while passed out? You rode on my back."
Liam wiggled his brow at me, and then stepped out of view. When he returned, his wolf-self beamed at my inability to come up with words. "Yeah well you can't talk either." I said.
Liam's lips rose over his large canine teeth, and I faked a scowl. His large head pushed into me, nearly knocking me over. With a quick, short whimper, he motioned behind him.
"What?" I asked, and then I realized he wanted me to get on. I groaned. The last time I rode an animal, I fell off the pony. Who ever heard of riding wolves anyway?
Liam shoved his big head into me again.
"Okay, okay," I said.
I took hold of his thick rusty colored coat, the soft, fineness of it surprising me. Hoisting myself up, I leaned over his back, and swung my leg to the other side. Athletic ability had never been my thing, and it showed. I started to slip. A cool, damp nose pressed into me from behind, lifting me the rest of the way.
"Hey, no being fresh," I said.
Liam's body shook with laughter and I almost lost my balance. Not a good sign. We hadn't even moved yet.
The other wolves joined us, and Liam took the lead. My fingers gripped the scruff of his neck with a death hold. I didn't have the nerve to sit straight on his back, leaning on my stomach with my legs dangling down on both sides. If it hurt Liam, it didn't show.
I could feel the movement of his muscles under me, his gate long and lanky. He had his nose in the air and Byron and Flynt scanned the ground.
My thoughts returned to Ty and I shivered. I couldn't imagine how scared she must be. We had to find her.
Liam gave a quick, short bark and lurched forward into a long loping sprint.
My knees bore into his ribcage as I squeaked, burying my head into his fur. The wind whistled in my ears and I didn't dare peek for fear of losing my balance. I kept myself low on his back, hoping the passing shrubs wouldn't nab at my skin.
The sun had set and under the covering of the trees I couldn't see a thing. I hoped the nocturnal vision of wolves was good, for Liam weaved in and out of the trees with blinding speed.
For miles we crisscrossed along paths only known by the scent and the instinct of the wolves. My knuckles and thighs ached from the knot I had them in. I prayed to be there. I didn't know how much longer I could hold on.
Liam's body twitched and then he came to an abrupt stop. The hairs surrounding me bristled and rose, as a low growl vibrated from his chest. The others halted too. A chorus of low deafening snarls erupted around me. My skin turned cold.
Straining my eyes, I tried to make out what they saw, but I couldn't see.
Liam's chest reverberated again, and he lowered himself on his haunches, stepping back. The soft sound of shifting feet moved beside me. What was going on? Why were we retreating?
A cloud passed overhead, allowing a small sliver of moonlight to filter through ... and then I saw them.
Chapter 19
An electric charge ignited the still air. The skin on my back prickled, and something in me stirred, flushing a wave of energy just below my flesh. In front of us, stepping lowly from the shadows came eight massive werewolves. Teeth bared and ears pinned back, they snarled and spat at us.
I shook, praying I wouldn't pass out. I couldn't fall off Liam now.
Liam withdrew further from the proceeding wolves, his chest vibrating, matching their growls. I could imagine the look on Liam's face and I shivered.
The rest of the pack moved forward as Liam and I retreated. Confused, I wondered why Liam, the Alpha, wouldn't be the one to front the attack. I had seen him fight. I knew why he had that title. Then I realized I was the reason.
The other pack crouched down on their front legs, sharp claws digging into the dirt. They maneuvered in a wide circle around us, readying to pounce. Saliva spat from their bared teeth, and I had to wonder if this had been a trap, Ty being bate. I doubted Liam knew Aaron had back up.
"Ah, Aiden, my delightfully annoying twin brother," a male voice said. Aaron, in human form, immerged from behind his pack of wolves.
Liam stiffened under me.
"Oh, wait. It's Liam now, isn't it?" Aaron said with a snap to his tone.
I could guess the reason why. The snarls ceased, his pack crouched, waiting as if on command.
Liam shifted further under the trees, away from Aaron, but two wolves halted him. Byron snapped at them, and they jumped him, biting his flank. Snarls ripped through the air. Byron went for the neck of the closest wolf, tossing it, just as the other one pushed Byron to the ground. He twisted himself up, embedding his teeth into the other wolf's leg.
I buried my head in Liam's neck. I couldn't watch.
"Enough," Aaron said.
His pack mates ceased attacking Byron and bounded for the border of the make shift circle. I smiled, seeing one limp, but my stomach dropped when I saw blood oozing from Byron's hip. Byron shook, making his dark hairs stick on end and then joined our side without any sign of pain. I exhaled with relief.
"Come on now. We don't want to frighten the poor girl," Aaron said with a smirk that looked too much like Liam's. His intense blue eyes bore into me and I glanced away. He laughed. "You are full of secrets, aren't you, Aiden?"
Liam's large head motioned to the side and I gasped as Flynt grabbed a hold of the back of my shirt with his teeth. I tried to hold on, not wanting to let go of Liam, but Flynt pulled me free, placing me on the ground. My heart raced. I felt exposed on my feet, but Flynt tucked me into his furry chest with his long muzzle.
Steve tossed the small leather bag to Liam, just as Liam started to shift back to his human form. He pulled his jeans on and cocked his head to the side. "Where's Ty?"
"Who?" Aaron said with a smile. "Oh, you mean that cute little blonde thing?" He scratched his chin with his index finger, and then shrugged. "I've grown rather fond of the girl to be honest. I've decided to keep her."
"What?" I said. I looked to Liam.
The amused expression on Aaron's face made me fume. What did he mean, keeping her? Was he going to turn her? Had he done so already?
"You get a human, I get a human," Aaron said. "Oh, but wait, I forgot. Your little precious secret isn't really human at all. Is she?"
Aaron took one step towards me and Liam shoved his hands into his brother's chest with a growl. Aaron stumbled backwards, his eyes flashing gold.
"You stay the hell away from her," Liam said.
The mockery disappeared from Aaron's face as his gaze fixated on me. "Why don't you tell her the real reason you are protecting her. Tell her why you really want her around, Aiden," he said.
A cold welt formed in my stomach. I felt queasy. "What's he talking about, Liam?"
"Nothing," Liam said, glowering at his brother. "He's just messing with you. Don't listen to him."
"I did that to protect you," Liam said.
Aaron let out a tight chortled laugh. "No you didn't. You did it to protect a bunch of loser no life wolf killers."
"They weren't hunting wolves," Liam said. "They were human. You can't go around killing innocent people, Aaron."
"They were hunters. What gives them the right to hunt what they want and not me? Hmm? Really Aiden, to think you'd choose to protect them over your own flesh and blood. You make me sick."
Liam growled. "I was protecting you. I was protecting you from yourself. You were out of control and you still are."
Aaron laughed. "You are so self-righteous. You don't even know it." he rolled his eyes. "Please. Save your 'I am better than thou' speech for someone that might believe them. Saving me from myself? That's borderline hilarious. Perhaps you're the one that needs saving. Did you ever think of that? I mean you are surrounded by my pack."
The wolves around us grumbled and gurgled behind bared teeth. I moved closer to Flynt. Liam didn't seem phased.
"Since when did you get a pack anyway? Did you make them?"
Aaron looked amused. "Some," he said with a smug grin. "A few I found up north wandering around the Canadian border. I figured it was time to make myself Alpha."
Aaron's intense blue gaze narrowed on Liam and I realized more meaning came behind those words. He planned on taking over.
Flynt bristled beside me and I could hear the others fidgeting. Liam's irises flashed gold and I gasped as long razor sharp claws sprouted from his fingers. "You want to challenge me, brother?" Liam tilted his head to the side and rolled his shoulders. The skin on his bare back quivered. "I kicked you out before. I can do it again."
Aaron smiled. "That was a long time ago. I'm a different wolf now." Aaron's back popped, and a pair of matching claws erupted from his hands.
"Please, somebody do something," I said. We needed to save Ty, not to play out some macho Alpha thing. I'd seen my fair share of the learning channel. I knew how these things turned out. They'd kill each other.
No one listened. They didn't even hear me.
The two brothers began to circle each other. The tension in the air sparked with electricity.
"Liam, please," I said. "You're not thinking with your human half. You're going to get killed or you're going to kill your own brother. You don't want that."
Liam froze at my words, stopping his in his tracks. He inhumanly tilted his head in my direction as if trying to understand me. He looked lost, almost sad, and then I started to scream. Aaron's claw ripped across Liam's cheek. A trail of crimson seeped from the wounds and I leapt from Flynt's hold without thinking.
"Liam!"
Aaron moved fast, grabbing me by the shoulder. His razor sharp teeth protruded behind his lips with a growl.
"Don't touch her!" Liam screamed.
Liam grabbed a hand full of his brother shirt, yanking him from me. Wincing, I hit the ground, just as Liam hurled Aaron. With a crack, his back hit a tree, and then landed on all fours with a snarl.
Liam hunched over and started towards him.
They sprang for each other with claws outstretched. Shifting nearly in sync, they collided with a thunderous mass of snarls and teeth. Someone yelped a high-pitched cry that reached all the way to my bones, but I couldn't tell whom it came from. I pinned my hands to my ears.
One of them skidded cross the fallen leaves on his side. I gasped when I saw Liam get up, his shoulder and muzzle smeared with blood.
"Liam!" I tried to reach for him, but Flynt caught the back of my shirt with his teeth. "Let go of me!" Tears slipped down my cheeks.
Flynt released my shirt, stepping back from me with a whimper, his head low with submission. I should have freaked out about him listening to me, considering what that meant, but Liam needed help.
Liam got up, the effort of moving painful on his face. I needed to get to him. I held out my hand, but Liam ignored me and leapt at his brother, sinking his canines into his brother's throat.
A sick gurgling noise came from Aaron and his claw slashed Liam across the head.
"Stop it! Stop it!" I cried.
I couldn't take it anymore. I shook, falling to my knees. I wanted it all to go away.
Burying my head in my hands, all went silent.
I hesitated, and then let my finger fall, my pulse pounding in my ears. Stiff and numb, I questioned my sanity.
Liam and Aaron crouched on the ground in human form, eyes wide. The wounds they had inflicted on each other had vanished, revealing smooth bare skin. I couldn't breathe. It was impossible.
I watched as the edge of Liam's mouth slowly turned up, Aaron's expression venomous.
Aaron moved in slow motion, standing up, and pulling on his jeans. He started towards me, when Liam's hand landed on his shoulder. Aaron didn't look away from me. His body language screamed 'I was prey'.
"It's true," Aaron said through his teeth.
"Leave now," Liam said to him. His hand pressed into Aaron's shoulder. "Leave and take your pack with you. You and yours will not be able to take wolf form here." He nodded to me. "Charlotte will make sure of that."
I tried to stay composed, but my poker face felt rather pathetic. I swallowed hard. "What are we doing about Ty?" I asked.
Aaron seemed on the verge of exploding. His face twisted into a contortion of lines.
"Fair enough," he said. "I will leave after I give you your friend back."
"What do you mean?" Liam asked.
"Obviously, she's not here," he said. "She's back at my place."
"You have a place?" Liam asked.
Aaron gave a disgruntled smirk. "Yes, I've been under your nose for a while now, Aiden." He shook his head. "You and your pack are pathetic. You'd be nothing without this girl."
"Where's your place?" Liam asked, ignoring the comment.
Aaron grinned. "The old abandoned Kingston Farm on Sanders and Owens," Aaron said. "The house is basically dilapidated, but we found the barn still intact enough to make home. Meet me there in two hours and I'll hand over the girl."
"Why don't we just go there now?" Liam asked.
This whole thing wreaked suspicious.
Aaron shrugged. "My pack is hungry and I promised them a hunt while we were out here. I'm not one to disappoint." He gestured with his hand to the other, now human, guys that made up his group.
"Then we'll hunt with you," Liam said with a straight face.
Aaron paused. "Sure," he said.
"Charlotte, stay here with Steve." Liam said. Steve appeared at my side. "Make sure she stays safe."
You would have thought this the assignment of the century. Steve beamed. "Right, Sir," he said with a salute. Liam grumbled, rolling his eyes.
Liam's palm cupped my chin. "Please just stay here," he whispered. "I can't bear anything happening to you." He pressed his lips to mine. "I'll be back in an hour tops."
Chapter 20
My chest ached as I watched Liam disappear into the forest with his brother. They'd be able to shift away from me, and that scared me. Too easily they had both bloodied the other. I cringed, wanting to stop him.
"Don't worry. He'll be all right," Steve said.
"Thanks," I whispered, even though I didn't believe it. Too many unknowns saturated this plan. Aaron gave up too soon. I saw the fury in his face. I didn't like this.
"Nothing's going to happen," Steve said as if reading my mind. "That's why Liam's going with them. He's keeping tabs on Aaron. As long as Liam's with him, he can't do anything to you or Ty."
I slumped down to the ground and leaned my back against a tree. Tucking my knees to my chest, I fiddled with a twig in the dirt. "But that doesn't keep him safe,"
I said.
Steve sat down next to me. "Hey, the guy didn't become Alpha from the lottery. He's smart, strong, and very skilled. He's dealt with his brother before. He can take care of himself. Don't worry so much."
"You really have a lot of faith in him, don't you?" I asked, lifting my gaze. Steve seemed so young, alone, without the others. He reminded me of a little brother, had I had one.
"Liam came to me when I had no one. He taught me to be who I am, how to live the way I do. I'd follow him to the ends of the earth if I had to. I owe him my life."
The candidness of Steve's words shocked me. "What happened to you? I mean, how did you..."
"Become a werewolf," Steve said with a small grin.
"Yeah."
"My mother was a photographer for a small wildlife publication in New York. I was on Summer Break, so I joined her at the location she was at in Australia. Rumors sprang of a wild dog break, tearing up the local farmsteads, mostly killing livestock and the likes. While my mother was out one night, doing a shoot, she was attacked. They brought her to the local hospital. I never left her side. Perhaps in hind sight I should have, for when she shifted that first night, I was her meal."
"What?" I gasped, staring at him. I couldn't summon a coherent response.
Steve shrugged, his focus on the dirt, as he picked at it. "It's okay. It wasn't her fault. The first shift without anyone helping you is terrifying. Her wolf was scared and the natural instinct of a wolf when scared is to attack. I doubt she knew it was me."
Wow. I couldn't believe how strong he was being. My problems felt so small. "What happened to her?" I asked.
Steve fidgeted, and I regretted the question. "The medical staff," he said, "put her down." "They didn't understand. They saw a wolf attacking a kid. They stopped her."
"Steve, I'm sorry."
"It's okay," he said, not looking at me. "I didn't shift until after I was flown back here. Liam picked up my scent. He took me in. The pack's my family now. They can be a little annoying," Steve said with a forced smirk, "but they're all I have."
I took a breath and exhaled. "I don't even know what to say."
"The point is, trust Liam." Steve nudged me in the side with a small grin. "He won't fail you."
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