by L. P. Dover
Ivan chuckles. “How could I forget?” He bites his bottom lip and lets out a moan. “Kami Grayson. You have the sweetest blood I’ve ever tasted. Biting you was euphoric.”
“Fuck you,” I hiss.
His wolfish grin widens. “Oh, you’re more than welcome to fuck me. You took away my playthings for the night. I could use a little bit of fun.” He steps to the side, and I counter him, making sure to keep my eyes on him the entire time.
“So that’s what you do, huh? You kidnap helpless women and hunt them?” I glare at him with disgust. “You’re pathetic.”
Ivan smirks. “Before the Tetons and your brother’s pack came for the Yukons, I was going to take you with me when I left. I knew we wouldn’t win the fight. I regret not finishing what I started.”
It’s my turn to smile. “Don’t worry. I’m going to finish it now. I’m not tied up and helpless like before.” I crack my neck to the side. “You’re going to suffer for what you did to my friends. I found them in the woods.”
His gaze narrows. “The two FBI agents?” When I don’t answer, he bursts out laughing. “Humans are worthless. Please tell me you’re not an agent too.” Again, I don’t respond, and his smile fades. “They’re not the first FBI agents I’ve killed, and they sure won’t be the last. Guess I’ll have to add you to that list.”
I beckon him closer, and Colin shouts in my mind again. I promised him I wouldn’t block him out, and I have to keep that promise. “I can handle him, Colin. Just get here fast.”
Ivan steps forward just as a sliver of the moonlight lands across his face. He looks up at it and smiles. “Or better yet, instead of killing you, I’ll take you as my mate.” His eyes glow when he stares at me. “Not unless your mate is one of the friends you brought. They aren’t going to beat my wolves. Their power presence is minuscule. I bet they’re already dead.”
He continues to circle closer to me, and I match his steps. “Looks like I’ll have to kill them after you then,” I state, opening my arms wide. “Because there’s no way in hell I’d ever be your mate.”
With a heavy sigh, he shakes his head. “What a shame. You might actually like it. We’ll see if you change your mind after I’m done.”
I’ve been taught to be fast, to go on the attack, and not wait to be defensive. The harder you strike, the harder your opponent falls. Ivan starts to charge, but I’m ahead of him. My claws break free, and I swipe them across his stomach as deep as I can go before rolling onto the ground to avoid his swingarm. He doubles over in pain and snarls at me as blood oozes from his midsection.
“You like it rough, huh? Good. It’s how I like to play.”
Depending on how old and strong a wolf is, their wounds heal accordingly. Ivan is a quick healer, so I have to move fast to put him down. He runs at me, and I do the same with him. When he gets close, I slide across the ground, swipe my claws across his back, and jump to my feet. I have to keep him from shifting into his wolf. If he does, he’ll be more powerful than me. He growls, and I can see the magic start to swirl around his body. I run to his side and kick his knee, shattering it in one swift move.
He falls, and his voice drips with fury. “Broken bones won’t hold me long. I’ll be sure to make it painful for you.”
My claws lengthen, and I stalk toward him. “I’m not scared of you.”
“You should be.”
I want to rip out his cold, black heart and make him watch as I do it. Still on his knees, he looks up at me just as I’m about to strike. Before I can pierce him with my claws, he takes my legs out from under me and slams me to the ground. The breath whooshes out of my lungs, and I gasp for air, but it gets cut off when his hands grab my neck. His body presses me into the cold earth, and I can’t move.
“Are you ready for the pain?” he asks, trailing his tongue down my neck. “I used to love the sound of your screams. It’ll be music to my ears when I’m fucking you tonight.” Colin’s rage explodes within me, fueling my own. I feel stronger than ever before. Ivan rears back, baring his fangs, and about to sink them into my neck when I elbow him in the cheek. I hit him again and again, screaming out my anger until his hands loosen around my neck.
The second I break free, I knee him in the groin, and he snarls in pain when I push him off. Unfortunately, he gets right back to his feet, his face covered in blood and eyes glowing menacingly. Breathing hard, he wipes the blood out from under his nose with his arm. “You know, I’d hoped things would go a little differently. It looks like I have no choice.”
I grab my gun and point it right at his head. “Neither do I.”
“I’m almost there!” Colin shouts in my head.
Ivan looks at the gun and laughs. “Kind of sad you have to use a gun on your own kind.”
“I’m not the one covered in blood. I think I can handle myself just fine.”
His grin turns sinister. “We’ll see about that.”
With my finger on the trigger, I’m about to pull it when everything moves in slow motion. Ivan's clothes rip off of him, and he shifts so fast he’s a blur in my vision. The next thing I know, my gun flies out of my hands as I’m knocked to the ground, the impact knocking the air out of my lungs. My head hits a rock, and I can feel the warm blood seeping out of the wound.
Ivan towers over me, baring his fangs as if he’s smiling. I stare right into his eyes. “I’m not afraid of you.”
He shifts back to his human form, his naked body on top of mine. I can smell the lust burning through him. “No, but you will be. I was able to draw blood from you after all.”
Visions of Chris and Anthony’s smiling faces during our training days replay through my mind. I’ll never see them again or hear their laughs. All the rage and anger I’ve kept inside me spreads like fire through my veins, ready to be unleashed. My wolf wants to break free, but I don’t want to shift. Ivan needs to see me when he dies.
Keeping my body limp, I’m hoping Ivan will think I’m too injured to fight. All he’s ever known me to be is weak and scared. That girl died a long time ago.
Licking his lips, Ivan stares down at my body. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
“So am I.” My claws extend from my fingers, and I sink them into his chest. His mouth gapes in shock, and a grunt of pain escapes his lips. I can feel his heartbeat against my fingers, the pounding growing faster and faster. He knows that if he moves, I’ll crush his heart. For the first time, there’s a look of fear in his eyes, and I smile. “It’s over.”
The sound of thunder rumbles against the ground, and I know it’s Colin. I can see through his eyes as he races toward us.
“He’s all yours,” I say in his mind. “I got what I wanted. It’s time for you to get rid of the Yukons, once and for all.”
Colin’s growl booms through the trees, and I retract my claws just as he jumps across my body, taking Ivan with him. They roll across the ground, and Colin pins Ivan beneath him, ripping off one of his arms with his teeth. Ivan screams in agony, blood pouring from his missing limb. He reeks with fear as Colin tears off his other arm and tosses it out into the woods. Out of the corner of my eye, another wolf comes into view, and I look over to see Zayne, a huge royal arctic with streaks of blood in his white fur. Both he and Colin are magnificent creatures.
Colin moves away from Ivan and circles around him like a hunter toying with his prey as Ivan writhes across the ground with no arms. He wants him to suffer just as much as I do. It feels good to hear his screams and to know that justice is being served.
Colin’s wolf eyes stare over at me. “I thought you wanted to kill him yourself.”
I shake my head. “I could have, and he knows it. You’ve waited a lot longer than me for your revenge. I wanted you to get it.”
He continues to stalk around Ivan, and I make my way over there to him. Covered in sweat and gasping for air, Ivan peers up at me. The ground underneath him is soaked with his blood. “Just fucking kill me,” he begs.
“Oh no,” I reply with a smile on my f
ace. “I want this to last as long we can.”
Stepping back, I watch as Colin slices Ivan’s skin, over and over with his claws. He rips off one of his legs, and then a few minutes later, does the other one. Ivan’s screams slowly reduce to whimpers as the life begins to leave his body. I stand over him so I can see my reflection in his eyes as he dies. When his final breath escapes his lips, I move back so Colin can finish the job. He bites Ivan’s neck and rips his head off so viciously it flies into the forest.
My nightmare is finally over.
I’ve lived with the dark thoughts of my past for a long time, but now, I feel free. Still in wolf form, Colin walks over to me, looking strong and dangerous with his glowing crystal blue eyes. When he gets closer, he shifts and pulls me into his arms. I wrap my arms around his waist and lay my head on his bare chest.
“I thought I was going to be too late.”
I shake my head. “I knew you wouldn’t be.”
Taking my shoulders, he pushes me back so he can look at my face. His hand gently grazes over the back of my head where the gash has already healed. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” I assure him. Bringing my hands to his face, I kiss him and smile. “It’s over. I think now we need a little vacation. We deserve it after this.”
Colin chuckles and holds me in his arms. “I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
Breathing him in, I close my eyes, and a tear escapes the corner of my eye. I don’t know where I’d want to go, but I want it to be far away from here.
24
Kami
Tia erased the four women’s memories of Ivan and the other three wolves. To keep our time in Lost River State Forest under wraps, I figured out each girl’s identity, and we took them home instead of the hospital to help clean them up. They had been abused by the wolves in more ways than one, and it might not have been my place to tell Tia to make them forget, but I thought it was for the best. The emotional trauma could easily destroy them, and I don’t want that horror being a part of them for the rest of their lives. All they will remember is getting drunk at a party, and they went home to sleep it off. Was it the right thing to do? Maybe, maybe not. It has to be better than remembering the truth. All that matters is that they’re safe. By the time we were done with them, morning had come, and the full moon was gone.
Zayne left Minnesota to avoid being questioned by the FBI. When I called Reed to tell him about Chris and Anthony and how I found Ivan, I left out the part where Zayne and Colin helped me. Reed is supposed to arrive soon with a team of FBI agents to recover Chris and Anthony’s bodies. Explaining to him what happened isn’t going to be easy.
I knock on Tia and Sawyer’s hotel room door, and Tia answers. She lets Colin and me in, and I walk over to stand beside the bed Sawyer is still passed out on. Tia blows out a sigh and sits on the bed with him. “We ready?”
Colin drapes his arm over my shoulders, and I nod. “As we’ll ever be. We need him awake before the FBI get here.” Tia holds a hand above Sawyer’s head and slowly waves it over his face.
He sucks in a deep breath and slowly opens his eyes. When he sees us all staring at him, he furrows his brows. “Do I have something on my face?”
Tia laughs and kisses him. “I’m so glad you’re feeling better. You had us all worried.”
Sawyer sits up and looks around. “What do you mean?”
Tia goes through the spiel about how he felt ill and stayed asleep for the past two days. It hurt my heart having to tell him about finding Chris and Anthony in the woods. He got right up and started getting ready, so we could go out and find Ivan, but I had to break the news that he was gone too. I feel bad for taking away his chance to avenge Chris and Anthony, but there’s no way he would’ve survived fighting against Ivan and the other wolves.
Sawyer’s eyes turn red, and he looks away as he sits back down on the bed. “I wish I could’ve been there.”
He wouldn’t look at me, but I could see the torment on his face. I sit down beside him. “Me too,” I answer in all honesty. “But Ivan and the men with him are gone.”
“How did you kill them?” he asks, turning to me. “You couldn’t have done it all by yourself.”
I look up at Colin and then back to him. “Let’s just say we got it handled. Maybe one day I’ll tell you.”
Sawyer glances over at Tia. “Why do I feel like you’re all keeping something from me?” When he focuses back on me, he stares into my eyes. “You don’t think I’ve noticed, but there’s something different about you. I can’t put my finger on it, but there are times when your eyes change. I thought it might be the lighting, but I don’t think that’s it.”
I want to tell him the truth because I trust him, but Tia needs to be honest with him about her situation first. If he can handle her having powers, I’m sure he can take me being a wolf. Placing a hand over his, I squeeze it and smile. “One day, Sawyer. That’s all I can say.”
My phone rings, and I stand so I can grab it out of my back pocket. Reed’s number flashes across the screen. “Hey,” I answer.
“I’m almost to the hotel. I wanted to see you before I meet the team that’s out retrieving Chris and Anthony’s bodies. I’ve already notified their families.” He blows out a sigh. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
My eyes burn. “Okay.”
I slide my phone back into my pocket. “Reed will be here soon,” I say, focusing on Sawyer. “Do you want to talk to him with me?”
He shrugs. “And say what? I wasn’t even with you. I was passed out here with the fucking flu. I’m too embarrassed even to admit it.”
A car door slams outside. “Okay. I’ll go by myself. For all he knows, you were with me. I won’t say otherwise.”
He nods. “Thanks. I feel like I let you down.”
“You could never let me down, Sawyer.” I turn to Colin, kiss his cheek, and walk out the door.
Reed parked across the parking lot and walks toward me, taking off his sunglasses. “I’m sorry you had to find Chris and Anthony the way you did. I just got off the phone with one of the guys out there in the park. He said it’s disturbing.”
Swallowing hard, I try not to envision the scene in my head. “It was.”
He stares at me and narrows his gaze against the sun. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the other list. I didn’t want you going after those men.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I huff. “Yeah, I wasn’t too happy about that. Did you not think I could handle it?”
“That’s not it,” he says, looking away. “The men on that list are the worst of the worst. To think of them doing something to you made me sick. I’m the one who chose to keep you from it.”
His sincerity warms my heart. “I appreciate you wanting to keep me safe, but I think I did pretty damn well.”
He focuses back on me and smiles. “I see that. You marked four men off that list. Do you want to tell me how you did it?”
I’ve thought about this for hours on what I was going to say, and nothing ever came to mind. A smile spreads across my face, and I simply say, “I fed them to the wolves.”
Reed lifts his brows and shakes his head. “All right, you don’t have to tell me. As long as they’re dead, I’m good with it.”
“Seriously?” I ask. “That’s it?”
Sliding his sunglasses back on, he stares at me, but I can still see a hint of darkness in those green eyes of his. “I don’t care how you do your job, Kami, just as long as you get it done without getting hurt.” He steps back toward his car. “Why don’t you take a break for a few weeks. I have a female recruit coming in after Thanksgiving. I’d like you to work with her for a couple of weeks.”
“I’d love to,” I say, feeling excitement bubble in my chest.
Reed nods. “Good. I’ll be in touch. Until then, take care of yourself.”
“Always.” I watch him leave, and Colin comes out to join me. He wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my neck. “Did
you hear?” I ask him.
His arms tighten around me. “I did. Congratulations. It looks like we’ll be staying in Wyoming for a while. You know the next full moon is on Thanksgiving Day.”
Turning around in his arms, I slide my hands behind his neck. “Yes, it is. We should have a dinner at your house. I can invite my family, and we’ll invite yours. It’ll be a great night.”
He shakes his head. “There’s a problem with what you just said.”
“What?” I ask, furrowing my brows.
Pulling me closer, he rests his forehead to mine. “It’s not just my house, Kami. It’s ours. We may not be bonded yet, but we’re one. My home is your home now.”
My heart swells with love, and I know exactly what I want. “Then take me home. That’s where I want to be.”
His eyes search mine. “You sure? You don’t want to go back to Montana?”
“No,” I murmur. There’s a feeling inside of me that tells me this is the right move. Our vision showed us together at the Wyoming house, and that’s where we’re supposed to be. Lifting up on my toes, I kiss him and smile. “I love you, Colin Storm. Months ago, I never would’ve thought I’d say those words.”
Colin chuckles. “Months ago, I never thought I’d hear them. But I’m glad you came to your senses.” I smack his arm, and he nips my bottom lip to cut off what would’ve been a smart-ass reply. “I love you too, Kamille. All I can say is that I’m ready for the next full moon.”
I nod. “Me too.”
I’m more than ready for it.
25
Kami
Three Weeks Later
I turn down the road toward Amelie’s cabin, loving the way the snow shimmers in the sun. Colin and I just got back from a two-day trip to New Mexico. He had a couple of clients to see, and I had a target to get rid of. So far, things seem to be working out perfectly.
I’ve been living full-time in Wyoming for two and a half weeks, and it’s been the best time of my life. Colin and I rented a U-Haul, and Zayne helped us move my things from Montana to here. Tia and Sawyer are now temporarily living in my home until they can find a place in Jackson Hole near us. Little do they know, Colin and I have a surprise for them. Colin has worked the past week on designing their own house. We’re going to give it to them as an engagement gift.
