Winter's Rise (The Winter Series Book 1)

by Breezy Jones

  “What the hell?” Ryker’s voice rang through my mind. Anger and confusion rolled off him.

  I wined, still trying to wrap my mind around what I had just seen.

  It was Lindsey. But it couldn’t have been.

  I laid down, burrowing my face beneath my paws. I wanted it to go away, to be a dream. Ryker wanted to go after her, I could sense the need in him, but it was as if something was stopping him, as if I was stopping him. I couldn’t bring myself to go after her, my best friend. Even if she was a vampire.

  Lindsey’s face flashed before my eyes. Her teeth bared. Vampire teeth. Fear evident in the vibrant blue of her eyes. I thought vampires had red eyes. I shook my head, desperately trying to rid the image playing on repeat in my mind.

  My stomach roiled with the overwhelming scent of blood still heavy in the air as I forced myself up and over to the body on the ground. The man—or what was left of him—was mangled and bloodied. His lifeless form was cold against the red-soaked snow.

  Seeing his body ripped apart and soaked in red sped up my heart. Lexi and Ryker had made it clear: a werewolf’s job was to take out vampires. To protect people from the way they slaughtered. Just like this man had been killed tonight.

  I closed my eyes tight telling myself that Lindsey couldn’t have killed this man. But the evidence against her was undeniable. And I knew what Ryker might do to her because of it. Terrified and heart broken, I fell to my belly from the pain in my chest. This couldn’t be happening. Lindsey was back, and she was number one on the pack’s list to kill next.

  On the other side of the dead man, Ryker tensed lowering himself as he growled. In the next instant he’d jumped over the body to stand next to me as he continued to snarl, looking off into the darkened trees around us. I searched the area but saw nothing. I heard nothing. I sniffed the air, but I didn’t smell anything out of place.

  A second later, my shoulders strained with tension as four shadowed figures moved from the trees. One of them growled, and I realized he was a wolf. Ryker’s lips tugged back displaying teeth as the four figures approached. Moonlight illuminated them slowly showing two wolves and two men.

  I dug my paws into the packed snow preparing myself for a fight when they darted toward us all at the same time. Ryker and I jumped toward them at the same moment.

  I barreled into one of the wolves and locked my teeth into a shoulder throwing us both to the ground. We rolled in the snow as he snapped at my fur. I snapped a paw into his face and sunk my teeth into his side. He yelped but didn’t stop.

  His claws whipped out, smacking me hard in the face and knocking me back into the snow. Blood coated my tongue. I cried out as his teeth clamped down into my side. Pushing against him with all four paws, he stumbled backward and gave me a chance to stand. As he lunged for me, I snarled and revealed all of my teeth. Before he could connect, I leaped to the side, and he missed. The split second gave me an advantage. I jumped and landed on top of him, closing my jaw around his throat. As I bit down hard, bones snapped beneath my teeth.

  Slowly, I released him, and his body fell to the blood-stained snow. Snarls resounded through the air. I whipped around to see Ryker in battle with the other three—two men and one wolf. I growled and lunged for the closest man. He dropped sideways, and we both fell to the ground. Leaping up, I faced him as he crouched into a predatory pose. His eyes were fierce in the moonlight.

  “The master wants you alive. I’d rather not fight you.”

  My jaw went wide. I wanted to ask who the master was but couldn’t in wolf form.

  He looked fully human—no claws, no long fangs, or red eyes. His words gave me pause, but I shook it off deciding it didn’t matter and launched myself at him again. My body collided with his chest, and I dug my claws into his skin, pushing him to the ground. His hands wrapped around my middle knocking the air from my chest. I couldn’t breathe from the pressure. He was strong—more so than any human.

  Stars spun in my vision, and I forced myself to stay focused as I struggled in his grasp. In the next second the man’s grasp on me released, and I sucked in air. When my vision cleared, Ryker was less than a foot in front of me with his jaw wrapped around the man’s throat. He released the man, and the body was limp and lifeless in the snow.

  “We need to get out of here,” Ryker’s voice sounded in my mind.

  I huffed in and out still gaining control of my breathing and managed a nod.

  “Before any more come.”

  “Okay,” I replied glancing around at the four dead men in the snow. The two wolves had shifted back into human form—their bodies covered in scrapes and blood.

  “Come on then,” Ryker said and took off. I ran after him headed toward his truck.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The tension in the cab was palpable as Ryker sped toward town. His jaw stayed clenched while the tendons on his neck stood out. The first rays of sunlight illuminated the surrounding mountains. The wind pushed the falling snow at an angle. It should have been a calming scene, but it was far from it. My heart was still racing from the attack.

  “Who the hell were those men?” I asked as panic swelled inside my gut. “Were they werewolves? Why did they attack us?” The events kept spinning in my mind—snarling teeth, blood-covered snow, and my jaw clamped down on fur and flesh. “He said he was there for me—someone wanted me!”

  Ryker side-glanced at me. His eyes softened for a second before focusing on the road. “Only two were werewolves. I think the other two were reindeer shifters.”

  “But why would they attack us?”

  “I don’t know.” Ryker tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. “And I don’t know who wants you or why they’re sending shifters after you.” He blew air threw his cheeks. “But we’ll find them.”

  Outside my window, the landscape changed from blurring trees to buildings as we got closer to town. Suddenly, the image of Lindsey’s vibrant blue eyes came to mind. Seeing her again was like having a knife plunged into my chest. The memory sent shock waves through my core, and my breathing hitched. I couldn’t forget the sight of Lindsey’s sharp fangs glinting in the moonlight with the dead man at her feet. I could still smell his blood wafting off the crimson snow. Trying to forget the events of last night, I focused on the road.

  When we pulled up to Ryker’s house, Pops was waiting for us on the front porch. I assumed Ryker must have texted him since I couldn’t see another reason for Pops to be here.

  As soon as the truck rumbled to a stop, Ryker jumped out, ran around to my side, and opened the door for me. I hopped out as Pops walked over to us.

  “What happened?” Pops asked his voice strained.

  “We were attacked—two wolves and two reindeer.” Ryker said gruffly as we headed toward the house.

  “But you handled it,” Pops encouraged.

  Ryker grunted. “Yeah, but they were there for Nina. We also found a couple of vampires. One was already ended when we got there, the other one took off.” Ryker’s gaze found mine, and his eyes flashed.

  “Lindsey,” I mumbled as I followed Pops and Ryker up the steps.

  Ryker froze and faced me. “You knew her?”

  I puffed out my cheeks, blowing the air out. “Lindsey was my best friend. I told you about her.”

  “Right,” Ryker said with a glimmer of recognition registering behind his eyes.

  Pops held the door open, and we shuffled inside. When we entered the room, Seth and Mason scrambled off the couch and stood.

  “Everyone okay?” Seth asked.

  “We’re fine,” Ryker said as he sat on a recliner. He took one look at me and pointed to the matching one.

  Pops remained standing as he sighed heavily. “Hmm...Vincent and Tank said they also ran into reindeer as well. I can tell you that we found the kidnapped ones. Traced them to an abandoned warehouse.”

  Seth,
sitting down, added, “But Vincent and Tank said the reindeer weren’t quite themselves—as if they were acting under some spell. Supposedly, they were emotionless and didn’t seem to recognize our guys either.”

  Mason said, “Eric claims Nick is behind this. He said he saw Nick at a warehouse we were checking out.”

  “Nick?” Ryker echoed. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “My thought too,” Seth agreed.

  “I thought Santa was in control of Christmas, right?” I asked. “Why would he kidnap his own people?”

  “Exactly why we need more information,” Ryker replied.

  Again, more grunting from the other men. My head was spinning, my muscles ached from shifting. I ran my hands over my face, replaying the events through my mind.

  “I’m thinking Lindsey the vampire might have been there to lure us,” Ryker added sternly.

  “No,” I said, my eyes bulging.

  “Nina, you can’t discount the fact they attacked right after Lindsey ran off,” Ryker’s voice shook as leaned forward.

  “And we need to find out more about these accusations against Nick,” Pops said, turning our attention back to him. “With or without the vampire we need to find out who’s behind this.”

  “Especially with Tom, Duncan, and Josh captured too,” Seth added in almost as an afterthought.

  I couldn’t focus on the conversation. All I could think about was Lindsey.

  After so many months of wondering where she could be and why she left… Now she was a vampire? I couldn’t wrap my head around the notion. What could have happened to her? Fear for my lost best friend constricted my breathing as I tried to make sense of it all. What if Ryker and the others hunted her? What if—

  No. I wouldn’t let my mind go there.

  “From what we can tell they looked to be under some sort of spell,” Seth explained. “They’re acting as guards at the warehouse. We sent Tom, Duncan, and Josh in after watching the guards for so long, and they were attacked. An hour later, they came out and stood guard with the others.”

  “This isn’t looking good.” Ryker said, staring into the fire. “There’s still so much we don’t know.”

  “Yes. We should send another team out tonight to further investigate,” Pops said, shifting his weight to the other foot.

  Ryker rubbed the back of his neck. “Nina and I will stay here tonight. We know for sure that someone is after her. We only need to send a small team.”

  “What? No!” I protested at shot a glare at him.

  He frowned. “We know those men tonight were after you. They may be part of this controlled group. I’m not just going to walk you over to them.” He paused and then added,. “Plus we still haven’t found who broke into your apartment. That person could still be after you too.”

  I lowered my head and sunk lower into the seat. “We still don’t know anything about who broke in?” I didn’t like that someone had gone into my home. And even more that we hadn’t found them.

  “I tracked his scent, but it gets lost about ten miles into the woods,” Mason said.

  “We’ll find him,” Ryker added.

  I peeked up at him. His eyes unwavering in his certainty, made my cheeks warm, and I glanced away.

  I set my jaw and pushed my shoulders back. Sitting by the sideline wasn’t an option. I had to do something. In a steady voice I said, “you can’t keep me out of this fight, Ryker.”

  He stared at me with a raised brow. “I’m not trying to keep you out of the fight. I’m doing what is best for you and the pack.”

  I sighed under my breath.

  Mason cut in, “Someone wants their hands on you, Nina. You’re a target right now. The pack doesn’t need it when we’re trying to go stealth and find answers.”

  Seth pinned me with a hard stare. “No wolf likes to stay on the sidelines, but right now it’s the best option.”

  I scoffed but couldn’t disagree. I could see their side even if I didn’t like it.

  “Come on, guys,” Pops said, pulling himself straight. “I think we ought to head out.”

  Seth and Mason stood.

  “Bye Nina… Ryker,” Seth said.

  I waved with a small smile, but the action felt forced. With everything going on, my stomach quivered incessantly.

  “Mason, I need you to look after Lexi. Just to be safe,” Ryker said sternly.

  “Yes, sir. I’m on it,” Mason said and then followed Seth to the door.

  “I’ll get a team together to check out the warehouse,” Pops said.

  I watched them leave the house before slumping against the chair and looking down at my hands. So many things ran through my mind. How did this affect Ryker? When I glanced up, he was still staring into the fire. I took the chance and voiced the one thought heavy on my mind. “I just don’t understand why Lindsey was there.”

  Ryker’s eyes were hard and unrelenting. “What do you think happened the night you changed to make her leave?”

  I flicked my gaze away. “The night of the fire, I’d gone upstairs to find Lindsey, but she’d already gotten out. When I tried to go back down, the flames were coming up the stairs. So, I jumped from the second-story window. After I landed, I passed out.” I paused for a moment. My gaze bounced around the room. I just couldn’t look at Ryker as I remembered that night. After a minute or two, I drew in a deep breath and exhaled. “When I came to, Lindsey was dragging me away from the fire. By then, I was in so much pain it was hard to focus.” The memory made me shiver. “I could feel every bone breaking, and my veins were on fire.”

  “You had triggered the curse,” Ryker said, his dark eyes sparked with warmth.

  “Lindsey was leaning over me crying. She kept saying she was sorry.” I stopped, unsure if I could continue as a tear fell down my cheek. “I passed out during the pain and when I woke up, she was gone.”

  Silence stretched between us, and I drew my legs up to my chest in the chair, wiping at the wetness on my face. Finally, I asked, “How could I have missed that Lindsey was a vampire?”

  “Vampires don’t live with humans,” Ryker declared. “She had to have been turned later.”

  “I guess so.”

  I buried my face in my knees for a moment, recalling the nagging question—who had I killed to enact the curse? “I keep thinking about that night. Who could I have killed to become… this? The only answer I come up with is I killed my mom and her boyfriend. I mean, not outright, of course, but… the fire was inadvertently my fault, I guess. I’d been fighting with my mom’s boyfriend which distracted her from the stove.”

  Mom’s priorities were very clear—boyfriend first, daughter second. It had always been that way. On that night, my anger got the best of me.

  “Anyway, I finally told her boyfriend what I really thought of him, and my mom overheard from the kitchen. She freaked out and ran into the living room to yell at us. Mom forgot about the food she’d been cooking. Before we knew it, the house caught on fire. Mom and her boyfriend ran into the kitchen to put out the flames while I’d gone upstairs to find Lindsey. I spotted her from the window getting more firewood. But the fire spread rapidly and had reached my bedroom door. That’s when I jumped. No one else made it out except me and Lindsey.”

  Tears blurred my vision as the painful memory continued. At some point, I lost sight of Ryker. When I moved, I noticed him sitting on the chair arm. He draped an arm around my shoulders and tucked me into his side. I closed my eyes and tried to push the ugly images from my mind.

  Ryker shook his head. “That’s not quite how it works. You can’t enact the curse by provoking someone else’s carelessness.”

  My eyes widened as I stared at him taking in his words. “I didn’t kill anyone else, though. Wouldn’t I know if I killed someone?”

  “Believe me…” Ryker’s voice cracked. He cleared his thr
oat and said, “Killing isn’t something you ever forget.”

  The note of pain in his words made me realize he wasn’t talking about me. Sniffing back my sobs, I said, “You said you killed a vampire right, but Lexi said you were really young. How did it happen?”

  He inhaled deeply before replying, “When I was thirteen, my dad came home after a hunt just like always.”

  Ryker stared at the floor for a long minute. Flatly he said, “He wasn’t himself this time, though. He looked different, and his temper was worse than normal. When he attacked Lexi, I realized he’d been turned.”

  “Turned?” I repeated.

  “He was a vampire. Before I could stop him, he’d bitten her, and I…” Ryker wet his lips and swallowed hard. “I-I drove a stake straight through his heart.”

  “What about Lexi? Was she okay?”

  “Yeah, a bit shook up but okay. Remember, it takes dying with vampire blood in your system to turn so she was fine.” Ryker’s hand ran lazy circles down my back, and I knew I should pull away but couldn’t bring myself to do it.

  But his dad…

  “That means your dad died and then came back as a vampire?” I asked. “Before he came home that night?”

  “Yeah,” Ryker said quietly. “A vampire is still a living being, just no longer human, they’re reborn when they die and will trigger the curse just the same.”

  I glanced up at him, but he was staring into the distance—his mind elsewhere, lost in a different time.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, unable to say anything else. “That must have been awful.”

  Ryker blinked and glanced over at me. “It made me stronger and a better alpha for it. My father was a tough alpha. He taught me to be one too.”

  “How do you become alpha?” I asked, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat.

  “You’re born into it like I was.” His voice was soft and content as his breath whispered against my hair. “You can challenge the alpha too. If you win, you take their place, but it’s rare that a challenger actually wins.”