by R L Medina
“Do you need help? I can—”
“No. We will do it ourselves,” she cut me off.
Her twin nodded, his brown eyes drowning in misery. My heart ached for him and their suffering. Though it was the Red Wolves who’d killed her I couldn’t help but feel partly responsible.
They’d come to me for help. And you failed them. Just like you failed the others and Elijah.
I squared my shoulders back and pushed down the wave of regret and self-pity. There was no time for that.
“I can show you to a place where she won’t be disturbed.”
My eyes flickered to Cruz. He stood silently watching our exchange, though his expressive blue eyes said it all—I wasn’t acting like an alpha.
There were other wolves that could take the humans, but I’d volunteered my personal assistance. Why?
Because you don’t trust your pack, my inner wolf scolded.
Shame bloomed in my chest. I do.
You don’t.
She was right, but I hated the fact that Elijah’s abandonment affected me so deeply. Made me question everything. Was he even thinking about our pack? About me?
“Thank you.” Drew’s words scattered my thoughts.
I turned away from them and waited by the exit, acutely aware of Cruz’s eyes on me.
“We will have to do it now. Before the smell attracts other wolves…” I trailed off, face flaming.
“You mean before one of your wolves eats her?” Becca’s voice hardened.
I glared at her. “We don’t eat people.”
Some do, my wolf argued.
“Oh, right. My mistake. You just tear them up and chew on them. That’s much better.”
Her brother gave her a side glance, shooting daggers with his eyes.
Did she always have such a sharp edge or did the fall of the world do this to her? The curse changed all of us in some way.
“We wouldn’t do that. But there are other packs in the area. Wild animals too.”
Her eyes glinted, and though she didn’t speak it, I saw the insult written there—Wild animals like you?
“Thank you.” Drew stepped in front of her, his face ragged and dirty.
And handsome despite the sweat and grime. My wolf snarled at my wandering thoughts. Ever loyal to Elijah, she had a fit whenever I noticed any other male.
“Do you want me to accompany you, Alpha?” Cruz’s question brought my head around.
His gaze dipped in respect.
“No, that’s okay. Thanks, Cruz.”
He bit his lip and shook his head as if keeping himself from arguing my decision. I knew he was just looking out for me, but his lack of confidence in my ability made me flush.
Would he question Elijah just as easily?
Dismissing the thought, I walked out of the tent and waited for the others. Jay and Tati were back from checking the perimeter. They looked up at my approach and grew quiet.
Others stood around waiting with them and I could sense their curiosity and hostility. I squared my shoulders and met their stares.
“Their friend didn’t make it. I’m going to take them somewhere deeper in the woods to bury her. When we return, they will be staying with us for the night. Tomorrow, they’ll be gone.”
Jay and Tati exchanged glances.
I bristled. If it were Elijah, they’d obey without question. They were supposed to be my betas too, but they were loyal to him. Yeah, well he’s gone. I wanted to tell them.
It was me they would answer to now.
“I will come with you.” Jay broke my thoughts.
A statement, not a request. My inner wolf snarled at his audacity.
“That’s not necessary. You will stay here and guard the camp.”
“Are you serious?”
My hackles rose at his challenge. I was alpha, and he had no right to question my authority in front of the pack.
I let my wolf rise to the surface. “You will stay here.”
He scowled under my glare but fell quiet.
The others murmured as Becca and Drew emerged with their friend’s body in tow. It was too late now to cover her and hide the transformation. What would they think when they saw it? I didn’t have answers for her injuries and I really didn’t want their questions.
Jay saw her first. “She was in the middle of turning,” His eyes shot to me, “Who did this?”
My back stiffened. “Diego.”
He frowned. “Are you sure? Are you sure it wasn’t another alpha?”
Fire sparked inside me. “Yes.”
I didn’t really know, but I was done with his questions. It was the Red Wolves they’d been running from so it was hardly a leap to suspect Diego.
“I want everyone rotating watch tonight. If anyone approaches, turn them away.”
Jay’s eyebrow arched. “What if it’s Diego?”
All eyes turned to us. I hated that part of being alpha. Always being put on the spot and responsible for everyone’s wellbeing, but never appreciated for what I did.
“Then tell him to wait for me and send someone to warn me.”
Gazes darted and lips curled. They didn’t like my orders. I straightened to full height and ignored the piercing stares. It was too late to change my mind now. Worry gnawed at me and my inner wolf echoed the pack’s concerns.
Why help the humans? What about our wolves?
“What do you want us to tell him about the humans if he asks?” Jay asked.
“Tell him I’m taking care of them.”
The twins whipped toward me, eyes wide.
“It’s just to throw him off your trail.” I offered them a weak smile for reassurance.
Drew nodded, but his sister only continued glaring at the gun in my hand.
Watch her, my wolf warned.
Oh, I would. I would make sure neither of the humans were a threat to my wolves before I led them back to camp.
A bird called from the distance. The thick summer humidity clung to the trees and underbrush. Jaime would have been thirteen next month, I realized. A lump grew in my throat. He’d been so ready to leave middle school and start high school, wishing he could skip ahead and now…
I pushed the memories away. It did no good to live in the past. We couldn’t change anything, and grief was like an anchor, once you let it take hold, you’d find yourself sinking deeper and deeper and stuck in the sorrow.
“How far are we walking?” Drew’s voice interrupted.
I glanced back at him. “Not too far. It’s a sacred place. No one will disturb her there.”
Becca frowned. “Not where you bury your dead is it?”
Her twin shot her a look that said, shut up.
My lips twisted at her barely veiled disgust. She didn’t realize we would never dishonor our pack by letting an outsider lie side by side with us in death.
“No.”
It was a place the witches had used for their mysterious rituals. Strange things happened there, and we were smart enough to steer clear of the place for the most part. My inner wolf didn’t like the unnaturalness of it. Her nervousness filled me.
We made it to a clearing where the forest was silent. All the animals skirted the place, my wolf sensing their fear.
“What is this place?” Becca asked.
Her voice held suspicion. She stood next to her twin, body tensed and alert. Drew scanned the tree line with a frown of his own.
Their responses surprised me. It wasn’t every human that could sense the magic of the place. I watched their wary faces and wondered what it was they felt.
For me, it was a strange sense of being watched and judged. As if the forest itself had come to life and was weighing my worthiness of being there. There was a strangeness in the air that spoke of something ancient and otherworldly. What it was, I didn’t know. The witches never came anymore, and they were the only ones who knew its secrets.
“Are you sure this place is safe?” Drew asked, still glancing around as if he expected an ambush.
“I’m sure. You can bury her here.”
“Too bad we only have one shovel. This is going to take all night,” Becca grumbled.
Drew frowned at her. “I’ll do it.”
He looked around for a place to set Jen’s body. I helped him move her toward the center. We set her in the grass and backed away.
Becca handed him the shovel and folded her arms across her chest. “We can take turns digging.”
Her twin didn’t respond but started digging a hole next to the girl’s body.
“Why here?” Becca’s words startled me.
I glanced at her. “You asked for a safe place.”
The moonlight trickled in from the treetops, casting shadows across Becca’s face. Her eyes narrowed at me and her lips pinched together. I fought the urge to shudder under her hostility. Images of the angry faces and deadly violence in the city flashed in my mind. We’d barely made it out without losing more of our pack to the human mobs. Were Drew and his sister there too? Among the mobs?
When Elijah insisted he return to Savannah to find the witch who’d killed his sister, I’d been terrified for him. How could he expect to make it alone? Though I understood his thirst for justice, I could never forgive him for choosing it over his pack. Over us.
The heavy thud of the shovel brought me back to the present. I turned to see Drew shoveling another load of dirt.
A warm breeze rippled through the tree branches, the sound sharp and ominous.
My senses were on alert. That feeling of being watched made my wolf shrink back. An enemy we couldn’t see was twice as frightening as any other beast.
“What was that?” Drew paused.
He stood straight, squinting into the forest.
“I don’t think we should be digging here,” Becca murmured.
“Others have done it. Buried their dead here.”
She whipped toward me. “Who? Other humans?”
“Witches.”
Her eyes widened.
“But your friend isn’t human anymore.”
A scowl lit her face, making me regret my words. Did the magic of the place not like us burying Jen there?
My hand gripped the gun. Even my wolf was unsure of what was watching us, though she knew it was a threat.
We were in danger.
“Something’s not right. We should leave,” Becca insisted, motioning her brother to stop his digging.
He stopped. Silence stretched between us. Even the animals had stopped chattering in the distance. My wolf’s hackles rose, and her warning rang clear in my mind.
Run.
5
McKenzie
The wolf stood by the sofa as we entered. My five best witches blocked the door but dispersed at my approach.
A strong scent of iron— blood—mixed with the burning candles, filled the room. In the glow of the open flames, the werewolf looked fierce. His dark eyes tracked my movement and my magic let me sense his inner wolf rising to the surface.
They were both hungry for violence.
My chin lifted. Well, if they wanted a fight, I’d show them just what I could do. Magic swept through me, sharp and hot. I bit my lip to keep myself from hissing at the pain. As quickly as the sharpness came, it left, settling into the warm energy I was used to.
Kohl straightened beside me and I could feel the magic building around him as well. He nodded at me. Silent assurance that whatever I chose to do about the wolf, he was on my side.
It felt good to have his support.
“Elijah, right? What pack are you from? Shadow Pack?”
He didn’t respond.
Kohl raised a hand toward him. “Answer her.” His voice was steel.
I grabbed Kohl’s forearm and lowered it. He glanced at me, lips thinning.
His loyalty was admirable, but I didn’t need his help. The last thing I wanted was for the alpha to let his wolf loose on my best witches. We couldn’t afford to lose any more of our strongest casters. That, and I didn’t want to have to kill the wolf.
I didn’t need his pack coming for us or another reason for Diego to stir trouble.
“You spelled me.” The deep timber of his voice was startling.
Gold-flecked, brown eyes turned silvery blue—his wolf surfacing.
“Your body needed rest and time to recover. You’re welcome.”
His lip curled. Despite his obvious disgust for me and his nasty attitude, I couldn’t help but find him attractive. Tall, dark, and brooding fit him to a T.
“I’m fine now. Release me.”
Kohl strode forward, hand raised once more. “Watch your tone, wolf.”
The alpha turned to him with a cold smile. “Or what? You’re going to cast another sleeping spell?”
I shook my head. Clearly, this wasn’t going well and as much as I wanted him gone, I wanted some answers first.
“What are you doing in the city? Where is your pack? The woods?”
He scoffed. “Am I under arrest or something? I don’t have to answer to you. You are not my queen.”
Kohl’s eyes turned murderous. I held up a hand to him, a silent warning to stay back.
I could deal with the wolf.
“This is still my city and we can make you talk if that’s what you want. I’m not letting you go until you tell me what you were doing with Diego.”
He fixed me with a chilly gaze. “Isn’t it obvious he was about to kill me? I’m not with anyone. I came to find the witch that killed my sister.”
My breath hitched at his words. “Who? Who was it?”
“I don’t know, but I’m here to find out.”
His confession rattled me. A witch killing a werewolf? Why?
“You don’t know who it was, but you assume it was one of my witches?”
“I was looking for clues when Diego caught me. You don’t own the city. I have a right to be here.”
I snorted. “Correction, I actually do own the city. That’s kind of what being queen means.”
His eyebrow arched. “Seems like Diego is the one running the show.”
Irritation spread through me. Is that what everyone was saying now? I was tempted to let my magic loose. Show the wolf what I could actually do, but I refrained.
“I could kill him with a wave of my hand.”
The wolf’s lips pulled back in a tight smile. “Then why don’t you?”
What? Where were these questions even going? My head ached. I was supposed to be the one making him squirm.
“Been kind of busy trying to you know, stop the curse and save the world.”
His eyes danced across the room. Trying to calculate a plan of escape? My magic thrummed.
Not gonna happen, buddy.
“Right. And kill innocent wolves and humans while you’re at it. Some queen.” His gaze shot back to me.
I stiffened. “I didn’t kill anyone.”
“You haven’t made any effort to stop the killing.”
Anger curled inside me. Who the hell did he think he was talking to me like that? I literally just saved his life. My hand itched to wipe the stubborn scowl off his face.
Kohl inched forward, the magic stirring in the air around him. I didn’t need to look at him to see the outrage I was sure was there.
“You’re responsible for everyone your coven has killed. You’re responsible for my sister’s death,” the werewolf insisted.
“We had nothing to do with that.”
“A witch killed her. Burned her alive while she was injured in her wolf form.”
“Why would we do that?”
His eyes narrowed. “That’s what I want to know. Give me the witch that’s responsible and I’ll leave.”
Weariness filled me. There was no talking to him. He was hell bent on blaming us.
“There are rogue witches all over Savannah. It could have been one of them. I’m not going to just hand over one of my innocent witches to you.”
A harsh laugh escaped him. “Innocent? There are no inno
cent witches.”
“I’m sorry for what happened to your sister. Truly, I am, but what did you think was going to happen when you came to the city? That you could just go on a witch killing rampage and I would just look the other way?”
He didn’t respond.
I sighed. The conversation was going nowhere, and I had other things to do. Still, I couldn’t let him wander Savannah and murder my coven.
“Leave the city. Go back to your pack.”
His chin lifted, dark eyes piercing through me. “No.”
Kohl flexed his hands. His gaze slid to me.
I shook my head. “Then I can’t let you leave this coven.”
The wolf scoffed. “So, what, I’m your prisoner now?”
“If you won’t drop your vendetta then yeah. You’re my prisoner. Kohl will show you to your room.”
Kohl stepped forward. The others moved with him, hands raised as magic bounced in the air between them.
The wolf tensed, eyes going completely silver. His skin stretched and bones snapped.
Shit.
Throwing a spell together as quickly as I could, I shot my magic at him. It struck him in the chest as his wolf began to emerge. The force of my power sent him flying back. He crashed against the couch, body returning to human.
Kohl met my eyes. “I could have gotten him.”
“I’m faster.”
A smile flickered on his face before disappearing. The other witches waited for my order.
“Take him to the room.”
They hurried to obey, eyes widening on the boy as his body continued to convulse. He slumped over.
I turned to Kohl. “I want a guard posted outside his door. He doesn’t leave the room without my approval. Be careful with that one. He’s dangerous.”
Kohl nodded. “I’ll take care of it, My Queen.”
With that, he led the others down the hall.
I sighed and rubbed my aching head. Looks like I would need another tea to replenish the energy I’d lost. Biting back a groan, I headed downstairs to find Cherise, our best healer.
After an hour or so of tossing and turning, I finally drifted to sleep. Then, a knock sounded on my door, pulling me from my slumber.
I groaned. “What now?”
“We have a visitor. He’s trying to come in,” came a small delicate voice.