Order (Blood Moon Covenant)

by R L Medina

Shadow wolves, my wolf confirmed.

  Two members of my pack, Nick and Adele, walked up to the gate, eyes widening on the humans behind me.

  “Open it,” I instructed.

  They hurried to obey.

  “Any trouble while I was gone?” I asked them.

  Adele shook her head. “No, Alpha.”

  Her gaze darted to Drew and the others. “Did you find… is Elijah… did you see him?”

  The gate squeaked open. I ushered the others forward and motioned for Nick to tie the gate back up.

  “Not yet,” I finally answered. “But I will.”

  Without explaining further, I pushed by them and took the humans farther in. I stared straight ahead afraid to look around at the old streets and houses. Getting caught up in the memories would only bring pain and anger.

  “This is nice,” one of the human girls murmured to the others.

  Becca whirled on her. “Yeah, how nice you get to camp out in the suburbs while the others are probably sitting in some basement right now with a slave collar, enduring god knows what.” Her face hardened. “Or dead. They could be dead already.”

  The girl flinched at the harsh words and looked away, falling silent.

  “Becca.” Drew frowned at his twin.

  She arched a brow at him in challenge, but he didn’t refute her.

  Nausea rolled in my stomach at the images Becca painted. How could Diego think this was okay? The revenge I understood, but what he was doing went far beyond that.

  “Are we going to be safe here?” The other girl spoke up and glanced around.

  No one answered her. It was a question we’d all been asking since our parents were taken. Was anywhere safe when the world was cursed?

  My wolves emerged from all around us. Their eyes narrowed in obvious suspicion.

  “Where’s Jay?” I asked, ignoring their questioning looks.

  He appeared at the head of the crowd before anyone could answer. Tati stood by his side, her mouth hanging open when she spotted our guests.

  Jay’s eyes shot to me. “Alpha.”

  “The humans are staying here. Diego destroyed their camp and took most of them prisoner. I don’t want any problems. I’ll be heading back into the city as soon as I see them settled. Elijah still needs me.”

  No one spoke, though my wolf could sense the pack’s surprise and anger at my decision.

  What else was new? I could never do anything right in their eyes. Even Cruz and Leah exchanged worried looks.

  “Jay. Tati.” I called them to me.

  I turned to the group. “Leah, can you set them up in a spare tent or somewhere they’ll have some privacy?”

  “Yes, Alpha.” She motioned the humans to follow her.

  Becca trailed them, but Drew lingered behind with an uncertain look on his face.

  “You can go help them. I’ll catch up in a moment.” I gave him a reassuring smile.

  He nodded and turned away from me.

  “Are you sure about this, Alpha?” Jay’s tone was clipped.

  I turned toward him, letting my wolf surface enough to warn him.

  “They stay for now. I’m taking the twins to see the witch coven. We’re going to get Elijah back and talk to the queen about an alliance.”

  His eyebrows lifted to his forehead. “An alliance? With the witches? How do you know the queen will help?”

  I didn’t.

  A couple of angry murmurs echoed around us. I couldn’t really blame them. Elijah was convinced a witch killed Rachel and he’d declared them our enemies. The truth was none of us really knew who’d been responsible for her death. She ran away from the pack and it was Elijah who’d found her before her final breath.

  “We have to try. We need them. Diego is too powerful. He tried to come after me and claimed he would take this pack for his own. We have to stop him. If that means allying with the witches and the humans—”

  “The humans?” Jay fumed. His dark eyes flashed to silver.

  “The humans who stole our home and killed Felix and hurt others?” His voice rose.

  “No. Those who were responsible for that have already been dealt with. These humans are innocent, Jay.”

  He scoffed.

  “Diego’s gone too far. I won’t let him come after our pack or the humans. The queen has to help us and maybe she can deal with those dead witches in the forest too. We can return to the woods if we want.”

  Jay folded his broad arms across his chest, scowling at me. “What would Elijah choose?”

  I bristled. “I’m alpha too.”

  Even as I spoke the words, I hated how I sounded. Like a jealous child, demanding attention.

  “I’ll go with you to get Elijah.”

  My wolf snarled at Jay’s boldness. He’d gone too far. My hand whipped out, fingers gripping the front of his T-shirt.

  I leaned into him. “You will stay here and guard the camp.”

  Anger flashed in his eyes, but he didn’t fight me. Tati grabbed his wrist and squeezed, a silent warning to get him to back down.

  He glanced at her, face softening and turned back to me. “Yes, Alpha.”

  I released him and stormed away. The eyes of my pack followed me as I left, but I refused to meet their stares.

  Guilt needled me as I replayed the scenario. I was doing what I was supposed to—keep the pack safe and maintain my dominance—but why did I feel like I was doing such a crap job of it?

  My wolf remained silent which only set me even further into a bad mood.

  Before the day got too late, I changed, grabbed water, and went to find Drew and Becca to accompany me. The others stayed behind in a spare tent outside the clubhouse.

  They seemed unsure of my wolves despite my reassurance, but I refused to travel the city with them again. The protection spell was probably worn off and I didn’t want them to slow us down.

  In silence, the twins and I made our way into Savannah, cautious not to draw attention to ourselves.

  We darted through the town square and crossed the street as the sun began lowering. The coven house—like the rogue witch’s place—was warded. My wolf could sense the strangeness of it as we stepped onto the brick steps of the front porch.

  The old mansion looked freshly painted with wine red siding and black shutters. A giant chandelier hung down in front of the front doors. Gaudy. Tacky. Their coven was screaming for attention and I couldn’t help but smirk. Without electricity the fancy light fixture was useless.

  They don’t need lights. They have fire. My wolf reminded me.

  I pushed away the image of the flames attacking Diego’s pack and knocked on the door. Becca gripped her gun and Drew stood beside her, face serious.

  The door opened and a pale skinned witch appeared. He frowned at us. “Yes. What do you want?”

  “I’m here to speak to your queen. You have one of our wolves here and I want him back.”

  The witch blinked at me, mouth gaping like a fish.

  Kill him, my wolf urged.

  I pushed the urge down, warning my wolf this wasn’t the time to get violent. I still had to make my way past more of the coven. We did not want to start a fight.

  “The queen is busy,” he answered.

  He started to close the door, but I shoved my boot in the gap and pushed forward.

  “Then I’ll wait. This is important.”

  His eyebrows knitted together, and he raised his hand toward me.

  My wolf snarled. Magic.

  “What is it, Alex?” a voice interrupted.

  Another witch appeared, her eyes widening when she saw us.

  “Please, we just want to talk to the queen. We need her help,” Drew spoke up.

  I flushed, realizing his approach was probably the wiser one.

  The witches glanced at each other and looked behind us to the streets. With the sun setting, the city was growing darker.

  “Alright. Come in. Just—”

  The guy witch whipped toward her. “Willow, wha
t are you doing? We’re not supposed to let anyone in or out.”

  She frowned at him and shoved him out of the way to let us enter. I didn’t hesitate. Becca and Drew followed.

  “I’m sure the queen would agree to let them in. It’s getting dark and they’re harmless.”

  My wolf’s hackles rose at her estimate.

  I looked around at the dimly lit sitting room and sniffed. It smelled like candle wax and some strange spice I couldn’t put my finger on. Drew and Becca wandered around, talking in hushed voices. It was warm and stuffy, and the candlelight cast shadows of the antique furniture giving the coven an eerie feel.

  The door shut behind us with an ominous thud and my wolf tensed within me.

  “You said you’re here for your friend? Elijah?” the girl asked.

  “Yes. Is he here? Is he okay?”

  Her lips quirked into a smirk. “He’s fine. Resting… you’ll have to wait until the queen is available. I’m not sure she’d allow me to take you to him.”

  Make her take us there now.

  Ignoring my wolf, I frowned at the girl. “Why not? If you’ve hurt him…”

  Her eyes widened. “No. No. He’s okay. I just don’t want to get into trouble.”

  “Then you probably shouldn’t have let them in,” her friend muttered.

  My wolf was restless, pushing to be released so she could hunt down our mate. I shoved her back down and glanced at the others.

  “I just want to make sure he’s okay,” I pleaded with the girl.

  She bit her lip and glanced at the giant staircase.

  “Is he up there?”

  Instead of answering me, she hurried to where Drew and Becca stood puzzling at a strange symbol stitched onto a sofa. The other witch eyed me, fingers flexing. Annoyance flickered in me.

  Why couldn’t he join the others and give me a chance to make a run for it?

  I was about to ask where the bathroom was when his companion called him over to the others. He frowned at me and walked over to them.

  Before anyone could stop me, I tore off after Elijah.

  Yes. Find our mate.

  “Valeria!” Drew’s voice called behind me.

  But I didn’t stop. The witches were scrambling after me and I could feel a shift in the air which meant—

  Duck.

  I obeyed my wolf’s command and bent just as an invisible force flew over my head. My legs pushed me forward and suddenly I was at the top of the landing.

  My heart pounded as I looked around. Where was he?

  There.

  I followed my senses down the hall and to a closed door. The witches were right behind me. I flung the door open and leapt inside. My breath quickened as I shut myself in.

  “Elijah,” I gasped.

  He looked up, his eyes burning through me. His wolf would have alerted him as soon as I stepped into the manor, so he knew I was coming.

  A purplish bruise marred his cheek. My wolf snarled. Who dared to touch our mate?

  “Val.” His deep voice sent a shiver up my spine.

  He stood in the center of the room looking just as handsome as ever in the low candlelight. My legs felt like jelly as I stumbled toward him. Tears threatened to break loose, but I blinked them back, refusing to look weak in front of him.

  The pungent odor of candlewax filled the room, but I could still smell the woods on Elijah. Woods, smoke, and the subtle hint of his sweat mixed with soap. The scent was overpowering and completely his. My wolf urged me closer.

  “Elijah.” My voice was steadier than I felt.

  He drew a deep breath, his chest rising and falling. “What are you doing here, Val?”

  I bristled at his question. Was he seriously asking me that? My eyes narrowed on him.

  “I don’t abandon my pack, Elijah.”

  He flinched.

  The door flung open and the witches stood in the doorway.

  “We’re just talking.” I scowled at them.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” the guy hissed.

  Elijah tensed. “I’m not your prisoner anymore. Remember?” His voice was steel.

  “Sorry,” the redhead girl blurted and closed the door.

  We could hear them arguing, but their words faded down the hall.

  Emotions stormed through me. I wanted to scream at him for leaving, wanted to wrap my arms around him and never let him go. But most of all, I wanted him to be happy I was there. Didn’t he miss me at all?

  His stony face hid it all. I tried to ignore the pain. This wasn’t the same boy I knew, and I was stupid for forgetting that. Elijah, the one I’d loved, was gone. In his place was this hard, broken creature.

  “You shouldn’t have come, Val.”

  I reeled. My wolf whimpered inside me. Her sorrow mixed with mine. He didn’t want us.

  He balled his fists and covered his face. “Please. Just go. Go back to the pack.”

  Anger ripped through me. My vision grew spotted. Go? After everything we’d been through and he was sending me away? I was there to rescue him, and he was rejecting me.

  “No.” The word came out harsh.

  His head shot up, his dark eyes meeting mine. “They need you.”

  I scoffed. “They need you too, Elijah. But that didn’t stop you from leaving.”

  Despite my wolf’s insistence, I kept her restrained. Hurt or not, she wanted to go to Elijah, but I wasn’t done being mad at him.

  “I needed you. You said you were coming back. You promised—”

  His eyes flashed silver. “I never promised that, Val.”

  I glared right back at him. “You promised to be by my side until the end. You made that promise in front of our pack, our parents, the same as I did. When we had our first shifting.”

  A humorless laugh escaped him. “Yeah, I promised. Wake up, Val. This is the end. Our parents and elders are gone. The pack is nothing more than a bunch of weak, stupid kids now.”

  I leapt at him with a snarl and shoved him back. “We’re still a pack. This is still our pack. You don’t get to turn your back on them. On me. You’re a selfish coward, Elijah.”

  Heat rushed through me. Even my wolf was angered by his words. We were not weak—I was not weak.

  “If you don’t want to come willingly, I will drag your ass out of here and you can explain to them yourself because I’m not covering for you this time.”

  His eyebrows shot up and a smirk lit his face. For a second, a flash of mischief flickered in his eyes, a reminder of the boy he used to be.

  “How are you going to do that?” he taunted, arms folded across his chest.

  “I’m serious, Elijah. Don’t make me.”

  A grin split his stupid face. “Don’t make you what? How exactly do you think you’re going to make me come with you?”

  Irritation flared inside me. He wasn’t going to make this easy.

  “I’m not leaving here without you.”

  Elijah’s smile disappeared. “Don’t do this, Val. I’m not going back to the pack.”

  “I’ll do what I have to. It’s your choice. Come with me like the alpha you’re supposed to be or be a spineless coward and I’ll drag you there myself.”

  His nostrils flared. “If I go with you and tell them I’m leaving for good, you’ll let me?”

  I winced at his words. Leaving for good. How could he do this to us?

  Tell him about the Red Wolves.

  I didn’t want to tell him about Diego’s threat. It would make me look weak in his eyes. I could handle the alpha on my own. I didn’t need Elijah.

  Pushing away the pain at his words, I nodded. “Sure.”

  How could I let him leave us like we were nothing to him? Like I was nothing. My wolf was already howling at the thought of him leaving.

  Our mate.

  He wasn’t our mate yet, I reminded her. Though if we did perform the bonding ceremony, we’d be tied forever. That was the one way to make him stay, but I couldn’t use it. Why would I want to be bonded
to someone who didn’t want me?

  17

  McKenzie

  Ryn’s intense eyes held me captive, and though I should have pushed him back, I couldn’t bring myself to stop him as he leaned forward.

  I summoned the magic around us as quickly as I could and used it as a shield to protect myself. Fane’s words echoed in my mind. He never learned to control his bloodlust.

  “You have something on your cheek.” Ryn’s voice was deep and rough.

  It sent a thrill up my spine.

  He brushed a cold finger against my skin. I flinched, God help me, I flinched.

  My eyes widened as he brought his finger to his mouth and sucked. “Chocolate.” His gaze bore into me.

  I flushed. What is happening right now?

  “Were you hoping for blood?” I lifted my chin.

  His eyes darkened. A throaty sound escaped him, making my cheeks flame even more. What the hell was I doing?

  “He said you were losing control. Your brother.”

  Anger flashed on his face and then it was gone. He stepped back, the air growing chillier without his presence.

  “Fane always loves a good scandal, but I assure you, I’m in complete control.” His eyebrow arched as if expecting me to argue.

  There was something elegant and beautiful about him, but also fierce. I didn’t respond, words too difficult at that moment. As much as I hated to admit it, Ryn had an effect on me and it was freaking terrifying.

  “Have you done it? Chosen your queen?” Words rushed out of me.

  What? Why would you ask that?

  Unfazed, he shrugged a shoulder. “Why would I? So pointless. Pick a queen to rule the end of the world with me?”

  “Then how can you claim to be king? If you don’t follow tradition?”

  He turned back to me. “I don’t. I don’t claim to be king.”

  I gaped at him. “But… then your brother. You’d give him the throne?”

  “Why not? He wants it more than I do. Always has.”

  Horror ran through me. Fane as king would be a nightmare.

  His nose scrunched up at my reaction. “You disapprove?”

  I snorted. “Of course. Fane as king? You have to see the problem with that. You can’t be that blind.”

  He turned his back on me. Worry crawled up my spine. He wasn’t serious, was he?