by Mila Young
The screams ring through the air while the sirens flatline.
But escape is all I care for now… along with darting back into the compound to rescue Meira.
Up ahead near the edge of the compound, the white wolves pause. They all snap in unison to something out of my view and growl, then lunge to attack whatever it is.
More zombies or Ash Wolves waiting in ambush? My skin crawls. I’m surrounded by enemies already.
Running, I finally careen around the far corner of the fence and slow down, having no intention of barging into something blindly.
Except tremors wrack my body at the sight before me.
Four white wolves in attack pose, low, fur bristled, are facing Bardhyl and Lucien in wolf form.
But between them stands Meira, her arms out wide, as if her mere presence is stopping these two powerhouses from colliding and ripping each other apart.
A deep guttural growl tears from my throat and I charge, ready to battle to the end to protect my family.
Chapter 16
Meira
“Stop! Neither of you are the enemy.” My voice streams over the guttural growls, slicing through the thick air filled with Alpha testosterone and dominance.
I remain trapped between two opposing parties, arms stretched toward each to stand in their way of colliding into a bloody battle. Four monstrous white wolves from the northern regions snarl from my right and two men who own my heart on my left. Lucien and Bardhyl. Yet my pulse rages desperately in my veins. The moment we jumped over the fence, we encountered these damn northerners instead of darting around the corner to rescue Dušan. And time is running away from us.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
A growl spills from my throat. “Enough of this. We don’t have time to waste.”
Gunshots and screams sound in the distance. I flinch with each pop, my nerves like shattered glass.
Frantically, I scan the lofty fence farther in the distance to my left. When we’d climbed earlier we found no guards… but how long before they return?
And where the hell is Jae?
I want to scream and shake sense into all these males. Tremors wrack my body, every inch of me clenching.
The threatening growls from each party send out alarm bells in my head, a warning that I’ll just get crushed once they attack one another. Except there’re two against four, and I’ve seen the way these northerners fight in the woods. It’s terrifying, and I can’t bear to have my two wolves taken out. One on one, I have no doubt they’d be equal opponents, but this match is just unfair.
Agony hits me square in the chest when I think of the massacre this can lead to. Desperation clings to me.
“Jae!” I shout. “If you’re nearby, get your freaking butt out here now!” I figure if I have someone else at my back, it might help diffuse this situation quicker. I turn to the northern wolves. “Please, Nikos, stand down. These are my pack members and they won’t harm you.”
Bardhyl’s and Lucien’s threatening snarls fuel the tension, not helping my cause. But turning my back to the northerners is asking for peril. I may have spent most of my life hidden in the woods, but even I know to never look away from danger.
The scents of sweat and aggression taste sour on the back of my throat.
A sudden figure emerges from around the corner of the lofty fence.
I jerk my head in that direction, and my mind races, initially picturing a Shadow Monster, but it isn’t long before my eyes make sense of who’s joining us, sprinting across the open ground.
“Dušan,” I bellow, all the anguish and dread melting. He’s alive! The earlier darkness crowding around me softens. Exhilaration floods me as I realize that somehow he escaped Mad’s clutches before we got to him. Whatever is responsible for the miracle, I thank with every fiber of my being.
I grab on to him once he reaches my side. “How did you get free?” I keep looking over his shoulder, half-expecting Ash Wolves and the undead to come running after him.
“These wolves freed me,” he announces, his chin pointing to the northerners.
He steps in front of me and faces the biggest of the intruders, the one with the gray streak under his throat.
The wolf steps forward, his pack remaining ever vigilant in their attack poses, their heads low, fur bristled, ears flat against their heads. He’s large and is easily Dušan’s height. But my Alpha doesn’t back down. He stands tall, faces the enemy bravely.
My skin crawls. I clench my fists, and dread grips my heart when the first pricks of energy dance down my skin. With it comes the white wolves’ transformation.
Moments later, four men stand before Dušan. Muscular, tall, and unbelievably handsome. Nikos and his two men, then the Alpha that Nikos must have exchanged with me when we crossed paths during the trade.
Bardhyl and Lucien step up next to us, and I’m terrified we’re sitting targets here. “We should get out of here,” I whisper to Dušan.
Gunfire pops in the distance, and I jump in my skin.
“She’s right,” Dušan states, breaking the silence. “You barely knew me, but you saved me. But before we can discuss why, we need to move deeper into the woods—and quickly.”
No one protests against the suggestion, and we move with haste until we reach a denser part of the forest where I can no longer see the compound, where the shots being fired are faint now.
Dušan doesn’t miss a beat and continues his conversation. “You saved me, so I will do anything in my power to permit you safe passage through my sector for now.”
The man who steps forward has the gray streak and it isn’t Nikos, which surprises me, as I assumed he was the Alpha of this pack.
Their leader is a ferocious-looking man. Short dark hair around the edges and the back, while long across the top. He has small metal rings tied into his hair, adding to the whole wild appearance. I am tiny in comparison to him, and while I search his face for cruelty, all I find is tolerance.
Captivated, I stand close to my men, watching the newcomers, and while I come to terms with realizing the northern wolves might have been the miracle who saved Dušan, I have another thought.
All the naked men.
All the carved muscles.
Heat creeps up the back of my neck, and I shake it off. Keeping my head high, I remind myself this is a tense moment, not a gawk fest. Still, what is it with most Alphas being so well-endowed? Is that something in their genes to aid with the process of knotting?
My gaze slides over to Nikos, who eyes me like he’s been watching me as I check out everyone’s packages. I grit my teeth and refuse to show him I care. If they’re hanging out, hell, I will inspect the merchandise, as I once heard a woman say long ago. I never understood it at the time, but boy, have I understood it more recently. The size of the ammunition an Alpha carries ensures a higher chance of procreation, since he can penetrate a female deeper. It’s why women want a partner with a long handle.
“I am Ragnar, Alpha of the Savage Sector,” the northern Alpha announces, his chin high, chest sticking out. He speaks with a guttural, authoritative voice. His dark green eyes are filled with sincerity. Earnestness that tells me to believe him. As strange as that sounds, I can’t help but sense he wears his heart on his sleeve.
He continues. “My men messed up by trading your Omega’s life for mine in prison.” He glances down at me, his eyes roaming down my body, making me feel as though I’m naked. I refuse to lower my gaze from his.
He clears his throat and keeps going. “I follow a strict code of honor, where no innocents will ever be killed for me or under my ruling. So the woman had her life swapped for me wrongly”—he glares at Nikos—“and as a result, I owed you. But now my debt has been paid to you by saving you from your fate.”
Everyone’s fallen quiet, and I’m not surprised. It’s rare to meet another Alpha with such honorable integrity.
“I am thankful for your honesty and aid when I needed it most,” Dušan an
swers. “If our sector were in better circumstances, I would welcome you into my home for rest and a meal.”
Ragnar’s gaze sweeps over us. “I have no doubt. You have a lot to clean up and wolves to slay” His voice darkens. “What promise I will make is that I will return to your land with my warriors. If you are not in charge upon my arrival, and this mess hasn’t been swept away, I will wipe out all the males on this land, claim the females, and take ownership.”
I swallow hard, a shiver crawling up my spine. Though in a roundabout way, he’s showing Dušan respect. I wonder how different his view would be if he had his whole army with him right now. Would he take advantage of the situation and claim Shadowlands Sector as his own without giving Dušan a chance to win the pack back?
The thought has me tensing my muscles. I don’t know these wolves and while they’re granting Dušan respect now, that doesn’t mean they’re always trustworthy.
Neither Lucien nor Bardhyl comment or disapprove. While the thickness in the air remains, I suspect this is normal behavior among pack leaders.
“If I do not reclaim my sector by the next blue moon, I will not stand in your way,” Dušan answers. “But when we do meet again, I propose we make arrangements for our packs to work together.”
His response startles me. But I also understand its true meaning. If he’s not Alpha of this sector, it’ll be because he is dead. A shiver snakes up the back of my legs at the thought because he will fight to the very end before letting Mad steal his pack. Even if we are outnumbered.
Ragnar gives a slight nod, his upper lip curling slightly, then he turns to Nikos. “Get the girl, and we leave.”
The earlier darkness grows closer, and Ragnar’s gaze lashes over us with his promise.
I don’t dare say a word as Nikos marches into the nearby woods. I glance in the direction of the compound, unable to see it, but I still worry about Mad’s men finding us. I’m jittery and ready to get a move on.
Bardhyl steps toward the Alpha and starts talking to him in another language… which I can only assume is Danish. When the man responds, Bardhyl breaks into laughter.
I exchange a look with Lucien, who shrugs.
“Meira!” a female voice suddenly cries out. I turn to see Jae running toward me. She crashes into me with a strong embrace, taking me by surprise. “I’m so sorry,” she says, taking my hands in hers. “I tried to stop them from exchanging you, but they didn’t listen to me. I was worried sick for you.” She throws her arms around me once more, hugging me so tightly, I can barely breathe.
“I’m all right.” I break free and grasp her hands in mine. “Are these Alphas trustworthy? You’re sure they’ll take you to your sisters?”
She’s nodding before I finish talking and sticks her hand into the pocket of her pants. When she pulls it out, she unfurls her fingers and reveals a gold bird-shaped brooch with a large emerald right in the middle. It’s beautiful, and I don’t remember the last time I saw jewelry.
“It belongs to my sister, Narah. When they found me, they gave me the brooch as proof.” She leans in closer and whispers, “I have to believe my sister hired them.” Her lower lip trembles as she offers me a lopsided grin. This means everything to her. Since first meeting her in the woods, she’s had one mission: find her sisters. I pray to the moon that she will find her family and these wolves are indeed honorable.
“I really hope so.”
“We’re leaving,” Ragnar announces.
I hug Jae one more time. “I hope we can see each other again.”
“Me too.” Her voice cracks, and she clears her throat as she pulls back. “Take care, Meira, and I’ll miss you saving my ass all the time.”
I laugh as she turns and walks toward the four powerful northerners waiting for her.
They quickly vanish into the shadows. I’ll miss you too, Jae.
Strong hands clasp my waist and suddenly, I’m lifted off the ground as a hot breath washes over my neck. “Hey, beautiful. I missed the hell out of you.”
My heart bursts with joy at having Dušan back with us. When my feet touch the ground once more, I twist in his embrace and loop my arms around his neck.
We kiss, our bodies pressed so close and tight, it feels impossible to ever separate again.
“I love you all so much,” I murmur. “Let’s never be apart again, please.”
“Beautiful, you are mine, and I love you.” His words touch me in ways I never could have imagined.
Lucien and Bardhyl join us, both on either side of me, embracing me, ensuring they press themselves against me, especially their cocks, like dogs humping a leg. I want to laugh because they’re so much more similar than they’d both ever admit.
“I love you, angel legs,” Bardhyl murmurs.
“You are my everything, and I love the hell out of you,” Lucien adds.
Everything feels surreal and incredible at the same time. I’m falling harder and harder for my men, loving deeper than I ever thought possible. They care for me so much, and I never thought I’d be so lucky. But in no way has this union been easy. The shit we’ve gone through is crazy.
“We need to get going.” Dušan finally pulls back, as do the other two. I remain in the circle of my three men.
“Where to?” I ask. “We can’t leave Kinley and all the others in there under Mad’s leadership.”
“I want to destroy Mad.” Bardhyl growls.
“Then we go into the tunnels,” Lucien adds.
“My thoughts exactly,” Dušan admits. “We just need to lie low to catch our breaths and work out our plan to take back the settlement and Ash Wolves.”
I absolutely agree with him, yet a small part of me can’t help but feel scared. We barely escaped, barely survived, barely came back together. But as exhausted as I am, I’ve been frightened my whole life. Hiding. Running.
This time, I’m embracing the fear, the darkness ahead of us, and will walk as far away from the safety of light as I can to make things right. The final battle isn’t just about saving a pack… I am fighting to hold on to the one thing I’ve been missing since losing my mama.
Love.
Chapter 17
Lucien
“We use the old tunnel room,” I suggest, to which Bardhyl scrunches his nose.
“That dump. I hate it there.”
I roll my eyes at him as we rush over the slope of the mountain to the blocked-up cave leading into the tunnels. Dušan and Meira rush ahead of us, hand in hand, whispering to each other. She’s missed him so much, worried for him. All I want is to wrap up Meira in silk and keep her safe from the world. It’s ridiculous and even she’ll fight me if I pulled such a stunt. But my wolf burns at the notion of us not keeping her protected.
I cut Bardhyl a stare as he hurries alongside me, constantly looking over his shoulder for signs of pursuit. Then he meets my gaze. “We just stay low in the cave,” he says.
“It’s too open, and we can’t exactly have a fire, with smoke coming out of the cave.”
“I agree with Lucien,” Dušan throws over his shoulder. “We stay in the room.”
Bardhyl grumbles under his breath, glaring at me.
“What can I say? When I’m right, I’m right,” I gloat.
“I accept no responsibility if we all catch fleas,” he responds.
Meira looks back at us, her eyes wide. “Fleas?”
I shake my head at how dramatic the guy can be. “There are no fleas.” I scowl at Bardhyl. “Why are you making up shit?”
He eyes me. “So the family of raccoons who moved in while we used the room during our tunnel building doesn’t count?”
I want to laugh out loud at him, but I keep my voice low and whisper, “Big bad wolf is afraid of raccoons.”
“Fuck you, Lucien. I woke up with one chewing on my ear.”
Dušan pauses at the entrance where two boulders cover the entrance into the tunnel. This place is our saving grace. No one knows about it aside from us four and Kinley. Dušan was right
to have kept this little project from his brother and it’s serving us well.
Without a word, the three of us head to the barrier, while Meira steps aside, studying us. Hands pressed up against the side of one stone, the three of us make quick work to slide it over the stone ground until a gap appears into the tunnel. It’s big enough if we slide in sideways.
Bardhyl goes in first, shuffling, and gets jammed halfway, catching around his chest. That time, I can’t help but laugh, but I drive my hands into his sides, shoving him through. “Your fat ass won’t fit.” I groan.
He pops out on the other side and stumbles. “Hell, that was a tight squeeze.”
Meira is giggling to herself as she easily steps inside. Dušan is next, then I follow.
We emerge in complete darkness, but the small room we made during our reconstruction of this tunnel isn’t too far and it’s easy to find. I take the lead. “Follow me.”
The darkness is a welcome friend. I spent weeks… months here during construction. A task Dušan gave me when I newly arrived in his pack, and while I didn’t realize it until later, he used this to help me deal with the loss of my first soulmate.
I came to Ash Wolves a broken man but ended up as my Alpha’s righthand man. I found a family and future I thought I’d never have again.
Back then, I made friends with the dark, the shadows hiding the heartache ripping me in half. Once more, this familiar place resurrects hard memories, but in my mind, it will always be where I found solace and purpose. It’s why I sometimes stay alone in the room we’re heading to, so I can remember what I’ve lost and how I found reconciliation when my memories threaten to swallow me.
Coming here now with Meira brings it to a roundabout closure. I first came here with a shattered heart. Now I return with love flooding every pore in my body.
Footfalls echo from the three following me, and their presence alone confirms that I’ll fight for the three of them. For our futures to the end.