by M H Soars
The howling of the wolves pursuing us gets closer, which makes the situation ten thousand times worse. I don’t want to tell them what has been done to me now.
“It will take at least a week for him to get more. Would that give us enough time to stop him?”
Sam opens his mouth to reply when Nadine grabs his jacket sleeve, urging him to keep moving. She’s frantic now, and I understand the reasoning in the next second. A cold breeze comes out of nowhere and with it, the stench of sulfur.
“We need to go,” I say.
I’m the one pulling Sam with me now. Dante is no longer behind us, but next to me, running as if he knows what’s in the forest as well. A demon. The sense of foreboding hangs all around us, turning my blood ice cold.
Nadine stops suddenly, and we almost collide with her.
“What—” I start, but then clamp my mouth shut. Further ahead where the vegetation is so thick that at this hour, it resembles an impenetrable dark wall, two pairs of red glowing orbs stare at us. My heart lurches inside of my chest when a low growl follows. Two of Valerius’s devilish minions are blocking our way…and turning back around isn’t an option.
“I thought they couldn’t see us,” I whisper.
Sam glances at a ring hanging from a chain around his neck, a piece of jewelry I don’t remember him wearing before. It glows a faint blue light, so it must be a magical object.
“There’s still juice left in my ring. The cloaking should be working still.”
Dante moves closer. “Something must have broken the spell. It doesn’t matter. We need to shift now.”
Both brothers drop to their knees, shifting faster than I had ever seen before. Clutching the prize I stole from the butcher doctor, I try to do the same, but I can’t find my wolf’s essence anywhere. What the hell? I can hear the chip’s disturbing waves in the background, but it’s weak, so it can’t be the reason why I can’t connect to my wolf. As I struggle inside, Sam and Dante engage with the enemy wolves. Shit, one of them is Victor.
Nadine is frozen to the spot, trembling, before she finally raises the tranquilizer gun, taking aim. But with the way she’s shaking, she might shoot Sam or Dante by accident. I step toward her, taking the gun from her hands.
“It’s too risky.”
Cold tendrils of air reach my naked back, just like in the dream I had after my kidnapping. The demonic presence is approaching, and I feel deep in my bones that we can’t be caught by it. Nadine glances toward where I feel it coming, her eyes turning rounder with fear. Tears roll down her cheeks, but I’m not even sure if she’s aware she’s crying.
Sam and Dante are too busy fighting off Valerius’s wolves, and I don’t see it ending any time soon. By then, it will be too late. We need help. I close my eyes and think about the great wolf apparition. They called themselves guardians, and they said they would always protect me.
Please, if you’re there, I need your help.
Nothing happens for several seconds, making me lose hope. When I hear a sob, I don’t know if it came from me or Nadine. Then the cold wrapped around my body is replaced by warmth. Energy shoots from the ground, curling up my legs, grounding me. Cracking my eyes open, I could almost cry in relief when I see the great wolf, mighty and powerful, emerge from the forest. Made out of sticks and stones just like the last time, it stares at me with its blue light eyes.
“You came. I thought you had abandoned me.”
“We were blocked out. There’s terrible magic in this place.”
The wolf glances toward the part of the forest where the nefarious presence is coming from. “You can’t stay here. You’re not ready to face what’s coming. Go. Now.”
I turn my attention to Dante and Sam. I can’t leave them behind.
As if reading my mind, the great wolf lets out a roar that no real wolf could ever make, putting a stop to the vicious fight for a brief moment. Then he barrels toward the closest enemy wolf, the one fighting Dante, who manages to leap out of the guardian’s path in the last second, landing awkwardly on his side.
Victor remains paralyzed as he watches the great wolf tear at his companion. Sam takes the opportunity to jump on him, getting him on his shoulder.
“No, Sam! We need to run.”
Stopping, he glances in my direction. Dante howls before he runs to my side. Victor is down, and Sam seems torn between fleeing or ending his opponent. Nadine, who had been crying silently next to me, takes a step forward, then pulls her arm back to throw a rock close to Victor, as if she’s trying to get his attention. Then she motions with her hands, signaling him to flee. Of course she wants to protect him. He’s her older brother.
Victor shakes his head as he gets back on his feet. His eyes still have a faint red glow, which means he’s still under the chip’s control. If he doesn’t flee, the great wolf will kill him. But the whole point of summoning the guardians was for giving us the chance to run away. As much as my heart breaks for Nadine, I can’t let her delay our escape any longer. Grabbing her arm, I force her to come with us. She shakes her head, trying to pull free from my grasp, but I won’t leave her behind.
“You’re coming with me. You can’t help Victor now.”
A disembodied sinister laugh echoes in the forest, giving me the worst case of chills. My skin breaks into goose bumps as the temperature suddenly seems to drop ten degrees.
Fear grips my heart mercilessly, and I don’t even see Dante shift back to human before he lifts Nadine over his shoulder. “Let’s go.”
We break into a run, letting Dante take the lead. Sam remains in his wolf form, staying close behind us. We’re flying through the forest blindly, as if the devil were after us. Not if, the devil is probably coming for us. I hope we’re faster.
As we put distance between ourselves and the great wolf, I feel my connection to it fading away. But when the temperature returns to normal and the sense of darkness lessens, I allow myself a sigh of relief.
We come across a creek, which Dante crosses without stopping. The water is cold and the rocks are slippery, but thanks to my enhanced coordination skills, I blaze through them without losing my balance. The old me would have tumbled down for sure.
“The fence is straight ahead,” Dante says under his breath.
Nadine is no longer struggling, but it doesn’t mean she won’t return to Victor if given the chance, so I appreciate that he didn’t put her down.
“If we return to the compound, we’ll lead Valerius’s wolves straight to them.”
“I don’t think he cares anymore. He’s already declared war on us.”
The wired fence comes into view. It’s not well kept. There are several spots where the wires have been torn either by hands or the passage of time, allowing us to go through without scratching our backs. Dante has to put Nadine down to avoid bumping her against a sharp edge. Holding her by her shoulders, he asks, “You’re not going to run away, are you?”
She shakes her head before ducking to pass through the fence. Dante follows next, then it’s my turn. He makes a motion to continue down a beaten-down trek, when Sam lets out a low growl. His brother turns, and I can tell they’re speaking mind to mind.
“What is it?” I whisper.
“Sam picked up the scent of other wolves. The hideout has been compromised.”
“How are we going to get out of here?”
A twig cracks nearby, followed by the sound of foliage rustling. Damn it, something is coming. I move closer to Dante and Nadine, putting my body in front of the girl on purpose. A brown bear emerges from behind the thick shrubbery. Of course, the first thought that pops in my head is now we’re really screwed.
Taking a step back, I prepare for Dante’s command to flee, but the words that come out his mouth are anything but that.
“Jesus, how did you find us?”
The bear’s body starts to vibrate, its form changing. A tall man with broad shoulders and wild hair is standing before us, his glorious body naked. I’m not even ashamed to have no
ticed. I’d have to be blind not to. It’s the same shifter who came with my grandmother when Tristan challenged Valerius. Are any of the wildlife in Crimson Hollow really ordinary animals?
“I wasn’t looking for you. Another member of my sleuth was murdered earlier. Then I caught the stench of Valerius’s flea bags, and I came to investigate.” The shifter’s gaze turns to me. “So you’ve decided to rescue your mate after all.”
“Who are you?” I ask.
“This is Xander, the alpha of the Thunderborn sleuth,” Dante replies, then turns to the bear shifter. “We need your help getting back to the compound.”
“I can’t leave my territory tonight. Something is hunting down my bears, and I need to discover what is.”
“Can’t you lend us a car?” I ask.
“I didn’t drive here, and it would be too risky taking you down to my chalet through the mountains tonight. Valerius is not keeping his wolves within his borders. The best I can do is let you use my cave.”
Thoughts of Xander hibernating in a remote cave fills my head. The question is on the tip of my tongue, but Dante speaks before I can make an ass out of myself.
“Thank you, Xander. We’ll accept your offer. Please, lead the way.”
Xander’s nostrils flare as he takes in a deep breath. He whips his face toward Nadine, and the question that leaves his mouth comes out almost as a growl.
“Who is she?”
I put myself in front of Nadine, not liking one bit the way Xander is regarding her. “She’s a friend.”
“She was instrumental in helping getting Red out of Valerius’s clutches,” Dante adds because Xander is still glaring in her direction. What’s his deal?
“Is she a wolf from Shadow Creek?”
“Why does it matter?” I ask through clenched teeth.
“It matters because she’s hiding something. I can smell it from where I stand.”
“Are you for real?” I curl my hands while letting some of my pissed-off wolf’s vibe loose. I hope he’s sensing that.
“Bears don’t trust easily, and Xander has cause to be suspicious of strangers. His father was betrayed by a close friend,” Dante speaks in my head.
“Well, he’d better quit glaring at Nadine. His Neanderthal attitude is scaring her. She’s been through enough shit.”
“I vouch for her, Xander,” Dante says out loud. “Please, help us.”
Grumbling, the guy turns around. “If she pulls a stunt, I’ll hold you responsible.”
“I don’t like him. He’s an ass.” I tell Dante, knowing our telepathic connection is still on.
“Xander is an acquired taste.”
“Just like Tristan,” Sam’s voice says in my mind, and I can’t keep my jaw from dropping.
“How in the hell did you get into my head? I thought only Dante was able to do that.”
“Wait? You heard me?” Sam asks in surprise.
“Yes.”
“Maybe Red used my connection to you,” Dante replies. “That’s amazing.”
“Dude. We hit the jackpot. Red is amazing. What can’t you do, babe?”
“Ugh, don’t call me that.”
Sam’s reply is a lighthearted chuckle that makes my body tingle. But the feeling of floating on air doesn’t last long. I’m reminded of our dire situation when out in the distance, I hear Valerius barking orders. Several howls echo in the forest in response. My guess is that at least ten wolves answered that demented alpha’s call. I pray they don’t catch our scent, not sure if I can summon the great wolf apparition again, and without the guardians help, we can’t win.
Chapter 34
Red
They don’t come after us, and we manage to leave Shadow Creek behind without more incidents. I’m told we’re now in the Thunderborn’s territory, but I can’t tell one forest from another, at least not in the darkness. As we go up the mountain, the air becomes cooler, and I’m thankful it’s summer. I haven’t considered what it will be like shifting in the dead cold of the winter. But first things first, I need to survive until then.
At a certain point during the trek, Dante threw his arm over my shoulder, pulling me closer to his warm body. I’ve been trying since then not to let my mind go straight to the gutter, but I’m all too aware of every inch of my skin that’s rubbing against his, of how the contact is electrifying me, arousing me. There I go again, turning into a nympho at the most inappropriate time possible.
Sam rubs his fur against my leg, before he decides I need a good lick. Fuck me. He must know I’m on the verge of combusting on the spot. My nipples are hard and begging for attention. I clutch the metal box against them tighter, not wanting the brothers to see what they’re doing to me, which is pointless. They know. Hell, they can probably smell how turned on I am.
Oh, shit. If they can sense that, so can Nadine and Xander. Mortification makes my face feel hot. Yet, I can’t bring myself to step away from Dante or Sam. This is going to be a very long night.
We finally arrive in Xander’s cave, which I totally expected to be simply a hole on the side of the mountain, the one bears use for hibernation. I most certainly didn’t think I’d find a state-of-the-art facility protected from intruders by a garage-style door instead. Xander presses the code on a small panel hidden behind branches, and the door slides open.
The walls inside have been carved and smoothed out, and there’s actually flooring on the ground. Soft yellow light turns on as we enter, revealing a room made for entertainment with comfortable couches, arcade games, a dart board, and even a pool table.
“Shit, Xander. This place is badass.” Sam’s voice echoes in the stony walls. I was so distracted taking everything in I didn’t even notice him shift.
Xander grabs a blanket that was draped over the back of one of the couches and hands it to me.
Blushing, I step away from Dante, covering myself. “Thank you.”
The bear alpha eyes Nadine for a second, as if debating getting a blanket for her as well. But she’s wearing jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, so in the end, he doesn’t. He could have offered one, though.
Pulling my attention from our sullen host, I resume my inspection of the place. Besides all the cool stuff, the room is also equipped with a modern kitchen, but the only thing I don’t see immediately are places to sleep or a bathroom.
“The sleeping quarters are behind that wall.” Xander points at the far end of the room where a big home theater screen hangs from the ceiling.
“Please tell me there’s a restroom here.”
Xander cocks his head to the side, frowning a little. “You really don’t know anything about shifters, do you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Xander, ease off, man.” Sam pulls me to him, kissing my neck and igniting a raging fire within my core. Why is he torturing me like that?
Unfazed by Sam’s display of affection, Xander rolls his eyes, which is an odd contrast to his grumpy demeanor. The guy doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder; he carries a boulder around.
Nadine has wandered off from the group to check out the pinball machine pushed against the wall. When she presses one of the buttons, the whole thing lights up with a loud noise. She jumps back, clutching at her chest.
“Jesus, what are you doing?” Xander goes after her. So do I. I won’t put it past him to drag poor Nadine away from his precious toy by the hair.
She’s staring at the game without blinking, more precisely at the black jaguar drawing on the score board of the machine. I notice she’s also clutching her necklace so hard her knuckles have turned white. Xander’s gaze drops to the scar on her neck, and then his annoyed expression changes into something else. I don’t think it’s pity, but it definitely made him stop glowering at her.
“Nadine?” I touch her shoulder, making her jerk with a start. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”
“I need to go,” Xander announces. “There are food and drinks here. I’ll come back for you in the morning.”
>
“Any chance there’s also a phone?” Dante asks.
“No. The point of this hideout is to take time off from the real world.”
“Have you heard anything from our mother? We couldn’t reach anyone in the compound before we arrived in Shadow Creek.”
“No, the murder of another one of my bears made me a little bit preoccupied.” No one misses the bite in Xander’s remark. He’s indeed a difficult shifter, and this is me being kind.
Sam’s eyes turn to slits, but before he throws an angry retort at Xander, Dante continues, “We really appreciate all the assistance you were able to offer our pack so far.”
Xander turns his attention to me, his gaze now extra sharp. “You know I only did it because of your vision of her.”
That’s new. Glancing at Dante, I ask, “What vision?”
“I’ll tell you later. Let’s get your friend settled for the night.” Dante nods toward Nadine who is still transfixed by the pinball machine. Has she never seen one?
I try to hide my disappointment as I take Nadine’s hand, guiding her to where Xander told us the bedrooms were located. There are in fact only two accommodations, and a small bathroom with a shower and toilet. At least we don’t have to pee in the woods.
Both rooms have two bunk beds, which is a relief and a curse in a way. This will be the first time I’ll ever spend the night with Dante and Sam together. Based on my wanton reaction to both, I’m not sure how I’m going to survive it. I’m craving both of them like I have gone years without a man’s touch.
“Which room do you prefer?” I ask Nadine.
She shrugs, choosing the one in the far end of the corridor. I follow her in, not knowing what to say. She just abandoned the only family she had left, and the burden of that action must be weighing on her. I hope she doesn’t resent us for freeing her from Valerius.
Nadine sits down on the edge of the bed with shoulders hunched forward and head hung low. Clasping her hands together, she stares at the soft white rug beneath her feet. I take a seat next to her, then cover her hands with mine, squeezing a little.