Wolf’s Mate: Paranormal Menage Protector Romance

by Lilly Wilder

  “Recognize who?” I snap at him.

  I could tear off these ropes this minute, but that’d be wrong. I’m too strung up, too agitated and angry to think clearly. I’d waste my only chance to actually save Maddie and us with her. I need to calm down. I know what he’s doing. He’s doing to me what I wanted to do to him. He’s walking me along the edge, so that he can push me into it, and then, there will be no going back.

  “Me, of course.”

  I turn to the door, and Maddie does so at the same time. She doesn’t recognize the man she sees. How could she? She’s never seen Kayne. She’s never seen the guy her father made the mistake of doing business with. And, besides, the man who is standing in the doorway looks nothing like Kayne. His cheekbones are slightly higher. His face looks wider. His forehead has a few more wrinkles. His hair is darker, curlier. His lips fuller. But, his eyes. I only notice his eyes now. They’re the same. He didn’t want to change them, even though he could have easily.

  “What are you doing here, Chief?” I ask, feeling as if someone punched all the air out of my lungs.

  The question is stupid. But, that’s the only thing I can say, even though I know the answer to that. Of course. It makes sense. He’s the only one who could have told Sven about the safe house. And, even though I didn’t mention my place, he could have tracked us down. Fucking fuck.

  “I believe you know my real name now,” Kayne tells me.

  Now, his real voice surfaces. As Chief, he did his best to change both his appearance and his voice to not resemble Kayne even slightly. Motherfucker did a good job.

  The memories of that night flood me. Anderson and I were there, along with a few others from our pack. Kayne needed to be dealt with. We couldn’t stand by and take his shit anymore. He was harming everyone. Us. Humans. He was getting worse and we knew there was only one way to stop him.

  So, we locked him inside the house and then we set it on fire. I watched the house burn. I was the last one who left the scene. I stepped over the still smoking coals and ashes, to make sure everything burned to the ground. To make sure nothing was left of him.

  But, now, here he was. A phoenix rising from the ashes of the past.

  “I don’t think I need to remind you of that night, Fynn,” Kayne continues, reading my mind. “But, our guest here knows nothing about it.”

  He turns to Maddie. She looks petrified. Why did I let her come with me? Stupid, stupid, stupid. I made the same mistake again. I’ll lose her, just like I lose everyone I care about, because I’m too weak to put my foot down.

  “You leave her out of it,” I order him, but it comes out more as a whine than a growl.

  “I can’t do that,” Kayne shakes his head. “She is the crucial element to my revenge.”

  “Your revenge?” I ask.

  “Don’t play dumb!” Kayne hisses at me, his canine teeth bared, ready to dig into my flesh. “But, I’ll take care of you later. Hugo is the one I want.”

  “My father?” Maddie manages to muster, and we all turn to her, as if we’re seeing her here for the first time.

  Kayne walks over to her, then stands right in front of her. She looks at him straight in the eyes, defiant, even though nothing about her situation allows her this defiance. And, yet, she still stands.

  “If you haven’t figured it out already, your father and I did some business back in the day,” Kayne starts. “I loaned him some money, and he promised to give it back. When he couldn’t pay up, I offered another means of payment, just to let me dip into his business and get a little cut of my own for the foreseeable future. But, as you know, he’s very selfish about his work, and refused my overly generous offer. Also, there is something he’s been holding out on, something I want, something that would sort this all out easily. But, he wouldn’t give it to me. Now, all this is just… punishment, I’m afraid. Like the last time.”

  Maddie’s eyes fill with tears, but they aren’t tears of sadness. They are tears of rage.

  “It was you,” she says. “You killed my mother.”

  “Your mother was just an unfortunate victim of circumstance, I’m afraid,” he shrugs. “I had nothing against her. Lovely lady, really. I’m almost sorry for what happened. But, what can you do.”

  With those words, he turns to me again, but I’m not looking at him. I’m looking at Maddie. Her body is shaking. It starts with the fingers first, then her lower legs. Her head starts to twitch to the left, then to the right.

  “Maddie?” I call out to her. “Are you OK?”

  She doesn’t answer. I’m not even sure she hears me. Instead, she opens her mouth and screams loudly, from the top of her mouth.

  “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!”

  Her voice pierces through our ears, and I watch as both Sven and Kayne put their hands over their ears.

  “Fucking stop her!” Kayne shouts at the guards, one of whom approaches Maddie and starts shaking her wildly, but nothing happens. The scream continues.

  The guy steps away, not sure what to do.

  “What the fuck are you waiting for!?” Kayne curses. “Smack her! Make her stop somehow!”

  The moment one of those big guys is about to raise his hand at Maddie, I know I’ve crossed over the edge. They pushed me and now, they will face the consequences.

  All the muscles in my body tighten, then suddenly relax. The ropes slide downwards a little, and I’m not only able to get my feet out of the ropes, but my hands as well. I rush over to Maddie, and deliver a sucker punch to the guy, which sends him headlong into the opposing wall. The other guy rushes at me immediately, but I turn around in time to see him. I slide to the left, using my right arm to grab him by the neck, and slam his head forcefully into the floor.

  Breathing heavily, unfazed by the bleeding bodies on the ground, I stand by Maddie.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Kayne shakes his head incredulously at me. “You can’t take both of us.”

  “She can help me,” I say, knowing full well how ridiculous that sounds. But, I’m just trying to buy time here.

  “She?” Sven answers this time, laughing. “Fine, cut her lose. Let her help you.”

  I quickly use the time I’m given. As I’m untying Maddie, I bend over to her right ear.

  “They didn’t take my knife,” I tell her, making sure not to move my lips too much. “When I release you, bend down and take it, so they don’t see it.”

  I watch her as she nods, her eyes wide with fear and shock. I wish I could tell her it’s alright, that we'll get out of this, but I can’t. But, I can hold her hand and promise that we’ll go down together.

  I almost believe she can read my mind when she takes me by the hand and gets up. She’s done it so effortlessly that I didn’t even feel her take the knife from my inside trouser leg pocket. I could only hope that she would know to use it when the time came.

  “I’ve had enough of this,” Kayne growls, taking a step forward. “This stopped being fun.”

  I instinctively do the same, protecting Maddie with my body.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt your little girlfriend,” Kayne mocks. “I’ll just make her watch while I kill you.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  As we talk, we start walking around in a circle. I know I can’t take both of them, Kayne and Sven. So, if Sven decides to interfere, it’s done.

  “I think it’s high time we end this once and for all,” Kayne continues, and I couldn’t agree more.

  “You should have burned in that house 15 years ago!”

  “You motherfucker!” he shouts at me.

  We lunge at each other at the same time. It’s like waiting for disaster to strike, but there is nothing anyone can do about it. None of us is armed, and that’s exactly how we’re used to it. My fist dug into Kayne’s body, but at the same time, a sudden tidal wave of pain jolted right through me. I almost lost balance. I swayed to the left, but managed to keep myself standing.

&
nbsp; Kayne dropped to the ground. He spat out some blood. He was winded. Obviously, he had forgotten what it’s like to fight another shifter. Fighting humans is easy. But, fighting those on the same level as you - not so much.

  He gives me a grotesque look. A look of hatred. I know neither of us will walk away. I shuffle to the side, waiting for another attack. But, instead of an attack that comes from Kayne, I feel something hard and merciless driven right into my back. The force of that blow is so hard that I drop to my knees, panting.

  “Stop!” I hear Maddie scream, but her words are met with disdain and laughter.

  There is nothing she can do. And, I can’t take both of them at the same time. Maybe back in the day when I was a young shifter, full of strength and bravery, but not now. Not like this.

  I feel two pairs of hands trying to overpower me, and I let them. I can’t breathe properly still. The after-effects of Sven’s blow are still electrifying my body. Now, I know which ones here will be allowed to walk away.

  “Hey, bastards!” Suddenly, a familiar voice breaks the silence. “I thought two to one was an unfair fight.”

  “Anderson!” Maddie is the first to shout his name, like a beacon of light in the darkest moment.

  I want to shout his name, too, but I can barely inhale properly, let alone shout. I look over at Sven and Kayne, and I realize that Anderson probably doesn’t know what’s happening yet.

  “Chief?” Anderson is still standing in the doorway, only now recognizing the man I’m fighting as our boss.

  “Fynn has betrayed us,” Kayne actually tries this.

  “Fynn?” Anderson turns to me. I see shock in his eyes. Confusion.

  “Don’t tell me you really buy this shit?” I use all my strength to spit out these words, and the pain is worth it. Anderson knows me. “Chief is Kayne.”

  “Kayne?” Anderson cries. “But, he’s dead.”

  “I’m very much alive,” Kayne corrects him. “And you two have been fucking up my plan for far too long. I finally got Hugo, but you had to interfere and almost ruin everything.”

  “What have you done to him?” Anderson shouts. “Where is he?”

  “He’s where you’ll never find him,” Kayne replies, with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “And, I’ll leave it to your imagination to find out if I left him there alive or dead.”

  “Oh, no!” Maddie shouts, her hands flying to her face. “My poor dad!”

  Everything is out in the open now. This is the reason why we are all here. But, this time, we are going to put an end to it, once and for all.

  “Only two shifters will be leaving the Boon tonight,” I tell them.

  Anderson rushes over to my side, our bodies shielding Maddie. She hides away in the corner. At least, she will be safe there. Until we’re done with this scum.

  “Bring it on,” Sven bares his teeth at us.

  I feel it coming on. The pain will be unbearable. It is a death and birth all in one. A rebirth, every single time. I’ve done it only a handful of times in my life. Only when I was forced to. This time, no one is forcing me. It is my choice. My wish. And I know Anderson feels the same.

  It’s coming. It’s almost here. It’ll tear me apart, before it puts me back together again, but this time, it’ll be worth it.

  Chapter 23

  I’m cowering in the corner at what is to happen before me. Not in a million years did I think I’d ever witness something like this. I watch as the two men before me are about to fight their enemies. Our enemies. The knife in my hand shakes. I can’t steady it. I doubt I could even use it. I’m overcome by fear at the possible outcome.

  I watch as Fynn drops to the ground first. His upper back lunges up into the air, the bones inside his body looking so sharp that they are about to pierce right through his skin and his clothes. He coughs violently, retching silently, but nothing comes out of his mouth. Only air. I look over at Anderson. He’s still on his feet, but barely. His fingers are twitching, extending then bending, every muscle in his body awake.

  I know what’s going to happen. I don’t know how, but I know what I’m looking at. Fynn’s lower jaw protrudes outward, I see the outlines of his white teeth. Somehow, they elongate, with every subsequent glance, his teeth are larger, longer, and pointier.

  Then, the cracking noises begin. At first, I don’t know what it is. I look at the doorway, thinking someone’s come, but it’s still just the five of us in here. And, I know once this is all over, not everyone will walk back out into the sunlight.

  I realize that the noises are coming from Fynn and Anderson. Their bones are cracking. They are being rearranged inside of their bodies to accommodate for the new shape that is about to be born.

  “Oh, my God!” I gasp silently, pressing my hands to my lips, eyes wide open and unable to look away.

  Their bodies start to shape, to enlarge. Different body parts elongate, extend, twist upward or downward in the strangest angles. Cracking noises fill the room. Heavy breathing is all around me.

  All of a sudden, little parts of skin start to peel off of their bodies, and I can’t watch any longer. I close my eyes, relying solely on my ears to know that they’re doing exactly what they should be doing. I breathe heavily, trying to drown out the moans and groans, and after what seems to be a small eternity, I open my eyes again.

  The sight before me is terrifying. There are miniature puddles of blood all around us. I see shredded pieces of clothing. Something that looks like a piece of bone protruding from one of the puddles.

  I gasp. I don’t see four men in front of me any longer. Instead, what I see are four humanoid wolves, their bodies lowered down to all fours, muzzles extended, teeth bared, growling softly at one another.

  I scuttle backwards into the corner as much as I can, my fear paralyzing me, making me unable to run. Would I run if I could? I’m not sure. I’ve never seen a wolf shifter in his wolf shape. I don’t know what part of their brain is dominant. Is it the animal part or the human part? Do they remember me even? Do they know that they are here to protect me?

  At that moment, Fynn turns his face to me. It’s not his face anymore. But, they are his eyes. The eyes never change, even when the entire body does. His eyes are kind. I know he recognizes me. He knows why he is here. Anderson follows suit. They take two steps back, sheltering me with their hairy, lupine bodies. Somehow, my tension weakens. I am able to breathe properly again. The sight before me isn’t fear-provoking any longer.

  I look over at Sven and Kayne, and see that they also changed themselves into wolves. But, I can’t take my eyes off of Fynn and Anderson. Their fur is glossy, thick, silvery white. Their paws scrape the cement floor we found ourselves on, and there is rage in their gazes. They are here for revenge. We all are.

  They turn back at our enemies, their neck muscles protruding through the smooth fur. They are confident, bold. They feel no fear, if they ever did as humans. Suddenly, Fynn looks up at the ceiling, his wolfish silhouette on the wall opposite us extending. His howl fills the air around us. His hymn tells me everything will be alright. I need worry no more.

  Without warning, Fynn lunges at one of the wolf figures opposite him. Anderson immediately does the same. What follows is a bloody dance of fangs and claws, torn fur and skin, digging teeth and howls.

  A part of me wants to look away, but another part can’t seem to take my eyes off of them. They are so majestic. Fearless. They are stripped of every bad aspect of being a human, and they are left with their lupine ferocity, but still with enough consciousness to know exactly what they are doing and what they’re fighting for.

  Fynn is fighting like there is no tomorrow. He takes blows and bites, but gives twice as many in return. Anderson is more cautious. He carefully deals his blows, he isn’t taking as many. Just as in character, these two differ in their approach to fighting as well.

  Their paws scrape against the cement floor as they jump and land on their feet, if not onto their enemies’
bodies. Every bite into their bodies I feel like my own wound. We are interconnected, our souls intertwined, even though our bodies never united, not even once. I watch them, wondering how something like this could even happen to me.

  Unexpectedly, Kayne plunges at Fynn, and manages to bring him down. Fynn growls, but Kayne has already dug his teeth into the soft flesh of Fynn’s neck.

  “No!” I scream, afraid that this attack might render Fynn motionless.

  Led by some invisible force, feeling like I’m floating a few inches off the ground and my feet are not even touching it, I rush towards Fynn. Kayne has his back turned to me, his teeth still inside Fynn’s neck, unwilling to let go.

  My body seems to have a mind of its own, a mind that is unafraid to do even the scariest thing to save the ones she loves. I squeeze the little knife tightly in my hand, not even sure if it could hurt someone like Kayne. I have only one chance, and I need to make it count.

  With the corner of my eye, I see that Anderson’s got the upper hand on Sven, so he doesn’t need help. But, he also can’t help Fynn. I’m his only hope, unless Kayne release the grip on his neck, but that is probably not happening.

  Neither Fynn nor Kayne notice me coming. That gives me the element of surprise, so I jump onto Kayne’s back, one hand grabbing at his thick fur and the other driving the knife into the side of his neck. Before I extract it, I make sure to twist the knife upward, then forcefully pull it out. As I reach to stab him again, Kayne shakes me off of him, and I drop to the ground. Fynn is breathing heavily, and I wrap my arms around him, protecting him with my body.

  But, Kayne is bleeding heavily. He can barely stand up. He teeters to the left, then to the right, then his front legs drop down.

  “You…. bitch…” he manages to muster, before his body slumps down like a puppet whose strings got loose and there was no one to keep it going any longer.