“What’s the best game around here?”
“Deer,” Sasha said.
“Remember that bison we took down in Yellowstone?” Rafael asked his brother.
“Yellowstone?” Sasha asked.
“Used to be a game park in an area known as California,” Diego supplied.
“Now the whole continent is one big park.” Rafael laughed.
Yet again, Sasha surprised Zackary with her easy chuckle. “What’s a bison?” she asked next.
“A great big beast with horns and a wooly pelt,” Rafael’s voice boomed. He walked close to Sasha, brushing shoulders with her. Tabor issued a warning growl and Rafael pulled away, but not nearly far enough in Zackary’s opinion. “Think of a cow but much bigger and wilder.”
Sasha snorted. “The two of you took down one of these beasts on your own?”
“Si.” Rafael puffed up his chest. “If you like, we can take care of dinner tonight. My brother and I are excellent hunters.”
“So are we,” Sasha retorted.
“But you have been so kind to invite us to your home. You must allow us to show our appreciation.”
“Fine,” Sasha said.
They reached the summit, traveling faster downhill. Being on foot with backpacks and duffels slowed their progress, but they made it to the Manama River and got a fire started before all traces of daylight fled the skies. They set the bags in a pile outside the caves. Zackary gathered more kindling for the fire while Tabor paced around the small camp.
Rafael and Diego shifted and ran into the woods to go after dinner. Zackary breathed easier the moment they were gone. He crouched beside the fire, feeding in sticks carefully one at a time, stealing glances at Sasha. She’d brought out a metal grill and large knife from one of the caves and was whittling the tips of four sticks into sharp points. The night felt thick with silence. Sasha had seemed so at ease with the pureblooded brothers even though she’d just met them. It made Zackary feel like the outsider, intruding on another pack. He wanted to tell Sasha that he didn’t trust them. That he wasn’t happy to bring them home. But it wasn’t his place. Instead, he glowered moodily into the flames, poking another stick into the base of the fire.
“Don’t worry,” Sasha said, breaking the silence. “They won’t be with us long. Diego is looking for a mate. If he and Hailey don’t claim one another, he and Rafael will continue north for a bit or possibly try their luck heading east. They’re only passing through.”
Zackary bobbed his head, gaze still on the fire. “The one named Rafael shows too much interest in you.” He clamped his mouth shut the moment he’d spoken the words.
“It’s not your place to caution a pureblooded council member,” he silently chided himself.
But Sasha did not chastise him for speaking out of turn. He snuck a glance up to find her studying him in her unsettling way.
“They have not been around other shifters for a long time,” she spoke in a kind and patient voice. “They hunger for conversation. Diego hungers for companionship; Rafael does not, which is why he boasts to me. He knows that I am taken and therefore safe to tease without fear of a claim.” She set the whittled sticks on the ground with the knife and beckoned Tabor to her side. Once seated beside her, Sasha ran her fingers through Tabor’s fur in gentle strokes. An involuntary shiver ran through Zackary, recalling Elsie’s fur against his fingers when he’d caressed her wolf.
Sasha looked over her shoulder into the dark woods, taking in the quiet. She returned her attention to Zackary. “Rafael would not act friendly around an unmated pureblood like Hailey. I imagine he would want to keep far away from her. There has always been pressure on purebloods to mate with one another. But Rafael will not have such worries with other females. I imagine he will want to find a willing she-wolf to give him her back before he and Diego leave Wolf Hollow.”
Zackary’s snarl caused Sasha’s and Tabor’s heads to jerk in his direction. Sasha’s hand stilled on Tabor’s back.
“Is there a female who concerns you?” she challenged.
Zackary glanced at Tabor. The wizard shifter could still understand their conversation in wolf form. Shoulders sagging, Zackary shook his head bitterly.
Sasha and Tabor couldn’t know his feelings for Elsie
A triumphant howl echoed in the distance. Tabor’s ears perked up and his tail twitched. The crackle of the fire was the only sound for some time until Rafael and Diego ambled in carrying a dead deer. They wore great big smiles.
Show-offs, Zackary thought moodily. Yet again, he wished they could leave these arrogant purebloods out here in the forest. What if one female wasn’t enough to satiate Rafael’s wild needs? What if he took a liking to Elsie?
A roar rose up Zackary’s throat. He held it in but couldn’t mask the look of murder he cast at the posturing pureblood who placed a foot on the deer carcass while recounting the hunt through the dark woods. If the bastard tried to flirt with Elsie, Zackary would cut out his tongue. He still had that rusty switchblade hidden near the glade buried beneath a patch of soil at the base of a tree.
Sasha placed the grill over the large rocks forming a circle around the fire. Diego walked over and stared into the flames.
“Wouldn’t it be easier if we all shifted to eat? Your mate’s already in his fur.” He nodded at Tabor whose lips drew back.
“She is afraid to get naked in front of us,” Rafael said in challenge.
“I have no such fear,” Sasha said. “I do worry about you, though. My mate has shown restraint, but if he catches you staring at my breasts, I doubt he’ll remain calm.”
“Stare at your breasts,” Rafael scoffed a little too loud.
Sasha smirked. “You probably haven’t seen a pair in a long time. I wouldn’t blame you for looking, but my mate will.”
“Let’s just carve this thing up and cook it.” Diego tucked his hair behind his ears then held his palm open. Sasha picked up the knife and handed it to him.
Diego set to work skinning the animal, handing off chunks as he did. Zackary was quick to make himself useful, setting meat on the grill to cook. Sasha set a raw hunk of flesh in front of Tabor in wolf form who devoured the meat as though it was his last meal. Once the grill was covered and air filled with the scent of roasting meat, Sasha handed out wood spears. They allowed the meat to cook longer before turning the chunks over, poking at them to check the inside.
After filling their stomachs, they settled in for the night. Once Rafael and Diego shifted into wolf form, Sasha and Zackary did the same.
Sasha was the first to rouse at morning light and shift from wolf to human. In another couple months, or less, she wouldn’t be able to shift out of her human form until after she gave birth. Since she had not mated another pureblood, her children would be born in human form and remain that way until he or she was twelve. The council had tried to convince her to claim Hector from Glenn Meadows, but Sasha had refused after falling for Tabor.
By the time the pureblooded brothers and Zackary shifted, Sasha was back in her dress, tapping her foot over the earth.
“I’m still full from last night,” she announced. “Is everyone else ready?”
Rafael stretched his arms high over his head and yawned, seemingly unconcerned about the morning wood he brandished in plain sight.
“We’re ready,” Diego answered.
Rafael lowered his arms and smirked. “We’re always ready.”
Huffing, Zackary grabbed a duffel bag and started toward the glade, only slowing his steps to remain with the group. Now that he was on his home turf, he just wanted to get back to his friends, duties . . . and Elsie. As much as he’d itched to go after Vallen, he hated leaving her behind. He didn’t doubt her power and strength, but pack life was still new to her and she was extremely trusting. A young packmate named Sydney had recently betrayed her own sisters—nearly killing them. Every tribe had some bad apples. Hell, Zackary was one of them. But he’d cut off his own hand before he ever hurt Elsie. Who had she eaten meals with whi
le he, Tabor, and Sasha were gone? Wiley and Justin? Hudson and Chase? Anger spiked through his brain. Everyone in the pack had speculated that Hudson and Chase were sharing Jordan before she claimed Raider. What if they decided they were ready for a new threesome?
Zackary had been gone five whole days. Normally, he didn’t count. But ever since Elsie had told him to be safe, he’d taken note of the sun’s rise and fall. It had taken only one day of berry picking for her lips to land on his. He’d left her with Chase for five times as many. The mongrel had better have kept his mitts off and his back turned if Elsie had removed her dress to wash.
Damn Vallen to the pits of hell for ever returning. They’d failed to kill him—only wasting time and bringing unwanted strangers back with them.
On two feet, it took their group half a day to reach Jager’s hut near the glade. Tabor called out to packmates along the way. Zackary couldn’t understand wolf cries with his human ears the way he could pick out words while in wolf form. He did know that Tabor was communicating their status, and that of their guests, so that patrol partners wouldn’t panic when they picked up the scent of new wolves.
Jager sat on a stump outside his hut when they arrived. The moment he saw the outsiders, he tried to jump to his feet and stumbled in the process. Brows furrowed, he straightened as best he could.
Sasha set down her bag and walked over to the old man.
“This is our elder, Jager,” she said. “Jager, Rafael and Diego are purebloods we came across in the suburbs. They helped carry back supplies. I invited them to stay in Wolf Hollow before continuing to Glenn Meadows.”
“Sit,” Jager commanded. He nodded at the stumps set around his fire pit, which was dormant during the hot days.
Rafael pulled the backpack off, dropping it on the ground, while Diego set his by Sasha’s. Zackary continued holding his duffel, unsure if Jager had meant to include him in the order to sit. The elder turned his attention to the brothers.
“You are friends with the Glenn Meadows shifters?” Jager asked.
“Never met them before.” Rafael sat with his legs spread wide on the stump.
Damn pureblood was making himself right at home.
Diego cleared his throat. “I am looking to claim a female, preferably a pureblood. Sasha told me there’s one in Glenn Meadows.”
Jager rubbed his chin. “Hailey, yes, though she could very well be mated by now. I will send one of our wolves to fetch a report. It’s been too long since our packs have communicated. In the meantime, you must make yourselves at home in Wolf Hollow. We will prepare a great feast and entertainment tonight.”
Diego looked at Rafael, who shrugged. “We’re in no hurry.”
“Excellent,” Jager said as Zackary thought, “Shit.”
chapter eleven
Excitement buzzed through the hollow as news of unmated pureblooded male guests passed urgently between shifters. But it wasn’t word of the brothers that made Elsie’s heart leap and pound. It was the return of Zackary.
However, it was news of her brother’s injury that sent her sprinting to the den’s medical shed.
“Tabor!” Elsie cried as she entered the shed.
Seated on the edge of the table wearing jeans, but no shirt, Tabor looked up and flashed Elsie a smile.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Sasha and Kallie stood on either side of him. There was a bloody cloth and package wrappings from the old world on the table. Tabor lifted his hand with two finger splints and bandages securing two sets of his fingers together. His thumb was his only free finger. Puncture marks left red marks on his bare shoulder.
“Vallen got the jump on me, but we were able to get clothes and more medical supplies from the suburb,” Tabor explained calmly.
Heart racing, she hurried over and threw her arms around his neck, mindful of his injured shoulder and hand. Her coven and packmates were like family, but she only had one brother. Tabor meant the whole world to her. She’d give herself to Brutus in a heartbeat to save him, if that was the only option. Hopefully it wouldn’t have to come to that. Now that Zackary had returned, it shouldn’t.
Starting tomorrow, she was down to eight days. Nearly the last week.
She needed to complete what she’d started. And she needed to do it soon.
“Elsie, why don’t you stay with your brother while I attend a quick council meeting.” Sasha strode up to Tabor and kissed him on the lips, her eyes softening when she gazed at him. “I am relieved you are well, my love. You scared me so bad. Don’t ever do that again.”
Tabor touched her cheek. “He didn’t get to you. That’s all that matters.”
They kissed one more time, then Sasha backed up, eyes still locked with Tabor’s.
Kallie pulled her hair over her shoulder and smiled warmly.
“I can stay, as well, since Wolfrik will be at the meeting.”
After Sasha left, and Tabor convinced Elsie he wasn’t suffering, she made him recount every part of their journey, ending with the tan-skinned purebloods they’d brought back to the hollow.
“Rafael and Diego,” Tabor supplied.
“What are they like?” Kallie asked.
Huffing, Tabor shrugged. “Typical male purebloods. Cocky. Boastful.” He shrugged again then lifted his injured hand and looked over his fingers.
“Handsome?” Kallie asked, leaning forward as she gripped the table to keep her balance.
Tabor lowered his hand, a shine entering his eyes.
“Looking to upgrade from Wolfrik?” he teased.
“I thought Elsie might be interested.” Kallie gave her a hopeful smile.
The gleam left Tabor’s eyes and his faint smile was replaced with a frown. He looked at Elsie.
“The brothers are only passing through. They live like nomads. No sense of community. I hope you will stay away from them.”
“Don’t worry,” Elsie said. “I’m not interested in cocky purebloods.”
“You haven’t met them yet,” Kallie said. “Maybe one, or both, of them would be ready to settle down with the right she-wolf.”
“Settle down?” Tabor asked, scratching his head with his good hand. He looked at Elsie closer. “You’re not thinking about finding a mate, are you? You’re still so young.”
Dear, brother, if only he knew.
“I will be twenty in nine days,” Elsie said softly.
Kallie’s eyes widened. She knew what that meant. Elsie appreciated her friend keeping her secret. If Tabor were to find out, it would only put him in danger. Confronting Brutus would surely end in more than broken fingers.
“Young,” Tabor repeated. “I know there have been several claimings since you arrived,” he glanced at Kallie briefly, “but don’t feel rushed. These things take time.”
Time. There was that cursed word again. Elsie merely nodded.
“Don’t worry, brother. You don’t have to worry about me vying for these males’ attention.”
“You are wise not to. Remember, they are merely passing through,” Tabor said.
Peter poked his head in, interrupting any further discussion about the pureblooded males. He invited them all to sit outside his hut and wait for their mates to return from council. Peter and his wife, Heidi, had kindly taken Elsie in when she first arrived in Wolf Hollow. Their children, Amy and Eric, were cute and energetic. They’d all made Elsie feel instantly at home. As much as she adored their family, she’d been happy to gain her independence and join the single shifters in the glade.
Sasha didn’t take long to return; she came rushing back ahead of Wolfrik and Heidi.
“There is to be entertainment along with the feast tonight,” she said a bit breathlessly. “I’m helping organize the dance. Emerson is selecting females and meeting me at the communal cabin. I must go.” She spun on her heel, heading away as Wolfrik and Heidi walked into sight at the edge of the den.
Elsie scrambled to her feet and took off after Sasha. “I’ll come with you!” She jogged to Sasha�
�s side and waved to Wolfrik and Heidi as they passed.
Sasha set a brisk pace across the trail connecting the den and the glade. Filled with boundless energy, Elsie kept up without losing her breath, though Sasha was the one to speak.
“Jager hopes to entice the brothers to remain in Wolf Hollow long enough for one, or both, to claim a mate among our females.”
Elsie’s eyes expanded. “But Tabor said one brother wants to find a pureblood and the other isn’t interested in a mate at all.”
“That is what they say, but we must still try. We’ve lost too many pack members. Our continued survival hinges on breeding. Shifters from outside would strengthen our pack, especially purebloods—no matter who they mate with.” Sasha zoomed past trees, arms swinging at her sides.
Elsie wasn’t a pureblood, but she was a powerful witch and an outsider as well. Mating with Zackary would help make the pack stronger. Not only would she avoid her fate with Brutus, she could help Wolf Hollow more than these purebloods who were merely passing through. Elsie was here to stay.
Despite jogging the entire way, Emerson had beaten Sasha to the communal cabin where seven chattering females giggled and flipped their hair. It was impossible not to get caught up in the excitement. Gina smiled and waved when she saw Elsie. Elsie grinned and waved back.
“Diego is mine,” Camilla announced to the group.
Elsie fought back a grin as the large-breasted female entered the center of the group, hands on her hips. It was nice to see Camilla pep up after weeks of pouting about losing Raider to her sister Jordan.
Rosalie dove into the middle with her. “Good,” she said. “Because I want Rafael. He’s not looking for a pureblood.” She lifted her nose in triumph.
Camilla rolled her eyes. “He’s not looking for any kind of commitment. At least Diego wants a mate. That’s over half the battle.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder.
“Ladies, simmer down and listen up,” Emerson said. The group quieted and turned to face the blonde shifter. “Tonight’s dance is special. There will be no males joining you in performance. Same opening. Shake those lovely curves around the bonfire. Make it sexy.”
Moon Cursed (Wolf Hollow Shifters Book 4) Page 12