Winter of the Wolf

by Cherise Sinclair

  “Fucking shut up.”

  Shay braced himself for another punch.

  As Zeb glared down, the fury in his black eyes drained away. And then he laughed. “Feel your cheek, brawd.” Shay touched his face with chiled fingers. He traced the slightly raised cahir scar and beneath it…nothing. “Herne’s mark is gone.”

  The bond that he’d lost wasn’t the brother one—that tie remained, a golden rope between him and Zeb. Instead, there was a lightness where the weight of the God of the Hunt had rested within him. Shay studied his oversized hands. “He left me a cahir.”

  Zeb’s grin was a white flash in his dark face. “Guess he’l let us fight for him. But we can form another bond. A lifemate.”

  “I—” Shay’s throat closed. The future spread out in front of him, almost appalingly open, as if he’d veered from a narrow mountain valey onto a plain. He could see from narrow mountain valey onto a plain. He could see from horizon to horizon; his feet could take him anywhere he wanted.

  “Wel, now we know why the Mother refused. They had other ideas. Wonder if they fought about it.” Zeb’s eyes glinted with amusement.

  Shay sank to his knees, despite the freezing ground. “I need a minute.” How many years had his vow dictated his life? How could he get his mind around this?

  Zeb squeezed his shoulder. “Shift back, brawd, before you freeze. While you think, I’l hunt us some breakfast.” He shifted and sniffed the air, before loping into the forest.

  Shay stared after him. Eventualy, growing aware of the chil under his bare knees, he trawsfurred to wolf. As the clouds drifted across the pale blue sky, he watched the increasing glow of the sun in the east.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Since they’d found no prey on the last run, Gerhard had caled for an extra pack hunt. Unabl to think of a good excuse, Bree had gone this time. For a while, she’d run beside Jody and Bonnie, then joined Angie. Although Thyra had bit her once for being “too clumsy”, she hadn’t had a had bit her once for being “too clumsy”, she hadn’t had a bad evening, aside from missing Zeb and Shay like someone had removed a body part…maybe her heart.

  Bree slowed, letting the wolves run past her.

  Yesterday morning, she’d been relieved they’d left her alone to think and stew. And cry. Yeah, she’d done quite a bit of that. She’d written out reasons why she should or shouldn’t join them. The answer had been an overwhelming no. Al her life, she’d looked for a home, and here in Cold Creek, she’d found her place.

  Like a flowing stream, the pack ran across a meadow, and moonlight dappled their fur as if glinting off water. But there was no huge silver-gray wolf with a dark deadly brother beside him. As despair stabbed into Bree, her legs tangled, and suddenly she was on hands and knees in human form.

  Tears pooled in her eyes as she pushed to her feet, shivering in the cold wind.

  Zeb and Shay hadn’t returned last night. Hadn’t returned today. What if they’d been hurt in that terrible storm last night? Caught in a flood? Guilt was a knife slash to her bely as she remembered how miserable they’d looked yesterday morning. As if they already knew her answer. She’d made them so unhappy.

  Like I’m a happy camper? She stared up at the moon, and the glow seemed to iluminate her heart. Honestly, even if she gave up Cold Creek and her friends, could she be unhappier than she was now? Al the self-preservation in the world didn’t help when everything inside her wanted to be with her men.

  But they’d probably die—horribly. Her throat tightened.

  Every month, she’d risk them, knowing she’d end up mourning them, as she mourned Ashley now.

  But… The wind whipped through her hair as she gave a rueful laugh. Would I really want to give up a moment of the time I had with Ash? Even if she’d known how Ash would die, would she have backed away?

  No. Everyone died. Her men might suffer an ugly death sooner than others, but they were doing something important.

  Saving lives.

  But this is my home. Here. But was it? If Angie and Vicki and Calum and her other friends weren’t here, would Cold Creek feel like home? No. When Shay and Zeb left, would she realy have a home here? Was this what Ashley had tried to make her see? Home isn’t a place; it’s people.

  And she darn wel knew who her people were. She scrubbed her hands over her face, wiping away her tears.

  Guess she’d be dragging her suitcase back out of her closet.

  And she’d need to tel Calum to hold off on arranging for people to pack up her apartment. No need to move everything twice.

  Leaving Cold Creek wouldn’t be easy. She swalowed hard, thinking of her friends. Her arrangement with the diner.

  hard, thinking of her friends. Her arrangement with the diner.

  She’d be homesick. Must remember to stock up on chocolate chips. But this time when she moved, she’d take her home—her family—with her. Now if they’d only get their butts back so she could tel them.

  Smiling, Bree trawsfurred back to wolf. The moon lit the entire sky as she loped across the mountain meadow. The soft new grass released a fragrance that made her paws dance, and she spun in a circle, chasing her tail. Then with a yip, she caught up to the pack.

  * * *

  An hour out from Cold Creek, Shay raised his weary head and sniffed. Wolves. Smeled like the entire pack. Zeb’s upright ears showed he’d caught the scent as wel.

  Would Breanne be with them? Probably. She’d missed the run the other night. A surge of sheer need washed through him. By the God, he needed to see her. To hold her and tel her what had happened.

  As he and Zeb emerged from the trees into a long mountain meadow, yeling drowned out any other sounds.

  The scents were ugly. Aggression and fear. By the God, now what? He was too tired for games; al he wanted to do was hold Breanne.

  As they reached the pack, he saw Gerhard yeling at a As they reached the pack, he saw Gerhard yeling at a young male. Nothing new.

  Jody spotted them and walked over. “Hey. Bree just said you’re al leaving soon. Do you know who’l take over the lodge?

  Can

  you

  give

  our

  cleaning

  service

  a

  recommendation?”

  Breanne said what? Shay shifted, Zeb a second behind, so they rose and stood, shoulder-to-shoulder.

  “We’re all leaving?” Zeb repeated in a raw voice. “Bree, too?”

  “That’s what she said.” Jody’s mouth puled down. “I’m going to miss her—and those fattening cherry pies.” Exhilaration bubbled through Shay’s veins. Over everything else, she’d chosen them. “Wel.” His voice wasn’t steady.

  Zeb’s gaze met Shay’s. “Wel.” His voice wasn’t al that even, either.

  “No!” Breanne’s voice—the furious one she’d used when Zeb had used her fancy filet knife to whittle wood. Shay grinned and looked to see who’d earned her wrath.

  His smile died. Gerhard. The alpha had changed to wolf and was stalking the younger male. He struck and the pup yelped. Growling, Dieter circled, ready to join in.

  Breanne marched closer to the alpha. “Stop it. He’s just a kid!” Dieter blocked her path. Dammit, didn’t she ever learn?

  Yet Shay’s heart quickened at her courage.

  Yet Shay’s heart quickened at her courage.

  Two other females folowed her, then some males. A murmur swept around the meadow like a whisper of wind.

  More shifters stepped forward.

  Gerhard didn’t notice, too intent on savaging the cub.

  Notice this, alpha-hole. Shay belowed, “What’s going on here?”

  People jumped, and the fight broke apart.

  As Gerhard trawsfurred, Breanne and Angie ran past him to care for the young wolf.

  “Stay out of this, cahir,” Gerhard snapped. “That clumsy fool lost us the kil tonight.”

  “Then teach him. Don’t punish him.” The careless savagery sent anger searing throug
h his veins. He tried to tel himself that the alpha had the right to decide discipline—even if wrong. But the idiot was constantly wrong. His decisions weren’t made for the good of his wolves, but because he enjoyed the power.

  Shay frowned. An alpha’s over-riding instinct was to protect, but Gerhard didn’t. Klaus must have been dominant enough to influence his littermate, and his sick desires apparently lingered. Gerhard might have been a good alpha once, but he was no longer fit to lead a pack.

  Shay clenched his jaw. If he, Zeb, and Breanne stayed in Cold Creek, they’d be constantly battling the alpha.

  Taking Shay’s silence for acceptance, Gerhard shifted Taking Shay’s silence for acceptance, Gerhard shifted back to wolf.

  Breanne went white, but she placed herself in front of the youngster. Her balance shifted, and Shay knew her first kick would probably take out Dieter.

  By the God, he loved her. And he’d die before those misborn mutts laid a fang on her. When Shay snarled, loud and long, the wolves froze. “I chalenge.” Gerhard’s head whipped around, yelow eyes blazing in shock.

  “You can’t,” someone in the crowd stuttered. “You’re oathbound to Herne.”

  “He released us,” Shay said, tilting his face to the moonlight so they could see his unmarked cheek.

  Gerhard exposed his fangs.

  “Let’s do this, you gutless mongrel,” Shay said. “I don’t want to waste the moon.”

  Released? Bree’s heart soared high enough to join the stars in the sky. They can stay with me? We can—

  The pack formed a wide circle around Gerhard. A fighting ring. No, oh no. Off to one side, Zeb and Shay were talking.

  What have I done? She grabbed Shay’s arm. “Don’t do this. I can—I’l apologize to Gerhard. You don’t need to fight.”

  He put his hand over hers, his gaze steady. Warm. “Mo leannan, the day I let you apologize to that weasel is the day I return to the Mother.” Crinkles appeared around his eyes.

  “And that won’t be today.”

  “Don’t. Please.” He was going to get hurt. Bad.

  “So little confidence in me?”

  He made her want to hit him. She turned to Zeb and saw the same determination. Were both of them going to be thrown out? Her eyes started to burn. This was al her fault.

  Shay curved his hand over her nape and puled her to his chest. “Don’t cry, little wolf. This was inevitable if we stayed.”

  She wrapped her arms around him. I love you so much.

  She bit back the words. He didn’t need a distraction.

  Instead, she squeezed as hard as she could, trying to shove extra strength into him. He kissed the top of her head and handed her to Zeb, who kissed her long and slow.

  Before she could argue further, they shifted, one tal dark wolf, one heavy-boned, silver wolf. As the shifters opened a path for Shay to enter the circle, Zeb slid through the crowd and stopped beside Gerhard’s brother. Guarding Shay’s back.

  Bree pushed her way to the front. A cold hand slid into hers, and the young shifter, Lacey, gave her a terrified look.

  Angie and Jody joined them.

  Shay stalked into the center, curling his lips to expose his fangs. He and Gerhard stalked around each other, ears fangs. He and Gerhard stalked around each other, ears sharply forward, both holding their heads high. The raised hair down Shay’s back made him look huge.

  He’d been awfuly young the last time he’d chalenged an alpha, Shay thought. Not any more. He moved slowly, assessing his opponent. Gerhard was a damn big wolf.

  Confident and experienced. But a good part of a fight for domination was in the mind, and the alpha-hole lacked the bone-deep resolution he’d need to win.

  It showed. Unable to wait, Gerhard charged first, snarling, snapping at Shay’s nape.

  Shay rose onto his hind legs, knocking him free. He tried a slashing bite. Gerhard stood to meet it. They grappled. Shay evaded the front paws and bit at his opponent’s neck.

  Gerhard shoved away, and they circled, clashed. Circled, clashed. Over and over. They were too evenly matched, Shay realized, at least today. Although adrenaline had revved him up briefly, he’d spent the night running deep into the mountains and had spent today returning. His paws dragged as if they were covered in heavy mud.

  Gerhard charged again. His fangs ripped Shay’s shoulder.

  Pain flared. Shay’s bite caught him below the eye. Blood spattered, and the weasel broke free. They backed away from each other, snarling.

  Gerhard’s legs lowered slightly, ready to attack. Shay Gerhard’s legs lowered slightly, ready to attack. Shay braced himself. Breanne’s voice: “No!” Something moved to one side. Without looking, he dodged. Teeth snapped on air

  —and Gerhard attacked, taking advantage of the distraction.

  Snarls sounded behind him, then a high yelp. People shouted. Shay put it out of his mind; Zeb had his back.

  Up on hind legs, Shay pushed Gerhard sideways, taking any opening to bite. Fresh blood filed his mouth, and Gerhard snarled. A return slash sent pain flaring down Shay’s side. He bit at his opponent’s neck, but heavy fur and loose skin limited the damage.

  They fel sideways, roling and biting. He ripped at Gerhard’s muzzle. His opponent’s teeth clamped on his leg, sending a flash of pain through him, and he struggled to keep from being overwhelmed by fury. Balance, furface.

  He broke off and circled. Another charge. Shay twisted aside and set his paw on the other’s shoulders, trying—

  Gerhard went for his other paw, and Shay dodged.

  On their hind legs, they grappled. Gerhard’s fangs slashed his neck. Shay shoved, overbalancing Gerhard enough to catch the loose fur of his nape. He jerked his head sideways, tossing Gerhard down. He folowed. His jaws closed on Gerhard’s throat, and he clamped down, fighting the drive to rip the flesh away.

  Gerhard went limp. Shay didn’t release. The weasel whined. His tail curved between his legs in surrender.

  whined. His tail curved between his legs in surrender.

  Shay let go but maintained his stance, his teeth bared over the other’s neck, reinforcing dominance. A second. Another.

  He closed his jaws over Gerhard’s muzzle. Gerhard didn’t move, whined again.

  The need to kil stil raging in his veins, Shay turned away as if in indifference, ears swiveled in case the male had no brains in him. But the movements behind him were slow.

  He heard the wolf retreat, running across the meadow.

  And then Breanne landed on her knees next to him. Her arms wrapped around him so tightly he could hardly breathe.

  “You did it. I’m so proud of you. I was so scared for you.

  Don’t ever do that again.” The words turned incoherent as she buried her face in his fur.

  Her scent surrounded him, warming him as his battle-anger dimmed and disappeared. He twisted far enough to lick her neck and buried his muzzle in the fragrant holow at the base.

  “Wel done, brawd.” Zeb lifted Breanne up and slung an arm around her as she tried to burrow into his side instead.

  “Took you too long though.”

  Shay snapped his teeth in a token reprimand, then trawsfurred. “Thanks for the backup. Who was it?”

  “Brother.” Zeb jerked his head toward the wolf folowing Gerhard. “Chad tried to help Dieter. Stupid, but I think he’l learn.”

  Shay turned. A youth in human form held his bloody ear, Shay turned. A youth in human form held his bloody ear, while Albert Baty yeled at him.

  “Good enough.” Shay looked around. As the pack—his pack—drew closer, their wide smiles startled him. They were pleased? He turned in a circle, looking at each, before checking the sky. “You have until the cloud clears the moon to talk, then I want you al in wolf form.” He gave Breanne a hard kiss, fighting the need to mate her here and now, to mark her with his scent. Instead, he stepped back with a sigh. “Shift, little wolf.” If they were to have a future in Cold Creek, somehow he had to meld this bunch of wolves into
a true pack.

  A few minutes later, he took his wolves into the forest. His ears turned toward the rear, hearing the soft thudding of paws, breathing, rustling, and quiet snarls as the younger ones jostled each other for positions. My pack.

  As they streamed up the mountain behind him, something inside him eased and an unrecognized ache drifted away like mist off the mountain.

  * * *

  The moon was heading toward the west when the wolves returned to the caves under the tavern. Bree folowed, staying near the rear.

  She felt the satisfaction in the wolves near her. After running for a while, Shay had stopped in a clearing and talked about the changes he planned to make. He’d given people a chance to talk as he wandered around and spoke to various groups.

  Then he’d taken them on a hunt. The old ones had been able to keep up, the younger daring ones had been sent off behind Zeb to flank a herd of deer and drive them toward the rest of the pack. The chase after an older stag had been thriling. Everyone had dined wel.

  Shay—and Thyra—had eaten first.

  Shay—and Thyra—led the pack. Even now, they ran side-by-side, brushing shoulders occasionaly—deliberately on Thyra’s part.

  When Bree had tried to stay close to Shay, Thyra had attacked, biting and driving her to the rear with the old ones.

  Shay’d turned and knocked Thyra away from Bree, but the mess had brought the entire pack to a stop. The second time it happened, Bree’d given up and stayed at the back.

  When Zeb wasn’t taking the younger wolves on an extra jaunt, he’d run beside her. And Bree noticed puzzled looks from the wolves. Zeb was the beta—the second-in-command—and his place was just behind the alphas.

  Now, as they reached the cave, Shay and Thyra shifted first. Thyra gave a fake shiver, the bitch, and snuggled against Shay, running her hand up and down his chest. With a cold look, he pushed her hand away and headed for Bree. Thyra look, he pushed her hand away and headed for Bree. Thyra stared after him.

  Mine. See? He’s mine. Only she could feel a tie between him and Thyra in the same way she sensed the one between him and Zeb. What did that mean?

  “Breanne.” Shay hugged her. His body was warm and hard, his arms comforting as he kissed her. But something had disappeared, and her worry drained the pleasure away.