by Jenny Frame
“I wish I could have one of those,” Dante said.
“Aye, well, it’s not helping too much.”
Dante got a bottle of water from the fridge and sat down. “It was a big day for Zaria, huh?”
“It was. She was knackered by the time she got home. Fell asleep on the couch, but she had a great time with Marco. Flash and Vance are being really generous to her.”
Dante took a drink of water and said, “They’re good wolves. So what’s got you drinking at this time in the morning?”
“We kissed,” Kenrick said with a little smile.
“That’s great. I know she’s got a lot to deal with, but you two look good together.”
“But what’s next? I love her, Dante. She’s my wolf, I know the Great Mother sent her to me, but I’m going home in a week.”
Dante raised her eyebrows and nodded. “Yeah, there’s that.”
“I want to ask her to come back with me, but that’s a huge thing to ask. A new country, a new pack, leave Marco behind? I don’t know what to do.”
“It’s her decision, Ricky. You just have to be brave enough to tell her you love her and give her a choice. Show her she could have a future with you in Scotland—then it’s up to Zaria. What do you think Aunt Elspeth and Uncle Fergus would think of her?”
Kenrick laughed softly. “My ma would love her and cluck around her like a mother hen, and my pater would charm her.”
Dante smiled. “I think you’re right. So ask. You’ll never know if you don’t try.”
Kenrick stretched her long, tired body. “There are more logistical problems though. Zaria has never had a passport in her life. It would take too long to get her one.”
“I think I might be able to help you there.” Dante winked. “I know a few people.”
“Really? That would be amazing. You’re a good pal, Dante, and a cousin.”
“True,” Dante said. “Let’s make plans then.”
* * *
Zaria stared at the picture of Marco that Vance had given her today and knew in her heart that she was doing the right thing. If it meant a lifetime of abuse at Leroux’s and Ovid’s hands, or death, it would be worth it knowing Marco was safe.
But she would think of Kenrick every day of her life. She only hoped that Kenrick could make her new life and find the right wolf for her, although the thought killed her.
She stuffed the picture of Marco in her bag, and as she did one night before, jumped out of the window and made her way to the edge of Wolfgang County. Only this time there was no turning back.
As she approached the Welcome to Wolfgang County sign, she saw a truck sitting with its lights on. Her heart started to beat faster and faster. When she got closer, two wolves in black clothing stepped out. The female wolf was the one who tried to abduct her from the diner and killed Chrissy.
She stopped in the road at the county line.
“Well, well, well. Ready to give up at last, Zaria?”
“Let’s just get on with it.” Zaria stepped over the line and the female wolf grabbed her and threw her up against the truck.
“You are lucky my Alpha and Second want you alive—otherwise I’d tear your throat out. You got my friend killed.”
Zaria felt the spit hit her face as she snarled at her. She was then thrown in the back of the truck. As they drove away from Wolfgang County, away from Kenrick, she thought: It was always going to end like this.
Chapter Thirteen
Dante whistled as she walked upstairs from the war room.
“Someone’s cheerful,” Eden said.
Dante put her arms around her middle and kissed her. “Despite everything we have going on, Eden, it makes me happy to help true love.”
“What do you mean?” Eden asked.
“Kenrick and Zaria. I was making a few phone calls to try and get Zaria a passport quickly, through unofficial means. Kenrick is asking her to go to Scotland with her.”
“Oh, that’s great news.” Eden squeezed her mate in a hug.
“That’s where Kenrick is now, asking Zaria,” Dante said. She heard someone running up their drive at full speed. She put Eden behind her and opened the door. It was a frantic Kenrick, half shifted, enraged, and holding a piece of note paper.
“They’ve got her. Leroux and Ovid, they have her,” Kenrick roared.
* * *
There was no time for talk—they had to get Zaria back and quickly. All the elite wolves gathered in the Alpha’s driveway, including Caden, Flash, Ripp, and Joel. Dante had learned her lesson from the first time Leroux tricked the elite wolves out of their pack lands, and she was leaving Blaze and Xander to take command at home, to place lots of guards around their borders and dens.
Kenrick paced around, encouraging them all to hurry packing their equipment into the trucks.
“Come on, we don’t have time for this,” Kenrick urged.
Dante walked over and held her by the neck. “Calm yourself—we will find her, but we have to be prepared. The Lupas are armed with silver bolts—we have to be too.”
“Dante, if Ovid gets her paws on Zari, there’s no telling what harm she could do. I need to find her.”
When Kenrick had gotten no answer at Zaria’s apartment, she broke down the door and found the note Zaria left. Kenrick cried out in physical pain when she read that Zaria had willingly given herself up to save Marco.
“This is like my brother all over again. I’m not going to get there in time. I’m going to fail again.” Kenrick was starting to be overcome with panic.
“No, it’s not,” Dante said. “We will find her. You lead the hunt, be the Alpha I know you are, Ricky.”
A feeling of steely strength came over Kenrick. No one was going to take her mate. Not ever.
“Wolves, listen up,” Dante said. “Kenrick leads the hunt today.”
“Right, let’s go now,” Kenrick shouted. “Me, Dante, and Caden will lead the way in the first truck. The rest of you, follow behind. Keep on your paws. Good hunting, wolves.”
“Good hunting,” they all replied.
* * *
Zaria was pulled out of the truck and was surprised to find herself in the grounds of a mansion.
“Where are we?” Zaria asked the wolf she now knew was called Cero.
“The outskirts of Knoxton. I hope you’ll like it.” Cero shoved her forward and was guided into the house. Zaria presumed the human family that lived here were now no more.
Ovid walked out from the hallway and grabbed her by the arms. “I have you at last.” She pushed Zaria up against the wall and pulled her T-shirt to the side. Zaria felt sick that this disgusting creature was touching her again.
“Where’s the mate bite I gave you?” Ovid said with fury.
Zaria felt angry for the sixteen-year-old girl who could do nothing against this much older wolf. She thought of Kenrick and the strength she had given her and used it now.
“It healed after one shift because you’re not my mate,” Zaria said.
Ovid got so close she could smell her breath. “Then I’ll just have to make a new one. Come with me.”
Ovid dragged her towards the stairs but stopped when she saw Leroux coming down.
“Put my sister-in-law down, Ovid. We have no time for that. The Wolfgangs will be here within the hour. This is our chance and we are not going to mess it up. Plenty of time to fuck your mate after. Hi, Zaria, I’m glad you’ve come home at last.”
When Leroux walked past, Ovid sniffed all around Zaria’s face and neck. “Who is that wolf I can smell on you?”
“A wolf that would rip your spleen out. A real wolf,” Zaria sneered.
Ovid punched her to the ground. “Make sure you have a shower before you come to my bed.”
Zaria clutched her face and caught the blood dripping out of her nose. She might be in pain, she might be scared, but Leroux seemed to think that the Wolfgangs were coming. Maybe there was the slightest bit of hope.
“Cero, watch my mate, and don’t
lose her,” Ovid said.
“Yes, Second.”
* * *
“I have a bad feeling of déjà vu,” Caden said to Kenrick and Dante.
“Yes,” Dante said, “Leroux is making it easy with a nice clean trail. Pull in here and call Blaze. Check if everything is okay at home.”
While Caden called, Kenrick pointed at the big white house up ahead. “I think that’s where the trail is leading.”
“Leroux is coming up in the world. The last time we found her, she was in a dilapidated old shithole.”
Caden reported, “All our borders are secure.”
“Then let’s get Zaria, kill Leroux, and get out of here,” Dante said.
They all got out of the trucks, and Kenrick led them up to the wall that ran all around the property. She crouched down and whispered, “Let’s get over the wall, assess the property, then shift.”
The wolves leapt over the wall with ease—luckily there were trees for cover. Kenrick indicated she and Dante would go to the edge of the trees and take a look.
What they found surprised them both. Leroux, Ovid, and all her wolves were standing outside the house waiting for them.
Kenrick shook her head in disbelief, and then Leroux shouted, “Bring your little gang of mutts out here, Dante. I know you’re there.”
Dante gave a signal to hold back, but then Leroux pulled Zaria out front and placed a silver bolt gun to her head.
Kenrick didn’t stop to think. She ran out there and straight for Leroux.
“I wouldn’t do that, stranger. Do you know what a mess this bolt will make of my dear sister’s brain?”
Kenrick stopped dead and put her hands up. “Don’t hurt her.”
“Ricky, don’t…” Zaria pleaded with her eyes for Kenrick to calm down.
Dante led her wolves out of the trees with their hands up. Leroux shoved Zaria at another wolf, and Kenrick knew by the way she touched Zaria, and by the fear in Zaria’s eyes, that this was Ovid. She growled a loud warning. “I’ll kill you.”
Ovid sniffed the air and a look of fury came over her face. She grabbed Zaria’s hair and pulled it back. “Is this wolf the one I could smell all over you?”
Kenrick roared, “As soon as you put the coward’s bolt gun down, you are mine, wolf. I will pay you back for every misery you gave Zaria.”
When Ovid went to respond, Leroux shouted at Ovid, “Calm down, Second. We don’t have time for this.”
Ovid did pull back, but Kenrick stared at her and pictured all the ways she could pile pain on this disgusting animal, including ripping her organs out one by one.
Dante walked forward. “What’s the game this time, Leroux? I know my borders are well guarded.”
“Don’t worry, there are no wolves in Wolfgang County, apart from my son,” Leroux joked.
“He’s no son of yours,” Dante said.
“True, he’s probably been polluted by the Wolfgang weakness by now. No, I want to finish this problem once and for all. A fight to the death. You and me. How about it?”
Dante laughed. “I’m bigger and stronger than you, and I’ve beaten you easily twice before.”
“Three time’s the charm, Dante.”
“Fine, let’s do this. Shift.”
“No, no shifting. Let’s see if you’re strong enough to kill me in human form,” Leroux challenged.
“Have you lost your mind, Leroux? You’ll stand even less chance.”
“Humour me.”
Both Kenrick and Caden approached Dante. Caden said, “This is a trap. It must be.”
“Let her have her moment,” Dante said, “I’ll destroy her. Watch my back.”
Dante approached Leroux, who had dispensed with her shirt, to fight. They circled a few times, and then Dante flew through the air and kicked Leroux to the ground. She raised her fist to punch. “This is for my mate and my baby cub.”
Leroux caught her punch, headbutted her, and threw her back about five feet. She stood up and laughed. “Come on, big Alpha, is that the best you can do?”
Kenrick looked at Dante gasping for air and spitting out teeth as blood poured out her mouth.
“Dante?” Kenrick said.
Dante stood up and walked forward again. Leroux appeared to be infused with new energy. Kenrick could tell by Leroux’s poor build and physique that she shouldn’t be that strong.
Dante punched and aimed a knee to Leroux’s middle. Leroux took the assault, then grabbed Dante’s hair and gave her a kick to the abdomen.
Dante was panting and bleeding. Not only was Leroux stronger, but Dante was getting weaker by the second.
Caden edged over to Kenrick. “We have to do something.”
Dante groaned. “Something’s happening—my strength…”
Kenrick spotted a ring on Leroux’s finger. It flashed and sparkled with every movement or blow Dante tried to make.
Leroux called out, “Lupas, attack the rest, Dante is mine.”
“Cade,” Kenrick ordered, “get Zaria to safety if you can. I have an idea.”
“Will do.”
As the Lupas shifted and attacked, so did the Wolfgangs. Fights started all around Kenrick, but she had a hunch, and one goal: to get that ring off Leroux’s finger.
Confusion reigned around the front of the mansion—fights erupting all over, wolves tearing flesh, and Zaria screaming as she watched—but to save Zaria, Kenrick had to keep single-minded.
Dante was rolling on the ground, blood pouring from her face, and Leroux was just walking slowly around her, taking great pleasure in kicking her when she was down. When Leroux bent down to grab Dante’s head, Kenrick spotted her chance. She shifted and ran at Leroux, grabbed on to her arm, and bit down with everything she had.
She heard the bones snap, heard Leroux scream, but Kenrick didn’t let up. She ravaged Leroux’s arm and severed her forearm right off.
Leroux’s arm lay on the ground, and Kenrick bared her bloody teeth over her. Blood dripped onto Leroux’s face.
“Please don’t kill me, please.”
She heard breathing behind her and stepped back. A bloody Dante had regained some of her power when the arm was severed. Kenrick had been right. The ring had been drawing Dante’s power somehow.
“Kenrick’s not going to kill you, Leroux. That right is mine,” Dante said.
Kenrick’s wolf stepped back and looked around for Zaria. She was standing behind Caden’s wolf, who was fighting with Ovid.
“Go to your mate, Ricky. I’ll take care of this mutt.”
As Kenrick charged over to Ovid, she heard Dante say, “This is for my mate, my cub, and Marta, sister of Zaria.”
Then a satisfying howl of Leroux’s pain and the crunching of bones.
Kenrick’s focus was now killing Ovid. Caden, guard Zaria. This one’s mine.
Caden stepped back and the two wolves clashed in mid-air. Kenrick’s power knocked Ovid over. Let’s see if you enjoy fighting me as much as hurting little submissive cubs.
Zaria’s mine and she always will be, Ovid replied.
Ovid made a move, but Kenrick dodged it easily and struck Ovid across the face with her claws. Ovid howled as her face was ripped apart. Kenrick taunted her. Come on, wolf. You like hitting submissives, strike me. Come on!
Ovid’s face was a mess, her eye displaced and fur ripped. Ovid looked around, then obviously seeing the fight was done, turned and ran for her life, scrambling up the wall and over.
Kenrick went to chase her. She wanted to kill her for what she’d done, but then she heard Zaria call, “Ricky, leave her. She’s gone. Stay with me.”
She looked back to Zaria and then back in the direction Ovid took. There was only one choice. She padded over to Zaria quickly.
Zaria wrapped her arms around Kenrick’s wolf and stroked her. “It’s over, Ricky. It’s over.”
Kenrick shifted back to skin and held Zaria close.
Caden left them and went to check on the Alpha.
“You came for me, R
icky.”
“I always will, Zari,” Kenrick said.
“Leroux?” Zaria asked.
Kenrick looked over at the mess that was Leroux’s body and said, “It’s over. She’s gone.”
Zaria burst into tears. “She’s gone, she’s gone at last, Marta.”
Kenrick saw the other Wolfgangs shifting back to skin after disposing of their opponents. Caden was helping Dante back to her feet. When Dante did stand up, she threw her head, covered in blood, up to the sky and howled in victory. All the wolves joined her, including Kenrick.
She had gotten there in time, she had led the pack, and she had helped Dante to victory. For the first time in her life, she truly felt like the Wulver Alpha.
* * *
The drive back to Wolfgang County was in silence. Zaria couldn’t speak or think—she just lay in Kenrick’s arms in the back seat. But in Kenrick she sensed the high, the buzz of victory coursing through her bloodstream, and despite all she had been through, it was awakening her wolf. All the wolves in their hunting party were projecting their need for their mates.
Each wolf was amplifying the group’s need and hunger for sex, and Kenrick and Zaria were no different. Zaria appeared connected to Kenrick and programmed to mate, but they weren’t mates, and now she was even more confused about her future.
Dante and the other wolves had taken time to dispose of the Lupa bodies, so that they wouldn’t arouse suspicion from the humans. One strange loose end remained in the aftermath of the fight. Dante had ordered they bring the ring Leroux had worn back home, but when they checked the severed hand, the was nothing there.
Kenrick scented witch around that area, so someone must have taken advantage of their preoccupation, and stolen the ring. They would probably never find out where it came from, but at least Dante knew enough to spot it in the future and how to deal with it.
Caden pulled up in front of Zaria’s apartment. “Do you want us to wait for you, Ricky?”
“No, go home to your dens. I’ll be staying here.”
Zaria was glad. She didn’t want to be on her own. They walked upstairs and Zaria saw her door lock broken.