by Skye Winters
I took a breath and hurried back down the hall, making an immediate right, through the dining hall toward the front of the house. And still, there were no wolves anywhere. Devlin must have them on high alert. Either that or, much like the outpost he'd stolen from us, many of his wolves weren't allowed inside.
He's too proud. More like a fool. Keeping his wolves so far away from their leader.
And we were heading right outside, into the open.
"Shit."
Rowan halted to look at me, her ears pinned back the slightest bit as she lowered her tail between her legs.
"Nothing you did," I assured her. "It's just... shit. How many wolves do you think he has out there?"
Rowan canted her head to one side and whimpered.
"Right." No sense in talking now.
Devlin was probably out front, ready to shift at a moment's notice to fight off the fake wolf. If he touches her—
Our cover would be blown.
I set my hand on Rowan's pelt, which slowly smoothed back under my touch. "Is the rest of the pack ready?"
Rowan didn't reply, lifting her nose until she caught the scent of others she recognized. When she dipped her head again, I knew I had my answer.
Now or never.
I dug inside my pocket for the vial of Wolfsbane, but didn't take it out. Kneeling in front of Rowan, I threw my arms around her thick neck and breathed in her scent.
"I don't want you here," I spoke into her pelt. "I just got you back. I can't risk seeing you hurt, understand?" I can't lose my focus.
Rowan whined and reluctantly sat back on her haunches.
"I promise to call for you if I need help."
She probably knew I wouldn't, but I said as much anyway.
"Watch after my family for me."
I couldn't stomach hugging her again, so instead, I turned on my heels and headed for the door.
No matter what happens, our struggles end today.
Chapter Ten
I gripped the vial inside my pocket as the door closed behind me. It was my lifeline. My promise to the pack to reclaim the haven and get rid of Devlin for good.
Wolves growled on either side of me, barring their teeth at Devlin and his pack. A flash of fur rushed in front of me, guarding me as a third wolf closed in. Caine.
He was here, much like Markus had been before, protecting me from the wolves I couldn't fight on my own. Not as a human anyway. I swallowed and touched the vial again, grounding myself in the here and now. In this form, my human form. For once, it wasn't frail and useless. For the first time in my life, I had the advantage.
The handgun had been useful as a tool, but it was foreign to the pack. Wolfsbane however, was not. It was in ample supply, if we ever wanted to risk using it. And I did. To rid my pack and the boundary of Devlin's disease, I had to use it.
The glass burned under my fingertips, but I didn't let go. It was a constant reminder the poison was there. All I had to do was use it.
I took a breath, locking eyes with a wolf that now lay dead at my feet as Caine veered off to the left. He rammed into another wolf, throwing it on its side before clamping his jaws around its throat.
I winced and averted my gaze, mindful of Caine's sight on me. He kept his distance, and after releasing a long, mournful howl, wolves I couldn't see joined in.
Our pack and Surrena's illusions occupied most of Devlin's wolves far away from him toward the back of the house. And for now, he was in the open, face-to-face with what appeared to be me in my wolfen form.
His gaze was distant, looking elsewhere as he held a hard branch in front of him.
Why don't you shift?
He was taunting the illusion, testing his strength as she closed in. At the last possible moment, as the wolf barred her teeth, he shed his clothes, lowered onto all fours and took on the appearance of a dark wolf.
They leaped at one another, Devlin's jaws pressing down on the top of the illusion's muzzle. Here's my chance.
With Devlin more or less occupied, I removed the vial from my pocket and headed in his direction. Gravel shifted under my feet as I picked up my pace. My heart did the same. Blood pounded in my ears, and I had to wonder how I was able to breathe let alone think as I moved closer to the fighting pair.
Devlin's ears went up, and when he glared in my direction, I couldn't tell if he was surprised or angered to see two of me. He'd seen me in both forms before, and if he got a good look, then he knew the wolf he was fighting could only be mine.
His muzzle pressed down on the illusion's skull, making a noticeable crunch as her body crumpled to the ground. He'd broken her—the arrow she was linked to—and soon, the vision disappeared to reveal hard earth and stone.
Devlin howled, and I ran at him. I lifted the vial, poised to strike as he bound toward me, his heavy footsteps thundering against packed soil. He jumped into the air, almost as though he planned to go over me, but shifted as he came down, pushing me onto my back and knocking the wind from my lungs.
I coughed and gasped for breath, gripping the vial as I tried to kick him off. He was right there, skin-to-skin, but I held back. You need to hit him when he's a wolf. It wouldn't be as effective this way. If I hit him now, he'd be a wolf permanently. He'd still have the strength to bite. And to challenge another wolf for alpha, even if he was a feral one.
If he was sentenced to his wolfen form, his taint within the boundary would remain.
"Piece of shit enchantress," he spat, clawing at my wrists as he pinned me to the ground. "Did you honestly think your coming back would make a difference? Even without my wolves, there's nothing you can do to stop me."
I flexed my wrist and wrapped my fingers around the Wolfsbane mixture so only a bit of glass showed through. But until I could kick Devlin off and roll away from him, there was no getting Surrena's poison anywhere near his body.
"And what's this?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the glass I was trying so hard to conceal. He crushed his hand around mine, prying my fingers back so he could remove it from my grasp. He lowered his full weight onto my waist, smiling victoriously as he held the vial up to the light coming from the house. "So much importance for such a tiny thing."
I struggled under his weight and pressed my hands against his chest, but much like his wolf, he was far too heavy for me to fight on my own.
I looked in the direction Caine had gone and hoped he was close by. If there was one wolf who could help me now, it was my little brother.
"Cai—" my voice was cut off as Devlin held a hand to my throat.
I swallowed, and he squeezed harder, cutting off any air that may have made it to my lungs. I fought to keep my eyes open as I dug my nails into his forearm. He laughed, his voice growing distant as black specs crowded my vision.
I closed my eyes and searched my memory for the wolf I'd traded places with time and again, but the spaces of my mind were too dark. I couldn't see or sense anything, and as Devlin pressed me into the ground, I fell even further away from consciousness.
Consciousness that quickly returned when his hand lifted from me. His body was thrown off mine as a wolf took him down, growling furiously.
I rolled onto my hands and knees, bowing my head between my shoulders. My fingertips tingled from their returned blood supply. My head throbbed, and I wasn't quite sure if I was hearing multiple wolves or just an echo.
Disoriented, I looked to my right at a pair of shadows fighting. Light from the house spilled onto their backs, revealing a single wolf and what must've been Devlin still in his human form.
I squinted and got to my feet, stumbling as my knees threatened to throw me back to the ground. Taking a handful of steady breaths, my vision cleared to reveal Caine and Devlin squaring off.
Caine's tail was high as Devlin back-pedaled, holding the vial the same way I had done when he took it away from me.
Caine jumped at him, and my stomach dipped as I saw Devlin's hand crash down against his back. Caine yelped, limping closer to the house before
collapsing onto his stomach.
"Caine!" I ran over to him, placing a hand on his beautiful muzzle. Already, his fur had started to fall away, and before I could mourn another loss, Devlin kicked me to the ground.
I turned for Devlin, cried out and completely lost my focus, taking on my wolfen form as he came up to meet me. He effortlessly shed his human skin much like my brothers had always done, allowing it to roll off his back like drops of water as he lowered onto all fours.
I didn't circle him. I didn't look for an opening. I blindly went after him, tucking my tail and pinning my ears as I released a low growl.
The shadow of his pelt rushed in front of me, but was gone just as quickly. I felt more than heard him at my side, his footsteps so light I had to listen for them to have any idea where he might have been. He was circling me, gradually moving me farther away from the house, away from any source of light that would allow me to see him or his attacks before they could begin.
I let him guide me, mindful of the way he moved and how he only circled from front to back, then turned to go the other way. He kept to my left side, nipping at it to get me to where he wanted to go. And still, I let him.
Visions of Caine's human form filled my mind, and I released a howl into the night at his expense. He'd saved me from what Devlin could've done to me and our pack as a result. But without the vial, without Surrena's wolfsbane, our plan had changed.
I couldn't just poison Devlin now and force him into a single form. I had to defeat him.
He rushed at my side again, closing in to bite my shoulder. I moved out of the way. I'd memorized his technique, so when he rolled off to his right, I went along with him. He quickly got up, changed direction, and went at me again, aiming for my stomach.
I weaved away from him again, crying out when his jaws clamped around my hind leg. I circled back at him and searched the darkness for a bit of fur, an ear, anything I could get a hold of. There was nothing. No sound. No heat. No inkling of where he'd come from next.
I winced when I tried to put weight on the now-broken limb, limping in a circle and wishing I hadn't followed his direction so far from the house. No doubt the pack was already on their way, but I couldn't let another wolf die in my place.
We finish this here.
Alpha against alpha. The same way my father had done for me.
Something shifted behind me, and I turned to meet it head on, lowering my muzzle as Devlin's maw and chest rushed over me.
Sharp fangs dug into the fur at the back of my neck, biting down even more whenever I tried to move. I lowered my head and stared at Devlin's feet, at how he favored one over the other. It was then I remembered the blow my dad had delivered during their last fight. And by the look of it, Devlin's injury had never healed. Not properly, at least.
Put enough pressure on it, and he will fall.
I shook my mane, whimpering as muscle tore away from bone. It was a deep wound, and one that would require weeks of rest, but not fatal. Not unless he gets a second hit.
I rammed into Devlin's jaw with my shoulder, pushing him off and away from me as I faced him again. He growled, lowered close to the ground, and as I expected, he continued his assault. All four paws came off the ground, and I rolled to the side, grimacing as dirt and grit rubbed into my wounds.
I recovered faster than he did, getting back on my feet as I grabbed his weaker front leg, yanking at it until it cracked.
The metallic taste of blood filled my maw, and I bit down again, severing the main artery that was there.
He released a helpless whine, loping on three legs as he tried to evade me. He was slower now, and as he stumbled to the side, I could see I'd hit my mark. He was bleeding out, and it was the type of injury a wolf could never walk away from. Not without immediate medical attention.
He shifted back into his human form, cursing under his breath as he squeezed his leg with both hands. "Piece of shit bitch!"
I growled and barred my teeth, refusing to move as he tried, and failed, to stop the bleeding. Some injuries weren't as severe as others when wolves changed forms, but a fatal one such as Devlin's was reflected in both forms.
Footsteps came from behind me, growing louder as they neared. I didn't have to look back to know it was my pack. Devlin's wouldn't be far behind them, but for now, they weren't my concern. The man in front of me was.
"Don't just stand there," he yelled. "Finish it. Or are you not wolf enough to do it yourself? Plan on having one of your mates do it for you?"
I dipped my head and changed forms. "I don't think I owe you the honor of a quick death. Not after all you've done to us."
"This won't end with me." His voice was shallow. "As pack alpha, you will have others looking to take your place."
"Then it's a good thing I don't want to be alpha."
He opened his mouth to say something, but was far too weak to do so. And as his wolves gathered, Devlin collapsed to the ground, releasing his leg as his wounds soaked the earth.
It was then I was able to take a breath and collect my thoughts. Our enemy lay in front of us, no longer a threat, and yet, all I felt was nausea and pain for how much our victory had cost. Over half of my family and countless wolves were lost to just this one. They were lives I could never get back, and no amount of comfort would ever change that.
Wolves surrounded me, their fur brushing along my sides as they gathered in a single, long howl. Some of their voices were pained. Others were proud. But together, they sang to the moon as a single wolf. A pack. My pack.
Voices I didn't recognize joined in. Devlin's wolves bowed their heads, not for his loss but rather their gain. Without an alpha to lead, they were free to go and do as they wished. Some would join us in our effort to rebuild what the boundary had been. Others would leave to make new lives for themselves.
A wolf nuzzled my shoulder, and I threw my arms around its mane, crying into layers of fur as the pack looked on. But when I regained my composure and checked to see who it was I'd hugged, Rowan was standing behind him and Caine was smiling at me.
"How..." My voice refused to work. I coughed to get the air moving and tried again. "I thought we lost you to the wolfsbane!"
"That would be my fault," Surrena said, walking through the crowd as she held a pair of broken arrows in her hand. "It would seem the wolf you thought was Caine wasn't him at all."
Of course. I felt so stupid. Surrena had even instructed me not to lose my focus.
"But it was so believable," I said after a long moment. I touched Caine's face just to be sure. "I saw you."
"All an illusion," Caine said, taking me in his arms.
I whimpered from the gash behind my neck, and he quickly backed away. "Sorry."
He shook his head and looked over my injuries. "It'll heal."
I nodded and met Rowan's gaze which was filled with tears. "And you."
She wolf-grinned and shifted to her human form to join me.
"I think we've kept us a secret long enough."
"Anna, you don't have—"
"I do." And with that, I kissed her on the lips, long enough for the rest of the pack to see.
No one challenged my decision. They didn't bark, growl or tell me I'd done something wrong. Somehow, what felt right to me was right for the entire pack.
Even when Markus joined us, there was no questioning who the alpha was.
"There's going to be a few changes," I said. "Until Markus chooses a mate, my brothers and I will share the task as alpha equally. This may not adhere to our old ways, but I for one feel they need a change. A pack isn't based solely on the strength of its alphas, but on every wolf we happen to share our haven with. We're all responsible for the decisions our pack makes, both large and small. And once we reach the haven, new guidelines will be drawn up. But they're only guidelines. The law of the pack will also be changed. For the better." I paused and touched Rowan's arm, getting to my feet with her help. "Any wolf can take their place as alpha so long as they have the heart and sk
ill to do so. You can even challenge me right here if you wish. Do I have any takers?"
I searched faces I knew and others I'd have to get more acquainted with, but even with my injuries, no wolf stepped up to accept my offer.
"Very well. After a night like tonight, we all need food and rest and a time to grieve." I looked to Devlin's mutts. "If you'll accept my brothers and I as your alphas, you are more than welcome to join us back home. There is more than enough food within the boundary for all of us so long as we are mindful of the brothers and sisters we share it with."
The wolves howled in unison, and with Rowan on one side and Surrena on the other, I made my way back toward the house.
"My mother. Is she—"
Surrena shook her head. "Free, Anna. Her wolf is free."
It was a loss I knew to expect, but it hurt all the same. My mother's infinite wisdom and the pack's pillar had collapsed. Somehow, we would find a way to rebuild. Our haven. Our pack. Our family.
I exhaled and leaned my head back, allowing Rowan and Surrena to lead me to the house as I studied the few stars I could find. The night sky was brighter than it had been compared to earlier in the evening.
Even with the weight of our loss resting heavily on my shoulders, the clouds were more whimsical. Hopeful.
And now, with our packs at peace, so was I.
* * *
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EPISODES IN THIS SERIAL INCLUDE:
Alpha's Heart: Part One | Alpha's Heart: Part Two | Alpha's Heart: Part Three
For a complete list of books, go to www.skyewinters.com
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About the Author
Skye Winters is a shifter in hiding and currently resides in rural Pennsylvania. While there are days she'd love to take on her more feline form, she embraces the necessity of staying off radar.
Because of this, she writes. Vampires, werewolves and sexy shifters offer readers a small taste of what goes on in her mind on a daily basis.