Halbread swatted aside a low branch covered in hanging moss and peered around as if it was the forest that was intruding on his domain, rather than the other way around.
He was a big man, made bigger by the layers of wolf pelts he insisted on wearing over his shoulders as fall turned to winter. All the pelts belonged to natural wolves, but the insult was still clear and wouldn’t garner him any favors with the local Pack.
I wondered what would happen to him if he were foolish enough to enter these woods alone? If he did, and if he went missing, it would make my job easier.
Not that I wanted him to be murdered. Really, I didn’t. But still…
Halbread wanted to hunt the shapeshifters as if they were nothing more than common wolves, and he made his opinions clear at every town meeting.
So far, level heads held him at bay. But the town was divided and sooner or later, something would happen that would give Halbread the inch he needed to take a mile and war would be waged. I wasn’t disillusioned into thinking I would locate the Den and the humans would leave the shifters alone. But it wasn’t my problem. If the men wanted to sign their own deaths by waging war against the Pack, that was their mistake to make.
I knew from experience it wasn’t the humans that would come out on top of that confrontation.
Canada never experienced an outright war with the paranormals like the United States had. No, they’d sat back and watched our country crumble in the face of the Awakening. But now that it’d been several years, tolerance was dwindling, and you found more pockets like this where the divide between humans and other was a mile wide.
Where the people forgot just what paranormals were capable of since they’d never seen it with their own eyes and barely remembered watching it on their television screens.
A cry erupted from the far right and I jumped, my full attention now riveted in that direction.
“Aaaahhhhhhh!” one of the Hounds screamed.
As one, we turned and sprinted toward the voice. Unconsciously, we’d spread ourselves wide, an arc of men each spaced dozens of meters apart, but now we consolidated into an arrowhead in pursuit of the beleaguered man.
I shot a quick glance around—Who was missing?—and looked over the men assembled on either side of me.
Maxus. Shit. An older Hound who’d just recently been recruited.
“We’re coming!” Halbread shouted. “Hold on!”
I cursed again and sped up as scenarios played through my mind. Maxus wasn’t strong enough to go head to head with most of what lived in this forest. If we were lucky, he’d taken a fall and earned a broken bone for his misstep. If we were unlucky—I didn’t want to think of the consequences.
But, we’d given the shifters no reason to attack in the first place, right?
The oily sound of steel blades being drawn from leather scabbards echoed through the forest. Unlike Roland, many of the other Hounds favored the longer reach and lighter weight of a sword and they were preparing themselves for what we might find.
Shit. If it’d been a confrontation with a shifter, I hoped they were long gone by now. A fight with the Pack wasn’t on my to-do list.
We shot forward as one, weaving around ancient trees and splashing through shallow, narrow streams.
I skidded to a halt. My chest tightened and my body filled with trepidation as I came upon a grisly scene.
The forest floor was stained red, blood already pooling where the ground was low. Droplets of crimson clung to nearby plants like tiny rubies and paw prints the size of my fist marked the earthen floor.
“Spread out,” Halbread ordered, his tone harsh. He stared intently at the tracks. “Look for a trail.”
The Hounds responded to his command and started scouring the immediate area. I kept my eyes trained on the surrounding forest—leaving the search for Maxus to the others as I turned in a slow circle. The spot between my shoulder blades itched. The sensation we were being watched washed over me, and it was an instinct I’d learned to trust.
Where are you?
The men stayed close, working in small groups. With the amount of blood already spilled, Maxus would have left a clear path leading in whatever direction he had limped off to.
The only reassurance we had was that there was no corpse on the ground; somewhere, he still drew breath.
One Hound took to calling out for him. “Maxus!” he cried. “Maxus!”
“Be quiet, you idiot,” Roland whispered harshly.
Too late for that.
As if in response to the Hound’s call, a wolf song started low and then pitched high, sending a chill down my spine. There was more than one wolf in the woods today.
Cold dread washed over me.
The Hounds scrambled into a circle around me and Halbread. Roland was closest by my side, his eyes alert and sober. I rested my first arrow against my bow, still keeping it low and undrawn.
Seconds ticked by.
We braced ourselves.
A groan sounded to my left, but I didn’t move. Neither did anyone else.
As seconds dragged into minutes, the tension in my shoulders eased.
Was this a game to them? Was whoever was out there just toying with us?
Whatever attacked Maxus must have run off. Maybe Maxus had gotten in a few good blows? Enough to discourage it from returning?
Halbread seemed to reach the same conclusion. He slid his sword back into its sheath.
“We’re wasting time,” he said. “If Maxus is nearby, he needs our help. Pair up, keep alert, and stay within eyesight of your partner.”
“Halbread,” Roland called, his tone drawing the attention of every other Hound. “Look.”
Like the others, I followed Roland’s pointed finger further down the narrow stream that ran beneath our feet. Somehow, Maxus’s body had rolled perfectly so that only faint bits of blood marred the worn earthen sides of the rivulet of water.
It was easy to see now how we’d missed it in their first search. Aside from a drop here or there, no signs of the man were apparent until maybe thirty or forty feet down the stream where there was a scarlet streak of red through the green undergrowth.
I led the march forward, bow in hand, arrow at the ready. Unease gathered in my gut as I approached the thorny bush, each step making me more and more certain of what I would find there—but I needed to confirm it.
The other Hounds held back. I didn’t blame them; there was no need for all of them to see what was left of their friend.
I rounded the bush and released the tension on my arrow, drawing it into the palm of my right hand so I could cup my mouth with the left as bile threatened to rise.
Flesh was torn open. Blood seeped in rivulets from a face mottled black and blue. Bone stood out of Maxus’s leg, the limb twisted at an unnatural angle and tangled up in the torn and tattered red hood Maxus wore.
Little was left to make him recognizable.
A groan and a shaky breath escaped the downed man.
Shit.
“He’s alive,” I shouted.
I rushed closer, military instincts taking over.
His eyes stared at nothing in particular. His breaths shallow sounds that rattled in his chest.
“We’ll get you some help. Just hang in there.” I took a closer look at his injuries, lifting his shirt and cutting away the torn cloak with a pocketknife.
His leg was badly broken, but it looked like the result of a horrible fall, not an animal attack.
Bruises marked his face, neck, and shoulders. His shirt was torn across his torso, the flesh there unmarked.
Halbread stopped beside me and cursed.
“It’s worse than it looks,” I told him. “The leg is the worst of it.”
“He’s white as a sheet.”
“He’s in shock. Between the injury and the blood loss, it’s probably for the best. Help me stabilize the limb so we can splint it and get him back to town.”
He nodded and crouched beside me. I scanned the immediate
area, finding several large branches and stripping them of twigs before placing two on either side of Maxus’s leg. I ripped his cloak into thin strips and used them to secure the branches around his leg.
It would have to do, at least until we got him to a doctor.
“Roland—” Halbread called out. “Grab his shoulders, I’ll take the legs.”
“Grab him at an angle, with his bad leg braced against your chest.” It’d make the walk back to town awkward but it’d be less painful for Maxus that way.
The two men hefted him between them. “Niles, Rook, you two return to town and inform the Doc of our arrival. Get a stretcher ready and try to meet us at the halfway point.
The two men I’d indicated nodded and took off west for town.
“Red,” Halbread said, drawing my attention. “Find whatever did this.”
Right. I rolled my eyes. Because that was my job here.
Lindy
I shouldered Embry and Asa away from the downed man. “What are you doing?” Footsteps headed in our direction and I shoved at the brothers with my muzzle, urging them into the foliage.
Embry vibrated with barely contained rage. He’d kill the man if he could, uncaring of the consequences. It made no difference that the altercation was unprovoked or that this could be the push the humans needed to hunt down the Pack.
This was just another reminder of why we weren’t a good fit for one another, regardless of what he or my father believed. He was too impulsive. Too self-centered. He always put his own wants before the needs of the Pack.
“Did you hear what he said?”
His voice boomed inside my head, raw, angry.
“Yes, I heard. There’s this great adage, sticks and stones may—”
“They think we’re animals to be put down. We’re not dogs, Lindy.”
I ground my teeth together. I knew that, and yes, the man’s comments had sparked a rage in me that nearly matched Embry’s, but we couldn’t afford to go to war with the humans. Not with our numbers already dwindled as they were. The odds were stacked against us and I refused to lead my people to slaughter.
We needed to find a way to coexist, but I was doubting whether that was even possible.
Asa remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his brother’s actions. In their wolf forms, the brothers were nearly identical with rich brown fur, intermixed with shades of wheat, and amber-colored eyes flecked with gold. But while their wolves might look similar, their personalities couldn’t be more different.
Asa exuded this aloof attitude regardless of the situation. He was always calm and collected and he always followed the rules. Very little could rile him up so I never had to worry about him lashing out without thinking.
Whereas Embry was quick to anger. He was stubborn and dominate. Everything was a challenge to him and swaying him away from his chosen path was nearly impossible once he decided on a course of action. He was infuriating to deal with. That my father considered us a good match was laughable.
Feeling my gaze, Embry turned toward me as we huddled beneath the underbrush, out of sight of the humans who now stood surrounding their fallen man.
He would live. But whether he would walk again was another matter entirely.
“We won’t survive winter if we let them continue to believe we’re the weaker species. We have to show them we won’t be cowed into hiding. They’re spreading like fucking rabbits, Lindy. They’re encroaching on Pack lands. That can’t go unanswered.”
My lip curled. I knew that, but…
Two of the humans took off, running through the woods at a clipped pace.
“Follow them,” I said to Asa in silent communication. “Make sure they don’t get too close to the Den.” The humans had strayed unusually deep into the forest. Despite their efforts, they’d yet to discover our Den, and we needed to keep it that way.
“See where the men are going, but stay hidden. Do not engage them on your own.” I said the last part with a mental growl. I refused to risk Asa’s life or that of anyone else’s in our Pack. These humans carried weapons. They wouldn’t hesitate to strike out at Asa if they caught him unawares and alone.
With a nod, he crept backward through the underbrush and went around to follow the men who’d sprinted off.
In silence, Embry and I watched as the others moved to help their fallen friend.
“We have the element of surprise. We could—”
“No.” I cut off his comment. We weren’t savages and attacking the men wouldn’t solve our problems.
“Lindy, you’re being unreasonable.” Embry growled, a deep rumble in his chest that caused the humans to grow still and silent, their eyes now turned in our direction.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“What was that?” one man called out.
“You all heard that growl, right?”
Several men nodded.
I flicked my gaze left then right, looking for our best means of escape. “Idiot,” I said, but Embry was no longer listening. He crouched low to the ground, his paws digging into the earth as he readied to strike.
“Don’t you dare.”
The humans all turned to one another, aware of our presence and uncertain of what to do. I crouched beside him, my body pressed up against his side. “Don’t do this.” I nudged Embry with my nose, urging him to retreat.
We could disappear deeper into the forest, leave the humans to their bidding. We’d already driven them off their intended course—away from the Den and our vulnerable. There was no need to remain now that the imminent risk had subsided.
The humans approached together, their eyes wary and their weapons raised. Two others shouldered their fallen man and slowly made their retreat.
What to do…
I scanned their numbers. One of the humans carried a bow. He stepped forward, his piercing eyes scanning every inch of his surroundings with cool efficiency. Unlike the other men, he didn’t smell of fear. Darker skinned and with a militant stance, he didn’t have any nervous ticks either. Trepidation flooded through my me. He was an outsider and something told me he was the one we needed to be wary of.
“There are only four of them,” Embry said, following my train of thought.
“That doesn’t matter. We can’t—”
He lunged.
Damn us all to hell—I lunged after him, unwilling to leave him to fight alone.
Eyes locked on the human with the bow, my fangs closed around his weapon before he could fire his arrow in Embry’s direction. I jerked the wood free from his hands and flung it toward the tree line. He stumbled back, landing on his backside as I stalked forward.
I curled my lip, exposing my fangs as a snarl tore through my chest.
Embry scattered the remaining humans, many choosing to run rather than face his fangs. Unwilling to leave me on my own, he didn’t follow them.
Thank God for small favors.
“Red!” one man shouted.
One of the men who’d just left carrying his fallen barreled towards me, axe held high and eyes red and bloodshot.
Embry took notice and shot out from behind, biting the man’s bicep. Fabric tore in his attempt to break away. The smell of blood saturated the air as he stumbled back knocked off balance.
The man yelled in pain and swung his axe in a wide arc at Embry, who barely avoided the blow.
Blood dripped down the man’s arm but he paid it no mind, squaring off against Embry while still keeping me and the human I’d disarmed in his line of sight. The others stood scattered throughout the trees, watching with their swords drawn.
It wouldn’t take long for one to muster up the courage to join the fray.
We needed to go. Now.
“Embry—”
He lunged at the human, but the swing of the axe kept him from getting close.
“We have to go,” I snarled.
Another human stepped forward, his sword at the ready as he leaned on the balls of his feet. We were running out of time.
<
br /> The man in front of me tried to stand, a hand open in front of him as he attempted to rise from his crouched position.
I snapped at him in warning. A snarl rose from my chest and he stopped, holding his hands out in a silent plea.
I took a deep breath, inhaling his scent. Beer, pine, and a spice I couldn’t put a name to.
“Easy there.” His voice was a deep timbre intended to soothe. He rose to his feet, hands still held out in a placating gesture. “We’re all friends here.”
I growled again, a low warning. He chanced a look over his shoulder at his companion. “We don’t want any trouble.”
I highly doubted that. If he hadn’t been looking for trouble, then why was he here?
The man with the axe swung, connecting with Embry who let loose a pained whine.
No! I watched in horror as he fell to his side, red staining his coat and soaking into the soil.
Aroooo! Asa’s far away howl filled the air, his wolf having sensed his brother’s pain. Several other howls joined him, beginning a chorus through the woods.
The man with the axe scanned the trees, his look of triumph fading, unaware that the others were too far away to be of much help.
He shook off his trepidation and moved toward Embry’s prone form. I had to do something.
Embry tried and failed to stand, angry whines coming from him as he struggled to get his feet beneath him.
“Get up.”
He tried and failed, again and again.
Shit.
“Go. Leave me.”
“Idiot. I’m not going to leave you.”
My mind whirled through possibilities before settling on the only one that had any chance of success. Before I could think about it too much, I pounced on the human in front of me, my claws digging into his chest. His eyes widened, his breathing heavy as he let loose a string of curses, calling out to his friend. But he didn’t try to get away. He settled back against the ground, bearing my weight with cool determination.
“Roland!” my quarry shouted.
I eyed the man with the axe and in slow motion, bent my head and wrapped my fangs around the man’s wrist beneath me. My hold was firm; I applied just enough pressure to let him feel the strength in my jaws without breaking the skin.
Trouble with Wolves: An urban fantasy romance novel (Magic and Bone Book 1) Page 2