by Reese Morgan
Hayden withdrew her sword and pointed it at his throat.
Behind Julian, his pack shifted and quickly went on the defense.
A warm hand curled around her wrist, strong and authoritative as it lowered her weapon. “Though it’s tempting,” Nicolas started mildly, “perhaps it’s wise to hear what he has to say before decapitating him.”
Julian flashed a victorious smirk, unflinching from her attack.
He had called her bluff. “I am proposing a challenge, winner takes all.”
She remained unimpressed.
“We’ve tried that before, remember? You didn’t hold your end of the bargain.”
“Just as you hadn’t planned to either.”
Hayden exhaled slowly, steadily, trying to reign her rising temper. He wanted her to argue, to give into silly, childish banter. It took a great deal of restraint not to give into temptation. Knowing others were watching—judging— helped hold her tongue.
Here, she had a reputation to uphold.
“What are your terms?” she tried instead with a level voice.
“We both have something the other wants.” Julian raised his eyebrows, appearing amused with her control. “I want you, in my pack. If I win, you are coming back to California with me.” His hazel eyes looked at Nicolas as the rogue Alpha shifted closer. “And you aren’t allowed anywhere near her.”
Hayden looked at Nicolas, oddly thrilled to see him watching Julian with a cold, apathetic stare. His chiseled features, usually crafted from unreadable stone, suddenly twitched with sly amusement.
“And if she wins?” Nicolas inquired.
Julian inhaled and threw back his shoulders, encompassing their surroundings with raised hands. “I will offer myself and my pack to your cause.” He paused, looking up at the sky before pinning Hayden with an intense look. “And the whereabouts of our father.”
Her pulse beat so loudly against her ribs, it nearly drowned out the startled whispers of the surrounding werewolves.
At her side, her sword twitched. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, but I am.”
Could it be this easy?
Again, she found herself looking to Nicolas.
“And the terms of the challenge?” he asked, his features a guise of impassiveness.
Julian shifted before looking out over the vast, snowy grounds. “A race.” He motioned at the bottom of the bluff, where the ground turned flat and a large, frozen lake stretched underneath a layer of snow. “The edge of the reservation, around the island of trees, and back around.”
It was a long distance.
A mass of pines settled across the expansive lake, the place Julian indicated they would loop around and come back.
She stared unseeingly, her mind blank, her senses rather mute.
Her father was so close.
“Deal,” Hayden consented without needing further deliberation.
She could hear Fergus fiercely protest from the crowd, though Nathan promptly shushed him. She was a fast runner and Fergus’ worry was unnecessary. However, Hayden observed the sheer number of werewolves standing firmly behind Julian.
He certainly came prepared to collect his prize if he won.
Nonetheless, he’d find it very challenging competing against all the Alpha males congregated on Hayden’s side.
If she won, not only would they receive Logan’s location, but they’d also gain an impressive number of allies. They needed all the help they could get against Celeste.
They needed more manpower, more muscle.
At Hayden’s brisk consent, a pleased smile crossed Julian’s lips.
“Then I will meet you at the foot of the cliff.” He made to turn but then faltered, as if just realizing he’d gathered a significant crowd of onlookers. “You are all welcome to observe, of course. It should prove to be quite a race.”
Flashing a winning smile in wake of their skepticism, he turned and descended the rocky terrain of the reservation. His pack gathered around him, leaning in close to whisper to their Alpha. Most of them didn’t appear too happy.
Instantly, Blake and the other pack members crowded her.
“I don’t trust his motives,” Blake stated flatly.
“I don’t either,” Hayden conceded, looking after Julian and his pack. “We didn’t get the full story as to why he decided to come here, but his proposition is too good to pass up.” She looked at Blake. “If we can find Logan…”
“He’s your father, Hayden, but he isn’t a necessity right now. We can win this fight without him.” Blake looked at the quiet and observing Nicolas, as if surprised at his continued silence. “Don’t you agree, Nicolas? It’s foolhardy to risk her to a pack relocation.”
Nicolas and Hayden locked eyes.
“Once she makes a decision, I find it impossible to change her mind. It’s far too tiresome to try. I don’t recommend it.” Nicolas quirked an eyebrow at her. “Just run fast.”
In a typical Nicolas-like fashion, he offered a veiled encouragement and disappeared into the crowd of gathering and unruly werewolves. She looked after him, wanting him by her side but refusing to voice her request.
She looked to Blake. “I’ll be fine.”
He exhaled noisily, hardly believing her encouragement as he flanked her side. They, along with a large number of werewolves, made their way down the bluff. It was a steep incline and she was fortunate Julian hadn’t decided to start at the top.
She’d be rolling down the rocks and ice, hardly making an impressive sight.
“Hayden—”
“I’ll win, Fergus. It’s just a race.”
He fell quiet at her back, as did the rest of her pack as they navigated down the hill and between icy boulders. Hayden could see Julian ahead, already at the foot of the bluff, readying himself by stripping off his layers of clothes.
She hesitated.
She hadn’t realized he wanted a race in canine form.
She supposed it made sense.
Modesty was no longer an issue for her. Having others see her naked was the least of her problems. She’d done it too often to care. Morphing into her canine form, on the other hand, with the added pressure and anxiety, made her heart hammer.
“Where’s Nicolas?”
Did he disapprove of her actions so much that he’d left?
She stopped at the edge of the flat, frozen lake, her pack gathered protectively around her. To her left, Julian cracked his neck and leaned forward, utterly unconcerned with his state of undress. He turned, assessing her from head to toe.
He lifted a lip, revealing a canine tooth. “You’re bashful. How cute.”
“He’s around here somewhere.” Blake intentionally interjected himself between her and Julian as he responded to Hayden’s inquiry about Nicolas. “He wouldn’t miss this. I imagine crowds just aren’t his thing.”
Fergus and Nathan closed in behind her and Devan took her other side.
Not wanting to draw further attention to her onslaught of nervousness and vulnerability, Hayden started removing her clothing. A member of Julian’s pack walked out onto the frozen lake and lifted his arm.
A starting gesture.
“On your mark.”
As she dropped her last layer of clothing, the cold eagerly bit at Hayden’s exposed flesh. She peered around Fergus, searching the crowd for Nicolas.
He wasn’t there.
“Get set.”
Turning back around, she focused on her canine half, unable to find the familiar presence under her bundle of nerves. For a crazy moment, she wondered if she could run naked in her human form.
That would be acceptable, wouldn’t it?
“Go!”
Julian lunged, still in human form. As his feet crunched in the snow, he hurdled forward, transforming into his canine form in midair. Her eyes widened as the pristine, white wolf hit the ground running.
Their wolf forms were identical.
Hayden jerked forward, though her feet remained obsti
nately still. The jeers coming from the spectators were deafening. She could distinguish cries of outrage and disappointment. It should have been enough to get her going, but her canine half remained stubborn, refusing to come out under the unfamiliar pressure.
Julian glanced back, sensing his solo competition. His canine mouth opened with amusement before he faced forward and continued to run.
She closed her eyes and tried to ignore it all in favor of focusing.
Her wolf refused to come out.
“Come on, Hayden.” Fergus curled his hands around her slight shoulders, squeezing them firmly. “Don’t focus on the others. Try to ignore them.” The Omega attempted to channel calming waves of reassurance.
Unfortunately, it did nothing to calm her.
Fergus’ hands on her shoulders unexpectedly disappeared, only to be replaced with a domineering hand at the small of her back. The fingers were rough, callous, and demanding as they nudged her none-too-gently on the lake.
“Go.”
Hayden inhaled his scent, surrounded herself with it and submerged in his Alpha influence. His order found her canine half and forcibly lured it out and into the open.
Familiar and comfortable with both Nicolas and his commanding presence, enough that everything else fell away, Hayden stumbled out onto the lake and transformed. Her claws dug into the snow as she gained momentum.
He was a part of her, she realized.
They’d formed a bond she’d never shared with anyone else. He always had her back, always sheltered and defended. Always encouraged. Though cruel at times, his intentions were always to protect. To safeguard.
Instead of depending on his overwhelming strength, and remaining vulnerable without it, Hayden harnessed his presence and used it to strengthen herself further.
Her limbs grew stronger, faster.
She crossed the expansive lake and quickly closed in on Julian.
Eventually, they traveled so far from the others that the roars of excitement had died down to a faint, droning buzz. She panted, hitting icy patches but maintaining balance. Julian wasn’t so lucky. He was not accustomed to their current climate.
He skated at times, struggling to keep his footing.
Nonetheless, he reached the island of trees first and disappeared around the clump of pines. Hayden followed, surprised when she turned the corner and collided with his human form. He reached out a hand, his fingers brushing across her fur just before she danced away.
“Hear me out.”
Hayden flattened her ears and growled.
Behind the cluster of trees, the others would be oblivious to an underhanded trick. She shouldn’t stay and appease him, especially without backup.
“Please,” he said imploringly, reaching out to her. “I need your help.”
Despite her better judgment, Hayden slowed. Her tail twitched anxiously before she transformed back into her human form. Crouching, she watched Julian through the fall of her hair, noticing immediately that his bright arrogance fell way to distracted solemnity.
She never thought she’d see Julian Crow defeated.
His leggy body, which was halfway between a gangly teenager and a masculine man, ducked down low and crouched next to her.
“You’re going to win this race,” he said firmly. “I’ve come to the realization that there are still many of my pack members who are loyal to my mother. I need to lure them out. This is the perfect chance to do it.”
Hayden looked at him, hardly believing what she was hearing.
“You planned this?”
His blond brows furrowed. “Of course I planned it,” he countered heatedly with insult. “Listen, we don’t have much time. When you win, it’s going to lure out those loyal to Celeste. They aren’t going to want—”
“You don’t even know where Logan is,” Hayden growled, angry. Very angry. “This was all about you and your own interests.”
He reached out, grabbing her shoulder, abruptly silencing her. “Will you settle down? I know where our dad is, alright?” He focused on her intently. “I don’t necessarily agree with involving him in a war against Celeste, but that’s your own decision. If I’m going to lend you my men, and my information, I want something from you.”
Her eyes lowered to the hand on her shoulder, not looking away until Julian finally removed it. Once the offending appendage was removed from her person, Hayden took a slow, steadying breath.
Her temper crumbled as she considered him.
Though she did partially blame him for Cole’s current situation, she knew he had attempted to warn them about making unscheduled stops.
Marcus, or more appropriately, Celeste had wanted Julian to give them Troy Arnold’s name. But he hadn’t. He’d also voiced his distaste for Celeste. From what little she knew, Julian was his own person, tired of living in his mother’s shadow.
He appeared sincere. Truly.
Moreover, their shared blood made her inclined to reconsider her skepticism.
Still… times like these made it impossible to trust anyone.
“Hayden—”
“Ok,” she conceded, hearing his impatience and knowing they had little time.
Julian ran a hand through his fair locks, appearing troubled. “After Marcus, I realized there could be more infiltrators. I’ve been able to identify a few on my own, but I know there are more. I feel like I’m constantly watching my back. I need to eliminate them.”
She eyed him, untrusting, yet she remained silent.
“No one knew I was coming here to lend assistance to the traditional werewolves. More importantly, they didn’t realize I’d willingly tell you Logan’s location.”
“Celeste wouldn’t tell anyone Logan is her lifemate,” Hayden said. “Why would the members of your pack draw the conclusion Logan is important to her?”
Julian opened his mouth but abruptly closed it. He gave her a peculiar look. “I haven’t told anyone Celeste and Logan are lifemates. How did you know—”
“Troy Arnold.”
He nodded, readily accepting the explanation. “All those loyal to Celeste don’t know they’re lifemates, true, but they do know she wants Logan alive and out of the picture. They know she wants to keep him hidden from you and the others. So if you win this race, and I agree to let you know his location…”
“You’ll have pack members actively trying to prevent us from acting on the information,” Hayden surmised. “They’ll tell Celeste and she’ll move Logan again.”
Julian shrugged. “Just follow my lead. I don’t want anyone else to know about this—”
“Others should know.”
He gave her a look full of impatience and frustration. “The less everyone knows, the better. I also think, until the very last minute, no one should know of Logan’s location but you and I. Don’t you agree?”
Julian’s unexpected appearance and fears of betrayers in his pack suddenly struck Hayden with the realization that there could be others. Others who were members of the traditional wolves and who vowed to fight against Celeste.
They could be just as disloyal.
Just as well, Julian may prove to be untrustworthy.
“Can I count on your help?”
“Why are you going against your own mother?” Hayden asked.
Julian closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with exasperation. “Please, we’ve already taken too much time.” He opened his eyes and gazed at her. “I will tell you later. Tonight. I promise. Do I have your word?”
Hayden nodded, though she didn’t know what she was agreeing to, or if she could truly expect Julian to be honest. Nonetheless, she followed Julian’s lead and transformed into her canine. Together, they sprinted around the clump of evergreens.
As she ran back to the others, with Julian hot on her heels, Hayden wondered what she’d gotten herself into by agreeing to help him. A sick sensation in her stomach blossomed and weighed her down heavily.
She shouldn’t trust him, but a sentimental part o
f her wanted to.
She supposed, as long as it didn’t put her pack in immediate danger, she was willing to take the risk of helping him.
It didn’t take long to reach the end of the lake, where the others congregated.
She’d won.
As expected.
Julian a very close second.
Reaching her pack members, Hayden abruptly transformed, looking away from Nicolas’ perceptive observation and grabbing her clothes. He knew something was wrong and he wouldn’t approve of her actions.
The other werewolves congratulated her, though it felt like all an insignificant blur.
Julian grabbed her shoulder and leaned close to whisper in her ear. “Wait for me tonight at the east border of Slayter’s territory. Be armed.”
The east border was the only logical route to travel if someone wanted to escape unnoticed. It was the only direction towards any sort of civilization. The descent to the bottom of the bluff was also smoother and heavily wooded.
She was surprised Julian had accurately scoped out his surroundings.
She’d assumed his head was always in the clouds.
Under the watchful gaze of the werewolves, Julian and the rest of his pack members retreated to the reservation. There were complaints from the other werewolves about the race. Either they were upset at the outcome, suspicious at how long it took, or upset they didn’t hear Logan’s location.
“Did he tell you?” Blake pressed. “Logan’s location?”
Her eyes flickered up to her beta before she busied herself with her sword holster. Guilt instantly made her susceptible to submission. “He said he would personally lead me, along with a select few, to Logan’s location. Until then, it’s to be kept secret.”
“And you’re ok with that?” Nathan challenged, instantly suspicious. However, that was nothing new. Nathan was always suspicious. “Considering the circumstances, you seem rather docile, Hayden.”
Docile. Her?
Tired of the questioning and the crowd of onlookers, Hayden simply shrugged. “I’m exhausted.” Looping her arms into her coat, she shrugged it on. “We can use his help. He’s agreed to show us Logan’s location. I think that’s good enough for now.”
She moved, eyeing the other werewolves, suddenly ill.