Un.Breakable (Slayter Series Book 4)

by Reese Morgan

  Hayden punched him in the face.

  Silencing him.

  “I will not.”

  Her anger swelled and grew hot. She watched as he stumbled back, cupping his bleeding nose with surprise. Before he could properly recover, Asher stepped between them, holding out both his arms.

  “Both of you,” he said slowly. “Stop.”

  “You’re naïve and delusional,” Julian informed, his voice muffled through his hands. He dropped them at his sides, splattering crimson liquid over the snow.

  “Naïve is thinking you could waltz in our territory and expect your whole pack to adhere to our beliefs when they were bred under Celeste’s regime.” Hayden barely saw Asher as she focused on her brother. “You’ve put all of the traditional wolves in danger.”

  “Danger.” Julian scoffed. “Half those traditional werewolves you think are allies are Celeste’s pawns in disguise. The man you follow also brings unnecessary threat. You have absolutely no idea of how much danger you’re truly in.”

  “Silence!”

  Hayden immediately stilled at the order.

  Turning, she spied Kieran as the source of the authoritative bark. His eyes were bright and his tawny-colored hair a wild mane around his face. He resembled a fierce lion with an even fiercer roar.

  “Let’s hope we find your father quickly so he can separate you two.” He looked between Hayden and Julian. “You’re acting like children.”

  “Well, they are children,” Falco offered apathetically.

  Hayden slowly exhaled, calming her anger and acknowledging her error. They weren’t in the position to have arguments. Though they were in thick woods, they were still in enemy territory. Arguing with her brother was exceptionally out of line.

  “It won’t happen again,” she said firmly, looking Kieran in the eye.

  He maintained eye contact before suddenly approaching her. At the reservation, he was usually quiet, a solid mass of impressive muscle and sharp eyes. Others, including Nicolas, claimed he was an impressive warrior and Alpha.

  Hayden wondered if she was finally glimpsing at Kieran’s true character.

  It was very challenging keeping eye contact with him, though Hayden managed as he closed in on her. The harsh lines across his face eased as he considered her.

  Slowly, he leaned forward, his breath warm against her ear.

  “Just hours ago, you were indifferent to Slayter executing a werewolf with a sharp tongue,” he whispered, his voice hardly audible to her own ears. “But now you will spare Celeste after she destroyed hundreds of lives?”

  “She’s useful alive,” Hayden argued, her voice nearly trembling.

  His scruffy beard prickled her cheek as he smiled darkly. “It has not escaped my observation that she kept Logan alive after all these years instead of killing him. It will not escape other’s knowledge that they just may be lifemates.”

  Her lashes lowered.

  Troy Arnold, Nicolas, Cole, and Julian were the only ones who knew of the connection between Logan and Celeste. It would put Logan’s life at risk if others knew. However, Julian seemed to accept that particular bit of information.

  Embraced it, even.

  “Perhaps,” Kieran continued softly, “you should try to avoid drawing further attention to their situation by not mentioning you would spare Celeste’s life.”

  Hayden turned, her nose nearly brushing against Kieran’s cheek. He wasn’t going to tell the others, she realized. His eyes met hers and she nodded once, understanding and grateful at the same time.

  Pulling back, he refocused his attention on Nicolas. “She has a backbone. I like it.”

  “One of her most endearing qualities,” Nicolas replied cynically.

  She turned to look at him, spying the male at her shoulder. Clearly, he’d moved closer when Kieran had leaned in, though he had remained silent throughout the exchange.

  “Let’s take a short break,” Kieran addressed the others. “No fires. Find a quick, small meal and we will be on our way.”

  There would be no sleep, Hayden realized.

  It was very late, or more accurately, very early. They’d driven for hours before parking at the outskirts of the woods and running for another two hours. She did not recognize their location, though she knew it to be Oregon. The woods were so thick, and the snow so deep, they exerted a lot of energy trying to cross a large distance by foot.

  She looked at Julian, wanting to apologize for earlier, but he was already gone.

  The others gradually disappeared deeper into the woods, choosing to shift into their canine forms. Asher lingered, as if he wanted to speak to her, but Nicolas’ presence prevented him from speaking freely.

  He left with the others.

  She watched as Nicolas took off his coat and folded it at the base of the tree. He then lifted and discarded his shirt, revealing the ropes of tight muscles across his abdomen and arms. Unlike the other werewolves, Nicolas was not privy to going shirtless all the time.

  Seeing him nude always made her throat contract and her pulse race.

  His hands went to the waist of his pants, drawing attention to his well-defined pelvic muscles. “Is something on your mind?” Nicolas inquired as he unbuttoned his pants. “Or are you being foolishly modest again?” His attention landed on her fully-clothed figure.

  She quickly looked away from the unbuttoned pants.

  “It suddenly occurred to me that I can try to protect my father all I want, but there is no way in hell I can try to prevent Celeste from getting killed.” She shrugged. “All this is really for nothing.”

  “We will think of something.”

  He seemed so sure.

  “I was stupid for not thinking of it earlier. Everyone will want her blood, but…”

  It would kill Logan in turn.

  Nicolas stepped closer to her and lightly touched her cheek. “I said we will think of something.” He easily looked through her stubborn defenses. “But Kieran is right. Do not mention your desire to see Celeste alive in front of the others.”

  “You heard.”

  “Of course I did.” Nicolas removed his hand from her cheek. “Let’s hunt together.”

  Hayden gradually unstrapped her holsters and deposited them on the ground. Nicolas reassured her they would think of something to save both Logan and Celeste, but she was doubtful. Nothing seemed short of impossible.

  She wanted to stop Celeste.

  She hated the woman enough to see her dead.

  Somehow, keeping her alive after everything she’d done seemed like a betrayal to all those lives lost. Hayden wanted her dead more than anyone else did.

  As her shirt dropped to the ground, she felt Nicolas step behind her. A hand brushed aside her hair, exposing her bare shoulder. His lips lightly trailed over the skin on her shoulder and a hand teased her waist.

  “Are you upset I killed him? The man who threatened you?”

  His question and his touch caused Hayden to stiffen, but not out of discomfort. Her heart hammered painfully in her chest at his light, teasing touch. He was close, but not close enough to satisfy her.

  “I’m not upset with you,” she said truthfully. “I’m upset with myself for not caring as much as I should.”

  Nicolas scoffed, the action causing the small hairs on her neck to tickle. “That does not make you a bad person, only a jaded woman who knows the harsh reality of our world.”

  She turned and looked at him, staring into his pale, focused eyes.

  “I will do anything to protect you,” he vowed vehemently. “Even if you or the others condemn my actions.”

  He watched her as both his hands settled around her narrow waist. With agonized slowness, he maneuvered her pants over and down her hips.

  Her gaze dropped to his lips, wanting, needing.

  They were so close.

  Nicolas had a way of rendering her paralyzed, in both mind and body. She found herself no longer thinking of the past, the future, or her uncertainties. When she
was with him, the present consumed her and she could focus on nothing but him.

  The corners of his eyes crinkled in amusement as he released her and took a step back.

  “Let’s hunt.”

  His body shifted as it morphed into his onyx wolf. Hayden could do nothing but readily follow, chasing him through the woods and thriving in his presence.

  9. Chapter Nine

  She sighed.

  “If you want to say something, then say it, Asher.”

  “I can smell him all over you.”

  Hayden buttoned her flannel shirt before proceeding to grab her combat boots and lacing them tight. She ignored him for a moment, trying to determine what point he was trying to get across by mentioning the obvious.

  “It’s like some sort of possessive brand.”

  When both boots were knotted, Hayden focused on fastening her chest holster. “You and I both know that’s exactly what it is. A claim. It’s what all werewolves do.”

  “So you’re ok with it?”

  She smiled out of exasperation. “Why are we talking about this?”

  “I’m trying to make sense of it, that’s why.” Asher pushed off from the nearby tree and approached her. “It’s like whiplash, trying to grasp everything that’s changed since I left for New York. The Hayden I knew would never find Nicolas Slayter agreeable enough to bathe in his scent.”

  She gazed over his shoulder and towards Nicolas, who stood with Kieran and Falco. “We’ve already discussed this. Nicolas was always looking out for Cole—”

  “Yes, you’ve told me. He killed his own mother to protect Cole. He was always watching Cole’s back,” he said, his tone derisive. “Despite all that, this is the first time I saw the hugging and the ogling between the two of you.”

  Asher glanced at Nicolas before refocusing on Hayden.

  “If you’re trying to suggest that I’m moving too fast—”

  “No,” Asher interrupted again with a heavy sigh. He uncrossed his arms and rubbed a hand against the back of his neck. “I think he’s a good match for you. He’s made you stronger, more mature, and level headed. You’re like a completely different person.”

  His words surprised her.

  “But?” She raised a skeptical eyebrow. “There has to be a ‘but’.”

  He placed his hands in his pockets. “But he also brings out something darker in you, something I find hard to watch. Cole would have never brought out that side of you.”

  “Asher…” Hayden trailed off and looked at him, admiring his pretty-boy features. Currently, they were contorted into something serious and concerning. “Have you considered that maybe it wasn’t Nicolas that changed me, but the things I’ve gone through?”

  Blond brows furrowed as if struck with a realization he hadn’t considered before.

  He pondered for a long moment, the other conversations around them a distant hum. “I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through. If it was anything like you and I experienced… when we went to find Troy Arnold…”

  He trailed off.

  “Nicolas was with me through everything,” she found herself explaining. Or was it defending? Justifying? “Somehow, he’s always been there for me. Throwing me back on my feet and encouraging me to fight harder.”

  Literally throwing her back on her feet, Hayden thought, amused.

  She glanced at Nicolas again, marveling at his patience.

  He was a lot older than she was, decades older. He also had experienced far more tragedy and loss, and yet, he always seemed to find a way to reach her and relate to her.

  “You’re happy and I guess that’s all that matters.”

  “Ah. Precious,” a voice interrupted just behind Hayden’s shoulder. “A reunion between estranged friends. I can’t say the reunion between estranged siblings was quite as heartwarming. She broke my neck. And my nose.”

  Julian walked between Hayden and Asher, interrupting their conversation with an arrogant swagger. He gave Asher a once-over before turning his attention on Hayden.

  “Are we good?”

  His nose was free of blood and back in proper place. She stared levelly at him, not wanting to start another fight, but unwilling to let the issue go.

  “I still stand by what I said.”

  “Of course you do.” Julian smirked. “You’re a Crow. We’re stubborn.”

  “I’m stubborn because I’m right,” Hayden contradicted aggressively. “And you know just as well as I do that this isn’t the place to discuss it.”

  Eyes so much like their father’s surveyed her closely. “Fair enough.” He strapped his holster across his back, securing his blade. “Let’s put that behind us for now and focus on what we can control. I’d rather not have you watch my back when you’re upset.”

  Hayden and Asher shared a look over Julian’s shoulder.

  Smirking, she turned her back on her brother. “Who said I would watch your back? Isn’t it your job as a brother to watch your sister’s back?”

  “At least it’s a nice, perky backside to watch,” Julian murmured.

  Hayden whirled around upon hearing that, but her brother was already walking away, a spring in his step. She watched him narrowly as he engaged in a conversation with another werewolf, intentionally turning his shoulder on her.

  She didn’t know what to think about him.

  Fortunately, she was spared wasting any more energy on the subject.

  “Let’s set out.”

  Kieran motioned them forward, both Falco and Nicolas at his side.

  The werewolves all seemed weary, yet they would never acknowledge their exhaustion. Hayden and Nicolas caught a few rabbits for dinner, yet she was still hungry, still tired. The others probably did not fare much better, probably worse off considering Hayden and Nicolas were familiar with traveling in the barren wilderness.

  There was also a wet chill in the air.

  Dense fog blossomed from the ground and hung in the air, suspended. It grew thicker as the night went on, cloaking the forest with an air of unsettlement.

  Hayden jogged with the others, having to push herself to keep up with them. They were taller, making it easier for them to travel through the deep snow. Some areas had large snowdrifts that were as high as her thighs.

  Asher remained at her side, even as she fell back.

  Another two males took up the rear.

  “Good exercise, eh?” Asher joked, his dimples emphasized. “Why do all of our adventures together turn out to be misadventures?”

  “Don’t say that.” Hayden huffed, leaping and running alongside him.

  “It’s true.”

  Something that sounded suspiciously like bone scraping against bone emitted from behind them. She turned, squinting as one of the men at the rear fell in a boneless manner into the snow. A shout of horror sounded from his pack mate before hands abruptly grabbed his head and ripped it off with a sharp twist.

  Hayden lost her ability to breathe.

  She turned to warn Asher but found a spray of blood hitting her across the face and the sight of her blond-haired companion falling to the ground.

  A powerful, nearly bone-crushing force slammed into her and knocked her off her feet. A blade came down, but Hayden withdrew hers and blocked the strike just in time. Her teeth clenched together at the force, knowing she would be unable to hold it for much longer.

  Withdrawing her sword, she rolled away quickly, hearing the blade embed into the ground where she’d once occupied. Hastily, she swung her sword, taking advantage of her enemy’s distraction and slicing through his extended arm.

  Hayden got to her feet and rolled across the man’s shoulders, bringing her blade back and slicing it across his throat. An animal-like cry filled the air as he reared away, armless, and bleeding like a gutted pig.

  Falco leaped in front of her and swung his sword powerfully, beheading the preoccupied puppet with one swipe.

  She looked around wildly, searching for another threat.

  Up ahead, ther
e was one puppet, already collapsed and defeated at Nicolas’ feet. The rogue Alpha gazed at her, though she did not see him. Upon realizing there were no other immediate threats, her attention instantly went to Asher.

  “How many down?” Kieran asked.

  Hayden took a step, two steps, before tumbling in the snow and reaching desperately for Asher’s fallen body. Dragging herself closer, she hovered over his prone figure. Despite her best to prevent it, a broken sob escaped past her lips.

  She grabbed his hand, marveling at the cold temperature.

  “Three.”

  Avoiding the sight of his decapitated head, Hayden shakily brought Asher’s limp hand up to her face and pressed it against her flushed, wet cheek.

  “Eric’s boy?”

  Someone crouched down next to Hayden and grabbed her shoulder. Shaking her once. Twice. “Both Eric and Asher knew the dangers and the risks of this mission.”

  “He came because of me,” she said brokenly.

  “No.” It was Falco next to her, Falco who kept a heavy hand on her shoulder. “It was agreed that each pack from Albertville would send a representative. Eric asked Asher to accompany us. Do not put the blame on yourself.”

  Tears continued to roll down her face while silent sobs caused her shoulders to tremble. Her hand continued to clutch Asher, hoping against all hope that she was experiencing a nightmare.

  “Come on.” Falco grabbed her and all but lifted her to her feet. “You did well.”

  “It happened too fast…”

  It took a brief moment to detangle her from Asher, but Falco led her away, away from Asher, away from the other males. He leaned her against a tree and Hayden hid her face from the others.

  She could not compose herself.

  “They came up from behind. No scent. No sound.” Falco stood in front of her. “But your instincts were there. Very impressive.”

  Hayden closed her eyes against the praise, not wanting to hear it or appreciate it as much as she did. With her eyes closed, she replayed the puppet tearing off a head with nothing but his bare hands.