by Reese Morgan
“Cole,” Hayden repeated fiercely, feeling something alien crawl its way up her throat. “Celeste took him.” Hot tears started to gather in her eyes and her saliva turned thick. “She turned him into her mindless puppet.”
Something unreadable crossed Logan’s features and Hayden hastily recovered.
She hadn’t planned to tell her father about Cole until later, much later, but a part of her remained that child who always ran to her father for help.
He could do anything.
“I know that you, Xavier, and Troy all conducted experiments together.” She clenched her jaw and straightened her shoulders. “The only way I will ever forgive you is if you bring him back to us, the way he was before Celeste tainted him.”
Logan pursed his lips. “I can’t promise you anything.”
“No,” Hayden agreed. “You were never good at keeping promises.”
Her father took a few steps closer to her, though he did not touch. His hands twitched at his sides. “I need more time and details, Hayden. When I get a better grasp of what’s happening, I promise you that I will do my best to make that happen for you.”
“And you’ll treat Nicolas fairly?” she demanded sharply.
Logan faltered and a very dark emotion crossed his face. “He killed my good friend.”
“He’s also my mate.”
If anything, Logan’s expression turned crueler. “All the more reason to despise him. You are so young, so much younger than he is. It’s as if he’s taken advantage of you.”
Hayden ignored that last bit, simply because it was insulting.
She refused to let him intimidate her, but it was becoming increasingly challenging to look him in the eye. “It was because of Celeste that Nicolas sacrificed his mother. Xavier’s actions put him into that situation; put them all into that situation.”
The door opened to the bedroom and Nicolas entered smoothly. His gaze automatically centered on Logan, his eyes somehow radiating in the dim room.
Hayden watched the two males, immediately feeling the tension and the oppressive dislike. Nicolas was confident as he stopped opposite of Logan, their chests parallel and their attention honed and ready.
“I told you to give her time,” Nicolas remarked, his voice dangerously quiet.
“She’s my daughter. I don’t need your permission to see her.”
The aggressiveness in the air was nearly palpable.
Not one to back down in front of Alpha males, Hayden stepped next to Nicolas and touched the small of his back. He stiffened under her touch, but he didn’t make any outward indication that he didn’t appreciate her confidence.
“It’s alright,” she said to both of them. “It was better we got this out of the way.” She looked at Logan, noticing he and Nicolas continued eyeing the other.
Logan suddenly snapped his attention onto Hayden.
“I will promise to deliver Cole back to you and your pack.” His expression tried to soften as he looked at her, yet there was still a hard edge to his mouth. “I will not be able to honor your other request, however.”
Without another word, Logan left the room, leaving the door wide open.
Hayden dropped her hand from Nicolas’ back, staring after her father. She wasn’t going to state the obvious, that things hadn’t gone particularly well, especially when Nicolas was already watching Logan’s back.
It would probably take Logan time to adjust to Nicolas and the news of Xavier’s death. It would take Hayden time to adjust to her father after everything that he’s done. Somehow, despite his apologies and his regret, she was unsatisfied with the justifications.
They still had a lot to discuss.
“I asked him to respect the distance you wanted to keep.” Gradually, Nicolas turned back around to Hayden. “How long was he in here?”
She shifted under his intense scrutiny.
“Not long,” she responded vaguely.
His eyes narrowed at the ambiguous answer. “As soon as I left the premises, he clearly jumped the chance to seek you out.”
With her father no longer in the room, Hayden was suddenly very aware of being alone with Nicolas. Though she was never one to find his presence threatening, she couldn’t help but feel something tremble inside her at his nearness.
And it certainly wasn’t out of fear.
He watched her with a certain stillness. A nearly obscure curl of his lip was the only indication of his predatory enjoyment. He took a step closer. And then another. Because she only came up to his shoulder, she had to strain her neck back in order to meet his eyes.
“Always so stubborn,” he observed quietly.
After a lengthy moment of inactivity, in which they closely observed the other, Nicolas’ hand shot out so quickly, Hayden had trouble tracking it. His hand cupped and grabbed her jaw, firmly taking it captive.
He leaned down, angling her face just appropriately.
His lips did not touch hers, but they hovered over them mischievously.
Upon his dominating hold, Hayden countered by curling a hand around his outstretched forearm. He brought something alive in her, or more appropriately, he encouraged her canine half to come to the surface and extract her own dominance.
It excited her.
She wanted to clash with him, spar with him.
“We weren’t finished.”
Her eyes widened a fraction and her chest constricted upon his seductive admission, but she had to agree. The tension between them remained painfully tantalizing.
With her entire person at the mercy of his hold, Hayden could only grind her teeth as Nicolas inched even closer, but never touching. Her fingernails embedded into his arm.
“I will claim you… thoroughly…”
“Slayter. Hayden.”
Nicolas’ expression turned displeased upon the second interruption that night, but he did not turn around to greet their visitor. She was vaguely aware of Kieran clearing his throat at the open doorway.
“We’re leaving shortly,” Kieran announced before walking away.
Hayden smirked up at Nicolas. “Looks as if you have to postpone that promise.”
He released her leisurely, denying her a kiss. “It is a fortunate delay. I will pick a time where I can savor you appropriately.”
Vexed he hadn’t even given her a kiss, Hayden couldn’t help but admire the way he moved across the master suite towards their belongings.
“We’re leaving?”
“There was trouble near the border,” he replied, picking up her sword and coat.
Her attention focused. “Is that where you went earlier? Is everything alright?”
She accepted both her holsters and began to fasten her knives around her chest. Once she secured the leather strap, she shrugged on her coat and grabbed her sword.
Despite their dire circumstances, Hayden had disappeared these past few hours with Nicolas. Past decisions hadn’t weighed her down and deaths hadn’t torn gaping holes in her conscience.
For a while, things were just… normal.
Sensational.
“Nothing we couldn’t handle, but we’re moving before drawing any further attention. It’s best to be far from the property when Celeste arrives with more men.”
Hayden couldn’t argue with that.
After making certain she was ready, Nicolas led her out of the master bedroom. Hayden looked back at the luxurious room, feeling her spirit darkening with each step they took away from the peaceful escape and toward cold, bitter reality.
11. Chapter Eleven
She had no qualms about mating with Nicolas, yet uncertainties and overwhelming burdens plagued her. Not necessarily regarding her decision to be intimate with Nicolas, but other things that she’d avoided thinking about during her time with him.
Now that she was no longer inside the warm, cozy master suite, it was hard to subdue her thoughts in the harshness of winter’s wilderness.
Cole was a consistent burden.
A substantial
burden.
Her feelings towards Nicolas were true, just as they were true for Cole.
It did not come to a surprise that she felt as if she’d betrayed her lifemate, even if they hadn’t committed or finalized their relationship. They’d danced around each other far too often—far too long— to establish any sort of promise to stay exclusive for the other.
Ever since encountering Nicolas in New York, her wolf remained attracted to him on the subconscious level. He was, after all, the more dominant brother.
Cole once said it was normal, that natural selection was at play.
Nonetheless, she was no longer attracted to just Nicolas’ canine half.
Over the past few months, she’d also discovered the human underneath Nicolas’ chilly Alpha guise. He had attributes that damned him ruthlessly, so much so, but his protective and genuineness towards her always overshadowed his faults.
She truly cared for him and related to him on an intimate level.
There was also something extremely vulnerable to Nicolas. Underneath his armor, she saw a flawed, dark man who guarded his own burdens with extreme possessiveness.
She regarded Nicolas’ turned back.
No, she had absolutely no regrets mating with him. Right now, her entire focus was on winning this war and getting Cole back to their pack. When that happened, Hayden could confront her feelings on both brothers.
Which left her to contemplate her father, the situation with Celeste, and the recent deaths. Moreover, who, exactly, she could trust in this war.
Many of the werewolves at the reservation could have ulterior motives. It unnerved her they relied so heavily on everyone without proper evidence to support their loyalty.
It made everything so much more difficult than it had to be.
“You’re wearing a rather brooding expression.”
Hayden glanced first at her brother, who’d looked back at the admission, before turning to look at the male beside her. Falco’s unique eyes looked down at her, his face unreadable, yet he appeared inquisitive enough to ask after her state of mind.
She never interacted privately with Falco, at least not until Asher’s death.
To say they weren’t exactly on friendly terms was an understatement.
Back in September, Falco had been the first to hear about Nicolas claiming her as his mate before her arrival to Albertville. He’d shared that information with the other Alphas, instantly causing animosity among the packs as they vouched for her exile from town.
Her dislike for Falco faded when his son, Joseph, and Devan framed him for the murders around town.
She had admired him from afar, still remembering his proud, patient features as he accepted punishment for a crime he hadn’t committed. At the time, he felt as if he’d failed his pack, and in turn, an exile from Albertville was his atonement.
“There is a lot to think about,” she replied softly.
They were so near the reservation, she could smell the cooking game and Nicolas’ distinct territory line. Rogue wolves pranced alongside them in the shadows, and some, further near the reservation, watched their approach from their perches.
They were welcoming their Alpha back.
Despite the barren and unideal living arrangements, Hayden was glad to see Nicolas’ territory again. She felt safer here as if this were home.
“There are many things to think about during war,” Falco agreed readily with her statement. “Anything specific?”
Hayden looked at her father, who remained close to Kieran. It appeared as if the two males were acquainted long before the situation with Celeste reached a pinnacle.
She didn’t know what she thought about that.
“Nothing that won’t eventually answer itself…” trailing off, she glanced at Falco from the corner of her eye. “What happened to Joseph?” she inquired suddenly. “Blake mentioned he didn’t make it.”
The dark-skinned Alpha turned and peered into the trees, a very casual way to collect himself. He didn’t speak for a long while. “Naturally, I was angry with him, devastated with his betrayal as I am sure you are devastated with Devan’s betrayal.”
Hayden caught his eyes and had to look away.
Yes, she felt that way, but it wouldn’t compare to what Falco went through. “He was your son,” she murmured. “I’m sure the betrayal was harder for you to bear.”
“Nonetheless, life is precious. We take advantage of our immortality, but during times like these, life can be short. They were foolish. Stupid. But she deserves forgiveness.” Falco smiled grimly. “Joseph found me and pleaded with me to forgive his sins. I couldn’t grant him forgiveness and I turned him away. He died days later.”
A feeling of extreme despondency churned Hayden’s stomach.
She couldn’t imagine how he felt.
“I don’t know how you could recover from their actions,” she started hesitantly. “They killed people, one a member of your pack whom you vowed to protect. Joseph was your son, I understand that, but I don’t think you should be so hard on yourself for turning him away.”
Falco remained silent, his features pinched tightly.
“I am sorry for your loss.”
“He died protecting Devan,” Falco confessed. “She was carrying his child at the time. Due to the stress, the child did not make it through the attack, neither did Joseph.”
“Celeste’s men?”
Falco’s lips thinned and he nodded. “Much like how Asher went.”
Decapitation.
Hayden found herself studying her boots as they climbed up the hill to the reservation. They hadn’t been able to bring the bodies back to the packs. She hated envisioning Asher’s corpse rotting for the benefit of scavenging animals.
He deserved better.
All the fallen werewolves deserved better.
“Rather deplorable living arrangements,” Logan observed once they reached the top of the territory. He ran a critical eye across the distant shacks and the lack of amenities.
Hayden grimaced at his back.
“Unfortunately,” she started cynically, “the Taj Mahal was booked for the month.”
He turned around and pinned her with a skeptical look. “My, aren’t we defensive?” Logan raised his eyebrows at Hayden’s deadpan expression. “I was simply pointing out the obvious. Deplorable, but a useful vantage point. You can see for miles.”
Her lashes lowered further.
“Falco.”
Her attention and all those in her group turned as Eric approached. His face was gray as he took in their abysmal numbers, and more especially, his missing son. The blond-haired Alpha stopped short, shaking his head with denial.
Hayden’s heart shattered.
Again.
Falco hurried over to Eric. With a stern, guiding hand on his shoulder, he escorted Eric away from the observers. The pair left the scene, but it did not stop the throaty sob from echoing disquietingly across the reservation.
Hayden’s features twisted and she looked away, back towards where they came.
It was hard to breathe as Eric’s moans of grief rattled through the silent and observing forest, somehow creating an air of stale, bitter hush. Her fingers twisted and curled into fists. All these deaths were piling on top of her, making her bones weary and blackening her spirit.
“Hayden?”
She froze at the familiar voice.
The voice was deeper than she’d remembered, making her doubt the man’s identity. A small sniff of the air confirmed her suspicions. A faint aroma of silver and human sweat tainted the air. Judging from the rogue werewolves restlessly shifting in the trees, Hayden knew strangers were amongst them.
Through her grief, she turned slowly, staring at the broad-shouldered teen.
“Shane?”
The man who stood in front of her was no longer the vibrant young teen she remembered from Albertville. His features were hard, full of grief and darkness. Shadows clung to his eyes, dimming their once innocent enthusiasm.<
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The human donned a heavy coat with a rifle strung over his shoulder and a gun strapped to his thigh. A toxic aroma of silver clung to him. He both smelt and looked like a Hunter, an identity she thought he’d never embrace for himself.
A brief, fleeting smile crossed his lips as he held out a hand to her.
Over his shoulder, Hayden spied a group of men all huddled around a fire, also sporting similar dress as Shane. They watched the exchange, all under the vigilant scrutiny of the surrounding werewolves.
Turning back to Shane, she realized Rylee Donovan stood just behind her cousin. A member of her pack stood protectively at her side.
Hayden stepped closer to Shane’s outstretched hand, unsure of the situation.
She was happy to see him—a familiar face— but she noticed the stiffness in his bones and the wariness. The last time she’d seen a Hunter, she drove knives into their skulls and watched as another beheaded Addie.
They were not allies, or, at least that’s what she had believed.
The werewolf next to Rylee shifted. “They can be trusted. For now,” he asserted, nodding toward Kieran and Logan. “We have much to discuss.”
Hayden watched as Kieran and her father retreated with Rylee. As she reached for Shane’s hand, she turned to look for Nicolas, not seeing him anywhere. The only one who stayed behind was her brother.
Julian shrugged at her silent inquiry.
“I didn’t even hear him leave,” he explained. “He’s a ghost.”
Shane grabbed her hand, refocusing her attention as he squeezed fiercely. He looked as if he wanted to embrace her, but he kept his distance.
She decided to do the same.
“Asher didn’t make it?” Shane asked quietly, looking after Eric.
“No.” Hayden stared down at their gloved-clasped hands. “I’m glad to see you are well, Shane.”
She hadn’t seen the human since the Hunters in Albertville destroyed their homes and forced them from town. Even back then, with his grandfather recovering from lethal wounds, Shane still possessed a flame for werewolves.
Now it seemed as if that youthfulness and simplicity were gone.
Her mouth twisted morbidly.