by Reese Morgan
Times like these were especially skilled at destroying the light.
“I had hoped you’d be here.” Shane released her hand and placed both fists into his pockets. “When I didn’t see you at first, I was devastated. Rylee reassured me you were only on a mission, though. To get back your father. I see you succeeded.”
Hayden shrugged, mimicking Shane’s posture and stuffing her hands into her coat. “We succeeded in some areas. Failed in others.” She glanced at Julian. “This is Julian Crow, by the way. Julian, this is Shane Donovan.”
Both males lifted their brows at the other, recognizing the surnames.
With only a simple, guarded nod to one another, they looked back at Hayden.
She sighed. “I’d thought the Hunters were out for our blood.”
Shane chewed the inside of his cheek. He looked over his shoulder at the humans huddled around their fires. “Some are. The majority are against all Lycans, actually, but there are others who are gradually realizing that the threat is with Celeste and her pack of wolves.”
“And you’re one of those?” Julian questioned with a doubtful glint in his eyes. “You just happened to know our location and decided to drop in to live amongst us?”
Hayden held her tongue. Though she should have admonished Julian for his tone, a part of her wanted to know the same thing.
Their past dealings with trusting—no—tolerating Hunters proved fatal. Hayden did not trust them, not even a little bit. She once trusted Shane unconditionally, but the war had tarnished him into someone she could no longer recognize.
“My cousin succeeded in contacting us,” Shane defended. “According to Rylee, all of you wanted our help.”
“More like we wanted all of you to understand the difference between aiming your rifles at us versus Celeste and her men,” Julian countered fiercely. “We said nothing about needing your help and living here with us.”
Shane turned to Hayden. “While you were gone, our men talked it over with Eric and the other werewolves here. Eric made it sound as if you are in desperate need of assistance. That’s something we can provide and are willing to provide.”
Hayden scrutinized him closely. “For what price?”
His gaze softened at her hard tone. “My uncle—Rylee’s dad…”
“Zane?” Hayden asked. “Rylee told me he was the leader of the Hunters.”
“Yes,” Shane agreed warily. “Right now he has a very different opinion regarding werewolves. The majority of the other Hunters don’t agree with him. That makes him an enemy in their eyes. Rylee has failed to contact her dad simply because he is being held by the other Hunters.”
“As a prisoner?”
“Something like that.” Shane looked at Julian’s hardened expression. “We are to negotiate terms, but it sounds as if Eric would accept our proposal. Your help for ours.”
“Eric does not hold the deciding factor of all the werewolves,” Julian informed rigidly.
“Well,” Shane started with casual nonchalance. “While your group has been absent looking for Logan Crow, it appears as if all the werewolves here have finally chosen the werewolf that will lead all the packs. A predominant Alpha that makes the final decisions.”
Hayden frowned.
Asher told her this would most likely happen. The traditional werewolves would decide on one, principle North American Alpha. All the subsequent Alphas would report to him, perhaps even serve as counselors.
She’d been against it at first, but after seeing the disarray and the lack of progress with Celeste, Hayden could see the benefits of having one leader.
“It’s Eric, isn’t it?” Hayden guessed.
“Someone much older and more experienced.” Shane looked over his shoulder. “It was actually surprising that all the werewolves agreed on the choice, even when he wasn’t here to submit his name for consideration.”
Next to her, Julian grimaced. “Not Logan… Not Nicolas…”
“Logan has been out of commission too long and Nicolas is too young. Besides, the werewolves don’t trust Slayter.” Here, Shane looked at Hayden closely. “At all.”
She smiled twistedly. “Most the time, it seems as if the traditional werewolves misplace both their trust and mistrust in the wrong sort of people.”
“We both want something from the other, Hayden,” Shane explained softly with a prominent frown. “When there is collateral like that, it’s hard not to form an alliance, even if it is on unsteady foundations.”
Hayden, still bristling at the belittlement of Nicolas, only inclined her head.
She could agree to that assertion.
“Kieran,” Julian assumed stiffly, bringing the conversation back around to their original topic. “I can’t argue with Kieran as our leader. He’s a good pick, though a bit too conservative for my tastes.”
Shane finally looked away from Hayden. “From what I’ve heard, both Hunters and werewolves respect him. He is well-known for being both stern and considerate.”
“Funny,” she started. “That’s what they used to say about Logan Crow and Xavier Slayter. Both men turned out to be crooked with their morals and they all but started this war.”
Moreover, Kieran and her father were friends, or at least on friendly terms.
A hand descended on her shoulder, causing Hayden to stiffen in surprise.
“He’s a good man, Hayden.”
As if agreeing with her concerns, but trying to erase them, her brother nodded sharply. He was as untrusting as she was, especially considering half his pack betrayed him. For this particular issue, however, he seemed confident in Kieran.
“Nicolas is just as good a man.” She looked out at the reservation, gazing at the werewolves. “How can everyone else get second chances while he gets damned for life?”
“No one is damning him,” Julian rebuffed. “I already told you I trusted him.” He removed his hand and shrugged. “But I don’t think Nicolas would appreciate being the prevailing Alpha and you know this.”
She did not argue.
She knew that just as well, though it was growing tiresome listening to others express their skepticism regarding Nicolas’ loyalty.
Hayden turned her attention back to Shane and offered a thin smile.
“It’s good to see you again, Shane. I look forward to working with you.”
The Hunter nodded fervently. “Likewise, Hayden.” His eyes unfocused sadly as if he were absent in a distant, lost memory. “I hope we can catch up sometime.”
She simply continued smiling as she nodded.
As she walked away, her smile dropped and her cheeks grew sore at the unfamiliar gesture held for so long. With her brother at her side, they entered the trees in search for their pack, relieved to be back among numbers.
* * * *
“It’s about time, Hayden.”
Hayden, now entirely full and rested, sat amongst her pack. They’d been apart for only a few days, but it felt longer. There were changes to the reservation too as if conflicts had resolved during her absence.
The other werewolves seemed calmer now, more confident.
Now that Logan was back in their midst, and the situation with the Hunters seemed less dire, many of the werewolves were in high spirits. The volume was loud around the reservation as werewolves lit fires and celebrated amongst each other.
It was as if they’d won the battle against Celeste.
Hayden personally did not like the new shift of attitude.
“About time for what?” she asked Devan.
The other female raised her eyebrows and looked at Nathan. The bulkier twin ignored her pointedly and looked into the flames. An unhappy grimace twisted his features.
“About time you and Nicolas officially mated, of course.”
Hayden’s face turned red.
“It’s not your place,” she mumbled.
Devan laughed bitterly, earning reproachful looks from the three males around her. They appeared just as reluctant to discuss the curren
t topic as Hayden did. Blake, especially, pinched his lips together, causing them to turn white.
“Werewolves who’ve been around awhile can discern the scent of a mated female.” Devan shrugged. “It’s not as if you’re a beacon, Hayden, but it’s noticeable. No matter how much you bathe, his scent becomes yours.”
Devan looked around at the quiet, forlorn pack and scoffed with frustration.
Hayden shifted, feeling uncomfortable with not only her apparent scent but also because Cole’s presence was in the air tonight.
They all felt him, they were all thinking about him.
“Look, you and Cole are lifemates, I get it,” she continued quietly, addressing the issue which hovered between the pack. “We all had our silly illusions that you and he would get together and lead the pack as a mated pair. But sometimes reality just doesn’t work out the way we want it to.”
Her voice was harsh, bitter, her smile broken.
Hayden stared at her from over the fire, feeling her embarrassment falter in light of Devan’s cynicism. She recalled Falco’s admission of what happened with Devan and Joseph.
Looking into Devan’s eyes, Hayden knew the other female experienced hell.
“Maybe… maybe someday you and Cole may actually commit to that future, but that doesn’t mean you have to put your life on hold.” Devan looked pointedly at Nathan. “We need to focus on the now. Not the past, not the present. Cole may never come back to us. Hayden has every right to move on and do what feels right. We should not reproach her.”
Something passed between Nathan and Devan, the former turning away stubbornly.
Hayden sat in silence, contemplating Devan’s words.
The other woman was right. No one knew what the future held. Hayden or Nicolas could die in battle and they would have missed the opportunity of exploring their attraction.
Hayden knew she would have regretted not giving Nicolas a chance.
Her shoulders suddenly felt lighter.
“We’re not reproaching Hayden at all,” Blake defended. “We’re just a little biased.” He looked at Hayden apologetically. “Nicolas is good for you. I’m happy if you are.”
His words were very similar to what Asher said before his death.
Hayden ran her hands over her knees, giving herself a distraction. She was fortunate that her pack was understanding and supportive. Though they loved Cole and supported him fiercely, they also felt the same for her.
A hand settled on top of hers, halting her anxiousness.
“I can sense that you’re happy,” Fergus declared, giving her a bright, yellow-toothed smile. “And I can also sense Nicolas would do anything to protect you. As far as I’m concerned, that’s all that matters.”
She smiled a true smile, but it fell a moment later when she saw a bruise near Fergus’ collarbone. Standing up, she pulled at his shirt, revealing an ugly blue-black bruise.
Fear struck her cold.
“What is this?”
Fergus clammed up and pulled away from her. “I—I was learning how to fight.”
Somehow, that prospect unnerved her more than the bruise.
“No.”
The lanky twin blinked owlishly at her. “Why?” He licked his chapped lips and glanced hesitatingly at Blake. “Blake is teaching us how to defend ourselves. All of us.”
Whirling around, she stared at Blake with incredulity.
The beta simply raised his eyebrows, unconcerned. “Where is the problem, Hayden?”
They all gazed at her apprehensively. Near her feet, the firewood cracked loudly, the only source of noise amongst the pack. Hayden looked at each member, unable to find the words to explain why her whole person protested at the very idea of Fergus fighting.
Turning back to the pack Omega, Hayden stared into his forlorn features.
Her mouth trembled and she curled her fingers around his coat lapels. “I…” she took a deep breath, trying to control the fear and the crushing despondency. “I don’t want you to change,” she confessed in a small voice.
Fergus’ face crumbled.
“Everything has changed because of Celeste,” Hayden continued desperately. “There isn’t much innocence left in my world. I can’t lose you, Fergus.”
The blond-haired twin stood and hugged her tightly. She readily wrapped her arms around her Omega, burying her face into his chest.
Blake’s mischievousness was gone, Addie’s light was gone, Shane’s innocence, Asher’s playfulness, and Cole’s gentle guidance were gone. All of them. Gone. Even darkness drowned Hayden in shadow. She was unable to grasp that virtue that once cloaked her.
She didn’t want the same for Fergus.
“I’m not going to change,” Fergus declared fiercely, embracing her tight. “If it makes you feel better, Blake already declared me a worthless cause.”
“I said you were unteachable, Fergus,” Blake argued, his tone light and amused. “You’d rather inspect and identify the different birds in the sky than focus on your training.”
“Or thinking up ways to improve my bean recipe,” Devan retorted.
Hayden smiled through her despair.
“We can’t depend on others to save us,” Nathan reasoned. “Even though Blake is just teaching us the basics, at least we won’t be entirely powerless if we find ourselves in a situation that requires self-defense.”
“I know,” Hayden responded quietly, knowing it to be true.
Over Fergus’ shoulder, she looked at the eldest twin. Nathan nodded readily. Hayden knew the other man shared her fears and he would try his hardest to protect Fergus from the tragedies of war.
While he’d already experienced far more than he had to, Hayden knew there was much more to take from Fergus.
The Omega was their light.
As she looked over Nathan’s head, she noticed a dark shape moving stealthily amongst the shadows and approaching the cabin that currently housed many of the Alphas.
Nicolas.
Hayden pulled away from Fergus, mumbling something about returning shortly.
She jogged after Nicolas, watching as he hesitated before entering the fire-lit cabin. The cabins were very small and constructed simply. They had no insulation and no separate rooms besides an area to sleep in front of a wood-burning stove.
Fortunately, the cabins did have a single window.
“Slayter,” a man greeted. “Nice of you to finally join us.”
Hayden crouched low, peeking briefly into the glass window.
Inside, Kieran stood with Logan, Eric, Falco, and Adolf. Another man sat in a chair next to a rickety table. His out-of-shape physique and pale, chest-length beard instantly identified him as none other than Troy Arnold.
Her breath caught.
Her fingers curled.
Troy Arnold.
Hayden had spent nights awake thinking about him. Needing him. And there he was. Sitting uncomfortably against the wall as he watched the Alphas interact. A map sat next to him on the table, clearly the source of interest for the males.
She wanted to leap inside and drill Troy with questions and requests.
“We’re relocating.”
Kieran’s statement immediately dampened Hayden’s recklessness. She hunkered lower, watching as Nicolas glanced away from Troy and towards Kieran.
“Convenient timing,” Nicolas drawled. “Was this your decision as Alpha or Logan’s friendly counsel?”
Hayden observed the Alpha males, wondering how they could all fit inside the small room with their large egos and their smothering testosterone. Troy appeared unpleasantly surly as he slumped in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest.
Surely, he wanted to be anywhere but inside that cabin.
Falco, Eric, and Adolf stood next to him, just as nonchalant and distant.
The only males who appeared confrontational were Kieran, Logan, and Nicolas. Despite the tension, the latter appeared rather aloof as he stood steadily next to the table, looking between the two blond-haired m
en.
“My decision,” Kieran replied firmly. “The Hunters have negotiated a deal. We would be fools if we passed up the offer. They have a location. Here.” He pointed to a place on the map. “It is a gated community that offers food, ammunition, water, and modern amenities.”
Nicolas smiled thinly. “Because running water is an essential during the war.”
Hayden stared at him, admiring his authoritative body language and his refined features of icy allure. She hadn’t seen this side of Nicolas in a long while.
He was dangerous.
Poised with natural threat.
The way the other males watched him carefully only reinforced that conviction.
“Zane Donovan is being held captive by enemy Hunters,” Kieran continued, bypassing Nicolas’ scorn. “They want to shut him up and prevent him from allying with the traditional wolves. We will agree to rescue him in return for a refuge and the Hunters’ support during the war.”
Kieran watched Nicolas steadily before leaning down and pointing at the map again.
“It’s time to take this on the offense against Celeste. Running water is not the only advantage to this location, Nicolas, but it is also central to many of her hideouts. You’ve given me the location of some of her labs. I think it’s time to destroy them.”
Nicolas’ blue eyes glittered excitingly. “Now we’re talking.”
Kieran smiled. “With your locations and Logan’s locations, we have her at a disadvantage. She relies on these labs to procreate more soldiers. More venom. She’s controlling her two Carriers through drugs, creating a dependency. If she’s contained, and if her Carriers don’t receive their drug, they will most likely die or become vulnerable.”
“In turn, the puppets will lose the voice behind their orders,” Falco concluded.
“Doubtful,” Nicolas informed stiffly. “Hayden and I killed Tracer. The puppets under his control continued functioning as if he still lived.”
Silence stretched.
“How is it that the venom works so well?” Eric asked, turning to Troy. “Is there any way we can reverse the effects? Give these men a second chance once we destroy Celeste?”
Hayden perked up, needing to know.
“Unlikely.”
It was not Troy who responded, but her father.