Myths & Magic: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection

by Kerry Adrienne

  “You’re going with stony silence?” Jasper asked. “Very Alpha. But we’re headed due south, so it’s obvious you’re going to face Ash. Are you really planning on fighting him alone?”

  “I would only be alone if you stopped pestering me,” Jet growled as he leapt over a mossy log. “I doubt I’ll be so lucky.”

  “You think you’ll face just the Ember pack’s Alpha?” Snarling, Jasper blocked his path.

  Jet tried to remember the last time he’d heard his brother snarl.

  “You think Ash’s brother wouldn’t defend him? Blaze is a formidable foe. And they’d have their entire pack to back them. What if they tear you to shreds?”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Shoving his shoulder into his brother’s chest, Jet forced him aside.

  “So that’s your big plan?” Jasper shouted after him. “You’re going to fight the Ember pack alone? You want to leave Oak Canyon without its Alpha?”

  His brother’s words grated. Jasper wasn’t Alpha. Who was Jasper to tell him what to do?

  “Fine,” Jasper called. “Ignore my counsel. That worked out so well with Locke.”

  Jet stopped, turned. He saw Jasper’s face whiten, but nothing could quell the rage building inside him.

  “You dare speak his name?” Jet clenched his jaw. “The name of that mangy beast that stole our sister, that ruined my alliance?”

  Jasper held up his hands. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You’re Alpha, and you make the decisions. I won’t question you again.” Backing away, he veered east.

  “Don’t walk away from me!” Jet shuddered, trying not to let rage overcome him. Fur rippled over his arms, but he forced it back. He needed to stay coherent. There were things he needed to say, and Jasper would damn well hear them.

  “I’ll leave you alone,” Jasper said, still retreating. “It’s for the best.”

  Jet bared his teeth. He was tired of being questioned at every turn. “Let’s see how you like being followed, brother.”

  Jasper shifted, turning into a gray wolf, his head low and his tail tucked as he slunk away. Jet strode after him, determined to stay on two legs. How dare his brother throw Locke in his face? The shifter had entered Oak Canyon territory a few days after another audacious encroachment from the Wind Runner pack. Jet had taken him for a Wind Runner at first, but the wolf bore wounds that proved he was no friend of that pack.

  Normally, Jet’s first instinct would have been to send a rival male on his way—and though Locke’s wolf wasn’t quite as large as Jet’s, it was still large enough to pose a threat. But it was also large enough to be an asset to the pack’s defenses.

  He’s too much of an Alpha, Jasper had warned. He’ll never fit in here. Besides, how do you think he got those injuries? Did he challenge the Wind Runner Alphas?

  Jet had scoffed at him. He still wanted to scoff at Jasper’s retreating tail. “Turn and shift,” he said. “Face me as a man.”

  But Jasper continued silently, slowly leading Jet east.

  Glaring at his brother, Jet ground his teeth. He had thought having another fighter in Locke would make Ash think twice before turning down a chance at an alliance. Instead, his brilliant new fighter had run off with his sister. A growl bubbled in his throat as he thought of the indignity afresh. Locke hadn’t even faced Jet, fought for the right of his sister like an Alpha. He and Juniper had simply fled.

  “Juniper,” he growled, his jaw stiff. He would deal with her soon enough. She would pay for turning his plans to dust.

  “It’s not her fault, you know.” Ahead of him, Jasper had shifted. “She’s only ever wanted to please our father, and then you. You might have noticed if you ever looked past the end of your nose.”

  Jet laughed derisively. “When has our sister ever cared what I thought?”

  His brother’s face was stony. “She’s only ever cared about the good of the pack. She’s cooked our meals, cared for our sick, patrolled our borders, brought down more deer than anyone—but you asked too much of her, dear brother.”

  Jet’s lip curled. “I asked her to act for the good of the pack.”

  “You asked her to bind herself to someone who wasn’t her mate.”

  Jet laughed. “You don’t believe that, do you? Fated mates, destiny? What a load of—”

  “Juniper believes in it.”

  “I didn’t know our sister was so simple.”

  Jasper stopped short, glaring. “Don’t insult our sister,” he snapped.

  Strolling up to him, Jet tried to hide how pleased he was. Jasper always pretended that he was so calm, so collected. But he could get as angry as anyone could, and Jet loved being able to prove it.

  Taking a breath, Jasper seemed to compose himself. “She found her fated mate, Jet. Your plan was never going to work.”

  Fury boiled through him. “You knew she was going to run off with Locke, didn’t you? She told you her little secret, and you thought you’d keep it from me.”

  “I can’t help if our sister confides in me. Maybe if you’d actually listen to her for a change—”

  “Listen to what? Her plans to betray our pack?” Rage pulsed through his veins. Black fur rippled over his arms again. His wolf was clawing its way to the surface, and Jet wouldn’t be able to hold it back much longer. He felt his canines lengthen as he bared his teeth at his brother. “What other secrets have you been keeping from me?”

  Jasper stepped away warily, not daring to turn his back. Good. He shouldn’t.

  “You were so suspicious of Locke’s intentions,” Jet said. “You thought he would want my place as Alpha, but you were wrong, weren’t you?”

  “I was wrong.” Jasper lowered his head. “I’m sorry, Jet. I don’t like that Juniper’s gone either.”

  “Don’t try to distract me,” Jet snarled. “I see your game.”

  “What game?” His brother put on a good show of pretending to be bewildered.

  “You want to be Alpha, don’t you? You didn’t want Locke to steal my place before you could.”

  A growl tore from Jasper’s throat. “Think hard before accusing me of betrayal, Jet. I’m your brother, and the wolf at your right paw. I know you’re furious about your dead alliance, about Locke and Juniper, but don’t turn your anger on the ones most loyal to you.”

  “Like you?” Jet laughed. “You would have had me believe that Juniper was loyal. If you’re as loyal as her, that’s worth as much as dirt.”

  Jasper straightened, ready to fight. “I would die before betraying our pack.”

  “You should die before betraying me!”

  “Stop this!” Jasper’s teeth turned into fangs.

  He was losing control. Good.

  “We need to salvage what we can from this,” Jasper said, voice tight, “not waste time squabbling. Let’s get back to the den.”

  His brother planned to betray him, like they had all betrayed him. Ash, Locke, Juniper. What was one more? He should have seen it sooner. Jasper wanted to drop the final blow, be Alpha himself.

  Jet lunged, shifting in midair. For a split second, Jasper looked like he didn’t believe what he was seeing. Then he shifted too, leaping out of the way of Jet’s teeth.

  Rolling to his feet, Jasper fled. The white tip of his tail flashed through the trees, goading Jet to follow. He was going to snatch that tail in his teeth and tear it off. Let Jasper try to be Alpha when he was a tailless laughingstock.

  His paws beat against the earth. He would not let Jasper out of his sight. His brother veered right, and Jet’s claws dug into the dirt as he switched directions to follow the traitor. Jasper was fast, and nimbler than Jet would have liked. He needed to catch his brother soon. Jasper wanted to tire him out—he knew Jet was stronger in battle.

  Jet was done playing games.

  His brother leapt over logs, wove through pines. Jet got close enough to swipe at his back paw, but Jasper recovered without stumbling. Snarling, Jet pushed himself onward. He needed to protect his pack at all costs,
even if it was from the brother he thought he loved.

  Jasper veered again, heading for a clearing. Jet needed to end this. He had to do it while his vision was still clouded with redness, his blood still boiling. If he calmed, he didn’t know if he’d have the strength to do what must be done.

  Ahead of him, Jasper slowed. Jet set his jaw. His brother was finished.

  In the clearing, Jasper stopped short, then shifted. It was enough to make Jet pause. Why would his brother shift into his vulnerable human form, with his back to him? Was he surrendering?

  Jasper knelt down as Jet reached him. Jet blinked, confused. Was this some sort of trick?

  Then he saw what his brother had, and all his rage evaporated.

  A woman lay on the leafy ground, dressed in nothing but a traveling cloak. It had fallen open, revealing smooth, pale skin. The soft curves of her breasts and hips lay exposed to the mountain air, and Jet had to tear his eyes away from them.

  He pulled back his lips, scenting blood. Was she hurt? Jet shook his head. Why did it matter? She was a stranger, and a trespasser.

  Sniffing the air, he circled her. The coppery scent was strongest near her feet. Leaning closer, he inspected them. Her soles were caked with blood, strips of flesh missing. She had run herself ragged. But why?

  Jasper was looking down at her, the strangest expression on his face. For some reason, Jet didn’t like it that much.

  The woman didn’t stir. He couldn’t even hear if she was breathing. Carefully, he touched his nose to one of her cupped hands.

  She gasped, gazing at them. Her eyes met Jet’s, and she lurched backwards.

  “Shift, Jet,” Jasper said. “She’s terrified.”

  He didn’t see what was so terrifying about one measly wolf, but he shifted. The sight of his human form didn’t seem to bring her any relief. She looked from one of them to the other, pulling her cloak around her.

  “We’re sorry,” Jasper said in a low voice. “We didn’t mean to scare you. We won’t hurt you.”

  Jet scoffed. They couldn’t guarantee that. Jasper glared at him.

  The woman glanced around, looking fearful.

  Jasper opened his mouth, most likely to reassure her, but Jet cut him off.

  “You’re in Oak Canyon territory. Why have you come here?”

  She stared at him, but didn’t speak.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Jasper stood to face him. “She’s hurt, maybe lost. Can you drop the tough Alpha act for a minute?”

  “Act?” Jet snarled. “Who was on sentry duty last night?”

  “Sentry duty? Who cares? Jet, she’s hurt.”

  “She’s trespassing. Why did no one catch this?”

  “She’s alone and hurt. She’s not a threat, Alpha.”

  Jet’s hackles raised at the mocking tone. What did Jasper know about threats to their pack? That was why he wasn’t Alpha.

  The woman was watching them, her hazel eyes moving from Jasper to Jet.

  Jasper moved closer to her. Jet was perversely pleased that she began to back away. His brother wasn’t as charming as he thought.

  “What’s your name?” he asked. “Mine’s Jasper.”

  She stared at him for a long moment, putting her hand on her forehead. “I… don’t remember.”

  Her voice was like music.

  “You don’t remember your name?” Jet asked.

  Drawing her knees to her chest, she put her hands on her head. “Not anymore.” The woman rocked back, biting her lip so hard Jet feared it might bleed.

  “Maybe we can help you remember,” Jasper said. “What letter did it start with?”

  She closed her eyes, breathing hard. “S. S…”

  “Sarah?” Jet guessed.

  “Sasha?” Jasper suggested. “Saffron? Sophie?”

  Clapping her hands to her ears, she screamed.

  “All right, all right,” Jet said. “No more guessing.”

  Slowly, she lowered her hands. The look she gave him was slightly accusing, which he found unfair—Jasper was the one making all the suggestions.

  “She’s hurt,” Jasper murmured. “We need to get her back to the den.”

  “Why?” Jet blurted out.

  Jasper looked furious, but Jet stood by his words. This woman might be pretty, but she was a stranger to them. He had a pack to look after.

  “Are you serious?” his brother asked in a low voice.

  “We can’t take in every lost lamb and expect to make it through the winter.”

  “We have plenty of stores, Jet. What are you so afraid of?”

  Jet crouched, meeting those hazel eyes. Part of him was pleased that she didn’t flinch away from him.

  “What are you running from?” he asked.

  Her eyes went oddly blank. “Can’t…”

  “Let me guess, she can’t remember that, either.” Jet got to his feet. “How surprising.”

  “Can you stop being an asshole for five seconds?” Jasper hissed.

  Across from them, the woman stumbled to her feet. Her face went white, and she swayed slightly.

  Jasper bounded to her side. “Can you walk?” he asked.

  She shied away from him. Hurt flitted over his face, but he took a step back.

  The woman looked at both of them again, as if checking that they were keeping their distance. Carefully, she placed one foot in front of the other.

  There was a sharp intake of breath, and the scent of blood filled the clearing. She lifted her foot to reveal a bloody footprint.

  “Jet, she’s bleeding. We need to take her back to the den.”

  “To your home?” The woman collapsed.

  They both rushed to her side. Jet scowled at his feet, which seemed to have moved of their own accord.

  She sat up, pushing away from both of them, slithering back on dry leaves. “I can’t go to your home. He will follow.”

  “Who will follow?” Jasper asked.

  The woman frowned, then buried her face in her hands. “I don’t know! But he’s dangerous. Too dangerous.”

  “Right,” Jet said, “we’re taking you back to our den.”

  Jasper whipped around. “What?”

  “She’s in trouble. We have to help her.”

  “What about all that talk about protecting the den?”

  “You don’t believe I can do that?” Jet drew himself up regally. “What kind of Alpha do you think I am?”

  Jasper narrowed his eyes, but didn’t respond.

  “I don’t think you should walk,” Jet said to the woman, “but I can carry you.”

  She looked up at him, a glint of fire in her hazel eyes.

  “You aren’t scared of me, are you?”

  She shook her head. “You’re not like him.”

  Jet and Jasper exchanged a look as she rose to her unsteady feet, but neither of them pressed her on that statement.

  Her pulse jumped visibly in her neck as she limped toward Jet. Her jaw was set, and she seemed determined not to appear afraid. All that betrayed her fear was her slightly shaking hands.

  “You’ll be safe with us,” Jet said.

  She seemed deeply skeptical.

  Slowly, as if she was a fawn that he might startle, Jet reached out to her. When she didn’t flinch or flee, he put one hand behind her back, one behind her knees, and scooped her up.

  She closed her eyes, shuddering, but didn’t fight him. She was so light, despite the heavy traveling cloak. How did she manage to seem so vulnerable and so defiant at the same time?

  Jasper cleared his throat. “We should get to the den.”

  “Right.” Jet strode forward, wondering what was happening to him. Just because his right hand brushed the creamy skin of her thigh and her hair smelled slightly like vanilla, why did that distract him so? For once, he had no room in his head for alliances, plans, or strategies. This woman was dangerous.

  Jasper cleared his throat again. “The den is this way, Alpha.”

  “Of course.” Jet looked down
at his burden, but she seemed to have fallen asleep.

  He made his way toward the canyon, stumbling occasionally. His footing would have been surer if he hadn’t kept looking down. He didn’t like the dark circles under the woman’s eyes, but they couldn’t hide her radiant beauty. Her long, dark eyelashes twitched every few seconds. She might be getting sleep, but it wasn’t restful.

  “I’m sorry,” Jet said as they stepped through the pines.

  Jasper quickly took his eyes off the woman. “What for?”

  “For accusing you of wanting to betray me. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “You know I’d never do anything to hurt the pack. But neither would Juniper. I hope you can apologize to her too, someday.”

  His brother was infuriating as ever.

  Through the trees, the canyon came into view. The woman sat up in his arms with a start. She stared at him, eyes huge, and for a moment Jet was afraid she wouldn’t remember him.

  “Are we here?” she asked.

  “Almost.” Jet’s heart was pounding abnormally hard. “We’re about to enter the canyon. It isn’t easy for outsiders to find.”

  This news didn’t make her relax. She began looking over his shoulder every few seconds, as if expecting someone to pop out from behind a tree.

  Jet hoped she would stop once they entered the canyon. He always felt safer, surrounded by the rock walls.

  She didn’t.

  “Are you looking for someone?” Jasper asked.

  “He could be here already,” she said feverishly. “He’s very powerful.”

  “Who’s very powerful?”

  Her only answer was to look back once more.

  Jet had never been happier to see the towering oak that guarded their den. Maybe being out of the elements would help the woman feel more secure. Jet bit back a sigh. He wished he knew her name.

  On the canyon’s rim, Clay let out a yip. It echoed down the rock walls, and Jet felt the woman freeze in his arms. He scowled up at Clay, though he knew the sentry was only doing his duty.

  The end of the canyon and the oak were in sight. Shifters poured from the den, responding to the signal of a visitor and curious to see who it was. Jet’s scowl deepened. The woman needed rest and healing, not a load of gawkers.

  “I’ll make sure they give her space,” Jasper murmured. “Don’t worry.”