Wolf Bound (The White Wolf Prophecy Book 1)

by Kayleigh King

  “Me too.”

  I walk up the stairs, and I hear Pru talking to someone, but when I walk into my room, she sitting on my bed looking at her phone.

  “Were you talking to someone?” I ask, leaning against the doorframe. Her long hair looks even longer right now because of the way it’s thrown over her shoulder.

  “I was talking to Addison.” She gives me a soft smile. “I told her you guys would be leaving soon.”

  “We actually have to leave right now.” I cross the room and hold out my hand for her to take. She immediately reaches forward and takes it in hers, holding it tight as she climbs off the bed.

  “Already?” Her brows draw together as she looks up at me.

  “Yes. They’re waiting for me outside.”

  We don’t say anything else as we walk downstairs hand in hand. We’re both trying to put on brave faces, but on the inside, I know she’s falling apart just like I am. I never thought I would be the one to leave her. But here I am, about to say goodbye to the love of my life and there’s a possibility I won’t be returning to her. And that thought alone is enough to make my heart break in two.

  My parents, brothers, and a couple enforcers stand in front of the cars waiting for me. They all nod their heads at us before turning away so I can have a moment with Pruitt. She stands in front of me, head tilted up so she can look at me.

  I’ll never get tired of seeing those bright green eyes looking at me. They hold so much emotion and are so expressive, and now as I look into them, I can see the pain shining through the strong facade she’s trying to show.

  “I’m going to be okay.” I tuck a strand of blonde hair behind her ear before placing both hands on either side of her face. “I’ll come back to you in no time.”

  “I know.” Her smile wobbles slightly. She holds onto my wrists, and I feel her thumb caress the “Grey” tattoo that sits there. “Everyone is going to be okay.”

  “I love you, Pruitt.” As I say it, it doesn’t feel like the right words for how I feel for her. My love for her is all-consuming, and the thing that keeps my heart beating. My love for her is what is going to keep me alive today.

  “I love you more,” she whispers as tears run down her face.

  “I’ve loved you longer,” I feel my own eyes sting with emotion as tears begin to flow.

  After an emotional kiss goodbye, I climb into the passenger side of my truck. My eyes never leave the rearview mirror as I watch her, standing there alone in the driveway, her long hair blowing across her face in the wind.

  Even a minute later, when I can no longer see her, I keep my eyes on the mirror, hoping I’ll get one more glance at my beautiful mate.

  But I know one more glance or look would never be enough, and that’s why I have to kill Nicolai Volkov today. I have an entire lifetime of love planned for Pruitt and me, and I’m not willing to give that up.

  32

  Pruitt

  I don’t have time to fall into a sobbing mess on the driveway like I want to. Instead, I watch the taillights disappear down the road and then jump into action. This is all very time-sensitive. I have to make it to the meeting spot before Nicolai and Ryker start the duel.

  I march into the house and find Sawyer standing in the entryway waiting for me.

  “Are you okay?” he asks. I want to laugh at his question because what part of this situation would make me okay?

  “No, but it doesn’t matter,” I respond as I walk past him. “Is she here yet?”

  “I had to sneak her in through the backdoor so no one would see her and ask questions.” He follows me as I step back inside. “She’s in the kitchen now. Kody and Gage are on patrol around the house. I’ll go keep them occupied so you two can have time to talk.”

  I pause and turn around to look at Ryker’s best friend. “Thank you for helping me even when you didn’t want to.”

  Sawyer’s face softens. “You’re welcome. Ryker is going to kill me.”

  “He’ll probably think about it.” I smile at him, “But he won’t actually do it.”

  “You’ve never seen him truly angry, and when he learns I helped you, he’s going to be beyond mad.”

  “And you’re going to let him be mad, and when he finally stops being mad and needs his friend, you’ll be there for him. Just like you’ve always been.” I place my hand on his upper arm and nod at him. “It’s all going to be okay.”

  Sawyer leaves to find the other enforcers, and I go to the kitchen to meet with my guest.

  Her pitch-black eyes stare at me when I enter the room, her curly hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun today, instead of flowing down her back like I’ve seen it in the past.

  “Esme,” I address the witch who sits at the kitchen table. “Thank you for this.”

  “It wasn’t a problem, my dear.” She reaches for my hands and gathers them between her own. “I’m sorry this is what it’s come to.”

  “When Remington and I visited your shop last month, you told me I was going to have to make a painful decision, but I would know it’s the right choice to make.” I narrow my eyes at her. “You also told me two people were coming for me, one light and one dark, one good, one evil. That was obviously Ryker and Nicolai. Did you know this was going to happen? Did you know I was going to have to leave Ryker?”

  Esme sighs, and her dark eyes look down. “I have the gift of sight and sometimes, the things I see are painful and heartbreaking. But I can’t interfere with fate.”

  “You knew this was going to happen the whole time?” I pull my hands out of her grasp. “You could have done something to stop it!”

  “No, I couldn’t have. I’ve seen many different versions of your life, Grey Thorne, and every time you end up right here—sacrificing yourself for the people you love. For the man you love.” She shakes her head. “I saw this very scene the first time your parents introduced me to you. You were only three, and even as an innocent toddler, I saw the darkness that would intertwine itself into your life.”

  “What about after? What do you see after today?” I want to know what else my future holds, what kind of pain and sorrow I’m going to experience from Nicolai’s hands.

  “I don’t know.” She shakes her head. “I’ve never been able to see past today. I’ve tried on many occasions, but every time the only thing I see is you leaving today. After that, it is just white—pure white.”

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I need to calm down—I need to be strong. “Did you bring what I asked you to bring?”

  “Yes, I’ve got it right here.” She pulls a syringe out of her brightly patterned bag and hands it to me. “This has the same effects silver has on wolf shifters, but it will be much more powerful. It will make him unable to shift, and the paralytic I added will make it impossible to move.”

  “Will he still be able to breathe?” I don’t want to cut his oxygen off, I just want to make it impossible for him to attack Nicolai or chase after us. The whole reason I’m doing this is to make sure Ryker stays alive. Nicolai warned me if Ryker still ends up attacking him, he’d have his enforcers dismember him and make me watch.

  “It won’t affect his cardiovascular or respiratory systems,” she assures me.

  “Okay.” I stare down at the syringe in my hand and feel tears build up in my eyes. I clear my throat and wipe them from my face. “This is really happening.”

  “I’m afraid so.” Esme stands and gathers me in her arms. “I don’t need my gift of sight to know this isn’t the last time we’ll see each other.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “I always am.”

  33

  Ryker

  We arrive at the clearing before Nicolai and his men. I’m actually a little shocked by this. I figured they would have been here waiting for us. A couple other pack members met us here, adding to our numbers. The rules of a pack challenge are that only the two wolves fight, their pack members or allies are not allowed to fight each other before, during, or afte
r the challenge. Once one of the challengers dies, the other wolves are to kneel to the victor. It’s to show acceptance of the fight, a promise of sorts that they won’t debate the results. And even though they shouldn’t end up fighting, it’s safer that more pack members are here.

  We stand together on one side of the clearing watching the stars and moon disappear.

  “Shouldn’t they be here by now?” Ransom asks as he bounces on his toes. We’re all feeling the anxiety of the situation and are all a little twitchy. I’ve been cracking my knuckles nonstop for the last twenty minutes.

  “They should be here soon,” I tell him. We agreed on sunrise, and the light is just starting to peek over the tall pine trees.

  “Do you think Remington is okay?” Ransom questions the group.

  “She better be. Nicolai said he wouldn’t touch her,” I say. He had also said he would save all his touching for Pru, but I’m choosing not to think about what will happen if he gets his hands on her.

  “Wait, stop talking!” Mom interjects. “I hear something.”

  We all shut up and listen to our surroundings. The sound starts out low, but as it moves closer, the whirling sound gets louder. “Is that a…?” I trail off.

  “It’s a helicopter,” Dad confirms with a nod.

  A couple seconds later, a black helicopter comes into view. We have to put our hands over our faces, the strong wind making us all duck down and cover our eyes because the powerful spinning blades kick up all sorts of debris. In my head, I’ve tried to go through all the possibilities and scenarios of how today was going to play out, but not once did I factor in a helicopter.

  The sound of large SUVs approaching draws our attention from the helicopter. Three black cars speed into the clearing, and ten or so men pile out of them. Their engines stay running, and the drivers stay put. It appears they’re planning for a fast getaway, and that concerns me.

  The helicopter lands across the clearing from us. I hear the engine turn off, and the blades slow down. One of the men walks over to the side door and pulls it open.

  I have to stop myself from reacting when I see my sister. I want to run across the field and rip her out of his arms. Nicolai holds her by her upper arms and guides her forward.

  Remington has a gag in her mouth, and her hands are bound with duct tape. Her clothes are dirty, and her hair is disheveled. As they get closer to us, I see dried blood on her knuckles and on her forehead. They look like defensive marks, and I assume she got them trying to fight off Nicolai’s men when they abducted her. But as he promised, it doesn’t look like Nicolai harmed her further.

  He passes Remington off to one of the men and makes his way toward us. He stops about halfway across the clearing and doesn’t come any closer. Nicolai’s face lights up when he looks at me. His pale, almost dead looking eyes shine with excitement.

  “Good morning, Weylyn family,” he greets us, projecting his voice across the field. “And Weylyn family friends.” He smiles at our pack mates that stand behind us and gives them a quick wave. “I’m excited. Are you all excited?”

  “Shut the fuck up,” Ransom yells, and I block him with my arm when he tries to take a step forward.

  “Remington, are you okay?” Mom calls out to her daughter.

  Remi tries to jerk out of the man’s arms, but he only grips her tighter. She tries to tell us something, but the gag in her mouth prevents that.

  “Of course she’s okay. I didn’t touch a single hair on her pretty, pretty head.” Nicolai gestures at her with a wave of his hand. “Though I was very tempted to keep her. She’s so…feisty. I enjoyed her company. But I’m sure I’ll enjoy Grey’s more.”

  “You’re not getting your hands on her,” I growl at him.

  Nicolai tilts his head and gives me an odd look. “Interesting…” is all he says.

  “Enough talking, let’s get this moving along.” I stand tall and square my shoulders as I step forward. “Normal pack challenge rules. If I win, your men are not to attack us in retribution and vice versa.”

  Nicolai’s blond brows pull together, and a wicked sounding laugh follows. “I won’t be fighting you, boy.” His sharp-looking teeth come together in an amused smile.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” I demand, taking another step toward him.

  That’s when I smell it—smell her. The scent of vanilla and sunshine floats through the breeze, and panicked, I look around for her.

  “Pru!” I shout through the pack link.

  “I’m sorry,” she responds immediately.

  And that’s when I see her walk out from the line of trees. Her chin is held high, and she glares at Nicolai as she moves toward us. She’s dressed head to toe in black athletic clothes, and her long hair blows around her shoulders, like it was when I left her in the driveway.

  I lunge in her direction, but I feel hands grab onto me and pull me back. Confused I look over my shoulder and find my father and—Sawyer?—holding me in place. They have to use all their strength as they struggle to keep me from escaping their grasp.

  “What are you doing?” I roar at them, my booming cry echoing around the clearing. “Let go of me!”

  They twist my arms behind my back, and I feel one of them kick my legs out from under me. I fall painfully to my knees, but I don’t stop fighting them. I’m a strong wolf, and still, I can’t break free of their painful holds. I hear my mom questioning them, and my brothers are yelling something, but I can only focus on freeing myself.

  Then I feel her soft hand on my face, and I turn my head to find her kneeling in front of me. She gives me a small smile before I feel something stab into my neck. I look in horror as she removes the syringe and throws it off to the side.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispers over and over as she holds my face in both of her hands now. “I’m sorry.”

  “Pru…” I gasp as I feel my limbs lose all strength and feeling. It starts at my fingers and spreads to the rest of my body. “I can’t move. I can’t feel my legs or—” I suddenly lose the ability to speak too, my words dying on my tongue.

  “Shh, it’s okay. You’re going to be okay,” she soothes. She holds my head up with her hands since I’m no longer able to do it myself. My father and Sawyer continue to hold me upright so I can continue to look at her. My vision blurs a little, and I have to blink excessively to keep my focus on her.

  “What did you do?” I ask her through the pack link.

  “I couldn’t let you or Remi die,” she explains aloud so everyone can hear her. “I made a deal with Nicolai. I’m going to go with him, and you’re going to be safe.”

  “No!”

  “It’s okay, Ryker.” She leans forward and presses her forehead to mine. “I’m going to be okay. I promise.”

  “I’ll find you,” I promise her.

  “You have to stay away.” She leans back and shakes her head. “He’ll kill you and your family if you try to find me. You have to promise me, Ryker. You can’t try to find me.”

  “I can’t make that promise.”

  “You have too,” she pleads. “Promise me, Ryker. I’m begging you, you have to promise.”

  “I can’t.”

  “This is all very touching, but please wrap it up now,” Nicolai’s impatient voice interrupts, and Pruitt turns her head to look at him.

  “Fuck you,” she snaps before looking back at me. “I’ll be okay. I’m also too stubborn to die.” She grins before leaning forward and pressing her lips against mine.

  “Pru, please don’t do this!” My voice is full of desperation as I watch her stand and turn to face Nicolai. “Please don’t leave me again.”

  “I love you.”

  “Are you done now?” Nicolai raises a brow at her in question.

  “We will be once Remington is back with her family.” Pru crosses her arms in front of her.

  “Ah, very well.” Nicolai nods. He gestures at his men behind me, and they push Remington forward.

  Once free, Remington breaks
into a run, and Pru takes off, meeting her halfway. Their hug is awkward since Remi’s hands are still bound, but they hold each other as tight as they can. Pru carefully removes the gag from my sister’s mouth before leaning forward and whispering something into Remi’s ear. I can’t hear what Pru says, but Remi reluctantly nods.

  Pru walks back over with Remi and hands her off to my mom’s waiting arms. Since I can’t turn my head, with my peripheral vision, I see Remi collapse against Mom, who uses one of her claws to remove the tape around Remi’s wrists. I also see the flash of a silver cuff being thrown to the ground.

  Remi whirls around and stomps toward Nicolai. “Where is she?”

  “Who?” Nicolai asks, but I can see a sly smirk build on his mouth.

  “You know damn well who I’m talking about. Now tell me where that fucking bitch is.” Remi demands.

  “Very well.” Nicolai looks over at one of the men still by the SUVs, and he opens a backdoor to let someone out.

  I’m in complete shock when I see Avery slip out of the car and saunter toward us. There’s a pleased look on her face I’ve only ever seen after she’s torn out a rogue’s throat.

  “Avery?” Sawyer shouts. He’s obviously just as confused as I am. “What are you doing here?”

  “She works for Nicolai.” Remi sneers. “She’s the one who attacked me when I was on patrol. She handed me over to this sick fucker.”

  “What? Why?” Sawyer questions.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Avery tilts her head to the side as she looks down at me. “I did it for us. We can finally be together. I just had to get her out of the way.”

  I see a flash of blonde hair fly across the space, but it’s pulled back just as fast. Nicolai holds a pissed off Pru by her hair. His pale hand is wrapped around the long locks, and he pulls them back violently, forcing Pru to lean back into his chest.