by Dana Archer
“Move again, and the next shot goes in her pretty little rear.”
Vader glanced to his left, in the direction of the mumbled voice. The hazel eyes of the shifter who’d likely shot him peered from behind a camouflage ski mask. Vader inhaled. No scent. The male had masked it, the only conclusion.
With the Royal’s drug that eliminated a person’s scent in the shifter’s system, he was invisible, at least by smell. The military camouflage outfit added to the effect. It had been enough to get past Vader’s senses, not something he was proud to admit but true nonetheless. The sight of Gwen had distracted both him and his wolves.
The unknown shifter yanked off the mask. His flat, wide nose and deeply tanned skin identified him as a lion shifter, a single, not a Royal. No aura linking him to a goddess surrounded him.
The male grinned, showing off the tips of his fangs, then turned his attention to Gwen. “Hello, darlin’. Did you miss me?”
She used a trembling hand to brush a few strands of hair from her face. “What are you doing here, David?”
“Making sure your punishment is delivered. ’Cause if it isn’t…”
The lion shifter didn’t finish his threat. He grinned. The smile was enough to put a look of stark terror on Gwen’s face, though. Seeing her fear stirred Vader’s wolves. Nobody was allowed to frighten her.
“Enough.” Vader glanced from one male to the other. Both held rifles loosely aimed at Gwen. “No threats. The hunt is over. Gwen’s leaving with me.”
“Sorry.” Reno shrugged. “You didn’t pay the entry fee.”
“But I did.”
Xander stepped into view. Deep claw marks marred his chest and a hunk of flesh was missing from his bicep, but the wounds were shrinking, healing before Vader’s eyes and proving just how powerful Vader’s ex-friend had grown in the years since Vader had walked away from the Winchester pack.
“And I eliminated my competition.” Xander focused intent, brown eyes on Vader. “That means I get to enjoy Gwen’s body first.”
Chapter 4
Rage and betrayal twisted Vlad’s features. It wasn’t the first time he’d directed his furious glare at Xander. If Vlad had been another member of his pack, Xander never would have allowed it. Yet he did. Always had. In the past, he’d rationalized his refusal to put Vlad in his place by saying their friendship stopped him from taking that step.
After spending the past few months with Vlad while searching for Gwen, Xander wasn’t sure that reason explained the hesitation. More and more, Xander wondered if guilt had justified his willful ignorance of Vlad’s breach in shifter etiquette. Xander had stolen both Elizabeth and Tabitha from Vlad. Xander had also indirectly been the reason both females had met a violent end.
Or maybe Xander’s refusal to punish Vlad was based on something else, an unnatural comradery that defied shifter culture. Whatever the reason, Xander couldn’t bring himself to treat Vlad as if he were merely a lesser member of the pack. Or cast him from it, something another alpha would’ve done years ago.
“The righteous and selfless alpha of the Winchester pack is now participating in human hunts? Is that what you’re claiming? Because if it is, I don’t believe it. The Xander Winchester I remember wouldn’t risk dishonoring his pack.”
Disdain darkened Vlad’s words. The emotion was likely real. He still blamed Xander for Tabitha’s death. And Elizabeth’s. The ignorance of Xander’s actions wasn’t genuine, however. Vlad knew exactly why Xander was here. Vlad’s act was for those watching them.
“My twin knows what I’m doing.” Xane had been angry too. An alpha belonged on his pack lands, not chasing after humans. “He’s covering for me. So are my other brothers.”
“What about your sisters?” Vlad asked. “I’m sure they wouldn’t be as understanding.”
“And who’s going to tell them? Or anyone?” Xander jerked his chin in the direction of the two single shifters standing a few feet from Gwen. “The criminals running this hunt? They’re not going to say a word. I’ve paid a lot of money to be here.”
“And we appreciate your business. It’s not often we’re graced with a Royal’s presence, let alone an alpha’s.” Reno walked forward. He snagged Gwen’s arm and pulled her against his chest. “We want to make sure you’re fully satisfied with the experience.”
Xander stared at where Reno’s hand covered Gwen’s stomach and fought to contain his wolves. They wanted the male’s blood. He forced his gaze to Reno’s face. “Give me my prize, and I will be.”
“Oh, you’ll get her, exactly as promised. Not here, though.” Reno motioned toward Vlad with his gun. “Your pack mate will bring the authorities down on us or try to save the female himself. I can’t allow that to happen.”
The nudge to Xander’s psyche tore a growl from his wolves. The animals didn’t want Vlad’s voice in their heads while Gwen was in the arms of the enemy. It would distract them. The ability to connect telepathically that all Royals shared wasn’t always a welcome one. It was helpful, though.
Xander ignored his animals’ angry sounds and opened himself to Vlad.
“You didn’t tell me you’d entered the hunt. We’re supposed to be working together. I could’ve had your back.” Vlad growled the words.
“Now’s not the time for this, Vlad. You need to get out of here and find Dante. We’re going to need help. There are at least two other scent-masked and armed shifters in the woods.”
“Great.” Vlad’s sarcasm twined with the word.
“Exactly, now play your part.”
Xander faced Reno, purposely turning his back on his pack mate, and cut the intimate connection. The shifters with their weapons pointed at Gwen were up to something. Xander sensed it but didn’t know what they planned. Or why they were here. Sure, Gwen was worth a lot to them. If she didn’t lose her virginity today, she could be offered up again in another hunt. But was the price of another hunt’s entry fees worth this?
Actually, when he thought of it that way, the other shifters’ presence made sense. A second hunt would push their profits over a million dollars.
“Or have you already called the cops, Vader?” Reno asked Vlad.
“If Vader”—Xander choked on the ridiculous name—“knows what’s best for him, he hasn’t. And won’t. I don’t stand for disobedience in my pack. My word is law.”
“For only as long as you’re alpha. Maybe it’s time someone took the job from you.”
Vlad’s taunting words dragged Xander’s gaze to him. Hatred burned in Vlad’s hazel eyes. Unless Xander rebuilt the pathway he’d just broken, he wouldn’t know if his words were real or not. Considering their strained friendship that hadn’t gotten any better in the months they searched together for Gwen, they might’ve been genuine. “Are you challenging me?”
Vlad smirked. “Can’t. The full moon isn’t for a few more days. If I’m going to do it, I want it official.”
“Then back off. This is my entertainment. Go find your own.”
“Can’t do that either.” Vlad turned his intense stare onto Gwen. She quickly dropped her gaze. Vlad curled his fingers. Blood dripped from where his elongated nails dug into his palm. “Gwen is important to me.”
Xander silently cursed. Admitting that gave their enemy power.
“Is she now?” Reno asked.
“Yes.” Vlad inclined his head slightly. “I’d kill for her.”
“We’re predators. Killing is what we do. The statement should be ‘I’d die for her.’” Reno unleashed his claws and wrapped his hand around Gwen’s delicate throat. She closed her eyes. Her breathing quickened. But she didn’t move a muscle. “Would you, Vader? Would you die for her?”
“Yes.”
“That’s very noble of you—”
“Leave a mark on my prize and you die, Reno.” Xander pushed the force of his will—the force of a Royal alpha—into the command.
Reno flinched. He lowered his gaze. And the claws pressed into Gwen’s porcelain skin receded.
The signs of the bear shifter’s obedience pleased Xander, despite the fact that the gun in Reno’s other hand remained steady and pointed at Vlad. Xander strode forward, stopping a few feet from Gwen. He held out his hand. “Now give the female to me, or I will demand to keep her another night for wasting my time.”
“No need to demand it. We’ll give her to you. The time will be necessary to make up for moving the two of you to a safer location. I know who Vader is. Who he works for.” Reno slid his gaze to Vlad. “I can’t afford to have Shifter Affairs breathing down my neck. That’s bad for business.”
Xander’s wolves tensed. Their trepidation radiated through him. Reno meant them harm. With guns trained on Gwen, Xander couldn’t act to prevent it.
“A safer location? That wasn’t part of the rules I agreed to. I was told I’m allowed to enjoy my prize in the woods, one of the hunting cabins, anywhere I want.”
“And do you want the elders on the Shifter Council to know what you’ve been doing? Like Vader said, these hunts are illegal. If Shifter Affairs gets involved, the council will know your dirty little secret.”
“You know I don’t.”
“Then…” Reno pulled the trigger. Three shots fired in rapid succession.
Vlad’s body jerked. Blood blossomed on his chest, his stomach, his groin. Gwen screamed. The sound cut off with Reno’s hand over her mouth. “Then, I suggest we move before your pack mate’s healing ability kicks in, and I’m forced to take his head.”
Xander looked from Vlad’s unmoving body to Gwen’s tearstained face and said the only thing he could. “We better move quickly, then. My pack mate is strong.”
Chapter 5
The sight of Vader’s blood-covered, unmoving body would haunt Gwen’s dreams. Only knowing the wounds wouldn’t end his life stopped her from breaking down. He’d live, and he’d come after her. She knew it in her soul. His determination wouldn’t save her from her fate, however. Nothing would.
“Here’s your prize.” Reno gripped her shoulders and shoved her.
She gasped and collided with Xander’s chest, then automatically twisted, trying to get away from him. She didn’t get far. He wrapped his thick arms around her and locked her to his body, burying her face against his chest and holding her in place with his hand cradled around the back of her skull.
Something cool and sticky touched her cheeks, her mouth. The scent of heaven invaded her lungs. Her mouth watered with a hunger she couldn’t explain.
She licked her lips. Chocolate. The flavor exploded in her mouth. It was delicious, decadent, and dangerous. Swallowing it had been a mistake. The man didn’t taste of chocolate. It was his blood—the blood of a Royal shifter—and she’d just taken it into her body. For the next few days, until it wore off, she’d smell of him, triggering his instincts with each breath he took.
Possessiveness would consume him. He would know that. Why would he push her face against his chest where getting his blood in her mouth was a real possibility? Unless…unless he wanted his scent clinging to her. He had said she was important to him.
Xander slid one hand to her bottom, the other between her shoulder blades. His touch brought her back to the present and the danger she was in. He slid his hand lower. Her feet left the ground. Xander’s warmth and heavenly scent surrounded her.
She linked her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder, settling into his embrace as if he’d carried her countless times before. The automatic reaction struck her as odd as the sensation that had settled over her when she’d looked into his eyes.
Xander moved before she could take the thought further. Minutes passed. The sound of a helicopter’s blades grew louder with each step. So did the tension radiating from Xander, but he didn’t slow his steps. He quickened them.
The howling of a wolf clued her in as to why he’d picked up the pace. Vader had healed the injuries that would’ve killed a single shifter or a human, proving Xander’s assessment right. Vader was strong.
She’d suspected as much. The other Shifter Affairs agents who worked with her stepdad always gave Vader a wide berth. They never met his gaze either. Then again, she’d avoided him too. The intensity in his expression had left her feeling unsettled and aroused. The conflicting responses had confused her. They still did.
“Where are you taking us?” Xander’s growled question held a demand.
“Not too far. Don’t worry.” Reno’s voice came from her right. She didn’t look at him. She couldn’t. The anger over his betrayal was sharp. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep it in check, and saying the wrong thing would only make matters worse.
She knew better than to trust any of the shifters who ran the hunts or the fights, but Reno was the one who’d locked up David after she’d stabbed him. Reno had also promised to reassign him to a different part of their compound, far away from the cell she shared with Killer…if she made Reno’s virgin hunt successful.
“He’s already following us.”
Xander’s voice roughened, becoming barely discernible. His skin warmed. Both hinted at the close proximity of his primal side. Neither sign frightened her. Actually, they comforted her. He would fight for her. Would he trust her, though? She needed that above all else.
“Unless he has access to a helicopter or can run fast enough to track us in one, we’ll lose him.”
“You don’t know him as I do. He’s an excellent tracker, and Gwen is his beloved human. He’ll come after her.”
Beloved human.
She knew that term. It referred to humans who’d been claimed by shifters as belonging to them in a very primal way. Sometimes they were lovers, sometimes treasured friends. No matter why they were claimed, the outcome remained the same. The shifter who’d added his or her scent to the person by licking a deep wound would be wickedly protective and possessive of their human.
A forgotten memory surfaced—Vader licking her hand, sealing a gash caused by a broken lamp. He’d been drunk, and she’d been a flustered teenager, confused by the needs spiraling within her.
“Even if he does find the house we’re taking you to, we’ll be long gone by the time he gets there. You won a night with the girl. That’s it. She goes back with us tomorrow. Vader won’t find us that quickly.”
“You promised a second one.”
“I lied.” Reno laughed, a depraved sound that made her skin crawl.
Xander turned, angling her body away from Reno, and grabbed the other shifter’s throat in a move she barely registered. “Never lie to an alpha, Reno. I want my second night, or your soul will return to your clan’s leader for judgment when I rip your head off.”
Reno’s eyes widened. “I had to. She has to be returned to her cell by tomorrow night.”
Or else Killer would snap, attacking everyone and anyone he could get his hands on. They’d never be able to enter him into another fight. If he got free of his shackles, he’d tear through the crowd. His handlers would have to kill him.
“No. She won’t go back tomorrow, because she’ll be in my bed.”
“I’ll return half your entry fee, or let you enter another hunt for free.” Reno glanced over his shoulder. “A solo hunt where you’re guaranteed to capture a female.”
Xander’s grip on her bottom tightened, but he didn’t get the chance to respond. A wolf snarled.
Gwen whipped her head in the direction of the sound. A gray wolf bolted toward them. Vader. She’d recognize those hazel eyes anywhere. He’d often sat in the woods around her parents’ house when she’d lived there.
Another wolf, a white one, intercepted him. The two shifters rolled, snapping and biting at each other. Vader’s wolf clamped on to the hind leg of the wolf attacking him. Blood sprayed over Vader’s fur. The injured shifter yelped, then retaliated, taking a hunk out of Vader’s flank.
“No!” She pushed against Xander’s arms, needing to get to Vader.
Xander tightened his hold on her. “Stop, Gwen. You’re only human. You get betwe
en fighting wolves, and you’ll get hurt.”
He didn’t have to tell her that. She understood the danger, but the desire to go to Vader, to comfort him somehow, was undeniable. Xander’s unyielding grip on her didn’t allow her to give in to the overwhelming urge.
“But Vader—”
“Is a Winchester,” Xander replied.
As such, he was strong, and, unless he lost his head, immortal. That was the point Xander was trying to make. There was no misinterpreting the respect in his voice. He’d already commented on Vader’s strength and tracking abilities.
She tore her attention from the fight, where a third wolf had launched himself at Vader’s back, and focused on Xander’s face, needing to understand his motives. He met her gaze for the briefest of moments. It was long enough to see the truth. The exchange between him and Vader had been faked. They were working together.
To rescue her.
Xander adjusted his grip on her body, urging her to wrap her arms and legs around him. Making a decision, she clung to Xander, burying her face against his chest to block out the sight of the fighting wolves behind her and giving Xander her trust. She didn’t have any other option. He was right. She’d get herself mauled if she went to Vader. The one time she’d tried to help Killer, he’d accidentally injured her.
A cold wind washed over her. The sound of the helicopter’s blades blocked out everything, including the pounding of her heart echoing in her ears. She snuggled closer to Xander, and he climbed into the helicopter, never easing his grip on her.
They settled on a seat. She straddled him, ignoring the intimacy of the position, and rested her head against his chest. He didn’t speak to her or grope her. For both, she was grateful. She had to figure out her next steps. Getting Xander’s agreement to follow her back to the facility where she lived with Killer was essential.
The flight didn’t last long enough to come up with a plan, unfortunately. Before she knew it, Xander’s warm breath heated her skin and his lips brushed the sensitive spot right below her ear. “We’re here. You can ease your death grip on my hair.”