by Kym Grosso
“I don’t know. Whatever it is, it’s about pack.” Remus.
“This is all my fault. If I hadn’t stayed with you, none of it would have happened. They all probably know I’m your mate. This is so messed up.”
“It’s not your fault, Wills.” Hunter shoved out of his seat and sat on the floor next to his mate, resting his hand on hers. “I still don’t know how I could have been so wrong about him, but I think this has something to do with Remus. He’s been my beta for a couple of months but it’s not because we’re friends.”
“How did he become beta?”
“He earned it. I’ve had several different betas over the years. Blake. He’d been my beta for twenty years.” Hunter sighed. “His mate was killed by a human. Apparently, she wanted to be with him. In a jealous fit, she shot his mate up with enough silver to take down a demon. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that he couldn’t cope. Went rogue. I had to take someone on. Remus had been pack for about five years, had come in from Chicago. He fit right in. No problems. From the very beginning he was a good leader. When the wolves fought for their place, Rafe lost to Remus. At the time, it was the right thing to do. My beta is important within the pack. I can’t always be here.”
“That day at your house. Remus was ice cold,” she recalled. “Seriously. He was like a serial killer. I’m worried about what he’s done.”
“I’ve got to get back. Fucking Rafe, man. If it weren’t for the brute strength of Remus.” Hunter blew out a breath. “It still doesn’t make sense. He never acted like this. Not ever.”
“Maybe the demons got to him. Maybe he needed something and made some kind of a trade,” Willa suggested.
“Or a fae. Kellen seemed pretty fucking comfortable on my territory. Wouldn’t surprise me. Whatever turned him knew how to give a good mind fuck. That’s for sure.”
“We’re going to get your wolves out. If Viktor…” Willa’s words drifted into silence.
“We’re gonna get him back. I promise.” Hunter brought the back of her hand to his mouth, brushing his lips against her soft skin.
“I can’t believe he’s gone,” she whispered.
Willa’s grief threaded through him. Hunter grew more determined to put a swift end to the rogues.
Hunter rested his head into her palm and closed his eyes as she stroked his hair. Soon the Alpha would fight. A seasoned warrior, he’d mete justice, sending the rogues back to Hell one by one. Like the others who’d challenged him in the past, they’d submit to his mighty beast.
“How far is it?” Willa asked.
“We’ll be home soon.” Home. Hunter smiled, glancing to his mate. “We’re going to have a proper date when this is all over.”
“We already had a wedding.” She laughed.
“I suppose we did. I’m going to have to get someone to send our gift.” Hunter kept his eyes trained on the road as he drove. “I’d love to see the mailman’s face.”
“I’m not sure how I’ll cope in the pack,” Willa stated, changing the subject out of the blue.
“You’ve been rogue for a long time, but you’re going to fit in well. I know it.”
“I always loved being in a pack. It’s just…they might hate me.”
“They’re going to love you. You’re my mate.”
“Not necessarily. I’ve got this hellfire. And powers. There could be a challenge,” she guessed.
“Possibly, but honestly Willa; I haven’t seen you in your wolf many times, but I’ve seen you. You’re not going to take any shit from anyone. You’ve literally been to Hell and back. You just put a damn skin book into a demon’s claw. Nope. Girl, you’ve got this. Word gets around you’ve been to Hell, no one is going to look at you the wrong way. You’re good.”
“I’ve been in Guatemala for so long. I’m not sure what I’ll even do in America.” Willa nervously twisted a lock of her curly brown hair around her finger.
“We’ve got humans here who need health care. Lots of them, unfortunately. We could use another clinic.” Hunter knew far too many people who died from lack of proper medical care due to no health insurance. They weren’t his responsibility, but the Alpha believed in a karmic sense of justice and did what he could to help them.
“There’s need for another clinic?” Willa’s voice perked up at the possibility.
“Absolutely. We actually have a few doctors in the pack who work over at the city hospital so I can introduce you to some of your future colleagues.” Putting thoughts of death aside, Hunter smiled, knowing that Willa would be a great resource for the pack as well as the human community.
“You know, I’m really excited to…” Willa lost her words as her attention was drawn to the side mirror. “Hunter…do you…”
“Yeah, I see them.” The Alpha gunned the gas, stomping the pedal to the floor. The car lunged forward.
Hunter sensed the magick before he had a chance to warn her. A flicker of light against the silver spike strip ahead on the road was all the warning he had.
“Hold on!” he yelled as he slammed on the brakes.
A loud blast boomed as a tire exploded, the scent of burning rubber permeating the interior of the car. Hunter veered right, spinning out of control toward a herd of bison that meandered toward the edge of the road. He wrestled the steering wheel, attempting to regain control but the car flipped, skidding toward a row of lodgepole pine trees.
In the half second before the crash, Hunter glanced to Willa, her eyes locked on his. I love you. As the metal crumpled around them, a pinprick of light morphed into darkness and the Alpha succumbed. Willa.
Hunter! The word reverberated in his mind as he fought the confusion. Searing pain shot through the side of his head. He blinked away the hot trickle of blood that trailed from the gash on his temple.
Memories of the crash rippled through his mind as he attempted to process the situation. He glanced to the empty passenger seat. Willa. Panic ripped through the Alpha. He struggled to release the seat belt, tugging at it. With a snap, he tore it from its socket. White hot pain streaked up his back, his leg throbbed.
Hunter reached for the lip of the broken car window, the razor-sharp shards slicing his palms. With a grunt, he hoisted himself through the opening and rolled onto the grass, his face landing on the gravel at the road’s edge. He spat and brushed the grit from his eyes.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” Hunter grimaced at the sight of his femur protruding through his thigh. Although he’d hurt himself several times over his lifetime, it’d been a while since he’d broken a bone.
The Alpha shimmied his shirt over his head, readying to shift. Extending a talon, he sliced through his jeans, removing them. With a groan, he fell back into the grass, panting for breath, pain resonating through his entire body. Blood spurted from the massive wound in his leg. Specks of light danced in Hunter’s eyes, a tunnel closing in on him
“Ah fuck. Don’t pass out. Not fucking now.” Anger shot through him, igniting the magick of his wolf.
The spectacular beast howled, pissed as hell. Willa. He reached with his mind. Her terrifying scream registered in his head. No!!! A surge of rage tore through the Alpha and he took off running toward the pack house. His paws clutched the earth, hurling the powerful lithe wolf through the forest. They’re all gonna die.
Hunter crouched, hidden in the bushes. Through the branches he spied light coming from the back yard, smoke billowing up into the air. He sent tendrils of his energy to his pack, reaching for them. Their palpable fear slammed into him. It’s all right Teton. I’m here. This ends now . Instantly the energy shifted in anticipation of his kill.
As he rounded the building an eerie silence blanketed the night. His heart pounded, fury ripping through him as he caught sight of Willa, her bared body curled into a ball on the lawn. Remus, stood naked in his human form, looming above her while two other rogue wolves watched, brandishing guns. He recognized a few of his stronger male wolves, who were writhing in pain, cloaked in a silver net. Rafe lay whimperi
ng, his gray beast bloodied, his feet twitching. The weapon, a blood-stained baseball bat, lay in the grass next to him.
“Shift, bitch,” Remus demanded.
“No,” Willa gritted out.
He cracked the horse whip onto her back. She released a blood-curdling scream but held tight into a ball.
Blind with rage, Hunter sprang from the shadows, and lunged onto Remus, tearing at his forearm. In a flash, white hot pain sliced through his shoulder and he rolled onto the ground, releasing the beta.
“Move again Alpha, and the next bullet goes into the bitch.”
Hunter growled, stilling as his magick threaded through his cells. The wound burned hot with silver poison, but the shot had gone clean through.
“Maybe she’ll change if we torture you.” Remus laughed and fired another round through his hind leg, forcing the Alpha to shift.
“No!!” Willa screamed, jolting upward. Nude and bloody, her hands were bound with barbed wire.
Although Hunter’s leg bled, the bullet had burned straight through his flesh. Hunter released a loud groan and rolled onto his side, feigning serious injury. Easy, princess .
Let them have me. Save your pack. Tears streamed from her eyes.
Not a chance, sweetheart.
You’ve been shot. I’m going to shift. They can have me.
No. Hunter locked his eyes on hers, targeting his Alpha energy on Willa. It broke his heart to force her submission, but he couldn’t risk her sacrificing her own life for his. Get ready, Wills. I need you to fight. On three. Wait for it.
“Hey, asshole. The demon’s taken care of…you don’t need to do this.” Hunter groaned loudly as if he was in pain, distracting Remus from his mate.
Willa reluctantly complied with her Alpha’s demand. She rolled onto her side, concealing her hands. Her fingers slowly manipulated the wire, untangling it.
“Looks like we’re getting somewhere. You ready to submit to me, Livingston?” A diabolical smile bloomed on Remus’s face. “Tell you what? Submit to me. Right here right now, and I’ll spare the bitch. Can’t say I’d mate her because she’s been used up. But then again, Benny could use a whore.”
Hunter let his anger roll through him. With the power of the Alpha flowing through his veins, he dug his fingers into the ground, preparing to shift.
“I got a better idea, Remus.” Hunter’s temple ticked in anticipation of the kill. “How about you die?”
“What did you say?” Remus asked, incredulous. He turned and aimed the gun at him.
“Get ready to say hello to Hell.” In a flash Hunter transformed, his powerful wolf lunging onto the beta.
Remus shifted as the Alpha shoved him to the ground. He lost control of the gun, firing off a shot and sending it flying into the air. Hunter’s fangs sliced into Remus’ shoulder. Iron-tanged blood coated Hunter’s tongue. The beta struggled under the attack, horns protruding from his head. With demonic strength Remus rolled, attempting to shake Hunter’s hold. A cry from Willa distracted him, and his attention went to her.
Willa broke free of her restraint, readying to shift. A rogue wolf charged, and she stretched her hands forward, sending the coil of barbed wire flying at him. He yelped as the metal stabbed into his eyes but quickly shook it off and lunged at Willa.
As she shifted into her wolf, the familiar voice soothed her soul. “Late to the party again. Please forgive me.”
Willa barked at Viktor, warning him as the large grey wolf flew through the air toward him.
“No worries, pet.” The vampire whipped around to face the wolf and dropped his fangs. As it snapped at him, Viktor wrapped his hand around its throat, holding it high in the air. “Bad doggie.”
The animal snarled, nicking his wrist. “See now, that’s what I’m talking about. Someone must have missed obedience school. Time for a lesson.”
Viktor hissed with a cold smile and sunk his fangs deep into its fur, piercing its skin. The rogue thrashed, but the vampire clamped down, refusing to release his prey. Viktor ripped the flesh from its body and spat a clump onto the ground. Blood dripped down the vampire’s face as he laughed and turned to Hunter.
Exhilaration rushed through the Alpha at the sight of his lethal friend doing what he did best. Remus struggled underneath his jaws to escape. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Willa attacking another rogue. Although of smaller stature, she easily wrestled the wolf onto its back.
In the heat of the moment, Hunter made the decision not just to kill but to make an example for anyone who ever thought of attacking his pack again. The Alpha sunk his teeth deeper into Remus’ neck, slow and deliberate, tearing off chunks of his flesh, until the beta convulsed, his blood gushing onto the dirt. Hunter released a guttural scream as he shifted, a firm hand wrapped around what was left of Remus’ neck, the Alpha’s grip lodged around his spine.
“Tonight, you go back to the demon who spawned you. Enjoy your time in Hell,” Hunter growled. He extended his claws and gored straight through his beta’s chest. The Alpha’s fingers wrapped around the beta’s still-beating heart. Remus’ eyes bulged as the Alpha showed no mercy, extracting the organ from its cavity and tossing it onto the dirt.
“It appears your friend has a bit of heartburn.” Viktor licked his lips as he held the rogue.
“Please…please…” Blood gurgled out of his mouth.
The vampire’s eyes flashed to black, devoid of all emotion. “Tell the demons to go fuck themselves.”
“No, no, no….” he pleaded.
“Debt’s paid.” Like a cobra striking, Viktor’s fangs sliced into his limp body as he twisted the wolf’s neck. Blood spewed from his mouth as he spat onto the ground. “Consider yourself trained.”
Hunter shifted into his mighty wolf and ran to Willa who was fighting with the rogue. Instinct urged him to kill it, to rescue his mate, but Willa turned her head and snarled at him. He’s mine.
His heart pounded in his chest as the rogue took advantage of her distraction and lodged his teeth into her neck, forcing her to her side. He growled in warning, but she protested. No.
Hunter shifted, trusting his instincts, suspecting his royal mate harbored the magick of the Alpha within her. “Kill him, Willa! Now!”
Shock slammed him as his mate’s white fur morphed into a glowing ball of light. She clamped down her jaw, biting deeper and deeper into the wolf’s flesh. The large grey wolf yelped in agony as the light penetrated its organs. Willa’s energy burst through its eye sockets, bodily fluids spraying onto the ground.
Silence blanketed the night as the light poured through the rogue, its body bloating with her powerful energy. With a loud growl, Willa snapped her head toward her Alpha, her eyes meeting his. As she tore a large section of flesh from the wolf’s neck, the beast exploded. Like a flesh balloon being popped, strands of organs and blood spewed into the air.
“You don’t see that every day,” Viktor commented with a bloody smile.
“I…” Lost for words, Hunter’s chest squeezed, amazed by his incredible mate.
As she shifted to her human form, Willa stood onto her feet, slowly straightening her spine, her gaze meeting his.
“Jesus, you’re beautiful.” Stunned, the Alpha watched as she stepped toward him unscathed.
“Rafe,” she managed, her words soft but strong.
“It’s like she just swatted a fly. More like crushed it until its guts exploded all over the dining room table.”
“Enough, Vik.” Hunter ran to Willa and brought her into his arms “How did you…?”
“The pack,” she responded, gently pulling out of his embrace.
His majestic mate demonstrated her dynamic energy by dominating the demonic wolf. Hunter stood proud as she walked toward several wolves who cowered whining under the silver nets and began to remove them one by one.
The Alpha rushed to Rafe’s side and reached for him. Hunter peeled away the metal, revealing the devastating damage. The deep wounds oozed with silver pus, poiso
nous shards lodged deep within his skin. They’d tortured him.
“You’ve got to shift, brother.” Hunter’s stomach clenched in anger.
“I…” Rafe coughed up blood, his body riddled with boils. He struggled to turn his head toward his Alpha. “I’m sorry.”
“Nah man. You’re gonna be fine. The horses. They need you.” Hunter lifted his shoulders off the floor, cradling the injured wolf. “Come on, bro.”
“I…I…” Rafe sucked a hard breath and coughed, blood dribbling out of his mouth. “Tell my ma…”
“Fucking tell her yourself. Jesus, Rafe.”
“Too much silver. Can’t shift,” he whispered, his breathing labored.
“You’ve got to fucking shift. You will shift.” Hunter closed his eyes, blasting his Alpha energy into his friend. Tears streamed down his cheeks as his spirit slipped away.
“This is the end of the road, Alpha.” Rafe clasped his hand onto Hunter’s forearm. “Good friends? Yeah?”
“You can’t leave us.” Guilt slammed into Hunter, his chest tightening. Emotion overwhelmed him at the sound of Rafe’s failing heartbeat.
“Alpha, if I may.” Viktor flashed to his side, kneeling beside him.
“This is shit. This is all my fault,” Hunter said.
“Whatever they did to him…these wolves aren’t ordinary wolves.” Viktor held up the pistol that Remus had used to fire the bullets.
“Silver is silver. I can’t get him to shift.”
“Perhaps I can see about a favor. No promises.”
“What?” Hunter sucked a breath, shaking his head.
“A favor.”
“Vampire, I don’t have time for this. Just let my wolves come and say goodbye in peace.”
“I can do that, but Hunter,” Viktor set his hand on the Alpha’s shoulder, “if you let me, I might be able to save him. I don’t know how long it’ll take. I can’t promise you it’ll work.”
“What are you talking about?” Grief swam with confusion as Hunter considered the offer.
“I’m ancient, so much more so than this young pup, than you, than any here in your pack. Not all secrets can be told. Just trust me. At worst he’ll die. But if I can bring him back to you…look, you saved me. I owe you one.”