Half-Wolf (The Alpha's Daughter Book 1)

by Nicholas Jordan

  Throwing the door open—with Korver right on her heels—she scurried inside and slammed it shut. An instant later, a force shook the door as Korver collided with the aged wood, which fortunately held up against the powerful werewolf.

  Now to find somewhere to hide, Demi thought as she wasted no time rushing across the lumber mill.

  It was pitch black. At least for her human eyes. After shifting back into a wolf, her vision in the darkness was significantly better. But it didn’t do her much good when Korver had the same improved vision in the dark, putting them on even ground once again.

  Of course, in actuality, it gave Korver the edge. Demi needed more than even ground to go toe-to-toe with him.

  That was why she needed to find somewhere to hide. Then—if she was lucky—she could catch him off guard.

  Finding a stack of boards all aligned evenly and cut to the same length and width, Demi ducked behind them just seconds before the door was flung open and Korver entered the mill. He was in human form again, walking slowly across the sawdust-strewn floor, scanning the room with his predatory eyes.

  “What is this?” he said. “A game of hide and seek? Well, if that’s the way you want it to be, then I’ll play along. Just remember, Demi, it’s winner takes all.”

  With that said, he shifted back to a wolf and began to search the mill, sniffing the floor and padding at a deliberate pace. He was coming closer to where Demi hid.

  It wouldn’t be long now.

  She just had to bide her time and wait for the right moment. If she went too soon or too late, the plan would fail and she would likely put herself at the mercy of Korver.

  That could very well mean death.

  So Demi waited.

  And she waited.

  And she waited.

  Then exactly when she saw the first of Korver’s front paws come into view, she lunged out of her hiding place and bit down on his leg, causing him to whimper in pain and draw back, dragging her out from behind the stack of old lumber.

  Just when Demi thought that she had given herself the upper hand in their confrontation, Korver stole back the momentum in the blink of an eye. Ignoring the pain, he pulled his leg underneath his body and placed his free forepaw on Demi’s back.

  Her heart skipped a beat, knowing her plan had backfired in a terrible way.

  He had just forced her to present her neck to him. And the price to pay for her mistake might even be her life, if Korver decided he was prepared to take it.

  The black-furred wolf clamped his jaws down on her neck as expected, but killing her was apparently not on his agenda, judging by how loose he kept his jaws.

  He doesn’t want to kill me, she reminded herself. He wants me to submit to him. Yeah . . . not going to happen.

  Demi had already made up her mind to fight him to the end, even if that meant death. She kept her jaws clamped down on his leg, tasting blood, while practically daring Korver to kill her if she wanted him to stop.

  But he only growled and tightened his own jaws, cutting off her air supply. He could obviously handle the pain. But Demi could no longer be content to wait him out. She would pass out before long if she tried.

  Time to make him feel a little more pain then.

  She raised her right paw and brought it up to scratch Korver across the face, catching him in the eye. She knew that did the trick when she felt his grip on her neck slacken.

  Now free, Demi scrambled to her feet, smashing the top of her head against Korver’s lower jaw. The force knocking a tooth right out of his mouth.

  That was her cue to get moving.

  She leapt right over him. She was about to dash for the exit when she spotted a ladder leaning against the wall. As well as several horizontal support beams above her head where more planks were stored.

  Okay . . . new plan.

  She shifted back to human form and moved the ladder away from the wall to place it against one of the nearest beams. Then she scurried up as quickly as possible. The ladder was old and wobbled beneath her weight, but it held up. After she climbed up on to the support beam, she kicked the ladder down so that Korver couldn’t follow.

  That was at least a small victory over her opponent. Now Demi had a moment to catch her breath. She gazed down at Korver, who was still recuperating from the shot he took. When he looked up and saw her, he too took human form.

  Amusement brought a smile to his lips.

  “Very clever, but also very stupid. Now you’re trapped.” He tracked her with those piercing yellow eyes as he paced the floor. “You’re like a fat hen in the chicken coop, helpless against the fox. And I think we both know who the fox is.”

  Demi smirked. “Well you’re down there and I’m up here, so I’m not worried about the fox.”

  His own smile broadened. “Is that so?”

  Korver crouched down before leaping up and grasping hold of one of the horizontal beams, swinging himself all the way around until his feet touched down on top of the beam.

  Demi’s face fell. Well . . . so much for that.

  Korver rose to his full height. “Now where were we? Oh that’s right, you were about to surrender, isn’t that right?”

  “Not a chance.”

  “Give in now and I’ll reconsider my decision to kill the traitor.” He jumped forward one beam, closing the distance between them. “It’s not too late to save him.”

  “I don’t believe you. I can’t believe anything you say.”

  “You can believe that I’ve already won. You’re only prolonging the inevitable. I could have killed you already if I wanted to. We both know that.”

  “So do it already.” Demi backed up one beam.

  He shook his head as he moved forward once more. “I can’t do that. You’re no good to me dead. At least not yet.”

  Demi retreated another beam, nearly losing her footing in the process. She was forced to bend down and use her hands to steady herself. And when she did, she noticed a round, rusty sawblade on the floor underneath her.

  One misstep here and it would all be over.

  “Careful,” Korver said. “We wouldn’t want you to fall, now would we?”

  Demi stood up, fixing her hated foe with a hard stare. “I’d rather jump than be your mate.”

  “You’ll get nothing from acting this way. Just accept your fate already. It’s not the end of the world. Your life won’t be that bad. As long as you behave of course.”

  Demi didn’t want to admit it, but she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Korver was closing in, and it didn’t look like there was any way for her to escape.

  Come on. Don’t give up. You have to think of something.

  She looked around for any hope of salvation—and she found it. Up above and a short distance ahead of her were a pair of crossbeams. Seeing them conjured a plan in her head, but could she pull it off?

  Only one way to find out.

  “I’m jumping, Korver,” she told him, matching his smug smile with one of her own. “If you want me, come and get me.”

  “No,” he growled and sprang forward.

  True to her word, Demi jumped, but she didn’t drop down, she jumped straight up, allowing Korver to soar beneath her. She planted both her feet firmly on his back and used him as a springboard to reach and then grab hold of the two crossbeams, one with each hand.

  She then heard a sickening sound. She looked down and saw that Korver had not only landed atop the sawblade, but it had sliced him clean in half at the waist. Those yellow eyes still staring up at her, but were now lifeless.

  Six years of gymnastics, she thought to herself with a sigh, still hanging from the crossbeams. So worth it.

  Chapter Nineteen

  AS SOON AS DEMI LEFT the antique structure, she discovered Tobias and the five werewolves loyal to the now deceased Korver still gathered around the bonfire. Tobias had a look of relief on his face to see her alive. No one else seemed to share those sentiments.

  Hugo looked flat-out stunned.

/>   “Where is he?” the big man demanded. “Where is Korver?”

  “He’s dead.” Demi saw no reason to deny the truth.

  Her words generated murmurs from the other four werewolves, whose names she didn’t know, nor did she care to know. Hugo wasn’t murmuring, though. He was furious—fists clenched and eyes brimming with rage.

  “You’re lying,” he growled. “That’s impossible. Korver could never lose to a stupid little half-breed like you.”

  “Why don’t you go see for yourself then,” Demi suggested, standing aside and motioning inside the lumber mill, not really caring what Hugo chose to do. After her fierce battle with Korver, she was not intimidated by Hugo in the slightest.

  Hugo took a step forward. Paused, then he looked over his shoulder to see if the others would follow. They didn’t. He rushed past Demi and into the mill with long, loping strides. He had to duck his head to avoid hitting it as he entered the structure.

  Demi then hurried to Tobias.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, throwing her arms around him. So happy that he was still alive that she couldn’t help herself.

  He might look awful, bloodied and brushed, but he was alive, and that was all that mattered.

  “I’m fine,” he replied. “And you?”

  “Much better now.”

  “What happened in there? Is Korver really dead?”

  Just as she was about to answer his question, Hugo came stampeding out of the mill, his face pale and his eyes wide.

  “He’s dead,” Hugo gasped. “She killed Korver.”

  More frantic murmuring from the other four werewolves.

  The shock wore off quickly for Hugo, and was replaced with rage. He pointed an accusing finger at Demi.

  “She took our alpha from us. Kill her,” he barked at the other werewolves. “Kill them both.”

  Tobias took Demi’s hand, and they stood together in the face of what seemed like overwhelming odds. Hugo on one side, and the four wild-looking werewolves on the other.

  But in that moment—with their hands entwined—Demi felt like she and Tobias could do anything, even with her inexperience and his wounds.

  Perhaps their adversaries could sense that confidence because they all looked reluctant to attack—except for Hugo.

  “What are you waiting for?” he snarled. “Kill the bitch and the traitor.”

  But none of them moved. Their loyalty to Korver was being put to the test now, and it didn’t appear to be as strong as Demi would have thought.

  “But . . . Korver’s dead,” one of the werewolves said. “He can’t be the alpha if he’s dead. There needs to be a new alpha. A stronger alpha.”

  “That’s right,” another agreed. “We always follow the strongest alpha. Always.”

  “Then follow me,” Hugo growled impatiently. “Do as I tell you and kill them.”

  But they still did not move.

  “You didn’t kill Korver,” the first werewolf spoke up again. Then he pointed to Demi. “She did. She proved herself stronger than Korver. We should follow her.”

  “Yes,” another agreed. “We follow her now. We follow . . . Um, what’s her name?”

  “I don’t know,” another admitted.

  “Her name is Demi,” Tobias provided. “As Ridley’s daughter, we all owe her our allegiance.”

  Her stomach tightening, Demi squeezed his hand and whispered in his ear. “What are you doing?”

  “This is your destiny,” he whispered back. “Embrace it. Don’t run from it.”

  “I can’t lead a pack of werewolves. I had no idea I could even shift until, like, just a few minutes ago.”

  “It’s in your blood, Demi. You can do this. Trust me. I’ll be right at your side the whole time.” The smile he offered her was filled with warmth. “I promise.”

  Demi returned the smile and nodded, but still had her doubts about doing this. Tobias believed in her, though, and that was enough to give her the confidence to at least try.

  She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek, but then stopped herself, and redirected her kiss to his lips instead.

  “I’m going to hold you to that,” Demi said when her lips separated from his, ending the brief kiss.

  Another smile. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Tobias then turned to address the other werewolves again. “I pledge my loyalty to Demi and will follow her as the true alpha. Who’s with me?”

  The other four all pledged without hesitation. Despite their unpleasant appearances, Demi felt a lot better knowing that they were on her side rather than trying to kill her.

  Demi then turned to regard Hugo, whose confidence looked to be at an all-time low. “Tell me the truth. You’re the one who killed my aunt and uncle, aren’t you?”

  “I . . . Korver made me do it. I didn’t have a choice.”

  “Yes, you did. You could have said no.” Demi approached Hugo. Tobias and the other werewolves flanking her.

  “Please.” He got down on his knees and groveled before her. “Forgive me and I’ll serve you just as I served Korver. No, I’ll be even more loyal to you. I swear.”

  “Want us to kill him for you?” one of her newly-sworn followers asked. “I never liked him much anyway.”

  The others murmured in agreement.

  “No. I don’t want you to kill him. Enough people have died already.” But Demi’s mercy could only go so far. “I’m not going to forgive him either, though. Hugo, you’re banished from the pack. Go wherever you want as a rogue. If you ever show your face in front of me again, I will let them tear you to shreds.”

  Hugo opened his mouth as if to argue with her sentence, but stopped himself when he looked at the all-to-willing-to-kill werewolves that flanked Demi. Then, without a word, he shifted into a wolf and ran off into the woods. Hopefully, to never be seen again.

  Demi had no clue where Natasha went, but she would have given her the same opportunity to join the pack. And if she chose not to, she could face banishment just like Hugo.

  But since Natasha was nowhere to be seen, Demi didn’t spare her a second thought. She had more important things to think about.

  She turned to Tobias. “What do we do now?”

  “You’re the alpha now. You choose.”

  She lowered her voice. “I don’t know what to do. I need your help.”

  “You know what to do, Demi. I know you do.”

  Demi looked over her shoulder at each of the werewolves in turn, not sure how she felt about the idea of leading this ragtag group, but there was no going back now. And when she really thought about what needed to be done, she realized that Tobias was right. She did know. Her objective had not changed.

  “Tobias,” she said in the best commanding tone that she could muster. “Are you able to run?”

  He nodded. “I am.”

  “Then lead the way. We still need to find my father.” She regarded the others. “The rest of you will follow us. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, alpha,” the four of them said in almost perfect unison.

  She turned to Tobias again and their eyes locked, each smiling at the other. Her feelings for him—which started off as just a fluttering sensation in the pit of her stomach—were maturing into something new.

  Something special.

  Something powerful.

  And Demi didn’t want it to stop growing. She wasn’t sure what real love was supposed to feel like, but she was sure that she was either experiencing it now, or something very near to it.

  Well . . . hear goes nothing, she thought. Then she shifted into wolf form and the others followed suit.

  With Tobias in the lead, the six werewolves ran off into the woods, in search of Demi’s father, the werewolf that she was so eager to finally meet.

  ***

  The bonfire had burned down to nothing but a pile of smoldering embers by the time Natasha returned to the lumber mill. Dawn was not far away. Her decision to return had not been an easy one, but she ultimatel
y came to the conclusion that she would rather remain close to Korver—even if she couldn’t be his mate—than be alone again.

  Nothing was worse than being alone.

  Besides, there was always the chance that Korver would grow tired of the half-breed once he no longer needed her. And that would open up an opportunity for Natasha to swoop in and take her place.

  Natasha expected to return to find the whole pack present with the exception of Korver himself, who would have gone down to the cabin to bed the little half-breed.

  But she found no sign of life.

  Standing beside the remains of the bonfire, in the form of a white wolf, she tried to imagine where the pack might have gone.

  Her highly sensitive ears picked up only the chirping of crickets and the rustling of pine needles. The forest was uncharacteristically quiet for this time. It should be beginning to wake up.

  There were no sounds to help her locate the pack. But there were plenty of smells, some fainter than others. She picked up the scent of all those who had been present when she left, and there was another scent that she found much more alarming: blood.

  Coming from inside the lumber mill. So Natasha wasted no time hurrying inside, following the scent to its source.

  She screeched to a halt . . . when her eyes fell upon Korver’s upper body lying in a pool of his own blood, nothing below the belt attached.

  Someone might as well have reached into her chest and crushed her heart. The pain would have been the same.

  After staring for what felt like an eternity, she began to pad forward on four shaky legs, taking human form after the third step and crawling the rest of the way on hands and knees.

  “No . . .” she gasped, holding Korver’s head in her hands. The tears came flooding from her eyes as she laid her head against his chest, not caring that his blood was soaking into her dress.

  Natasha thought she would be returning to accept a fate less than perfect, but she instead discovered that her beloved had been taken from her.

  He was gone forever.

  And now she was truly alone.

  Just then, she heard someone enter the mill behind her. She looked over her shoulder to find Hugo standing near the door, his size making him easy to spot even in the dim light.