The Willow

by Stacey Kennedy

  Shooting forward, I quickly saw the scene and his words couldn’t have been any more accurate.

  Just next to the loading dock, a woman or what was left of her, was scattered around the parking lot. Her head was to the left, her torso to the right, and the rest of her was thrown about.

  My hand shot to my mouth in horror. “Who would do this to her?”

  His expression said it all. He’d never seen anything like this. “I have no idea. This is so savage.”

  “When Detective Holden said it was a bad scene I was thinking he was just being soft,” Foley said grimly. “Fuck, look at this.”

  I snapped my gaze to his. “So, you weren’t first on the scene?”

  Foley shook his head. “I just relieved Holden. He was working the evening shift. I arrived just when you did.”

  Suddenly, Haven’s soft cry came behind me. She stood frozen staring at the torso. “Are you okay, Haven?” I asked and walked toward her. The closer I got the more I could see she wasn’t.

  Just as I reached her, she ran into my arms and embraced me as tight as she could. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably. “This is horrible,” she cried.

  She just wasn’t made for this. Her soul consisted of love, sunshine and happiness. Brutality like this couldn’t register in her mind.

  “Haven,” Kyden said firmly, then pulled her from my arms. “You need to be strong.” She didn’t hear him. She was too distraught. “Haven,” he shouted and gave her a little shake. “We can’t let them get away.”

  The gaze of trauma drifted away. “Ooo—kay. I just wanna get out of here,” she sobbed. “I want Finn.”

  Kyden helped her toward the torso, taking slow steps as he tried to walk around the scattered body and dodge the puddles of blood at the same time. They stopped and Haven raised her shaky hands to the sky.

  Within seconds, the scene was before us. It took everything to keep my eyes open. It was gruesome. Two wolves were tearing into this woman as if she was a piece of meat and they’d been starved for months. The sound alone was disturbing enough—the look on her face was worse.

  It took way, way, too long before she actually died. When the scene froze, the wolves had shifted, big smiles planted on their faces.

  Fuckers!

  The first wolf, an everyday white-collar businessman—clean cut and shaven. The guy next to him, a little more rugged, more of an outdoorsy type.

  Kyden glanced at me. “Done?”

  I nodded. “Yes, very done.” The sooner this scene was gone the better.

  He drew his sword and slashed down into the torso. Seconds later, the evidence of this brutal killing was gone. Not a single drop of blood left.

  Foley groaned. “That was brutality at its best.”

  “Th—that w—was.” Haven’s words stopped by her complete and total meltdown. She fell into Kyden’s arms, screaming and sobbing hysterically.

  For a moment, I couldn’t move. Her distress was enveloping me.

  “Nexi,” Kyden shouted.

  Snapping out it, I quickly ran toward him.

  “We will be in touch, Foley,” Kyden said, hastily. We joined hands and slammed back into the foyer. Then, he met my gaze with troubled eyes. “Get Zia.”

  Before I even moved, Zia ran out of the Council’s Hall toward us.

  Kneeling down next to Haven, she grabbed her hands. “Hush now, Haven. You are safe.” Haven’s lids fluttered. Then, they slowly shut as she drifted fast asleep. Zia took in a deep breath and stood. “Don’t worry. I have erased her memory.”

  Thank god! Something like this could destroy Haven. Her distress was fierce. Our bond sent waves of terror cutting through me like a sharp knife. She wouldn’t quickly recover from this one.

  Finn suddenly appeared at the door and walked urgently toward Haven. “Is she okay?”

  Kyden nodded dourly. “Bad scene.”

  Finn bent down and scooped her up in his arms. “Her heart is so soft.”

  She couldn’t have been in better arms. He adored her. I was glad she had him. From what I’d seen of Haven, she deserved no less than a man who would walk over coals for her.

  Finn started to walk away, but glanced back at me. “Zia always gives her a memory of a night alone with me. Remember that if you are talking with her.”

  I nodded and glanced at Kyden when he said, “Before we go back out Talon will want to hear of this.”

  “Yes. I think he will,” Zia agreed.

  Following in behind her, we entered the Council’s Hall and Zade asked, “Is Haven alright?”

  “She’s sleeping like a baby,” Zia responded, taking her seat.

  “What upset her?” Talon asked Kyden.

  “This was the most brutal killing I’ve ever seen,” Kyden told him. “Two wolves shred a woman to pieces.”

  “Two wolves?” Brax gasped. “Shred her? I can’t believe it.”

  “Trust me, I wouldn’t have believed it either,” I said. “But it was what it was and that woman was torn apart like she was Thanksgiving supper.” Going back to Frank’s rule—when scared, make jokes.

  Kyden arched a brow. “Thanksgiving supper?”

  “Harsh I know, but I either have to make a joke or be admitted to the nutty bin. Take your pick.”

  He smirked.

  Brax said, “I cannot believe our wolves are doing this.” His voice lowered with melancholy. “What would make them kill so cruelly?” His gaze met Kyden’s. “Briggs might be of some use here. Kyden, go to him. See what he has to say. Maybe they know of what is going on here.” He stood, heading out of the room. “I will contact him and let him know you are coming.”

  “Who’s Briggs?” I asked Kyden.

  “A friend.”

  * * * *

  This could very well be my dream home. A small log cabin nuzzled into a huge thriving forest. A lake was just off to the right where a small speedboat was roped onto the boat dock. There wasn’t another cottage in sight. Completely secluded from the outside world, it was perfect. “Where are we?” I asked Kyden.

  “Utah,” he replied.

  Just then, the front door opened and whom I assumed was Briggs, stepped out. He was a wolf, just a hell of a lot smaller—still muscular of course, but thin. His features were made up of strong lines, even his hair, short brown and spiked tall.

  When he met us, yellow eyes raked my body. “You said she was lovely, Kyden, but really, you didn’t say she was bloody well perfect,” Briggs said in a very alluring voice.

  Kyden snorted and gave him a quick jab to the stomach. Briggs grunted from the hit and bent a little. When he rose, they broke out laughing and embraced each other in a rough manly hug.

  There were so many sides to Kyden. Normally, he was strong—always in control. With me, he was usually soft unless he needed to be tough, but with Briggs, he was comfortable. The way best buds normally are.

  “Come in, beauty.” Briggs inclined his head at the door. “You smell hungry.”

  His home was simple as simple could be. That’s what made it so great. It didn’t need anything spectacular to be beautiful. It just was. There were two large brown couches around a wood burning stove, a mini kitchen to the left, and a bed resting at the back of the room.

  “You home is so beautiful,” I told him.

  Briggs smiled sensually. “You, Nexi, can come here as often as you like.” Kyden attempted another punch, but Briggs blocked his move. “Ah ha! Missed me that time, you wanker.”

  Kyden laughed. “How are things, Briggs?”

  “Good, mate. Good,” he replied and headed over to the kitchen. He looked back over his shoulder. “You?”

  Kyden’s gaze met mine. “Never been better.”

  “I bet it hasn’t.” Briggs chuckled. He stopped at the stove, took the lid off an old steel pot, and scooped out what looked like beef stew. He closed the lid and returned to us, handing me a wooden bowl with a large spoon. “Hope this is good.�
�

  Inhaling deeply, I was delighted with the comfortable scents of beef, potatoes and carrots. “Mmm, looks delicious.”

  “Eat first, then we’ll see where you stand.” He laughed and handed a bowl to Kyden. “What’s up?”

  Guys never invested in chit chat, just straight to business. I, on the other hand, had more important things to do than talk. Briggs was right, I was famished. But he was wrong too, this stew was fantastic.

  “W—f—s,” Kyden mumbled, chewing.

  Briggs laughed loudly. “Wfs?”

  Kyden smirked. “Wolfs,” he said clearly. “There have been a couple killings in New York. Hear anything about it?”

  Briggs went quiet for a moment, then shook his head. “Nah. Is it bad?”

  “You could say that. They are killing for pleasure. The last scene we were at they ripped a woman to pieces.” Kyden gave me a wink. “Like she was Thanksgiving supper.”

  I smiled.

  Briggs brows shot up. “Did I just hear you right?”

  Kyden nodded firmly.

  “No. I haven’t heard anything about this,” Briggs said, then gave his face a rub. “The only troubles recently have been within the Texas pack. Some of the members in Austin have left the packs protection.”

  “Could these be our wolves?”

  Briggs gave a deep shrug. “I haven’t heard of the wolves joining another pack so it could be likely.”

  My curiosity was building. “If you don’t mind me asking, why do you know so much about the packs?”

  He smiled. “You are new, aren’t you?”

  “Yes and getting information out of anyone calls for some serious interrogation techniques. So, if you could please make this easy on me, I’d appreciate it.”

  His face lit up with surprise. “Hmm, a female who speaks her mind. Well, well, I see why you have tamed our Kyden here.” He gave a respectful nod. “I respect your straightforwardness. I will answer you as simply as I can. The best way to understand what I do is to explain wolves to you. You don’t know much about us?”

  I shook my head as my response.

  “I thought as much,” he continued. “In simple terms, each state in the U.S. has a pack. Each of those packs has their own Alpha who leads them. Got me so far?”

  I nodded. “So far so good.”

  “We also have a Patriarch. He is the ruler over the Alphas.”

  “So, he’s like the Alpha of all Alphas?”

  Briggs laughed. “That’s a good way to see it. His name is Valor and I work for him. I am his Beta—his second in command.”

  “What do you do for him exactly?”

  Kyden butt in. “He’s a secretary.”

  Briggs threw a pillow at his head and missed. “It’s more than taking his phone calls and scheduling meetings, dolt. My main priority is to act as a mediator when problems arise within the Alphas. If the matter cannot be resolved, the Patriarch will come to handle it.”

  Kyden threw the pillow back and smacked Briggs square in the head. “Gotcha.” He laughed.

  “You sod!”

  “Would you two stop!” I snapped. “I’d like to finish this conversation before the sun comes up.” Jesus, it was like dealing with children for frig sakes.

  Briggs raised his brows and glanced at Kyden, who laughed.

  “Right then,” Briggs said, “Best not keep her waiting.” He grinned then said, “The Patriarch is always aware when trouble arises within the packs, which means I always know too. Does that answer your question sufficiently?”

  “Yes, that’s the simplest answer I’ve received yet. Thank you for that.”

  “I will contact the Alpha in Texas to let him know of this,” he said to Kyden. “I am sure if their brothers are involved they will want to be involved in the search for them.”

  “The council will be pleased to hear that.” Kyden said and then he flashed a brilliant smile. “Humans are dropping like flies.”

  “Good one!” I laughed.

  Briggs was watching us as if we’d lost our minds. I thought it wise to explain. “My father told me once that whenever I was scared or unsure to make a joke. Always takes the bite out of the situation.”

  “Right, you were raised human.” He shook his head. “Very strange creatures.” Then, he sighed deeply getting back on subject. “I will inform Valor of this also. I am not sure if he will be of any help here, but I do know this will displease him to hear the wolves are behaving in such a way.”

  “Why do you think they are doing this?” I asked him. He’d know more than anyone what this was all about.

  “Don’t know darlin’, but trust me on this, there’s a reason for it. Wolves never kill maliciously for enjoyment or for any other reason. It’s just not in our nature.”

  Chapter Ten

  In just a few short nights, the Council counted four killings. With only two of the wolves responsible destroyed. Being that the Guardians were ransacking all of New York trying to locate the members of the Texas pack, they were smart enough to stay hidden.

  Kyden and I had been searching an old warehouse, which was once a meeting place for the New York pack. The building was abandoned when we arrived and after an hour of searching, it remained that way.

  Back on the main floor, sick of looking at this dull and depressing warehouse, I said, “I think it’s safe to say no one is here.”

  Kyden nodded in agreement. “Let’s go.”

  As we headed for the door, a loud bang came behind us. When I spun around, a vampire stood surrounded by wolves—an entire pack of them. This wasn’t just any vampire, either. He was the vampire who approached me at the club and seeing him in this way made a memory flicker into my mind. He was the vampire from the visions.

  Kyden’s voice was so callous it barely made a sound. “Lazarus.”

  Couldn’t even say what took place next, it all happened so quickly. One moment I was standing there. The next, I was in Kyden’s arms and he was running out of the building, the wolves snarling behind us.

  We hit outside, and the second we did, we slammed back into the foyer. Kyden had been running at full speed—needless to say, we flew straight into the wall. “Ouch,” I gasped and rubbed my head.

  “Alright?” Kyden’s voice was tight.

  “I’m fine. Holy shit! That was Lazarus. As in my mother’s killer, Lazarus?”

  “Indeed it was.” He helped me to my feet and we sprinted into the Council’s Hall.

  Talon was laughing with Zia, but when he saw Kyden’s expression, he stopped and stood. “What’s happened?”

  Kyden’s voice had deepened as his strides lengthened. “Zia was right, Lazarus has returned.”

  “Lazarus?” Zade gasped. “Are you sure?”

  “Without a doubt,” Kyden replied.

  “He has returned?” Brax asked, incredulous. “For what? What would interest him now? He has been gone so long.”

  Kyden added, “The wolves were with him.”

  “Were they now?” Talon pondered. “I suppose that answers the mystery behind the recent killings.” Then, his sigh came deep. “I cannot understand why he would command them to kill humans. What could be the motive behind it?”

  The room went quiet. No one had any answers. It was slightly humorous as they ran over answers in their minds, dismissing each one as it came.

  But my mind was too focused elsewhere. I knew with what I was about to say, the shit was about to hit the fan. “I’ve seen him before.”

  All their heads whipped toward me. A laugh escaped me, but when I caught Kyden’s expression, I sucked it back in. I valued my life.

  “What was that?” Kyden growled.

  “He was the vampire at the club who came up to me,” I answered, trying not to flinch from his tone. He was scary when he wanted to be.

  He grasped my arms and shook me. “Why did you not tell me this?”

  “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know who he
was. I only put two and two together when I saw him tonight.”

  “Why would he talk to her?” Kyden demanded, asking no one in particular.

  “Could be a coincidence,” Zade answered. Then, he looked at me. “What did he say?”

  “Nothing really. He was hitting on me.”