by T. S. Ryder
I got up again, grunting. I searched the crowd for a sign of Siobhan. As my eyes met hers, a sharp pain shot through my neck as Harrison’s fangs dug into my soft fur.
“No,” Siobhan screamed, and started walking toward the pit. Mishayev jumped out of the crowd, shifting back into human form, and grabbed hold of her before she could enter the pit. As another cloud found its way in, I moved to the side and closed my eyes, sniffing for Harrison’s scent. He jumped through the cloud of fog like before, except I was not there. I launched into him with full force, hitting him so hard that he flied out of the pit. He got back to his feet and immediately shuffled back in. He launched into an attack that I dodged.
Siobhan was sobbing, shouting, pleading, “You have to win! You can do it! A win for me, please!”
He attacked me from the side and got on top of me, his paws landing blows repeatedly on my face, disabling me. I had a good shot from there, I could take him down easily, but I couldn’t bring myself to hit my own brother. I’d rather lose. He slashed my skin and I felt warm blood ooze out and stick to my mane.
Siobhan’s sobs drowned everything. Then she said something and I knew there was no stopping.
“You can do this, Harrod,” she shouted, struggling in Mishayev’s tight grip. “For heaven’s sake, you have to win. Win for me, win for the child that’s inside me.”
I stroke hard under my brother’s abdomen and he yelped with pain, falling to the side, kicking up a cloud of sand. I got back up and howled, and shifted again. This shift was unknown to me. No other wolf that I had seen here could shift like this. My bones cracked and strained in my body as I shifted into a hybrid form, a cross between man and wolf. There was a collective yelp from the crowd gathered, whether in shock or awe I couldn’t tell. My dad moved forward and stood beside my Grandpa on the cliff, spectating closely now. I could see them better somehow, more clearly.
Harrison was looking at Siobhan, taking in what she said. I howled at the top of my lungs and landed a fierce blow to my brother. It knocked him out as he skidded onto the sand in another cloud. A minute passed but he didn’t get up. He whimpered in pain.
From atop the cliff, my Grandpa looked toward the moon and howled. My dad joined him when he howled for the second time. Mishayev let go of Siobhan.
The entire wolf pack howled together with my dad and grandfather as they howled for the third time. The howls were eerie and echoed through the trees.
“We have a winner,” my Grandpa said proudly. “We have a new Alpha!”
The wolves howled again, cheering for me. I rushed to Harrison’s side as he shifted back into human form. “I’m fine,” he said. “Well played. I trained you well.”
Four werewolves from the infirmary came and took him away on a gurney, disappearing into the woods. Siobhan ran into the pit and wrapped her arms around me. Everybody was standing still in their place.
“Members of the pack,” Grandpa continued. “I am proud to announce that we have a True Alpha this time. It is a rare happening, but it has happened. We have among us one that has bloodmoons for eyes and the impeccable control that allows him to maintain a form that is between animal and man. Precious,” he said cockily. “Simply precious.”
“Good tidings, I told you,” Mishayev shouted to Siobhan.
I remembered what Siobhan shouted at me.
“You’re pregnant,” I said, holding her firmly.
“Yes,” she said. “If you’re not happy, we can—”
“I couldn’t be happier,” I said, and kissed her before she could speak of the unthinkable.
Then my dad spoke from atop the cliff. “I have more good news for you,” he said to the pairs of yellow eyes. “We have a new union among us, for the new Alpha no less. And our pack is to grow, with a new pup on the way.”
The howled that ensued were elated and transformed into claps as the pack shifted into human form to congratulate us.
“Union,” I said, looking at Siobhan.
“I told your father before I came here,” she said. “That’s why he sent me here.”
“You have known all along and you didn’t tell me? Who else knew?”
“I couldn’t wait to tell you, but I wanted to do it after the fight. I only told your father, but I think Misha knew too.”
“And the union?”
“Your father asked me if I wanted it, and I said yes. He said he’ll take care of the rest. I can say I changed my mind if you don’t want it.”
“Fuck, no,” I said, sweeping her off her feet and kissing her again. I got on my knees and planted a kiss on her belly. “This one’s for my pup.”
The crowd reached us, surrounded us and lifted us up. Pats on the back, handshakes and blessings were showered on us.
Mishayev came and snatched Siobhan from me. “Now she must see our doctor,” she said protectively. “You should go see one too.”
“I’ll come with you,” I said.
“You can’t be with Siobhan until the ceremony. You have already imprinted on her, but you have to do it properly. Once you form the bond, you’ll be considered married according to our customs. Until then, you can only meet her under my supervision.”
“I don’t mind,” Siobhan said. “He can see me whenever he wants.”
“I have already disregarded too many rules by sending you here, young lady,” said my dad’s raucous voice from behind. “I can’t break anymore rules. We will hold the ceremony tomorrow and you will join in union. Until then, you must wait.”
“Lay down the Mountain Ash,” Grandfather chimed in.
“What’s that?” Siobhan and I asked simultaneously.
“It is something that is very toxic to werewolves,” Mishayev explained. “But humans help us with it when we need.”
“What for?” Siobhan asked.
“It forms a protective boundary when laid down in a perfect circle. No wolf can cross it. It is customary for us to lay it around during periods of mourning or celebration, so we are not attacked by rivals when we least expect it.”
Mishayev took Siobhan and headed to the infirmary, but not before I stole her for a fiery make-out session. I could see in her eyes how much she hated being separated from me, and if the tent in my pants was any indication, I wouldn’t be having an easy night either. In just a week, I had grown too used to her presence to spend a night without her. But the new sun was filled with glad tidings, and I couldn’t wait!
*****
THE END
Bonus Book 2: The Alpha's Baby
Description
A curvy wolf looking for an escape PLUS a hot-as-hell Bear choosing his mate PLUS his biggest enemy on their heels!
It’s Joshua’s responsibility to lead his Bear pack as he sees best. And what he thinks is best is to take his enemy’s daughter as his mate. It’s all for his pack. But when he sees her curves, he can’t help but feel his loins tighten.
Wolf Naomi should have been Alpha after her mother, the previous Alpha, died. But her father made sure that didn’t happen. She wants freedom, not love, and Joshua's offer is her escape. She can’t let that perfect V of his abs distract her.
But their new union is put to the test immediately when Naomi finds an abandoned baby in the woods. Where did it come from? Where should it go?
When, on top of that, they discover plans that threaten the whole Bear pack, Naomi and Joshua have to make a choice. And Naomi has to face her biggest fear... her own father.
As danger rises and desire heightens, Naomi and Joshua need to focus and stay alive. They can’t mate yet. She has to stay a virgin, until Christmas…
Chapter One – Joshua
Snow fell in thick flakes from the sky, heralding the White Christmas that the songs on the radio had been singing about for weeks now. Normally Joshua Stewart would have taken a moment to breathe in the deep scent of pines and spruces mingling with the sharp bite of snow, but today was not most days. The Bear Alpha canines lengthened as he stopped his snowmobile. His two seconds, Matt
, his beta, and Luke, his gamma, pulled to a stop behind him.
Sure enough, the cabin was exactly where reports said it was. It had clearly been built in a hurry, probably overnight. The logs that made up its walls were rough and still had bark clinging to them in placed. But then, it wasn't meant to be a place for the inhabitants to permanently live in, but rather to make a statement.
Joshua gritted his teeth as he marched up to the door. Normally he would say that the Wolves could do what they wanted and the Bears would do what they wanted, but the Wolf Alpha was clearly provoking him. James Tucker wanted any excuse to reignite the war that had been resolved a hundred years ago. Joshua didn’t know why the old man had such a hatred of Bears, but he knew that was not going to give him any excuse to resume hostilities.
Before the Alpha got to the door, it was flung open. Joshua stopped where he was, eyes narrowing, as Tucker exited the cabin. The Wolf Alpha was lean but wiry, like all Wolves. In a fair fight, he'd stand no chance against the larger Bear.
Actually, a fair fight would be at least a dozen Wolves against one Bear.
But it was quite clear that Tucker was not looking for a fair fight, not with the hunting rifle he hand pointed directly at Joshua's head. The Bear Alpha kept himself relaxed. He wasn't going to let the Wolf intimidate him.
"This is Bear territory, Tucker, as we established with human land surveyors. If you want to live this far from your park, move your cabin ten feet to the north."
"I remember what the surveyors said. But what difference does ten feet make, eh?" Tucker kept his gun trained on Joshua. "The land back there isn't level. We're neighbors, are you going to start a fight over a measly ten feet of land?"
Beside him, Matt growled. Joshua sent him a warning glare, and his beta reluctantly lowered his head. This was not going to end with violence, but Joshua also was not going to just give up his people's claim to this part of the territory to the Wolves. It had once been a burial site for the Bears, although fortunately all the Bears buried in his location had been reburied elsewhere. If they hadn't been, Joshua wouldn't have been able to stop his people from burning down this cabin.
Hell, he would have lit the first match.
"You know what this place means to us Bears, you are deliberately trying to provoke us. Our land agreements have proven this piece of property belongs to us. You will move your cabin or I will sue you and your pack for every cent that you own."
A look of disgust came over Tucker's face. "That's the problem with the world these days. Instead of settling these things like good, honest shifters, weak Alphas like you have to go running to the humans to solve every little problem they're faced with."
Joshua couldn't help but roll his eyes. The deliberate attempt to provoke him was pathetic. He knew what he was, and weak wasn't among his list of attributes.
"You Bears aren't even using this land. It's flat and fertile, I could feed a dozen families with crops grown here."
"This land is ours. Unless you would like us to start building our houses on your burial grounds." Joshua stepped forward, resulting in Tucker cocking the gun. Well, it seemed that talk wasn't going to get through to the Wolf Alpha–at least, not just talk. He turned to Matt and rose a brow. "Are you getting all of this?"
"Getting it?" Tucker repeated.
Matt ignored the Wolf and adjusted the small camera he had attached to the label of his blazer. "Yep."
Tucker stared at the small device. It wasn't completely unnoticeable, but it was small enough that the Wolf clearly hadn't seen it, too engrossed in his attempts to provoke the other Alpha. Joshua grinned as the Wolf bared his teeth and growled. His grip on his gun tightened.
"Filming me? What could you possibly hope to accomplish with that?"
"Just proof, should things become hostile, to show the human justice courts that we did not initiate."
Joshua didn't like to rely on the threat of human intervention to get the Wolves to cooperate, but in times like these, he had to act swiftly and decisively. Humans levied heavy fines against the guilty party whenever fights broke out between the Bears and the Wolves. Given the state of finances under Tucker's leadership, he couldn't afford any more problems with the local human authorities.
As Joshua had expected, Tucker lowered the gun. "Fine. If you want to waste this valuable land and you think ten feet is oh so important, we'll relocate our cabin. My girls' hands are blistered until from building this one, but if you think it's so important—"
"Your daughters are here, then?"
Tucker narrowed his eyes. "Where I go, they go."
"Good. I'll be taking your eldest back with me to be my mate, then." Joshua surprised himself when he spoke. He had been toying with the idea for some time. A connection between the leadership of the two packs would help facilitate peace.
He hadn't expected to make such a blunt demand for it, though.
"My eldest daughter?" Tucker cried. "My flesh and blood, my precious Naomi? The child that will succeed me? I'll sooner see you all dead—"
"Enough, Father." A young woman pushed Tucker aside and marched towards the Bears. Her gaze locked on Joshua. "You're the Alpha?"
He nodded.
"I am Naomi Stewart. I'll mate you."
Joshua's brow rose. Perhaps he wasn't the only one to have thought of this before.
Tucker spluttered. "Naomi! Get back here at once!"
Joshua ignored the Wolf, focusing instead on the woman. Skin the color of pale cedar, eyes gray, hair chestnut brown. She was quite lovely. A little thinner than Joshua would have preferred, but that didn't matter. He felt himself stirring at the thought of mating her.
"You'll be my mate?" he asked her. "Just like that?"
"Yes. I'm a virgin and so you'll have to be patient with me that way, but I'm sure we can work it out."
Joshua inclined his head. Wolves, as far as he knew, only ever had sex with their mates, so that she was a virgin was to be expected. He had the sudden thought that maybe he didn't have enough experience to please her properly, but put that aside as he offered her his hand.
Tucker spluttered. "Naomi Tucker, if you leave with that Bear—"
"Goodbye, Father," she said coldly and put her hand on Joshua's.
***
Joshua opened the door to his house, gesturing for Naomi to enter before him. She walked in, her expression blank, and glanced around. He watched her carefully, wondering what was going through her mind at that moment. Was she regretting her choice?
"This is where we will live?"
"Yes. We won't officially mate until the next full moon—"
"Christmas Eve," Naomi murmured. "Do Bears celebrate Christmas?"
"Some of us do. I usually put up a few decoration this time of year, but I've been too busy this year. Your father had been causing me a lot of problems."
Naomi's gray eyes darkened and she shrugged, turning away from him. There was definitely more going on in her head than she was saying. But considering that she had said all of twenty words since they left her father's cabin, that wasn't very surprising. He couldn’t guess what she was feeling, whether afraid or resigned or bored.
"Do you celebrate Christmas?" he asked.
"We did before my mother died. Haven't since. My father doesn't like it. Says it's human nonsense." Naomi turned back to him. "You said that we won't officially mate until Christmas. But that doesn't mean we'll remain celibate until then, does it?"
Her simple question had a dramatic effect. Joshua's loins tightened, and his gaze traveled down his future mate's body. While on the thinner side, she still had plenty of curves and Joshua couldn’t wait to taste them all. Her lips beckoned him, but he held himself back, trying not to show the effect she had on him.
"If that's what you want, we will," he told her. "I know Wolves are a little different about these things than Bears."
Naomi's own gaze wandered over his form and nodded as though satisfied. The pale cedar color of her cheeks darkened. "I'll have to decid
e on that. We only decided to become mates a few hours ago, after all."
Joshua smiled, but before he could respond the door slammed open. In strode a woman almost as tall and broad as Joshua himself. Blonde hair, like his, though she was somewhat paler and she never wore makeup.
Susan. He sighed at the anger blazing on her face. Ever since they were children, Susan assumed that they would one day be mates because of her fighting prowess. Joshua himself had assumed the same for a long time, but had already decided against the female Bear. She was a spoiled, entitled brat whose violent temper tantrums got her everything she wanted. There were those in town that liked her, but Joshua wasn't one of them.
"What is this I hear about you taking a Wolf as your mate?" Susan seethed, glaring at Joshua.
"I'm taking a Wolf as my mate."
Susan's eyes landed on Naomi and a growl ripped up her throat. "That little girl? You'll break her in half. Or maybe I will, to show you how weak Wolves are."
Anger flared. Joshua was always proud of the fact that he could control his temper, but as Susan stepped towards Naomi, he found himself grabbing her by the throat and dragging her towards the door. Susan gasped as he tossed her out of his house.
"I am tired of your tantrums, Susan," Joshua said coldly. "You are hereby banished from the bear territory for two months, or until you learn that the world owes you nothing just because you can beat up half the Bears in town. You're a bully, and unless you change, I see a dark future ahead of you."