A Wolf's Desire (Wolf Mountain Peak Book 2)

by Sarah J. Stone

  Twenty minutes before 9pm, the siblings, Monica and Helena had all gathered outside in the yard, patiently waiting for Kate. For some unknown reason to them, Kate’s joining them had been taking a little too long.

  “Ok, this is getting ridiculous,” Raul groaned, checking his watch. “I mean, what is she doing in there? Getting ready for the prom?”

  “I’ll go check.” Monica said, shuffling off towards Dean’s front door. Still, before she could reach it, it was slowly opened. Kate’s eyes were glazed over in fear, as her gaze met with Dean’s. No surprises there. It was only natural for her to be afraid. But, something else troubled him, as her hesitant footsteps led her closer to him. There was more than fear in her eyes. It was a mix of sorrow and angst, and the black circles that had formed under them, sent a wave of terror sweeping over Dean.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute?” Even her voice sounded strange; eerily reminding him of the night she had broken down in her dressing room. Responding with a nod, he sucked in a deep breath, his curiosity peaking as she pulled him aside.

  “You look like someone died,” he remarked, his voice filled with worry, his gaze intense, as he leaned over her. “What’s the problem?”

  “I’m the problem,” Kate admitted, nodding at the same time, as she dropped her gaze from his face. “Actually, it’s my career.”

  “What about it?” Dean wondered, lowering his tone, feeling his heart ready to burst out of his chest.

  “Oh, my God…” she sighed, dragging her gaze up to meet his. “About a month ago, a guy named Peter Gibbons came over to the bar. He works at ‘Golden Media Records.’ He liked my voice. I gave him my number. I thought he’d forgotten about me, until he called me, three days ago. I said I had something personal to take care of, and I asked him to call me again today. He just did. He wants to offer me a contract, but…” she paused, her lips shaking as tears welled up in her eyes. “They’re based in L.A. I’d have to move there.”

  Dean’s initial thought was to ask her about her decision; yet, her watery eyes and her broken voice made him think twice. His answer was right in front of him. Kate had accepted that business proposal, tearing his heart apart, scorching his dreams of becoming her mate. All that awaited him was a slow, agonizing death: that was the fate of his kind; to die of a broken heart. If anything, his Siren had lived up to her name. She had enchanted him, she had lured him in, and now, she was about to tear him to pieces.

  “Please, say something.” Kate begged, her voice weak, as two tears streamed down her face.

  “Well…” Dean croaked, feeling his tears building and blinking them back, as a smile of bitterness spread across his face. “When I opened up to you, I never thought you would be the one to break my heart. It’s ironic, isn’t it?” He swallowed heard, as a tear rolled down his left cheek. “I’ve found my Siren, and now she’s killing me.”

  “Please, don’t talk like that,” she whispered, her breath coming out in sobs, as she reached down to his hands. Her own hands had lost their warmth. Dean felt cold all the way into the marrow of his bones, as they made contact with his skin. Taking a short step back, he yanked his hands out of her grasp, as his jaw stiffened. He would not speak. After all, he had nothing left to say to her. The only thing he could offer her was the sorrow ridden expression on his face, and his tears that were filled with a simple question, one that would never find an answer:

  “Why?”

  “You guys can stay here,” Kate went on, putting a little force in her voice. “This is my mess.”

  “I don’t think so,” Dean maintained, catching a glimpse of his burnt-out workshop to his right. “I don’t care if she is your mother. She harmed our business. She threatened to kill us. This can only end one way. Plus…” he sighed, running his hand through his hair. “I also vowed to protect you.”

  His statement shocked her to her core. Kate’s lips froze, her eyes grew wide, staring up at him, as her face fell in total disbelief. Still, he was not going to bother with her reaction. Dean had a big heart. She was well aware of that fact; she shouldn’t have been stunned. Waving his brothers and Helena to his spot, he exhaled hard, casting one last glance down at Kate, as he turned around.

  “Let’s get this over with, Siren. I don’t want you to think I’m holding you back or anything. As of tonight, you’re free…”

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Predictably, Dean had to fight off the urge to unleash his wolf, during the short walk through the woods. The beast was hurting. Just like the night he had visited Kate at her workplace, he was desperate to howl in the night. This time however, he would merely declare his sorrow, in the hope that letting it out would soothe him. Once more, logic prevailed. Shifting meant that, sooner rather than later, he would run into Marianne. Without question, a lone wolf, galloping toward her would provoke her wrath. Dean might be brave, but by no means was he stupid. He wouldn’t engage her all by himself.

  Reaching the intersection that cut through the forest, he picked up two, separate scents. He recognized one of them, but the other was completely strange to him. Glancing back at the group behind him, he sought Kate’s face, realizing the foul trick her parents had pulled on her. However, he was not going to announce anything to her. In his mind, it would be better if she found out all by herself.

  With a heart full of sorrow, Dean Bradford strolled up the hill. As he neared the fallen Alpha’s front yard, he could even hear their voices. Marianne’s tall, slender figure was the first to enter his view. She was a few yards away from the entrance, pacing up and down within the yard. Almost immediately afterwards, he saw an even taller, but thin man, cloaked in white, standing under a massive oak tree, to Marianne’s left.

  “Do you smell dog?” The man smirked, as the ground before Dean leveled out.

  “I’ve been smelling shit since last night,” Dean barked out, turning left to face them, chest out, as he put both hands on his waist. “I didn’t know turds could marry each other.”

  “Good one,” The stranger gave a sarcastic nod. “And you are?”

  “Dean Bradford. He’s our daughter’s sweetheart,” Marianne grumbled, casting a vicious glare up at him. “How’s the back, puppy? You took a pretty nasty fall last night.”

  A deep growl rose in his chest, as he rolled his fingers into fists. Dean’s face twisted with rage, his eyes glinting orange, as the beast within ached to be released. Still, he had to force restraint. His brothers, Helena and Kate were only seconds away.

  “Excuse my manners. I’m Michael Brooks.” Kate’s father introduced himself with yet another sarcastic smile. Dean chose silence over addressing him again, as the small group approached his spot. Kate soon passed him by, as Raul and Ray joined him. Leaning over him, his big brother whispered in his ear:

  “The pack is waiting for my call.”

  By rights, this piece of information should have excited him. The assistance of eight more wolves in this fight could prove invaluable. Still, Dean felt absolutely nothing, and his face didn’t even twitch. Helena stopped on his right, as Kate made her way towards her parents. A huge smile was painted on Marianne’s face, as she shoved off towards her daughter, whereas Michael chose to watch, clasping his hands behind his back. Marianne shut her eyes, as she entwined her arms around Kate’s back. Nevertheless, her daughter did not seem to share her enthusiasm as she jerked back out of her hold.

  “Get away from me!” Kate spoke through gritted teeth, narrowing her eyes at her. “You ditched me, and you expect me to pretend it never happened? Where the hell have you been these past eleven years? What about you, dad; where have you been hiding?” She asked, turning her attention to her father. “What’s your excuse for abandoning me?”

  “I’m really sorry for all the pain we’ve caused you, my child.” Marianne assumed a mellow tone, tilting her head to the side. “But we had to answer the call of our nature.”

  “If I may elaborate,” Michael interjected, pacing towa
rds them. “Up until the night of the fire, we could practice magic, but we could only perform minor tasks, such as moving things with our mind. In fact, you witnessed quite a few incidents of pens dragged across my desk, notepads flying across the room, etc. That’s why we put a memory spell on you. There is an unwritten rule in your mother’s family. Each female and her husband must get out of their children’s life, in order for their powers to peak. Magic comes at a price. Of course, we would still be able to monitor your life, look after you, and intervene when necessary.”

  “You chose power over me?” Kate wondered, her voice shattering, as she pointed to herself.

  “It was not an easy decision,” Marianne claimed, emphatically shaking her head.

  “Let’s go back to that ‘intervene’ part. What did you mean by that?” Kate inquired, squeezing a tear out of her eye.

  “Mark Wade. Jon Aldridge.” Marianne called out the names of her daughter’s former lovers, with a smug smile on her face. “We had to protect you from those two. Wade was a degenerate gambler, and Aldridge was just an awful cheater.”

  “You…” A gasp of despair left Kate’s lips, her breath coming in quick, fluttery bursts, as her tear rolled off her face. “You killed them? How?”

  “A mind control spell,” Michael said, his voice firm, showing no regret. “We messed with their heads. We clouded their judgment, more or less.”

  “You miserable little fucks!” Dean’s enraged baritone echoed in the wilderness, his face contorted with fury, as his blood pounded in his temples. “You ruined her life, you motherfuckers!” Attempting to start forward, he sensed Raul’s hand on his wrist.

  “Not yet,” the Alpha whispered, as Kate dropped her head in her hands. Dean’s heart was ripped right out of his chest, as she burst into loud, wailing sobs.

  “Your daughter survived an attempt on her life the other day. Were you responsible?” Helena’s question obviously put Marianne in a difficult position. Kate’s mother tore her gaze away from her, squeezing her eyes shut, as her husband put his arm around her shoulder.

  “There’s another rule,” Michael said, focusing his own gaze on Helena. “It’s an ancient rule that bears the penalty of death. Any children mothered by McIntyre women cannot get involved with shape shifters.”

  “Kate, come to me.” Helena urged, her jaw stiffening, as she gripped the top end of her staff tightly.

  “Nuh-uh.” Michael spoke. “She’s coming with us.”

  “It’s time you found out about another rule, you son of a bitch.” Helena grumbled, as Kate turned her back on her parents.

  “What’s that?” Michael smirked once more.

  Helena kept her mouth shut, as she grabbed her staff with both hands. Her red eyes darkened, as she tipped her head down, slightly. The earth beneath them began to vibrate, as she parted her lips.

  “Wing and beak and claw arise

  Tear and cut their flesh and skin

  Come my eagles – take their eyes

  Rip their malice from within”

  An eagle’s call ripped through the air, as Helena completed the incantation. Dean whirled his head around, only to spot two, brown, massive birds, swooping down towards their rivals. The eagles flapped their wings, just before they seized Michael and Marianne’s faces in their claws. Both of them reached up to the birds, screaming in pain, as claws sank into their skin. The one on Kate’s mother thrust in its beak into the skin of her forehead.

  “To threaten my domain bears its own punishment by death, asshole.” Helena groaned, whipping her head around to face Dean. “Finish them off.” She urged, as Kate collapsed into her embrace. Her words sounded like music to his ears. He would not restrain the beast any longer. Dean’s jaw grew and stretched, as big, pointed ears sprouted from his head. His hips reshaped, legs shortening and thinning, as his human skin was replaced with his brown fur. A ferocious growl rose up in his throat, as the wolf raised his upper lip, exposing teeth and fangs. Hackles raised, his tail swishing out behind him, he hurtled towards the witch that had humiliated them the night before, as Raul shed his human skin. Flapping his wings, the eagle released Marianne from his clutches and flew away, as Dean’s wolf leaped onto her. His massive weight knocked her off balance. She banged her head against the ground, as her body landed with a thump. Marianne’s brows popped up, as her terrified scream pierced his ears and resounded through his head. In his eagerness to end her right there and then, the wolf thrust his snout down. Her scream ceased, as he dug his teeth into the tender flesh of her throat. Marianne thrashed about beneath him, as he sensed her warm blood in his mouth. With another snarl, he pressed his paws onto her chest, hearing her heartbeat weakening more and more by the second. The wolf felt a tiny puff of air on his forehead, as the witch exhaled one last time. He had triumphed over her; yet, this was a victory he could not savor. Dean’s wolf stepped off of Marianne. A glance ahead of him told him that Raul had snuffed the life out of Michael as well.

  “Take me away from here.” Kate’s sob was not enough to force him to turn to her. He knew that risking a glance at her would only make him feel worse. The wolf padded towards the wall across from him, as she and Helena disappeared in a puff of red smoke. He lifted his snout, gazing up at the pale moon and the stars above him. A tremendous howl of sorrow rose and reverberated through the night, as a tear spilled from his eye. His Siren was long gone, out of his life…

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Dean left the abandoned yard behind him, but he would not even consider going back to his cabin. The possibility of running into Kate was much too great, and an emotional “goodbye” would tear him apart. She had betrayed him; she had proved to him that she valued her career more than their relationship. She didn’t deserve a “goodbye.” The one place he could go to in order to find some peace and quiet was Clover Lake.

  As the sparkling surface came into view however, he realized that he would not be alone. There was a blonde, sitting down on a large rock, with her back turned to him. It was none other than his sister, Melissa. Straight away, he thought of going to his cabin. He had to put some clothes on. Sadly though, the sound of a twig, crushing beneath his foot gave him away.

  “I’ve brought you a pair of jeans.” She said, picking up the pants from the rocky surface. “Put them on. We need to talk.” Melissa continued, tossing the jeans behind her.

  “How did you know I’d be here?” Dean asked, snatching the jeans out of midair.

  “I wasn’t born yesterday.” she spoke, a touch of irony in her voice. “I saw you guys leave. You walked off alone. What happened between you two?”

  “Aren’t you curious about how the whole thing with Marianne went?” He murmured, pulling his zipper up.

  “Your howl gave me the answer. I had a feeling you’d come here.” Melissa replied, as he reached both hands up. Holding on to the dusty edge, Dean moved his leg over the side of the rock. He climbed onto it and then seated himself beside his sister, his gaze settled on the glimmering surface.

  “Kate’s gone, Melissa.” He heaved a long, heavy sigh, bringing his knee to his chest. “She’s moving to L.A. She’s signing a contract with some record company.”

  “What?” All of a sudden, her voice turned into a high-pitched squeal, her eyes wide open, as she looked up at him. “What about your relationship?”

  “Don’t ask me.” Dean muttered under his breath, wrapping his arm around his knee. “That’s where she found me, you know.” He pointed up ahead and slightly to the right. “That’s where it all began.”

  “Oh, God…” Melissa said on an exhale, running both hands through her hair. “I guess I was wrong about her.”

  “We both were.” He voiced his opinion, as the fatal night replayed in his mind. “You know me, little sister. I don’t open up easily, but, when I saw her…” He drew in a sharp breath. “I couldn’t help it. It was automatic. I started talking, and I wouldn’t stop. I was worried about our weakness. She listened to m
e.”

  “Dean, stop it.” She urged, her voice stiff, as she clenched her jaw. “I don’t want to hear it.”

  “I’m just saying what happened.” Dean shrugged, his tone low.

  “I can’t believe that woman.” Melissa spoke too fast, her voice picking up volume as she did. “At least Monica had an excuse to dump Raul, but she doesn’t. She knows everything about us. That makes her betrayal even worse. You let her in: you help her out, you protect her, and what does she give you in return?”

  “A broken heart,” he breathed, feeling tears rise up in his eyes, as he dropped his gaze to his lap.

  “Exactly!” Melissa exclaimed, furrowing her brow. “I swear to God, if anything happens to you, I’m going to tear that bitch to pieces.”

  “It won’t matter.” Dean said, his baritone weak, as a tear raced down his cheek. “She’s not the only one to blame, anyway. I pursued her.”

  “I don’t recall her saying ‘no’ to you, do you?” She spoke in sarcastic tones. “Of course it matters. I’m not going to lose my brother, just because some dumb bitch thought she could make it big as a singer.”

  If only he could come up with a rebuttal. If only he could overcome his gut-wrenching pain, and offer his sister some kind of response. But, Dean could not work up the courage to speak. His broken heart was drowning in a sea of sorrow, as the sound of Kate’s sweet laughter rang in his ears. All that joy, all that happiness had slipped out of his grasp, far away from him. With a massive effort, he snorted back a sob, biting his lower lip, as his eyes poured out streams of tears.

  “No, no, no, no…” Melissa whispered, placing her arm carefully across his shoulders. “Have courage, big brother. She’s not worth your tears.” She went on, pulling him in for a side hug.

  “I miss her,” Dean sobbed, putting his head on her shoulder. “I miss her already.”