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

by Sarah J. Stone

  Reynolds fell silent, not expecting this kind of lecture.

  “If there is a glimmer of hope in all of this, Reynolds, I hope that you find it.”

  “Desmond, I walked away from you and from the Order. I used Acheronian magic, I killed hundreds, if not thousands. I was your first Tiro and I screwed everything up for you. And now you come and tell me about hope?”

  “I do,” Desmond replied. “And when the Jurors lay down your verdict for the crimes you have committed, I will be there, beside you, supporting you as I should have done.”

  Reynolds looked at Desmond in disbelief. His mouth gaped open several times before he spoke.

  “And what of the girl?”

  Desmond tried to smile.

  “Sienna has found her own path, as well, outside of magic. If you have diabolical plans, you should know that the drugs have wiped magic from her system. She knows death awaits her if she comes off of them. She is useless to your cause now.”

  “And your brave Nathaniel? Has he surged forward?”

  “Nathaniel has stayed with the Order,” Desmond said. “So you may hear his name from time to time. That is the path he believes is right for him, and I'm not going to stop him.”

  “Of course, he did.” Reynolds shook his head. “So much for different paths”

  “We have each found our own,” Desmond answered. “And I know that you will as well.”

  “Unless they execute me.”

  “They won't,” Desmond assured him. “You are too powerful, too blessed by magic to lose such a force to the world. Try to find a way without it, a way to be happy, and you will find yourself free.”

  “Not from prison bars,” Reynolds replied.

  “No, maybe not,” Desmond answered. “But your mind will be at peace.”

  The two stood in silence for a long moment, and then Reynolds spoke, softly, “You weren't a bad Maestro, Desmond.”

  Desmond was surprised by this.

  “I—”

  “You weren't. It was nothing that you did or said. You were a good Maestro, and it was I that strayed. Don't blame yourself for it. I hope you do find happiness with Mariah.”

  Desmond decided to accept this, bowing his head.

  “Thank you,” he said. “I will leave you now.”

  “Could you…Could you stay?” Reynolds asked, sounding so much like the boy Desmond had trained. “Not for long, I mean…but just a while?”

  Desmond smiled at this, taking a step closer. “I could,” he said. “If you wish it.”

  He settled down in a chair placed outside the cell. The two fell into a natural rhythm of conversation, as if the past few years had never happened. They spoke of their time on quests, of their moments at school, of the people they had known. Desmond felt himself go back twenty years, to a time when Reynolds filled him with hope and when nothing was too big of mountain for them to tackle.

  The path ahead was clear for him, but he knew it was only because of the moments that were difficult that he could walk it. It had taken forty years to get the courage to walk away with Mariah, and it was because his courage had been tested so many times before. He didn't fear what was to come, for everything behind him had been fearful enough.

  And despite having not taken Reynolds through to the tests, he felt he had succeeded with him. For despite the darkness, the past, his former Tiro still had strength within him, and still saw that he could live beyond all of this. He had taught him that. He had taught all of them that. Broken Christa, after the death of her Maestro, Nathaniel in the face of anxiety, Sienna in her daily struggles. And they had taught him patience and hope. They had taught him how to live.

  There was a life beyond the magic, and he was eager to live it.

  Epilogue

  “Did you translate all of those?” Eliza asked in surprise Sienna had only been working for her 10 months, but it seemed that she learned a new language every week.

  The former witch smiled as she handed her the tablet. “I did,” she said. “Some of them may be a bit shaky, but they are fine for the purposes you use. If that's all, my Queen…”

  “It is all,” Eliza replied. “Baroness.”

  Sienna blushed at the rank Eliza had given her. “It's Devon's birthday,” she said. “So we'll be off for the evening?”

  “Of course,” the Queen replied. “It will be a relaxing…”

  Just as she was finishing her sentence, the doors to the palace flew open and Jonah burst in.

  The captain of the guards was normally cool and collected, but at the moment, his eyes were wild.

  “Your highness,” he said. “The rebel forces are marching on us.”

  Eliza's eyes hardened.

  “Then attack. I won their throne here on Natrine. They need to accept that. Teach them a lesson.”

  “No,” Jonah said. “They've had help. There're three outer rim planets that have come to their aid.”

  “What?” Eliza asked. “Who allowed this?”

  “Your highness, they took us by surprise,” Jonah said. “But regardless of semantics, we are currently outnumbered. You need to call Jeffro's forces, but we will need more back-up then that.”

  “This is treason,” Eliza growled. Sienna, however, put a hand on her shoulder, calm.

  “You took the throne,” she said. “The witches defend the thrones at all costs, as natural leaders must be protected.”

  Eliza held her gaze.

  “Will they send us aid?”

  “Yes,” Sienna replied. “I believe they will.”

  “Then call for it,” Eliza said. “Jonah, call the Jeffro forces. As many as we can spare.”

  “My concern, your highness, is that if Jeffro is left half-defenseless, they will storm on there, as well.”

  “No,” Eliza was defiant “We will defend both fronts. Call the witches now, Sienna. Ask for aid.”

  “Aye,” Sienna nearly dropped the tablet and headed out of the large marble hall.

  Devon was waiting just outside the door, expecting her to be finished work. Their life together on Natrine was much different from the rigid life the Order had demanded of them. Eliza was a kind mistress, expecting the work to be done when it was due and not much more. Sienna found herself happy, light and free. With her magic blocked, she was finally able to see what life was beyond the Order. With Devon's hand almost constantly in hers, she thought it was beautiful.

  Today, though, her eyes were wide with panic.

  “I need to call Nathaniel,” she said, as they ducked into a quiet corner. “We're under attack.”

  “Mm,” Devon answered. “Somehow, I knew this day would come.”

  “So did I,” she said. “We'll be flooded with witches in a few days. It's odd, this is the warrior excitement I always wanted. And now that it's here...”

  “Now that it's here, you realize you are happy with your other path,” Devon answered. “Regardless, it will be nice to see our friends. I can call Laura, if you like.”

  “Probably needed,” Sienna said, as she dialed through.

  Nathaniel looked tired when he answered, his lighting dim. She could make out that he was at the school, in his room, and it was early morning. She hadn't thought about the time change.

  “Maestro,” she said. “The day has come.”

  “Oy,” Nathaniel replied, sitting up a bit more. “Do you need us to come now?”

  “I do,” she said. “You and your Tiro. I'm going to put quest bids up. We'll need several teams.”

  “We're ready,” Nathaniel replied. “Prada is stronger than any Tiro here. We will protect you.”

  She remembered the days that he said that about her, and smiled.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “Just stay safe,” he replied, and she sensed a grin in the darkness.

  “Nathaniel…are you…excited?”

  “I am a warrior after all, little one,” he said, as his tablet jiggled with
him getting up. “And you always wanted to see me in action.”

  “I did,” she answered. “I'm going to put a few calls out. Let me know if there's anything else I can do.”

  “Look at us,” he replied. “Working together on intergalactic quests. Did you ever think that would happen again?”

  She smiled.

  “I didn't,” she said. “But we've found a way.”

  “There's always a way,” Nathaniel said, “if you believe. I'll see you soon.”

  “Bye,” she hung up, passing the tablet to Devon to call Laura. Despite the oncoming danger, Devon grinned at her.

  “Well, this is exciting,” he said, as he keyed in Laura's number.

  “It is,” Sienna drew her knees up as she perched on the window seat. “And I'm ready for it.”

  “We're together,” he said. “We're ready for anything. And with you here, we can call in teams in any language. You're magic.”

  His choice of words made her smile. “I didn't use to think I was,” she replied. “Not until you made me feel differently.”

  “So, my love,” he said, as the call began to ring. “Are you ready for a new adventure?”

  “I am,” she said, as Laura picked up. Like everything in life, it wasn't going to be easy. A year ago, she couldn't believe that she ever would have been happy with this reality. But today, with Devon by her side, and her skills sharp and making a different, she felt happy, and strong. It had taken walking away from her once dream, and from magic, to make her feel like she was indestructible

  There was always another path, and she was so glad that she had found it.

  ***THE END***

  A Wolf’s Heart (Wolf Mountain Peak Book 1) Preview

  Chapter One

  The full moon cast its ample light on the small town of Shandaken, on a crisp, late April night. Hundreds upon hundreds of stars filled Monica’s view, bringing a bitter smile to her face. Until three months ago, she would have savored each and every moment of this unique spectacle. After all, the bright, New York City lights had never allowed her to see so many stars in the sky. Most of them were invisible to her. Worse than that, the noise around her apartment building would render it impossible to stand on her balcony and enjoy such a romantic setting. Sooner or later, her ears would buzz, and she would be forced to go back inside. But more importantly, living in that apartment back then, Monica Mills was not alone. She was married to Tom Riker, her high school sweetheart, and they would have been able to share all of this peace and quiet together.

  But now, their marriage was over. Monica had been a doctor at the New York Metropolitan Hospital and as such, she didn’t have much time for Tom. As an advertising executive, he had to travel a lot. The two of them only saw each other two or three times a month and, although Monica had believed that spending some time apart would strengthen their relationship, she was proven hopelessly wrong.

  At first, everything seemed to be going well. She couldn’t wait for him to come back from his trips. He would bring her presents, take her out on romantic dinners, and take her mind off of the fact that they were, in essence, having a long-distance relationship. With Tom treating her so specially, it took only a matter of minutes for Monica to forget how long he had been away from her. All that mattered to her was that they were together again.

  As time went by, however, the young couple seemed to be drifting apart. Presents no longer made an appearance, no part of talking was ever sweet, and Tom became as distant emotionally as he had been on his trip. Tenderness had left his voice. The look in his eyes grew colder every time he walked in the door. He wouldn’t touch her; he wouldn’t treat her the way he used to. Sweet, tender moments were soon replaced by loud arguments, harsh words, and tears.

  Just eight months after their wedding, Tom filed for a divorce. Monica might have been devastated to be served the papers, but, on some level, she couldn’t deny that she was relieved. The situation between them had become unbearable. What she had hoped would be a long, happy marriage had started feeling more like a prison she could not escape. The apartment that once housed their love was now a place filled with bittersweet memories–a place where she could no longer stay.

  Which is why Monica requested a reassignment just three weeks after the divorce was final. The twenty-nine-year-old doctor had to pick up her pieces and start over. As much as she loved her colleagues, friends, and family, she could not do anything positive by staying in New York. Monica needed a new work environment, a change of pace, far away from the bustling city, but near enough for her loved ones to visit. The town of Shandaken up in the Catskill Mountains, one hundred and thirty miles away from New York, was perfect for what she had in mind. It was quiet, secluded; not much would be happening there.

  The sound of the diesel engine from the moving company truck was fading in the distance when Kate Brooks and Julia Stinson, Monica’s closest friends, joined her on the front porch of her new residence.

  “So,” Kate started, folding her arms across her chest as she stopped beside Monica, “new home, new town… How does it feel?”

  “Ask me again in a month,” Monica said, her voice low as she dropped her gaze from the sky. “I guess it will take a little bit of getting used to.”

  “I like it already,” Julia confessed, her tone sweet as she stepped closer to the railing. “I mean, what’s not to like? Small, modest neighborhoods, scent of pine in the air, wet soil… Oh, and did I mention hot mountain men? I saw a few of them on our way up here.”

  “Foul mouths, beards, tattoos…,” Monica shook her head, her brows popping up in disapproval. “Thanks, but I’ll pass. Besides, I think it’s too early for me to date.”

  “Tell me I didn’t hear that,” Kate pitched her voice louder, giving her friend an angry, sideways glare. “How long’s it been since your divorce again?”

  “Five months.”

  “Exactly!” Kate exclaimed as one in charge of all the answers of the universe. “Let it go, Mon. It’s not healthy.”

  “Oh, Kate,” Monica said with a sigh, “you don’t understand. I need to adjust to living here first. That’s why I moved in two weeks before I start working at the hospital. A boyfriend can wait.”

  “I’m going to be here a lot more often than I thought,” Julia interjected, her voice lowering to a soft whisper as she pointed at the horizon. “Look at that. Isn’t it amazing?”

  Julia was in fact gazing at the awesome sight of the Wolf Mountain Peak. The moon and the stars had painted it a glimmering shade of light purple, lighting up the few patches of snow on the slopes. The beams splashed a warm sensation onto Monica’s face. She hadn’t been in Shandaken for more than just a few hours, and she had already found something that took her breath away. However, the magnificent spectacle did not last long. A massive shadow began to cover the mountain, effectively ruining the moment as slopes and peak alike slowly got lost in the darkness.

  “Bummer,” Julia murmured, lowering her arm as Monica’s gaze shot up into the sky. The moon was starting to hide between two large clouds as a strong gust of wind blew through her hair. Within seconds, all the three friends could see was the globe’s shadow peeking through the clouds. Disappointment unfurled in her chest. She had never seen the moonlight so bright before or so many stars in the sky, and this incredible scenery had been taken away from her. Yet, before Monica could voice her annoyance, a loud howl filled the air, echoing in the wilderness that surrounded her home. A small smile formed on her face as she closed her eyes against how good it felt to hear the cry of her most favorite animal on earth for the very first time: the gray wolf. Monica savored each and every second it lasted, feeling every fine hair all over her body rise.

  “We got something in return,” she whispered upon opening her eyes as the howl faded into nothingness. “It’s so beautiful.”

  “Oh, my God!” Julia squeaked in terror. “There are wolves up here?”

  “Wolves, bears, coyotes….” Monica
’s smile widened as she turned to face her friend. “We’re in the mountain, Jules. Seriously, what did you expect?”

  “You’re a weird lady,” Kate let out a short laugh, her eyes glinting with amusement. “I should have seen this coming, though. You never shut up about them.”

  “They’re closer to us than we think,” Monica maintained, speaking in a more serious tone. “They live in societies, there’s a chain of command, pretty much like the army; alpha male and alpha female mate for life. Talk about true love.”

  A crackling stream of lightning flashed and sizzled just as she finished her sentence. A deafening boom of thunder rattled the windows, causing the hardwood floor to vibrate beneath their feet. Monica was undeterred. A little rain would not discourage her from hearing more and more wolf howls. She had been waiting for this moment for a long time, and gentle rain was not enough to change her mind about staying on the porch. Still, this was anything but gentle. As a matter of fact, it was so hard and sudden that their clothes were soaked before any of them knew it. The rain pelted down around them as another clap of thunder tore through the night, leaving them no choice but to rush back inside. Monica closed her eyes into slits, taking one last look around her, thanking her luck for hearing the howl, even though this night was so violently interrupted.

  “‘Til next time, wolf. ‘Til next time.”

  Chapter Two

  “Jesus Christ!” Frustration was lingering in Kate’s voice as she wiped the water off her shirt. “I mean, what the hell happened out there? One minute we were looking at the moon, and the next thing we knew, it was pouring rain on us! Is it supposed to rain like that in spring?”

  Monica was not going to interrupt her friend’s rant. Her bluntness and her sense of humor were two of the many things that she loved about her, and, after the long day they had all had, this outburst was one of the few things that could give her a reason to smile.

  “Yeah, darling,” she chuckled, seating herself on the couch. “We’re thirty-five hundred feet above sea level. I think it’s only natural.”