“I know I’m the last person who should be saying this…” Max cursed under his breath and then started again. “But, Mitch? You need to do what feels right now, rather than fear for the future or let the past take over. I wish you’d have told me about Heather when it first happened, but I get why you didn’t. Yet despite all that, it’s been decades since you lost her. Would she have wanted you to wear your hair shirt as you are, pushing away the one woman who could help you live your life to the fullest? Dawn is a wolf, just like you. You won’t lose her to old age. Yes, in our long lives, we’re more likely to be injured or killed by another wolf’s hand because of the way we live and function within a Pack, but she’d have that as a Central or your mate. Danger is part of our lives, but hope? That doesn’t come often. Don’t lose her because you’re afraid.”
Mitchell swallowed hard, knowing Max wasn’t only talking about Dawn, yet there wasn’t anything else he could say, not when they both had their own demons to face.
The thing was, Mitchell had already chosen to have Dawn in his life. He’d seen the person she was and had glimpsed the woman she could become. He loved the fierce protectiveness that coated her every movement and decision. He wanted that as part of his life, and some part of him told him that Dawn hadn’t been goddess-blessed as a Central because she was meant to be a Talon.
They’d slept together the night before without a condom, his seed spilling deep inside her, cementing the human half of their bond, but it wasn’t enough. Already, he could feel the fading warmth of the woman that could be his because there was no mating mark tying them together. Without his wolf’s bite—without her wolf’s bite—the fragile connection they shared would fade to dust, and they would be forced to walk away from each other. He wasn’t sure he could do that, yet he didn’t know if his wolf could get over losing Heather.
Fate wasn’t a blessing, it was a curse.
Before Mitchell could lament for too much longer about his own failings, Kameron and Walker came over the tree line and headed their way. Max shrank into himself like he did whenever he was around more than one person these days, and Mitchell had a feeling it was also because Walker had spent so much of his time lately trying to heal the worst of Max’s scars. Normally, his brother should have lost at least some of them by now, but for some reason, they weren’t healing, and it just was more evidence, at least to Max, that he needed to stay hidden.
Mitchell held back a growl at that and wanted to kick something. Between Dawn and Max, he was about to go out of his mind not being able to do what he needed to protect those he cared about.
“Hey, we passed by Gwen on our way over, and she mentioned that Dawn was stopping by to help at the daycare center once she finished work at the café,” Walker said in lieu of a greeting.
Mitchell nodded and checked his phone. “She should be over soon then.” He lifted his chin at his cousins even as they started their way to the front gate to finish up their patrol. Walker and Kameron would most likely be taking over unless Kameron had someone else on shift. “Dawn said she was going to quit her volunteer work at the human daycare center since they didn’t really need her and that she was pretty sure they were just placating her.” He let out a small growl. “She was also worried about what the parents might think since, apparently, word of her being a shifter got out.”
“Fuck,” Kameron growled low. “I thought we caught all the security cameras and witnesses.”
“You might have,” Mitchell agreed, “but someone talked.”
“How’s her job at the café then?” Walker asked. “Her boss and coworkers upset?”
“Not that I know of,” Mitchell answered as he leapt over a fallen log. “I’m keeping an eye on it, though.”
Max gave him a knowing look, and Mitchell bared his fangs. The other two didn’t comment on it, but he knew they were paying attention. Not only were they too worried about Max, but they also probably had a million questions and concerns about Mitchell and Dawn.
And as soon as Mitchell had answers, he’d probably still keep them guessing until he was alone with Dawn.
As if conjuring her, he caught sight of her vehicle driving down the road on the outside of the den. His wolf brushed along his skin, wanting to get closer. Yet, because his wolf was an asshole, it didn’t want to get too close and betray the ghost of a bond it had with Heather.
Fucking wolf.
He was about to raise his hand in a wave but froze as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. His wolf seemed to know there was something wrong before he did.
The explosion rocked the four men, and Mitchell slammed into the ground with Max, Kameron, and Walker landing around him. The others scrambled to their feet as Mitchell’s hands shook and he tried to blink the soot out of his face, keeping his eyes on Dawn’s car. She’d come to a stop as soon as whatever exploded had sent the men flying, but Mitchell knew it wasn’t the end of it.
He forced himself to a standing position, shouting for her to get down, but it was too late.
He was always too late.
Fire circled them, fire that wasn’t natural or man-made, not with the way it licked and danced along his skin and made a perfect perimeter around them. He tried to jump through the flames, even as Dawn ran toward them. Walker shouted, but he couldn’t hear what his cousin said, his attention on the woman who had taken part of his heart. Now, he might lose her—just as he’d lost another.
It was all too familiar.
The car.
He looked down at his hands for a brief instant, the blood.
The screams.
The pain.
Fire engulfed Dawn’s car in the next moment, and Mitchell tore through the flames, the scent of burning flesh filling his nostrils. The others were right behind him, not caring that they got burned right along with him.
He needed to get to Dawn, needed to see if she’d made it out alive. Only when the flames died down as quickly as they’d come, the car was still on fire…and Dawn was nowhere to be seen.
She was gone.
Others shouted around them, and Mitchell felt Walker press his hands over Mitchell’s back, the warmth of his Healing touch soothing rather than scorching like whatever witch or demon had made that flame a moment ago.
“Follow the bond,” Max ground out. He turned to see his brother, soot-covered and badly burned on his arm. Walker would fix that. He had to.
“There’s no bond,” Mitchell rasped. “We’re not mated.”
“But you have something,” Kameron growled before shouting at his men to scout the perimeter. “We all scented it when we saw you today. Look deep inside, fucking control that wolf of yours, and save your damned mate!”
It was the most emotion Mitchell had ever seen or heard coming from Kameron, and that spurred Mitchell on, urging him to close his eyes and focus on the wisp of a bond that had been fading every hour since he kissed Dawn goodbye after they made love.
There.
“I have it,” he coughed, his lungs slightly singed. “It’s weak, but I have it.”
“Then let’s go get your girl,” Max said as Walker Healed Max’s arm. “Whoever has been attacking us little by little has one powerful witch on their side.”
“Should we bring Leah?” Walker asked, sweat covering his face. His cousin could Heal others, but not himself. For that, they would need Leah, a healing water witch, but that wasn’t what Mitchell thought Walker was talking about.
“She’s not strong enough since the birth. She needs time to gather her strength. And I’m not going to put her in danger when we don’t know what we’re up against.” He paused, his wolf restless. “You should stay behind, too. Heal.”
Walker shook his head. “You might need me.” They didn’t mention that since Dawn wasn’t a Talon, Walker couldn’t help her if things were too far gone, but there was one way she could become a Talon. And that was something Mitchell was prepared for, even if it had taken far too long for his wolf to get on board. “I’m not burne
d. It’s just my lungs. I’ll be fine. Kameron took the brunt of it.” He glared at his triplet, and the Enforcer shrugged.
“You can Heal me. Not yourself. My men are on guard duty and letting Gideon and Cole know what’s up. While they’re doing that, the four of us are heading out. Ready?”
Mitchell’s wolf growled, and he nodded, beyond ready to fight for his mate.
Someone had dared to take Dawn from him, and for that, they would pay.
No matter how much hell he had to rain down for that to happen.
Chapter Seventeen
Dawn’s head ached as she tried to open her eyes. Her lids felt heavy, and her body even heavier, but she finally managed to pry open her eyelids, only to close them again when the bright light above proved overwhelming.
She moaned, her wolf trying to get out to help her, only somehow too lethargic to help at all. The smell of cabin smoke and an acrid taste coated her tongue, and she couldn’t understand what that scent could be.
“Oh, good, you’re awake.”
The smoky voice sounded almost bored from the way she spoke, and Dawn finally opened her eyes fully to see a tall woman with ruby red hair and lips to match. She leaned over Dawn and blinked slowly. It was only then that Dawn realized she was strapped to a wooden bench inside an old—and clearly abandoned from the layers of dust and cobwebs—log cabin.
Her eyes went to the corner where Sam hovered, his ankles and wrists in manacles. Dawn let out a whimper at the sight of her friend so still, so pale. She hadn’t seen him since the day before, and now…and now she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t quite focus or understand what she was seeing.
The chains that held Sam down were no longer connected to the wall.
Nothing held him back.
Nothing except death.
That was what she’d scented.
The acrid taste of death.
“Where am I?” Dawn asked, her voice hoarse. She didn’t know if it was from screaming when she’d seen Mitchell and his family go down in flames, or from the smoke itself. Either way, she knew this woman and her unkind eyes could be the last things she saw if she weren’t careful. And she couldn’t let her know how much pain she was in at seeing Sam. Her body ached and her heart shuddered.
Sam.
Sam was gone.
Forever.
And there was nothing she could do.
She couldn’t grieve. She couldn’t comprehend.
The witch, or perhaps the wolves around the cabin, had killed Sam before Dawn had even been taken to the house from the scent of things, and yet Dawn didn’t understand what was going on.
“Where no one will find you,” the witch answered. Because this woman had to be a witch, her magic tasted of it. And since the fire that had come out of nowhere seemed so unnatural, Dawn was betting she was a fire witch.
The woman laughed suddenly, and Dawn forced herself not to react.
“That sounded ominous, didn’t it?” She shrugged a slender shoulder, looking oddly graceful as she did it. “Anyway, I’m not exactly sure where we are. I only know that I’m supposed to keep you here for a bit.” She sighed and leaned back so Dawn had a better view of her surroundings. She couldn’t really tell anything other than it was a place she’d never scented before and there was no way, at least at the moment, she’d be able to undo the thick leather straps keeping her bound to the table.
Her heart sped up, and she tried to focus on what she was going to do next. She couldn’t move, nor did she think screaming for help would help her in any way. Her bonds with her Pack were so new that she wasn’t sure they would work if she tugged on them. But she’d try.
The same could be said for the soft, fading bond that she had with Mitchell.
She still felt the bond that wasn’t supposed to be there with him. That meant he was alive…right? She swallowed through the thick knot in her throat and hoped that the witch couldn’t sense feelings or thoughts like some witches could. Hopefully, she only thought Dawn was scared, not worried about the man she loved. Because she had a feeling if this woman thought she could use Mitchell against Dawn, then she would. That was if she wasn’t already using Dawn against Mitchell.
“What do you want?” Dawn asked.
“Me? Nothing. I’m just waiting.” The woman snapped her fingers, and a small ball of flame danced along her knuckles. For a moment, Dawn thought she scented a familiar Pack beneath the ash and flame, but she couldn’t focus on that. Not then. Maybe not ever. “And I hate to be kept waiting.”
Dawn’s scream echoed through the room as the first flame kissed her skin. This time, she knew why her throat hurt and figured she’d lose her voice entirely. She just prayed the tugs and pulls she sent along the few bonds she had would be enough.
The witch tilted her head at her and blinked, the flame ending quickly. “You scream, and yet…I feel hope radiating from you. It’s as if you’re sure you’ll be saved.”
This woman was clearly a sociopath. It was as if she felt nothing but mimicked those around her in order to feel something other than the flame that danced along her eyes and skin.
She smiled suddenly but it didn’t reach her eyes and that worried Dawn beyond the flame. “Henry. Jacob.”
The two men who had been prowling outside of the cabin walked into to the room, their eyes glowing gold from their wolves, their naked chests heaving. Dawn didn’t recognize them but knew they were wolves who were on the brink of their control or perhaps far beyond that line. They didn’t scent of Pack and she didn’t know what that meant other than whoever held their leashes wasn’t doing a good enough job at keeping them sane.
“Now boys, no blood and no cuts. We don’t want her to end everything too quickly, but perhaps a nibble or two will help make sure this young one understands there can be no hope for her not anymore. And, young one? If you shift, I will kill you and make it hurt more than I’d planned. I might even let the boys have a bite or two just to prove to you that you made a mistake about siding with the wrong wolf.”
Dawn struggled against her bonds and the witch shook her head, her long red hair flowing down her back. This woman scared her, as did the two wolves prowling toward her, but none of them were what truly scared her.
Someone else was behind all of this. Someone else held the reins. And though the witch might be right and there might not be hope for herself, there was still hope for the Centrals, the Talons…the Redwoods.
And Dawn knew that whoever had orchestrated all of this had far more plans than hurting a single wolf of a newly formed Pack.
Far more.
And this time, when she screamed, it wasn’t only for her, but for what was to come.
For her friends.
For her Pack.
For Mitchell.
The second time Dawn woke, she could barely keep her eyes open. Her body ached, and she knew without a Healer, she’d succumb and give in to whatever this witch wanted. Only her Pack didn’t have a Healer, and witches who could help were few and far between.
The witch that was in the cabin with her was not one of those witches.
Or rather, had been in the room with her.
Dawn closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to get through the worst of the pain, and then tried to look around the small dwelling that had been her cage for the past couple of hours. She could scent the other woman, but it was fading, telling her that whoever the redhead was, she was no longer in the room.
Instead, at least two male wolves in human form prowled outside the cabin, leaving Dawn alone and still strapped to the wooden bench. Exhausted and fearing that no one was close enough to feel anything she’d done with the bonds, she tried to calm herself.
Her wolf had come to the surface during the witch’s games, taking the brunt of the attack for her, and because of that, it now lay far beneath Dawn’s skin, tucked tight in a ball and trying to heal itself.
Only Dawn didn’t know if she had enough energy for that.
Tears pricked at her eyes, b
ut she blinked them back. She would not go down without a fight. Using the last of her strength, she pulled at her bound arms, trying to lift them. When the leather began to give, she let the tears fall.
The witch had used fire on Dawn’s skin, and in so doing, she had weakened the strength of the leather.
Dawn never thought she’d be grateful for inept torturing.
And from that thought, she knew her mind was clearly on the edge of a break. All she wanted was to go back home and hug her parents. She wanted to make her mom coffee and kiss the top of her dad’s head. She wanted her brother to growl at her for something silly, and then she wanted to go off to work so she could see Cheyenne, Aimee, and Dhani while eating biscotti with bacon on the side.
She wanted to run into Mitchell’s arms and have him hold her and tell her everything would be okay.
She wanted the bond to be real.
But since she was alone in the cabin, alone for far more than she bargained for, she knew she had to be tough. She was a maternal dominant, and that meant she could heal faster than many wolves. She would use that to her advantage.
She just needed to get off this bench.
With immense effort, she tugged and pulled at the restraints until she was able to move her hands just enough that she could let her claws slide through her fingertips. As soon as she did that, her breath caught, adrenaline coursing through her system.
Going slowly as not to make a silly mistake or too much noise and alert the two wolves on guard, she somehow tore through the rest of the restraints and forced herself to a seated position. Her skin stung, the wounds far deeper than she’d thought at first, but she ignored all of that. If she could somehow get out of this, she’d find someone to help her. She didn’t care what she looked like, she just needed to be alive.
Dawn was just about to slide off the bench when the door opened. Instead of freezing like she almost did, she rolled off to the side, her body screaming at her for daring such a move. The two men scrambled into the room, claws out and fangs bared.
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