by Kim Faulks
He tilted his head and those gaunt eyes pleaded with me to help him. I couldn’t help him—I could barely help myself. I wrenched my gaze toward the open door. The sister stared at me from the hallway. His eyes—their eyes—were cold and dead.
Run, my wolf whispered.
I’d never make it.
My tongue probed pointed canines as they lengthened. I turned to this man. He’d run his car into a tree to save my life. That had to mean something.
“You’re not wolf, and you’re not human. Then what are you? A vamp?”
Anger flared, sparks exploded from the flames in his obsidian eyes. The sweet curve of his lips turned flat and bloodless. Everything about this man was hard. His body, his lips, even his stare. There was no life there, no warmth, no soul—and no love.
How can a man with so much family have no love?
Are you sick? Those words died on my lips as the bleating ringtone tore me from his gaze. I stared at my phone. A message filled the screen.
WHERE ARE YOU? WHY WON’T YOU ANSWER?
My fingers hovered over the keys. I tried to focus, but the cracked screen was a blur.
“When did you move here?”
I jerked my head up. “What did you say?”
“When did you move here? How long ago?”
The forced smile came so easy. Lies and deceit had become my way of life, especially tonight—and I’d had a good teacher. I shrugged my aching shoulders. “A day or so.”
“A day, huh? Nyx is sacred territory. It’s been off-limits to every were-pack, vamp brood, and any other immortal creature for as long as I can remember. Don’t your kind follow the rules? Does a blood signature mean nothing anymore?”
Blood signature. Sacred territory. Your kind….
Those dark eyes seemed to swallow me. I froze, caught on the glint of other, and missed his movement, allowing him one step too close. Even in his weakened state, my wolf growled. Stay back.
I shoved my phone in my rear pocket. My foot hit the wall as I edged backward. My ass followed suit, smacking against a poster. I wrenched my head to the wall. A mortal woman smiled at me from the photo, holding a baby in her arms. The bright letters mocked me. Have you had your shots today? A healthy boy is a happy boy.
I reached for my chest. Human, or wolf, it didn’t seem to matter in this world. You only mattered if you were male.
“I gotta get out of here.” I turned toward the doorway. I was fast. I could make it.
“I won’t hurt you. I just want to understand why you’re here.”
I cut my gaze back to the stranger and felt the ache of hopelessness. “It’s simple, really. Because we have nowhere else to go.”
My phone vibrated against my hip. I’d said too much.
I took three steps sideways then made for the door. His family filled the hall. I side-stepped the sister, one brother, and then another. They seemed to come from everywhere as I ran straight into a wall of muscle.
The muscle belonged to the biggest of the mortals. The wall of flesh snarled and reached for me. Thick hands the size of a tree swiped the air in front of my face. The impact sent me bouncing into another. I slapped his hands. “Don’t touch me.” As hands reached to steady me—or strangle me—I cried, “I said, don’t touch me.”
“We’re not going to hurt you.” Another of them stepped forward, palms up. Cool blue eyes sparkled like shimmering pools and the scent of the sea washed over me. I licked my lips and tasted salt as he moved closer. “Easy, now. No one’s going to hurt you.”
“Speak for yourself.” The wall growled. “She ran over our brother.”
“Easy, Zadoc,” Blue Eyes muttered. “You’re scaring her.”
I shook my head, skirting the plastic seats lining one side of the corridor. I shouldn’t have come. “Don’t make me hurt you.”
I lunged, my boots echoed, battering the glossy floor. I pumped my arms, pushing my legs to stride wider. White walls blurred until I punched through the ER exit doors. Nurses glared at me from behind desks choked with files and paper coffee cups. I slowed my steps and wrenched my gaze over my shoulder.
Chunks of mud littered the floor behind me. I dropped my gaze to my boots, caked with forest dirt. Blood, screams. Panic swallowed me all over again. I stumbled for the automatic doors and felt the whoosh of fresh air.
The door shuddered to a close behind me. Bright lights lit the ambulance parked in the emergency entrance. ‘Nyx County Hospital’ blazed across the side.
Sacred territory, isn’t that what he said? It’s been off-limits to every were-pack, vamp brood and any other immortal creature for as long as I can remember. Don’t your kind follow the rules?
I reached over my shoulder and snagged my hood with shaking fingers. Your kind. “I’m so fucking stupid. I should’ve left him in the car. They saw me. They’ll put two and two together as soon as they knew of the Alpha’s death. They’ll talk.”
He said he’d help me.
The words did nothing to loosen the ice in my chest. The fist in my belly clenched tight. The void in my soul was a gaping wound that could never be filled. I was past comfort now, past forgiveness. The dried blood on my hands from the murder two hours ago had seen to that.
The frigid air cut through the thin sweater, chilling me to the bone. Frigid grip closed around my heart. I hugged my body and breathed into my cupped hands. I gotta get home….
Home.
Where was that? I dropped my head and stepped over the concrete divide. My boots screeched on the wet grass as I headed for the road. No more running, no more hiding, no more lives lost.
I’d traded the murder of one for the lives of many. And all it took was a stain on my soul.
I picked up the pace, moving from a walk into a slow jog. The sound of my boots filled the night air as I swapped grass for asphalt. Stars mapped the way, sparkling above me, leading me to the woods.
Run, hunt. Be free. My thighs burned as I outran the sound of my boots. The harder I sprinted, the more the wolf enjoyed the strain, until I slowed to yank my gaze over my shoulder. The lights of Nyx glinted far off in the distance like a welcome sign. Could this town be the one we finally called home?
Shattered glass sparkled like fallen stars along the road. It seemed bad luck was the only luck I ever had. I turned my head to stare over my shoulder. Four hours hard running west was the Echo pack. But last night fear and adrenaline made me run the distance in three. I’d been almost back with my pack… almost safe, until the damn car.
Stupid sonofabitch… Marcus.
His name echoed inside my head. I couldn’t leave him like that, not after he ran into a tree to save me. I’d had no choice but to call 911 and pray the damn human lived.
But he wasn’t human, was he? I knew immortal when I saw it. He was something else entirely. Intrigue ruffled my damn fur. But this wasn’t my place and it wasn’t my fight. The Bloodstone pack finally had a chance to move into a new area and I had a chance for something of my own… my sister home with me.
I held my breath at the suffocating smell of fuel and turned to the trees. The ass end of the car poked from the shadows. The paintwork squealed as I ran my finger along the trunk.
Where was he headed in the middle of the night? Why had he been in such a hurry?
There was no warmth in his gaze, no soul, no love. The ache in my chest spread deep, even as it confused me to feel anything for this stranger. I glanced over my shoulder. He looked lost. The thought took hold. Maybe he was running from something, or to something?
They weren’t human and they weren’t wolves. I knew a Vamp when I smelled one. Demons weren’t in these parts as far as I knew, and I’d not met one who could fool the elements.
The bloodstone around my neck was cold. If Marcus was a demon or an elemental, the stone would’ve burned a hole through my skin. Whatever they were, it seemed for the moment, they were considered friend and not foe.
I sucked in the early morning air. The cold burned my lungs. I di
dn’t have time to waste here mulling over people who didn’t concern me, the others in my pack would be still asleep, but not for long. Branches stung my cheek as I lunged through the forest, bringing tears to my eyes.
Not wolf. Not human.
Dead inside. All of them dead.
Big, black eyes hovered so close. Stay with me, he whispered. I only want to help. I slowed my steps and grasped a tree, wrapping my arms around the trunk. Not wolf. I gulped the cold air and slapped my palm to my chest, rubbing the ache. In my stubborn memory, one slick, black curl fell against his forehead, begging me to comb my fingers through the strands. Marcus.
If I called his name, would the word conjure the man?
Don’t get distracted. Not now, when everything was falling into place. I was so close, so unbelievably close. Bark snagged the threads from my hoodie as I released my hold. The scent of blood still lingered. Get rid of the clothes and get some sleep. Tomorrow’s a brand new day.
I strode around a clump of blackberry bushes and quieted my steps. The clang of pans followed the sharp scent of smoke in the distance. My pack should be sleeping. Why aren’t they sleeping?
I stepped into the small clearing, noting rushed movements and hushed voices. This isn’t right. A mother cradled her whimpering cub against her body with one hand while she shoved pans into a pack with the other.
We were leaving, but why?
Through the glow of the fire, old Owen dragged his sword against a tree, then turned to the laden backpack at his feet. His thin arms strained with the effort. I scrambled over the fallen tree. Grasping the straps from his gnarled fingers, I heaved his pack higher. “What’s going on?”
“Where you been? We’re on the move again, child. Heading north this time.”
North? My muscles strained with the effort. “This is too heavy. Let me take some—”
His hair swung with the shake of his head. “You’ll do no such thing, woman. I’ll carry my own. Just help me get it on my back. I’ll take it from there.”
My muscles strained as I hoisted the straps over thin arms. The old man swayed under the weight when the backpack snapped tight against his shoulders. He was too old to walk. I glanced toward the sword leaning against the tree and too old to fight.
Through the frenzied activity around the campfire my father moved from one member to another, filling packs and helping those too old or tired to help themselves. I caressed the old wolf’s arm. “It’ll be okay, Owen. Let me talk to my father.”
I skirted the trunk of a fallen tree we used for a seat and headed for my father. Something snagged my arm and yanked. I stumbled, slapping my hand against the wood. A shadow loomed over me.
“Where the hell have you been?”
White teeth glowed in the night, snapping together so close to my face, I felt the slight breeze. Hurron’s grip tightened, grinding muscle against bone. I wrenched my arm, dropped my shoulder and barged my way passed. “Get your hands off me.”
Silver eyes followed as I yanked my arm free and stumbled backward. The faint glow of the fire revealed the thunder in his gaze when Hurron combed long brown hair from his face. “You need to stay where I can protect you. If anything happened, your father would never forgive me.”
My arm throbbed, but I refused to ease the ache. “I’m not a child. I can take care of myself. Now, tell me. What the hell is going on?”
“Can you, Abrial? You should be with the women taking care of the children, not tramping through the damn forest.” He darted a wary look toward my father. “My wife needs to understands where her place is. Leave the scouting and the fighting to the men.”
My jaw muscles tightened until I heard the crack of jawbone. My wolf surged to the surface. A warning growl tingled my lips. Toe-to-toe, I held his gaze. “I’m not your wife yet. So, you’ll talk to me with a little respect. My place is where I decide it is. I’ll not have you, or anyone else, tell me otherwise. You can either learn that now or the hard way later on.” I tore my gaze from his, still anger inside raged. “And, if you ever lay your hand on me like that again, I’ll tear the thing off.”
The shadow moved as he lunged. The heat of his breath scorched my face as he whispered. “If you’re not going to be my wife, then I’ve no use for you.”
Mumbled words, yet the threat was there. If he thought I’d tremble in fear, he was wrong. I turned, leaving him with his seething anger to hear a snicker across the fire. Walker rounded the flames and glared at Hurron as he passed, then turned his attention to me.
“I’m glad you find other people’s pain amusing.”
The frown smoothed out as he gave me a wink. “I just love watching you hand him his ass every damn time.”
Walker’s gold rings sparkled as he reached for me, pulling me against his chest. I inhaled his scent and felt my walls crumble. All the running, all the fighting wore me down. I gripped the edges of his jacket as he whispered. “Jesus, you’re freezing. Where’s your jacket, Abs?”
I shook my head and clutched him tight. “Please, tell me what’s going on.”
His arms squeezed me tight. “If you answered your damn messages you’d know. There’s been an attack on the Echo pack tonight.”
The stench of blood stifled the air. I already heard the words. Their Alpha is dead.
“One of their betas is dead.”
Part of me surged with satisfaction. The other part held my head in shame. “One less vicious bastard we need to watch out for.”
Wait. Beta? I yanked my head up, catching Walker under the jaw. The gnash of teeth filled my ears. “Ow! For fucks sake, Abs.”
My heart thrashed. I tried to still the deafening sound, because Walker’s answer meant everything. “Don’t you mean, their Alpha?”
No, no, no. I killed the right man. I killed their Alpha.
I could still feel the warmth of his blood as it struck my chest. My hands on the hilt, driving the blade deep. The jarring of my palms when the knife hit bone.
“No, one of their warriors. They’re calling it an outright attack on their Alpha. I don’t understand. Who would be so fucking stupid? I mean, why now, of all the shitty timing? The Echo pack allowed us safe passage. They overpower any of us ten to one, so who’d be dumb enough to attack them now?”
Sour liquid scalded my throat and spilled into my mouth. I stumbled, breaking Walker’s hold, and lunged for the bushes. My stomach clenched and released, then clenched once more as I fell. The trees hid my shame as the acidic liquid splashed on the ground. Rocky ground scraped my knees and palms as I hit the forest floor.
“Abrial. What’s going on?”
Not the Alpha. What have I done?
“Abrial. Answer me.”
I couldn’t look him in the eye. He had no idea—why would he? Our safe passage had come at a cost—everything always had a price attached. But it wasn’t the men who paid, was it? It was never the men who paid.
“Abs.” Walker’s fingers trailed my shoulder.
I gripped my knees and pushed myself from the ground, listening to my father issue commands. The voice of reason they called him—Do I save one, or save many Abrial, answer me that? Well… answer me. One, or many?
Sacrifice my mother and my sister for the many. How could a girl of five understand?
My knees trembled. The ache in my stomach drove talons into my chest. I whispered, “It was me. I killed him.”
His hand fell from my shoulder. There was no comfort for me now. “What?”
“I killed him. I meant to kill the Alpha.”
“I don’t believe it.”
My voice turned to steel. “Believe it.”
“Why?” His voice trembled. I didn’t think it was from the cold. “Why?”
I jerked my head around, scanning the rest of the pack, then turned to Walker. “Shh. It doesn’t matter.”
He dug his fingers into my arm and wrenched me to my feet. The dull ache spread like a disease.
His breath was hot against my face as he hissed.
“What do you mean, it doesn’t matter?”
I clenched my jaw as my vision blurred. I was dead anyway. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
The silence lingered.
“They’ll be coming for you. You know that right? They’ll be coming and they won’t stop. Not until you’re dead.”
Tears slipped, warming my icy cheek.
“I’ve loved you like a sister. But you’ve changed, Abrial. I don’t know you anymore.”
I nodded.
“Don’t say a word, to anyone.” He hissed. “Not even me. I don’t want to know any more.”
Walker dropped my hands. The night air licked the tips of my fingers. I couldn’t stop the tremor. “Here, take my jacket. I don’t want it back.”
I clutched the thick fur as he shoved the coat into my hands, then speared my hands into the sleeves. The stiff elk bristles snagged the cotton, ending the frigid bite. “Thank you.”
My voice fell on deaf ears as Walker turned and strode away.
“Abrial. Is that you?”
I wrenched my gaze left at the sound of my father’s voice. My teeth chattered. “Yes.”
“Where’ve you been?”
My belly dropped. Lies and deceit weighed me down. “I wanted to take one look at the town before we left.”
“Well, hurry up then. I packed your clothes. We have to get moving.”
My father’s words still haunted me after all these years. You’re my little girl. I’ll never leave you. You’re everything to me, but tell me what can I do? Do I save one, or save many, Abrial? Answer me that. Well? Answer me. One or many?
I swallowed the pain, watching my father hoist the pack into the air. His muscles strained. Pots and pans clattered inside. I slipped my arms through. The straps bit my shoulders and I swayed. My boots burrowed in the soft forest loam as I turned, then met his gaze.
“You okay? You’re very quiet.”
The dying flames cast a flicker of orange light across his face. I stared at the deep lines etched into his face. For twenty years he told me my mother and sister were cared for, twenty years of lies. The truth was a bitter pill to swallow. They weren’t happy, they weren’t healthy… my mother was dead and my sister….