by Kim Faulks
Abrial leaned forward and scanned the track. “It’ll be slow going for a while, but this will take us close to the pack.”
I countered a hole, slowing the car and easing the wheel to follow the trail as Abrial rolled down the window and inhaled the frigid air. We left the fire-trail behind and carved our own track through the woods, skirting fallen trees and inching over rocky mounds, heading deeper into the forest. The seconds felt like hours, I kept the Jeep steady, watching the rear view mirror for Zadoc’s dark blue four-wheel drive behind me. “Keep going. I think we’re almost there. When we get there, I want you to stay in the car, okay? It’s going to get… complicated.”
The orange flames of an open fire flickered through the crowded trees. I slowed the car, pulling to a stop. “You sure you don’t want me to come?”
She never looked at me, only stared out of the window. “No, it’ll only make things worse. The most important thing is for Maddy and her baby to be safe. That’s all I care about right now.”
Her hand lingered on the handle. For a second I thought she was going to stay. Just drive, she whispered in my mind, and I would turn this car around and do exactly as the woman asked.
Then the door was open, and she was moving. I’d never felt loss as I did in that moment. I’d not wanted, yearned for something or someone before. The ache was inescapable. I reached up sliding my heavy hand over the hard mound of my chest, searching for the hole as she disappeared through the line of trees and wondered what in the hell was happening to me.
I stared at the trunk of the pine where I lost sight of her. The bark wept with morning dew, glistening as the sun glimmered brighter, higher.
The minutes ticked by on the dashboard. I scanned the forest, listening to the birds take flight while I glimpsed Zadoc’s Raptor in the rear view mirror. I dropped my hand to the handle and leaned into the door. The snap of a branch cut through the air.
I inhaled at the sight of her. She led a small group through the trees. My gaze drifted to the woman beside her, clutching a wrapped bundle to her chest. I fumbled with the handle. The door opened with a thunk and I spilled out of the car.
“Let me grab the door.” I muttered and rounded the back. The tiny mound in her arms wore a woman’s blue shirt, mewling like a lost lamb.
“Thank you.”
I dragged my gaze from the mother’s arms, to her face. Her smile was beautiful. She was beautiful. But exhaustion stole the sparkle in her eyes. I yanked open the door and turned to Abrial.
The sight of her hit me. I swallowed hard, dropping my gaze to her arms. They were overflowing, laden with heavy sacks that seemed to swallow her chest.
I lunged, grabbing the first strap I could reach. Something tore and the sack dropped to the ground. I wasn’t sure if it was the material or me, as I heaved the pack to the rear of the Jeep and returned. “What the hell do you have in these things?”
“Our home.”
I stared at the opening, tied down with ties and clamps as Maddy climbed into the back seat. A shuffle through the trees drew my gaze. An old man, head down trudged toward us, followed by an older woman. A younger woman followed. A child clung to her fingers of either hand. Their faces were mud-stained, clothes tattered and torn. Too thin, they were all too thin.
“There’s more,” whispered Abrial apologetically.
I turned my head, glancing at Zadoc’s navy four-wheel drive pull up behind me. “Of course, bring as many as you need.”
I snagged the phone from my pocket. My thick fingers punched the screen. Victor answered after the second ring. I spoke quickly, giving instructions, and shoved the phone back into my pocket.
One-by-one they walked out of the forest. I heaved pack after pack into the rear of the Jeep and nodded as they smiled. Maddy climbed into the back, followed by the other woman and her children. Abrial yanked open the passenger door. She knelt, gripping the old man’s feet as he sat, and gently placed them inside the car, as though he were too weak to do even that for himself.
“We’ll be right behind you.”
The old man clung to her hand. He wouldn’t let go. I tore my gaze away and winced at the thick sounds echoing from the front seat. Even staring off into the distance I caught the jerking sobs. Goddess above. How did these people survive?
The bushes parted as a small group of men pushed their way through. I settled on the older man in the middle. Even from here I could see the resemblance. His thick beard tinged with red. He had her eyes, not green, but darker, brown eyes, inquisitive eyes.
He held my gaze as the other’s closed ranks. Where the women and the children looked lean, these men were strong and well-fed. Warriors. Three men in the middle were older. The two on either side looked approximately Abrial’s age.
They slowed, allowing an older man to step ahead. “My name’s Samuel. People call me Sam.” He gestured. “This is my pack. I hear you have a place for us to rest while we gather some supplies?”
I felt her gaze burn into the back of my neck. “That’s right. There’s plenty enough room at the compound. I heard young Maddy here had a little girl. My family and I wanted to meet her.”
“We’ll take no charity. The women will work for the privilege of a place to stay.” I felt my stomach harden at his words. A spark lit the darkness inside. He turned his head. “Abrial, I’ll sit up front. Owen can ride in the back with the women.”
“B-but, D-dad—” she stammered.
The Alpha lunged, slamming his hand against the car, inches from her head. “Or he’ll be left behind.”
She dropped her gaze, her defiance gone. That spark inside me turned into a flame. I covered the distance before I realize I’d moved to tower over him. “The old man stays where he is.”
I caught the twitch, and the slow rise of his lip as the sound of an engine echoed through the trees. “Don’t worry. There’s more than enough front seats with my brothers.”
He captured my gaze, then turned, staring as Zadoc and Victor neared.
His daughter was everywhere in this man. But she was more—more fire, more strength, more compassion—and nothing like this man.
Abrial’s father’s gaze slipped from mine as he caught sight of Zadoc. His eyes widened and brow lifted. Heavy combat boots decimated the forest floor as the biggest of my family stopped at my side. “Brother.”
“Zadoc,” I muttered. “Meet Sam, the Alpha of the Bloodstone pack.”
There was no shaking of hands. One stony look from my brother turned the conversation cold.
I yanked my head toward my brother. “Can you take him and the rest of the men back to the compound? I’ll follow as soon as Victor gets here.”
“We’ll make sure the compound is safe.” Sam muttered.
I turned back to Sam at the remark and caught the glint of satisfaction in his eye and smiled. “Of course it’s safe. For the women at least.”
He paled underneath the glowing beard before turning to follow the others.
She waited until the truck doors slammed shut before turning. “Well, that went okay.”
I reached for her hand behind me, clasping her fingers tight. “At least he knows where we stand.”
“And where is that?”
I turned and held her gaze. “Together.”
Tires crunched as the navy four-by-four swerved and pulled over. Victor climbed out, leaving the driver’s side door open and headed toward me.
Abrial dropped my hand to help the others into the four-wheel drive.
“Is this all of them?”
I nodded, as the Raptor started and reversed. “We might have some problems with the men. But they’ll learn to fall into line.”
“Hi.”
I turned as a tiny shifter stopped beside us. Her blue eyes lingered on my brother. One small hand reached out, “My name’s Odessa.”
My brother reached out, swallowing her palm in his. “I’m Victor.”
Her smile widened as she answered. “I know.”
The
moment lingered as they stared at each other. Dropping his hand, she moved away. I wanted to laugh at the stunned look in Victor’s eyes, but managed to stifle the urge.
He raked his hair back and murmured, unable to take his eyes of the wolf. “What was that?”
I shook my head and chuckled. “Hell if I know.”
“Okay. Odessa and I’ll stay behind with the others.”
I gave her a nod. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”
Victor turned back to the Jeep and climbed inside. I rounded the front end and jerked open the door. Their smiles greeted me. Maddy reached forward, touching my hair as I climbed inside. I flinched from the touch, still she ran her fingers along my shoulders. “Thank you. Thank you for saving my baby.”
I swallowed the lump and started the car, remembering the words of their Alpha. “You and your baby are safe with me. No one will harm you while we’re around.”
The cars turned, leaving Abrial behind. I shoved the Jeep into reverse and followed. I watched her step away from the others, as though she knew I’d be watching. I kept my hands on the wheel, catching glimpses of the road while I stared into the rear view mirror.
“She’s a good girl, our Abrial.” Whispered the old man next to me.
“Yes,” echoed Maddy. “Without her and Odessa I wouldn’t be here. They stayed and delivered my baby when everyone else left. She’s a true godsend, a true Alpha.”
“Yes,” the old man agreed. “A true leader.”
The road curved. I lost sight of her. I crawled the car out of the brush and the fresh carved track toward asphalt. The others were already gone, racing ahead. I eased the accelerator, eager to catch up and climbed the mountain as fast as my precious cargo would allow.
The house was the busiest I’d ever seen it. Shifters milled at the entrance. Xael pointed to my brothers who ran from one group to the other, carrying bags inside the house. I pulled to a stop and climbed out.
“No. Not there. Wait, what are you doing to the trees? You can’t mark them. This isn’t territory for you to mark.” My sister cried.
I bit the insides of my cheeks and tried to look anywhere else. Xael spun, her hands flapping in the air. “Really, Marcus? Really?”
The group of young wolves laughed and danced from tree to tree, peeing on leaves and trunks.
“Ah, to be young like that again, and have full control of your bladder,” crooned the old man.
“It’s a sign of happiness.” I croaked as Xael marched toward me with venom in her gaze. “Think of it as them protecting us, warding off the other packs.”
“They’re children. Aren’t we the ones protecting them?” Xael snapped.
I nodded as the laughter died away. “But, they don’t know that. You’re the most formidable fighter amongst us. Maybe you could teach them a thing or two.”
“I doubt the men in this pack would like that very much. I’ve already caught a glimpse of the way they treat their women.”
And just like that, she gave me something to smile about once more. “Exactly, my beautiful and ferocious sister.”
She tilted her head. Her dark eyes turned black. Her spliced pupils held me, and in a second, she was her old self once more. I brushed her hair from her shoulders.
“You don’t like them, do you?” She asked.
The first impression hadn't gone well. “I don’t know yet. Let’s hope they prove me wrong.”
“Marcus, we have a problem.” I spun at the sound of panic in Michael’s voice.
Michael, my Virgo brother raced toward me, his messy hair bouncing with each step. I reached out, gripping his shoulders. “He said we had to let him through. He said he’d bring others.”
I shook my head as the sound of a car climbed the drive behind me. “Who? Who said that?”
“Some sheriff. Goulding. He said his name was Goulding.”
I scanned the wolves. “Where’s Zadoc?”
“Gone. He said he had to take care of a few things. He said not to worry. Should I be worried?”
I slapped my brother’s shoulder and laughed. It’s Zadoc. We should all be worried. “No. I’m sure everything’s fine. I’ll take care of it. Just help our sister. Make sure she doesn’t stab anyone, will you?”
I forced a smile--everything’s going to be fine, everything’s going to be fine—and strode toward the marked vehicle as it pulled up behind me. Officer Goulding shoved open the door and leapt from the car. His boots barely touched the pebbled driveway as he charged toward me and I realized I’d been deluding myself—everything was not going to be fine at all.
“Where the fuck is she?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but he was moving too fast. I stepped to the side at the last moment, grabbing him to stop his fall. “Who are you talking about?”
I punched my hand free and slapped the sunglasses from his eyes. They hit the ground. “My sister! Where the fuck is my sister?”
“Abrial?”
“No. Who the fuck is Abrial? Joslyn, my sister, is missing. Where the fuck is she?”
“How am I supposed to know? She’s human right?”
“Yes, she’s human. What the fuck did you think she was?”
I kept my voice as steady as I could. “Take a look around you, deputy. There’s only wolves here—and us.”
He seemed to deflate, reaching to rub his eyes. I saw then how tired he looked, his uniform wrinkled and filthy. “What made you think she was here?”
“This.” He reached into his pocket and tore free a folded piece of paper.
The image of William Ryder stared back at me. The ‘Missing’ poster was the same as the one I recalled seeing in the sheriff’s office.
“I don’t understand.” I muttered, while inside I was reeling and asking the same damn question. Where is Zadoc? Where is my damn brother?
“He went missing in this forest. He had a damn map with these co-ordinates all over it. Same with all the others in the Sheriff’s office, most we know for sure, others we only suspect. The sheriff said we couldn’t act on it. Said there wasn’t enough evidence. But, I know he’s lying, just as I know you’re lying. She got hooked up with these damn wolves and now she’s missing.”
I searched for something to say to prove him wrong. But, I barely knew Abrial, much less her pack.
“Is everything okay, Marcus?”
I turned at the sound of Maddy’s voice. The new mother strolled toward me, with her baby snuggled in her arms. I forced a smile. “Sure, the deputy here’s looking for his sister.”
“When did you last see her?”
“Two days ago.” The deputy croaked, but it was the baby he was staring at, making the hair on the nape of my neck rise. “She went out with one of you people, but she didn’t come home. My mom’s beside herself. Joslyn’s a good girl. She doesn’t do drugs. She doesn’t go out drinking.”
“And you think she’s here with us?”
The baby in her arms let out a cry and the deputy sucked in a breath. “I thought maybe… I hoped….”
“We’re only a small pack, mostly women and old folks. You’d have better luck with the Echo pack, they tend to… accumulate women.” She followed his gaze, glancing down at the baby. “She likes you.”
He licked his lips. I heard the hard swallow. “She’s beautiful. What’s her name?”
“Storm. I had her last night in the middle of the lightning and the thunder, it seemed the perfect name for her. I almost lost her. Without Abrial and Odessa, she would’ve died. I think I would’ve died too.”
“You’re lucky they were there.”
I rocked back on my feet.
“We just found out last week she was with a shifter. She said he’s the daddy and I believe her. She’s a good girl. She don’t do no drugs.”
“You’ll find her.” Maddy placed her hand on his arm. “By the Goddess, you’ll find her.”
He handed the bundle back, lingering for a second until she was in her mother’s arms. “I hope you’re right. It�
��s only the three of us now, after Daddy passed away. You got a beautiful girl there.”
He turned, leaving the paper on the ground. William Ryder’s face stared at me while the deputy strode back to his car. “There’s something going on with you, Marcus Kane, and I intend to find out what that is.”
“Good morning to you too, deputy. Good luck in finding your sister.”
I heard the gear clunk into place before the car backed up, then slowly disappeared down the drive. I turned toward the sound of boots. Victor moved in beside me. “I’ll go and get the rest of the pack.”
“Thank you.” I clenched my fists, feeling the fury burn in my gut. Calm ocean stared at me, but the water was no use against the bull—not this time. “Now, can someone tell me, where’s Zadoc? Where the hell is our brother!”
***
The rocks scattered under my shoes as I climbed the steep mountain face. Downwind, the stench rolled my gut and sent a shiver along my spine. I turned, glancing down the mountain. The stark white walls around the family compound waved a friendly flag. Abrial would be down there by now, waiting for me. But I had to fight the ram.
Bodies were piling up. I could taste the fetid air and knew, the missing wouldn’t be silent much longer. I caught the faint whiff of gasoline a second before I reached the rocky rise. I stumbled at the sight of arms and legs all rolled into one huge mass. The dead stared at me with bloated expressions, leering with protruding tongues.
The body on top beckoned with broken fingers. Bone poked from the dangling shreds of skin, flipping me the bird. I climbed closer and stared into his face. The human was barely recognizable. William Ryder lay bloodied and broken. His skin had split under his eye, opening up his cheek and exposing his teeth.
“He cried for his mother. Can you believe that? I broke every finger and shattered every bone in his leg and he screamed for her. He pissed his pants and screamed.”
I spun at the sound and stared at my brother. In this light, and accompanied with this stench, I would swear Zadoc had become a demon. He shoved off the trunk of a tree and strolled toward me. I dared not flinch. “This can’t happen again, Zadoc.”
He strode past, pulling a lighter from his pocket. Fuel painted the air with a rainbow haze. I forced myself to look at him, to see him for what he truly was… a murderer.