Wolf Hollow (Wolf Hollow Shifters, Book 1)

by Nikki Jefford

  Jager limped over. “Why aren’t you helping?” he snarled at their small gathering.

  Chase’s chest rose. “I’m not leaving her side.”

  “Neither am I,” Hudson said.

  Jager looked at Tabor. This wasn’t the time to defy Jager, who had yet to agree to his earlier request. Besides, the matter was private.

  Tabor lowered his head in one last show of respect. “Think about what I said.”

  After saying his piece, Tabor headed into the woods. He propped his bow against a tree then halfheartedly grasped at twigs. With all the help, a fire was soon built and lit. In the meantime, news had spread and shifters were emerging, including shifters from the den. No one brought pups with them.

  As they started toward the forest to help gather wood, Jager stopped them. “Ford, go back to the den and let them know everything is okay. Jack, Farley, patrol the western hunting grounds and Forest of the Ancestors. Devan, Flynn, patrol the bluff. Keep an eye out for Vallen, all of you, and be careful. Stick together until I send replacements.”

  The five male shifters nodded solemnly then split off.

  Jager and Garrick barked orders. Palmer stood back lazily, watching the activity with a far-off smile on his lips.

  Tabor knew the source of that smile. Randy old bastard had gotten himself a whole lot of tail hours earlier. After Tabor tied the loincloth around Raider’s waist and set the wolf mask on the ground near his head where he remained snoring, Tabor had heard the sly elder rutting around inside the cabin on the edge of the clearing

  While Raider drooled into the dirt, Tabor had crept in for a closer look expecting to see Francine’s rotund belly bouncing with Palmer’s exertions.

  But it hadn’t been Francine bending over. To Tabor’s utter shock, he’d seen Palmer on top of Trish inside the cabin.

  Tabor didn’t like Francine, but seeing her faithless mate with another female had made him itch to storm inside and punch Palmer’s lights out. Better yet, he would have happily used the shrinkage spell he’d threatened to use on Zackary. But he had a sinking feeling the pack would view any spell used against Palmer as a violation more unforgivable than the prick two-timing his pregnant mate. Tabor spit on the ground, attempting to rid his body of the disgust rolling off his tongue.

  Palmer seemed unaware of everything happening around him now, until his eyes found Trish in the crowd. He lifted his chest and walked over to her with a swagger. She held a handful of kindling, a small frown of concentration on her lips, unaware of Palmer until he was two feet away from her.

  Tabor couldn’t hear their exchange, but he could see Trish’s cheeks redden. Right then, Francine came barreling over at an impressive clip for one carrying a pup that could arrive at any moment.

  Francine’s face was flushed too. She avoided looking at Palmer, her attention fully on Trish. She pointed at the kindling in Trish’s hands, then at the fire.

  A rough hand gripped Tabor’s shoulder and pulled him around.

  He tensed, not expecting such a firm grasp to have come from Jager. As suddenly as he’d grabbed Tabor, he released him and nodded sideways for Tabor to follow. They moved out of the clearing to the outskirts, a fair distance from the rest of the pack. Tabor allowed Jager to lead the way even though it would have been easy to pass the old man.

  When Jager stopped, Tabor did the same.

  “You’re in luck,” Jager said. “I originally drew Hudson’s name to partner with Sasha, but I didn’t like his tone earlier.”

  Tabor’s heart somersaulted when he realized what Jager was saying.

  The old man nodded. “I will pair you with Sasha, but you must provide enough of your elixir to last an entire moon cycle beginning tomorrow night.” Before Tabor could answer, Jager gave a sharp snarl. “And it better work.”

  Rather than thank him, Tabor responded confidently, “It will.”

  “Good, now let’s get this bad business taken care of.”

  Jager hobbled back the way he’d come. Tabor took his time returning to the clearing. Getting his way made it difficult not to grin like a smug bastard, but Chase’s stooped shoulders sobered him up real quick.

  The bonfire now blazed. Garrick and Raider started toward the body, but stopped when Chase shook his head. He and Hudson lifted the dead wolf and carried her to the fire and, with one swing, threw her in.

  Sparks shot up into the air. Soon the smell of burning fur and flesh filled the clearing. The shifters who had stayed to watch wrinkled their noses. Some pulled their shirts halfway up their faces.

  Zackary was noticeably absent. No rabid wolf had ever given the hollow as much grief as Zack’s father. Even before he’d turned mad, the man’s temper had been ferocious. Unlike other rabid wolves who appeared to lack all reason, Vallen behaved as though he were stalking Wolf Hollow, waiting for opportunities to pick them off one by one. Rebecca hadn’t been the first wolf Vallen had bitten. Someone really needed to put Vallen down.

  The trouble was they had no idea where Vallen was. The mad wolf would disappear months at a time. Once he’d been gone for an entire year and they thought finally they were rid of him for good. Then he’d appeared out of the blue early one evening and bitten Rebecca.

  Chase had led a search party to try and find her. Tabor had brought his bow. At one point Chase had walked up to Tabor and said low enough for only the two of them to hear, “If you get a clean shot, take it. I can’t stand the thought of her living this way—all alone and out of her mind.”

  Tabor had nodded, but the thought of taking aim at a former pack member had churned his gut. Part of him had been relieved when they didn’t find her. There had been no trace of Rebecca until today. Soon she would be reduced to smoke and ash.

  Usually the smell of roasting meat made Tabor’s mouth water with anticipation. At that moment it made him sick to his stomach, and from the grimacing expressions on his pack members’ faces, he wasn’t the only one.

  Members of their pack backed away from the fire as the smell of charred flesh filled their nostrils. Even Chase took a step back. Hudson stood closest to the fire, facing the flames. He didn’t so much as lean back on his heels. It was as though he were breathing her in. The fire’s heat had to be brutal against his face.

  Chase stepped up to his friend and pulled him back by his shoulder.

  “This is a sad day for all of Wolf Hollow,” Jager said, his voice rising like the flames. Shifters gathered around him to listen in and get away from the smoke. Jager’s arms bent upward, fingers spreading. “We mourn the loss of Rebecca as much now as we did when we lost her the first time. Her brother said she is free now and he is correct. We send her cleansed into the afterlife. May she run forever free.”

  The shifters present chorused Jager’s final words in subdued tones. “May she run forever free.”

  They spent the morning waiting for Rebecca’s body to burn.

  Normally, the day after the full moon ceremony was a day of rest and fraternizing. Single shifters were all on guard duty together an hour before the full moon until an hour after, stationed around the den for mating taking place within.

  Tabor couldn’t wait to get the night and early morning over with. He also couldn’t wait for Jager to announce the new pairings afterward. Impatience turned to guilt then back to impatience. He couldn’t wait to see Sasha’s face when Jager announced their names. And he really couldn’t wait to see her face the next time they mated. If there was a next time, which he fully intended on repeating as many times as possible.

  Seeing the shifter in question standing on her own pushed Tabor into action. He hurried to Sasha’s side before anyone else got the chance. “Unfortunate way to begin the morning before the full moon,” he said beside her ear.

  This wasn’t how he’d imagined greeting her the morning after their coupling.

  Sasha glanced at him, no trace of the sen
suality she’d expressed hours earlier. She wasn’t a blusher like Trish. She turned slightly, one eye on the burning fire, the other on Tabor. “One less threat eliminated, though I am sorry for the pain it has caused the pack a second time.”

  “I’m just relieved you’re okay,” Tabor said.

  “Aden took care of it,” Sasha said, causing him to wince.

  Tabor grunted. “I imagine this will put a damper on the den’s full moon activities.”

  Sasha sighed. “Or maybe it will remind everyone how precious life is and that we must procreate if we are to survive.”

  Tabor’s eyes drifted to Sasha’s lips. He liked the direction her thoughts were taking. He couldn’t agree more. He inched in closer, but before he could say anything more, the loud clang of the gong echoed through the forest. Everyone looked up in confusion. This usually signaled the announcement of the new pairings.

  Palmer raised his hands in the air and hollered. “Attention! Attention, everyone!” His arms lowered with his voice. “We have celebrated the coming of the full moon and in the morning our mated pairs will lay together in hopes of creating new life for our pack.”

  He paused and looked around with a knowing grin, but his words weren’t met with the usual cheers, not with Rebecca’s ashes still filling the air.

  Palmer shrugged off the silence and continued. “We have mourned the loss of a past pack member and sent her on to the afterlife to run free. We have been disappointed that agreements could not be made between our pack and Glenn Meadows, but life goes on. We must remain strong.”

  Several shifters nodded.

  Palmer raised his voice. “Rather than take a day of rest, the elders have decided this should be a day of new beginnings. We shall announce pairings for the next moon cycle now and resume our duties to the pack and this great place we call Wolf Hollow.”

  Tabor momentarily forgot to breathe. Could he be that lucky? Could he really be getting an extra day with Sasha?

  Palmer stepped aside as Jager limped into the center of the clearing.

  Tabor’s heart rate quickened.

  Jager’s shrewd sweeping gaze stole everyone’s attention, leaving only the sound of birds. The skin crinkled around his eyes as though he were staring into the sun.

  “Before I announce the new pairings, I must share one last bit of unfortunate news. Humans were spotted during the supply run the other day.”

  Tabor’s head snapped in Sasha’s direction, but her attention remained fixed on Jager.

  “As you’ve seen, our pack mates are unharmed, but this means we will have to hold off on supply runs to the city until the council believes it’s safe to return. Garrick and Ford will be monitoring their movements from a safe distance.”

  From nearby, Camilla groaned. “Guess I’ll be wearing this rag longer than I thought.”

  Tabor’s eyes slid down Sasha’s arm to her clenched fist. She finally looked over and met Tabor’s questioning stare with a forced smile and uncurled her fingers. Tabor wished he could take her hand in his.

  Jager cleared his throat.

  “Now, back to the pairings. Raider and Kallie,” he announced without further preamble. No bluster or honey-coated speeches like Palmer.

  Raider and Kallie stepped into the circle that had formed along the edges of the clearing. Tabor schooled his expression, remembering Raider face-planting into the dirt. As he strutted forward, the big lump gave no indication he’d been out cold during the celebration.

  “You two take the western hunting grounds,” Jager said.

  Raider and Kallie left the circle and headed for their territory.

  “Aden and Emerson. Hudson—” Jager paused as though purposefully taunting Tabor, or reconsidering pairing the shifter up with Sasha despite his earlier claim not to. “And Jordan.”

  Tabor caught his breath, losing it a second later.

  “Tabor—” Jager’s steely gaze homed in on him, holding his throat in a choking vise. When Jager’s lips turned down, Tabor feared the old coot would back out of their deal. But then Jager finished. “And Sasha.”

  A hush followed, not that shifters were talkative during pairings. They were too busy listening for their partner and assignment. Tabor expected a few gasps, but none came. Maybe it wasn’t so shocking after Sasha had been paired with a werewolf the last round. And it wasn’t as though Hector had stuck around long enough to guest patrol with her for even a day.

  Once more, Tabor resisted the urge to take Sasha’s hand as they stepped into the clearing together.

  “You two will patrol the bluff overlooking the valley. When you get there, send Devan and Flynn back to the den.”

  The bluff had a nice sweeping view. Romantic, Tabor thought approvingly. He’d happily hand over his healing potions to Jager the next evening.

  Sasha led the way out of the clearing with Tabor hot on her heels. The fresh forest air was a welcome change from the smoke and smell of burning flesh in the clearing. Tabor pulled the earthy atmosphere into his lungs.

  “Humans?” The word flew from his mouth as he stepped into place beside Sasha, who glanced over, not breaking her stride.

  “Such a nuisance,” she grumbled. “We had to leave behind four full packs of clothing.”

  “Sasha.” Tabor grabbed her arm and brought her to a halt. When she stopped and looked down at his hand on her, he couldn’t tell if the annoyance in her eyes was from his touch or the reminder of the failed supply run. He let go of her and leaned close enough to feel her warm breath tickle the scruff on his chin. “The clothes don’t matter. Your safety is far more important.”

  “Tell that to Camilla.” Sasha snorted.

  Tabor ground his teeth together, regretting ever bedding the petty she-wolf—and her friend.

  “Camilla’s attire is the very least of my concerns.” His eyes homed in on Sasha, leaving no question as to whom his true concern was for, and when her lips parted, hope blossomed in his belly like wildflowers across a valley.

  “Did you have something to do with our pairing?”

  There was a touch of humor to her tone. This was going better than Tabor had expected. He thought she might get angry.

  “Yes,” Tabor said with a smile.

  “And this time you’re sure it was me you wanted pairing with?”

  Before Tabor could answer, Sasha veered off from the trail onto a narrow footpath leading through dense woods.

  Tabor ran his free hand through his hair and cleared his throat. “You do know that the bluff is the other way.”

  “Come on,” Sasha said, as though Tabor wouldn’t follow. He hustled past hollow logs and fallen trees to catch up. Sasha walked at a good clip, arms sweeping against her sides as she hurried down the path. As the forest thinned out in front of a small cave, Sasha stopped in front of it.

  A smile crept up Tabor’s cheeks. “Couldn’t wait, could you?” he asked with a chuckle.

  “The bluff is a long trek. We’ll leave our clothes here, shift, and run the rest of the way,” Sasha said, ignoring Tabor’s innuendo.

  She pulled her dress over her head, flashing her breasts. His groin tightened immediately. Oblivious to the effect she had over him, Sasha turned around and set her dress on a boulder, giving Tabor the back end view.

  He set down his bow and quiver and swallowed.

  When Sasha turned around and saw him staring, she frowned. “You’re still dressed?”

  Sweet mother of moonshine, she could turn him on without even trying.

  Tabor pulled off his shirt and pants while Sasha watched.

  Wanted a good look, did she? Well, he had a mammoth erection waiting below his navel.

  Tabor enjoyed watching Sasha’s eyes widen when he dropped his pants. Hard on command, especially with Sasha standing in front of him naked.

  She took a good long look before grinding
her teeth. “Can you stop that? It’s distracting.”

  Tabor looked down and smiled slyly. “I can’t stop myself from wanting you.”

  Sasha huffed with amusement. “You do realize we’ve been assigned patrol?”

  Tabor allowed his gaze to drift over Sasha’s sun-kissed body, openly appreciating her long, limber legs, curvy hips, and supple breasts.

  A smile played over his lips. “Hey, you’re the one who brought me out here to strip.”

  Sasha’s glare made Tabor chuckle. He folded his clothes into a neat pile, which he then set on the boulder with Sasha’s dress.

  Switching to the business at hand, Tabor said, “I understand the need for speed, but it means I can’t take my bow and quiver.”

  Sasha’s gaze dropped to the place where Tabor had set down his weapon. “Are you unable to fight without it?” she asked.

  “Of course not, but it gives me the advantage of taking an enemy down from a distance.”

  Sasha nodded. “If you want to bring the bow, you can meet me there. I’ll run ahead to relieve the den mates of their duty.”

  “No need,” Tabor said, lowering himself to the ground onto both knees. He glanced up at Sasha and grinned. “There’s more than one way to skin a vulhena.”

  He made the shift and trotted down the footpath back to the main trail leading to the bluff. In a flash, Sasha was beside him. Her body brushed against his, a taunt, as she took the lead. Tabor sprang forward, keeping in step. Light flashed through the trees. They ran without pausing for breath until they reached the hill leading up to the bluff. There they paused long enough to howl, alerting their pack mates they approached.

  Their call was shortly answered.

  Tabor and Sasha trotted up the hill to the edge of the bluff where two wolves stood watchful, waiting for them to appear.

  The four of them shifted and stood up. Most mated males would be anxious to return to the den with the full moon coming, but with eight pups between them, Devan and Flynn didn’t act as anxious as mates trying for their first pup. They weren’t especially friendly, though. They never greeted Tabor when he visited Heidi and the kids in the den. When their eyes met his it had always been with disfavor, the same way they looked at him now.