Primal Instinct

by Ally Parker

  The male rubbed his chin, and he didn’t look very convinced. “Do you known why they picked you?”

  There could be a few choice reasons why the doctor would want to risk her life. Primarily, that she wanted her own pet were. She shrugged. “I guess I was an easy target, disposable to them.”

  Saint’s gaze narrowed. Her heartbeat picked up, and she adjusted her position. “Can anyone really know what goes on in the mind of a crazy person?”

  A moment passed as Saint stared at her with his unnerving blue gaze and her heart rate skyrocketed. Her mind replayed her answers and she was positive that she’d been truthful yet vague enough to keep herself alive.

  Shifting in his seat, Saint drummed his thigh with this fingers. “I’ve received reports that when you left Delmac with Milly a she-wolf was with you. Who is she?”

  Kenzie struggled to slow the galloping beat of her heart. Ava. Saint was talking about her sister, and she couldn’t tell him anything without it leading to more incriminating questions. Ignoring the alpha’s question wasn’t an option either. She had to give him something. “Another victim of Delmac. When Jaxx found me in my room he mentioned the wolf was gone.”

  Saint nodded his head and sighed. “Can you think of any other information that will help us deliver justice to those responsible?”

  William definitely called the shots. The doctor was a key player, and Kali was new to their setup. Saint would surely want that information. She would have to answer very carefully. Maybe offer a half truth. “I can remember the doctor taking to a man. I think his name was William. It sounded like they were making decisions together.”

  She shook her head. Her words were as honest as she could get without incriminating herself. “If I think of more, I will let you know.”

  Waiting, her breath paused, and it seemed like an eternity later that Saint finished his drink and leaned forward. “Thank you for answering my questions.”

  Her breath all but flew out of her. Saint grinned, and it softened his features to something almost sexy if you dug males that looked like they could kill you. “I will have to report to the council in the morning. That means before I go, you need to decide if you would like to remain a part of Shadow Moon or have the council re-locate you.”

  “Why do I have to choose any pack? Can’t I just leave?”

  Jaxx knelt beside her; taking her hand, he gazed into her eyes. “You can’t be a lone wolf out there.” He gestured with a flick of his head toward the world beyond the walls. “You’ll be a target on your own. Any hunter or even another pack will either take you down or force you to join their pack. Any kind of female shifter or were is rare.”

  Leaving wasn’t an option. How would she ever get her sister free? “Where would the council put me?”

  Saint stood, straightening his shirt. “The council only thinks of the continuation of our kind. You’ll go where you’re most needed. Or, the alternative is to be sent to Wolfden.”

  Jaxx growled.

  “Wolfden?”

  “It’s a safe location where humans or weres who aren’t adjusting to their new world are sent.”

  “It’s a pretty word for a prison,” Jaxx hissed.

  She blew out a breath. That was something she couldn’t risk. She could be shipped off anywhere across the country or held captive. At least here she was within reach to get her sister back. Before she could change her mind, she blurted out, “I’ll stay here. I’ll join Shadow Moon.”

  Saint nodded. “To do this, I will call upon your wolf. When you respond we will need to exchange a bite to establish a pack connection. Then I will be able to communicate with you via a mental link.” His eyes began to glow a bright-blue hue, and her wolf stretched inside of her.

  The air buzzed, and she was caught in Saint’s gaze. His teeth lengthened, and from deep within, her wolf responded. Power sizzled and fanned out, wrapping around her like a blanket. Her teeth, too big for her mouth, pressed on her bottom lip. Saint held out a hand, and she gave him hers. Teeth pierced her wrist and held fast. A small fissure formed inside of her, and yearnings she kept buried deep in her heart surfaced. A home, a family, a place to belong. She sank her teeth into Saint’s wrist.

  Saint eased away. “It’s done. Through our link, you will also be able to connect with pack members while you’re in wolf form. I’ll be able to communicate with you no matter your form or mine.” Saint smiled and stood. “Welcome to Shadow Moon. I’m sure you both have a lot to discuss, and I have a lot to prepare for before tomorrow.” Saint turned and walked out just as quickly as he had first appeared.

  Jaxx squatted beside her and cupped her bitten wrist. “You’re one of us now.”

  She wished it was true, that both she and Ava could become members of the Shadow Moon pack, free to roam, to live among family, to share special moments with a male that made her stomach quiver any time he looked her way. That kind of destiny was meant for other people. Not for her. Guilt was an ugly emotion that sat heavy in her gut. People like her got to lie, betray, and suffer alone.

  11

  Someone thumped on the door. “Get your ass out here, lad. We’ve got company.”

  Jaxx stood, jerked his attention to the door, and cursed.

  Saint’s voice rang in her head as clear as if he was standing in the room. “We’re under attack. Dark Falls has breached our territory. Everyone head toward the south border and fan out.”

  It was going to take a while to get used to hearing voices in her head. Focusing on what needed to be done was something she could do, something she was used to. Pushing off from the couch, she took a step toward the door.

  Jaxx stepped around her. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “Didn’t you hear the orders? Saint wants us—“

  “I got the message too; every pack member would have.” His lips flattened. “Females don’t fight unless they have to. Ryker, Saint’s brother, is the alpha of Dark Falls, and he’s dangerous.”

  Her eyebrows lifted. Geez, Saint’s own brother was attacking him? “Are you telling me to stay put while you men run out there playing hero?”

  Jaxx’s trapezius muscles bunched along his shoulders, and his eyes narrowed. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  She snorted. “I’m not the type to sit and wait for someone to save me.”

  For the last twenty-seven years of her life, she’d fended for herself; every trial, every tribulation was hers to bear alone.

  “I know, and I love that about you. Just this once, I need you to do this for me. Now promise me you won’t put yourself in danger.” He caught her hand and held it tight to his chest. “Please.”

  Whatever was going on between them had her wanting to ease the worry wrinkling his brow. She supposed she needed to learn a bit more about controlling her wolf anyway. Blowing out a breath, she nodded. The tension eased from his shoulders, and he kissed her palm and walked away. He opened the door and shifted, his clothes falling to the ground in tatters.

  As a man Jaxx was intimidating, as a wolf he was downright scary. Only she knew how gentle he could be no matter what shape he took. She bit her lip and hoped he wouldn’t get hurt. It was reasonable to be concerned about his welfare, she told herself. He had helped her through a life-changing event. Despite the temporary bond they shared, she felt connected to him on every level.

  A phone vibrated from near a bookcase. Kenzie walked over and saw her bag wedged in the corner, a blanket tossed over the top. A phone vibrated again, and it came from her backpack. Kali.

  Grinding her teeth, she bent down and rifled through her bag, yanking out her cell. On the screen a text from Kali read:

  Ava is counting on you.

  She growled and shoved the cell back into the bag. God help her, she was an asshole. Her heart strained, desires for Jaxx and for Ava tearing it to pieces. Jaxx was a good male, he’d saved her, helped her through the biggest change of her life, and now she was going to betray him. Because Kali was right; Ava was count
ing on her.

  “Jaxx, head to the east border. Quinn needs backup.”

  Saint’s crisp words kicked Jaxx into gear, and he tailed it to the left. “On my way.”

  Dirt sprayed as Jaxx ran over the valleys and up the ridges of the pack land. He shot over a fallen tree, not missing a step, and continued to run toward the perimeter. He had to neutralize the threat. It wasn’t just the pack he was fighting for. Ryker was after the females of Shadow Moon, and he’d gut anyone that thought they could take what wasn’t theirs.

  Familiar scents drifted along the wind, and his steps faltered. Damn Dark Falls, and damn Ryker. He rounded the crest, where Seb fought a wolf as dark as the night itself. Seb’s silver eyes glinted as he launched himself at the wolf. Beside a cluster of trees, Quinn dodged low and spun to meet his prey. Quinn’s brown pelt was a sharp contrast to the white wolf he was fighting. Every step Quinn took, the Dark Falls wolf was there, waiting to attack.

  “Sometime today would be great,” Quinn yelled through the pack link.

  “Duck!” Jaxx ordered.

  Quinn didn’t question him; the male plummeted to the ground, and Jaxx sailed through the air and slammed into the white wolf. They rolled across the mossy grass and thudded against a tree. Springing from the ground, Jaxx turned and sank his teeth into the underbelly of the white wolf. Yelping, the animal kicked out, scraping sharp claws along Jaxx’s leg. Dark Moon’s wolf rolled them, dancing away. Jaxx snarled and stalked from the right; Quinn approached from the left, corning the intruder.

  “Gotcha, you bastard.” Quinn pressed tighter, maneuvering the wolf to a better position.

  The white wolf’s gaze bounced between them as they closed in. The male would know there was nowhere he could go. Throwing back his head, he howled—calling to his pack.

  “Keep your eyes to the trees, boys. There could be incoming.”

  Seb trotted over and joined them. “Not today there won’t. This guy’s howl must have been some kind of signal. Dark Falls are fleeing.”

  They needed to bring Ryker’s men back for questioning. Jaxx shifted and approached the male. “Shift.”

  The male curled his lip, and Jaxx sighed. “Or we can always do it the hard way.”

  A second later the white wolf shifted back to human. For some reason no one was ever interested in doing things the hard way when Quinn was around. Once upon a time Quinn had been council’s top enforcer. The male’s past was dark and shrouded in secrets. All Jaxx knew was that packs all along the coast used to whisper his name in fear.

  “What’s your name?”

  No answer.

  Jaxx blew out a breath. “Fine.”

  The male must have had second thoughts on doing things the hard way. Jaxx reached forward and wrapped a hand around the guy’s arm. The man snatched out of his grasp and struck Jaxx across the chest with clawed fingers. Jaxx jabbed him twice, cracking the male in the nose. The Dark Falls male wobbled, and his eyes rolled back before he collapsed to the ground.

  Using a fireman’s hold, Jaxx picked the shifter up and headed toward the compound. He couldn’t believe Ryker had actually attacked Shadow Moon. One thing was clear; they needed to find out Ryker’s next move. His mate, and all the females of the pack, depended on it.

  Kenzie glanced down the corridor and sniffed. Too many smells she couldn’t recognize filled her nose. The coast clear, she eased down the tunnel, taking note of the various twists and turns, and followed the scent trails of other wolves. Jaxx’s words rung in her head. She was his mate, and she didn’t know how to feel about it. Was she attracted to him? Hells yes. Did she think he was nice? Sure. But she didn’t really know him. Under all that polished exterior he could be a murderer, for all she knew.

  And, he didn’t know her. She doubted if he found out about her mission, he’d be asking her to stick around. Poor male. How was she meant to help him when she couldn’t help herself? But to think of Jaxx as a monster hurt more than it should have. The temporary bond probably did something to her brain to make her want Jaxx more.

  She ducked down a passageway, and about six hundred feet in, found a dead end. Backtracking, she picked up the pace, and the lanterns hanging in the recesses flickered as she passed them. Pebbles skidding on the ground echoed through the tunnels. Was someone out there?

  “What are you doing?”

  Kenzie jumped, and her teeth exploded in her mouth. Claws punched out of her skin, and she turned to face a tall, athletic, leather-clad woman. Jet-black hair fanned around her face and trailed over a tight black shirt to rest at the top of a corset. The woman looked human, but Kenzie knew firsthand that didn’t mean there wasn’t an animal beneath her skin.

  “Easy,” she fanned her palms out as if cajoling a wild beast. “My name is Taryn; I’m pack.” Taryn’s nostrils flared. “Welcome to the family.”

  Kenzie sniffed the air, and undertones of a woodsy scent Saint and Jaxx carried were laced on Taryn too. She closed her eyes and squished her wolf back inside.

  Taryn looked around and frowned. “You shouldn’t be roaming the tunnels on your own. Especially since you’re a new were and unfamiliar with the pack lands. What are you doing out here?”

  Kenzie’s heart pounded, and panic lodged itself in her chest. “I… I was searching for a little girl, her name is Milly. I found her in that facility. Jaxx mentioned that she’d been brought back here.”

  She had been meaning to ask Jaxx about the poor kid. Silence stretched between them, and for a moment Kenzie worried Taryn might haul her ass back to a cell. The female’s lips tugged upward, and she jerked her chin up. “Milly and Leila are in a private room in the infirmary. I can take you there.”

  They started to walk down the darkened tunnels, and Kenzie frowned at Taryn’s words. Had Milly been hurt? “Is Milly okay?”

  She didn’t want to contemplate the doctor’s capabilities, but the woman was ruthless. Anyone and everyone was a means to an end. It wouldn’t be a stretch that it would also include a child. Kenzie worked to keep her breathing regular. Guilt banded her with yet another layer to drag around. How was she going to live with herself after everything was all said and done? Looking for Milly wasn’t a full lie—she had wanted to check to make sure the little girl was okay. It just wasn’t first on her agenda.

  “She’s fine. The question is, how are you holding up? You’ve been through more than most. It’s a lot to take in.”

  Kenzie snorted. “Which part? The fact that I know there are beings capable of changing into animals, or that I’m now one of them and I’ve had to join a pack—who appear to be in the midst of war. Or maybe that I seem to have lost all control of my life, and I feel more like a chess piece than an actual person.”

  What looked like regret flashed in Taryn’s eyes. “Our world isn’t an easy one. We have many enemies, and strict laws we all need to follow.” She shrugged. “But it isn’t all bad. For one, you’ve automatically inherited a huge family.”

  “I guess. But is that a good thing?” she murmured. After all, Saint’s brother had been the one to attack. They continued to weave through the passageways, and it was impossible to follow their movements or learn the layout. Her thoughts drifted to Ava. Her sister was the only true family she had, and it was up to Kenzie to save her.

  Taryn laughed. “True.” She nudged an elbow into her ribs. “There is also the fact that our kind live longer, heal faster, have better senses, and we have true mates. You don’t get to know that for certain in the human world.”

  Kenzie couldn’t deny that the perks did hold a certain lure. “I guess it’s all just going to take time?”

  Patting her shoulder, Taryn smiled. “Don’t worry. You’ll have Jaxx and the rest of Shadow Moon to help you settle in.”

  At the mention of Jaxx, a flutter looped in her stomach, and she wondered if he was okay. Her limbs tingled, and she could feel her wolf hovering beneath the surface, ready to fight. Hiding wasn’t her style, and it was difficult to shake the urge to go and def
end herself. They took another left, and Taryn gestured to her right. A double doorway opened up into a large room. “Saint’s office is through there if you ever need him.”

  She nodded and noted its position. Another wave of guilt hit her; she tried to distract herself. "Both of Milly’s parents were in that hellhole. Do you know if anyone found them?”

  At the end of the hall stood two large doors. Taryn stepped forward and pushed the door ajar. “In a roundabout way.”

  What did that even mean? Antiseptic hit her sinuses as soon as Taryn opened the door, and Kenzie’s nose wrinkled. She hesitantly stepped into the room, and a woman with the same blond, bouncy curls as Milly’s mom writhed on a medical bed. Another woman hovered over her, holding the woman in place. When she saw them step into the room she sighed and swiped at some strawberry strands with her forearm.

  “Thank God you’re here. Taryn, grab the sedatives!”

  She pointedly looked at Kenzie. “You. Grab that medical trolley and bring it here.”

  Kenzie followed her gaze to the opposite side of the room, where it looked like someone had been in the midst of re-stocking supplies. Taryn ran over to a bench, and reached up and opened some overhead cupboards, searching for the sedative. Blood coated the doctor’s gloved hands, and Kenzie realized the doctor wasn’t restraining Milly’s mom, but holding pressure to an injury. She jumped into gear and hurried to the trolley.

  “What the hell happened, Cadence?” Taryn asked as she pulled a vial from the shelf and attached a needle to the syringe.

  Cadence grunted. Kenzie looked over her shoulder, and she struggled to hold Leila down. Her focus returned to the piles of gauze sitting on the counter near the trolley. Kenzie threw all of them on the cart and turned, pushing the supplies toward Cadence.

  “I was cleaning her up, and the meds must have worn off. I think Leila must be reacting to all the venom. There has to be at least twenty bite marks covering her body. She opened a wound, and if I don’t get it patched up soon, she’ll lose more blood.”