by Bryce Evans
“You have delayed our plans long enough. I’m getting tired of that. Tired of following the old man’s terms too. I think the coven is ready for a new leader. Once you’re out of the way, I can make my move. Too bad you won’t be there to see it. I think you might enjoy it too or why else would you have run. I know the truth too, Haven.” Blair’s wicked smile grew wider. “Laris isn’t your father, is he?”
Her eyes widened when she didn’t say anything. Blair leaned forward and smiled down at her. “I can see by the look on your face that you didn’t know that tiny bit of information. You’re such a stupid girl. Doesn’t matter now. Nobody will care if you’re not around. So let’s get this party started. Shall we? I’m in a hurry.”
The burning started so quickly. Dear god, she would burn her alive, just like the others. Blair smiled as the spell became more intense. “Do you feel it?”
The pain crept up her arm. Closing her eyes, she thought of her bear. “Save me,” she whispered.
The snarl exploded out of her body. The look on Blair’s face was priceless. A moment she would never forget as her sweet, wonderful bear’s claws burst out of her hand and into Blair’s fleshy chest. A feral smile on her face as the mage’s eyes bugged-out, and the scream inside her choked when her bear jerked her body closer and the words growled out of her throat. “You feel this?”
Her brother and Cosmo were standing beside her as her bear ripped Blair’s head from her body, throwing it to the ground. She was angry. She dared anyone to take her prize. She raked her claws through the body as it lay on the ground. Punished it more. Again, her claws sliced downward tearing the skin open. Nobody tried to stop her as she jumped up and down on top of the corpse. All the torturing she spewed on all the innocent shifters would never happen again. She would make sure of it.
Roaring, she rose onto her hind legs, letting her beast have her revenge slamming down on top of Blair’s body. It was poetic justice. The one thing she hated and tortured the most, killed her. Now, for dear old father to meet his justice. The utter anger she had for him had been buried deep inside her. Just like the pain she felt and never knew why.
Nothing recognizable as Blair lay on the ground.
“Haven, come back to me.”
Her bear roared, warning Cosmo to not come closer. The animal was fighting the change. The beast inside wanted more blood. She wanted them all to pay.
Cosmo kneeled in front of her. He let his bear shine in his eyes. Haven wanted to shift, but the beast decided something different. Snarling, she watched as people came out of the woods. It wasn’t until her brother stood in front of her and commanded, “Shift, Haven” did her bear step back.
The pain intensified as her bear tried to stop the transition. Bones broke as her screams flew out of her human mouth.
“Haven.” Cosmo rushed to her side. She lay on the ground gasping for air. Wanting the pain to stop, she moaned rolling until it finally eased. “Your bear fought the shift. When that happens your human side and the animal fight, but when your alpha calls, we all obey.”
Cosmo picked her up and held her close to his chest. He kissed her on the nose then held her closer, inhaling her scent. Everything about this man turned her into mush. If he hadn’t been holding her so tightly, she would have sifted like sand through his fingers.
“I killed her.” Haven’s voice cracked as chills slid down her arms and legs. “I killed her.”
“Yes. Does that bother you?” Staring into her eyes, he continued. “Nobody will judge you, Haven. She deserved it and more. She would have killed you.”
“I know.” She reached down and felt the burn on her arm. It was hardly noticeable now.
“You will heal faster than before. The wound will be gone in the morning,” Cosmo said. Jade stood by a tree, holding clothes in her hand. “Do you think you can change into your clothes?” he asked.
She nodded, and her feet were lowered to the ground. He took a hard look at her, from her feet to her head. Their eyes met, and he winked. She couldn’t stop the smile. He made her feel pretty. The look of hunger gazed through his beautiful black eyes. She had never felt like this and knew he belonged to her, and she, to him. He had become everything to her and, until now, she hadn’t understood it, but now she was scared. Emotions plagued her. She had just found him. The unsettling feeling of loss crept inside her. She could feel the blood pounding in her ears. She had to protect him.
She knew this was mostly fear that Laris would hurt him or her new family. Everything came at a price. That’s what Laris would say when she asked when they were going to have a home. Cosmo, Lennox, and Jade were her price and she wouldn’t let him take them from her. Not now, not ever.
“Haven.” The light taps to her shoulder brought her out of the haze. Cosmo had gone to the group of alphas. “Haven, are you okay?” Jade asked.
Nodding, she stared up at the lady who would soon be her sister-in-law. She didn’t know what possessed her, but her finger lightly touched the scar slashed across her face.
“You are beautiful, Jade Cross, and I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you in my life.” She threw her arms around Jade and squeezed. This wonderful woman needed to know what she meant to her. They all needed to know how much she had fallen for this group of shifters.
Jade giggled and hugged her back. What a wonderful feeling of joy and home coursed through her body. She could feel her bear and she was just as excited to have Jade in her life. To have all these amazing people in her life. “I’m just so happy. I finally have a family. A real family. One that doesn’t want to kill people.”
Jade cleared her throat. “Well, until they try to kill us. And you just realized that you are loved by all of us. We loved you the moment we met you, girl. You are my little sister and I plan on spoiling you. I’ve never had a sister. I’m going to enjoy it.”
“But I’m twenty-three years old, Jade. I’m not little anymore.”
“Doesn’t matter. None of that matters.”
Haven blew out a breath and looked toward her mate, but it was the pieces of Blair that got her attention. She stared at it. She had done that. “Jade?”
“Yes.”
“I just killed someone.”
“That bitch deserved it. She killed innocent people, even children. You’ve done the world a favor by killing her.” Jade pointed her finger at Blair’s pieces and said, “And…and she tried to kill you.” Jade looked at her when she didn’t say anything. “Hey, are you okay?”
“He will come for her and find us. I’m scared, Jade. I’m scared of him.”
“And we will be waiting,” Jade insisted. “Now put these clothes on. Your mate is going to kill the guards staring at your body.”
Haven looked down and screamed, “I’m naked.”
“Well, put these on then,” Jade said, giggling. Her laugh was infectious, Haven laughing too, as she pulled the blue jeans up, jumping around on one leg, trying not to fall.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Haven and Jade sidled up to the group of alphas. She felt the intensity of the leaders. Each powerful, but together, they were a force to be reckoned with. They were all studying an iPad. Jade moved in between the guys so she could see what they were looking at. “Do you see them?”
“No. Nothing has come by that we don’t recognize,” Arden said.
“Do you think they will come?” Jade asked.
Before anyone could say anything, Haven answered, “They will come. There is tracking on all the cars. She means more to him than anyone. He needs her magic to complete the spell.”
When she started to walk off, Cosmo didn’t hesitate and pulled her arm toward his chest. She never thought this would make her feel better. Make her feel stronger inside, but her mate had a way of calming her like nobody ever had. He was her rock and she wanted to be that for him. She needed to show him, but she didn’t know how.
“Haven, how do you think he will come?” Lennox asked. She had an audience as every shifter waited for h
er answer.
She swallowed hard and focused on the question. She knew what they would do and how. She knew everything about them. As they studied others, she studied them, and she was a star pupil.
Dang it, she had this. “He will track the car and pull it up on Google maps. They will figure out the most plausible way to get to the car. He will not go the way you expect or the road. If that means they have to walk through a swamp, then they will. The element of surprise is how they got the jump on their victim. They will always be in pairs, each has a talent, and they thrive off each other.” She glanced around and found Quinn and Greer watching her with smiles on their faces.
“Tell me, little sis, how should we wait on them?”
Cosmo squeezed her hand giving her the strength she needed. They wanted her input. Nobody ever asked her what she thought. In fact, she would get popped in the mouth for her interference.
Haven swallowed hard. “I think they will come in the back way. I don’t know what’s around here, but they will come in that way. They will form a grid like perimeter. If one pair is caught, the others will be close enough to help. If we took them out…each pair at a time, then they won’t be as powerful, but if they get close to their target, they will form a bond that surrounds them.”
“A bond?” Arden asked.
“It’s what I call it, but it’s a—”
“Shield,” Scarlett answered. “It will be unbreakable, and we will have a hard time getting through. They can do a lot of damage before we even get close enough. Haven is right; we need to take out some of the stronger members. And that would mean we need to know who those members are.”
Haven nodded. “Presley Darden will be paired up with my…” Haven glanced at her brother who showed no emotion. He nodded for her to continue. “With Laris. He will be partnered with him.” Each of the shifters closed in and listened as Haven gave details of each member and what to look for, how they raised their hand before they shot the spell at you. She would be considered an encyclopedia of each member of the Winter Coven. Nobody wrote anything down, but she knew they were taking it all in. She prayed that everyone came out alive. How would she deal with herself if someone got hurt?
When she finished, she watched her brother not so much give out orders but work together with the other alphas. She couldn’t keep up as they strategized, then shifters disappeared into the woods. Each stripped down before they left. Please, please, let them be safe. Please.
“Haven, you did great,” Arden Dixon said. “Without the information, we wouldn’t have a chance. You know, you’re very good at details. We can use a person like you. Are you good with computers?”
“Never had one of my own, but I did use Laris’s to research stuff for the coven. That’s how I know so much. They would tell me what to look for and I did. I even researched the Death Hunters. They know all about you.”
“They don’t know everything, sweetheart,” Cosmo said, smiling. “We don’t let anyone know, but I may be tempted if you’re willing to bargain.” Her mate slid his eyebrows up and down, then pulled her to him and kissed her softly on each corner of her mouth.
Each kiss said something different. She had no doubt now that he was the one. The one who had her soul wrapped up in every tantalizing kiss. He ignited every nerve inside her.
She never knew it could feel this way. She swallowed hard as every touch of his lips made her ignit in places she had never felt before. The heaviness that was inside of her floated away. It was her heavy heart that had changed and now it beat for this man, for these people.
The last kiss had her toes curled in the dirt because she didn’t have on shoes. When he finished the kiss to her nose she panted like a dog in heat. She wanted him to touch her everywhere. It was the hottest thing that had ever happened to her. Who was she kidding? She was glad she waited for this man. This shifter who awakened her. He’d saved her.
“Oh my, I’m getting hot here, and I’m an old woman. That had to be the most romantic kiss I have ever seen, my dear,” Scarlett whispered, bringing her back to earth. She floated in a haze of tingling, toe curling, hot as fire, lustful passion. No, this would be her new reality. “I’ll just go over here with my granddaughter and cool off.”
Placing one last kiss on top of her hand, Cosmo pulled back from her. Thankfully he continued to hold on to her because her whole body wanted to ooze its way to the ground. Like a big black blob. “We will pick this back up later.”
Clearing her throat, Haven couldn’t even respond. She was in love with this man and knew she would spend the rest of her life with him.
Haven stood off to the side of the truck, trying to get her body to cool down. She wanted more. He made her believe anything could be possible. The field had cleared out, shifters went off in every direction. She had no clue what the plan was or where they would all be. Looking around, she didn’t see her brother anywhere. Where did everyone go? Even Cosmo had disappeared.
She leaned against the truck. Her back to the woods. The breeze blew against her face cooling her. She smiled at the thought of mating Cosmo.
Her body was jerked hard against something. When she opened her eyes, she shook her head. “No, no, no, how did you—”
Laris Winter had her pinned against the truck. Preston was beside him scanning the woods. Each had their cloaks on, and she could feel the power of their magic tingling up her arms.
“Where is Blair?” His body appeared tight, ready to strike. That’s how they all were when hunting.
“Dead,” Haven spit back.
Her head hit the back of the window as Laris used his arm to keep her stationary against the truck.
“What did you do, Haven?”
Turning her head to the side, Haven gave him a ghost of a smile. “She pushed me a little too much and she got what she deserved.” Haven was slung to the ground.
“No, she was too strong. You…you couldn’t have.” Laris stared at her in disbelief.
“A lot has changed since I left. She shouldn’t have followed me, but Blair always did what she wanted, and this time, she pushed and lost her head.”
Reality hit him like a ton of bricks. She saw the moment he knew. His mouth fell open glaring at her.
“Yes, Laris I found her.” Haven got up and pointed her finger at him. All the rage built up inside her was ready to explode. “How could you do that to me? I thought I was your daughter. You let me think you were my family, but I have a brother. A real brother, someone who actually loves me for who I am and doesn’t put spells on me. He actually loves me and has a home for me. You took that away from me.”
“Laris, let’s get out of here. Something is wrong,” Preston said, moving toward the woods.
Walking toward her with his hand out, Laris sounded different as he said, “I can make it go away. Take the filthy beast from you. I can make you whole again.”
“Whole again? You made me feel like I was nothing. You killed my parents? Didn’t you.” Haven screamed. “But now I—”
“You like that you’re a shifter?”
“You bet I do, and you will never take her away from me again. I trusted you before, but you never really cared about me. Why did you keep me around? Keep up the ruse of being my father?”
Stalking closer, Laris’s eyes started to glow. “Because you are my pawn. My ace in the hole. Your filthy shifter brother would do anything I wanted to get you back. Of course, I killed them. I brought in rogues to help me. I needed you. My pawn to keep the death hunters in the palm of my hands. With you, Haven. I had it all.”
“You’re a sick, evil man. I loved you, thinking you were my dad.” Angry tears ran down her face. She couldn’t believe how cold he really was. A terrible man.
“Oh, you haven’t seen the half of it, Haven.”
“Laris, let’s go. Now!” Preston didn’t wait for their leader. He ran into the woods.
“I need my pawn back. You will do what I say. Haven, walk out of here with me,” he demanded.
&nb
sp; “No.” Haven wiped the tears off her face. No way was she going anywhere with him. She would die before that happened.
“Now.” She knew that voice. It struck through her, rendering her useless. She struggled but his spell had her. “Start walking.”
The screams coming from the woods stopped Laris. He pulled Haven closer to his chest. He turned and shifters came out of the woods from all directions. A bear charged them. Cosmo. Letting her go, he stuck his hand out, shouting a spell. Haven pushed his arm, but a red glow flew toward Cosmo. His strike didn’t meet his mark, hitting the bear in the shoulder knocking him to the ground.
“No!” she shouted. Cosmo’s bear shook his head and slowly got back up. Ready to charge again.
A roar shook the trees: Lennox. “No, you won’t hurt them.” Her hands thrusted forward, claws striking out from her fingers into the chest of the man she knew as her father.
“Haven.” The look of shock forever molded into place as she pushed inward and up, making sure he would never hurt anyone ever again. His hands drew blood scratching against her arm. She knew he was dead when his eyes froze, but she had to make sure. Her bear wanted her revenge, too, and there would be no stopping the change.
Her bear ripped from her body. Before she could throw pieces around, her brother rubbed his animal body against her. Bringing her back from the rage, back to reality.
Glancing up, she saw her mate holding his shoulder. He was hurt. Haven closed her eyes and demanded her body back. This time her bear didn’t stop her. She shifted so fast that she dropped to the ground.
Cosmo stood by her side wrapping his arms around her. “I got you.”
Lightly touching the damaged skin, Haven cried out, “You’re hurt. I’m sorry. I wasn’t fast enough.”
“I’m fine. Tomorrow there will only be a small scar. If you hadn’t stopped him, more people would have gotten hurt.”