by Victoria Sue
They slowed the horses and split off into smaller groups. Taegan pointed Skye, his mare, to the trees. The way was awkward and the horses had to be sure-footed to get through the dense undergrowth, but he couldn’t be seen with a man thrown over his saddle. The hillside was littered with caves, and Cy and Rego ran up to him as he got to the first one. Some were deep and completely uninhabitable; as dense as they were, they were also freezing cold and no ventilation meant no fires, so they were unusable. The ones they occupied were by the entrances and completely hidden by the trees. In the last few months they had broken through two smaller caves for their cooking and medical area, big enough for many of them to be present at the same time. The only other place they could meet was one of the barns at the bottom of the hillside.
Cy took Skye’s reins and Rego roughly grabbed the young wolf and dropped him on the floor. Taegan just managed to stop himself from telling Rego to be careful, reminding himself it was a wolf and given half the chance it would slaughter them all. Gratefully, he accepted the leather pouch full of water Corinne gave him. He smiled at the fifteen-year-old girl and downed the water completely before he had taken another step.
“Taegan.” His mom stepped forward and hugged him tightly. “I was so scared,” she whispered, then she took a breath and looked up with a smile that didn’t quite hide the worry. He dropped a kiss on her head as she released him. She glanced at the man laying unconscious on the floor. “Taegan? What on earth?” She took a step towards the prone figure and Taegan snagged her arm protectively.
“It’s the Alpha’s nephew. We can’t find Neil or Rayne and we are hoping to bargain.”
“He’s a wolf?”
Taegan nodded, understanding his mom’s shock. None of them had ever seen a wolf in the condition this one was in. Battered would have been putting it mildly. He looked like he had been through a meat grinder, small and appearing half-starved. Taegan remembered the feel of his ribs. He huffed, suddenly irritated that he should give a damn about any of the murdering savages.
His mom pulled away from him and bent down, running her hands through the man’s hair as he was still unconscious where Rego had put him on the ground. “He has a nasty bump.”
“He stirred halfway here. I didn’t hit him hard,” Taegan replied mildly, ignoring the arched eyebrow. His mom was too soft.
“Rego, help me get him on a pallet in the back room.”
“Mom, he’s a wolf,” Taegan warned. “He needs locking up in the cage.”
Rego hoisted the man over his shoulder. “He’s a dangerous animal that would as soon rip out your heart, Renee. He needs to go in the cage.”
His Mom tutted. “You really think he’s in any condition to fight? I know wolves don’t get sick, but look at the state of him. He looks like he’s been beaten.” Renee gasped and raised her eyes. “Taegan, look at his arms.”
Taegan looked at the wolf’s forearms. He had scars of his own. No rebel who had fought as long as he had were without them, but he winced at the tight, puckered, angry welts and scars that littered each of the wolf’s arms. Some were so thin that Taegan knew they were done with a sharp blade, and some so thick and ugly he would have said teeth were used. Some raised and infected welts Taegan knew were from ropes. There were also burns, many burns. The wolf moaned and turned his head, obviously waking up.
“Taegan,” Rego ground out.
But Taegan couldn’t answer. The wolf had tilted his head to his side, and Taegan was transfixed at the horrific scar on the side of his neck. He’d thought his arms were bad but they were nothing compared to the ugly twisted skin he was looking at. He didn’t even know how he had survived whatever injury had caused it. There was a hollow the size of Taegan’s fist that looked like flesh and muscle had been ripped away. The wound looked old, but the puckered and twisted skin ran in rivulets up under his chin and down to his neck. The skin grew taut as he had moved his neck, and Taegan could imagine how much it hurt.
“Let Renee tend him but stay close and use the spare collar.” He ignored the incredulous look Rego sent him, and watched as his mom and Rego disappeared with his prisoner. He gulped some more water, wincing at the bruising from the collar he had been forced into. Taegan sighed. It was a risk bringing him here, and as soon as he was awake he was going in the cage whether his mom liked it or not. He’d heard vague rumors about the man. Slaves talked and they gossiped about the insane wolf locked away for his own good but he hadn’t any idea he was the Alpha’s nephew. Servants had said he was crazy but weren’t sure why; and Taegan wasn’t sure he agreed. When he had challenged him in the ring he had been typically wolf-like. Taunting, cruel, so sure of his victory despite his appearance, but when Taegan had leaped for him as he was going to shift, the man had just … given up almost. Not like he had been paralyzed with fear, but that he had almost welcomed dying. Maybe that’s why he was supposed to be crazy. Maybe the injuries were self-inflicted? He’d never heard of a suicidal wolf. They were all too conceited.
Then the man had looked at him, but Taegan hadn’t seen crazy in those golden wolf-eyes, he had seen sadness. Such incredible sadness that Taegan had relaxed his grip in shock. It had seemed wrong inflicting more pain on him when he was already suffering, like tormenting a wounded animal. Taegan shook his head at the ridiculous thought, berated himself for getting as soft as his mom, and went to get washed and changed. He also had to arrange a simple end of life ceremony for Xander. It was the least he could do.
• • •
“It’s awake.”
Taegan looked up at Rego as he had walked into the shelter where the horses were kept at the base of the hillside and near where the barrels were stored. About thirty horses were kept to pull the carts and no-one noticed if the rebels stabled theirs here especially as Jenner’s father Evvin oversaw them all. The fields beyond the vineyards were even used for hay and turnout. The whole production was huge and netted the Alphas an awful lot of gold.
Taegan knew who Rego meant by “it” instantly, and gave Skye a last pat only to be rewarded with a head butt as she snorted and turned to her hay.
“Taegan, are you sure you know what you are doing?” Rego stopped him with a hand to his chest and Taegan bit off the angry retort. He was used to the older man questioning his every decision. In fact, he often welcomed it as it kept him sharp. If it wasn’t for Rego’s commitment to their cause, he would have made him leave a long time ago. Rego was loyal, he just second guessed everything Taegan did.
“We were out of options,” Taegan answered shortly.
“Then we execute it when we have found out what it knows,” Rego grunted.
It wasn’t a question and Teagan didn’t reply. He knew Rego was right. The strong smell of Sulphur was too obvious and would narrow down their location. He wouldn’t risk more lives. One dead wolf was nothing in the grand scheme of things, but sometimes all he could do was get rid of them one set of sharp teeth at a time.
He followed Rego into the first cave where his mom treated any injuries and stopped in surprise at the man propped up on the pallet. Cy stood with his hand on the handle of his knife, even though the collar meant the wolf couldn’t shift. His mom hadn’t been wrong when she said he looked nothing like a wolf. He wasn’t much taller than his mom and he was gaunt, almost. He remembered the sad golden brown wolf eyes that had stared so solemnly at him, and the feel of his ribs as Taegan had lifted him. His jaw dropped as his mom perched on the side of the makeshift bed, tucked a cloth under his chin and looked for all the world like she was going to feed him. “Mom,” Taegan burst out and they both jumped. “What in Sorin’s name are you doing?” He ignored the shake of his mom’s head and the sharply indrawn breath of their prisoner. The way he cringed. Good, he was glad the wolf was scared of him. It may make getting the information he needed easier.
“Cy,” Taegan barked out. “Put him in the cage.” His mom raised her eyebrows but at least had the sense to keep quiet. Rego beat Cy to it and roughly pulled the guy off t
he pallet and he stumbled, hissing loudly when Rego touched his left arm. His mom frowned.
“I can walk,” the wolf mumbled almost defiantly and Taegan scoffed insultingly. The wolf could barely stand. Golden brown eyes met his for a second as Rego held him up. Sad eyes, defeated almost, and Taegan swallowed down his justification and the sudden need to articulate it.
“Get moving,” Rego said roughly and pushed the wolf forward.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Taegan said and dragged his gaze away. The wolf half-walked, was half-dragged between Rego and Cy. Taegan turned to his mom. “Mom, what are you doing? He’s a wolf.” He took her hand and clasped it.
“Taegan, he’s sick.”
“And soon he will be dead.” His mom pulled her hand away sharply. “Mom, you knew what we were doing today. Xander’s dead. The Alpha-heir broke his neck, and that was after he had been beaten so he could barely stand.” Taegan whispered and pulled her close, and she buried her head in his chest. They hadn’t found the children Neal and his little sister, Rayne that had been missing for two days. “We don’t know how many humans he has killed or if he tormented the slaves.” Taegan scoffed to himself. If?
His mom sighed and took a step back. “He’s not like any wolf I’ve ever met, not even Silas.”
“I know” — Taegan gave her a last squeeze — “but he’s a prisoner, not a guest, and he could rip out your throat with two fingers. I need you safe.” He couldn’t, wouldn’t lose her — not when he’d already lost everyone else. She nodded and picked up the soup.
“At least let him eat while he is here. It will make me feel better.”
Taegan took the cup and smiled at her, then he walked down the narrow passage to the farthest cave. There was no natural light in this one and the walls were lit with sconces. It was also freezing cold the further they got into the mountain. In the summer months they still had to light fires in some of the front caves, but they couldn’t this far back with no ventilation. Not that the wolves would feel it, he thought in frustration; even in their human form their bodies ran at a higher temperature. The only way it would make them suffer was denying them the natural light and space they seemed to crave. The “cage” was a natural rock formation. It had taken nothing for the ‘smiths at the forge to make double strength bars disguised as shafts to fit the wagons that the horses pulled. Silas had even tested their strength and he’d been unable to break them. Taegan ducked his head as the passage roof got lower and wondered if Silas had heard of the Alpha’s nephew.
Taegan stepped up to the cage just as Cy was closing the door. “Wait,” Taegan said and stepped in carrying the soup which was nearly cold now. Not that he cared. None of them had even been given water after they had been caught yesterday. He looked at the straw on the floor, the blanket, the pot to piss in and the covered jug of water. The wolf was getting more than they had, and he hadn’t been beaten either.
And he was still alive.
Taegan stood for a minute and studied him. He remembered the brown eyes even if he couldn’t currently see them as the wolf had his head lowered. Long, unkempt blond hair fell forward in matted clumps and his wasted shoulders hunched over. Thin bare arms tried to shield his body. Both wrists had ugly-looking raw cuts, some half healed, some puffy and infected. It made no sense. He showed all the signs of being restrained for a long time. Maybe his madness meant he was a danger to the wolves. Maybe he was kept locked up for his own good? Taegan lengthened the silence. It was deliberate. A quiet, unhurried study of a prisoner made whoever was being held increasingly nervous. It was a form of power play he had learned a long time ago. “What’s your name?” Taegan barked out the order as the man seemed to try and make himself smaller.
“Caleb,” he muttered, wrapping his right arm around his body. His shirt had been ripped in half on the saddle and fallen off. He had an undershirt on so it wasn’t like he was naked. “And I would never have hurt your mother,” he added defensively. Taegan didn’t give the ridiculous comment the courtesy of a reply. He was a wolf. He would hurt whoever he needed to get what he wanted and enjoy every second.
“And you are the Alpha’s nephew?”
A shrug was the answer. “But you have wasted your time bringing me here. He doesn’t value my life.”
Taegan didn’t rise to the blatant lie. There was no way the Alpha would let the attack slide. Taegan belatedly remembered the soup he carried and handed it over. Caleb looked up suspiciously, then extended his right hand. Taegan noted the slight tremble in the fingers that clasped the cup. Was he scared? He had hoped to make him nervous, rip him of the arrogant confidence all wolves had, and even if he was scared it was odd for a wolf to show such a weakness. He watched as he took a sip of the soup and his eyes, ever sharp, narrowed on the wolf’s bare arms as he tried to wrap his free one around his middle again, the wince as he moved the one covered in bruises. He saw the slight tremble and Taegan’s eyes widened a little. He was cold. But — that was impossible, and Taegan’s temper simmered as he realized they were being played. It was merely a pathetic attempt to make himself appear non-threatening. He had been careful not to exhibit any wolf tendencies to try and make the humans forget he was a vicious animal. I will think of your dead friend when I claw out your heart. Taegan would never forget those words. He mustn’t forget those words. He was systematically lulling everyone into pitying him. He thought of his mom and how close she had been to him, and immediately felt sick. The wolves had already murdered his father. He would never ever let one of them get anywhere near his mom. For a second he wanted to tell Rego to slice open the wolf’s throat and be done with it.
“You will be kept until either your uncle bargains for you or I run out of patience. Let us hope for your sake your uncle is no slouch.”
“He won’t pay any gold for me,” Caleb said and put the cup down after his third sip.
“I don’t want gold. I want a prisoner exchange.”
He looked up in surprise. “Prisoners?”
Taegan glowered. “Don’t bother lying. We know their bodies haven’t been dumped.” Warwick did two things with humans. He enslaved them or he killed them. Those he killed were always dumped in whichever human settlement they had come from. It was supposed to teach a lesson, but Taegan’s contacts had reported no bodies and no new slaves. Warwick wouldn’t have transported them to another pack. “Let’s try this again, we have two children missing. Do you have any new slaves?”
“I do not know,” he answered.
Taegan snatched at the wolf’s shoulder, and ignoring his sharp cry he shook him. “Because you have too many to count?” he bellowed. “Because as long as you get your food cooked and your clothes cleaned you don’t care that children work sixteen hours a day until they drop from exhaustion?”
The whimper was so small Taegan barely heard it. He had expected another protest but the man was silent. Trying to fool him again. Taegan took one last glance, let go of the man’s arm in disgust and left the cage. Rego bolted it.
He walked back up the passage after giving instructions for the guards to be changed frequently — as it was too cold for humans to stay down there any length of time — and entered the front cave to where someone had lit a fire. He stood closer to it appreciatively for a few minutes and thought about the prisoner. For a few seconds back there he had seemed sad, defeated. In pain. Wolves were cocky bastards. Always so sure of themselves. Rego had said he was supposed to be crazy but Taegan didn’t think he was. He thought he was just clever and a good actor, but that didn’t mesh with the number of injuries he had. Taegan huffed a breath out and rubbed his sore throat. For a second he nearly returned to the cell but he managed to stop himself. There was food, water, and a blanket. The wolf would barely feel the cold. He would go see Silas and find out if he had heard of the Alpha’s crazy nephew.
Chapter Three
It was late, or very early by the time Taegan remembered he was going to see Silas. He had slept for barely two hours as he was worried
about Neil and Rayne. They seemed to have just vanished. Tessa and Dale had been playing Hunt the Alpha with them, and when it had been their turn to hide Neil and Rayne couldn’t be found. Then there had been a sighting of a hunting party of wolves close to the vineyards, but they had gone in the other direction. Fortunately, they always had an escape plan. If the werewolves came, there were secret tunnels through the caves and they would take as many as they could should it be needed. They were lucky the Sulphur disgusted the wolves enough that they stayed away, but there were plenty of human guards they had to be wary of.
He knocked on the wooden door of the tiny cottage hidden in the trees beyond the far fields, stepping inside once he heard the command to enter. He knew Silas wouldn’t be asleep. The old wolf often joked that he would sleep when he was dead and he had far too many interests to keep him awake.
Silas had saved his life when Taegan had been eight years old. He had originally been a beta working for one of the Alphas near Tethra’s southern border with Niandes. It was the closest point where both territories met with Solonara, and there was a large human settlement by the coast that mainly traded in fish. The village of Re-pal was a busy place. The wolves were present, but mainly existed peacefully with the humans. Then the Alphas from Solonara started doing their collections.