He was a good shot, once he got the basic understanding of how the recurve worked. He didn’t quite match her skill but his coordination was above average and he was even able to hit some of the moving targets after a few tries. He insisted on keeping a tally of shots. Of course, she was winning by a few dozen points.
He let his last arrow go and it went wide, missing the stationary target by at least a foot. She tried to stifle her laugher, but after hours of training with him, she’d loosened up, become more comfortable, relaxed.
“You laughing at me?” He turned on her, his brow furrowed, a smile tugging his lips.
She lifted her hand to her mouth, tried to stop herself. “I can’t help it. That shot was terrible.”
His smile broke across his face. “Yeah, that one was pretty pathetic.”
“You did very well, though. I would almost think you’d had some training before today.”
He shrugged. “Nah. Just fooled around when I was a kid. No formal training.”
Aubrey nodded, amazed by that idea. To fool around with a weapon was so unlike her experience growing up. All she’d known was training with weapons, bows, knives, guns. Always training. She’d never actually used her bow for entertainment like she had tonight. Playing games, competing for fun. And yes, she’d had fun. Being with Jaylon had been easy. She’d enjoyed it, wanted to do it again. Dangerous, dangerous thinking.
“Well, it’s getting late. I should probably get to bed. Got some prepping to do before the team arrives for you all to meet,” Aubrey said, more than a little reluctantly.
Jaylon nodded. “Sure, sure, but just one more round, okay?”
Aubrey smiled. “What? I’m not kicking your ass enough?” She giggled.
“All or nothing. One more shot.”
Aubrey shrugged. “Okay.”
He walked over to a tree and tugged a rope she hadn’t noticed before. A small target, the size of a hand, swung down like a pendulum—fast moving, almost a blur. Her instincts perked up, the challenge of hitting the target something that incited her competitive nature.
“You’re never going to hit that.”
Jaylon cocked an eyebrow and smirked. “Ye of little faith.”
Aubrey laughed. “That’s going to be hard for me to hit.”
“I propose a bet.” Jaylon lifted his bow, motioned for her to lift hers. “If you hit the target first, you win and I’ll leave you alone after tonight.”
Aubrey’s smile faded.
“If I hit the target first, I get another night with you. A whole night. And you have to do whatever I want.”
“A whole night? Whatever you want?”
Jaylon nodded.
Aubrey gulped. Her thoughts whirred but she didn’t give herself more than a second to decide. “I accept.”
He motioned for her to raise her bow and he lifted his.
“On the count of three. One, two…three.”
They both let loose at the same time. The thunk of the arrow hitting true resonated within her body, sending a shiver down her spine.
Jaylon jogged to the target, one hand raised to catch it mid-swing. He stopped its movement, angled it so she could see the arrow embedded. Blue feathers. He plucked it free from the target, sauntered back to her, twirling it between his fingers, cocky assurance on his face. “I won.”
Aubrey nodded as she leaned toward him, putting up no resistance as he pulled her into his arms and devoured her with a kiss.
Yes, she thought. You did.
She shifted back to look at him, a memory suddenly popping into her head. “I thought you said the other night that you’d used a recurve before? That you were no stranger to hunting.”
“I did say that, didn’t I?” He smiled sheepishly.
She smacked him playfully on the chest, let him take her mouth again when she started to argue further. She couldn’t give him too hard a time for sharking her. She hadn’t exactly been honest with her skills either.
There was no way she’d let herself make that last shot—not with so much to lose.
Chapter Eleven
Darcy had insisted on eating outside to enjoy the unseasonable warm weather that night. Of course, Mayhem indulged. Mayhem always indulged when it came to Raven’s mate—like a father with a spoiled child, favoring her every whim. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Raven in action was even worse. Darcy was his princess, commanding him with just a look if it meant he’d see her smile.
Something Jaylon was starting to understand. He was finding himself more and more in the state of mind that he’d do just about anything to make Aubrey happy. Seeing her smile the night before, watching her laugh and stoking that competitive fire had made the night unforgettable. He was itching to see her again, had spent the day circling the mansion in his wolf form. Stalking her movements through the house when he could. Delighted beyond reason when she appeared outside with her bow to train.
Now he was waiting for her to come outside again. Anxiously waiting. “Where is she?”
Darcy looked up from lighting some candles and chuckled lightly. “Aubrey is meeting with her new security personnel in the office. She should be bringing them out for a little meet and greet.”
Shit. He growled. He’d forgotten about the security team meeting. “That’s tonight?” He had plans to eat quickly and take her out for the night to have some fun before bringing her back to his room for a different kind of fun.
“Uh huh.”
Mayhem joined them, nodding his approval at the set up. “Food is on its way. Dy and Raven are piling everything on the service dolly.”
Darcy beamed. “Great!”
“So, Jay, how are things going with Aubrey? Departure is in three days. We need her on side by then or we’re going to have to go with Plan B for the tour.”
Plan B, leave Aubrey behind. If she didn’t know about their wolf status by the time the plane left, and was on their side, they’d be boarding it without her. Jaylon didn’t even want to contemplate the ramifications. Although Mayhem hadn’t said it outright, if Aubrey knew they were wolves and didn’t accept him, she was probably as good as dead, especially given her Huntress status. Mayhem would view her as a threat to the pack. So Jaylon was going to have to make the call. Was she ready for the truth or not? As far as he was concerned, she was only ready for the truth if she was committed to him, Jaylon, the man. Only then would she be able to accept Jaylon, the wolf.
“Yeah, I know.” Three days to make a girl fall in love with him? Easy for Raven, Mayhem—heck, anyone else but Jaylon. He was the world’s worst romancer. It’d been a fucking miracle he’d made the night before such a success. Total fluke. He wasn’t even entirely sure if his plans for tonight would help or hinder their relationship. The last time they’d had sex, she had frozen him out for days.
“She was really happy today,” Darcy said with a wide grin. “Seemed like she was looking forward to seeing you tonight. Mentioned that you’d done something very nice for her.”
Jaylon’s pride swelled. Aubrey was talking about him, in a good way. That had to count for something. “We have plans tonight.”
“Ahhh.” Darcy smiled knowingly then turned to greet the others with the cart of platters.
There was hope if she was happy. It meant he’d done something right the night before. Maybe he could make her fall in love with him in three days after all.
He caught her scent drifting down the hall and through the back sliding door. He couldn’t quite name it. What she smelled like was a mixture of the soap she used and something else—a special sweet nectar that hit the back of his throat and made his mouth water. When he kissed her the night before, he felt intoxicated and he knew it was because of her scent. Her taste. Her.
She walked out of the door, smiling, body relaxed and her gaze immediately fell on his. She blushed a little, glanced away briefly but then looked back. This was his woman. He could see it in the way her eyes sparkled and her smile grew wider. One more night. That was all he needed.
Coming behind her were two tall, well built young guys wearing black tees and cargo pants, both equipped with side arms—9mm by the looks of it. The new security team.
Great.
“There’s a target area set up at the side of the house.” She was motioning to the west, toward the first target area he’d made. She wore her bow case over her shoulder. “I’ll take you guys over there after dinner. I’d like to get some extra training in before we head overseas.”
Jealousy spiked. He had plans for her tonight and it didn’t involve target practice or two burly security goofs. Jaylon sneered, mouth opened to argue when another feeling kicked at his gut. He scanned the two guards, eyes narrowed. Something was off about them. Jaylon glanced over at Mayhem, who at that moment was preoccupied downing a shot of tequila with Dyami.
“Hello, everyone,” Aubrey said, “I’d like you to meet Gareth and Chris. I’ve known Chris for a really long time. They’re both friends of the family.”
Mayhem looked up, smiled, then moved toward them, hand outstretched in greeting, eyes a little glassy from the shot of booze.
Jaylon’s hackles rose.
“Mayhem.” He started to move toward them, the feeling of something wrong rising with each second that passed.
As the first one, Gareth, took Mayhem’s hand, Jaylon let loose a low warning growl.
“What the fuck!” Gareth yelled as he yanked his hand back and turned his arm up to show the underside of his biceps. There, on his flesh, the ink of a wolf spread right before their eyes.
“Son of a bitch.” Chris bellowed as he yanked back the collar of his shirt to reveal his own wolf tattoo forming.
Hunters.
Mayhem transformed into his wolf that instant, the threat of attack forcing a change.
“Beast!” Gareth pulled his sidearm and took a shot, hitting Mayhem in the shoulder.
Mayhem roared with rage, the bullet slowing him for only a fraction of a second as he launched himself at the Hunter.
Gareth took another shot, and was beneath Mayhem’s paws in a blink.
Something crashed behind him.
“Darcy!” Raven screamed.
Jaylon turned his head, watched with horror as Raven cradled his mate, blood pouring from her arm. Fangs burst from Raven’s mouth, eyes flashed with gold steaks, the change coming with his fury.
Mayhem roared, and Jaylon swiveled his gaze back to watch his alpha make the killing bite, his eyes blazing with fury as he ripped the Hunter’s throat out.
Jaylon looked at Aubrey. Her mouth hung open, her eyes wide with shock. Friends of the family? She brought Hunters into their house. As the magic of his wolf enveloped him, the last thing he saw as a human was Aubrey pulling her bow from its case, nocking an arrow and aiming at him.
Chris shoved Aubrey to the side, jarring her enough to make her stumble and lose her grip on her arrow. He took out his gun and reached around his back to pull a knife. “They’re wolves, Bree! You need to get out of here. Call your sister, get a Huntress here! Run!”
Call her sister? Run? She looked down at her hands, empty but for her bow. She drew another arrow, her fingers shaking, her heart hammering in her chest, her mind unable to make sense of what this meant. Wolves?
Chris pushed her again, jolting her from her confusion. “Run! Bree, get help!”
Jaylon, there one minute as a man, now stood before her as a gigantic brown wolf. The same brown wolf she had bowed to once before. And now there were four. Two more where Raven and Dyami had once stood. The band was a pack. Suddenly, the cloud of uncertainty that had hovered over her since she’d stepped foot into the house vanished. She saw everything. She felt everything.
She needed to get help. They had backed themselves off the patio, slowly moving away from the house as the wolves stalked toward them. Loose formation, corralling them. Without a Huntress, they were as good as dead. Chris was firing shot after shot, some hitting the targets, some not. But it wouldn’t matter—he’d only be able to hold them off for so long. They needed a Huntress. Her sister. They needed her sister.
No! Jaylon…a wolf! Her heart constricting, she lost her grip on another arrow, but snagged it between her fingers at the last minute and set it right. Gareth was dead, his blood dripping from Mayhem’s muzzle, his body left in a gruesome tangle with shock frozen on his face forever.
She’d been training her whole life for this. It was the test she’d been waiting for.
But you’re not a Huntress and Jaylon is one of them.
Funny how one thought could make you feel like your heart was about to consume itself.
She forced it back, focused on the danger. Four wolves stalked her. It was her duty to survive.
She fired into the mass of approaching fur, heard a yelp then spun and ran, hoping Chris followed.
She pulled her cell from her pocket as she bolted toward the tree line and hit her sister’s last call. Prayed she would answer.
“Bree?”
“Corra, I need you! They’re all wolves!”
“Where are you? I’m home, I’m looking for you!”
Aubrey turned direction and sprinted East. Home. Her sister was home. “I’m on my way. They’re coming, Corra. Be ready.”
Chapter Twelve
She was running. He wanted her to run. He liked to chase her.
Mine.
She was fast, but he was faster, leaving the others behind to tend to the wounded. Darcy, with a flesh wound, would survive. Mayhem as well. Dyami, shot by a Huntress. His heart mourned his pack brother, but his instinct drove him after his mate. He needed to bite her—make her one with him so she would understand, so he could protect her from Mayhem’s retribution.
She was running to her cottage. He understood the direction, knew her instinct would propel her to safety. She just didn’t understand that the only safety she needed was with him.
They made it to the clearing where he’d first seen her.
She was running so fast, so blindly she didn’t see the white wolf’s carcass until she was almost on top of it. She stumbled, screamed, dropped into a roll then bounced up on the other side.
He skidded to a halt, the moon illuminating her in the clearing like a goddess of night.
She was panting, bow raised.
“Stay back.”
She knew it was him. He took a step toward her. She nocked an arrow, shifted in his direction. “I said, stay back.” Her words quivered, held no conviction. She would not hurt him.
He would bite her. Mark her as his.
He sprang forward, so intent on his prize that it was only out of the corner of his eye that he saw the other one. His ears picked up the whistle, his flank took the thunk and he dropped mid launch.
Chapter Thirteen
She stared down at the white wolf. The one she had shot weeks ago. A werewolf with her arrow still embedded. It was dead. She had killed it.
She had killed it.
“I’m a Huntress,” she whispered.
“You are, sister.” Corra approached from behind, her bow lowered only half-mast, like she was waiting for more to come.
The pack.
Her gaze shot to Jaylon’s crumpled form. She sucked in a deep breath. Jaylon.
She took a step toward him, unthinking, her heart telling her to go, her mind for once quiet. It was Corra who stopped her.
“Don’t go too near, Bree, it’s not dead yet.” She raised her bow, nocked another arrow. “Let me take care of it.”
A muffled groan crushed her heart, smashing it to bits. Jaylon. She ran to him, her back to her sister’s arrow, not caring if she got hit. She needed to get to him.
She could smell the blood as she skidded on the grass, shifting around his body to face her sister before dropping to her knees. She didn’t know what to do. He was dying. The beast. No, Jaylon was dying. Poisoned by the first arrow. Shot by a Huntress.
She lifted Jaylon’s massive head, marveled at how soft his fur was, placed him on her
lap then stroked his snout. Jaylon. Her heart bled along with him. The beast opened its eyes, glanced up at her. Golden. Beautiful. Now it made sense. Why his eyes always changed color when he was emotional. Why her instincts always buzzed that something was wrong. She wondered if she’d been drugged or spelled to keep her from figuring it out sooner. There had to be a reason she didn’t know until it was right in her face. She’d been a Huntress all along, the invisible mark within, no way of her knowing until exactly the right moment—when a Hunter claimed her or when a wolf bit her.
The beast sighed, long and deep. He was dying in her arms. She couldn’t help the sob that broke from her. Couldn’t contain the tears that flowed.
Oh, Jaylon, what have I done?
The howls came moments later, the pack descending. The bellow of men responding. “The Hunters are engaging the pack, Bree. We need to go.”
Aubrey shook her head. “I won’t leave him.”
“Bree.” Corra lowered her weapon with a deep sigh.
The fighting exploded in the distance. Bellow after bellow, howl after howl. There would be much blood tonight. The sound of it drowned Aubrey in sorrow. “I can’t explain it, Corra. It doesn’t feel wrong though. Being on their side. It’s not wrong.”
“Don’t be stupid. You’re not on their side.”
“I’m a Huntress. That means that Jaylon is my mate. One from each side right? A Hunter or a beast. I have to choose.”
“This is not the way it’s going to be. We’re supposed fight alongside each other. Your Hunter…”
“I don’t want a Hunter.” Tears slid down her cheeks, her heart so heavy, thudding so painfully she was sure it was coming to a stop. “I want Jaylon.” Her choice had been made days ago…from the moment she’d felt the link form as she stared into his eyes.
“You want a beast.” Corra spat the words, her hand hovering over the dagger sheathed at her side. “I don’t understand this, Aubrey. It’s blasphemy. It’s disgusting.”
Wolf Slayer (The Order of the Wolf) Page 6