A Wolf's Pride

by Jennifer T. Alli

  “You haven’t answered my question. Again.”

  “I was destined to be queen you know?” Lucinda continued, ignoring Chloe’s prompt. “Nobility is in my blood, I deserved to be queen and I was going to be until that human came and stole Tobias from me. She isn’t worthy of him. He said the instinct had led him to her and that they were destined to be mates. What a load of bullshit.” She laughed but the sound was cold, devoid of any warmth or humour and Chloe shivered in response. “Why would the instinct lead our nobility to humans like you? It makes no sense.”

  “I can’t answer that question. I’m not a wolf, I don’t have the instinct that you guys are constantly talking about.”

  “Exactly!” Lucinda crowed. “You’re weak, pathetic, useless.”

  “Get out,” Chloe said forcefully, standing up and pointing to the door. This woman, whoever she was, had no place here and she had no right to insult her.

  Lucinda moved quickly, so quickly that all Chloe saw was a flash of colour and then her hand was clamped tightly over her mouth. “I hadn’t finished,” Lucinda hissed.

  Chloe bit down hard, struggling to be free but Lucinda's free arm wrapped itself around her arms and kept her still. The force of her grip was strong, bruising and Chloe realised that she couldn’t escape. Unlike Ryan, Lucinda wasn’t concerned about not hurting her and she realised just how much of his strength Ryan held back when around her.

  “Where was I?” she mused. “Ah yes, humans. Weak, pathetic and useless. Why a male would want to mate one of you I don’t know. The thought of it just makes me sick and to top it off you’re a hunter.” Chloe shook her head, no. “Lord Ryan has tried to deny it but I can see the evidence everywhere.”

  Her blue eyes scanned the room, her eyes narrowing further in disgust each time she saw one of Chloe’s framed family pictures. The damning mark was on the necks of her each member of her family in nearly every picture, her father, her mother, her uncles, her grandfathers and the frequency of its appearance continued to increase as her brothers aged.

  Lucinda lifted her easily from the floor and began moving toward the window. Chloe was unsure of what her intentions were but judging from what she had heard, they wouldn’t benefit her in the slightest. “But because I’m so kind, I’m here to end your suffering.”

  I’m not suffering! Chloe’s mind screamed.

  “You’re miserable because you’re amongst werewolves. You don’t want Lord Ryan as a mate so I’ll take you from him and make him mine.”

  He’s mine bitch! He may be an idiot, but he’s my idiot. I’m going to forgive him. The thoughts came into her mind unhindered and momentarily staggered Chloe. When had she become so possessive and when had she decided that Ryan deserved forgiveness?

  “With you out of the picture I’ll be free to take a Lord. I deserve no less than someone from the nobility. I’ll settle for no less. Queen was my aim but you make do with what you have. Tobias will take no other mate and he has an heir now. I’ll never be queen but I’ll remain a Lady of power and high standing. Lord Ryan is the only unmated Lord of eligible age left.”

  You think you can take him from me? He would never do something like that. Hang on, when did I become such a defender of Ryan? This woman is far more beautiful than I am. He’s only a man, he could succumb to such a temptation…No! Ryan would never do that. I know he wouldn’t. For some strange reason the idiot wants me and only me.

  “Your eyes tell me that you don’t think I can manage it. Let me tell you that I can and will. Lord Ryan will fall to my charms. I’ll take his mind off his grief. Don’t worry, he won’t mourn for long, he hasn’t claimed you yet, the bond between you is weak. Stupid human. If you had only let him claim you then none of this would be happening but you were so concerned about your possessions that you lost sight of the true goal, your life and I’m about to show you the error of your ways. Don’t worry, you never wanted him as a mate, I’m only helping fulfil your wish. Goodbye human.” Lucinda lifted her from the ground and threw her carelessly from the balcony.

  Now that her mouth was free, Chloe sucked in a deep breath and shouted as loud as she could. “RYAN!!!!”

  As it always did, the sound of Chloe’s voice calling his name instantly garnered his full attention and Ryan looked up, expecting to see her waving to him from the safety of their bedroom window. Instead, he saw her falling hard towards the uneven ground. She’d never survive the fall. She would die. His mate would leave this earth and he’d never survive the grief of his angel’s departure. He sprung into action, dropping the axe and springing into the foliage of the half cut tree, desperate to reach her. If he could get to her before she hit the ground, he could use his body to protect her from the fall. The tree swayed wildly as his weight leapt from its branches and he realised it would fall before he reached her if he kept moving like this. His eyes locked on Chloe’s falling body and he tensed the muscles in his legs, leaping from the tree to catch her. The force of his jump toppled the falling tree but that wasn’t his main concern. His arms outstretched, he caught her falling body, wrapping his arms and legs around her tightly. “It’s ok angel. I’ve got you. Close your eyes. I won’t let anything happen to you.” If he’d claimed her she would heal from the fall, broken bones would slowly but surely repair themselves. If they fell wrong today there would be no hope for her. Her injuries would be permanent…if she survived.

  The ground approached and Ryan’s body tensed in preparation, he needed to take the impact of the fall, Chloe couldn’t be hurt. They landed with a forceful oomph and pain instantly lanced his body, everything hurt. The pain was awe-inspiring but as Chloe’s strawberry scent floated to his nose, he forced it to the back of his mind. His mate needed him. Over the long course of his life he had suffered many injuries, he was well aware of how to compartmentalise pain when other things needed his attention. There were perks to having a strong inner wolf. His wolf growled in agreement, taking the brunt of the pain as he prepared to focus his attention on Chloe. He took a deep breath, preparing to move and check on the state of Chloe’s injuries but when he tried to shift his limbs, he found that he was stuck. He couldn’t move.

  “Chloe love, angel? Are you ok? Talk to me Chloe.”

  “Ryan,” she sobbed.

  “Are you hurt?” he demanded, instantly concerned about the source of her tears. “Can you move?”

  She flexed her fingers and toes experimentally before shifting her weight to move off of Ryan. Her back turned to him, she bent her knees and flexed her arms. There was an element of pain, soreness from the impact of the collision and Lucinda's painful grip but nothing near the level of pain she would have experienced had she fallen without Ryan coming to save her. “Yes, I’m fine. Thanks to you.”

  The smell of blood assaulted his nose as soon as Chloe moved and though he tried to move, tried to reach her, to see with his own eyes that she was fine, he couldn’t. His nose sifted through the scents and he realised that while the scent of Chloe’s blood was in the air, it was his own blood that was saturating the air around them.

  Chloe turned to him, her eyes widening in shock and horror as she finally saw him. She fell to her knees, retching at the sight. “Oh God, Ryan!” she screamed, until her voice became hoarse.

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  The tree had fallen, breaking away from its trunk and leaving a half jagged, half smooth surface in its wake. It was this surface that Ryan had fallen directly onto. The force of his fall had forced the sharp edges through Ryan’s body, the wood had cracked through his spine, speared his internal organs and ripped through muscle, sinew and skin to reach the other side. The sight was horrifying. Blood was everywhere, his body covered in the red substance, the fleshy remains of the internal organs the tree had pushed through coated in his lifeblood. The tips of the jagged edges were just showing through his stomach, the firm muscles of his stomach a distant memory through all the blood. The tangy taste of blood was in his mouth and as Ryan coughed, more blood left him, s
pilling from his lips.

  He still couldn’t move his arms or legs but his head was lolled in Chloe’s direction and a faint smile crept onto his lips as he saw that she was moving. She was safe. His body had done what it was meant to, protect his mate. The faint scent of her blood however worried him more than the overpowering fragrance of his own. “Chloe, you’re bleeding.”

  “I’m bleeding?” she scoffed, tears falling unhindered down her face. “You’re the one that’s bleeding. Oh God, you’re going to die! What were you thinking?” She pulled her bloodied jumper over her head and pressed it to the large wound.

  “I was thinking about you like I always do. I won’t die Chloe; I still have so much to live for. I have you.” There was pain banked in the depths of his warm brown eyes but he was smiling and Chloe had to choke back a sob.

  “What’s wrong with you? You’re hurt, more than simply hurt, and you still have time to spout off things like that.”

  “I always have time to reassure you. You’re my mate, my own personal angel. How could I die when an angel is watching over me? Please Chloe, you’re bleeding. Show me.”

  She lifted the hem of her shirt. The adrenaline was wearing off and she was now fully aware of the sharp pain in her side. The cut wasn’t deep, the blood pouring from the wound superficial in comparison to the large amounts that Ryan was still losing but his eyes narrowed, a growl slipping past his bloodied lips.

  “Chloe, go to the infirmary and have the doctors take a look at that.”

  “What are you talking about Ryan? You’re dying and you want them to have a look at this tiny thing.”

  “Yes Chloe. Go. Do it now.”

  “No. I have to get you help.”

  “What you have to do is have yourself seen to first, then worry about me.”

  “I’m going to get you help Ryan.”

  He growled. “Chloe, go and find a doctor, have that cut looked at.”

  “Shut up you idiot! I’m not going to leave you like this to do something so ridiculous. God Ryan, I have to get help. I don’t want you to die.”

  “I’m not going to die.”

  “I’m so sorry, I have to leave you by yourself. I’ll be as quick as I can. I’m going to get you help. Just wait here and don’t try to move you’ll only make it worse. I’m not really sure how it could get worse but I don’t want to risk it.”

  “You sound as though you care,” he murmured remorsefully.

  “I do care, you stupid idiot,” she scowled. Running her hand gently through the messy strands of his hair she placed a brief kiss to his scalp, the only place where blood wasn’t covering him. “I’ll be back as quick as I can.”

  She took off running, ignoring the painful feeling in her legs. Ryan, the idiot, needed her to get help. But what if there were other people helping that Lucinda woman. They might try to hurt him. I can’t trust anyone I don’t know. I have to find Sebastian or Tobias. Someone from his family. No one else can know. They have to know first. They’ll know what to do, how to help him.

  The run from the place of Ryan’s fall to the entrance to the estate seemed to take an eternity, the weight of being the only one aware of Ryan’s fate pressing heavily upon her. The doors were heavy, so heavy that she couldn’t push them open. Her hands balled into fists and she hit the thick wood frantically, ignoring the building pain in her hands, desperately hoping that someone she knew would open the door. Luck seemed to have abandoned her as the door was opened by an unknown guard. His nose wrinkled before his blue eyes shifted to amber.

  “What have you done to Lord Ryan hunter?”

  “What?” she stuttered.

  Thick hands fell on her shoulders, shaking her lightly. “What have you done to Lord Ryan? His blood is all over you. Tell me or die.”

  No! I have to get Ryan help. She struggled frantically before opting for the universal male weakness. Drawing her leg back she kicked him hard in the crotch. His grip loosened and she took off running.

  “Sebastian!” she called loudly as she wandered the halls. “Sebastian! Please, I need you.” Her calls were attracting attention and as she ran more eyes turned from their normal shade to amber, the number of pursuers increasing. She would never escape them all she realised. The first man had been caught off guard; there would be no other opportunity like that one. She stopped running, tears streaming down her face. A mob would form soon and they would see her dead and not even ask about Ryan’s circumstances. She had failed him. “SEBASTIAN!!!” The crowd pushed in closer, growls and snarls filling the hall.

  “Don’t touch her!” Erica roared, forcing her way through the throng to reach Chloe’s side. “Chloe, what happened? Where’s Ryan?”

  “The idiot saved me,” she sobbed in relief. “He saved me and was skewered by a tree. He’s bleeding Erica. There’s so much blood. He can’t move. He’s going to die isn’t he? The stupid idiot wasn’t even worried about himself; he kept going on about my small cut. Help me save him Erica, I can’t let him die.”

  “He’s your mate, of course he’s worried about you before himself. Don’t worry, we’ll find him and bring him back here. We’ll take care of him.”

  “I want to go with you to get him. I don’t want to leave him alone.”

  Looking at the tear stains on Chloe’s face, Erica had to repress a smile. An apology hadn’t work, neither had grovelling or gifts but whatever Ryan had done had clearly earned him forgiveness. “Sebastian,” she called. Within seconds he was at her side, the call of a mate was clearly much stronger than the call of another despite the desperation that had been in Chloe’s voice. “Ryan is hurt. He’s going to need to be brought back here and tended.”

  “I’ll go and get him now.”

  Chloe turned to him, fixing him with a hard stare. “I’m going too. You can’t keep me from him.”

  “I wouldn’t think of it. Come, the quicker we head out, the faster we can get him back here.” Sebastian's arms wrapped themselves around her body, lifting her from the ground; his arms lacked the searing warmth that Ryan’s possessed. The urge to pull away from him was strong but she realised this was the only way to get to Ryan quickly. Sebastian made his way through the crowd. “My brother’s been hurt, prepare his rooms accordingly.” With that parting command, he sped off.

  The run, which with Ryan had been exhilarating, was instead nerve racking. Chloe’s heart pounded for the entire the length of the short journey, her mind frantic with fears that he had bled to death in her absence. Tears were falling unhindered down her face, regret for her actions over the last few days weighing heavily upon her. Ryan had saved her life again and again and all he had asked for in return was a chance for them to be together, a chance that she had denied him and now he might die before she had the possibility to try with him.

  Sebastian's feet ground to a halt and Chloe’s eyes automatically wandered to Ryan, still lying in the same spot that he had left her in. His brown eyes were fully amber and he was growling angrily at them, sharp fangs now prominent. Had something happened between them? Was Sebastian trying to hurt Ryan?

  “Let her go Sebastian. What did you think you were doing? Touching my mate? If I could, I would hit you.”

  Chloe gasped shocked, he was angry because Sebastian was touching her? It made no sense, Ryan had always spoken fondly of Sebastian, had said he’d do anything to protect his brother. For him to be angry with him simply because of his close proximity to her made no sense. Nevertheless, Sebastian lowered her to the ground and Ryan’s anger dissipated, a strained smile appearing on his face.

  Sebastian's eyes wandered over Ryan’s frame, his mouth tightening in concern. No matter what he did Ryan was going to be hurt. He tried to lighten the heavy mood of the situation. “I only touched Chloe, unlike someone I know, I didn’t kiss my brother’s mate,” he chuckled though the memory actually had him and his wolf on edge.

  “I didn’t kiss her, she kissed me,” Ryan defended.

  “He’s right Sebastian,” Erica cooed,
instantly pacifying him, her hand gliding up his arm. “It was your fault I did it. You should have told me what was going on.”

  “Excuse me!” Chloe shouted. “Can you have this conversation later? Ryan is probably dying as we speak. Help him.” She moved back to his side, lightly stroking his hair and gripping his hand tightly despite the blood that coated the skin.

  “This is going to hurt,” Sebastian warned as he moved to his brother’s side.

  “I’ll be fine as long as Chloe is here.”

  “I’m not going to leave you Ryan. I’m so sorry, none of this would have happened if you hadn’t been trying to save me.”

  “There’s no way I wouldn’t try to save you angel. Your life is worth far more than mine. Of course, I’m going to have to tell you no more standing near windows. You should be more careful. What would I do if something happened to you?”

  “I didn’t fall Ryan, I’m not that careless.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “Can’t we talk about this later? When you’re not bleeding to death?”

  “What happened Chloe?” His tone brokered no compromise and Chloe succumbed. The faster he stopped talking, the faster he could get medical attention.

  “I was pushed, thrown actually.”

  He snarled angrily, trying desperately to move. “Who? Who would dare to do something like this?”

  “She said her name was Lucinda, a lady of one of the clans.”

  His growl became angrier. “I’ll kill that bitch! I should have done it for Tobias before, but he was lenient. I’m going to kill her.”

  “Sebastian, do something,” Chloe pleaded. “Ryan, please, we’ll talk about this later. For now, just be quiet and let Sebastian help you.”

  Shifting his hands until they were under his brother, Sebastian lifted his body, pulling him forcefully from the wood. The large wound widened further as the wood made its way from Ryan’s body but he barely felt the pain. His mate was crying and he had a feeling that the reason had something to do with him.