She smiles at seeing Zane as an awkward teenager, he was still hot as Hades but leaner. The man in the picture looks hauntingly like Zane and has his arms around a woman who looked so much smaller than everyone. She makes the assumption this is Zane’s human mother.
The photos tell the story of a happy, loving family. She wonders if Zane has any siblings. There are others in the photos, but none that carry a resemblance.
There are photos of picnics and gatherings, there are people in wolf form and human form. Everyone’s happy.
She wants that and wants to do her part to help restore that in Zane’s life.
Emma finishes her sandwich and goes back to the bedroom to unpack.
She hears footsteps on the porch and her excitement grows that Zane is back. She runs to the front room and freezes in place when she sees a stranger and two wolves. “Who are you?”
The man is dressed in a sheriff’s uniform sending fear through Emma that something’s happened to Zane.
“Where’s Zane?” She demands.
“I was going to ask you the same question.” The sheriff says, “I’m Sheriff Ryland Breakwater.”
She was taught to respect law enforcement, but warnings go off in her head. She backs toward the hallway, “He’s not here.”
“When will he be back?” He asks moving toward her.
“Soon, I’m sure.” She swallows her fear throwing her shoulders back. She knows she can’t show weakness, “You can wait outside.”
The Sheriff is taken aback by her boldness, “I’ll wait in here.” He takes another step toward her.
“No.” She moves toward the door, “You and your wolves will wait outside.” She opens the door and stands waiting for them to leave.
“I don’t think you understand, miss.” He says with a sardonic smile, “I’m the Alpha of this pack and you don’t give me orders.”
“I don’t give two shits what you’re the Alpha of, this is my house and I’m telling you to leave. You can be Alpha outside.”
“You’re a sassy little thing aren’t you.” He says getting menacing close to her. “This is Zane’s house. I don’t recall him having a roommate.”
“I’m his mate.” She tips her chin up defiantly. “That makes this my home.”
“His mate?” He says with renewed interest. He’s silent for a moment and the wolves look to him as though he’s speaking with them. “Change of plans.” He grabs her by the arm, “You’re coming with us.”
Emma struggles to get away from him, but can’t escape his grasp, “Let me go.”
“Shut up.” He says dragging her toward the car.
“No!” Emma puts up the fight of her life, scratching, punching and kicking to get away. “Zane!” She calls out to him and squirms out of Ryland’s clutches.
She runs as fast as her feet will carry her. She doesn’t know where to go or where she is but she needs to get away from the wolves.
One of them runs her down with ease knocking her to the ground. She rolls up into a ball to protect herself from the scratching and biting. She screams out in pain and terror and tries to kick him off of her, but he’s too big.
Ryland catches up to them, “Okay boys, that’s enough.” He reaches down and snatches her by the arm. He wipes the blood from her mouth; “Now all you have to do is behave and this won’t happen again.”
“Let me go.” She struggles.
“If you’re Zane’s mate you will be very useful,” Ryland says dragging her back toward the truck.
She continues screaming praying that Zane will hear her. Ryland throws her in the back seat of the truck, she tries to open the door, but it’s locked. She can’t get away.
Her skin burns with the scratches and her head is pounding, but she still knows she has to fight. There’s something in her that’s terrified she’ll never see Zane again. That she became a weakness for him. She doesn’t know how she can be useful to Ryland, but she knows it’s not good.
“Shut her up, Kirk,” Ryland says getting in the truck.
One of the wolves shifts to human form and climbs in the back. She’s horrified that he’s naked and getting closer to her. She presses herself up against the door of the truck.
Kirk has a sympathetic look in his eyes that put her somewhat at ease, “Hey, just quiet down. It’s going to be okay.”
She shakes in fear not responding, still trying the door handle. She hears a voice in her head, “I’m going to help you.”
She stills and looks at Kirk with curiosity and hears his voice again, “You are his mate. I’m going to make sure you’re okay, but please just stay quiet.”
He looks nervously at Ryland over his shoulder then back to her, “Just stay quiet.”
Emma nods not knowing what to think of any of this. Kirk hands her some tissue to wipe the blood from her face.
“Kirk, you shift and run back. I’ll meet you at the center circle. Make sure Zane knows we have her.” Ryland gets in the car.
“I think I should stay here to keep her quiet.” He answers.
“I don’t give a shit what you think.” Ryland says leaning over the back seat, “Do as you’re told.”
Kirk backs out of the truck and speaks to Emma in her head, “Just be quiet and he won’t hurt you.”
Emma doesn’t say anything, she just continues to clean the blood from her lip. The door closes and she knows there’s nothing protecting her from pure evil.
Chapter Fifteen
“Zane, I will back you,” Leon says slamming his beer on the bar with resolve.
“You’ve got my support. It’s about time that son-of-a-bitch is put in his place.” Another man says standing up.
“Thank you.” Zane’s tone is sincere.
“I say it’s about damn time.” Kristi pats him on the back.
“I second that. Now maybe you’ll stop starting fights in my bar.” Leon laughs.
Zane cuts a devious smile into his cheek, “Not likely, but I’ll do my--” He stops and listens.
“What is it?” Kristi says with concern.
“Shh.” He holds his hands up. “Emma, she’s in trouble.” He pulls his shirt off over his head and unbuckles his belt.
“What’s going on, Zane,” Kristi asks.
“Emma’s screaming. I have to go.” Zane shifts and takes off out the door.
Kristi turns to everyone in the bar, “Get ready for the challenge tonight. I’ll be back.” She shifts and goes after Zane.
She can’t catch up to him but uses the pack link to reach out to him, “What’s wrong?”
Zane presses harder forward, “Emma’s in danger, she was screaming.”
“Shit, where is she?” Kristi asks running as fast as she can.
“My house,” he says and comes skidding to a stop when he smells Kirk nearby.
He changes direction heading for Kirk. the second he sees him, Zane, pounces pinning him to the ground, he can smell Emma’s scent on him. “Where is she?” He uses the pack link while snarling and gnashing his teeth at Kirk.
“Ryland has her, I was coming to tell you. He’s going to use her to get you to not fight for Alpha.” Kirk says. “I tried to stay with her, but he wouldn’t let me. I can bring you to her.”
“Just tell me where she is.” Zane’s wolf continues threatening Kirk. His sanity teetering on the edge at smelling Emma’s blood on Kirk.
“I think he’s bringing her back to the police station,” Kirk says in a pleading tone. “Listen, I told her it was going to be okay.”
“Is she hurt?” Zane asks.
“Clint scratched her up, but she’s going to be okay.” Kirk tries to reassure him.
“How do we know this isn’t a trap?” Kristi says.
“We don’t, it likely is,” Zane says not caring about the outcome. He just needs to get to her. She must be terrified.
“No, Zane, he does want to use her as bait. But I don’t know how or where yet.”
“He’s lying,” Kristi says bearing her teeth.
“I’m not lying, I’m telling you what I know.” Kirk insists.
“You’re Ryland’s Beta, of course, you’re lying,” Zane says.
“I don’t want to be his Beta, but he won’t let me step down,” Kirk says.
Zane can understand not wanting to be in a position of power. The reason Ryland is Alpha now is because he killed Zane’s father, he didn’t stand up for his position or his father. The deep regret from that
weighs heavy on Zane’s head. He should’ve done more for his father and his pack.
“If you had to guess, where do you think he took her?” Zane asks Kristi.
“I think Kirk is right the jail makes sense,” Kristi says like it’s obvious.
Zane lets Kirk stand. “I’m going to the jail.” Zane takes off at full speed.
***
Zane gets to the jailhouse and has to fortify himself. He can smell Emma’s sweet scent mingled with fear. Ryland’s inside the jailhouse with her.
He has to challenge Ryland for Alpha now. He can’t wait for tonight. He howls calling to the pack. He can’t make the challenge without the majority of the pack present. Wolves howl back in answer, letting Zane know they are on the way.
He expects Ryland to come out and accept his challenge. He watches the door to the jailhouse without blinking.
Wolves begin to fill the area around him. They maintain a distance forming a challenge circle.
Zane shifts to human form, “Ryland!” He bellows.
No answer.
He paces dragging his fingers through his hair, “I swear to the Mother if he hurts her...” He inhales deeply, “Ryland!”
Zane notices the circle forming around him, he has enough witnesses to announce the challenge, “Ryland Breakwater, I challenge you for the position of Alpha.”
The door opens slowly. Zane sees Emma before he sees Ryland. He’s holding a knife to her throat. “You will not challenge me for Alpha, or I’ll kill her.”
The wolves in the circle cower back a step.
Zane steadies himself, “Ryland, this is not how it’s going to happen. She’s my bonded mate and if you kill her, you’re done.”
“And so are you, half-breed.” Ryland’s voice cloys on Zane, he tries not to lose focus.
“Meet my challenge, Ryland. It’s our way.” Zane never takes his eyes off of Emma.
“Do you all want a half-breed as your Alpha? With a human as a mate?” Ryland addresses the crowd, they remain silent.
Kristi reaches out to Zane using the link, “I’ve got Emma if you can distract him.”
“They approve the challenge, Ryland.” Zane approaches Ryland cautiously to create the distraction. He smiles and looks him in the eye, “And at this point, I’m going to kill you no matter what. You’re threatening my mate and I won’t stand for it.”
Zane watches for Kristi to be in place.
“You can try.” Ryland grits out.
“Stop hiding behind a woman and face me.” Zane challenges.
Ryland looks to his left, “Clint, take her.”
The deputy comes out of the jailhouse and takes the knife from Ryland and holds it to Emma’s throat.
Zane points at Clint with confidence, “I’m going to kill you too.”
Clint blanches at the threat and holds the knife tighter to Emma’s skin drawing a drop of blood.
Ryland struts down the steps slowly, “I’m going to enjoy this.” He unbuttons his shirt. “Watching you die, just like I did your father.”
Zane doesn’t let Ryland rattle him, he makes the announcement again, “I challenge Ryland Breakwater for the position of Alpha of the Duskmoon Pack.”
“Challenge accepted,” Ryland says and in a quick movement pulls a gun from the back of his pants.
With lightning speed, Zane shifts to wolf form and pounces on Ryland knocking the gun out of his hand before he can get off his first shot. Zane has Ryland pinned to the ground and uses the pack link opening the conversation to all the wolves in the circle, “I could kill you now, just like this, but I want to make sure there is no mistake who is the Alpha of this pack when you’re cold dead wolf is laying in the dirt.”
Zane backs off of him and knocks the gun out of the circle with his paw. He gives Kristi a nod to get Emma to safety while he waits for Ryland to shift.
Kristi, in wolf form, makes a move on Clint, but he swings around with the knife catching her in the throat, the wound is deep but nothing she can’t recover from quickly. Emma breaks free running down the stairs. Kristi stops Clint in his tracks pouncing on him in a vicious attack.
Zane turns to go after Emma, but Ryland jumps on his back. Zane spins, his teeth gnashing. He releases all of his anger and hatred for everything Ryland has done to his pack, to his family. This is the moment he ends Ryland’s cruel reign over his pack.
Zane sinks his teeth into Ryland’s withers, the sound of crunching bones echoes throughout the circle. Ryland jumps back and quickly attacks Zane putting him on his back. Ryland snaps Zane’s leg with ease and Zane howls in pain. He scrambles to his good three paws growling and limping toward Ryland.
Ryland backs further away, giving himself enough time for his injuries to heal, but not enough for Zane’s.
Zane pushes on through the pain and slides in quick under Ryland’s head snapping down on his throat. He pulls Ryland down to the ground ripping and tearing at his flesh.
Ryland fights back with all his might tearing the muscles in Zane’s haunches.
The fight goes on, both wolves full of power.
Kristi is losing her battle with Clint, she hasn’t recovered completely from his first cut and he continues to slash at her.
Zane is feeling weary from the fight but presses on, he will kill him, he will end this right now.
Zane draws on his Alpha power causing Ryland to shrink back. Zane lunges at him finally snapping his neck and tearing his chest open with his teeth. He takes his heart out of his chest, the same way that Ryland did to Zane’s father.
He holds the heart in his teeth watching the life drain from Ryland’s eyes. When the heart beats one final time Zane limps as far as he can around the circle holding the heart as his trophy and his right to be Alpha.
A shot rings out, breaking everyone’s attention. Zane turns to see Clint standing behind him holding the knife in the air ready to stab Zane in the back. A crimson stain grows on his shirt as he drops to his knees.
When Clint falls over he can see Emma standing behind Clint holding a smoking gun.
Zane drops the heart, he feels a renewed sense of power as he moves toward where Emma is standing. She drops the gun and runs to Zane, sliding down to meet him, wrapping her arms around his huge wolf head.
Tears stream from Emma’s eyes as she holds on to him. “I thought he was going to kill you. I can’t…” She tries to speak through her sobs, but can’t.
Kristi struggles to get to the circle. Leon shifts to human form. “Where’s the healer?”
“Healer? Is he going to be okay?” Emma says as Zane drops to the ground.
“He’s going to be fine,” Leon assures her.
She looks at the blood on her hands and is horrified. “Zane, please. I need to hear you say you’re going to be okay.”
“He’s not going to shift until he’s healed,” Leon explains, “We heal faster in wolf form.”
“You’d better heal,” Emma demands still holding him.
Zane lifts his head and uses the pack link to speak to Emma, “I’m going to be fine.”
She jumps a little at hearing his voice, “You’d better be.”
The rest of the pack all begin to howl in reverence to their new Alpha. They close in on Emma and Zane. The energy in the circle creates a warm light against the cold night air.
“What are they doing?” Emma asks.
“They are accepting him as Alpha, it’s our way,” Leon yells over the wolf-song.
Zane’s form begins to change and Emma pulls back from him. He
achieves his human form and reaches up cupping Emma’s cheek, “See, I’m fine.”
She wraps her arms around him, “Thank God.”
Zane revels in the pack’s song, it fuels his healing and his Alpha power grows. He manages to get to his feet, he raises his arms in victory, “Shift.” He commands and the pack all take a few moments to shift into human form.
Emma leans over to Zane, “Why are they shifting so slow?”
“Only Alphas have the ability to shift quickly,” Zane says quietly.
The pack has all completed the shift. Zane smiles looking at the relief in all their eyes. “I’m going to restore Duskmoon pack to its former glory. We will rebuild our reputation among the communities and our pack will thrive and grow!”
The crowd cheers at Zane’s proclamation.
Zane puts his arm around Emma, “I want you all to meet my mate, Emma.”
The crowd cheers again, offering various greetings.
“She will be by my side helping me lead the pack to success.” He pumps his fist in the air.
Someone in the crowd asks the question, “Who will be Beta.”
Zane doesn’t have to think, he knows who he will name as Beta. “Kristi will be my Beta. She is my oldest and most trusted friend. I know she lives to serve this pack.”
The crowd cheers again, Kristi glares at Zane, “You don’t even know if I want to be Beta.”
Zane puts his arm around her, “Of course you want to be my Beta.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Kristi smiles.
Zane winces when he puts his arm down, “I’m going to get healed up. We start rebuilding tomorrow.”
The crowd all wishes Zane well as he makes his way out of the circle. He turns to Kristi, “Can you have someone handle clean up?” He motions to Ryland’s body laying on the dirt.
“I got it.” She says giving him a nod.
Zane looks down at Emma in the crook of his shoulder, “Let's go home.”
Chapter Sixteen
The morning sun shines through the blinds as Emma stirs awake. She rolls over and admires Zane’s form, lying in the bed next to her. She marvels at how there’s not even a scratch left on him. She runs her fingers down his back where there was a long bleeding gash from his fight.
Paranormal Dating Agency: Lycan Her Mate (Kindle Worlds Novella) (A Wolf's Hunger Book 14) Page 7