by Laura Hysell
She shook her head, her face very serious. “I come from an old Pack, remember? There is always an Alpha and a Beta. It’s an old term, but it’s still used in many Packs. Jed just doesn’t like labeling people.”
“He knows about Betas?” Mark asked.
Vanessa nodded. “Of course. Ask around, if you don’t believe me.”
“Huh, who knew?” Mark shrugged.
“Mark, the Beta. Or would it be Beta Mark?” Jared mused as we headed back to the house.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The first day of the full moon arrived swiftly. Darkness enveloped me as the magic surrounding Izzy coalesced, turning her from human to wolf. It was like that every time she became a wolf. One minute, we were together as one, me seeing through her eyes. The next minute, all was darkness, and I slept. When I returned, she was human again and we picked up where we left off. Something was different this time though. The magic shivered through me, as though I had dipped into a pool of ice water. Usually, it was a burning, tearing pain that swallowed everything. I held my breath, as though I had breath in my lungs, waiting for the cold to pass over me. Then I fell, slapping onto the hard ground.
I opened my eyes, looking up at the ceiling above me. Izzy? I called out. It had seemed like only the blink of an eye and I was back again. A low growl began to grow from somewhere to my left. I turned my head and came face to face with a large wolf. Dark ribbons of brown and black fur coated the massive animal as she bared her teeth at me. I backed up, feeling the bars of a cage behind me. The wolf stepped closer and growled again. My hands fumbled along the bars of the cage as I inched to the side, searching for an exit. Izzy, get us out of here.
The wolf stopped growling and sniffed loudly. I froze as the wolf backed up and sat on her haunches, regarding me with a tilted head. My heart began to slow its frantic beating, and I put a hand to my chest in relief. My chest? I looked down at my muscled chest, covered in ancient tattoos. My eyes went further down, taking in my mostly naked body. A large scar ran down the center of my chest. I didn’t recognize it, but I knew what it was from. That was where the dagger had pierced my heart, killing me.
The dagger. Strapped to my thigh was the only thing I wore: the dagger. I knew this blade like an old lover. I pulled the knife from the scabbard and stared at it, stroking it tenderly. The wolf moved, and my eyes darted back to it. The large animal turned away from me and laid down, as though she had grown bored with me. I breathed out a sigh of relief as I put the knife away and surveyed my surroundings. The cage I was in was approximately ten feet across and just as wide, with thick bars and a hefty lock. With tools, I could probably pick the lock. But where would that get me? Into a barn. What I could see of the barn was large, with several additional cages. It seemed familiar to me.
I leaned my head against the cool metal bars and closed my eyes, trying to wrap my mind around my present situation. Since Izzy had taken ownership of the blade, I had been a backseat driver to her life. After she had cut herself with the knife, I had a voice. Through her eyes, I saw the world once more, and it was glorious. Now, though. Now. I took a deep breath and stood up straight, running a hand through my hair. It felt as it always had, thick and unruly, sticking straight up a few inches. My hand ran over my face, feeling the cheekbones and the sharp jawline. Everything felt like me. There was even a small amount of stubble across my chin. But how?
Each time I had been in Izzy’s head, it had been like watching the world through a haze. I could see and sense, but not feel. I pinched my arm, wincing at the slight pain. I could definitely feel now, and sight was different too. Everything was brighter and more vibrant. Turning around, I leaned back against the bars and looked at the wolf. When Izzy shifted, I would simply black out. Then coming back would be like waking from a dream. This was far too real. I moved slowly, still wary of the wolf, to the cage door and reached my hand through the bars. The key sat in the lock, waiting to be turned. I smiled and turned it, letting myself out. I quickly closed the door and locked it, keeping the wolf safely inside.
Humming softly to myself, I wandered through the barn. A set of large double doors stood at one side leading out, and a hallway went the other direction. I walked down the hall, which was lined with small stalls and a single room. I peeked my head in each stall and stopped at the tack room when a pair of pants caught my eye. They were thick and blue, which I realized from my time with Izzy was denim. I took the knife off and pulled the pants on. They hung low and loose on my hips, but the length was still a little on the short side. I strapped the dagger back on over the pants, adjusting it so the blade was within easy reach of my hand. If I was where I thought I was, then I might need the protection.
Turning back around, I made my way past the cages and to the massive barn doors. I pressed my ear to the door, listening for any sounds. Silence. Slowly, carefully, I pulled open the door and peered out. The full moon shone down brightly, illuminating the yard outside the barn. A house was visible a short distance away. I looked out, debating my next course of action. No one came running toward me, so my presence had not yet been noticed. I opened the barn door just enough to let myself out, and closed it quickly behind me. Lights inside the house indicated people, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to find anyone just yet. The kinds of people I was likely to find wouldn’t be happy with a stranger roaming around and were more prone to attack first, ask questions later.
I inched along the edge of the barn, keeping an eye out for anyone or anything. The light of the moon made stealth difficult, so I had to duck along the dark shadows created by the overhang of the barn and the few trees nearby. My unclothed chest was far too visible, I knew, even with the thick, black tattoos covering most of it in swirls of ancient symbols. At the back of the barn was a row of bushes. I made my way there, ducking low to make myself as unobtrusive as possible, before squatting down behind the hedges. There I sat, breathing slowly and quietly as I listened to the sounds of the night. No noises intruded on the night, which was more of a giveaway than anything else. Someone was out there.
For several minutes I sat behind the hedge, listening and watching. A soft brush of the grass, followed by the crunch of a branch, alerted me to a presence. The sound of someone walking grew louder, and eventually a figure came into view, quickly followed by another. I shifted my position slightly to get a better view of the two people. The first person, a man based on height and build, turned in my direction. I held still, holding my breath until his eyes moved past me and he continued walking. The second person, smaller and more petite, scurried after the first. Her voice, while soft, drifted to my ears as they walked closer to my position.
“Wait,” the second person said, her voice imploring.
The man continued to walk, his feet barely making a sound as he moved closer and closer to the barn. “There’s something off,” he said quietly, his voice familiar. I shifted minutely, easing muscles that were cramping too quickly in the position I crouched in. “Can you feel it?”
The smaller person stopped, shaking her head. “Please, don’t change the subject,” she said. Her voice was quiet, with a hint of fear.
They were at the corner of the barn when he finally stopped and turned toward the woman. My position was too visible, and I inched around the shrubs, pressing my body against the barn. Thankfully, the two people were focused on each other and not the barn.
“What do you want me to say?” he asked suddenly, a hint of anger in his voice.
“I want you to tell me how you feel,” she said meekly.
He laughed, a short bark of sound that held no humor. “How I feel? This is hardly the time or place.”
“It never is,” she retorted.
“Is that what you think, Beth? This isn’t on me. This is on you.”
“I know.” She reached toward the man, her hands grasping the front of his shirt. “Believe me, I know.” She sobbed, her head bowed against his chest.
He stood still for several moments before his hands re
ached around her. He held her for a moment before he began running his fingers through her hair. Her head tilted up and he bent down, kissing her. I waited, watching the chaste kiss turn deeper. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her toward him. Her hands moved around his neck, pressing him against the edge of the barn as passion overtook them. That was my cue.
I backed away, staying in the shadows until I reached the back edge of the barn. As soon as I rounded the corner, I froze. Two golden eyes stared at me from a foot away, set in the face of an enormous wolf. I stopped breathing as the wolf stepped toward me, a deep growl rumbling from his chest. Crouched low to the ground as I was, the wolf actually towered above me. I straightened out slowly, my hand pulling the knife free as I stood. The wolf lunged, pressing his paws against my chest and holding me to the barn with his massive weight. My hand still gripped the hilt of the dagger, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to stab the animal before it tore my throat out. Was this really how I wanted to spend what time I had in a body again?
“Who are you?” came a familiar voice.
I dare not shift my head, with the jaws of a snarling wolf inches away. “The name is Aidan,” I replied, feeling a strange thrill to use my voice; deep with an Irish lilt.
“Aidan?” the voice questioned again. A man stepped closer, dressed in a black and white flannel shirt. He had brown hair and strangely piercing green eyes. The feeling of magic emanated from the man, sending a ripple of fear down my spine. I turned my head slowly to better see him. Recognition stirred, and I realized who the man was.
“Jed?” I asked, surprised I had managed to keep my voice steady.
“Hugo, down,” the man said, and the wolf pushed off me to drop to the ground. I grunted as the air expelled from my lungs, but managed to keep my feet underneath me. “Where did you come from?”
I chuckled, feeling a strange surge of recklessness. “Well, that is the question of the day.”
“Move,” he said, pointing back behind me. I discretely sheathed the dagger and turned, making my way back along the edge of the barn. I hadn’t made it far in my great escape to freedom, I thought wryly. Back in the barn, I was ushered back toward the cage I had emerged from. There, the same woman I had seen earlier, stood. Her arms were crossed and she sniffed the air loudly.
“His scent ends here,” she said, pointing back at the cage. The wolf paced inside the cage, her eyes taking in everything.
“Ends?” he asked.
She nodded. “I can smell him all over right here, but that’s it. He went down the hall and back, but other than that there’s nothing.” She frowned, turning to look at me. “I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I, lady,” I replied crossing my arms. “Neither do I.”
“Who are you?” he asked again.
“I told you. I’m Aidan,” I replied. “You’re Jed, the Alpha. That’s Beth, and the hungry wolf over there is Hugo. I’m guessing the one in the cage is Izzy.”
“How do you know that?” Beth asked, stepping toward me.
I glared down at the dainty woman. While I would never lay a hand on a woman, I wasn’t opposed to intimidation. I stood taller and crossed my arms as I stared her down. Her eyes flickered to Jed, and I knew my tactic was working. I took a step toward her, and she immediately stepped away from me. Jed, on the other hand, stepped closer, placing a hand on my arm. “How are you here?” Jed asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“No fucking clue,” I replied as I brushed his hand off my arm. His eyes flashed in warning, but I ignored it.
Jed stared at me, refusing to back down. I grinned slowly. The man was not only a werewolf, but the Alpha. He could probably rip me to shreds before I could blink. My grin widened as I stared down at the man. I was several inches taller than him, but I still stretched myself to full height, loosening cramped muscles.
“Get Declan,” Jed said, his eyes never leaving my face.
We stared at each other, neither backing down or turning away. The wolf, Hugo, prowled behind me growling as Beth scurried out of the barn at a run. I shifted my shoulders, which only proceeded to make Hugo growl louder. My lips drew up on one side, making my smile crooked. I knew the effect of this look. On women, they swooned at my feet. On men, they either turned tail and ran or punched me in the face. Jed was something of an anomaly. He laughed, his eyes flashing toward the wolf in the cage.
“Izzy says you look like you’re trying to seduce a duck with your lips sticking out like that,” Jed chuckled as he leaned back against the cage casually.
I glared past Jed to the wolf in the cage, who was staring at me intently. “Thanks a lot, Izzy,” I said. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
The wolf snorted, which I took as a laugh. Hugo had stopped snarling, and Jed had relaxed, which I took for good signs. I turned slowly, moving myself closer to the cage but angled so I could see the doors of the barn easier. Izzy was the only one in the room I really trusted, and she was in wolf form. My hand was near the lock, key still in place. Jed watched me move, and I had the distinct feeling he wasn’t as relaxed as he was pretending to be. He was watching me much too closely.
“Want to tell me what happened?” Jed asked.
“Wish I knew,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders. My hand itched to touch the dagger, but I resisted the urge. Sheathed, the dagger was invisible.
“You just appeared?” he urged.
I glanced over at Izzy’s wolf staring up at me. “I think it was when she shifted,” I said. “Usually, I kind of disappear when it happens. This time was different though. It felt like I was falling and I landed here, in the cage.”
“Where’d you get the pants?”
“They were in one of those rooms,” I replied, pointing. “I didn’t really want to run around naked.”
Jed nodded and said, “Understandable.”
“Guess the little spell to get rid of me backfired,” I commented wrily, smiling over at the Alpha. He was dangerous, I knew, but that didn’t stop me from being reckless. It was in my nature. Besides, I still wasn’t very happy with them trying to snuff me from existence. Even if I had already died.
Jed grunted and looked back toward the barn doors anxiously. I touched the knife hilt, feeling a bit anxious myself. If the stoic Alpha was nervous, I should be terrified. A wolf growled, and I jerked upright, looking between the two wolves beside me. Izzy was baring her teeth, but not at me. She had turned her back on me and was facing the barn doors. A second later, the door opened and Beth hurried through with Declan on her heels. Izzy growled louder, snarling as Beth and the magician stepped closer.
“He has the knife,” Declan said, his voice soft with wonder. “Amazing. Come here.”
“Ah, fuck you,” I replied casually, grabbing the cage door and pulling it open. Izzy raced out of the cage, bumping into my legs as she snarled up at the magician.
Jed stepped forward, pushing Declan behind him as he moved in front of Izzy. She tried to move around him, but the Alpha met her every move. He didn’t speak that I saw, but he did communicate with her. After a few moments of growling, Izzy stopped and took a step backward before sitting on her haunches beside me. I looked down, wishing I could speak to her.
“The candle still glows,” Declan said, and I jerked my head up to look at him. “You are bound to the dagger, as Izzy is, and bound to each other. Fascinating.”
“Declan, is there anything you can do?” Jed asked.
“Perhaps,” he said softly. “I think I misinterpreted the spell. This will take some study.”
“Izzy might be okay being poked and prodded, but I’m not,” I retorted, crossing my arms.
Declan shook his head. Even in the middle of the night, he was wearing his dark sunglasses. It made me uneasy not being able to read his eyes. “No, warrior, I will not poke or prod you. This is the study of books, and magic.”
“I don’t want you doing spells on me either,” I growled.
“Nothing of the sort. You can trust me.”
I laughed, and Izzy growled. “Trust? You all wanted to get rid of me! I died hundreds of years ago and for whatever reason, I’m getting a second chance. I’m not about to let you take that away from me.”
“Would you fight with us?” Beth asked suddenly, and we all turned toward her.
“What, wench?” I asked.
She flinched, and I didn’t care. “Will you fight with us, when we attack the vampires?”
“Woman, I died fighting vampires before you were born. Hell, before your great grandparents were even a thought.” I pulled the dagger out, holding it before me. “I took up this blade to kill vampires. I underwent magic spells, in order to kill vampires. I have fought and killed and died, all to take out those blood-sucking sons of whores. I should say no. The devil take you! I should say hell no, because those vampires ruined my life. They killed my family, and ultimately me. I have a second shot at being a man. The first thing I want to do is find a woman and fuck her hard! The second thing I want to do is go kill some of those demon spawn and send them back to hell. So, to answer your question, hell yes, I will fight with you. As long as I’m breathing, I will kill vampires given the chance.”
Beth nodded her head and stepped up beside Jed, placing a hand on his arm before walking past him to stand on the other side of Izzy. “I won’t let anyone experiment on you,” she said, looking at me over the top of the massive wolf beside us.
I stared at her in shocked silence. The barn door opened and Mark strode in, followed by another large wolf. The thing was a massive black beast and I shivered as the eyes locked on me. Death was in that stare. Mark stepped up beside Jed, and the wolf inched his way in on the other side. Now I faced two wolves with only one wolf and a tiny woman beside me. I didn’t like my odds.
Mark crossed his arms over his black shirt and stared at me, a deep frown creasing his forehead. He glanced over at Jed, then back at me. “This is Aidan?”