Taken By The Wolf: Collection

by Jessica Ryan

  Chapter 24

  Rowan watched Rain's Mustang pull away with Eva waving out the passenger window. He returned her wave, unable to hide the somber look on his face.

  What a mess, he thought, looking at the cleanup crew. They were loading the bodies into a van to be disposed of while another wolf was climbing behind the wheel of Jerry's truck, taking it to be stripped down and disposed of as well. Nobody would ever know what happened out here. Plenty of humans had been killed around Bucklin and nobody was the wiser.

  Eva didn't like me killing them, he thought. He felt her disapproval through their bond, knowing she was unhappy and stressed out with the violent nature of the wolves. She might have had a nervous breakdown if Rain and Eden had come to blows. Eden. What a bitch.

  "This is a mess," Aster said, as if he was reading Rowan's mind.

  "I don't think too many people will miss The Bull," Rowan said.

  "I meant the whole situation," Aster muttered, shaking his head. "First someone kidnaps Leena, then you bring the girl to Bucklin and now there's something in the forest, something dangerous."

  "What could it be?" Rowan asked. "It was really scaring Eva."

  "Maybe it's nothing bad at all," Aster said.

  "How do you figure?" Rowan asked.

  "Hear me out on this one, brother," Aster said, taking a seat on the tailgate. Rowan hopped up beside him. "What if it's just the normal stuff that's already there? You know, wolves, bears, ghosts and so on. She's not used to feeling anything supernatural. She's not used to that world being here, so even a little bit of evil can send her over the deep end. Humans don't have the same senses we do; they can't feel the supernatural when they're around. Now that she's been exposed to it via your bond she's going insane."

  "Insane?" Rowan said, his face twisting into a look of incredulity. "I hope not!"

  "It's just a theory," Aster said, putting his hand up on Rowan's shoulder. "Just a theory, don't freak."

  "If that's the case, then why haven't any of the other human women in town experienced a similar shock after they make their bond?" Rowan asked.

  Aster put his hand on his chin, thinking hard. Finally he laughed and looked up. "I guess I hadn't thought that far into it."

  "You may very well be right," Rowan said, hopping off the tailgate. "Still, we can't take that risk. We have to be cautious about this area now."

  "You didn't feel it until you started leaving?" Aster asked.

  "She didn't feel it until we were leaving," Rowan said. "I don't think the bond was established until we had sex in the clearing, though."

  "Did you not have sex last night?" Aster asked.

  Rowan rolled his eyes and gave Aster a funny look. "Brother, you know better than anyone else that just sex doesn't lead to a bond. It has to be right; you have to feel one another. You have to truly be a mated pair."

  "True," Aster said. "So you established the link in the forest and then she felt it?"

  "I think so," Rowan said.

  "We can't send Hawk in there alone," Aster said, changing the subject.

  "We have no choice," Rowan said, walking to the front of the truck and climbing in. Aster stood for a second, looking defeated before climbing into the passenger seat.

  "We're going to let this bear scare us?" Aster said, puffing his chest out.

  "You know he'd kill Hawk and anyone he brings with him," Rowan said.

  "So we send an army in with him," Aster said. "He can't kill twenty wolves at once."

  "That's not right, brother," Rowan said, backing out of his parking spot and squealing his tires as they pulled away from the scene. "He has every right to live there. It's his domain. We have no right to kill him."

  "We've become too soft-hearted," Aster said, his gaze drifting out the window. "In the old days we would have just taken the land and killed the bear."

  "We're civilized now," Rowan said. "It's much better that way. Would you rather wake up every morning in a cave, hungry and cold?"

  "You're right," Aster said, looking back at Rowan. "So are we going to Hawk's place now?"

  "Yup," Rowan said.

  Together the two friends drove through town, drawing stares and whispers from the citizens walking down the street. The humans went about their business, shopping like nothing was wrong, not noticing the attention a beat-up Chevrolet was drawing from everyone else.

  "Why are they staring?" Aster asked.

  "It's not every day that the sheriff shows up with a strange human and then has the mayor riding shotgun the very next day," Rowan said.

  "Who the hell cares?" Aster asked, glaring at the citizens. "I'm not even working. I'm wearing a polo shirt—I'm fun Aster."

  "Fun Aster?" Rowan asked, cutting his eyes toward his alpha. "I haven't seen fun Aster in many years."

  "That's because Aster doesn't have fun anymore," Aster responded, twiddling his thumbs and looking down. "Every day is a grind for me, brother, a mental and physical grind."

  "It's that hard?" Rowan asked.

  "I've been head alpha for ten years," Aster said, covering his mouth and looking out the window. "Ten long years of wearing a suit and playing politics. It's not easy being mayor. I don't just deal with pack politics. I have to deal with state politics too. You think it's fun for me to go to dinner at the Governor's mansion with a bunch of stuffy Republicans?"

  Rowan hadn't thought of it that way. He was more thankful now than ever that he hadn't accepted the alpha position.

  "You knew this going in," Rowan said. "You knew you weren't going to be a traditional pack alpha. We have an entire city here. It doesn't act autonomously from the rest of the state."

  "Do you ever think it'd be easier?" Aster asked.

  "Would what be easier?" Rowan asked back.

  "You know, moving back to the forest?" Aster asked. "Forget all this human bullshit. Forget living in a house and trying to run an economy. Let's just go back to the forest and do what we did before."

  "We were not alive before," Rowan said.

  "I'm sure we can figure it out," Aster said. "Forrest was alive at that time. Why don't we make him alpha?"

  "That's a joke, right?" Rowan asked, laughing.

  "I'm serious," Aster said. "He would know how to best lead us back into the wilderness."

  "To starve?" Rowan asked, cocking an eyebrow at Aster. "We have more wolves now than we ever did living in the forest. It would never happen."

  "I suppose," Aster muttered, looking down again.

  "Do you not want to be alpha anymore?" Rowan asked.

  "No," Aster said flatly. "I don't want any of it anymore. But who would I give it to? Forrest? He would kill all the humans who come to town and try to return to the mountains. Hawk? He's so damn aloof, there's no way he could do it. Thorn? He's probably the best choice, but I don't trust him. Crow? He's a psycho who'll stab us all in the back."

  "It is a pretty big dilemma," Rowan said. "I don't think I can provide you with an answer."

  "I suppose not," Aster whispered.

  Rowan started to speak but closed his mouth, not wanting to upset his friend any more than he already was. He knew the truth about the way Aster felt. Pressure was weighing on him because he had no mate. If Leena had still been around he'd happily lead the town into the future. He was depressed at the loss of love. Rowan feared what path his friend's life would go down if he didn't snap out of it. Maybe the Satan's Angels problem would be a good thing; maybe they would unite the packs again and reinvigorate Aster. Or they would murder everyone and burn the town to the ground. It was going to be a tough fight either way.

  "We're here," Rowan said, parking the truck in front of Hawk's house.

  Hawk lived on a street just like Rowan's, complete with rows of 1950's era housing. White-painted siding and picket fences assaulted the senses as they stepped out of the truck. There was one difference between Hawk's street and Rowan's: everyone was watching you on Hawk's street.

  Most packs stayed together in one section of
town. All of Rowan's neighbors were Dawnguard while everyone on Hawk's street was Skyvale. Nothing got past the Skyvale pack.

  Rowan had felt the eyes on him as he killed the truck, but it was even worse now that he was standing in the street. Every person on the street was at their window, watching the intruder to their home turf.

  "I hate coming here," Aster said, looking around. "I can never see them, but I know they're watching."

  "Come on," Rowan said, feeling uneasy as well. "Let's just get this over with."

  Hawk's house was the only two-story on the block, looming over the rest of the houses like a watchtower. As they walked up the brick path that led to the front door Rowan glanced up, catching someone peering at him through an upstairs window.

  "That Hawk is always watching," Rowan whispered.

  Aster turned to look at him, bemusement on his face. "That's why he's their alpha. He knows everything."

  Rowan wasn't sure why coming to Skyvale territory made him so uncomfortable. He'd always gotten along great with this pack, running many joint missions with them. If he had to have another pack besides his own watching his back he'd pick the Skyvale pack in a heartbeat.

  My nerves are fried, he thought. It was that damn bond I formed with Eva—her emotions are too strong and my wolf isn't used to it. How did she detect so much evil in the forest?

  There was something special about Eva, something that made their bond stronger than any other mating bond. Unfortunately that strength had made her very sensitive to the supernatural, a new phenomenon for Rowan.

  Rowan was ripped from his thoughts by the bright red front door swinging open to reveal a tall, lean, shirtless alpha wolf. His mop of blonde hair hung down in front of his eyes, hiding everything except the long beak-like nose jutting through the hair.

  "Head alpha," Hawk said with respect in his voice. "Head enforcer."

  "Cut that formality shit out," Aster said, barging past Hawk and into the house.

  Rowan followed and nodded at Hawk slowly as he shut the door behind them.

  "What brings you for a visit?" Hawk asked. "I have barely begun to carry out my assigned task."

  "That's exactly the reason for our visit," Aster said. "Rowan has some new information for you."

  "Excellent," Hawk said, motioning for them to enter the dining room area. They all took a seat around a large kitchen table with Hawk sitting at the head.

  "Rowan was in the woods with his new mate," Aster said.

  "Ahh," Hawk said, interrupting. "The human?"

  "Yes, the human," Rowan said dryly. He was tired of everyone pointing out that his mate was human, like it was shocking. Plenty of wolves took human mates.

  "She is a sight to behold," Hawk said, a hungry grin appearing on his face. "I've always preferred the sleek body of our females, but there is something about the curves this one has, something erotic."

  "You just worry about your own females," Rowan said, feeling jealousy building deep inside. He didn't appreciate another alpha's eyes wandering to his mate. "She's been claimed."

  "Do not worry," Hawk said, putting his hands in the air. "I respect that."

  "The point wasn't to talk about my mate," Rowan said, taking over for Aster. "It was to tell you what I learned from Beorn."

  "The bear?" Hawk asked, sounding a bit confused. "What could he possibly have to add to our investigation?"

  "He said there's been an influx of wolves into his area of the forest," Rowan said. "He said he can hear a female wolf crying out at night."

  "Intriguing," Hawk said, putting his hand to his chin. "Is that all he said?"

  "He said he will allow one wolf to enter his area and investigate," Rowan said. "Only one."

  Hawk's eyes grew wide in surprise as he put both hands down on the table. "So I must attack this one alone?"

  "It's not going to be easy," Rowan said. "There's something else you should know."

  "What is that?" Hawk asked. He sounded a bit apprehensive, like he didn't want to hear what was coming next.

  "I established a mating bond with my mate," Rowan said.

  "Congratulations," Hawk said, sounding sincere.

  "There's something different about this bond," Rowan said, shaking his head. "She's very sensitive to the paranormal and she felt a great evil in the forest. Due to the bond I began to feel it too. There's something out there, Hawk. Something very dangerous."

  "Could it be what has kidnapped dear Leena?" Hawk asked.

  Aster immediately stiffened when he heard the name. Rowan felt a pang of sadness when he heard the words. Aster had told him the other alphas knew what they did, but no other wolf did.

  "How are you going to explain this to the wolf you send?" Aster asked, sweat appearing on his brow. "They can't know the truth."

  "They won't," Hawk said, standing up and walking to the dining room window. He peered out the curtains, checking the lay of the land on his street. "None of my wolves will be undertaking this mission."

  "What?" Aster asked, standing up. "You deny my command?"

  "Not at all," Hawk said, turning back and smiling slyly. "I will be going myself."

  "Out of the question," Aster said. "We cannot lose an alpha."

  "I'm sorry, old friend," Hawk said, still smiling. "You understand we cannot let your secret get out. It would plunge the town into chaos. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. I will undertake this mission."

  Rowan put a hand on Aster, pulling him back into his seat.

  Leaning over, he whispered in his alpha's ear. "Let him do it. He's the strongest member of his pack and the best equipped to deal with it."

  "What if they kidnapped her to come back and finish us off?" Aster asked loudly. "What if the evil is Abaddon? What if the rumors about him are true? He could be bonded with a demon and hiding out in the forest. You could be walking into your own death."

  "That's a risk I'm willing to take to save Bucklin," Hawk said, his smile never fading.

  Chapter 25

  "Are you sure you're going to be okay alone?" Rain asked as she stood in front of Rowan's house with Eva.

  Eva appreciated how sweet the younger wolf was. She was the sister Eva had never had, but her nerves were too frazzled to have girl time.

  "I'm fine, Rain," Eva said, hugging the slender female. "I just really need a hot bath and some dinner."

  "I can get you dinner," Rain said excitedly.

  "That's okay," Eva said, patting her on the shoulder. "Rowan has plenty of food here."

  "Okay," Rain said, sounding like someone had just run over her puppy. Her face matched the sour note in her voice. "It's okay."

  "Is something the matter?" Eva asked.

  "We're friends, right?" Rain asked.

  "Of course we are," Eva said. She hadn't really thought about it before, but she did count the young she-wolf as one of her friends. It was tough; she had been in town for less than a week and didn't know one wolf from another. Luckily there were two of them willing to step up and help Eva out. "Why do you ask?"

  "It's nothing," Rain said. "Guess I don't like the idea of going back to my big empty house."

  "I'm sorry," Eva said. "Maybe tomorrow night we can have a girls' night if things calm down."

  Rain's eyes lit up and she grabbed Eva's hands, shaking vigorously. "I've always wanted to have one of those! We can rent a movie and make popcorn and do each other's hair!"

  Is she fourteen? Eva thought. Instead of asking she just smiled and nodded.

  Rain practically skipped back to her car, a smile wider than the Grand Canyon on her face.

  She waved enthusiastically as she pulled out of the driveway. Eva waited until she was out of sight before going into Rowan's dark, empty house.

  "Why is Rain so eager to be my friend?" Eva asked herself aloud. "Maybe she has a thing for Rowan and just wants to get close? Nah. She's probably just lonely. If the other females are like Eden then she's definitely alone."

  Eva looked around at
the paintings on the walls, the only items around to listen to her blabber on.

  "Now I'm talking to myself like a crazy person," she said with a sigh.

  Trying to ignore what had happened earlier, she went to the fridge and opened it up, pulling out leftovers from her feast with Rowan the night before. As she heated up the ham and mashed potatoes she took inventory of the last three days.

  It had been a wild three days—it had started with murder because of Eva and ended with murder because of Eva.

  The biker had it coming, she thought. The other two didn't, though; they were just doing their job, even if they were overzealous.

  Eva had seen plenty of police abuse their power in her day, especially when she was in college, but that was no reason to kill them. Was it going to be like this every time someone looked at her sideways? Was Rowan going to be murdering people left and right?

  We are going to have to talk about this, she thought, sitting down to eat.

  She tried to focus her thoughts on something productive, like the good news that the Satan's Angels threat would be ending soon. Rowan was already kind and caring, even with such heavy burdens weighing on his mind. She wondered what he would be like once these burdens were lifted.

  "He'll be the perfect man," she said out loud, laughing to herself. "He's already perfect to me."

  Eva had to have some inner wolf in her. Why else would she latch onto Rowan so hard and fast? He had explained to her that wolves mate pretty quickly, claiming one another and not moving on. Rowan had claimed her, but it had taken her a little bit to accept his claiming. She knew what the emotional bridge they had created meant: she had accepted his claiming and claimed him as well.

  It was a bit wild to Eva that the supernatural portion of their relationship worked for her too, but she didn't want to question it. Until three days ago she hadn't knows there was anything beyond the world she could see. There were too many secrets and intricacies for her to understand.

  I'll just smile and go with it, she decided. It's a new world and I don't make the rules.

  She still felt out of place in Rowan's house—or was it her house now? She made sure to clean her dishes completely, rather than letting them pile up like she'd done in her apartment.