Windham Werewolves

by Shawntelle Madison

“Hey, I’m the one who peacefully strolled in here—” Zach began.

  “Into our territory. With a gun,” Rhys snapped.

  “Who in their right mind would waltz into a war zone without a weapon?” Zach bit back. Her brother wasn’t stupid. At least today, anyway.

  “How are we supposed to know if anyone is on the ‘approved list’ unless you tell us everything?” Rhys asked his brother. Now that his mate was back at his side, his stance was far calmer than before.

  Eva snorted and crossed her arms.

  “We need to talk. We will soon enough,” Kaden said.

  Cyn approached her brother, the smile growing on her face with each step. Kaden wouldn’t let her go for a moment. Maybe he was as surprised as she was, but once she assured Kaden with a nod, she ran to her brother and hugged him.

  “If I wasn’t happy to see you, I’d be choking the living breath from your body.” She rested the side of her face against her brother’s chest and squeezed him tight.

  The dark-haired man she held laughed. “I should drop you off on a werewolf’s doorstep more often. The last time you hugged me was when you found out you were sick.”

  That was true. Before that time, hugs seemed unnecessary between them. Her job as big sister was to protect Zach and Ty. They needed to be men, and coddling them as hunters wasn’t wise.

  She stepped back from him. “Now that we’ve got that settled…” Her fist flew back, and she clocked him hard across the chin. Zach staggered for a moment, shook his head, and then smiled. With a chuckle, he added a healthy distance between them.

  Cyn thrust a finger in his direction. “Your little plan worked, but if you pull that kind of shit on me ever again, I will cut off your leg and have someone reattach it to your ass.”

  Zach rubbed his chin. She knew the exact place to hit him. A hit any harder would’ve knocked him out. “You were dying. I put a lot of thought into my decision.”

  It was damn near impossible to be mad at someone who meant well. Worry-filled creases formed on his forehead and Zach briefly closed his hazel eyes. Their dad had done that often when he was bothered. Could the man in front of her really be twenty years old?

  “Yes, I was dying. So why are you here?” Was he here to take her back to Vancouver now that the pack was in danger? Instead of exuberance at the thought of leaving with Zach, fear bristled within her.

  “I had a few men on guard to the far south to keep freelancers out. One saw smoke, so he sent a message that something was wrong,” Zach said as he leaned forward. “A friend of mine owed me a favor and got me here on a private flight.”

  She cocked a grin. “You hate planes.”

  “I did what I had to do. What happened?”

  With a flourish, she extended her hands toward the ransacked buildings. “As you can see, everything is fine,” she added with a voice dripping with sarcasm. “The Cerulean clan found the camp, and the Windham pack is in grave danger. Anything else?”

  Zach glanced at Kaden. “It appears I need to have a chat with you.”

  Kaden sighed. “So it appears.”

  ***

  The others tried to follow Kaden, Cyn, and Zach to Naomi’s cabin, but Kaden refused. This was his business. Not theirs. “There are some personal matters we need to settle. Once we’re done, a decision will be made.”

  “If a decision is made on the pack’s welfare, we should be present,” Eva said. “Especially with that hunter walking around.”

  “After Zach leaves I’ll reveal everything you need to know.” The growl he added made it clear to Eva that a discussion wasn’t welcomed, so she backed off. Her mouth opened as if to protest further, but she stormed off instead.

  Once inside the dim cabin, Cyn took a seat on the couch and Kaden sat down next to her. Zach eased into the nearest chair. He crossed his arms and looked over his sister with a frown. Here it comes, Kaden thought.

  “My sister doesn’t look well,” Zach began. “What about our bargain, Windham?”

  Guilt tried to suck Kaden into its depth, but anger replaced the feeling instead. How dare her brother ask such a question right now? “Whether or not she becomes a werewolf is her choice. I have done my part and will continue to protect her.”

  “Does Ty know about this arrangement?” she asked her brother softly.

  “No, he doesn’t, and you know why it’s best that he never finds out.” The two McGinnises exchanged a hard look that spoke volumes: Ty would never approve of what Zach did.

  Cyn opened her mouth to speak, but Kaden raised his hand so he could make his point. “This whole situation is complicated, but what matters is that your sister is alive, and I want her to stay with me.”

  “Is that wise right now when your pack is vulnerable?” Zach asked.

  Kaden’s stomach tightened, and he took Cyn’s hand. The warmth from her palm quieted the anxious wolf within him. “I will do everything in my power to protect her. We’re not safe here any longer, so we’re leaving to find another safe place.”

  “What about our deal?” Zach sighed. “If you leave this area, it will be a while before I can protect you again.”

  “The deal is a moot point. This place has been compromised thanks to my brother.” He slowly ran his free hand from his forehead down to the stubble on his chin. “No home is ever safe anyway.”

  Zach nodded. “I know that feeling well.”

  Cyn’s brother continued. “Speaking of your brother, you need to be careful, Kaden. One of my watchmen said Bastian hasn’t left the territory yet. He said he saw him leave and head south to Prince George, but he returned on foot with supplies.”

  “I see.” The problems just kept coming. He did tell Bastian he didn’t want to see him for a while, but he all but expected Bastian to head to civilization to drown himself in the whiles of beautiful women. Staying put meant his brother had other plans. And, most likely, none of them were good.

  Silence settled between them so Kaden spoke first. He filled Zach in on everything that had happened so far in terms of the Cerulean clan member and the interrogation.

  Her brother didn’t take the news well and agreed that the best plan was for them to leave.

  Zach stood. “My presence will be missed, so I can’t be here for long. I brought supplies in my snow cab for Cyn. It appears you’ll be needing them in the next couple of days.” He looked to his sister. “Or wherever you may go in the future.”

  Chapter 2

  Now that matters were settled between Kaden and Zach, Cyn didn’t know what to feel. They were walking through the forest toward Zach’s snow cab and the conflicted feelings in her stomach were growing stronger. She finally got a chance to see and talk with her brother, yet she wasn’t ready to let him go.

  He was a part of her past. And his familiarity brought her a comfort that Kaden couldn’t.

  “You’ll contact me once she’s safe, won’t you?” he asked Kaden.

  “Yeah, first thing,” Kaden replied.

  As they approached the snow cab, she spotted the crate he’d mentioned. It was as if he were leaving her behind again. Her unease must have been all over her face. She followed him to the snow cab steps.

  From the top step, he patted her shoulder. “You’ll be fine. You’re used to living on the road. Just like the good old days with Mom and Dad.”

  “The good old days,” she murmured. Her mind went blank then hundreds of questions came to mind. Was he sleeping well? Did he find out anything about Mom and Dad’s murder? Had he seen Ty lately?

  “Could you stay for a bit longer?” was what she asked instead.

  “You know I can’t do that. The Ceruleans are watching me. The Red clan has to be kept in the dark.” She waited for him to hug her, but he fake-punched her shoulder instead. “Don’t waste this chance I’ve given you.” He opened the snow cab door and then something wet hit the side of Cyn’s face.

  Zach wobbled above her, a crimson stain growing along his back.

  She blinked, wondering if she�
�d heard the pop. Wondering what direction the shot had come from. Her arms went up to catch Zach, but his weight overwhelmed her, and he hit the back of his head on the way down. Kaden reached over them, shoving her to the ground as another shot broke the rearview mirror.

  The need to act kept ringing in her head, but she couldn’t move. Someone shot Zach. Someone shot Zach. Someone shot Zach.

  With the side of her face pressed against the snow, all she could do was scan the forest.

  Who would dare do such a thing?

  She scrutinized the landscape, checking for any sign of an attacker, but saw no one. The sight was strangely tranquil. Powdery snow sprinkled from the tree branches that swayed from a brisk wind.

  The forest was empty and quiet.

  Chapter 3

  Nothing moved in the woods beyond where they stood. Even the birds had become quiet.

  Kaden took a deep breath. No scent either. They’d been hit by sniper fire.

  “Get him out of here, please,” Cyn whispered. Panic lined her words.

  First things first, he checked Zach for a pulse and a steady respiratory rate. So far, so good.

  Emergency care would have to wait. They were in the middle of the forest in the cold. His pace was brisk and Cyn ran to keep up. The dead weight on his shoulder didn’t bother him, but the panicked woman beside him worried him.

  “Be careful with him,” she whispered. She held Zach’s weapon, and she covered their rear as they ran. As they got closer to camp, she grew even more bitter, but he let her words brush off him. “I hope we run into them so I can give them a first-class ticket to hell.”

  The camp was dead quiet by the time they walked into Naomi’s place.

  “Is the cabin empty?” Cyn asked.

  He nodded. His sister was most likely elsewhere for now and wouldn’t interfere with what needed to be done.

  They still had time. He could hear Zach breathing, even if Cyn couldn’t. As her brother continued to bleed, his breathing slowed.

  He turned on the lanterns Naomi had left in the bedroom. The room was cold, but would heat up once he lit the fireplace.

  What alarmed Kaden the most was the blood loss. They had left a trail of blood from the spot where Zach had been shot. Even after he did a cursory check, what he did see left him concerned. Two posterior entry wounds. A single posterior wound to the upper left shoulder with no exit point. The secondary shot went straight through, near his left kidney, potentially nicking his renal artery.

  “Does he take any meds?” Kaden checked over his shoulder to look at Cyn. The only word he could use to describe how she looked right now was numb. Harsh lines were chiseled into her forehead. Her light gray eyes had darkened to murky smoke. A wall had fallen behind her eyes and all reason seemed to have departed.

  What was left was the hunter, and that part of her was ready to lash out at anything and anyone.

  Someone had to be in control right now.

  “Wake up, Cyn,” he said, a bit more forceful. “Is he taking any meds, or is he a diabetic like Ty? Any allergies?”

  She shook her head.

  “Take off his coat and shirt. Apply pressure to the wound, using a clean towel.” When she didn’t move, he pushed her shoulder. “Move it, hunter.”

  She quickly moved into action and unzipped Zach’s coat. His whole shirt was stained bright red.

  “Zach…” she whispered.

  Kaden searched the bathroom and kitchen for the supplies he’d need. The emergency first-aid kit wouldn’t have everything, but he could make do until he sent Cyn to fetch his physician supplies.

  By the time he returned to the room, Cyn was leaning over her brother, applying pressure to his shoulder. Zach was still unconscious, which, to Kaden, wasn’t a good sign. Had he hit his head on the way down?

  Checking behind Zach’s eyelids, he checked to see if both of Zach’s pupils were the same size. Good so far. Then he felt along the back of Zach’s head and confirmed a swollen spot. Likely a hematoma, and a probable concussion to boot.

  “Good job, Cyn.” He gently pushed her away. “Go to our cabin and grab a brown box in our closet labeled medical.”

  “Will something happen while I’m gone?” she mumbled.

  “Your brother is stable for now, but I need supplies.” Her brother wasn’t stable, but getting her moving was much more important.

  He waited for her to leave before he got to work on the wound with no exit point. Time to prepare the site to retrieve the bullet. His hands worked quickly as muscle memory took over. Over and over again, he’d sewn up the drunks, the brawlers, and average citizens who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just another day in the ER. But now that Zach’s life was in his hands, he trembled a bit. Would Cyn never forgive him if her brother died under his care?

  Stop worrying and keep working.

  Step one: remove the bullet if possible.

  Most of the time, removing a bullet caused more damage than the bullet itself. Plenty of his patients walked away carrying bits of metal. Hopefully, Zach wouldn’t have such a problem.

  Using fresh water from the tap, he irrigated the wound to remove any debris. At least that part was easy. Using forceps in one hand and the towel in the other, he applied pressure with the towels and opened the site a bit to determine if there was any internal damage along the entry path. Improved werewolf eyesight came in handy at times like this. With the light from the lantern, he was relieved to see no major blood vessels had been severed, but plenty of other minor ones had been obliterated.

  The process was painstakingly slow. He could hear Zach’s heartbeat the whole time and watched the arteries twitch every time his heart contracted. The bullet wasn’t lodged in too deep.

  With patience, Kaden finally plucked it out.

  Damn, the bullet was tiny. They always were, and it amazed him how something like a small piece of metal could do such devastating damage.

  Humans were such fragile things.

  Cyn came to mind, but he brushed the thought aside. Focus time.

  A box appeared next to him. She’d moved quickly.

  He rifled through the box to retrieve what he needed.

  Step 2: close the wound.

  Using a suture, he closed the wound. By the time he dressed Zach’s wound with gauze, Cyn was beside him holding a cup of cold coffee.

  “I wanted to offer you the coffee when it was hot, but you seemed so focused,” she began.

  He took the drink. Cold coffee had been nectar during his residency. “Tastes good,” he remarked as he watched Cyn place her hand on Zach’s clammy forehead.

  “Why is he so cold?” she asked.

  “He’s in shock. His temp should rise soon. We need to keep him warm.” Kaden left her side to wash his hands in the dim bathroom. He briefly looked at the man in the mirror and didn’t want to meet his own eyes. How had everything around him that he had built fallen apart so quickly?

  His pack had been attacked on the way here. The Cerulean hunting clan had destroyed parts of the camp. And now Cyn’s brother lay shot and unconscious in the other room. Things can only get better, he told himself.

  “This is your pack now, Kaden,” his father Tobias had said to him. The responsibility was the heaviest burden he’d secured in his life, but he bore it as if there was no choice in the matter. He had been born into this role.

  “Stand up, boy, and quit hiding in the loo as if you can flush your troubles away,” his dad would say.

  He looked again in the mirror and met his gaze.

  By the time he entered the bedroom, Cyn was arranging covers on her brother.

  “When will he wake up?” she asked.

  “Maybe an hour or two. Zach hit his head on the snow cab when he went down.” He touched her shoulder and squeezed.

  “What about the bullet? I want it.” She still wouldn’t look him in the eyes. And it wasn’t fear. That scent was all too clear to him. Right how her scent flared with waves of strong black pepper
: contained anger waiting to be released.

  He retrieved a napkin holding the bullet and placed it in her hand. “I gave him some pain meds through his IV, but it won’t last long. He’ll wake up spitting fire soon enough.”

  Her jaw twitched. “I’m going to kill the person who did this.”

  Kaden didn’t know what to say to that. If one of his pack members tried to harm her brother after he’d placed Zach under his protection, he’d have to punish them for their deeds. Giving them to Cyn seemed fitting.

  He finally spoke. “Your brother is a stubborn son of a bitch. He’d be grateful for the fight in you.”

  Chapter 4

  No one dared to look at Kaden once he arrived in the cave.

  Which meant they all knew what had gone down. He looked at each of their faces before he spoke. He gave particular scrutiny to Eva, Rhys, and Naomi.

  Normally defiance danced in Eva’s blue eyes, but, this time, she held Phil in her lap and stroked the back of his head.

  “You know why I’m here, don’t you?” He waited for the change in his pack. The quickening of someone’s heartbeat. The stopped breath in a guilty party’s chest.

  But none of them reacted.

  Rhys finally spoke to him. “One of the sentries saw you rushing back to camp. He said one of the hunters was bleeding.”

  “Zach was shot in the chest.”

  “Is he dead?” Eva asked. The matter-of-fact way she said it made Kaden walk past his brother to approach his sister-in-law.

  “No, he isn’t. Do you know what happened, Eva?” he asked.

  She didn’t immediately speak or react. Almost as if she were an empty husk. The only person who reacted to his inquiry was Phil. He clung to his mother as if she might bolt.

  “Are you accusing my mate of something?” Rhys said evenly from behind him. “She’s been with me the whole time. As soon as you left camp with your hunter friends, we returned to the cave.”

  Kaden sensed Rhys’s growing anger, but he didn’t turn to face him. Even Rhys knew a fight between them wouldn’t go the way Rhys wanted.