Running With the Moon

by Kiernan Kelly

  Alastair snapped at him and backed up again. You know nothing, whelp! You’re no threat to me.

  No? Then why are you suddenly so afraid of me?

  I’m not! Alastair’s scent belied his words. He was frightened, terrified in fact. Dae could smell it.

  If wolves could smile, Dae would have, although there would’ve been no mirth it. It would be the grin of a predator, promising only death. Then face me, outside, in front of the pack. I officially challenge you for leadership, Alastair, in the time-honored tradition. A fight to the death. May the best wolf win.

  The smell of fear wafted from Alastair in waves. You’re not a member of this pack! You were turned out. You can’t challenge me!

  I was born to this pack. That’s the only requirement needed. Out of the corners of his eyes, he saw his brothers pad forward to stand at his side, reminding him of their presence. I challenge you, Alastair, in front of witnesses. Will you fight me or hand over leadership of the pack now, of your own free will?

  Alastair gave another ferocious snarl, then suddenly leaped, twisting his body midair and crashing through a window. Dae didn’t have to look to know where he was going. Alastair needed leverage against Dae, and he knew exactly where to get it.

  Dae turned around and saw that Fang had joined the group. He briefly wondered how much of the story Fang had heard but figured from the scent of rage rolling off Fang that it was enough.

  His brothers were alternately snarling at the window through which Alastair leaped and whining as they nosed the blood-soaked covers of Cherise’s bed. He felt their pain and anger but steeled himself. He couldn’t allow himself to grieve, not yet. He had to remain focused. There would be time to mourn later. Fang, protect the baby.

  Fang shifted. His cheeks were streaked with tears, but his eyes were fiery with anger. “Get him, Dae. Bring his sorry ass down. I’ll make sure nothing happens to the little one.”

  Dae barked his gratitude, then nosed his brothers’ furry sides. Come on! Alastair is going for the children!

  He charged out of the cabin, racing at full speed across the wide grassy area toward his family’s cabin, his brothers hot on his heels. He looked ahead and glimpsed Alastair’s back legs disappearing through the door of the cabin and put on another burst of energy.

  Sean was in there, and Dae knew Alastair wouldn’t hesitate to kill him, along with Dae’s sisters-in-law and their children, if only out of spite and a hatred so profound that Dae could only barely begin to understand it.

  SEAN WAITED anxiously in the living room for Dae to return with Cherise and the baby. He’d already moved the sofa closer to the door, ready to barricade it once Cherise and her newborn were safe inside the house.

  He froze when he heard the scream coming from across the compound and peeked through the shutters, watching Dae and Dae’s brothers shift as they raced toward the healer’s lodge. Something was terribly wrong; he felt sure in his bones that the blood-curdling scream was Cherise’s.

  Oh, God, let her be all right. Dae’s lost enough. He doesn’t need any more grief.

  Sean stared at the closed door for a long moment, his mind reeling. What would he do if Dae didn’t return? How could he go on?

  He was tempted to disregard his promise to Dae and Dae’s brothers and follow after them anyway. He might be human, and he might not have teeth and claws, but he could use his opposable thumbs to hold a weapon like a knife, something a wolf couldn’t do. The only thing that kept him in the house was knowing that if he was injured, Dae would be devastated, and that would give Alastair the chance to kill Dae.

  God, this trip was turning out far worse than Sean ever imagined! He’d worried about being ostracized or threatened by Dae’s people. He’d agonized over whether Dae’s family would accept him or turn their backs on Dae again because of him. There had even been a niggling fear that Dae might want to remain with the shifters and not return to Florida with Sean. Never for one moment did he worry Dae might be killed as a result of them visiting the pack.

  He sighed and turned around, finding Joshua’s and Jaeger’s wives standing behind him, nearly shoulder to shoulder. Claudette was Joshua’s mate, and Lily was Jaeger’s, if he remembered correctly.

  He summoned a smile for them. “Okay. Let’s get this place fortified. I guess we should shutter the windows, and as soon as they get back with Cherise and the baby, we can move the furniture to block the doors. I think it would be best to bring the kids into the kitchen. There are no windows in there, and we can put down comforters on the floor for them to sleep on. Are there any weapons in the house?”

  Claudette smiled at him, her incisors dropping down. She held a hand up, and her fingernails elongated and sharpened into claws. “You mean, in addition to these?”

  Sean grinned. “Yeah, I meant something this poor, nonshifting human can use. Any guns?”

  Lily shook her head. “No. Alastair forbade anyone to own a personal gun a long time ago. There are no handguns that I know of, and the only rifles on property are in the armory. That’s the cabin next to the healer’s lodge, and they’re always kept under lock and key.”

  “Probably because he was afraid someone would shoot him if they could get to the guns.” The tone in Claudette’s voice told Sean she would’ve gladly been the one pulling the trigger.

  Sean frowned. This wasn’t good news. He didn’t like the thought of trying to defend Dae’s family without any weapons. “What about trank guns? Fang had one. That’s how he subdued Alastair.”

  Lily answered. “Fang is one of the security guards. He would have a key to the armory. The trank guns are kept with the other firearms.”

  Sean glanced at the door, wondering if he should risk trying to find Fang and ask for the key, then immediately discarded the idea. Fang was one of the only men Dae could count on to take a stand, and he didn’t want to risk a delay in keeping Fang from Dae’s side.

  He nodded, almost to himself. “Okay, well, guns aren’t the only weapons in the world. Let’s start by getting the knives and cleavers out of the kitchen. They’ll cut as well as any claw, I’d imagine.” He walked to the fireplace and picked up a heavy, cast-iron poker, bouncing it against his palm a few times to test its weight. “This will do too.”

  Claudette smiled at him. “You really love Dae, don’t you? I mean, you’re human, but you’re getting ready to defend Dae’s family just like any of us would.”

  Sean looked her in the eye. “Yes. I love him, more than my own life. His family is my family, and I swear to you that if anybody tries to attack these children, there won’t be enough left of that person to tack to the wall.”

  The women smiled at him again and hurried to do as he’d suggested.

  Sean faced the door and sent a silent prayer for Dae’s safety, then went about fortifying the cabin as best he could, starting with cleaning out the kitchen of anything that could be wielded as a weapon.

  Claudette and Lily brought the sleepy children from their bedrooms to the kitchen, settling them on the floor on a makeshift bed of comforters, where they quickly returned to their dreams. Sean tiptoed around, trying not to wake any of the kids as he carried an armful of cutlery to the living room.

  Something large suddenly hit the front door with a bang. The following stunned silence was broken by the sound of the children crying, startled out of their sleep by the loud noise.

  Sean barely noticed his hand tightening around the handle of a meat cleaver as he turned to stare at the door. Another loud thump shook the door on its hinges, and another succeeded in breaking the lock. The door swung inward, revealing a large, snarling wolf on the stoop. Its cold, amber-colored gaze darted around the room, then centered on Sean.

  The wolf’s crazed glare was so malevolent, Sean was sure it was Alastair.

  Where was Dae? Fear sliced through Sean, cold and sharp. Was Dae injured or worse? Had Alastair won the fight so easily, so quickly? Sean eyed Alastair and felt something inside shift. His fear grew teeth, segueing into
rage, and his fingers tightened white-knuckled on the shaft of the cleaver.

  He surprised himself at the menace he heard in his own voice. Until that moment, he wouldn’t have thought himself capable of it, but then, he’d never before hated anyone as passionately as he did Alastair. “Alastair, you can leave in peace or pieces, it’s your choice. I’m not going to let you destroy Dae’s family.”

  Alastair’s only response was a chest-deep snarl and a step in Sean’s direction. His head was low, yellowed teeth bared. He exuded an aura of power, one that promised only death.

  A blur of gray fur suddenly hit Alastair from the side as one of the female wolves launched herself at their enemy, followed swiftly by the other in a brown wolf-form. Teeth gnashed and claws ripped, but the two smaller females were no match for Alastair’s greater size and experience. In the space of only a few heartbeats, they both lay crumpled on the floor, bleeding.

  Sean realized he was all that stood between Alastair and the children. The rage he felt flared white-hot, and its fire consumed him. A primal scream tore from his throat as he ran toward Alastair with the cleaver held high. He was frightened and infuriated beyond rational thinking; he was acting on instinct alone. Although he didn’t realize it, it was a defining moment for him. In the age-old question of fight or flight, Sean chose battle.

  Confronted with Sean’s charge, Alastair actually backed up a step, perhaps shocked to find himself the quarry of a weak human, one he’d probably assumed would either run or stand paralyzed with fear, an easy kill. Alastair’s momentary pause saved Sean’s life and gave him the opportunity to sink the cleaver into Alastair’s shoulder.

  Blood spurted from the wound, but it didn’t put Alastair down. In fact, the wound seemed to sharpen Alastair’s flagging intentions. Before Sean could pull the cleaver out and swing again, a mouthful of dagger-sharp teeth bit into his thigh.

  He screamed as pain tore through him, his leg giving out beneath him. Thrown off-balance, Sean fell, landing hard, his hands instinctively pressing against the wound on his leg. Hot, sticky blood wet his fingers, and his head spun with shock.

  He looked up into the eyes of death as Alastair opened his jaws. Sean squeezed his eyes shut. He knew Alastair wouldn’t waste any more time but would go for his throat next. His mind cleared briefly, long enough to think of Dae and hope against hope that Dae had somehow survived the battle with Alastair.

  The attack he was waiting for never came. Instead there was a shrieking cry of pain, and warm wetness sprayed his face. He cracked his eyes open, then widened them, wondering if he was only imagining the miracle before him.

  Two wolves were engaged in a fierce fight in the middle of the living room. Dae’s huge black wolf dwarfed Alastair’s gray as they rolled together, both struggling to get a death grip on the other’s throat. Claws scraped the floorboards as they fought for purchase on the polished hardwood, and blood droplets flew like dark raindrops.

  The fight seemed to go on forever, but then finally, Alastair twisted the wrong way, or his strength finally left him. Dae finished Alastair quickly with a single, swift bite to the neck. Sean shuddered when he heard a sound like a dry twig snapping as Dae broke Alastair’s neck.

  Sean tried to stand, wanting to throw himself at Dae, to make sure Dae was really there and not a mirage, but his leg refused to cooperate. Blood pooled under it, and the pain was like a living thing, gnawing at his flesh. He tried to call out for Dae but only managed a soft cry.

  Then strong arms were lifting him up, carrying him to the sofa, and in the graying moments before he passed out, he found the answers in Dae’s eyes.

  Dae was alive, scratched and bitten but whole, and it was over. They’d won. Dae, his family, and the pack were free.

  Sean managed to smile weakly before surrendering to the blackness.

  Chapter Nine

  DAE SNAPPED out of a light doze at Sean’s soft murmur and whispered in Sean’s ear. “Thank God. Don’t ever fucking do that to me again.”

  Sean looked groggy, as well he should. “Do what? Wake up? I don’t think I can promise not to, Dae. I don’t think I’d want to promise that.”

  Dae snorted and leaned down to place a gentle kiss on Sean’s lips. They were dry, and he reached for the glass of water on the nightstand, letting Sean take a few sips from the bendy straw. “No. I mean don’t ever scare me like that again. You’ve been out for over twelve hours.”

  “What happened?” Sean seemed confused, but Dae saw the moment when his memory cleared etched on his face. “Oh, shit. Never mind. I remember.”

  “You scared the crap out of me, hon. You lost a lot of blood. It took eighty stitches for me to patch up your leg.” Dae touched the bandages wrapping Sean’s upper thigh. “I did my best. I don’t think you’ll have a limp, but I’m afraid you’re going to have a few battle scars.”

  “A few scars are nothing as long as everything worked okay. I mean, everyone is all right, aren’t they? Your brothers, their wives and children? Cherise and the baby?”

  Dae paused, trying to find the words to tell Sean the horrible news. He felt himself blanch as he recalled the horrific scene he’d found in the healer’s lodge. “Cherise is gone, hon.” His voice broke as he spoke his sister’s name. “I wasn’t fast enough to save her. Alastair killed her before I could get to her.” Dae knew he’d live with the guilt of that for the rest of his life.

  “What? No! Oh, my God, Dae… I’m so sorry.” Sean tried to sit up, but Dae gently pushed him down again. He paused a moment, as if afraid to ask anything more. “The baby?”

  “She’s fine, if facing life without her mother can be considered fine, that is.” Dae felt his hold on his emotions begin to crumble, tears stinging behind his eyes. He’d remained strong in front of the others, keeping it together while he waited for Sean to wake up from the anesthesia, but he was weary and soul-sick, and losing his grip.

  Then he realized the one person with whom he could let down his guard was right there with him, waiting. With Sean, Dae knew he didn’t always have to be strong. He let the grief he’d been struggling to hold back rush free. The tears escaped his control, and he let Sean pull him down into a hug. “Cherise suffered so much, Sean, and now she’s dead, and it’s my fault! Why did I wait so long to bring her to the house? Why did I waste all that time with my brothers talking about it? Why didn’t I come here immediately, as soon as I got Jaeger’s letter?”

  “Dae! You’re doing it again. You’re taking on Alastair’s sins as your own. He’s the one who did this horrible thing, and he’s paid the price for it. You saw to that.”

  “I feel like I let everyone down. You, my brothers, the pack, and especially poor Cherise.”

  Sean’s fingers cupped his chin, holding him firm. “Dae, you listen to me. If it wasn’t for you, Alastair would still be alive, and your pack would still be suffering. Cherise would most likely be gone anyway. You said that Alastair planned to kill her and the baby. At least her daughter is alive, and that’s because of you.”

  Dae knew it was true, and although it didn’t lessen his grief or guilt, he also knew it was futile to argue. He sniffed and sat back up. “Alastair engineered it all, Sean. I finally figured it out when I confronted him in the healer’s lodge. He’s been behind every stroke of misfortune the pack has suffered.”

  Sean gasped, his eyes widening. “Why would he do such a thing?”

  “Alastair always ruled by fear. He was getting on in years, too old to lead anymore. Usually, older leaders voluntarily turn the command over to younger alphas and become advisors. It’s why open challenges are so rare. But Alastair refused to step down. You already know that he tore my family apart because we were the ones most likely to challenge him for leadership. When my brothers refused to back off, he became desperate. He orchestrated the raids on the pack and Cherise’s rape to keep my brothers and the pack unsettled and to maintain his control.”

  Sean’s hand found and squeezed his. “That bastard! Oh, my God, Dae…
how horrible!”

  “Yeah.”

  “So, are you the alpha now? The leader?”

  “I was… for all of a couple of hours. I handed over leadership to Joshua.”

  Sean looked away for a moment before he turned back to Dae, his expression wary. “Are you sorry? I mean, these are your people, Dae—”

  “You’re my people. I never wanted leadership. You know that. All I want is to go home.” He smiled at the look of relief that flushed Sean’s wan cheeks. “There is something I wanted to talk to you about, though. It’s about the baby, but if you’re too tired, we can discuss it later.”

  “No, I’m good. Tell me. What about her?”

  “My one act during my short term as leader was to name her. Cherise, after her mother.”

  Sean’s smile was sweet and sad. “That’s fitting, Dae. It’s a beautiful name, for a beautiful little girl. Cherise would be happy.”

  “Yeah, I thought so too. The thing is… well, I want to know how you’d feel about taking her with us when we go home.”

  Sean’s eyes snapped open wide, his surprise evident. “With us? To Florida? No offense, Dae, but what do we know about taking care of an infant? I mean, puppies, sure. We know all about kittens, calves, foals, and just about every other four-legged baby, but a little girl? Why would you even want to take her away from the pack?”

  Dae sighed. “Baby Cherise is half-human, Sean. Think about it. All her life, she’d feel different from everyone else. I know my brothers would never encourage the pack to turn on her the way Alastair would’ve done, but there are bound to be some here who’d be prejudiced against her human heritage, who’d believe she didn’t belong with the pack. Those few could make life difficult for her. There’s another problem too. We don’t know if she’ll be able to shift when she hits puberty, and if she doesn’t, living in a community of werewolves, she’ll feel like a freak. If she does inherit the ability, we don’t know how the Change will affect her.”

  Sean looked pensive. “You’re right, Dae. Life might be hard for her here. What do your brothers say about it?”