Wolf Games (The Vampire Games Book 4)

by Caroline Peckham

  Whilst the men on the Galleon reloaded their cannons, I steered hard up against her starboard side. My men were ready, planting planks directly onto their top deck.

  “Go!” I cried, drawing my own sword. I grabbed Jessops by the collar, tugging him backwards. “Hold her fast.”

  “Aye, captain!” he shouted as he took the helm.

  I darted past him, joining the rest of my crew, springing onto a plank and moving like a predator onto their deck.

  BOOM.

  Their cannons were loaded faster than I'd ever seen, ripping holes in my beautiful ship.

  Goddamn Spaniards.

  I sprang onto their deck, shouting out like a wildman as I charged toward a man in uniform. He drew his sword, but I was faster, slicing him across the belly before slashing the blade across the backs of his knees. He fell forward with a guttural groan, hitting the deck and splashing blood across my boots. I didn't slow, cutting down one, then two more men in quick succession. I moved like a hurricane, slashing and cutting until my blade was thick with blood.

  Crawley stumbled to my side. Drunk. Dammit.

  A Spanish guard brought him to his knees and I spun around to help him, driving my sword through the gut of his assailant.

  Crawley muttered a thanks, wiping the blood from a cut on his arm.

  “Round up the rest of them, no one else needs to die here,” I commanded. We already had the upper hand. My crew might have been sparse, but they were vicious machines, each worth two men in a fight.

  Crawley rounded up the Spanish men at the heart of the deck, making quick work of tying their hands, getting them down on their knees.

  Their captain sat at the heart of them; a brutish man with a long nose. He looked frightened as I moved toward a padlocked door where I guessed the cargo was stashed.

  “No abras eso!” the captain shouted and I paused, giving him a bemused look. I knew enough Spanish to know he didn't want me going in there.

  “I'm afraid your words are useless to you now, Captain. Your cargo is mine.”

  “Dios ayudanos,” the captain muttered and his crew started praying.

  I glanced at Crawley who shrugged. My gut told me to stop walking, but my head didn't listen. Logic told me they had something very valuable stashed behind that door. But the way the captain was looking at me made me slow. I aimed my pistol at the padlock and the crew's prayers grew louder.

  “Captain...” Crawley said warily.

  I ignored him, taking the shot and the padlock exploded into pieces. I tugged the doors wide, spotting pieces of silver glinting in the moonlight, peeking out from sacks.

  I started laughing and my crew's cheers filled the air.

  “We're rich!” I cried, turning to them.

  As I caught Crawley's eye, his ecstatic expression dropped into a look of horror.

  “Captain!” he shouted in warning just as huge claws tore down my spine. My gut lurched in fear.

  I slammed into the floor, rolling as two heavy paws pinned me to the deck. I gazed up into the blood red eyes of a grey wolf, its lips curled back, its enormous teeth dripping saliva.

  “Shit!” I whipped my sword through the air, slicing into its leg. The beast fell off of me and I rolled to regain my feet, hot blood pouring down my back, soaking into my tattered shirt.

  I staggered, the backs of my legs hitting a barrel as I tried to steady myself. The wolf tore past me in the direction of my crew. It leapt into the air, flying full-bodily over Crawley's head, landing atop the Spanish captain. He screamed once before his head was torn from his body. I forced myself to move, but my injuries were deep and blood was pooling in my boots. My vision grew dark as I dragged my sword across the ground, stumbling in the direction of my crew.

  “Get back to the ship!” I ordered, unable to take my eyes off of the wolf as it tore through the Spanish guards, making quick work of their deaths.

  The second the beast was done with them, I knew it would come for us.

  “Go Crawley!”

  “But sir!” Crawley ran toward the cabin I'd broken into, his eyes gleaming at the sight of the silver.

  “Leave it!” I roared.

  Several of my crew were already diving back aboard our ship.

  The beast lifted its bloody muzzle. I'd never seen a wolf in the flesh, but this one was as big as Pud's stories had suggested. From the gleam of intelligence in its eyes, I couldn't help but wonder if this was one of the fabled Werewolves.

  In my semi-lucid state, I made it to the starboard side where two planks had been haphazardly laid between the ships. Most of my men had made it back across but Crawley and a handful of others were carrying bags of silver out of the cabin.

  As I laid a foot on one of the planks, I spied the wolf padding toward them, growling as it moved in a low stance.

  “Crawley!” I roared.

  They had seconds before the wolf attacked and the hero in me couldn't let them die. I stumbled back toward them, clouds blooming at the edge of my vision. I hit the deck right between the wolf and the remainder of my crew, crashing to my knees.

  The wolf pounced, pinning me to the floor. My sword was ready, slashing and hitting one of its great paws. The wolf barely flinched, biting down hard on my arm until I dropped the sword with a roar of pain.

  “Captain!” Crawley's voice carried to me. My head lolled and I spotted him on one of the planks, ushering the rest of our silver-laden men across it. I was vaguely aware of him aiming a gun in my direction then the shot rang through the air. The wolf fell back with a whine of pain.

  “Go,” I hissed and Crawley saluted me before running across the plank. I tried to stand, but the wolf drew closer again and I knew I'd never make it. Half a second later, the planks slid away and I heard guns fire into the sky. A salute to me. Something we always did in the event of one of our deaths.

  I turned to face the wolf, almost fearless. Not a bad way to go out. But I wasn't done yet.

  It reared forwards, slamming its paws down on my chest. I wheezed out a breath, hearing a rib crack.

  I still wasn't dead, and I was sure I should have been. Why was it hesitating?

  “Come on beasty, be done with it,” I growled, dropping my arms to my sides. My men would tell tales of me. I'd live on. The captain who'd died saving his men from a giant wolf. Part of me wished Pud had been here to witness a real story for once.

  The wolf shuddered, releasing a small whimper. I fumbled for my sword, but it was out of reach. Slowly, and with a horrible, screeching noise, the wolf changed. The hair on its body grew inwards, disappearing to reveal soft, golden-brown skin. I was frozen in horror as the animal reared its head back, its whimpering turning to a very human scream. Long hazel hair fell around its shoulders as the wolf turned wholly into a naked and incredibly beautiful women.

  She fell atop me, bracing her hands either side of me, her arm leaking blood where I'd cut her.

  Under any other circumstance I would have been thrilled at such a gorgeous girl straddling me. But not today. No, today I cried out in horror, stilling beneath her, completely shocked to my core.

  Her hand fell over my mouth. She was so strong, I had no hope of stopping her. Especially as I was injured and halfway to blacking out.

  The girl threw her head back and howled as if she was still a wolf. So high and piercing was the noise that I longed to cover my ears. Instead, I lay there, gazing up at the completely naked, howling woman until I passed out.

  *★*

  “This is not the way we do things, Ophelia,” a booming voice stirred me.

  I was cramped in a small space, my knees pressing into something hard. I was curled up on my side. I reached forward, feeling the smooth insides of what appeared to be a wooden box. My spine didn't hurt one bit, which made me wonder if I'd imagined the wolf attack. But no dream was that vivid. And with a sting of pain, I felt the bite mark on my wrist. But it was now wrapped beneath a bandage.

  “He released me, Captain Harving. Then he sacrificed him
self to save his crew. You chose our other pack members based on such honour, did you not sir?”

  I figured staying quiet right then was a good option.

  Harving spoke. “We have tracked this ship for days since the Spanish captured you, none of your pack have slept a wink in all that time. Myself included.”

  “Captain, I truly appreciate it. I do. But I'd like to offer this man the chance to join us, in thanks for his assistance,” Ophelia said.

  My knees knocked against the box accidentally and the top of it whipped open in response. The lambent moonlight poured down on me, so bright in comparison to the darkness of the box. I squinted up at Ophelia, the wolf-girl who was now dressed in a black tunic and pantaloons.

  Her captain had a broad hat on, shadowing his face. His coat was fine and bright red, with gold buttons running down the trim.

  “I have enough mouths to feed,” he muttered.

  Ophelia knelt down, her soft hand cupping my face. “Don't be frightened.”

  “I'm more confused. And my neck is cramping like hell.” I rose up, letting the beautiful Ophelia guide me from the box I'd been stuffed in.

  I gazed at the captain, surprised by his youthful face. Not a day over thirty; he had a short beard and dark blue eyes. His mouth was set into a dark grimace.

  Ophelia drew me away from him and I reached up the back of my shirt, trying to locate the claw marks from earlier. Nothing.

  “I healed you with Larkspur,” Ophelia murmured, smiling softly. “But not the bite...the change is already taking place.” She looked to Captain Harving, her gaze hopeful. “Perhaps he can stay a few days at least?”

  “I would rather he was shut in that box and thrown into the ocean,” Harving snarled. “We cannot create Werewolves on a whim, Ophelia. They must be chosen well.” Harving lifted his gun, aiming it at my forehead. My heart rate shot up.

  “I have chosen well!” Ophelia darted in front of me. “Please.”

  I didn't feel quite myself. I felt dizzy, as if the swaying ship was making me ill. But I'd never been seasick in my life.

  A tingling feeling swept over my skin.

  “Very well, my love,” Harving sighed, lowering the gun as he gazed at Ophelia. “If you really want this, then he may stay.” He moved around her just as I collapsed to my knees, a powerful heat surging down my spine.

  Pain tore through me and I couldn't fight the scream as it ripped from my throat. My skin was on fire. I tore at my back, tearing my already tattered shirt, trying to halt the agony. The shirt fell in pieces around me and I slammed into the deck as my spine curled tightly of its own accord. My bones were curling, snapping, reshaping.

  I tried to speak, but no words would come out.

  “The first time you turn is always the hardest,” Harving's voice found me and his hand pressed to my shoulder. “You will have great gifts, but there is one curse that could be your undoing.”

  I squinted up at Harving, my hands trembling as fear took root in my heart. “What?” I rasped through grinding teeth.

  The moon glowed behind Harving like a halo. “Obedience. The first person who gains your utter loyalty shall have power over you until their death.”

  I'd wanted this. Immortality. All of it. But I hadn't expected the pain, the fear. Now it was actually happening, I was taken off guard. And I had never considered there'd be a downside to this.

  “What can I do?” I begged, my fingernails extending into claws, gouging holes in the deck.

  “Choose wisely,” he said by my ear.

  I roared out as my body changed entirely and black hair grew from my skin, covering every inch of me, leaving my clothes in shreds on the deck. I turned to Ophelia, her eyes wide in delight. “He's beautiful.”

  “Yes...” Harving replied, giving her a cool glare. “And now he's your problem.”

  *★*

  Alfric pulled back on his reins and his black stallion stamped his feet impatiently as he came to a halt. Ulvic slowed beside him and Alfric pointed to a lonely farmhouse way down in the valley ahead, nestled between hay-fields and orchards. “Bunch of hippies bought this farm a few years back. They turned it into a commune.” Alfric's nose wrinkled.

  Children's laughter made my ears twitch. I backed up, fear snaking through me as I bumped into Nadine. She nuzzled my shoulder, but it didn't comfort me one ounce.

  Alfric caught my eye and I heard Ulvic garble some inaudible plea. “Kill the men, leave the rest to mourn their flea-bag corpses.”

  I started running into the valley at high speed. My pack charged behind me as we rushed forward to fulfil Alfric's command. Dirt flew up from the ground beneath our paws.

  I howled a warning to the sky and my friends joined me in my defiance. But deep in the darkest region of my heart, I knew those people wouldn't escape us.

  Screams rang out from the fields ahead and I caught sight of women in floral dresses gathering children into their arms. My paws hit a dusty track and I followed it directly up to the converted barns and farmhouse, hunting down the men by scent. The first barn I reached was wide open, but as I met the door, it slammed in my face.

  Thank God.

  I turned sharply, knocking a woman to the floor. A man with long, braided hair shouted out, running to her aide. I snarled a warning, but couldn't stop my next move. I dove into the air, slamming my paws against his chest and knocking him to the ground. I tried to resist the killing blow, to give him a chance to fight me off. But he was unarmed. And I was built to kill. My jaws locked around his throat and blood spilled across the ground. The metallic taste of it confounded my senses. I reared away from the kill, my heart pounding frantically in my chest.

  No, not again. Not again.

  I spotted Reason slashing her claws across a shirtless man, bringing him to his knees in one clean blow. Blood sprayed across her white coat as she finished the job. Sickness filled my gut.

  I barked and howled, making as much noise as I could, giving the men warning. A line of them appeared with pitchforks, shovels and garden tools that would be useless against us.

  Mekiah barrelled past me, the biggest of us all, his muscles flexing as he charged toward the line of men.

  I raced after him, joining the kill as he brought two men to the ground, his huge paws pinning them down. Heads rolled, guts spilled.

  I finished the final man, crushing his skull in my powerful jaws. He crumpled to the floor and the spade in his hand clattered uselessly to the ground.

  Blood stained my coat. I was sticky and hot. My nose worked of its own accord, hunting down the rest of the men by scent. I was lost to the order controlling me, my body acting of its own accord.

  Nadine caught up with us, her head bowed low, a high-pitched whine leaving her throat. Mekiah lifted his head, sucking in air through his nostrils before padding off in the direction of the farmhouse.

  A woman ran inside, half-dragging, half-carrying two small kids. Fear bled through me and I barked loudly at her. She screamed as she spotted Mekiah approaching. He shoved past her, knocking her to the ground as he flew into the house.

  Screams reached into the air. Screams I'd never forget.

  Nadine hugged my side and I rubbed my muzzle against hers as we resisted following a moment longer.

  I picked up my pace, leaping over the fallen woman who was rocking back and forth in the doorway, hugging the children to her chest. I was disgustingly grateful for not being ordered to hurt them. But killing their men in cold blood was savage, brutal.

  I emerged in a country-style kitchen where a man was shielding his family, a gun pointed in my face.

  “Get back!” he roared, then took a shot.

  I was ready for it, wheeling sideways so the bullet barely grazed my shoulder. In seconds, I had him on the floor.

  His wife reached for the gun and a part of me wanted her to get a hold of it and end me. But Nadine's nose knocked it harshly aside.

  I made quick work of the woman's husband; the only mercy I could offer him. />
  The hatred in her eyes spewed at me. I gazed at her for several moments, the smell of sweat and blood surrounding me.

  I'm so sorry.

  I turned and left the carnage behind, hating myself, hating Ulvic, and Alfric and all the damn Hunters in the world.

  I left bloody paw prints in my wake as I headed back to the dusty road, finding Reason and Mekiah waiting there for Nadine and I. From the looks of their subdued expressions and bowed heads, the job was done. I circled them once, desperate for them not to feel the weight of this guilt. I threw my head to the sky and howled, filling all of my anger into that singular, piercing noise.

  The others followed suit, their howls growing in strength the longer we kept it up.

  When I dropped my head, there was resolution in their eyes. I gave them a nod which I hoped conveyed what I was trying to say.

  This isn't our fault. And we will get our revenge.

  As a couple of women appeared, armed with a hatchet and a gun, I fled from the crime scene, guiding my pack away from the devastated land.

  Bodies were strewn across the ground, their blood soaking into the dry earth. And up on the hill, we were quietly watched by the Hunds, sitting tall on their horses.

  Death comes on silent wings, Ulvic. And it's heading your way at high speed.

  Cass

  “You're both going to be fine,” Nurse Rakefield said after she'd laid me on a bed and examined me.

  I sighed, sitting upright and drawing my knees to my chest. I had to accept it now: I wanted this baby. But I couldn't bear to face all the repercussions of that decision. I didn't even know if IDAHO would take it away from me the second it was born. But I pushed those frantic thoughts from my mind, letting myself have a moment of peace, knowing everything was okay. At least for now.

  I'd been seriously lucky, considering I'd been standing right next to that container just moments before the explosion. The shock of that truth suddenly hit me and I buried my face in my hands, taking a few deep breaths.

  You're not dead. You're fine. The baby is too.