Battle Cry (Loki's Wolves Book 2)

by Melissa Snark

  Hands braced against the steel frame of the doorway, the veteran hunter stood in the store entrance amid rocks and rubble. The late afternoon sun cast him in silhouette, haloing his form. His penetrating gaze swept over them, silently judging even though his face maintained a impassive mask. While she and Sawyer inspected the interior of the abandoned gas station, Jake had excused himself with the stated intention of performing a perimeter sweep.

  She wondered nervously how long he had been standing there and how much he had seen. Her hand lifted to scrub the evidence of tears from her face, but she aborted the telling gesture. Her reddened eyes and flushed face must be proof enough of her faults without giving him carte blanche to the susceptibilities of her heart.

  Sawyer edged around her and strode toward his father. "Nada. You?"

  "I found a pile of human bones in a ditch on the south side."

  Sawyer stopped in his tracks. "A body dump?"

  Jake nodded. "From the looks of it, the oldest remains are several months old."

  "I'm gonna go have a look for myself." Without looking back, Sawyer passed his father and departed the decrepit building, leaving Victoria alone with Jake.

  They stared at one another in strained silence. Standing tall, she squared her shoulders and thrust her jaw out at a stubborn tilt. They stood in the place where Daniel had died. She expected a harsh condemnation or angry accusation, and she wouldn't have blamed him either.

  "Hmm." Jake rumbled deep in his throat. "This is a tough situation."

  "Yeah." She released a long held breath, blowing a stream of air through her mouth. "What do you want to do about it?"

  "This location looks like it's a wash. If the vampires have a new base of operations in the area, we'll find it. First thing in the morning, I'll bring in my men, and we'll search the area. We'll overturn every stone between here and the border. If they're hiding, we'll find them. If they run, we'll hunt them to the ends of the earth."

  The corners of her mouth turned down. "Not exactly what I was asking, but it'll do."

  Jake broke eye contact and glanced toward the dark stain on the ground at her feet. "Is this where Daniel died?"

  A tremor passed through Victoria. Her mouth was bone dry, but she swallowed convulsively. She blinked, refusing to succumb to tears again. "Yes."

  "You're shaking."

  She looked down. To her surprise, she realized it was true. Her hands were trembling. Her emotions congealed in a messy knot, sickening nausea in her gut. She wanted to chalk her queasy stomach up to morning sickness, but rage and fear ruled her heart.

  "Yeah, well, I'm upset." Her shoulders rose and fell in a careless shrug.

  "We're overdue to talk." Walking on broken glass, he approached her with measured steps, not a hint of menace in his manner.

  She wasn't fooled. The man was dangerous. Lifting her head, she looked him straight in the eyes and arched her brow. "What do we have to say that hasn't been said already?"

  He chuckled low, the rusty sound of a man who'd forgotten how to laugh. "My experience with women is there's always something more to be said. Tell me what you're thinking, and we'll go from there."

  With an effort, Victoria tried to relax. "I'm scared." Terrified to the depths of my soul. "And angry. And confused. And alone."

  "At least you're not at a loss for the right words." His inflection reminded her precisely of Daniel's dry sarcasm.

  Temper surging, her hands formed fists. "Freya refuses to speak with me because I consorted with some asshole god of the hunt who blames me for his son's death. The same asshole is responsible for the murder of an incredibly sweet adolescent boy who was under my protection. My mate is dead, along with my parents and most of my pack. Oh, and the Norns have predicted the tragic death of my daughter in early childhood."

  Sides heaving, she bit her tongue. She hadn't meant to tell him about the prophecy. Tears threatened, and she banished them. Goddess forbid he should ever learn the rest. She reached instinctively for her wolf, embracing her primal nature which chose anger over fear.

  "I don't blame you for Daniel's death. I did for a long time, but I don't anymore." Sorrow pinched Jake's face and shadowed his voice. "I know you'd have done anything to save my son."

  "Oh." Stunned, she stared at him, and her anger drained away, leaving her confused. "Thank you."

  His teeth ground together, creating an unpleasant crunch like bones breaking. "I've accepted responsibility for the boy's death and expressed regret. I'd bring him back if I was able, but that's beyond my power. So I'm going to do the only honorable thing I can do. Allow me to make reparations and pay Jasper's blood price."

  Jake demonstrated a familiarity with her heritage few humans possessed. Blood price, sometimes called were gild, was the historical practice of compensating the relatives of a murder victim for the loss. For centuries, her people had used the method of reparation to prevent blood feuds and settle debts. It was archaic.

  She opened her mouth to reject the offer but then stopped and actually considered the suggestion. It was crazy, completely insane, yet it made a twisted sort of sense. The unrelenting violence and bloodshed left her soul weary. She wanted, no, she needed peace. For the good of her pack, for the good of her unborn child. And yes, for her own good as well.

  "Did you get the idea from Sawyer?" she asked.

  "Yes."

  She nodded. "I don't like this place. It's haunted."

  "This world is full of lost souls. It's a wonder you can find peace anywhere."

  She shot him a sharp glance. "Can you see them?"

  "Only when I choose to look," Jake said. "Shall we speak outside?"

  "Yes, I'd be more comfortable there."

  Jake led the way outside. He strolled to the broken-asphalt parking lot where the Chevelle and his SUV were parked close together. The sun hung just over the distant mountains, like a great orange ball about to drop, and the near-full moon already occupied the opposite half of the sky. Not even a breeze stirred the red earth of the butte.

  About a half mile distant, Sawyer followed a dirt path, walking uphill toward them.

  Jake stopped beside the open driver's side window of his vehicle and tossed his baseball cap inside. Then he leaned against the front fender of his vehicle with his arms crossed.

  Victoria leaned against the Chevelle's right front door, a position that allowed her to track Sawyer's approach. "All right," she said. "I'm listening. What do you suggest is a fair blood price?"

  He pinned her with his gaze. "What do you want?"

  Her lips pulled taut over a glistening snarl. "The head of the man who murdered Jasper."

  Jake's face froze in a harsh mask. His voice grated. "That's not going to happen. Choose something else."

  She smiled grimly. She'd opened with an impossible demand so her next request would sound more reasonable. From the look on Jake's face, he suspected as much, but there were certain negotiation conventions that had to be followed. She had to be careful because she knew he held the superior position. Her pack presented no threat to the hunters, but they were a real and present danger to hers.

  Her interest in forging a new treaty trumped all else. Peace meant everything. They could stop looking over their shoulders and living on the run. Putting down permanent roots in Sierra Pines meant Morena would graduate from high school, and Victoria could obtain a job as a registered nurse. The miles of pristine wilderness surrounding Lake Echo were an ideal environment for Sophia's pups once they reached adulthood. If none of them turned out to be wolf-shifters, they'd live out their lives in the wild.

  "This war has weakened my pack. All of our adult males are dead. In another couple years, Jasper would have come of age. His loss is devastating. I have to bring new blood into the pack or we're doomed. So in reparation, I want one of your sons as a potential mate."

  Holding her breath, she hung on his response, afraid he'd mention her inappropriate physical attraction to Sawyer. Yes, a part of her wanted his second son,
but she considered him too inconvenient and darned inappropriate. In her heart, she suspected she desired Sawyer because he reminded her so much of her beloved Daniel, even down to his earthy aroma. Sure, they shared sexual chemistry, but also a violent and volatile history. In the past, her fascination to rebellious guys had brought her nothing but trouble, so from here on out, she intended to be a staunch supporter of Bad Boys Anonymous.

  Jake chuckled. "I'll admit, you keep surprising me, Victoria. For the sake of discussion, let's pretend I'm willing to consider this. Which of my sons are we discussing? And what would this marriage of convenience be to you?"

  She jerked her head in a sharp, instinctive shake. Daniel's death had eviscerated her soul. Before she'd even finished grieving, she'd taken another chance on Arik Koenig and gotten hurt yet again when he'd fallen in battle. She secured her heart from within and sealed the key behind the lock. Forever off limits.

  "No. I don't want another mate," she said. "It's too soon. Besides, I have to keep my options open. Pack politics can be brutal." Her mouth puckered due to the bitter knowledge that the men she cared for seemed doomed to die. She couldn't help thinking the best way to be rid of a future rival for her territory might just be to marry him.

  Jake's dark eyes glimmered. "This isn't the Dark Ages. You can't really expect that I'd coerce one of my sons into an arranged marriage."

  "I'm not suggesting that," she hastened to explain. "What I'd like is for my pack's unmated females to have an opportunity to meet your sons in a social setting."

  Jake's youngest sons, Gage and JD, were fraternal twins and seniors in high school. They were slightly older than Morena, and they would be strong, attractive men, like their father and brothers. The right marriage would strengthen the pack and reinforce the peace they were brokering. As Alpha, she'd never force Morie to marry, but she wasn't above making the suggestion.

  Jake said nothing, apparently giving the matter serious consideration.

  The fact this was really happening struck her as incredibly surreal. Huffing, Victoria threw in her final condition before it was too late. "What I demand is your word that you'll give your blessing should such a pairing occur."

  A look of astute understanding crossed Jake's face, and he smiled. "You have my word."

  "It's a deal." She stuck out her hand before she could change her mind.

  "Done." Jake's big hand engulfed hers in a solid grip and they shook.

  Touching him, her isolation dissipated. No longer lonely. The hair on her arms rose, her eyes widened. Spooked, she bit her lip and squashed her reaction before weird, uncontrolled emotions—no doubt the product of her rollercoaster pregnancy hormones—got the better of her.

  "Good to see you two getting along," Sawyer said, sounding perfectly self-satisfied.

  Startled, Victoria jerked from Jake's grip and twisted to face Sawyer. She hated that he'd managed to take her unaware. Flushing with anger, she glared and arched her brow. "I suppose you're going to take credit?"

  "Hell yeah." Sawyer smiled immodestly.

  Jake grunted. "Don't be smug, Son. No one likes an asshole."

  Sawyer chuckled. "What were you shaking on?"

  "I just traded you as chattel to the Storm Pack," Jake said, tone bland, expression deadpan. "You'll be marrying one of their women at Victoria's discretion."

  With a startled squawk, Sawyer rocked on his heels and almost toppled over backward. While his father and Victoria dissolved into laughter, he frantically wind-milled his arms to keep his balance. He barely recovered before he went over.

  "Very funny." Stiff-backed, Sawyer straightened and smoothed out an imaginary wrinkle on his sleeve. "Ha, ha, you're hilarious."

  "If you could have seen the look on your face, boy..." Grinning, Jake waved his hand in an emphatic gesture.

  "That was pretty damn funny." Tears threatening, Victoria held her sides. Lightness swept through her, mirth alleviating the worst of her tension. Her mood improved even more when Sawyer joined them, finding laughter even at his own expense. She liked him a little bit better for his ability to be self-effacing.

  By unspoken agreement, the three of them assumed new positions between the cars, an uneven triangle. Sawyer sat beside Victoria on the Chevelle's broad hood, and Jake stood across from them.

  Jake's serious demeanor set a new mood. "I want to finish this negotiation, Victoria, before we meet up with my men to go after Vildivia and the Necromancer. We need to figure out how to restore the treaty and cooperation between my organization and the packs. Nothing should be left hanging or open to interpretation."

  Wary, she eyed him. "I agree, but I don't know what more you want from me. I'm pregnant. I can't and I won't endanger the life of my child. If you bring your wounded to me, I'll help them as much as I'm able. But as a wartime ally, the Storm Pack has nothing left to offer."

  Both men stirred. Jake shook his head.

  Displeasure rolled off Sawyer, tainting both his aura and odor. His silent protest traversed the pack bond. His mouth opened and then snapped shut. His head dipped to the side as he ran an agitated hand through his unruly hair.

  Undeterred, Victoria crossed her arms over her chest. "You should speak with the other Alphas. Have you tried the White Mountains Tribe?"

  Jake grunted. "I've tried that. Finn is receptive, but his second is an idiot."

  Victoria choked on laughter. In an attempt to hide her amusement, she feigned a sudden interest in the distant horizon. Sucking in her cheeks, she intoned, "Tarak is a difficult man."

  The metal hood of the Chevelle creaked beneath Sawyer's shifting weight. "I take it you know him?"

  Victoria assumed her angel face. "A couple years ago, he sought to win me as his mate. Of course, he had rivals. Flat-out refusal would have caused political awkwardness for my parents, so I made it a contest. I agreed to become the mate of the man who brought me Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse."

  The Hunter King's mouth hung open. The expression on Jake's face was priceless. The man looked like he didn't know whether to laugh or bellow.

  With hindsight, her arrogance in setting the challenge was even more outrageous than it had been at the time. However, she couldn't bring herself to regret it. If anything, in retrospect, she savored the irony now more than ever.

  Sawyer shook his head with a wry grin. "Man, you've got balls."

  "The challenge is still open as a matter of fact." Smiling, she shrugged. "Most of the males went away immediately. A few tried and failed. Tarak was the last to give up. I think he's still holding a grudge against me to this day."

  "I didn't like his arrogance or his presumption," Jake grumbled.

  Sawyer leaned toward her. His voice dropped, and he winked. "Tarak presumed to know the will of Odin."

  A snort of laughter rocked her. "Ha, lovely. Well, it's a shame the All-Father's priesthood has fallen so out of favor. Rumor has it that Odin no longer speaks to his priests."

  With a playful nudge of his elbow, Sawyer jostled her side. "It's so damn difficult not to laugh when Dad tells these sort of stories. I miss Daniel. He was the perfect straight man."

  Tears stung her eyes, and her chest tightened. No longer amused, she looked away and stared into the past. "I remember."

  Sawyer opened his mouth as if to apologize.

  Jake cut him off. "You're both hilarious, but this is a matter of life and death."

  Victoria considered Jake. His seriousness made her uneasy. "What about the Vail Pack? My father always said Ventana was a reasonable man."

  Jake hunched slightly. "Vamps destroyed the Vail Pack three months ago."

  "Oh." The news hit her like a ton of bricks. She sat back, struggling to absorb the implications. She'd known many of the members, men, women, children... Wide-eyed, she stared at the older hunter. "All dead?"

  "So far as I know. I'm sorry." Jake stared at her in silent expectation.

  She sighed, sensing he demanded more from her. She wanted to help, but she also resented the
feeling of being pressured. With each passing moment, she grew tenser. "Tell me what you're thinking, Jake. Stop making me guess."

  Beside her, Sawyer fidgeted, radiating edgy aggression.

  "I need to be able to present you to the packs as proof we were deceived and set at each other's throats by a common enemy seeking to undermine our alliance." Jake pushed away from the SUV and approached her.

  She narrowed her eyes and bared her teeth, bracing for conflict. "Like a trophy? A prize show dog?"

  So help him, if he dared call her bitch again...

  "As an ally." The Hunter King snarled right back at her. Without warning, he laid his hand on her shoulder and squeezed firmly. A vast reservoir of magic opened to her, no shields or warding, nothing to prevent her from tapping his personal power. His brown eyes held an unspoken offer and the mysteries of eternity.

  Shock rocked the foundation of her world. Confused, Victoria gazed into his face. Warmth and welcome, nothing threatening or suspicious. He embodied paternity. Protectiveness. Everything she'd so poignantly missed since her own father's death.

  Point blank, she asked, "Do you understand what you're doing? A pack bond goes far deeper than a handshake. This isn't something that just goes away if you change your mind. Unlike a mate bond, a pack bond can be broken, but both parties have to physically and emotionally sever all ties."

  "I know what I'm doing." Jake's regard never wavered. The invitation remained unspoken but unmistakable. Strength without strings, free for the taking. Perhaps sensing her reluctance, Jake addressed her doubts. "Victoria, when your father and I forged the alliance thirty years ago, we realized that the pack bond was the inevitable product of hunters and wolves associating closely in stressful situations. At the time, I didn't trust Adair enough to risk it, so I forbade all hunters who followed me from fraternizing with your people outside of the hunt."

  Her injured pride stung. Jake Barrett's authoritarian rules were the reason she and Daniel had kept their relationship a secret. Arguably, the entire war between wolves and hunters could have been averted, but now the man was suggesting reconciliation as if no one had died.