Untamed (Wolf Lake)

by Kohout, Jennifer

  "Get out." Natasha ordered.

  Craig's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Excuse me?"

  "You heard me," Natasha said. The pack shifted nervously, most of them moved away from Craig and lined themselves up around her. "Get your stuff and get out."

  "I don't know what you think happened out there," he said. Like everyone else, he'd felt the pack bond snapping into place, but he'd be dead before he stood as second to a female. "You have no right to order me out."

  "This is my pack," Natasha snarled. "And it's been clear to me that wherever your loyalties lie, it isn't with us."

  "I've served Dimitri well," Craig said. He'd come too far, put up with too much from the crazy old alpha to lose it all now.

  "You serve yourself," Natasha said, her hand cutting the air when he went to interrupt. "You could have put my father down, spared him and everyone else the horror of this past year. There is as much blood on your hands as my father's."

  "Perhaps," Craig's smile was slimy, Natasha suddenly wishing for a shower. "But if that's true, then there is no way you're strong enough to take this pack from me."

  "Not on my own," Natasha admitted. Her skin crawling as she forced herself to step closer to Craig, shoving her face into his. "But you've met my mate," she said, drawing on some of Roland's power through the mate bond and letting it fill her eyes. "It won't be me alone you have to deal with."

  Craig saw the knowledge swimming in the bitch's eyes and felt her power through the pack bond. It may not be her own, but the well of power her mate provided went beyond anything Craig could summon.

  "Fine," Craig capitulated. He didn't need this bitch or her pack of backwoods wolves. He had enough information to buy his way into the Agency. No longer on the inside of Dimitri's pack, Jones would have no excuse for denying him clearance. "Keep 'em, I certainly don't want them."

  Natasha's smile had teeth as she severed the pack bond, cutting off the contact with Craig. "Good, now get out. There's enough daylight left for you to make it out of my territory before dark."

  Craig growled low in his throat, his stronger wolf answering the challenge thrown down by a weaker female. "Don't push me, bitch."

  Natasha stepped into Craig's space, William's hand on her arm a subtle reminder. She could draw on Roland's power through the mate bond but even that may not be enough to defeat Craig if the male decided to attack.

  Craig watched Natasha, the female holding her ground. She didn't push him but she didn't back down either. Shrugging, Craig flashed Natasha a smile that never reached his eyes. "You'll never be able to hold this pack, not even with that scarred beast by your side."

  "Maybe not, but it's no business of yours," Natasha said.

  Craig looked around at the pack. All eyes were on him and there wasn't a friendly one among them.

  "Well, as you say, there's still some daylight left," Craig said, slipping past Natasha and reaching for the door. "Good luck," he said, his smile knowing. "You're going to need it."

  Natasha waited until the door closed firmly behind Craig to sag against William, the male catching her up into a bear hug that had her squealing in surprise.

  "Woohoo! Girly, you did it!" William bounced Natasha in his arms. His new alpha was a little slip of a thing, but there was time enough to get some meat on her bones. "I never did think he belonged here."

  "Good," Natasha said, smiling down at William, her hands resting on his shoulders. "Because you're my new beta."

  William dropped Natasha to her feet, lifting his hands as if touching her had been the problem. "Oh, no."

  "Yep," Natasha said. She could feel the pack's power and knew where they all fit and how they would meld together. William was perfect for the role of beta, the male quietly loyal with a backbone of strength that most missed upon first sight.

  William looked around for help.

  "You held them together," Natasha said quietly, her eyes on her new beta filling with thanks. "I wouldn't have a pack to come back to if it wasn't for you."

  "I couldn't take care of your father," William whispered, still shamed by the fact.

  "That isn't on you," Natasha told him. She didn't want to think about what was taking place north of the pack house. Sadness for her father warred with fear for Nafarius. Both males were strong, her father had age and experience on his side, while Nafarius had strength and youth to protect him. And Roland.

  Natasha's eyes closed briefly. Please let her mate be safe. She didn't want him pulled into the battle between Nafarius and her father.

  The pack picked up on their alpha's distress, Kate coming forward and linking her arm with Natasha. "Come, let's get you settled back in."

  Natasha let herself be led, Kate mothering her into sitting down and having a bite to eat. Looking around, Natasha realized they had a lot of work ahead of them. The house had fallen into further disarray in her absence, everything old and worn. For too long the place had existed under the fear of her father's illness, no one really living.

  Rising, Natasha helped clean up the dishes, smiling her thanks to Kate before slipping back outside. Thankfully, no one followed, everyone understanding that she needed to keep this vigil alone.

  ****

  "DIMITRI!!" Nafarius bellowed, stalking through the forest. He didn't bother to hide his approach, he wanted the other male to know death was coming for him. "Dimitri!"

  "Ah...Nafariusssss..." Dimitri stepped out from behind a tree. Hunched over, his arms hanging loosely by his sides, the old alpha's body was as bent as his mind. "I see you got my invitation."

  Nafarius's heart hammered in his chest as images of Marcus' mangled body flashed before his eyes. There would be no mercy given, and none expected. An alpha would die today.

  Nafarius stood crouched, ready to strike. Dimitri circled around, but Nafarius spun on the balls of his feet to keep the insane male in front of him. Better to wait, and let him make the first move. What mattered was who made the last one. The memory of Marcus spurred Nafarius to attack, to rend, to kill. It was making a fine argument. Then Dimitri's half smile sent him over the edge. Snarling, Nafarius abandoned caution and charged at the mad alpha.

  Although he was old, Dimitri's reflexes were still sharp. He surged forward to meet his nemesis. Closing the distance, Dimitri met him halfway, his eyes lit with an unnatural glow and a chilling smile carved on his lips.

  Like two runaway trains, the alphas smashed into each other. Bone, muscle and history collided in a violent crash that sent the overhead birds scattering from the treetops.

  Nafarius had taken hits before, but this impact crushed the breath from him and left his mind reeling. He staggered backward, blinking rapidly, wondering what building had just fallen on him.

  Drunk with madness, Dimitri accepted the brutal impact as just one more injustice in life. He saw Nafarius was stunned, and he saw his opening. Dimitri drew back a thickly muscled arm, and launched a roundhouse punch across the enemy's face. Stony knuckles crashed into Nafarius's jaw, and the impact snapped Nafarius's head around.

  Nafarius's vision darkened and he saw splashes of dull red against the blackness. The pain blossomed vividly in his brain, a fireworks show of agony. Gods, he's strong.

  Nafarius knew he needed to respond, and fast. He allowed himself to stumble back one step. One step only. Then he launched his counterattack. He used the increased distance to his advantage, and leaned back, then drove his leg forward in a vicious straight kick. His heel slammed into Dimitri's stomach, doubling over the huge male.

  Dimitri clutched his gut, falling to one knee and suddenly staring at the ground, gulping for a breath that wouldn't come. His body begged him to let it vomit, but Dimitri yelled down such traitorous talk. He just needed a moment to get back on his feet.

  That moment gave Nafarius time to collect his senses, and to respect Dimitri's strength. Another hit like that, and the pack would be in real trouble. The thought of Dimitri continuing his vendetta against his pack added steel to his spine. He straightene
d up, looking down at the gasping alpha.

  Dimitri turned his head up then, laughing at Nafarius. "Is that all you've got?"

  Nafarius saw the frantic scrawl of insanity written in the male's eyes. He was worse than feral. A wolf who turned feral was still part of the natural world. This was... something unattached to the world. With nothing to lose.

  Dimitri pushed himself up, breathing the cool forest air in deeply. He fixed Nafarius with a glare that made him wonder if the temperature had just dropped.

  "You betrayed me," Dimitri said. "And by doing so, you betrayed your own pack. Because I will see them all dead. Especially your human bitch. She will get my special atten-"

  Nafarius launched himself at the insane alpha. Too late, he realized Dimitri's intent. The old alpha opened his arms, and embraced Nafarius, pulling him into a bear hug. Dimitri's arms clamped down on Nafarius like an iron vice, squeezing the breath and life from him.

  Nafarius told his lungs to inhale, but they couldn't, Dimitri's crushing embrace was too strong. Again, the elder alpha's brute force was dangerously effective. In seconds, he'd lose consciousness, and with it, he'd lose the pack. And Sam.

  Nafarius looked down into Dimitri's face. His ragged grin was wet with spittle, and his mad eyes were ablaze with anticipated victory. I will not leave this creature alive.

  Nafarius brought his head back, then slammed it forward into Dimitri's face. He heard the nose break with a soft, hollow crunch.

  Dimitri howled with pain, and threw Nafarius away, sending him crashing against the trunk of a thick fir tree.

  Breath exploded from Nafarius' lungs, his chest tightening painfully as he sucked in a lungful of air. Dimitri's mind might be going but it did nothing to diminish the male's strength.

  Landing on his side, Nafarius rolled to his feet, popping back up just in time to duck a right hook that would have had him seeing stars.

  Dimitri's fist connected with the tree, bark exploding as he tore a chunk out of the trunk. Nafarius planted his shoulder in Dimitri's chest, and lunged forward, forcing Dimitri back as he pounded his fist in the male's ribs. A sharp snap rewarded Nafarius for his effort. Let's do that again.

  Nafarius rocketed another fist into Dimitri's ribs, then another. Snap. Nafarius thrilled at the sound, his lips lifting in a vicious sneer.

  Dimitri flinched as ribs cracked, his body turning aside as he tried to protect the new injuries.

  Seeing Dimitri expose his back, Nafarius drove his fingers into Dimitri's right kidney. His rage celebrated in glee as he aimed to maim, to break, to kill.

  The assault on his kidney spun Dimitri back around, wincing, and he used the motion to plant his fist in Nafarius' face. Like a hammer on an anvil, the force was devastating, and more than mere bone could withstand. Nafarius's cheekbone snapped, and Dimitri felt three fingers break from the force.

  Nafarius shook his head, trying to clear his suddenly blurry vision. His sight returned just in time to see Dimitri kick out with his foot, the crushing blow sure to strike at Nafarius's heart. Nafarius's hand snapped out, wrapping around Dimitri's ankle and yanking him off his feet. Dimitri landed hard as Nafarius viciously twisted the male's leg, stomping down on his knee and snapping the bone.

  Dimitri bellowed out his pain and rage. Rolling onto his good knee, he took a swipe at Nafarius, power and age transforming fingers into claws.

  Too slow, Nafarius leapt back, the scent of blood exploding on the air as his side was sliced open. Pressing his hand to the wound, Nafarius felt blood, hot and sticky, seeping through his fingers. Not fatal, but another inch or two to the right and Dimitri would have succeeded in gutting him.

  Reaching out, Nafarius hooked his arm through Dimitri's, spinning the male around and forcing him onto his broken leg while yanking his arm up behind him. Hearing bone snap, Nafarius released Dimitri's arm, and it dangled uselessly.

  "You're going to have to kill me," Dimitri mumbled.

  His face etched in agony, Dimitri's only good arm shot out, the fingers wrapping around Nafarius's throat. Nafarius heard the words as fingers of steel closed around his windpipe. Was that a tone of regret he heard?

  "I already have," he told the mad alpha.

  Nafarius brought both arms up and broke Dimitri's hold. Continuing the motion, he took the male's head in his hands. Nafarius hesitated for a split second. Forgive me, Natasha. Dimitri's sigh sounded almost like a 'thank you,' the fight leaving his body.

  Nafarius twisted, snapping the male's neck.

  Dimitri sagged in Nafarius' hands, his lifeless body collapsing sideways. Gently, Nafarius lowered the old alpha to the ground before stumbling away, catching himself against a nearby tree.

  Pressing his hand to his side, Nafarius winced as he slowly lowered himself to the ground. Staring out over at Dimitri's body, he waited for a sense of satisfaction that never came. All he felt was weary. Two good males lay dead, their packs forever changed.

  Shit. Natasha. The female was no doubt waiting for him, for them. Dimitri still lay where he'd fallen, his back to Nafarius. Gods, but he didn't want to get up. Resting his head back against the tree, he stared up at the sky. Fir trees swayed back and forth, their gentle undulations in stark contrast to the violence that had happened just below them.

  It was peaceful here, in this moment there was nothing that had come before and no future to move forward to. Closing his eyes, Nafarius gave himself the moment to rest, a brief pause in time when there was no other care in his world.

  It wasn't long before thoughts of Sam surfaced, his mate's face floating behind his closed eyes. He'd left her to care for Marcus, her own burden as alpha just as heavy as his. He wouldn't leave her to carry it alone.

  Gritting his teeth, Nafarius started to push himself up, pausing when a hand appeared in front of his face. Lifting his eyes, Nafarius found his beta beside him, the male offering him a hand up. "How long have you been there?"

  "Long enough," Roland said. He'd arrived just in time to watch Nafarius break Dimitri's neck. Fear for his alpha turning to grim satisfaction as Marcus' killer lay dead. He'd watched Nafarius stumble, his first instinct to go to the aid of the injured alpha. But it was obviously not a fatal wound, Roland stepping back into the shadows of the forest and giving his alpha a much needed moment.

  "Let's take him home," Roland said, intent on honoring his mate's request.

  Nafarius nodded, letting Roland pull him to his feet. Together, they walked over to Dimitri, staring down at the old alpha. In death, he was void of both life and insanity.

  "Promise me," Nafarius said, bending down and lifting the old one into his arms and pinning Roland with eyes that still glowed gold. "You won't hesitate - when my time comes, you won't make the same mistake I did."

  Roland hesitated. Staring at his alpha, his best friend, he remembered the wild thing he had been when first they met. Nafarius should have put him down, there had been no reason to show mercy. Yet, he had, taking in an injured werewolf and bringing back the male. There was only one way he could repay such kindness. "I promise."

  Nafarius nodded, some of the tension in his shoulders easing as he turned and headed towards the pack house.

  ****

  Natasha was waiting for them, the female pacing outside the pack house alone. Light from a nearby fire highlighted her red hair and cast shadows against the house.

  Nafarius paused. "Wait here."

  "But - " Roland immediately started to object. Nafarius cradled Dimitri in his arms. Despite his injuries, he had refused to let Roland carry the fallen male.

  "Don't make her remember you as a part of this any more than she has to," Nafarius said quietly. Taking a step forward, Natasha's head snapped up, her eyes locking on Nafarius. He was several steps closer before she dropped her eyes to her father.

  Nafarius steeled himself, prepared for her grief, her anger, perhaps even hoping for it.

  Natasha watched Nafarius approach, her chest aching as he delivered her father, holding the male
in his arms. Behind her, the front door opened, the pack filed out, silently filling the space behind her.

  Nafarius laid her father at Natasha's feet, wincing slightly as he rose.

  "You're hurt!" Natasha exclaimed, reaching out a hand to her alpha. "William, get him something to stop the bleeding."

  William nodded and turned to go back inside.

  "And something for them both to wear," Natasha said, her eyes flicking over Nafarius' shoulder to her mate.

  "That's not necessary," Nafarius said, his voice quiet. He didn't want her care or her concern. He had no regrets, no doubts over what he'd done, but so many things about this situation were just wrong.

  "Sam would never forgive me if you bled to death walking home," Natasha said, taking a towel from William as he returned and handing it to Nafarius.

  Nafarius hesitated, staring at her outstretched hand before slowly taking the towel and pressing it to his side. He was quicker to accept the two pairs of jeans.

  Having cared for the living, Natasha knelt to see to the dead. She hadn't seen him since that night. The horror of that day and everything that had happened since still lingered. But beneath it was the promise of the future, the possibilities that came with knowing her father could no longer do them any harm.

  The male he had been before would be glad Natasha was back. He would have smiled with pride to see her leading his pack. That is how she would remember her father, not the monster he had been at the end.

  "He's finally at peace," Natasha said, brushing the hair back from her father's face. Oh how she wished she had been strong enough to give that to him. It was a regret she shared with William. To be too weak to take care of someone you loved was a miserable kind of powerlessness. She owed Nafarius more than a simple thank you for what he had done. She also owed him more than a simple apology for what it had cost him. But they were all she had to give.

  "Nafarius, I - " she started, looking up only to find both males were gone.

  ****

  Natasha took her time, forcing herself to take carefully measured steps despite the fact that she wanted to run. Her stomach was a cluster of knots and anxiety, while worry ate at her insides.