by Dannika Dark
A hollow note quieted the room—a wolf’s howl in the distance. I shuddered and paced toward the window, drawing back the lacy curtain and surveying the property. Moonlight shrouded the land like a death veil. While some romanticized about the full moon, it filled me with dread. The moon was a deceptive spirit—stealing the light from the sun and mirroring it back at us. My mother had once told me never to trust a person who is like the moon. They don’t shine from within but require the light of others to make them look good. The light that shone down and covered the property felt soulless and dead.
“Who’s guarding the house?” I asked.
Lexi lit the kindling and turned halfway around. “Since Trevor spent all day on the property and missed lunch, he wanted to go out for the night. Ben still hasn’t come home, and my mom sent Austin to the grocery store to get a few things. When it gets cold, she thinks we’ll be ravaged by the elements unless we have milk and bread to save us. I told him to buy some fire logs while he’s there.”
“But why? He’s chopped all that wood…”
Lexi stood up and wiped her hands on her jeans. “I’ll be the first to admit that watching Austin chop wood is sexy as hell, but the wood doesn’t burn clean and makes a mess of ashes. And guess who the lucky girl is that sweeps them out because no one else will? Plus, those store-bought logs are easier to light.”
The howl sounded again and I scarcely breathed. “If everyone is accounted for, then who’s that outside?”
Her expression twisted with confusion and Jericho stalked toward the door. The window popped and made me jump.
“It’s just the temperature change making the windows do that,” he said.
“Are the doors locked?” I glanced around and thought about Lynn in the kitchen. “Lexi, we need to make sure the house is secure.”
“It’s fine.”
It wasn’t fine. Lexi hadn’t lived among packs long enough to know the dangers we faced and the terror of bloodshed many of us had witnessed.
Jericho’s voice sobered. “Lexi, check every window and door in the house. Tell everyone to stay inside and not to unlock anything.” He shucked out of his leather coat and let it drop to the floor, showcasing the bold ink tattoo of a guitar on his left arm. “Tell Izzy to come downstairs. I don’t want everyone separated.”
“I’ll go with you,” I said.
“Now wait a minute.” Lexi tapped her fingers on the banister. “I’m sure it’s nothing, but you can’t let Ivy go out there with you.”
“And why not?” Jericho kicked off his shoes and hung his bear-claw necklace on a nail over the letter J. “I need to shift and let my wolf sniff things out. Wolves don’t attack females, and Ivy can identify them since I won’t remember. They can’t kidnap her unless they’re in human form, and if that happens, then Ivy’s wolf will bite ’em in the ass. Isn’t that right, Ivy?” he said with a wink. “Put on your shoes and a coat; I don’t care if you can’t catch cold.”
“Then I’ll go instead of Ivy,” Lexi said.
Jericho peeled off his socks. “Abso-fucking-not. You’re the Packmaster’s mate and the first person we protect.”
Denver was eavesdropping from the hall in front of the dining room. His blond hair was disheveled, and he didn’t have on a shirt. Hopefully he’d put it in the washer where it belonged. “In pirate terms, Lexi, that means you’re the booty,” he said with a charming smile.
I slipped on a pair of moccasin boots and a snug coat from the closet before following Jericho down the porch steps. The short grass crunched beneath my boots, and the open land stretched out in all directions for several acres before reaching the edge of the woods that boxed us in. We stopped a good ways from the house, and I glanced back to see Wheeler standing in front of an open window, his arms stretched up and holding both sides.
Jericho tucked a few silver rings inside his jean pockets. “If Reno comes out, tell him to stay close. It’s probably nothing, but sometimes rogue packs try to lure all the men away from the house. I doubt you’ll have to tell him this; he’s a tactical genius.”
Beneath the crisp moonlight, Jericho shifted into his wolf. He was an impressive creature with jade eyes and brown markings. He shook his head and lifted his nose, a fog of breath escaping his nostrils. I bent down and folded up his jeans, keeping his things together.
“Hurry, Jericho, so your wolf knows why he’s been summoned.”
Jericho the man still heard me in there, but wouldn’t for long. His wolf circled around me, turning in all directions and lifting scents from the breeze. His eyes were sharp and alert when he snapped his head to the right as if catching sight of something. In a flash, his wolf took off, kicking up a tuft of grass. I watched the muscles in his shoulders work hard as they propelled him to lightning speed.
I stuffed my hands in my pockets and the wind chilled my bare legs where the dress opened in the front. The fur-lined boots, however, kept my feet toasty warm. I grew up in Oklahoma where we had many an ice storm, so Austin was nothing in comparison.
Only four men and six women were on the property, three of them human. Denver would stay inside to protect Maizy, and Reno would want to protect his human mate. I heard the sound of sticks breaking in the woods—sounds that let me know someone was circling the property. I kept my eyes sharp, hoping Jericho’s wolf would either take him down or draw him into the open where I could identify his markings to our Packmaster.
Two eyes glowed in the inky shadows ahead of me. A sizable wolf emerged, his gait steady and his body crouched low with his tail vertical. I recognized the hunting position and pulled my hands out of my pockets when his lips curled back, a glint of moonlight on his razor-sharp canines.
Had he picked up my scent? Could he tell I was female? “You’re on private property.” The wolf understood my tone more than my words, and my tone was not welcoming.
When the shadows peeled away like a heavy blanket, the moonlight revealed a wolf I knew all too well. Terror gripped me, and my heart beat wildly against my chest.
Two unfamiliar wolves flanked me from the sides, keeping a distance of about thirty feet. I looked over my shoulder and saw Wheeler standing on the porch, taking off his shirt. Reno filled the doorway and I heard them arguing. Reno held rank over Wheeler, so hopefully he had the better plan.
Then in the distance yelping, ferocious snarls, and the battle cry of two wolves engaged in a death match erupted.
When I backed away another step, the wolf growled low in his throat. His red coat looked murky, like blood in the moonlight. I licked my dry lips and my eyes skated off in the direction where the fighting had broken out. These wolves made no attempt to go help their pack brother, and it was then I realized they were attempting to draw my pack away from the house. Jericho’s cries had become bait.
I glanced over my shoulder to see Reno holding a long rifle in his hand. Wheeler dragged a chair in front of the railing and the two were talking heatedly. Reno rested the gun on the balcony ledge, and I wondered if he had one of those telescope things on it. Reno carried a weapon because of his job as a private investigator, but he was also a man who had fought in many wars. A man who kept weapons locked in his closet.
The wolves on either side of me held their ground, and I met the eyes of the red wolf, who was still stalking in my direction.
This Shifter was no stranger to me.
He lifted his snout in the air and took in a deep breath. A pink tongue curled out of his mouth and wet his front teeth, but what had me on edge was the low growl that became a steady hum.
“What are you doing here, Fox?” I’d never known his real name, only that everyone compared his red coat to a fox. My father had always been a fan of nicknames. “You’re trespassing and you’re outnumbered from what I can see.”
When he took another step forward, Reno fired a warning shot. It created a sharp acoustic sound that penetrated the air and expanded. The wolf on my right turned his head and grew skittish.
I no longer heard the
sound of fighting from the woods. Izzy screamed Jericho’s name from inside the house and it sent chills up my spine.
Movement caught my attention from the far left and what began as a trot turned into a sprint. Jericho attacked the wolf on my left and the two stood up on their hind legs, snapping and fighting to sink their teeth into each other’s throats.
Anger heated my veins and I slapped Fox on the snout.
Hard.
“You’re not welcome here! Take your men and get off our land!”
He lunged and knocked me onto my back, standing astride me as he revealed his sharp fangs just inches above my face. His growl sounded like a steady motor.
“You don’t frighten me anymore,” I whispered.
The moment he lowered his head, a gun went off. He snarled and barked ferociously toward the house, a stream of slobber dripping onto my neck. The shot had blown off half of his left ear.
The wolf on the left yelped when Jericho delivered a punishing bite. Fox turned his head and looked around before trotting off. The wolf on the right followed obediently behind him, and Jericho lost his grip when the animal he was struggling with broke free and limped after Fox.
I rolled onto my stomach, dizzy from my racing heart. The sound of Reno’s heavy footsteps barreled in my direction as he ate up the distance between us.
“Are you hurt?” He lifted me onto my feet and searched my eyes. “Talk to me, Ivy.”
“I’m fine,” I said, out of breath. “He was trying to intimidate me so I’d submit. You got him in the ear.”
“I ain’t gonna church it up for you. I was aiming for his skull and that would have made a helluva mess, but the motherfucker moved his head.” His lips peeled back and he flicked an angry gaze around. “At least you got a close look. If you can describe his wolf, Austin should be able to—”
“No need.” I wiped the dirt off my clothes and patted Jericho’s head when he pushed up against me, licking my hand. “I know who he is.”
Reno’s brow lowered. “And who’s that?”
I looked at my hand, stained in blood from Jericho’s wet mouth. “My father’s second-in-command.”
Chapter 4
“Call Trevor and tell him to get his ass home,” Austin commanded, his feet cemented to the floor near the fireplace.
April wrapped a warm blanket around me, and I leaned closer toward the fire from my spot on the floor. Orange flames heated my skin as they danced to the melody of crackling wood.
An hour had passed since the wolves invaded our property. Lynn had gone upstairs to read Maizy a story, but I had a feeling the little one would be sleeping with her mother all night. Wheeler had called Ben to get him back home, and he arrived not five minutes after Austin had returned from the store. Austin took over and ordered Ben to shift and guard the property in case the rogues tried to return.
“You got him in the ear?” Austin asked Reno, his voice quiet.
“Yeah. Missed his head by a couple of inches.” Reno folded his arms and they kept their voices low, standing near me. “I hope his wolf is stubborn and doesn’t shift back so he keeps that wound. Hear what I’m saying?”
I peered over my shoulder at April and Lexi, who were speaking in soft whispers by a front window. Jericho had made Izzy sit in one of the leather chairs in the dark living room, covering her with a blanket to keep her calm. In the quietness of the room, I could hear faint music leaking from her earphones, and the melody was one from Jericho’s band, Heat. The lights were off to give us privacy since the curtains were sheer, so the firelight cast a dreamlike glow within the room. The only problem was we were in the middle of a nightmare.
Austin looked down at Jericho, who sat on the raised ledge of the fireplace in only a pair of jeans. “Do you remember anything?”
“No, nothing. Just running off and then it went dark. Thank the fuck Reno can shoot a moth a mile away.” His brown hair hid his expression, and he turned his arm around to make sure he had completely healed after shifting several times. He already had scars on his left shoulder and back from fighting a grizzly, but I sensed he didn’t want to keep these battle wounds.
“Your wolf came to protect me, and I have no doubt he would have fought bravely,” I said, touching his foot.
“Bring me a chair,” Austin said to Reno. He bent down and patted Jericho on the head. “Maybe you need to go check on your woman. I bet Izzy would love a foot rub. No matter how worried or stressed out Lexi is, that always works on her.”
“I heard that,” Lexi said tersely from across the room.
Reno took a short walk to the dining room and dragged one of the wooden chairs over beside me. Austin sat down, resting his forearms on his knees and waiting for Jericho to leave us alone. Reno, his second-in-command, stood behind him with one hand on the back of his chair.
“Reno says you know the wolf.”
I tugged the blanket tighter around me and softened my voice so only Reno and Austin could hear. “His name is Fox. He’s been the second-in-command of my father’s pack for longer than I’ve been alive. Something must have happened. I haven’t spoken to my father in months; we’ve never had a close relationship, but I’m sure he’d want to know about this.”
“I’ll give Ivan a call.” Austin rubbed his mouth, deep in thought. The fire cast shadows over his face, making the small cleft in his chin more noticeable. “Did you recognize the others who were with him?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m not sure what to make of it. Fox was always loyal to my father. Those wolves closed in on me as if Fox were their Packmaster, but he’s not an alpha.”
Reno cleared his throat. “I’ve heard of a few rogue packs led by betas. There’s more dissension, which is why they never last long without an alpha to lead them. Too many try to pick off the man in charge.”
Austin sat back and looked up contemplatively. He turned his head to the side to address Reno. “Tomorrow I want you and Wheeler to search the immediate area where Jericho’s wolf came from. Look for any bodies. Three’s a pretty solid number. Let’s just hope that’s all there is.”
Reno pinched his chin. “If not, that could be problematic. They’re staking their claim by marking our land. We need to prepare. If they’re rogue, the Councils have no authority, and you know they don’t do squat to help packs that are singled out.”
He spoke the truth. That’s why Packmasters built relationships with each other. Most Breeds were a step ahead of us because they’d had centuries to form laws and Councils, whereas we Shifters had only recently gained our freedom. Aside from that, we were granted independence without land, money, or employment. Many packs became corrupt—desperate to partake in illegal activities in order to quickly increase their wealth. Councils were helpful for legal affairs, but they simply didn’t have the reinforcement to do anything for a situation of this magnitude.
I wondered why Fox had defected. Had my father kicked him out? Maybe he was here to seek revenge by taking me down. I shuddered at the thought.
“Austin, there’s something you need to know.” The blanket slipped away from my shoulders. “Fox is a man to be feared. It’s why he was ranked so high. Ask my father what happened between them; it’s our business to know what his intentions are. I can’t imagine what could have happened, but if they didn’t part on good terms, Fox might be here for me. What better way to exact revenge than to kill the firstborn of a Packmaster? Fox would place me at my father’s doorstep like a lamb on the altar, perhaps with the hope it might influence my father to do something foolish and bring his pack to ruin. I’m so sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” he asked gruffly.
“My presence brought him here. He can only be here for me, and now that he’s appraised your land, he’s probably testing your weaknesses. We’re a strong pack, but by no means a large one.”
I bent forward and touched my forehead to Austin’s knee, shamed by the man who sought to hurt the ones I loved.
“Jesus, this animal is going down,�
� Reno growled, stalking out of the room.
Austin touched the back of my head. “You don’t have anything to worry about, Ivy. You’re part of our pack, and if it’s you he’s after, then he’s up for a fight.”
I rose to my feet and clenched my fists. “I’ll fight alongside you if I must, but he’s not destroying this pack.” Tears stung my eyes and I wanted to tell Austin everything, but my heart held me back.
Fox was a temperamental wolf who thirsted for power and coveted all things unattainable to him. When a member of the pack received punishment, he was the man who carried it out. Fox was more than just the second-in-command of my father’s pack—his most trusted and loyal wolf.
He was also the man who had cruelly pressed my face into the dirt and stolen my virginity on a moonlit night.
***
Lorenzo descended the stairs of his home when he heard one of his pack members shouting. His bare feet brushed against the wood floor and concealed his approach. When he turned to the right and entered their main room, two of his highest-ranked men were facing off, fists clenched and muscles tense. Four other members of the pack sat in their chairs, watching as if it were a form of entertainment.
“It’s bullshit that you get to drive a BMW while the rest of us have to buy our cars based on our rank,” Caleb spat out. “I’ve paid my dues and I want my Jaguar.”
“Save the indignation. I’ve been listening to your blustering for years, Caleb. You know the rules, and lower members mustn’t outshine those of a higher rank,” William said.
“So this is the excitement I miss out on when I’ve retired to my quarters,” Lorenzo said with a dark chuckle. “I’m afraid William is right, Caleb. With rank comes privilege, otherwise there’s no reason to aspire to a higher position. If the car is more important, you’re free to leave the pack and purchase a Jaguar. I prefer men under my command who quarrel over respect, not money.”
Caleb’s face hardened and he stormed off, slamming the front door behind him. A gust of wind blew Lorenzo’s long hair forward, and an ominous feeling crept up his spine. Several years ago, he’d had the same unshakable foreboding one evening, and it had come without explanation. Perhaps they were merely his fears trying to creep up on him.