Writing the Wolf: A wolf shifter paranormal romance (Wolves of Crookshollow Book 2)

by Steffanie Holmes

  At that point, I called my pack forward. Ryan and Marcus dashed into the clearing. Cole swooped down from the tree above and landed on my shoulder, his talons digging into my flesh.

  My mother gave me a sad smile. “Oh, Caleb. That’s not a pack. It’s a joke.”

  This is what the great Lowe family have sent to fight the toughest wolf gang in Scotland? Irvine growled.

  They have my fated mate, I growled back. I can’t not fight, even if fighting is hopeless.

  We stand by him, Luke added. What Angus and Douglas have done is inexcusable.

  Irvine’s eyes blazed with anger. I agree. It is not honourable.

  I pawed the ground. They are waiting for me, and they know I am outnumbered. I am willing to be allies, to return to Crookshollow and find the ring. Will you help me save my mate?

  Irvine glanced at Ryan and Marcus, and his face twitched. His gaze fell on Cole, and his lips curled back in an expression of utter disgust.

  I should never have showed him my pack, I thought. He’s an old-school wolf. The idea of aligning with other shifters, especially Bran, is abhorrent to him. The fact I even asked him means he’ll rip my throat out any second now.

  But I had to try. For Rosa.

  I poised, ready to fight Irvine off should he lunge at me.

  Instead, the wolf lifted his head, and let out a mighty howl. I joined in, tossing my head back and lending my voice to the night. Irvine’s howl was answered from deep in the woods, and I heard the footsteps of several wolves running to meet us.

  The Lowes and the Bairds were going to war.

  23

  Rosa

  I gritted my teeth as a fresh wave of pain rocketed through my body. No one ever told me that when I was badly injured and bleeding out all over the ground, that once the initial shock wore off, the pain came not all at once but in volleys, as though it were sending wave after wave of pain soldiers to battle over possession of my body.

  Something was supposed to happen, but it hadn’t happened yet. The wolves were getting agitated, but the delay had given me time to collect myself. The panic had subsided a little. I was no longer going to throw up. My hands were still shaking, but that might have also been from the blood loss. I had no desire to pass out again. Instead, I felt a determined survival instinct click in. I’d been living with Angus’ terror for nearly a week now, and I hadn’t died yet. I could find a way out of this.

  It took me three tries, but I managed to rip off the torn sleeve of my shirt. Pain stabbed down my arm every time I moved it, and watching my blood trickle out of the wound was starting to make me feel dizzy. I’d planned to tie the material around my shoulder to staunch the bleeding, but I now realised I couldn’t physically do it, and I couldn’t exactly ask Robbie to do it for me.

  The wolves had ceased their dancing, and now stood around in a circle, facing the trees and occasionally letting out low, menacing growls. Two of the smaller wolves had disappeared into the forest some minutes ago, presumably to act as scouts. Angus stood on top of one of the shelters, staring into the trees. Every few minutes he circled around impatiently, snapping at the other wolves crowding his feet.

  There was no sign of Caleb, or anyone else. Maybe he heard my pleas. Maybe he was staying away. Which meant that any moment now, they would figure out Caleb was no longer in the forest, and they’d kill me.

  Damn them if they thought I was going to go down on my back in the middle of a wolf pack, without even putting up a fight. I placed my good hand on the ground and tried to heave myself up. Pain shot down my arm as soon as it moved. I kept pushing, trying to force myself through it. Tears streamed down my face.

  You have to do this. You have to get to your feet and run for the trees—

  It seemed impossible. But so did carrying on after my house was burned down, and I did that anyway. I could do this too. I dug my fingers into the earth, and pushed with all my might.

  As I raised my back off the ground, a long, low howl echoed through the trees. The wolves turned to each other, their eyes wide. Hope surged in my chest, mingling with fresh fear. I’d recognise that howl anywhere.

  It’s Caleb!

  Before I had time to think, hundreds of wolves tore from the trees, barrelling down toward the circle that surrounded me. Angus leapt back in surprise, his feet toppling off the back of the lean-to. He scrabbled for a foothold as the wolves bore down on him.

  At the front of the approaching pack, I saw two foxes ducking and weaving between the wolves. Above them, a black raven swooped low, its wings spread wide and its talons pointed directly at Angus. Beside them, a great grey wolf with a red streak down his back tossed his head back, and howled.

  Caleb.

  My heart soared to see him, majestic in his fury as he bore down upon his foes. As more wolves poured out of the trees and fell into line behind him, I realised he hadn’t just come to rescue me, he’d brought a whole damn army.

  Where did they all come from?

  I had no time to ponder it, for the wolves crashed into each other. Limbs and fur flew everywhere. Claws sliced through the air, jaws snapped, teeth tore at flesh and bone. The world around me became a surging ocean of snarling wolves piling on top of each other in a desperate attempt to gain control of the clearing. They moved so fast, I couldn’t even tell who was winning.

  An acrid smell filled my nostrils. Blood. Werewolf blood.

  I heaved my torso into an upright position, tears streaming down my face as I jerked my torn shoulder. I slid backwards, so I was leaning against a stack of tires, pulling my legs up to hide in its shadow. My eyes swept back and forth, searching for one wolf.

  Caleb, where are you?

  The fighting started to thin out as several of Douglas’ wolves ran for the trees, chased by Caleb’s recruits. The black raven soared down, waving its wings at one of Douglas’ wolves as it tried to approach me, and it turned away, yelping as the raven pecked at its back. I cried out in triumph, until I saw the scene they left behind. Wolves lay dead in dark puddles, their necks torn open, limbs bent at impossible angles. Beautiful, powerful creatures reduced to meat and bone.

  No. This isn’t what I wanted. I couldn’t bear the idea of Caleb in the midst of that fray, dishing out death and destruction, or worse, having his throat ripped out by his own jealous stepbrother.

  “Stop,” I tried to yell over the din, but all that came out was a croak. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Stop right now!”

  If they heard me, they didn’t care.

  A voice rose over the din. A human voice, sharp and piercing. A voice that wasn’t my own.

  “Douglas Maclean, what do ye think you’re doing? Stop this madness right now!”

  24

  Caleb

  My mother strode across the clearing, her fiery hair a halo around her face. She picked up a younger Maclean wolf by the scruff of its neck and tossed it aside like an out-of-season purse.

  Douglas’ teeth were buried in my shoulder. I was trying to ignore the burning pain as I tried to hook my back leg around him and slam him against the ground. As soon as he heard my mother’s voice, his whole body stiffened, and his teeth loosened from my skin. I dropped to the ground, too shocked to move. Douglas Maclean didn’t just let his enemies go free.

  All around me, wolves were losing their fighting spirit. That my mother had such an incredible power over both clans was evident in the authority in her voice as she told them again to stop. I scanned the clearing for Angus, and just caught sight of his tail dragging something large behind one of the rubbish piles.

  Rosa!

  He had her by her bun, strands of her hair sticking out from either side of his mouth. She held her scalp, her legs kicking frantically, searching for purchase on the slippery earth. She sobbed quietly, her face twisted in pain.

  Oh, no, you don’t.

  I leapt up and bounded toward her. Pain seared down my arm as soon as my paw hit the ground. My whole front leg collapsed, dragging me down with it. Doug
las had really done a number on me.

  From my prone position, I noticed several wolves also on their sides in the dirt, blood dribbling from deep wounds. Irvine was on his back, trying to fend off a young Maclean wolf who’d torn a deep cut down his stomach. The air stank of blood and death.

  No, this can’t be happening. I felt sick. Even though I hated what Angus and Douglas had done to me, I never wished for wolves to die. But here they were, bodies littered across the clearing, the victims of my rage.

  I turned toward Douglas. He was standing on his hind legs, his head level with my mother’s face. He tried to lick her cheek, but she slapped him right across the face.

  “That’s our boy right there.” She jabbed a finger at me. “That’s my son, who you promised to raise as your own. Why are you fighting one of our own?”

  Douglas turned his snout toward her, and let up a keening howl. He ain't no son of mine, he snarled, even though she wouldn’t hear him. He deserted us for a clan of fucking circus animals.

  SMACK. She slapped his other cheek. “I know what you’re thinking, and you can stop it right now. Of course Caleb deserted us to claim his birthright. What’s he got here for himself? An’ what’s this I hear about Angus stealing his mate?”

  Douglas tried to rise up again, but she slapped him down once more. His wolves cringed away, and even Angus stopped pulling at Rosa and stared at his father in dumb shock. Even though my body ached from his bite, I couldn’t help but smile to see my mighty stepfather being chastised in front of his own clan.

  He howled with rage. Angus wants the girl for himself—

  “He can’t ‘ave her, can he?” Mum dropped Douglas’ throat, and slapped her hands against her hips. “He can’t go around trying to take another shifter’s mate, that ain’t right. That ain’t the Maclean way. You should be ashamed of yourself, Douglas Maclean, giving permission for such an abomination. That’s why I’ve come to put things right.”

  Douglas bared his teeth at her. You sought an alliance with my enemy, he growled.

  Even though Mother couldn’t understand Douglas’ wolven words, his message was crystal clear. But she didn’t even looked phased. “You can stop that nonsense right now. There ain’t no sense being mad at me for bringing the Bairds into this. They’re only here because you’re too stupid to listen to me, and if they weren’t here, your son would’ve killed our Caleb by now. I brought them because someone had to knock some sense into that thick skull of yours. Is that the way the great Maclean clan behaves?”

  By now, every wolf had gone silent, listening to the exchange. Mum had been with Douglas through so many full moons, she knew him so well that it was practically as though they were holding a conversation.

  Douglas reared up to his full height, tossed his head back, and let out a mighty howl. For a moment, I thought I’d have to leap in to stop him from attacking her. But then his body sagged, and he lay down on the ground, showing the whole pack that he submitted to her. Aye, you’re right, my dear. This is madness.

  She patted his head. “Thank you, my love.”

  Douglas barked at Angus. You let her go now. She don’t belong to you.

  She don’t belong to no one, I thought. I watched with pounding heart as Angus dropped Rosa’s hair, and backed a few steps away. She held her head between her hands, her eyes filled with pain. I noticed blood splattered down her shirt from a nasty bite on her shoulder where Angus had marked her. Please let her be okay.

  I took a step toward Rosa, but my leg caved again, and I fell heavily on my shoulder. Angus’ eyes caught mine, a blaze of anger and humiliation.

  I didn’t have time to think about him. I needed to get to her. I picked myself up on my three remaining useful legs, and dragged my throbbing body toward her. With every step, my shoulder screamed in protest. But I had to see her; I had to know she was all right.

  “Caleb,” she squeaked out, her eyes flooded with tears. “I can’t believe—”

  A hundred wolf eyes watched me as I made my slow journey across the clearing, toward my mate.

  As I got closer, I could see she was in bad shape. Her skin was deathly pale, and slick with sweat. Her head lolled on her shoulders. There was a lot of blood on her clothing, and she couldn’t seem to move her arm. When she saw me, the corners of her mouth turned up in a beautiful, dazzling smile.

  “I knew you’d rescue me,” she said, reaching up with her good hand to stroke my fur.

  The words were like a knife through my heart. I didn’t rescue her. I was the one who dragged her into this mess in the first place. I was the reason she was lying there with a wolf’s bite marring her beautiful neck, with another man’s scent all over her.

  She’d been through so much already. All I’d done was put her through more trauma. Looking down at her, so happy to see me amidst all the horror she’d endured, my heart tore apart. I knew what I had to do, but it would take every bit of control I had to do it, and in my wolf form, I didn’t have a lot of that to spare.

  I bent down and licked at the wound. My saliva mingled with her blood, helping to staunch the bleeding, and working over Angus’ scent. As my tongue met her skin, a surge of power rocketed through my body. Rosa’s eyes fluttered shut, and her body shuddered as it went through her, too. We were mated. Our connection had been forged.

  I’m sorry, Rosa. This wasn’t how I wanted it to be.

  I called Ryan and Marcus forward to collect her. They transformed into their human forms. All around the circle, wolves growled as two men materialised in their midst. But a barked command from Douglas held them at bay. They wouldn’t dare disobey their alpha.

  “Here, sweetheart. We’ve got you.” Ryan picked Rosa up in his arms. She rested her cheek on his shoulder, but her eyes remained glued to mine.

  Ryan carried her through the circle, to the edge of the clearing. He turned, smiling, and waited for me.

  Irvine pulled himself along the ground, and placed his paw on mine. His eyes were filled with pain as he looked up at me. You did it, Caleb. You won the battle, and the girl. I’m proud to call you my ally.

  At the sight of Irvine, Douglas growled, but my mother clamped her hand over his arm.

  “You let him go, Douglas Maclean. You let our son go off and find his own way, or so help me god, you’ll be sorry.”

  I glared at Douglas. Well?

  Douglas’ face clouded over. My stomach tightened. The blood pounded in my ears. I didn’t know how much longer I’d be able to last against him if he decided to have another go—

  He waved a hand at me. Go on, git out o’ here, and take your mate and your pack with you, before I change my mind.

  All Douglas’ wolves took a step back, a clear sign they had surrendered. Rosa sobbed with relief. Luke bounded toward me, licking my face in a gesture of fealty. Help Irvine, I said to him. I’ll be fine.

  I got to my feet, balancing on my three good legs, and started to make my way toward the edge of the circle.

  “Caleb, watch out!” Rosa screamed.

  Something slammed against my side. My bad leg collapsed from under me, sending me sprawling across the dirt. The momentum carried me into a scrap heap. Empty cans and bottles toppled down on my head as I struggled to turn my body to see what had hit me.

  Angus’ teeth scraped my neck. I yanked my head away just in time, and his jaws snapped around thin air. I slashed at his face with my claws, tearing a shallow cut across his cheek. Angus growled, and his claws tightened around my neck. I tried to lift my arm to slice him again, but he clamped it under his paw, and bit into my neck.

  Pain seared through me, a kind of cold burning in my veins, like plunging naked into icy water. My vision blurred, and red welts floated in front of my eyes. Angus’ raging eyes burned themselves into my brain, the last image I would ever see.

  I’m gonna enjoy tasting your blood, Angus rasped in my ear. Warm saliva dripped from his mouth and ran down the side of my cheek. But not as much as I’ll enjoy taking your mate for my own.r />
  Some mate you are, I snapped back, trying to keep myself alive through my anger. You attacked her, kidnapped her, sent her threatening text messages, wrote horrible things on her cabin walls—

  That wasn’t me, he hissed inside my head. I never had her number, and I didn’t write anything on her wall. I would have no need to do those things.

  Then who—

  I don’t know, and I don’t care. And neither will you in a minute— his teeth dug deeper, and I faded, the fight within me dwindling away as the world exploded in a supernova of pain.

  Angus, stop. I heard Robbie’s voice, but he sounded far away, like he was calling to me underwater. Angus, no. He’s our brother. You can’t do it to your own brother.

  He was never our brother.

  Angus, this isn’t you. This isn’t right and you know it. Damn you, Robbie’s voice wavered. Don’t make me into the brother of a killer. Don’t make me hate you.

  Angus’ head snapped up.

  What? Seriously? I thought. Does he actually care about what Robbie thinks of him?

  Through the fog of the pain, a memory surfaced. When we were cubs, we were playing at the edge of the forest, when we happened upon a tiny cub shivering in a tree stump. It was a runt of a thing, likely abandoned by its mother to either die from the elements or torn apart by one of our pack.

  Angus bared his teeth and growled at the cub. It froze with fear, trembling so hard it pissed all over itself. Angus had laughed as he dragged the squealing cub out of the bush by the tail. “I’m going to crunch all his bones,” he laughed cruelly. “Damn little thing will barely be enough for lunch.”

  “Don’t do it,” I’d said. “He’s only little. We should take him to Mother, and—”