by SJ Himes
Kane fought back the rising tide of memories of the last time he ran for the gates of this park, the summer sky warm and bright, the earth alive… and soaked with the scent of wolfkin and mortal blood. The last time he took a run like this, wolves at his back and danger ahead, he failed to save the clans’ greatest shaman, and the wolfkin cub who would one day become his mate was lost to him and their people for many years. This time he would not fail; Simon Remus would follow his brother to the grave, and Roman would again learn the bite of Kane’s fangs.
Leave Remus for Caius; Roman was going to die under Kane’s fangs. He’d had the chance, at the last Challenge, and Kane howled in frustrated rage as he came to feel twenty years of grief and bitter impotence—for Roman was the wolfkin responsible for the deaths of dozens of their kind, wolfkin all slain for a fruitless ambition to steal goddess-gifted abilities from shamans and alphas. If he’d killed Roman years ago, when he’d first Challenged Kane, then countless lives would have been spared. Even killing Roman last week, instead of thinking to assuage Caius’ increasing ennui with mercy for his son, Kane could have unwittingly avenged his people and possibly stopped more from dying.
A sharp, loud report of a rifle blasted through the air, and Kane dodged, pushing Burke into the snow bank on the side of the road as the icy gravel splintered inches from his nose. More guns fired, flashes illuminating the shooters who took cover behind black jeeps and big SUVs. The Black Pine wolves scattered, Kane and Burke ducking behind a thick cluster of trees next to the road, bullets spitting little geysers of snow into the air as the shooters followed them into cover. Bullets bit into the dense tree, bits of bark landing on their fur. Kane hunkered down as far as he could, Burke managing to hide better, being almost half Kane’s size.
*Guess we should have thought this through better,* Burke mused, both of them ducking, bullets zinging off the trees they hid behind. *Any plans that don’t involve getting shot, oh Fearless Leader?*
*Shut it, and keep your head down!* Kane snapped, wishing he could see where the humans were. The storm was covering up any sounds they may be making, and the wind wasn’t helping any. Thick clouds were releasing giant snowflakes, and the wind was sporadic and undependable. And growing stronger, which meant they couldn’t hear or scent the humans ahead of them. Kane couldn’t tell if they were still at the vehicles or if some of them were peeling off, waiting to ambush them in the trees. He tried peering around the nearest tree, but a bullet chewing into the bark made him back up in a hurry.
*Fuck,* Kane growled, Burke sending a wordless agreement back. *The others?* Kane asked his Speaker, and Burke sent him reassurances. His team was blocked off, pinned as they were, and waiting for orders. No one was hit. *Sophia?*
*She went for Ghost as you told her,* Burke replied, and Kane sensed he was speaking to their beta, the older wolfkin heading out with some Red Fern wolves to escort Ghost back to Andromeda’s. Burke sent him an image of Sophia racing through the woods with a handful of cream colored wolves, the storm growing stronger there as well, but she had a good grasp of the young shaman’s location, Gerald linked to Burke as well. He had faith his First Beta would get to his mate and help keep Ghost safe.
The hail of bullets paused, the wind screaming, and Kane risked another look. The cloud cover was thick, as was the snowfall, and his nose was useless. His vision and hearing were suffering as well, and Kane could just barely make out the silhouettes of several humans peeling off from the vehicles at the gates and heading into the woods. Burke saw through his eyes, and both alphas growled. Humans in the woods were usually easy prey; but with their senses dulled by the weather and the humans armed, things just got evened out.
*Stay low, stay smart, and stay in pairs!* Kane ordered his team, and they sent back their silent agreement. *No mercy. Kill them all. If Remus is here, I will handle him.*
Kane crouched low and went around the trees, smelling blood and wolfkin ahead as they went. Burke stayed in his shadow, the brown greater alpha a reassuring presence. They’d hunted side by side for decades, and this was familiar territory. Kane thought of his mate, his little shaman, and vowed to finish this once and for all. Ghost must be kept safe.
CLAWS RIPPED at his fur, but Ghost rolled with the attack, throwing the other wolfkin off his back and into the snow. Ghost got to his feet and was nearly trampled by Gabe and another wolfkin, both bigger wolves snapping and tearing at each other in a flurry of fangs and claws. Blood stained the snow, and Ghost followed the trail, to see his uncle and two other wolves locked in combat, fur bloodied. He spared no thought for himself and ran forward, barreling into the bigger of the two strangers. He called to the power writhing in the storm-eddied winds and loosed it when it came to his will.
A brilliant flash and the odor of burnt fur filled his nostrils, and the wolf who’d been seconds from hamstringing his uncle was down. Ghost leapt over his body and ran to Gerald’s side, the lesser alpha still on his feet, blood dripping and running freely from wounds on the back of his neck and shoulders. Both strangers must have attacked him in tandem to cause such damage. Ghost whined, concerned, but Gerald shoved past him with a snarl, his last opponent charging ahead as well.
Gerald bowled him down, and the ragged stranger yelped, thrown to his back and left exposed to Gerald’s lethal teeth. Ghost barely had time to step forward before the other wolfkin was dead, throat torn apart, just like the last wolfkin Gerald fought. Ghost was impressed, and then turned to look for the younger alpha.
Gabe was still fighting, one rear paw dragging in the snow, but his head was down, his fangs dripping with his opponent’s blood. He was now facing two wolves, the other the wolfkin who’d tried to ambush Ghost. The two older wolves circled the young alpha, looking for a way in past his teeth. Gabe was bigger, but noticeably younger and less experienced in fights to the death, his hesitancy obvious.
Ghost and Gerald both howled in challenge and ran to Gabe’s side, standing between him and the two remaining wolves. Gabe faltered and almost fell, and Gerald braced his big shoulder for the younger alpha to lean against. Ghost growled a warning, gathering more power, his Spiritsight active and showing him the baleful lights gleaming in the other wolfkin. There were no bright colors or joyful patterns of light; they were muted, dark, and angry.
He could see, with his Spiritsight, more wolves coming through the trees. Dark stars, tainted by hatred and anger filled his line of sight, and they appeared out of the snow and wind like wraiths. Gerald and Gabe growled with eagerness, both alphas willing to fight to the death, their instincts to dominate and defeat roused by battle. The answering chorus from the new wolves was full of bloody thoughts and death. They were outnumbered, more than Ghost cared to count, and Ghost dropped his head and bared his teeth.
He was not afraid. He was angry. They growled back, and began to lope forward.
Ghost gave up thinking to spare these wolves. While they charged ahead, their malice and intent to harm clear, he pulled at the place inside that glowed the brightest, and reached out.
Lightning, so bright the trees were illuminated in fine detail, and the clouds above were traced by its glow, burst free. The small space where they stood under the pines was naught but light, fire, and burning flesh.
*BURKE!* KANE snarled and lunged through the short space between himself and the human, the shotgun in his hands still smoking from the blast he’d leveled at the Speaker.
The snow was falling hard, so thick Kane was almost blind, but his teeth found the human’s shoulder and neck, and he shook hard. Bones cracked and the human male went limp, the gun falling to the snow. Kane dropped the body and ran to Burke, the brown alpha slowly getting to his feet.
Blood dripped and the rancid odor of silver in wolfkin flesh smacked Kane’s senses, and Burke whined. He swayed on his paws, tail drooping. Kane nosed at his neck, and his heart clenched when Burke leaned into his chest, shivering. They were rarely cold, their kind
; Burke was injured, and badly. The human had come unseen out of the trees, the wind working against them, and Burke took the brunt of the shotgun blast.
*Burke?*
*I… am fine. Get me to your talented little shaman soon enough, and I won’t even have a scar.* Burke panted, whining. Kane didn’t believe a word, but he wasn’t given a chance to say anything, as he heard the sound of booted feet coming their way. The shotgun blast must have alerted the rest of the humans to where they were.
His team was slowly taking out the humans, but Burke wasn’t the only injured wolf. Several of his wolves were shot, none dead, but the silver would slow the healing process and leave them vulnerable. Many of the humans were dead, but enough remained to be a threat. Red Fern wolves were still at the park center, protecting the Suarez wolves and the family packs, the youngest and the most vulnerable directly under Andromeda’s protection. So far no one had made it that far into the park, but neither Kane nor Andromeda wanted to take the chance that Roman or Remus would have people get through.
Kane gently pushed Burke back down and stepped over his best friend, head lowered, paws soundless as he stalked through the shadows under the trees. There was a human directly ahead somewhere, he could hear the thump of a heart. Yet he couldn’t see where and was cautious, wary of being shot in the face if he got too close, and the human pulling the trigger before he could take him out.
He needed to be able to see, to smell, the wind and snow hindering him to an impossible degree. Kane swallowed a growl, the sound of the human’s heart coming closer, steady and even. The human was not afraid, he must be a practiced killer of their kind to be that unaffected in the woods with wolfkin hunting. A soft crack of ice breaking made Kane pause, and he quivered, the need to kill warring with his better judgment.
A yellow light appeared in the snow, and another, a field of light gleaming amongst the falling flakes. Tiny flames glimmered, and Kane breathed out, realizing it was with his mate’s Spiritsight that he was seeing the human tactical team. Six lights glowed, spread out ahead of him and to the sides, coming closer. One was within reach and an easy target with how far Kane could leap. Somehow he knew the human was looking away, and Kane gathered his legs underneath himself, and paused a heartbeat. Then he leapt.
He cleared the space between himself and the human in seconds, driving the smaller male to the ground. A scream was cut off as Kane buried his fangs in the soft skin of his throat and yanked. Blood fountained out, thick in his mouth, hot over his tongue. Kane shook his head free of the corpse, blood flying, and looked for his next target.
Ahead and to the right. Kane’s big paws sank in the snow, the wind covering his approach. The baleful light flickered as this human moved through the trees, heart racing faster than the others. Perhaps some instinct told him he was now the hunted and vulnerable. Kane didn’t even pause; he slinked through the shadows and came up behind the human, moving with effortless strides over the snow and ice. He was tall enough that all he had to do was lean forward, and he crushed, with a single bite, the arm holding the long gun, metal and bone snapping. The human screamed, falling to his knees, and Kane let go of his arm to snap his jaws around the human’s skull and clamp down. Bone shattered and brain matter spilled under the intense pressure he bore down on the human, and the body went limp in his jaws.
Kane spit out the dead human, and with Ghost’s Spiritsight aiding him, he hunted for his next target through the snow and trees.
One by one the humans fell, their blood and screams soothing his wilder side.
Simon Remus was nowhere to be found.
A WET, COOL nose nudged at his face. Ghost winced and slowly opened his eyes. He saw bare earth and blackened grass, ash and smoke wafting on the breeze.
“He’s awake! Ghost, can you get up?” asked Sophia, shooing away the small Red Fern beta who was crouching at his side. The little wolf scampered off, and a naked Sophia knelt beside him.
Ghost climbed to his feet and realized he was in his human form. He frowned, wondering when that happened, and looked around. Smoke and charred meat filled his nose, and he sneezed. Bodies were burnt past recognition and lay scattered across the ground under the trees, and there wasn’t a tree or patch of ground untouched by flame and smoke.
Several Red Fern wolves sniffed at the bodies or huddled together, and they ducked their heads when they saw him looking, afraid to meet his eyes. Ghost lifted a brow at that, and shrugged. Sophia regained his attention by touching his naked shoulder.
“Where are Gabe and Gerald?” he asked, suddenly worried he’d scorched the two alphas he’d been trying to protect, turning to his mate’s First Beta. She pointed with her chin, her dark gem–toned eyes glittering. He looked where she indicated and he smiled in relief, glad to see Gabe and Gerald were untouched by the lightning storm.
He ran over the wet earth, the snow melted by the intense heat, squishing under his bare feet. Gerald got up, reverted back to his human form as well, covered in mud and blood. Gabe was still on the ground, just as naked and bloody. Gabe was pale and shivering, and a Red Fern wolf hovered at his side, licking his shoulder, the younger alpha slow blinking and dazed.
“You okay, pup?” Gerald asked gruffly and reached out, grabbing both his shoulders and pulling him in close. “What the hell was that?”
“I stopped them, Uncle. That’s all,” Ghost said instead of answering. He wasn’t too sure himself and couldn’t think of anything else to say. “Has anyone heard from Kane and his team?”
Ghost could feel a burning rage along his connection to his mate, the greater alpha’s full focus and attention on whatever task he was performing. Ghost tried to get through, but his mate was too intent, his anger and bloodlust overpowering, and Ghost gave up after a few tries.
“I lost my connection to Burke a few minutes ago,” Sophia answered, worry evident on her timeless face. “I think something happened.”
“I can’t reach them either,” Gerald growled, his dark eyes glowing, his hands tight on Ghost’s shoulders.
“Then we go to them,” Ghost said and stepped back in the mud and gore. Gabe tried to stand, but fell back to the damp earth. Ghost hurried to his side and put a hand on the young alpha’s lean chest. He poured power and strength back into Gabe, and the dull haze over his eyes cleared and his shivering ceased. Gabe inhaled a deep breath, and then nodded in thanks to Ghost. He helped the alpha to his feet and called to his power again.
He found his wolf-form in less than a thought’s time and waited for the others to Change.
Ghost waited only a few heartbeats, his body vibrating with the need to run, but he would not leave his people behind. They may be capable alphas and beta warriors, but he was the strongest here, and they were his to protect.
But his heart was with Kane… and his alpha was hunting.
KANE GRIPPED the steel door with his bare hands and pulled back, the frame warping until the latch released and the last impediment to Kane getting inside the SUV was gone. He ducked back in time to avoid getting shot in the face, then he leaped inside and knocked aside the gun in the human’s hand. He grabbed the weak mortal by the throat and pulled him out of the SUV, the human obviously no mercenary. He was shorter and plump, and smelled of chemicals.
He recalled Ghost’s memories of Remus’ attack at the wolf sanctuary and knew this was the human doctor who’d drugged Ghost. His hand tightened on the short man’s neck, and it took Burke’s whine to still his fingers.
*We need him alive,* Burke said, mental voice feeble. He was panting in pain on the pavement, blood pooling under him, surrounded by dead humans. The rest of Kane’s team swept the woods or tended the injured, those too hurt to move resting in their wolfkin forms not far from Burke. *He can tell us where our kidnapped brethren are, and what Simon Remus was doing to them.*
*I know… I just want him dead, I want them all dead,* Kane replied, refusing to speak i
n front of the human. He pulled back his fist and struck the doctor across the face, knocking him unconscious. He threw the man back inside the SUV, went around to the driver’s side, and removed the keys, tossing them on the hood of the vehicle. All the vehicles were either disabled or the drivers were dead, torn apart on the pavement. Kane was covered in blood, and he breathed through the heavy stench of fear that hovered over the park gates.
Kane knelt on the freezing pavement at Burke’s side and pulled the Speaker’s head into his lap. Burke sighed, his great form heaving with the effort to keep himself under control. Kane felt Burke’s pain, the shotgun blast having torn through fur, skin, muscle and tendons along his side, the silver in the buckshot burning and searing flesh. It was serious, perhaps mortal, and Kane feared Burke would not make it through the injury, not without some crippling or maiming.
*I called for River…he is coming once Andromeda says it’s safe,* Burke whispered, his once boundless and infinite mental voices reduced to a singular thread, weak and thin. He panted, mouth open, his blood still seeping from the long wound along his ribs and flank. His golden eyes were the barest lines in his dark chocolate brown furred face, and Kane gently petted his ears.
The storm was calmer, the snow falling slow, the flakes huge and drifting over them, white dotting Burke’s dark coat. His eyes shut, the golden light dimming.
“If River can’t help you, then Ghost can,” Kane whispered, snow melting on his cheeks, tears pricking his eyes. “Stay awake, don’t go to sleep.”
*I won’t…* Burke said, so softly. Kane bit his lip, refusing to cry, his team mates nearby watching, silent. They all waited, Kane calling wordlessly to the rest of his team to wait at the gates, and they came, in ones and twos, hunkering down in their wolf-forms and watching him as he held Black Pine’s Speaker. Burke’s heart still beat, slow and struggling, the poison from the silver coursing through his veins.