by Reese Morgan
But Addie made it sound as if she freely chose that kind of lifestyle.
“Celeste…” Hayden paused when Addie made a face at the mention of the redheaded Alpha. “Celeste said she rescued a few females who were in abusive situations and taught them how to defend themselves.”
“And you think the common denominator is men?” Addie asked sharply, becoming surprisingly sensitive. “It’s unfortunate what those women went through, but that type of abuse is very rare among werewolves. You grew up as a human, Hayden. It’s more common among your kind than it is ours. “
Judging from Addie’s passionate response, Hayden figured she didn’t believe Celeste. “You don’t think Celeste was telling the truth? What about Rachel? Wasn’t Rachel mistreated?”
Addie nodded sharply. “Rachel had a troubled past, yes. And I’m not claiming Celeste is lying either. All I’m saying is that females are a rarity in the werewolf community. I can believe rogues would mistreat the women, but with traditional werewolves, the males take our safety quite seriously.”
Hayden abruptly backed down when she remembered the day the Hunters first arrived in Albertville. The males had quickly stepped in front of Hayden, her pack allegiance a nonfactor. They had all protected her.
“If you want to argue about fairness, then you should realize male werewolves receive unfair treatment as well.” Addie had lightened her tone and her eyes grew soft once more. “It’s always expected of them to be strong and skilled fighters. Only the best are looked upon with respect. How is that fair to others like Fergus and Nathan?”
“I understand,” Hayden whispered, feeling a bit guilty for her fervent opinion that all females should learn how to fight.
She realized not all women were created equal, just as men weren’t created equal. As Shane Donovan once commented before, the whole could not be judged solely on a piece. Just because one female wanted to fight, didn’t mean the rest of them should.
Nevertheless, even if she understood and respected where Addie was coming from, Hayden still believed there should be options available for females who did want to learn how to fight and couldn’t obtain help themselves.
She was just more levelheaded about her opinion now.
Addie put the roast into the oven before wandering over to Hayden’s side of the counter. Taking Hayden’s hands in hers, Addie observed her affectionately. “You hardly ever come to me for advice.”
Before she could defend herself, Addie squeezed her hands in interruption.
“I understand you are independent and have your own mother to go to for advice.” Addie released one of her hands and placed it on Hayden’s head. “But if you ever find yourself needing more guidance, never be afraid to come to me. As the only two females in the pack, we need to stick together.”
Hayden nodded, smiling genuinely at Addie’s open concern. “Thank you.”
She watched as Addie escaped from the kitchen, feeling as if their discussion had given her more clarity, but she also acknowledged the shadow of doubt that lingered.
* * *
Needless to say, Hayden approached Celeste the next morning with far more caution and a lot less overconfidence. With a bow clutched in one hand, and a quiver strapped over her shoulder, Hayden followed the other female as they trekked through the woods.
Wanting an extra layer of security, either out of genuine paranoia or out of the need to feel in control, Hayden strapped her knife holster across her chest when she’d dressed that morning. With her jacket fastened completely, the holster was veiled from prying eyes.
“Do you know why Cole is so worried about you being alone with me?” Celeste broke the silence, her voice as cold as the brisk morning.
Hayden stared at the woman’s back. The abrupt inquiry at least answered her earlier question. The tension between them wasn’t simply in Hayden’s head. Celeste had noticed it as well, Hayden’s change of demeanor especially.
For a woman as smart as Celeste, Hayden figured she’d give a half-truth instead of an outright lie. “He thinks the temptation of your pack will be too much for me to resist.” She tried to say it teasingly, but it came out stiff, somber.
Celeste exhaled once in absurdity. “It sounds like he doesn’t trust you. That he’s insecure over your pack loyalty.”
Leaping lazily over a fallen log, Hayden tried not to agree with her assessment. Ironically, it was the same theory she’d come up with herself. “He has nothing to worry about,” she avowed confidently.
“Unfortunately, my reputation for stealing pack members precedes me.” Celeste threw a bitter smile over her shoulder. “One of my more recent members, Erin, belonged to another pack. Erin’s old Alpha alleged that I manipulated her away from him. The word spread quickly.”
Hayden grimaced. Was this where the pack’s suspicions stemmed from? “Obviously you didn’t manipulate her…”
“No, of course not. I don’t force people to join my pack.” Celeste sounded warily amused. “Erin felt out of place in her pack. She couldn’t seem to do anything right and she believed she was underappreciated.”
Celeste stopped in front of a prepared target, unaware of Hayden’s stunned expression at her back. When the redheaded Alpha turned around, Hayden was quick to look down and hide her reaction to the words.
She couldn’t help but to relate to the story. How many times had she tried to do the right thing for her pack, only to end up being reprimanded?
“Hayden?” Celeste called uncertainly. “Are you alright?” She paused. “You aren’t disappointed we’re starting out on a stationary target, are you? I promise we’ll move on to a bigger challenge after we get your form down.”
Pushing away the voice in the back of her head, Hayden smiled away her uncertainties. “No. I agree. We have to start somewhere.”
Celeste observed her for a moment longer before proceeding to remove a few arrows from her quiver. The older woman then began instructing Hayden how to shoot her bow properly. It was little things that Celeste adjusted and reminded Hayden of, such as using two fingers to hold the bowstring at full draw and keeping her grip-hand relaxed until the arrow hit the target.
Celeste claimed a relaxed posture was most vital and stressed never to take longer than a few seconds to lock a shot. A werewolf’s aim and instincts were sharper initially as opposed to stalling and trying to find the best angle.
Hayden had her knife training to fall back on. It helped with her aim and her reflexes. Her first few arrows were a bit wide, but eventually, the arrows began to drop closer and closer to the center of the target. With each arrow that embedded in the bull’s-eye, Hayden felt her tension leaving and her confidence returning.
As she reached for another arrow, she contemplated on how best to approach the subject of Celeste’s assistance with the rogues.
“Are you going to stay at the cabin for much longer?” Hayden ventured casually.
Celeste’s sharp gaze moved from Hayden’s posture to her face. “No, not long.” Her words were careful and her eyes were wary. “Our home wasn’t destroyed as yours was. We were aware of the attacks close by and decided to move out before they got much closer.”
There was a hanging silence in the air.
“I’m actually a bit disappointed in Albertville’s Alphas,” Celeste commented, her casual poise returning. She placed her hands on her hips and watched as Hayden notched another arrow. “They knew the Hunters were close and they knew the rogues were looking to attack. But they still decided to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. They were sitting ducks. They should have known better.”
Hayden stilled before lowering her bow. “If we hadn’t gone to the celebration, the Hunters would have blown all of us to pieces.”
“Do you truly believe that?” Celeste asked. “I think the Hunters were forcing you out of town. I think they are sadistic bastards, but they wouldn’t have mass murdered so many people, especially in human skin. The rogues took advantage of your celebration and the Alphas should hav
e seen it coming.”
If Hayden wanted to convince Celeste to help them, she couldn’t outright disagree with her, though she wanted to defend Cole. And even Adolf and Eric.
“I think the Alphas just wanted their pack members to have a semblance of normalcy, especially because of the uncertainty constantly hanging in the air.” She shrugged. “But I agree with you. I think they should have seen it coming and prepared for it.”
Celeste began to pick through the arrows in her quiver before selecting one. “What do you think the rogues want to accomplish, Hayden? What is their purpose?”
Briefly, Hayden thought of telling her about the physically altered rogues she and Cole had encountered. Or that Nicolas was most likely creating another, more superior werewolf. But she forced her loose tongue aside and settled for something a bit more ambiguous.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I just know Nicolas wants us out of the way or he wants us killed. He wants the Hunters to think we’re the enemies.”
Celeste nocked her arrow, drew it, and then released it, sending it straight into the bull’s-eye. “And what do you have planned to stop Nicolas and his rogues?” She didn’t seem to be paying attention to the conversation, but Hayden knew better.
“I…” Hayden trailed off, her cheeks flushing when she realized she didn’t have an eloquent answer. “We want to destroy Nicolas and his rogues.”
Green eyes froze before they riveted around to assess Hayden. “That’s a rather vague and despicable plan. I would have thought Cole and the others would have given you something a bit more substantial before sending you here to convince me to join your cause.”
If possible, Hayden grew even more rigid. Though she wanted to look away in shame, she forced herself to keep steady eye contact with Celeste. “I’m not going to deny it,” Hayden said boldly. “I thought I could ask for your help.”
“How can you ask for help if you don’t even have a plan to destroy Nicolas?” Celeste whispered, but her tenor began to grow in intensity. “Somehow, the very idea of working with the same Alphas who have stained my reputation and forced me to become an outcast is inconceivable. Please don’t judge me too harshly if I deny them any sort of assistance.”
Celeste turned her cheek and abruptly fired her arrow, sending it whizzing through the trees without taking long to consider her target. Hayden heard the arrow cutting through the air before thudding into something solid and heavy. The object fell to the ground and Hayden’s eyes widened when she recognized the smell of blood.
“That would be our lunch.” Celeste lost all indignation and smiled smugly. “Excuse me.”
Hayden watched the woman disappear through the trees, clearly intending to retrieve the game she had taken down in a matter of seconds.
Standing solitarily next to the target, Hayden contemplated Celeste’s fervent reaction when confronted with the choice of helping the other Alphas. Whatever Cole and the others believed about Celeste’s abilities of manipulation, Hayden had sensed a level of anger and indignation that could not be faked.
Celeste really had been hurt by the other Alphas’ constant discrimination and disregard. Hayden almost felt guilty for bringing up the subject of an alliance. She could see how the male Alphas would be quick to judge Celeste and her all-female pack.
And with judgment came discrimination and rumors. It was no wonder Celeste preferred to remain neutral.
Exhaling in defeat, Hayden grabbed another arrow and nocked it. Before she could draw it, she felt the unmistakable sensation of being watched. Slowly, with control, she lowered her bow and assessed her surroundings without being too obvious about it.
Celeste was still a distance away. Hayden could hear her further in the woods. There was nothing in front of her or in her peripheral vision. She tested the air, unable to smell anything but the spilt blood from the animal Celeste had killed.
Whatever was watching her, it was watching her from behind.
Hayden pretended as if she hadn’t taken notice and busied herself with her bow and arrow. She drew it and aimed it at the target. Before she released it, she turned abruptly and pointed it at the figure behind her.
Her aim wavered and she loosened the tension in her bow as soon she recognized the black wolf standing across from her. “Cole,” she hissed softly, beyond exasperated. “How long have you been…”
She trailed off when she noticed the wolf’s skin was marginally loose, causing its black pelt to stick up in odd places. The wolf was still large, very similar to Cole’s majestic stature, but it appeared to have lost a bit of bulk and muscle. Perhaps the most obvious sign that it wasn’t Cole were the bright blue eyes that were currently drilling into her.
Her heart thudded painfully against her ribs as she raised her bow again, aiming it directly at the wolf. Nicolas. The wolf had an obvious kinship with Cole and Hayden believed she would recognize Nicolas no matter what form he took.
They stared at one another, neither of them acting, neither of them moving. Eventually, Hayden leveled her arrow again, a nonverbal warning to retreat. But Nicolas simply gazed at her, his stance proud and exceptionally dominant. However, he was serene, an inclination he wasn’t going to attack unexpectedly.
“What do you want?” Hayden whispered.
Nicolas kept his ears perked, his tail raised, and his neck high. He was unafraid of Hayden, so much so that he remained motionless when she released her arrow. It flew at his immovable figure and barely brushed the top of his head before embedding in the tree behind him.
Without flinching, he called her bluff. She couldn’t help thinking it was a role reversal from the last time they saw one another, when he had thrown his dagger at her.
Hayden lowered her bow completely, her wolf readily locking eyes with the Alpha before her. There was something in his gaze, something he wanted to communicate to her. He was alone and unaggressive, seemingly harmless if one did not know who he was.
She wondered why he made an appearance. Was it to scare her? To threaten her?
“I don’t know what you want.”
Nicolas opened his jaw, flashing his canines in displeasure. His tail flicked impatiently before he began backing up, his blue eyes rising to a spot above Hayden’s head. She turned quickly, spying Celeste as she came through the brush, a wild turkey in tow.
The redheaded woman automatically looked toward the spot Nicolas occupied. Hayden froze, wondering if Celeste would criticize her for not yelling for help as soon as Nicolas appeared.
“What are you doing?” Celeste asked, far from accusing and every bit amused.
Hayden looked over her shoulder, noticing Nicolas had disappeared and only her arrow remained embedded in the tree. She felt her palms sweat as she considered the situation.
"I wanted to catch my own breakfast,” she teased lightly, trying to offer a smile.
Momentarily, she wondered why she was keeping Nicolas’ presence a secret. Everyone at the cabin had a right to know Nicolas was here. But Hayden remembered the wolf’s unkempt and shabby appearance and wondered why she felt the need to protect him. Maybe it was the small link they shared through the superficial mating mark on her neck, or maybe it was because he was Cole’s brother and Hayden wanted some sort of closure for the Slayter family.
Cole would be furious. All of them would be furious if they knew. Nicolas had inadvertently destroyed their home, he had shot and possibly killed Devan, and the rogues he controlled were nothing short of monsters. It was those reasons and more why Hayden should be charging through the woods after him, calling for the others to hunt alongside her.
But her body stayed stiff, immobile.
Celeste dropped the turkey on the ground, ignorant to Hayden’s inner turmoil. “I’m sorry for overreacting earlier. You couldn’t have known the history I’ve shared with the traditional Alphas. I had no right to get angry.”
Hayden struggled to get a hold of herself. Shakily, she began collecting the arrows in the target and placing them back in h
er quiver. “You have nothing to be sorry about,” she murmured distractedly. “I would have never asked for your help if I knew how you felt.”
“Are we done for the day?” Celeste watched as Hayden packed up. “You’ve just learned how to shoot properly. I thought we planned to go bowhunting. You can catch your own turkey.”
She forced herself to slow down and recover her bearings. Telling Celeste she wasn’t feeling well would be an outright lie, as werewolves didn’t get sick. Of course, there was always the truth…
Instead, she attempted her own brand of deception. “I didn’t think you’d want to continue, not after I…”
Hayden hadn’t thought her manipulation would work so easily, at least not on her first try. Imagine her surprise when all the confusion cleared from Celeste’s face and the older woman lowered her guarded defenses.
“Nonsense.”
Celeste shouldered her bow and took a step closer to Hayden. Stopping a foot or two away, the other female adopted an assertive stance with her shoulders thrown back and her gaze hard and considering.
It was difficult to refrain from shifting uncomfortably under such scrutiny. Since Hayden met Celeste, the redheaded woman rarely ever challenged her outright. She always had a veil of open courtesy and genuine benevolence.
But the woman who currently stood across from Hayden seemed like an entirely different person. She seemed more elegant, more authoritative, and more powerful.
“I think it’s time for the pretenses to fall between us. We’re both intelligent women and we both want something.” Celeste raised her eyebrows. “I think it’s pointless if we keep dancing around each other. I’ve tried to establish a friendship with you, but how can you build a relationship based off distrust?”
Hayden raised her chin as the words registered. Clearly, she hadn’t deceived Celeste as she originally thought. Perhaps she’d only pissed her off.