by Kym Grosso
She smiled at Jax and Nick, letting her magic flow from inside. As if she were transforming into a cat, the mystical power took over and within seconds, she stood as a four-footed wolf. Feeling lighter, she stumbled, rolling onto her side. She whined, unable to find her balance. Determined to get comfortable in her new form, she tried again, her paws gripping the grass. She forced herself upward, thrilled when she finally stabilized her footing. Instinctively, she went to roar, but nothing emerged. Frustrated, she cringed and cowered toward the ground.
A large black wolf approached, flanking her. He barked, as if to teach her. She sniffed, recognizing him as Jax. A smaller light grey wolf howled in response and ran around them in circles. Gillian would have been comfortable to stay nuzzled against her brother, disappointed in her diminutive stature. A firm paw on her side urged her to vocalize.
Raising her head, she began a low growl, which grew louder until it resonated throughout the yard. With a final effort, a loud bark resounded and she celebrated by running around, chasing Nick. Gillian realized the strength, speed and agility of her feline hadn’t faltered, yet she’d suspected her ability to leap was stilted. Nevertheless, it didn’t thwart her excitement that she still could shift.
She and Nick circled the Alpha in play, taunting him with a nip. After two rounds of their antics, Jax sprang after her, forcing her to roll to the ground. With his forepaw over her belly, she cried, unable to move. Gillian didn’t do submission well, she knew. The feeling of helplessness in her new form was unacceptable. Struggling to get out from underneath him, she growled and gnawed at her brother. Without hurting her, Jax held firm, attempting to teach his sister a lesson.
A loud blur from her side barreled into Jax, freeing her. She bounded to her feet as the two wolves tussled in the turf. Realizing that Dimitri had come to her, she ran to them. A sense of fear washed over her, seeing them fight, and she crouched, yipping loudly for them to stop. Both wolves slowly disengaged, turning to stare at Gillian.
Transforming back, Gillian sat naked on the lawn, her feet curled under her. Grateful that she’d been able to run as wolf, tears of joy streamed down her face. Unlike her mother, who’d lost her abilities, she retained the magic of a shifter.
Both Jax and Dimitri altered back to their human selves, giving each other a hard stare. But their interaction was short lived as Dimitri broke their gaze, setting his attention on his mate. He closed in on Gillian, falling to his knees before her. He took her face in his hands, his own emotion brimmed from his lashes. Guilt. Pride. Amazement.
“Gilly. You did it!” he cried. “Why didn’t you wait for me? I could’ve helped you.”
“I…I wanted to surprise you,” she stammered.
“You’re stubborn, you know that?” He took her into his arms, pressing her against his chest, kissing her hair. “I heard you, I knew it was you. When I saw Jax on top of you, I wanted to kill him.”
“I’m okay, baby. Really. He was just playing.”
“No, no. He wasn’t playing. He was trying to teach you, but I’m afraid those Alpha genes are goin’ to make it tough for you.”
Gillian laughed into his kisses. His lips pressed to her forehead, onto her eyelids and cheeks, until he finally reached her mouth. She reached into his hair, pulling him to her, kissing him back. But as she heard voices surround them, she smiled. With her head against his, they gazed into each other’s eyes one last second, pretending they didn’t have an audience.
“Ah, to be young and in love,” Nick mused, yanking on his shorts.
“He’ll deny it,” Jake said from the deck.
“I pity the beta. She’s not one to be tamed,” Jax noted with a grin, almost as if he enjoyed it.
“Hey, I may be wolf now, but this girl’s tiger, through and through. Don’t worry, I’ll learn to get along in a pack.”
“There’s no challenging the Alpha, Gilly,” Jax huffed. “Or your beta for that matter.”
“I wasn’t challenging anybody. I was simply trying to get out from underneath you big hunk of a wolf. “
“Good luck with her,” Jax warned.
“There’s nothing wrong with her. She’s just spirited, is all,” Dimitri praised her, helping her to her feet.
“He’s got it bad,” Nick jested.
“Oh he does,” Jake agreed.
“Ya’ll are jealous,” Dimitri shot back.
“Don’t pay those boys any mind, baby. There’s only one man I’m submitting to, and it’s not them.” She winked.
“Seriously, folks. I just got off the phone with Logan. The guy we picked up last night said Chaz brought in half his pack, thinkin’ he’s going to get his due. He wouldn’t say where they’re holed up, but we think they’re waitin’ on the full moon to make their move.” Dimitri hated changing the subject, but they were in for an attack this evening.
“Gillian’s not going,” Jax stated.
Gillian opened her mouth to protest but Dimitri interrupted before she had a chance to speak.
“Gilly, I know you want to come, but Jax might be right. I think maybe you should go with some of the younger pack members. They’re goin’ into Baton Rouge. There’s a secure gated wildlife sanctuary up that way. It’s far enough away from where we run, where they’ll be safe from Chaz. Wynter’s taking Ava out of the city…we’ve got a few of the males going, too, for extra protection just in case. The full moon’s tonight and you’re gonna want to shift. You’d be safer there.”
“Why would you want me to go there when I can help here?” she asked. Confusion washed over her face. No fucking way, she thought. I’m going to help kill that asshole who tortured me and who’s trying to wreck my life. “No, wait. Don’t tell me. It doesn’t matter. I’m going with you. You just saw it. I can shift. I’m not staying back.”
“I know you’re strong, cher. But you’re new at this. Jax and Nick, they’ll come with us. Chaz doesn’t have a chance with all of us here. You, on the other hand, are a new wolf. You could get hurt.” Dimitri tugged on his shorts, and reached to hand Gillian her bathing suit.
“No, Dimitri.” Gillian grabbed her things and stormed over to the deck. “I’m the one who was captured and tortured by that maniac. Now that he can’t have me or my gifts, he’s going to want to punish me for killing his friends. I’m not going to sit here and let people I don’t know go out there and fight for me. Not without me by their sides. No way.”
“Look, you did great just now. Don’t get me wrong, you’re a fighter, but you’ve never run with a pack,” Jax reminded her.
“So what? I’ll stay with the pack. Of everyone talking right now, I’m the one who, as shifter, has killed the most wolves from his pack. I may not be a tiger any longer but I’m still strong.”
Dimitri sighed and put his hands on his hips, shaking his head.
“I can do this. Believe in me. It’s not right to let you all go out there and put your lives on the line while I’m safe. Please, Dimitri. Please, I swear I’ll stay with the pack. I’ll do whatever you tell me to do,” she begged.
“She goes,” Dimitri snapped. “I’ve seen this woman here, and she’s tough. And she’s right. She’s not a damsel in distress. She’s defended herself before. We just need to keep her tight in the pack.”
“Okay, okay. As much as I hate to say it, she knows the adversary better than we do. The way she just fought me back there,” Jax smirked, “she’s going to be as good as any male out there. I don’t know whether it’s the tiger in her or what but she’s really strong.”
“Thank you,” she said softly, her head hanging low.
Dimitri wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders, and she melted into him. He’d stood up for her, believed in her. And her brother, who she once hadn’t trusted, now trusted her as well.
Gillian contemplated her decision, knowing she could die. Yet she refused to allow fear to blur her judgment. She was determined to get Chaz out of her life, once and for all, even if she had to kill him herself.
Chapter Twenty
“Logan and Jax are taking the lead tonight,” Dimitri informed the small group who waited outside his home. The full moon rising shone brightly onto the bayou, its reflection glistening off the small waves. “Gilly, you’ll stay with Nick and me. Since I’m not running with Logan, Jake’s gonna be running with the pack.”
“You don’t need to stay with me,” Gillian began.
“No, darlin’, that’s where you’re wrong. Ya’ll know I love Logan, and my place would normally be at his side. But not tonight.”
“But…”
“No argument, Gilly,” he growled. “Logan and I have discussed this. You have no say in this decision. You stay with your mate, tonight. I know you can hold your own, but it’s my responsibility to help you learn how to run within the pack and protect you if necessary.”
Gillian startled at his dominant command. She refused to lower her gaze despite her wolf cowering in her mind’s eye. The last time he’d said similar words they’d been in the bedroom, submission in a different form. Yet tonight, it’d be in a pack. Gillian wished it would come naturally to her, yet acquiescing felt artificial. She recalled her conversation with Dimitri. Submission is about trust. No matter how independent she’d been with regards to her tiger, she trusted Dimitri.
“Okay,” she managed. Gillian’s heart squeezed as a small smile formed on his lips and his face softened. She saw relief in his eyes. He wanted her to be safe tonight.
Dimitri brushed the back of his knuckles against her cheek, and turned to Jake.
“You ready?”
“You bet. Hey, where’s Leo?” Jake asked.
“Let’s just say I’ve got him on standby. This is a wolf dispute. Logan’s not going to want him involved unless things go south,” Dimitri explained. “Wynter’s taking Ava out of town. We don’t want to risk them trying to attack our homes. Given the extremes this guy went to to force a mating, who knows what he’ll try?”
“Ah, the putrid smell of desperation,” Nick commented.
“Yeah, I think maybe he thought he’d come here just for you, but when he finds out you’ve already been mated, he’s going to go off. Hell, he brought his pack here,” Dimitri offered. “He has his jet at the airport. Some of them flew commercial. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Who even does that?” Nick said.
“Someone who wants power they don’t have,” Jax said.
“Well, we don’t always get what we want. My gift is gone.” Gillian looked to Dimitri, her gaze steeled in determination. “He’s going to regret coming here.”
A large wolf approached, giving a commanding bark. Several dozen wolves followed.
Gillian’s nerves jittered as she set her eyes on the pack. As a tiger, she’d been unaffected by any shifters she happened to pass in the middle of the night. But as wolf, the hum of their energy was palpable. Like an orchestra, they played as one, each individual wolf playing their own part for the greater good.
“Stay with me,” Dimitri said, stripping off his jeans.
“I will,” she promised.
“Whatever goes down, do not go it alone. Don’t leave the pack. If something happens to me, stay with Nick. You sure you still want to run?”
Gillian nodded as he embraced her, kissing her in front of the entire pack. His lips destroyed any remaining wisps of trepidation. As he released her, she wished she could tell him that she loved him. Her heart overflowed with emotion and she fought to keep it at bay, knowing it was not the time to disclose her feelings.
The magic of the moment broke as Dimitri released her hand and shifted. She followed his lead, transforming and padding alongside him. They broke into an easy lope, yet the tension remained high. Amazed at how natural it felt to be in a pack as wolf, she took a deep sniff. Even this early in her journey, she was able to identify pack members by their singular recognizable scent.
After an hour of traveling through the soft brush, they stopped to drink from the bayou. She observed how the other wolves kept watch over each other, aware of the gators that lingered, waiting on their next meal. Heat lightning flashed in the distance and she glanced to the stars. The moon still shone brightly, but a dark line in the sky warned of an impending storm. Thunder cracked, and she instinctively huddled into Dimitri. She felt his muzzle underneath her own, and gave him a quick lick, letting him know she was all right.
A chorus of barking commenced and through the din, she heard the sound of shots being fired. The pack split up, groups of three to five wolves dispersing into the brush. Dimitri growled, warning her to stay against a tree. Out of the corner of her eye, she spied a human atop the hill. Sparks lit up the darkness as the bullets sprayed into the forest. Her stomach lurched as a glint of light illuminated Chaz’s face.
The sickening cry of wolves being attacked trumpeted into the night. Aware that her pack mates might have been injured, her adrenaline pumped. Instinct enticed her to go on the offensive, but both Nick and her mate warned her back, keeping her nestled between them. A blood-curdling whine tore through her as bullets whizzed by their heads. Dimitri barked in command and took off toward a thicker patch of trees. With Nick behind her, she followed him.
By the time they’d reached safety, she noticed Nick had gone missing. Dimitri shifted back, holding his fingers to his lips.
“Stay here,” he whispered to her. Mouthing the word, ‘silver’, he pointed to Jax, who lay bloodied against the dirt, having been hit in the leg. He pointed up the hill to Logan. A hundred yards away, their Alpha fought Chaz. Both had transformed to wolf, the gleam of their fangs intermittent as the clouds moved in, blocking the moonlight. A second wolf attacked, latching itself to Logan’s hind quarters. Dimitri sniffed into the air, hoping to scent Nick or Jake but he couldn’t locate them. With Jax injured and Nick and Jake missing, Logan was alone.
Gillian shook her head no, realizing he was going to go to his Alpha. It was his role, she knew, but she was terrified. The smell of blood hung heavy in the air, and Gillian’s urge to fight back began to supersede her desire to submit to his wish to stay put.
“I’m serious. Do not follow,” Dimitri told her. “Just stay here under the brush where I can see you. Logan’s getting torn up over there. I fucking hate leaving you but he’s in trouble. Where the hell are Nick and Jake?”
She whined in response and swiveled her head, looking for Nick, who was supposed to be behind her. Unable to see him or Jake, she scratched at Dimitri’s arm, growling in distress. Something was wrong, very, very wrong.
“Right here, behind this tree. Stay put,” Dimitri repeated, shifting back to his wolf.
As he took off toward Logan, a torrential downpour commenced. Gillian heard a small cry, one made from a familiar human voice. She hesitated. Dimitri would be pissed if she left her position, but with the hard rain she was no longer visible to him. An agonizing moan resonated through the patter of water drops, and she took off in search of its owner.
Sheets of rain cut through the night, and within minutes the ground was saturated. Several howling wolves called into the clatter nearly stopping her dead in her tracks. She’d never expected that as pack, she’d instinctively feel and know their pain, their fear. But it was a small gurgle that caught her attention. Turning toward the noise, she slid into the deep mud, her claws clutching at the dirt. Scenting the air was difficult due to the potent ozone, but as she stumbled forth, her heart caught.
Barely visible in the mist, she caught sight of Nick clutching at his throat. Shifting back to human, the cold driving pellets rocketed into her skin. Her vision came into focus and she stifled a scream. Stark white, he looked grey, almost as if he was glowing. His eyes bulged, a hard rattle came from his chest and she threw her hands over his. Gillian applied pressure in an attempt to stem the hemorrhage. Blood spurted through her fingers and she cried out helplessly for Jax.
“Jax, please.” Her slippery hands shook as she attempted to close his wound. “No, Nick, please Goddess, no. You need
to shift.”
“Jax,” he croaked. “Love him. Sorry.”
“You tell him yourself. Please Nick. Please, I need you to fight.” Gillian gently laid her body next to his, hoping that she’d be able to warm him, to heal him. Her tears mixed with the deluge falling from the sky as she tried to summon the power that had belonged to her cat. With her face on his chest, she heard his heartbeat slow, and the realization he was going to die hit her. “No, Nick. We need you. Jax needs you.”
Gillian searched deep within her psyche for her healing powers. Weak, her energy flickered like a defective light bulb. Her concentration faltered upon hearing a hiss escape his lips. As Nick’s final breath ceased, his limp arms fell open, his spirit ascending to the Goddess. Gillian fought the hysteria that seized her at the realization he’d stopped breathing. Sobbing, she caressed his cheek, refusing to believe he was dead. Growls in the distance reminded her of the imminent danger, but she refused to leave him behind.
A branch broke, alerting her, and she sensed the Alpha. Jax. When he reached Nick, he gave a mournful howl and promptly turned to his human form.
“Nick.” Jax fell to his knees, raking both his hands through his wet hair.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. He’s gone. I tried to heal him but it was too late.” Gillian backed away from Nick, placing a final kiss to his brow.
“Nick,” Jax repeated. Sitting in the muddy grass, he gently cradled his friend in his arms. Burying his head into Nick’s hair, he sobbed, crushed by his loss.
Gillian put her arms around her brother, and he clutched at her, seeking comfort. Five more shots rang out into the night, startling both Jax and Gillian. She searched the darkness and caught sight of Logan falling to the ground. Dimitri ran across through the woods toward Chaz, who’d begun firing again. Her beta ducked and weaved, lurching onto his enemy’s back. Chaz, shifting to wolf, went feral, his eyes glowing red. The crunching of teeth against bone reverberated in the wind.
A surge of hatred coursed through Gillian, and her beast growled in response. The barrage of rain falling wasn’t enough to drown out the sound of the small roar in her chest, and she rejoiced at the realization that somewhere within her the great cat lived. Tearing across the woods, Gillian let her power flow. While she was still a wolf, her claws and fangs extended further and sharper, like she’d known as a tiger. With unleashed fury, she lurched at Chaz’s back and swiped her talons at him, tunneling his flank wide open.