The movement was weak, subtle, but he watched as though caught in a time warp, the ring turning over and over as it sailed through the air, and he caught it in his bloodied fist.
Power coursed through him, and his beast lifted his head and roared inside him.
Trinity’s head lolled back as Matthias’s eyes glowed briefly, then the fist he’d used to catch the ring flashed through the air, smashing into the black wolf’s snout.
The lycan yelped, thrown backward from the brutal force. Matthias rolled, his face tight with fury, and he pounded into the wolf.
“You want to know my secret?” he roared, and Trinity tried to roll to her side. Matthias fumbled as he tried to slide the ring onto his pinkie, his fingers slick with blood, with sweat. The black wolf snapped, his jaws closing around Matthias’s hand.
Matthias roared, and Trinity saw the rage bloom in his eyes. He pried the wolf’s mouth open, ignoring the nips the wolf tried to take. “You want it that bad,” he yelled, and clasped his hands around the lycan’s snout, and Trinity wanted to scream in frustration when she saw his bare finger. Rafe had bitten off the ring.
“You can have it,” Matthias gritted. He forced the lycan’s head back, then jabbed the wolf in the neck. The lycan coughed, his body writhing as he made choking sounds, then he swallowed. He bucked. He writhed. Matthias flung him away from him, then scooted back toward Trinity. She heard a commotion behind her, but she couldn’t take her eyes off her alpha prime.
The black wolf staggered, harsh coughs heaving his back. He shuddered, his fur rippling as though something was moving beneath the skin. The wolf’s eyes widened, startled. He stood up briefly on his hind legs, his forelegs pawing the air. The muscles on his stomach rippled and writhed, then he fell to all fours again, fear creeping into his gaze as he turned to look at Matthias and Trinity. The wolf coughed, then lifted his head to the skies and howled.
The sound was so agonized, so heart-wrenching, so mournful, it gave Trinity goose bumps. Rafe turned to Matthias, his head low, his tail between his legs. He surveyed the crowd surrounding them, staggering in one direction, then turning to pad in another, as though seeking help. The guardians stared at him, then as one, folded their arms. He would get no help from them. The wolf paused, looking at Matthias and Trinity over his shoulder, his eyes stark with a horrific understanding, then he turned and sprinted off into the forest.
Trinity sagged, and Matthias reached her just before she lay back on the ground again. “I’ve got you,” he said, his tone ragged yet tender.
“You rat fink,” she rasped, lifting her gaze to meet his.
“Love you, too, honeybun.”
Emotions battled within her, relief, love, anger, sadness—she wasn’t quite sure which direction she should be pulled, but one thing had become crystal clear in her mind. He’d known he couldn’t face Rafe as an equal, had even banked on it, all to release her from his imprint. Dalton had told her that a male will risk his life to protect his mate, and that’s what Matthias had been doing, in his own stubborn, wrong and completely flawed, exquisitely beautiful way.
He gazed down at her, holding her gently in his arms. “I couldn’t protect you,” he said softly. “I thought to release you from your death sentence.”
She bit her lip when she heard her own words in his voice, realizing how deeply they must have cut him. She smiled weakly. “I learned that living without you, however you came to me, would be a death sentence.” She took a ragged breath. “I accept your claim, Matthias Marshall—and from what I understand, there are no take-backs.”
He smiled, dipping his head to press his lips gently against hers. “No, there aren’t. You’re stuck with me, now.”
She sagged against him, then glanced beyond him. Her pack were gathered. The younger members, the juveniles and adolescents, were stunned, perhaps even a little fearful and uncertain. The older members were milling about a group that had just emerged from the forest. Nate, Ryder and Dave were at the forefront, but it was the group behind them that caught her eye. Zane, Dion and Dalton led them. Kai trooped behind, and Roscoe helped Gilbert up the slight incline, followed by Agatha and the rest of the elders as Warwick herded the pups.
Zane surveyed the scene, eyeing the Woodland pack warily. Both Woodland and Alpine faced each other, the tension so thick it was suffocating. Matthias staggered to his feet and reached down to gently lift Trinity to hers. She leaned against him, grateful for his power, his strength. His hand on the small of her back, they faced the large group.
Matthias’s green gaze met Trinity’s, confusion tinged with gratitude, before he looked over at Dave. He held up his hand, claws poking through his skin. “What happened? I can feel it—my beast and I are completely in synch. I can shift—I can control it.”
Trinity frowned. She didn’t feel any different, either. She glanced down at her good hand, and tried a subtle shift. Her claws poked through her skin. She gaped. She could still shift, too.
“Your darling wolf asked me to create a transfer spell, and we shifted the curse from your wife’s ring to her mother’s. She also asked to transfer the curse from you to her.”
“Trin,” Matthias murmured in shock as he looked at her, sadness making his expression bleak. “No, what were you thinking?”
She shook her head and held up her hand, revealing her claws in an effort to reassure him. “I’m fine—and I was trying to help you.” She turned to Dave, puzzled. He’d been so confident. “Your spell didn’t work.”
His eyebrow rose above his sunglasses. “Oh, but it did, darlin’. I just made a few minor adjustments. Oh, and I didn’t transfer it to you.” He tilted his head in the direction the black wolf had taken. “As soon as Matthias’s blood bound the spell, the curse shifted to that lycan, and the talisman he now carries within him will prevent him from shifting. Ever.”
“We should go after him,” Zane said.
Matthias shook his head. “No.” He straightened his shoulders, wincing at the pain from all of his wounds. “Rafe Woodland is bound in his wolf form forever. I can tell you from experience, that is hell on earth. He’s now a stray.” He eyed the group. “He’s forfeited his pack, his family, and can no longer plot, or lead. If he isn’t driven mad by the loneliness, he won’t survive for long on his own. I think that is punishment enough.”
Trinity blinked. That was generous. She leaned her head against his chest. She still wanted to kill the bastard for everything he’d done, new rage born from learning of her father’s murder, but if Matthias could show mercy, maybe she could, too.
Matthias looked down at her. “Alpine has its justice. Rafe will continue to pay for Jared’s death, until he dies. We Alpine guardians can go home.”
Her mouth opened, and she surveyed the group she’d called family. She was committed to the Alpine guardian prime, now. Her home was with Matthias. It was bittersweet, knowing that she would be leaving Woodland, the only home she’d ever known.
Gilbert hobbled forward. “You can’t,” the elder said. The old man looked at Dion, who nodded and then crossed to the guardian who had caught the jewelry Rafe had tossed to him.
Dion then approached Matthias, and Trinity watched him with curiosity. Understanding dawned when Dion held out the broken chain and ring in the palm of his hand, and she smiled at the Woodland Guardian Prime, touched by his respect by returning Matthias’s ring. Matthias stared at it for a moment, then tilted his head. “Keep it,” he told the guardian. “I don’t need it anymore.”
Happiness warmed Trinity, almost overwhelming the painful throb in her shoulder. Dion’s eyebrows rose in surprise, then he shrugged, pocketing the ring and chain. The guardian prime glanced over his shoulder, his intent gaze meeting each of his pack members, before he turned to Gilbert.
“Elder Prime, would you do the honor?” Dion asked in a formal tone.
Gilbert nodd
ed, stepping forward, his gaze alternating between Trinity and Matthias. Trinity straightened. She’d always respected Gilbert; he’d been a good adviser to her father. She chewed her lip. He was looking at her so seriously. Matthias’s hand stroked her back, and she took comfort in his touch. She wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen. Perhaps they were to address the matter of her “betrayal.”
“Alpine Guardian Prime,” Gilbert said in a clear voice that resonated throughout the clearing. “Woodland Pack apologizes for its part in your alpha prime’s death. We seek to offer recompense, and will send a representative to negotiate with Samantha, Alpine Alpha Prime.”
Matthias inclined his head. “Alpine accepts.”
Trinity closed her eyes briefly in relief. It was over. Alpine would move forward, and Woodland would, as well. Her pack would pay for the sins of its alpha prime, but it could now walk in honor. No more lycans needed to die over this. Justice was done.
Gilbert then lifted his chin. “There is a small matter of a challenge,” he stated. “A challenge to Woodland Alpha Prime was made and accepted. You have defeated the alpha prime. Tribal law will be accepted and enforced.” He offered Matthias the ring bearing the Woodland crest in the customary ritual, one hand cupping the other, the ring resting on his uplifted palm, his head bowed. “Will you accept the position of Woodland Alpha Prime?”
Trinity’s eyes widened, and she flicked her glance up at her lycan. Matthias’s expression was stunned.
“What?”
Dion’s lips curved in a smile at his reaction. “You conquered our alpha prime.” He gestured to the group surrounding them. “You’ve freed us. You’ve shown us your strength—and that was only the half of you. In all of this, despite what was done to your pack, you treated us with honor and dignity, and we respect that. You deserve this, and we honor you.” Simply spoken, the words carried the dignity and esteem of a pack. The guardian prime shifted so that he stood shoulder to shoulder with Woodland’s elder prime. “Will you accept the position of Woodland Alpha Prime?”
Trinity met Matthias’s gaze, and his eyebrows rose, as though asking her a question. She gave a tiny shrug. It was his decision. Matthias swallowed, his gaze wandering over the crowd gathered before them.
Dalton was the first to move, lowering himself to one knee, head bowed in submission. The guardian next to him did the same, and one by one, throughout the crowd, each followed suit. The elders, the guardians, the entire pack—they all knelt on one knee, head bowed, in acceptance of a new alpha prime.
Matthias’s throat worked, and his hand slid up to gently rest on Trinity’s shoulder. He nodded, reaching out. “I accept,” he stated in a firm voice.
Gilbert slid the ring on his finger, and then he and the guardian prime knelt briefly on one knee, head bowed, then rose and leaned over to kiss the ring.
Dion then turned, claimed Trinity’s hand, bent over and kissed the back of her hand. She swallowed. It was a mark of respect, of acceptance, of loyalty. Gilbert stepped forward to do the same, and she sucked in a breath. It was the formal acceptance of a consort prime from the pack’s guardian and elder primes.
Her pack accepted her.
Chapter 24
Matthias stared at the group gathered around the fire. Light flickered over the makeshift camp village they’d set up at the cave entrance that led to the original den, dancing with the shadows. The mood was slightly somber, once the rest of the pack saw the destruction of their home den. None of them had been aware of the cave-in, nor the lost lives, so there was a sense of sadness and shock about the camp. The Alpine guardians remained, deciding to return to the Alpine den the following morning.
The pups were sleeping in the tents, and he had to fight the urge to go check on Jax. He wanted to hold the boy, reassure himself that he was safe. He ducked his head. Let the boy sleep. Tomorrow would be a brand-new day, and he had a list building of all the things he wanted to take care of—like hugging Jax, showing his she-wolf she meant the world to him, starting the official cleanup process for the den and getting to know his pack.
He sighed. He couldn’t believe what had transpired. Never in those haunted midnight dreams did he ever believe he would be chosen to lead a pack. He hadn’t thought he could, with his limitations, but the battle with Rafe had taught him something. Love could give you strength. When Trinity had been injured, it was as though a match had been dropped in a pool of lighter fluid. The sparks, the heat, the all-consuming desire for destruction, for vengeance and retribution, had given him a strength, a toughness that would have annihilated his enemy, despite the odds.
If he couldn’t shift, he would have still accepted their offer, because at that moment, after that battle—with the risks far more than just to himself—he’d proved his strength to himself. Now, he finally felt like his insides matched his skin. He was strong. He was powerful, and he was in complete harmony with his beast, and he reveled in it.
He turned to the she-wolf at his side. And it was all because of Trinity. He gently pulled her to him, careful of her injuries. He was already healing, as was she, but she’d been ripped pretty bad. He would cosset her and cherish her for as long as she would let him.
“I can’t believe you were willing to sacrifice your ability to shift for me,” he told her quietly in her ear, then nipped gently at her lobe. He smiled when she trembled.
“And I can’t believe you were prepared to die to get me out of this imprint thing,” she shot back, and despite her cheeky smile, he could see the shadows deep in her eyes.
“I didn’t want to trap you into something you clearly didn’t want, especially if I couldn’t keep you safe.”
She threaded her fingers through his and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Like I said, I’ll take you any way I can.”
He closed his eyes, so humbled by her big heart. He leaned down to nuzzle the back of her neck. “Speaking of taking me...”
She laughed softy. “I have a feeling your pack want your attention just a little longer on your first night as alpha prime.”
He shook his head. Alpha prime. He was still trying to get used to that. “Doesn’t an alpha prime get certain...privileges?” He bit gently, and was rewarded with her muffled groan and the tremble that shook her body against his.
Her grip tightened on his hand. “Let’s go.”
They rose, nodding to the elders and some of the guardians. Nate and Zane gave a casual wave of their hands, deep in conversation with Dion and Dalton. Ryder stepped forward, and Matthias pulled up. Dave reclined against a log, a beer in one hand, a pretty Woodland werewolf in the other, his sunglasses shielding his eyes. As eager as Matthias was to have some alone time with his she-wolf, he owed these men a debt of gratitude.
“Trinity told me what you did for me,” he said to them. “I appreciate that.” When he’d first heard of Jared’s death, he’d wanted to rip this man to shreds. Discovering the truth, though, had made him rethink his position. Ryder Galen was a stand-up guy. He tilted his head to the side.
“I wish you well,” Ryder said, accepting the hand Matthias extended, shaking it briefly. “I’ve made a list of some of the medical supplies you still need, and I’ll organize for them to be sent through.”
Matthias’s eyes narrowed. “I forgot you were running your family’s medical clinic now.” Ryder was a dentist, but his father, Arthur Armstrong, and brother, Hunter, provided medical treatment to all forms of the shadow breeds in Irondell. With Arthur sitting in a Reform jail cell awaiting trial for his part in the conspiracy to murder Jared Gray, and his brother missing, Ryder had stepped in, sourcing staff in order to keep the clinic open to serve the shadow breed population. “Thanks for that. How’s it going?”
Ryder grimaced. “It keeps me busy.”
“Have you heard from your brother?” He valued family, valued pack. If you were lucky enough to
have family, you kept in touch.
“No,” Ryder muttered, and shot a dark look at Dave, who held his hands up in a defensive gesture.
“It’s not my fault,” he said, then took a swig of his beer. “Blame your brother.”
Matthias’s eyebrows rose. “You know where he is?”
“I know who he’s with,” Ryder said slowly in qualification.
“Ah, like that, is it?” He glanced down at Trinity. Disappearing with a woman for a few months held a definite appeal.
Ryder shook his head as Dave choked on his beer. “Not quite.”
“Not at all,” Dave rasped. “He pissed off the wrong woman, so he’s temporarily out of commission.”
Matthias tilted his head as he looked down at the witch. “Thank you. Again.”
Dave waved a hand. “Don’t mention it.”
Ryder frowned. “Why do you demand a favor from me anytime I ask you for help, but Matthias gets your services for free?”
Dave rested his head against the log, and stared at Matthias for a moment. “Because—”
One of the female werewolves cried out, and Matthias turned immediately, hearing the shock, the fear in that sound. There was a general outcry, and Woodland Pack scrambled to their feet. Guardians from both packs shouldered their way through the crowd, and Matthias immediately stepped forward, Trinity right behind him.
The hairs on the back of his neck rose as the strong, metallic scent of blood hit him, along with that faint trace of death.
Woodland Pack members warily stepped out of the way as Lucien Marchetta stalked into the camp, accompanied by four more vampires. Matthias’s eyes rounded when he saw the limp body of Lucien’s sister in his arms. Vivianne Marchetta was a beautiful woman, but it was hard to see that beauty beneath the blood that now covered her.
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