by Lyla Oweds
Lee’s eyebrows had risen even further, and a slight grin touched his face. “That’s not how it works. Cécile won’t drag you to hell.”
Caleb gave me a solemn nod. “That’s right.”
“Oh…” But I’d been so sure. I glanced at Cécile. Slowly, the creature began to resemble something more like an innocent pet than evil demon spawn.
In fact, it was kind of cute.
Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Lee made a sound, and my attention returned to him as he shrugged. His grin grew wider, almost sadistic. “If a shikigami wanted to eat a shifter, they wouldn’t need to drag them to hell to do it. Cécile is able to eat you right now.”
I squeaked, as the animal’s eyes almost glowed in response to Lee’s statement. “What?”
“Will you knock it off? You’re not funny,” Caleb snapped, leveling a serious gaze in Lee’s direction, then he turned toward me. “Cécile is not going to eat you.”
“Are you sure?” My voice squeaked, and my face flushed with shame at my weakness.
Caleb’s lips turned up in a grin. “Babe, I’m positive.”
My heartbeat was echoing in my ears. I was fighting a losing battle. Of course, knowing that we were destined was making it more difficult to resist.
My lips parted, some semblance of a reply threatening to spill from my mouth, when it happened.
A twig snapped, the sound echoing through the space, and a second later, their scents hit me.
Shifters, eight of them. And all from the Silver Moon pack.
This was bad. Even though I was a rogue, it still wouldn’t go over well that I was trespassing on someone else’s property.
“What have we here?” A man with brown curly hair and an unbuttoned checkered shirt strode to the front of the group, his hands heavy in the pockets of his slacks. “Trespassers?”
Caleb’s breath caught and his arms went rigid around me. Lee stiffened. Cécile, on the other hand, remained silent in the background.
But the wolves didn’t even glance at the shikigami or the onmyoji. Though, I didn’t blame them. While, normally, shifters would be subdued by a shikigami, the odds weren’t stacked in our favor at the moment. We were hopelessly outnumbered.
Their focus zeroed in on Caleb.
It was a natural reaction to seeing fae. But I didn’t like it, and it didn’t give them the excuse to do what they wanted. Caleb, as he was in my quintet, was mine to defend.
He was my responsibility.
Frowning, I detangled myself from him and brushed off my skirts. Within the tense moment, I threw my senses out farther. Caleb had said that we were expecting both Jordan and David to join us.
However, if they were on their way, they weren’t near enough to be much help right now.
Lee shifted, crossing his arms, as Caleb cracked his neck. Neither seemed worried.
I only hoped it wasn’t because they were expecting me to help. I did outrank them in the shifter world, that was true. But the reason this group was ignoring me was because I was actively trying to radiate innocence. They would know I was rogue by my scent alone. If they thought I was useless, then the next best target would be Caleb.
I hated doing this, but it was the only way to escape without a fight.
“Why are the fae sniffing around where they don’t belong?” the ringleader asked, his gaze leaving Caleb as he smirked toward his companions. “Especially on our lands. You lot got no right to be here.”
Caleb, to his credit, didn’t look like the frightened woodland creature I expected him to become in the presence of a pack of wolves. However, as brave as he appeared, even he couldn’t mask the scent of fear radiating from him.
“She’s with the police,” Caleb’s voice was cool. “So you can’t stop us.”
Oh man, I tapped my fingers together while making my admission. “Technically, that’s not true.” Caleb’s focus shot toward me, his eyebrow raised, and I continued, “I’m just an unpaid intern. I’m not a city employee yet.” The admission stung, but Michael’s words remained engraved on my mind.
“So, we’ve got both a rogue and a fae trespassing,” the leader continued, the mirth growing from him with every passing second. “To think we’d get so lucky while out on patrol—”
“That’s weird. You don’t shift to patrol your lands?” I asked, my breath shallow as my thoughts scrambled in ways to prolong this confrontation as long as possible.
Normal people would probably allow invaders to leave their lands after this sort of confrontation. We hadn’t really been hurting anything, after all. But blood hung heavy in the air around these wolves—and shifters could never be classified as normal people.
This was why I hadn’t wanted to come here.
However, instead of coming out like the innocent question I intended, something about my query seemed to anger the brunette. His thick brows furrowed and angular jaw locked. “That’s none of your business, she-wolf.”
Caleb was frowning at the other man, and Lee continued to glance between the two of us, curious. But neither seemed to notice my bind.
We had to solve this peacefully. These wolves were far stronger than the dogs that I’d been forced to fight. Even with Lee here—a reality which I was grateful for at the moment—six against one useful fighter were not good odds.
Only shifting would win this battle.
“This is entirely our fault. We’re sorry to intrude. I’m actually working a case for your Alpha, and we picked a bad time.” Stepping between Caleb, I held my hands up, placating as my gaze remained fixated on the ground. “Surely he’s mentioned something? If he hasn’t, I’m sure it’s an oversight. We can—”
“Why the hell are you submitting?” Caleb stepped forward, grabbing my arm. His eyes flashed dangerously, an offended anger stirred within them.
My throat closed—I hated making him angry.
But he didn’t understand. “Caleb…” I exhaled his name on a breath. “Not now.”
“I talk a lot of shit, but I’m not an idiot. Fabian is barely even our level. You could take him easy.” Caleb ignored my warning.
The brunet—who really did resemble the teen idol, Fabian Forte, now that it was pointed out—shook his head in laughter. The rest of his crew followed, and my embarrassment grew.
“Shut up, Caleb.” I pulled back, rubbing my arm as my efforts redoubled. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Mind your own business.”
Lee’s expression turned dark, alarm crossing his expression, but a second later, Caleb was back in the center of my attention. His expression was cautious now. “What—”
Whatever he was about to say was lost. Now that I had his attention, Fabian was beginning to see through the facade.
“Hey…” The man tugged at my hand, spinning me toward him. “He’s right!”
My skin broke out in a cold sweat at the predatory grin on his face, and my ire swelled. Even despite my best efforts, I could no longer hold it back from my scent.
The wolf part of me stirred restlessly under my skin, longing to break free.
Fabian’s smirk grew wider.
“A rogue she-wolf, and a strong one! Usually you’re all submissive.” He sounded positively delighted. “This is more than we’ve been promised. Did you come here looking for a fight?”
“Not really…” I tugged my hand free, stepping back. “I told you why we’re here. It was a mistake to come at night, I admit. We’ll come back tomorrow, with your Alpha’s permission.” When he didn’t respond and glanced at his cronies instead, I reached back, grabbing Caleb’s sleeve. “We’re going to leave now. Thanks.”
A low growl vibrated through the area, and within a blink Lee, Caleb, and I had been separated by a row of bodies.
My skin prickled and my breath turned shallow.
Four shifters surrounded Lee, who’d stepped back, muttering under his breath with Cécile at his feet. Caleb was confronted by two, who had pushed him away from me.
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And then there was Fabian and the sidekick he’d passed most of his side-glances to, circling me.
“Are you going to do something, or would you like intervention?” Lee spoke finally, not sounding at all worried.
And he should have been, because he’d not win this fight alone.
“Let me handle it,” I gritted, shooting Caleb a warning glare.
“Handle what?” Fabian was in front of me again. “You’re looking for a fight? I like a she-wolf who can fight back.”
“I’m working for your Alpha,” I replied, hiding my trembling hands in the pleats of my skirt. “You really shouldn’t stir up trouble—”
He was quick, a more formidable foe than the witch and his dogs, and strong. I discovered that first-hand. One moment, I was pleading my case. The next, the ground had risen to meet me, and I dizzily touched my lip while blinking away darkness.
The smell reached me before my touch registered the wetness. The sharp sting radiating from my lip.
Blood.
Warmth spread through my chest, and my pulse raced. I couldn’t ignore this challenge.
“What the fuck?” Caleb’s enraged shout echoed in my ears. And another whistle pierced through the air—Lee, ordering his shikigami.
But even they faded as I focused on the wolf who challenged me. His hand was still in the air, superiority wreathing him.
Even as a rogue, I knew my place. He had to know the hierarchy. He had to. But among so many, I didn’t have a chance. This wasn’t a fair fight.
Red began to seep into my vision, instinct rising.
I couldn’t ignore this challenge.
But I couldn’t do anything about it either, no matter how much I longed to rip off his face. There was no way I could fight a wolf as a human. If he shifted, it was over.
I couldn’t goad him.
It took every ounce of self-control to look away first. To break my gaze from his mirthful eyes and retrain my attention to his shiny leather shoes. “I’m not challenging you.” The bitter admission spread through me like poison, and my nails dug into the soft dirt at my side.
Lee and Caleb were struggling in the background, but I couldn’t do a thing.
I’d never hated myself more.
This time. I expected his movement—his attempts to force me into a fight. His foot raised, and I curled into myself—just enough to indicate submission, but also to soften the blow.
I couldn’t fight back. I knew my limits, and there were too many people here, even with Lee and Caleb. I wouldn’t be able to beat him in hand-to-hand combat. He knew that as well as I did.
But as a wolf, it’d be different.
The only chance I had against him was shifting. He needed me to shift, I could smell the expectation. The heady sense of arousal as he waited for it to happen.
And if I shifted, he would do it too. He was expecting it.
If I resisted, he might as well.
Hopefully.
“I’m not going to fight you.” I rolled to my knees, barely breathing the words out through my winded position. “Please let us leave.”
The humor had fled from his expression now. All that remained was a slow-burning fury. A second too late, I realized how my words might sound.
After all, I’d always avoided being in this exact situation. So it wasn’t like I’d had practice trying to stay away from fights.
Sure enough, his next words confirmed my faux pas.
“You think you’re too good to fight me?” His skin rippled with the beginnings of a transformation, and my breath caught as I pushed myself to my knees. “You fucking shrew.”
Goddamn it.
“No…” I raised my hand toward him, my heart in my throat as my thoughts scrambled for a way to get us out of this situation.
But he was too far gone.
Fabian, and his cronies, had already begun to change, and the transformation of human to wolf finished within seconds.
A shifter’s speed of transformation depended on their position in the hierarchy in the pack. This development confirmed my earlier suspicions. Not that it mattered much, I couldn’t fight a wolf while in my human form, no matter their strength.
The large black wolf that was Fabian bared his teeth at me, a menacing growl low in his throat. The other wolf, slightly smaller, circled behind me. I was aware of the battle surrounding us. Of two other shifters downed, thanks to Cécile’s efforts. Caleb seemed well enough, though slightly scuffed up. The wolves facing him hadn’t yet changed; they didn’t seem to want to harm him much, yet.
The only thing harmed in his case was pride.
But Lee’s blood also scented the air, though the injury didn’t seem severe.
What was I supposed to do now? My pulse thrummed wildly as my panic spread. My opponent was a wolf with very sharp teeth. It wasn’t like I could punch him in the face.
Goddamn it.
Before I could think of my next step, to move to rectify the situation, Fabian lunged forward. My inactions seemed to cause him to grow more furious with every passing second. And, quite frankly, I didn’t blame him for his offense.
I knew exactly how bad this looked. I was breaking every manner of shifter etiquette.
It was just unfortunate. After all, it had never been my intention to hurt his male ego.
But I had. And now I was going to be ripped to pieces.
Bright white teeth flashed in my direction as he neared, and my eyes squeezed shut. At least I’d loved, and kissed, once in my life. Plus, there was that steamy make out session I’d had with Michael.
Still though, it would have been nice to have gone all the way. Instead, that single condom still lay untouched in the bottom of my clutch.
Damn it. If I made it out of here alive, I was going to jump Michael the first chance I got.
A warm body covered mine, and Caleb’s scent surrounded me like a blanket. Before I could breathe, he fell farther into me with a grunt. And the tang of his blood tainted the air.
My world stopped and sound faded. Caleb’s leather jacket was stiff beneath my touch, and I ran my fingers from the buttons of his clothing, toward his back. He cursed and shivered under my shaking hands.
Caleb hissed under his breath, and my heart sank. My exploration paused as I found the deep tear in the leather.
I didn’t want to press down further. I knew what I’d find if I did.
Fabian was moving in a circle behind Caleb, deep red blood dripping from his jaws. The other wolves had paused in their fighting, and even Lee stared at the two of us, stunned.
Fabian’s golden eyes met my own, and a low growl reverberated through the air.
And even though our minds didn’t meet, I could read his taunts by his expression alone. ‘I’ve injured your fae.’ His haughtiness was a tangible thing between us. ‘What are you going to do about it?’
There was a victorious swell radiating from his form. He knew as well as I did what it meant to be a shifter in a quintet. Everyone knew.
It was the natural way of life. Even before my pack—if I had one—came my quintet. It was a shifter’s job to protect their fae.
I didn’t have a choice. I had to retaliate. I needed to shift.
But it didn’t matter what nature intended, what the burning swell of my chest and the wolf inside me desired to do.
I was useless.
Dizziness washed over me, and a sick feeling began to twist in my stomach.
Caleb’s quick breath brushed over my ear. Then soft cursing as he moved to press himself from me. But he was hurt, and the desire to keep him close was inconsolable.
I couldn’t protect him, not like I was supposed to.
The storm was held at bay only a second longer before Lee sprang into action. A white light flashed between my attacker and me, just as the other wolf jumped forward once again. And although a small cat in appearance, Cécile was of supernatural origin. An otherworldly demon whose presence was far more than a typical feline.
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nbsp; The air rang, and suddenly Lee stood between us. A furious shield of red and darkness, with crimson dripping from a shining silver katana.
Surprise registered through my fear, but only for a second. Because not every onmyoji was skilled enough to conjure a demon-blessed weapon.
A flicker of hope broke through my panic. Perhaps we might have a chance.
Caleb grunted, pushing away from me, and this time succeeding. My heart felt sick at the barely-masked pain in his expression.
My hands were twisted in the front of his jacket now. He shouldn’t be moving. “Caleb—”
“Gloria, what are you doing?” His dark hair fell over his eyes as he spoke, and his forehead lowered to mine. “Why aren’t you shifting? Why are you afraid of this moron?”
“You should be able to take him easily,” Lee added, his angular jaw locked as his dark eyes flickered back toward us. But then his attention wavered as a wolf snapped into view, and his focus moved to forcing it back with a swipe of his blade.
Low sounds surrounded us—they were planning to attack as a group. It didn’t seem like Fabian wanted to play anymore.
Which meant that Lee had done something to really tick him off in order to reach the two of us. Guilt continue to stab at me. He shouldn’t have had to even resort to conjuring. This was my fault.
This was unacceptable.
“I’m not scared.” I pulled away from Caleb, moving to my knees. Crawling, I moved between him and Fabian—the most dangerous of the group. “I don’t need to—”
My statement was cut off as a second flash slammed into one of the wolves surrounding us. Their circle broke, and familiar scents washed over me. Bringing with it both calm and fresh panic.
My heart was at war with itself, the feeling twisting tighter as Gregory’s furious form swam into view at the edge of the clearing.
Our gazes met, and even from this distance, the force of his gaze caused my pulse to jerk.
Then Gregory was beside me, literally appearing out of thin air. The unexpected display caused me to jerk back; I’d heard fae were able to manipulate the spaces around them. But I’d never seen one do this before.
“About time,” Caleb muttered, still hunched over beside me.