Kiss of Fire: A Dystopian Shifter Romance (The Whitemoon Warriors #2) (The Whitemoon Warriors Series)

by Nichole Wolfe

  Alaric let out a long whistle and clapped Torin on the shoulder. "I'm sorry, brother. I know you liked her."

  Liked her. Ha. That was the understatement of the year. "I've claimed her."

  The other warriors all wore identical faces of shock at that news. "Dude," Alaric called.

  "Yeah," Torin stated.

  "What he's failing to mention is that he hasn't marked her yet," his father chimed in, glancing over at him with raised brows.

  "Dude?" Alaric repeated, lifting his shoulder at him.

  "Look," he said, holding a palm up. "Her life has been harder than any of you sissies can even imagine, so, no. We haven’t, you nosy perverts. But that doesn't matter. Blackmoon has taken more than just Autumn, which means..." He gave each warrior a hard gaze. "We're getting them back. Tonight."

  Alaric's face broke into a wide grin. "Finally." He waggled his eyebrows at the others, who all chuckled and chimed in agreement.

  His father grabbed his arm and yanked him to face him. "I did not call for an invasion," he growled.

  "No," Torin agreed. "But you should have. It is our duty to protect our women and children."

  "I'm going with you," Kayline said, her voice unwavering as Talon forgot about Torin and turned on her.

  "The hell you are!" He went to snatch her arm, but she dashed away, disappearing down a dark alley in a moment. Talon took off after her, but, by the looks of it, he wasn't catching up anytime soon.

  Alaric rubbed his hands together. "Let's get this party started."

  ***

  "Jaxon," the man who'd dragged Autumn back to Blackmoon barked from the doorway, dashing her hopes for a miracle. "They've come."

  A smile broke across Jaxon's face. "Excellent." His weight lifted from her, letting her breathe a sigh of relief. "I'll be back later," he murmured to her, gripping her jaw and pressing a hard kiss on her.

  After he'd dashed back out the door, she hopped to her feet and sprinted toward the one tiny window in the room. That brought the last time she'd been in this room rushing back to her. When she'd been slamming herself against the door trying to escape. Her eyes fell on the one exit from the room. What the hell, why not? She couldn’t just sit here and do nothing. Not anymore.

  Setting her shoulders back, she marched over to the door, pressing her ear against it. There were shouts far in the distance. A quick check out the window confirmed that no one had stayed around to guard her. She shook the doorknob. Damn. But they had bothered to lock the door. Oh, well. Guess she’d be banging herself up again.

  Slam. The door creaked, the little sound sparking some semblance of hope. Slam. That was a definite crack. Good gods, had they actually put the same broken door back on the hinges? Slam.

  CRASH! The door fell from the hinges, and she stared at the opening. It worked. Holy gods, it had actually worked!

  She almost jumped for joy, but no time for that nonsense. Sprinting out into the open, she veered left towards the forest. But, as she darted around one of the buildings on the village border…

  Bang! Her body bounced off of a very solid chest, making her stumble backwards. A hand shot out, gripping her arm and stopping her from falling.

  “Autumn?!”

  Her head snapped up at the familiar voice. The most beautiful sound she’d ever heard in her life. Followed by the most beautiful sight. “Torin!”

  She jumped into Torin's arms, hearing his sweet gasp of surprise and the heavenly feel of his arms enveloping her in a feeling of complete safety. Cupping his face in her hands, she showered him in kisses. Because her heart was practically bursting at the seams. And then she remembered that Jaxon had literally just smashed his ugly face on hers.

  Leaping away from him, she scrubbed her palm over her face. But she could still smell the monster all over her. Her clothes, her skin, even her hair. She needed to jump into a frozen lake!

  "I'm sorry," she muttered. "I'm sorry. I know you can smell him on me. I'm sorry."

  "The son of a bitch touched you?!" Fury flashed across his kind face, making her shrink back against the wall on instinct. But his anger melted away a moment later before he folded her inside his arms again. "You have nothing to be sorry for." He stepped back from her and took her hand in his. “C’mon. Let’s get you home.”

  Yes, please. She nodded and followed him, realizing she'd follow him just about anywhere probably.

  They crept between buildings, making their way around the perimeter of the village. Until a violent roar echoed in the distance.

  Torin froze at the sound, his eyes going wide. "Pop," he whispered. When a second roar joined the first, they both sucked in a breath. Because even Autumn recognized the second roar. "Oh, shit," Torin muttered, dashing toward the sound and dragging Autumn along with him.

  "What is it?" Autumn asked as she struggled to keep up with Torin's pace.

  Torin glanced back at her for only a moment. "It's a fucking Death Match."

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  Cursing himself to hell and back, Torin flew through the alleys, darting between buildings and eventually hoisting Autumn into his arms when her stamina ran out.

  The other warriors soon came into sight, forming a circle around the two Alphas just before the tree line of the forest. He recognized his father instantly, the dusky brown fur and hazel eyes in sharp contrast to the pure black of Jaxon's coat and eyes. Black as the bastard's soul. Recognition slammed into him. The wolf he’d fought on the full moon. Yeah, and just about ate you alive.

  "What the fuck happened?" he asked as he joined the group of his own pack's warriors on one side of the circle. The real question was how the fuck did this happen? Because Torin knew what two Alphas in wolf form circling each other meant. Especially when all the other warriors had stopped fighting to witness the battle.

  Alaric turned. "Their fucking Alpha challenged Talon to a Death Match. Can you believe that shit?"

  Well...given Jaxon's reputation. Yeah. Sounds like something the arrogant son of a bitch would do.

  "This isn't good," he muttered.

  "Ya think," Alaric retorted.

  Autumn tapped him on the shoulder, pulling his attention from the snarling and snapping happening in the ring. "I'm sorry. But what is a Death Match?"

  "It's how power exchanges hands in packs. Whoever kills the Alpha takes his place as head of the pack." Primitive and barbaric in nature, but many of their kind fit that description. So, it was no wonder their political system would be just as primitive and barbaric. And so easily corrupted by power-hungry lunatics like Jaxon. Because becoming Alpha was a lifetime commitment. There was only one way out.

  His father roared as Jaxon swiped a heavy claw along his side. Torin and the other warriors winced at the sight. A familiar voice cursed beside him.

  He snapped his head around. “Kay! What the hell are you doing here? This is a battle, for gods’ sakes.”

  Her icy eyes glowered at him, cold determination radiating from the depths. “It’s my pack, too. I have just as much right to defend it as you do.”

  Looking over at Alaric, he narrowed his eyes. “Has she been here the whole time?”

  Alaric shrugged. “She popped in not long after the fighting started. Probably to make sure your Pop was too distracted to notice.”

  He glanced back at his sister. The sneaky, stubborn woman that she was. But the fact that she remained standing (and from the looks of her barely even touched) spoke volumes.

  Another roar echoed over the circle, drawing his attention back to the fight. A fight that would determine the fates of not just one, but two packs. It was a monumental event.

  Usually a Death Match was an Alpha being challenged by another pack member looking to usurp their position. Two Alphas rarely battled. The Leaders highly discouraged it, probably because they didn’t want one Alpha becoming more powerful than themselves. Apparently, Jaxon wasn’t much concerned with the Leaders’ preferences. Technically, he wasn’t breaking any laws. Challenging another pack’s A
lpha was simply “frowned upon.”

  Talon's movements became unsteady. Blood oozed from several claw marks over his body. With Jaxon's black coat, it was hard to see if he had any injuries. But he seemed much steadier on his paws as he pounced on Talon's back, his jaws clamping down on the scruff of Talon's neck. After much struggling, his father managed to throw Jaxon off of him.

  The Blackmoon warriors shouted and cheered from their side of the circle. Jaxon darted towards Talon, making his father snap his jaws in an effort to nip Jaxon’s nose, a hyper-sensitive part of a wolf’s face. But Jaxon would dart away, circle around him before repeating the action again.

  “The bastard is playing with him,” Torin said.

  “That’s it. I’m going in there,” Kay snapped, taking a step forward.

  He snatched her arm, yanking her back to the outside of the circle. “Absolutely not. That Alpha would rip you apart without blinking.”

  Alaric grasped her other arm, holding her in place as she struggled. “You would only distract your father more, Kay.”

  “But,” she started.

  Then, his father yelped as Jaxon tore a chunk from his throat, collapsing to the ground. The dusky brown wolf slowly shifting back to human form. His wounds became even more apparent as the fur shrank away. He was littered in deep gashes, oozing blood at an alarming rate.

  “Pop!” Kay called, struggling against Alaric again.

  Jaxon shifted back a moment later, sneering down at his victim.

  Then, his father lifted his head, his eyes falling on his children, watching Kay struggle. His father’s gaze landed on him, focusing as he reached a shaking arm out to him. "Son," he called in a weak voice. "Please."

  Torin's breath caught in his throat, knowing his father was dying. The man who'd raised him, taught him how to fight, how to defend himself against brutes like Blackmoon. Torin fought back the tears as he went to his father's side, crouching next to him. He could hear Kay sobbing behind him.

  "Pop," he croaked, his voice betraying him. Jaxon snickered behind them, knowing he'd won this match. Any moment, his father would die and the reins of power in Whitemoon would pass to him. Two packs. One Alpha. One crazy-ass Alpha.

  His father blinked up at him again. "Torin," he managed, blood beginning to gurgle up from his throat.

  The tears he'd tried to conceal slid over his face as he laid a hand on his father's. "I'm sorry, Pop. I love you, too."

  As his father struggled to breathe through the blood, he gave a barely-discernible nod.

  Bellowing behind them, Jaxon turned to his comrades. "What a touching moment," he sneered, the other Blackmoon warriors laughing at their Alpha's sick joke. "Why don't you kiss your daddy goodbye?"

  Torin closed his eyes, more tears coming before he lifted his head and locked onto Jaxon. In a flash of movement, he slammed his sword into his father's chest.

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  Autumn clapped her hands over her mouth and Kay screamed beside her.

  What had Torin done? Why? She'd known they hadn't exactly been getting along, but she would've never expected this. They'd seemed like such a close family.

  Her breath hitched as the mark from Talon’s forehead disappeared…only to reappear on Torin’s forehead. Although, she realized Torin’s was different from Jaxon’s now that she saw them side by side. Perhaps each pack had its own mark?

  Kay’s struggles increased, and another warrior came to help Alaric hold her back. “Pop! No, no! Pop!”

  Jaxon's jaw dropped as he too realized what had just happened. He roared, leaping towards Torin, who drew his sword from his father's body and pointed it straight at the monster.

  Staring down at the sword, Jaxon gave Torin a murderous glare. "You spoiled little brat," he growled. "Stealing my victory from under me."

  What was he talking about? Torin had just murdered his own father. What victory was there in that?

  Torin's jaw ticked. "With my father's dying breath, I am now the Alpha of Whitemoon. Challenge me if you wish, but you will lose. I am not so stupid to relinquish my weapon, and I will gut you before you finish shifting, you mutt."

  Jaxon growled again, his eyes glowing with malice. "This means war," he said between clenched teeth.

  "It's a little late for that," Torin snapped. "Take my father back to the village," he called without taking his eyes off Jaxon. The other Whitemoon Warriors stepped up and lifted Talon. Once they were out of sight, Torin beckoned Alaric and his sister, along with the remainder of his men, to his side. "Autumn," he called, holding his hand out.

  Her gaze shifted from his hand to Jaxon's face. She couldn't help it. Her heart strained towards Torin, but fear kept her body in place. Torin called for her again, and she just couldn't bear the thought of going on without him. Even if Jaxon killed her for taking his hand, it would be worth it. He was worth the risk.

  As she stared into Jaxon's narrowing gaze, she stepped forward and slid her fingers over Torin's palm. He gave her hand a squeeze. They moved forward as a group, forcing Jaxon and his men towards the tree line.

  "Now!" Torin yelled, and they scattered just as arrows rained down on the enemy. Torin lifted her into his arms and bolted to the far edge of the forest. Roars rang through the night air as they ran further and further from the place that had stolen her innocence and her childhood. But as it shrank into the distance, the weight of her grief lifted, her heart swelling as she gazed up into Torin’s face.

  "Those archers were there the whole time weren't they?"

  Torin simply nodded.

  "Why didn't your father call them?"

  His throat moved, and he blinked rapidly. "My father..." his voice faltered before he cleared it. "My father believed in following Pack Law. Once Jaxon challenged him, Pack Law forbids the use of archers. The death blow has to be up close and personal or it doesn't count."

  Autumn sucked in a breath. "That's why you stabbed..."

  "Yes," he whispered. "It was the only way to keep Jaxon from winning the match and taking over Whitemoon."

  "Oh, Torin. You shouldn't have come back for me." Her lip trembled as she spoke. "Then none of this would have happened."

  He paused for only a second, gazing down at her. "I never could have left you there. In that place. With him." He pressed his forehead against hers. "You mean too much to me."

  As Whitemoon Village came into view, the dread that had pressed down on her dissipated. She was home. This was home. Gazing up at Torin, she felt her heart squeeze. He was home.

  "Sir! Sir!" One of the other warriors came jogging towards them.

  Torin set Autumn on her feet, but quickly captured her hand in his again. "Marcus, did you just call me 'sir'?"

  Marcus raised a brow, lifting a shoulder. "Well, you are the new Alpha."

  Torin pursed his lips and waved his hand through the air. "It's still Torin."

  Marcus nodded. "Okay, boss." Torin growled at him. "Your mum's awake. Nik just told us when we got back."

  Torin's fingers squeezed around hers. “Does she know about...Pop?”

  Marcus pressed his lips together and shook his head.

  Torin nodded. “Good. It’s best I be the one to tell her.” Turning, he looked at her, his eyes sad and weary. Lifting her hand up to his face, he gave it a gentle kiss. “Will you come with me?”

  “Are...are you sure? Don’t you just want family there to break the news to her?”

  Torin’s gaze intensified, boring into her very soul. “Yes, I do. Which is why I want you with me.”

  Oh, right. She had to get used to this family thing. Like the fact that she actually had one. She nodded. “Of course I’ll go with you.”

  Her heart raced faster with each step as they entered the healer’s new house of practice. His old one had been reduced to little more than ash. She had no idea what to expect.

  And when they finally entered Lauren’s room, she had to press her lips together to keep from crying out. The one side of Lauren’s face was cov
ered in white gauze as well as her right hand. Several patches of her hair had been singed away. She looked up as they entered the room.

  Torin’s grip on her hand tightened. “Mum.” His voice cracked as he gazed at his mother’s face.

  Lauren’s lips (or what they could see of them) curved in a crooked smile. “It’s okay, dear. Don’t blame yourself for this, which I know you’re already doing.”

  Torin bowed his head and she spotted tears trickling down his nose. “I’m so sorry, Mum. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to get you out sooner.”

  Lauren sighed and rolled her one good eye. “Torin, come here.”

  Torin did as she asked without hesitation.

  Cupping her son’s face in her hands, she gave him a stern look. “You saved my life. And that is what matters. This,” she motioned to her own face. “Is not your doing. We all know who really did this. Hopefully, now, your father will see that Jaxon Bearpaw needs to be taken care of.”

  At the mention of his father, Autumn noticed Torin’s body tense and his eyes avert from his mother’s face.

  “Yeah, hopefully,” Torin muttered.

  Autumn frowned, her heart aching for this wonderful family that had taken such good care of her. Only now they were missing a piece. She swiped at her face, sniffing and clearing her throat. “Torin,” she called. He turned his head to give her a grief-stricken look. “She needs to know.”

  Torin laid his hand atop his mother’s. “Jaxon challenged Pop to a Death Match.”

  Lauren sucked in a breath, her eyes searching her son’s face for answers. “Oh, gods. Your father...lost, didn’t he? He’s gone.”

  Torin nodded.

  Lauren shook her head, her eye wide in a blank stare of shock and fear. “That means...Jaxon.” She shuddered. “He’s our new Alpha. Oh, gods. Oh, gods. We have to leave. Now.”

  Lauren went to move from the bed, but Torin placed a hand on her arm. “No, Mum. He’s not the Alpha.”

  “What? Of course he is. You know how Pack Law works, Torin.”