To Darkness Bound Box Set

by Zandria West

  ‘Hey Reuben, did you, ah, by any chance make us a Reuben?’

  It was my Dad’s favourite. We used to get it for lunch every Saturday with a fuck-off strong espresso coffee that Dad always said would grow hair on our chests.

  In the front seat Gabriel groans. Reuben looks at me deadpan. ‘The Reuben is my birthright. Didn’t you know the true meaning of my name? I am the maker of the sandwich.’ Then the corner of his mouth twitches in a barely-restrained grin and I snort with laughter.

  ‘Oh man, you are the best,’ I say, wiping the tears from my eyes. ‘You feed me, and you make me laugh.’

  I see my big strong Reuben flush adorably and then look away. I can just make out his reflection in the window. He’s smiling.

  I finish my sandwich. With a full stomach, I feel suddenly exhausted. I close my eyes and let myself drift off to sleep.

  When I wake, the car has slowed to a crawl and we’re travelling up a steep slope. I sit up and rub my eyes. It’s still dark outside.

  ‘Where are we?’ I ask.

  ‘Almost there,’ Alex says.

  ‘Did I miss anything?’

  ‘Trees, trees and more trees,’ he mutters. ‘Oh, and Gabriel telling us a long story about the history of the forest which was both educational and fa-scinating.’ He layers the sarcasm on with a trowel.

  ‘You slept well?’ Reuben asks, looking across at me.

  For a moment I wonder whether he watched me while I slept, and a shiver moves through me at the thought. I shake it off.

  ‘Yep. Ready for anything.’ I try to say it like I mean it, hoping that if I can make the words sound true, it will somehow make them actually true.

  In reality, the fairly extensive list of things I’m not ready for includes: getting out of the car, meeting a bunch of werewolves, not having a hot shower for a week, and eventually meeting my mother. But pretend enthusiasm can get you a long way.

  ‘Lana, there’s something I should tell you. The Grey Pack live a very isolated life here in the forest…’ Gabriel has his serious voice on.

  ‘Reuben was telling me.’

  ‘Some of them may have never seen a human before.’

  It takes a moment before his words sink into my brain. I swallow. ‘Um, never?’

  ‘It’s true,’ Reuben says. ‘The pack is tight. Family. Wolves for many generations now. We intermarry with other packs from beyond the mountains. New wolves, strangers, sometimes come out from the city to find us if they’re looking for a change of lifestyle. But we do not leave the forest.’

  ‘So um, when werewolves have babies, they’re werewolves too? You don’t necessarily have to get bitten to become a werewolf?’

  I feel awkward saying it, but I actually don’t know. I’d never wondered about it before now.

  ‘That’s right. We keep to ourselves, live our own lives, try not to disturb anyone – for the safety of our pack as much as anything else. When I was growing up, humans were like a fairy tale. For a long time, I wasn’t sure I completely believed in them…’

  ‘They will be curious about you, Lana,’ Gabriel says slowly.

  ‘As in, curious about how I’ll taste?’ Fear spikes in my veins and I glare at Reuben and then at Gabriel.

  Gabriel ignore me and continues, his voice calm and level. ‘They will see you as vulnerable. The fact that you are with Reuben and that he is seeking their help may trigger their protective instincts. That is what I’m hoping will happen.’

  I blink. ‘You’re hoping?’

  ‘Uh oh,’ Alex says from the front. ‘Maybe we should have had this conversation before we left, Gabe?’

  I ignore him. ‘So, whether or not I’m torn apart by an entire fucking pack of werewolves depends on your hope that they’ll be more curious than hungry? Fucking awesome Gabriel.’

  ‘Lana,’ his voice is hard now. ‘We will not let any harm come to you here. I swear it.’

  ‘I will protect you to my last breath,’ Reuben says.

  I turn, scowling. ‘No. I don’t want you to protect me to your last breath. Because that means you’ll die, which is a bad thing. And then once you’re dead, I’ll die too, which I’m also not happy about. Is this seriously the best plan we’ve got?’

  My heart is racing. I am suddenly, utterly terrified. I have a very strong desire to tell Alex – to beg Alex – to turn the car around and drive us back to the safehouse. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to do this. The reality of being the only human around for fucking miles, the only human these werewolves have ever even met, is absolutely petrifying.

  ‘Sorry, angel, but it looks like the welcome party has arrived,’ Alex says softly.

  I look out the window of the car and make out movement in the darkness. One, two, three shapes running in the shadows.

  ‘Oh, and one other thing you should probably know…’ Alex says.

  I frown, looking more closely at the shapes. They’re not in wolf form, which is something at least. I can make out arms and legs and wild hair and… um…

  ‘Grey Pack wolves don’t tend to wear clothes a lot when they’re out and about.’

  I swallow. Yep, that is what I think it is, dangling in the breeze.

  ‘Fucking excellent,’ I groan, covering my face with my hands.

  ‘It’s just our way,’ Reuben says gently. ‘It makes it easier when we change.’

  As he says “we” I remember that this is where Reuben is from. This is his family, where he grew up. Once upon a time, this would have been his whole world. I’m scared and I’m angry that they didn’t explain more to me before we got here. But this is Reuben’s family. He’s one of the strongest, kindest men I’ve ever met. Surely they can’t be all bad?

  I look back out the window and see the figures keeping pace with the car, tracking us as we drive.

  Well, I’m about to find out.

  7

  LANA

  Reuben tells me to wait in the car while he goes to speak with the werewolves who are trailing us. For once, I don’t argue. Gabriel steps out with him, looking serious and stern, long black coat swishing, dark hair hanging down over his pale skin.

  ‘You doing okay?’ Alex murmurs from the front seat.

  ‘Why even ask?’ I frown. ‘I’m sure you’re just reading my thoughts anyway.’

  I get snippy when I’m scared.

  ‘You’re right, I am. But I like it better when you tell me yourself. I like the sound of your voice.’

  I frown and look out the window. Gabriel has stayed close to the car. Reuben has taken a few steps into the forest, towards where the three pack members are watching warily. Their body language doesn’t suggest aggression… yet. If anything, they look nervous. One of them walks forward to meet Reuben, and the others follow, a little distance behind. I gulp and look away.

  Three hot naked dudes.

  ‘You’ll get used to it,’ Alex says, chuckling.

  I look back. ‘Um, I’m not sure about that.’

  These guys are gorgeous. Lean and strong, with darkly golden skin and a kind of edgy grace in the way they move that draws my eye to them. I frown, feeling suddenly guilty. I can’t be checking out random naked werewolves when three incredible men are currently risking their lives to help me.

  Alex turns in the seat to look back at me. His grin is so broad I’m surprised it even fits in the car. ‘Looking ain’t cheating, I always say.’

  ‘Ugh, stop it! Don’t encourage me,’ I look away again, close my eyes and rub them with my fists, like I could scrub the image from my eyeballs. Not that I really want to, but I have too many feelings right now and almost all of them are conflicting.

  The front door opens and Gabriel leans in.

  ‘It’s time, Lana. They’ve agreed to take us in to meet the alpha. That’s the best we can hope for at this stage. Whatever happens next will be up to him.’

  I nod, overwhelmed by a surreal feeling that none of this is really happening; it’s all just a dream or my crazily vivid imaginati
on playing tricks with me. Alex climbs out, and in an instant he’s opening the door for me, taking my arm protectively.

  I step out of the car. The sun is starting to rise now, filling the sky above us with a gentle blush of pink. The sounds and smells of the forest surround me. It’s completely different from where I got out earlier to pee, the spot where the forest spirit tried to entice me. I hear bird song, the murmur of a creek trickling over stones, a gentle breeze making the leaves shift and dance. The air smells sweet and fresh and clean. I touch my amulet instinctively. It’s cool. I take a deep breath.

  ‘Lana,’ Reuben says in a low voice. ‘Come and stand next to me. They want to meet you.’

  I straighten up to my full height and take a step forward. I served plenty of werewolves when I was a barmaid at Hell on Earth, but this is totally different. There I always had the protection of the bar, which was heavily enchanted to prevent any danger to the humans who worked behind it; here there’s nothing to stop them from tearing me to pieces if they take a dislike to me.

  Reuben takes my hand and squeezes. No, not nothing, I remind myself. I look up at Reuben. I can’t read his expression, but he nods at me, which I guess is meant to be reassuring.

  ‘Lana, this is Aaron, Leon and Gregory.’

  I force myself to meet their gazes – just their gazes – and not let my eyes drop lower than their faces. The names seem too human for the men I see before me. If I thought Reuben was wild, these guys are something else. All their mannerisms are animal-like. The way they sniff the air. The way their heads tilt, their eyes narrow. They look at me, and they look to one another as though checking for cues that I have no idea about.

  ‘Um, hi. I’m pleased to meet you.’

  One of the werewolves steps closer – Leon I think his name is. He looks young, maybe only seventeen or eighteen. His dark brown hair is matted in dreadlocks and his skin is tanned to a mahogany hue. He’s skinny enough that I can just about make out each individual rib in his chest, but he’s strong too, all muscle and sinew.

  ‘We’ll take you to Paul,’ he says. No greeting, no small talk.

  ‘Paul is their alpha,’ Reuben says in a low voice. ‘My uncle.’

  ‘Ok. Great.’ I say. ‘If it’s not too much trouble I mean. We’d love to meet Paul, that would be really good. Thank you.’

  Okay, so I have a tendency to talk too much when I’m nervous and I generally feel comfortable around other people who talk too much when they’re nervous, but these guys: it’s like silent had a house party and invited its friends mute, withdrawn and brooding just for fun. They’re giving me nothing.

  On the other hand, they haven’t tried to eat me yet, so on balance everything’s going well.

  ‘Come.’ Leon turns and leads the way, and Reuben draws me along with him. Then Gabriel and Alex follow, and the other two werewolves step into formation behind us. They’re not openly hostile, but I have the strong sense that any false moves would be met with rapid and brutal reprisal. I take a deep breath and do my best not to look at Leon’s butt. I’m horribly aware that we’re leaving behind the safety and comfort of the car. My bag feels too heavy already. But if this is what it takes to reach my mother, then this is what we’ll do.

  We follow a narrow trail through the forest for about twenty minutes in complete silence before we finally step into a clearing. I see a ring of tall trees with small houses built up high in the branches and rope ladders hanging down. Each is decorated with brightly coloured flags and lanterns that glow gently. At ground level, timber cabins are built in a circle around a huge fire-pit. I hear the murmur of laughter and conversation.

  I look across to Reuben. His expression is pained, but he manages to give me a quick, reassuring smile.

  There’s no time for me to process any more than my first impressions though, because in a moment the peaceful atmosphere is broken by the harsh sound of a horn being blown, and the werewolves behind us nudge us forward. I feel like a sheep being rounded up.

  ‘Well, well… look who it is,’ a voice rings out.

  A man steps forward from near the firepit. He’s a giant: tall and barrel-chested and covered in so much hair it might be a coat of fur. He’s got a huge beard and muscles like boulders.

  ‘Uncle Paul,’ Reuben lowers his head.

  I watch, fascinated and horrified at this display of submission.

  ‘What did you call me?’ The man takes a step forward. He’s chewing on something, but he spits it to the ground now. His face is twisted with rage.

  Um. Okay. I’m wondering what our back-up plan is if this doesn’t work out. I really, really hope we’ve got one.

  ‘My apologies – Alpha,’ Reuben says, his voice so low I can barely make it out.

  The man takes another step. Now he’s close enough that I can make out the mess of scars on his chest, pale lines criss-crossing his skin wildly. He lets out a low growl, and I feel my flesh rise into goosebumps.

  I look at Reuben and back at his uncle. Should I say something? Do something? I feel Alex’s hand on my arm as if to steady me. I hold my tongue.

  And then, Paul draws one massive fist back, and lands a punch on Reuben’s jaw.

  Reuben sways a little on his feet but doesn’t move. He doesn’t lift his gaze. He doesn’t raise his hands to protect himself. He just stands there, head lowered, waiting.

  Paul watches him closely. The older man is breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling as fast as if he’s just run up a hill. Then he curses in a low voice and swings again. This blow strikes Reuben on the side of his skull, making his head jerk awkwardly. Reuben staggers, then regains his balance, but still doesn’t make a move to defend himself.

  ‘Didn’t think we’d see you again,’ Paul says, circling. His movements are surprisingly light considering his size. ‘You’re not pack. You’re not welcome.’

  Reuben doesn’t even meet the man’s eyes. I’m desperate for him to say something, to do something. He has to protect himself.

  He does nothing, except wait for the next blow to fall.

  Paul swings again, then there’s a loud crack and blood pours from Reuben’s nose.

  Fuck. No way. There’s no fucking way I’m letting this happen.

  I see Paul winding up again for another swing. I pull free of Alex’s grip and step forward.

  ‘Stop. If you won’t help us, we’ll leave, but please don’t hurt him.’

  Paul steps back as if stunned.

  ‘Don’t, Lana,’ Reuben says, his voice low and thick with pain.

  ‘Defend yourself,’ I say, turning to him. ‘Don’t just stand there. Fight.’

  His attacker is huge, but I’m certain Reuben is faster and more skilled. He’d at least have a chance at beating his uncle at a fair fight. This thing they’re doing right now, it just isn’t fair.

  Paul laughs, a hard, sad, laugh. ‘You heard the girl. Why don’t you fight me, Reuben?’ It’s the first time he’s used his name.

  ‘I will not fight you, Alpha,’ Reuben says through gritted teeth. ‘I accept your authority.’ He doesn’t move, not even to wipe the blood that’s pouring from his nose.

  ‘You didn’t accept my authority before, though, did you? You left. You chose to leave. In defiance of my orders.’ Paul’s face is dark with anger, but he makes no move to strike Reuben again. I take another step forward, until my body is directly between the two of them.

  ‘He’s here for me. Because I need your help.’ I try to hide the shakiness in my voice.

  ‘And why would the Grey Pack help the like of you, girl?’ Paul asks, scathingly.

  ‘Because I’m the key,’ I say. I stand up straighter and look this man in the eye. I see something there – he’s tired. So tired. He has been carrying some great weight for too long and it has worn him down. He doesn’t know how to go on.

  ‘Key? Key to what?’

  ‘The Barrier between the worlds is failing. The human world and your world won’t stay separate for much longer. And wh
en the Barrier falls, it will be a disaster. For everyone. Humans will see it as war. They don’t know how to live with things that scare them. They’ll burn down your forest and bomb your village and try to kill you all, just so they can feel safe at night. I’m the key to restoring the Barrier.’

  ‘But you’re just a girl,’ Paul says, frowning, looking at me more closely.

  Gabriel steps forward. ‘A girl she is, but touched by magic. Shaped by an ancient enchantment. She has a destiny to fulfil.’ Gabriel’s voice is calm and steady as he moves closer to me. He doesn’t sound afraid in the slightest. ‘And that is why we must protect her. We don’t ask much, just safe passage through your territories. We are seeking a witch who lives in the distant mountains, in the human realm, one who knows what Lana must do to complete the enchantment and restore the Barrier.’

  I reach my hand to Reuben. He takes it, though he still doesn’t meet his uncle’s eyes. Reuben’s face is bloodied and swollen. It hurts me to look at it. I swallow. Hopefully I’ll be able to help him heal, somehow, through the bond. It worked for Gabriel and Alex.

  ‘If nothing else, you’ve piqued my curiosity,’ Paul says, taking a step closer to me and looking at me closely. ‘You may stay today and for the night. You and your companions. Stay and eat with us. Your warlock may weave fine words to seek to convince us of whatever it is you want. Tomorrow, in the morning, I will decide.’

  ‘We won’t be harmed?’ I say.

  ‘Not yet,’ Paul says, gives me one more searching look, then turns and walks away.

  Well I guess that’s a start.

  I turn to Reuben, reach to touch his face which is bleeding and swollen, but he growls and pulls away.

  ‘Don’t touch me,’ he says. ‘Don’t fucking touch me, Lana. You had no business interfering.’

  ‘I had to stop him,’ I say, my heart beating faster. I’ve never heard Reuben sound like this before – his voice is tight with fury.

  ‘It was a test,’ Reuben says.

  ‘And you were failing,’ I say, and then regret it instantly when I see the way he tenses at my words.