“Stop.” Hawk called weakly to her. Lifting a staying hand. “She may prove useful yet.”
Mary looked over her shoulder at him but didn’t let go of the old woman. Her blue eyes still swirling as if reflecting an infinite pool.
“Besides,” He added. “I need you.”
He waved her over and that was the moment Mary let go.
Dropping Marta to her knees as she rushed back to Hawk.
“What can I do?” She looked at him pitifully. Terror on her face.
“Magus?” I said to the man standing a distance away by the door. He sat in the doorway, his feet resting on the ground outside, looking worriedly at Hawk.
“Yes?” He lifted his head.
I headed for him. “You’re worried about him?”
“Mages can’t usually heal themselves. He certainly can’t.”
“So how can we help him?”
“We need a healer.”
Rebekah. I chewed my cheek. I couldn’t spare any of them.
Not right now. I’m going to need them all to fight wi
“Vanquish...” I said worriedly. “No, Vanna Rae. If that’s who he is, we may have a very real problem.” “I don’t think he’d have done that.” “He did.” “But there had to be a reason...” I reached for Vanquish but he shrugged from my grip. “What reason could there be to turn on the people that once served you?” Vanquish’s deep wolf loyalty demanded outrage in this instance. I understood but I still felt the yearning to fix this. To make him meet my brother on fair terms. This is not how I wanted it to go. “Stop walking away from me!” I cried out. Finally catching his arm. “Please!” “Just...can we...will you just-” “Just what?” He cut off my muttering. “Just meet him. See for yourself who he is.” “And if I don’t like him? Don’t trust him?” My hand fell away and I was sure that the hurt was plain to see in my blue eyes. I swallowed hard. “Then we decide from there.” “D
Headed back in the direction we were coming from, was a nearly invisible creature. Her small hands trailing over the bark of the trees as she moved furtively. Like a wood sprite, made of the earth and wood itself. Like something ethereal. She glanced over her shoulder, long brown hair whipping as she evaded the number of wolves that had caught her scent. She knew she was crossing dangerous ground. Wolves that had picked up the smell of a she-wolf in these woods were cutting the distance to her heels. Huffing as they moved downwind to follow her. The night of the Mating Moon was coming, and they were lusting for the feel of a female. But it wasn’t the first time I had evaded males under a Mating Moon, and no one knew that better than my mate. He trusts me to make it back to the Asara Camp. And ever since my mate had marked me, and shortly thereafter, I him we had built a trust deep enough that it meant I would not let
We reached the first village, and it was little more than the first had been. We tore through it in relatively short time. Covered in blood we were already tiring as we took over the camp. Vanquish cleared an area for me to step up. I gave the same speech I had before. Rallying what was left of the villagers. Adding volunteers to our numbers. I was faintly disappointed when two men refused. One stepped forward. “If we join you, the NightHunters will kill every one of us.” “Is that really any worse than them throwing your mothers, sisters or daughters in shacks?” I gestured to one behind the camp. I’d already learned they were customary in NightHunter camps. They’re the reward for them taking the village.I put together. I was beginning to learn the system the NightHunters alpha used to motivate his wolves. Find them cruel, reward them for being crueler, make them expand fast and aggressively.
When I pushed open the door of the shack, the Alpha was waiting inside. Crouched near the fire and watching the door intently. “I smelled you coming.” His eyes were hooded. His scarred face showing his interest. “You have the most delicious scent.” His gaze was thoughtful on me. “But I smell males on you.” I’d thought he might. So, I had an excuse prepared. “It is nearly the Mating Moon, Alpha. Males have been musking me at every opportunity.” “Mmm.” He rumbled. “I want to musk you.” I nearly shuddered at the thought. Almost angry that another male would dare touch me. But I reminded myself that this was how I wanted him to think. I needed him not to know I was already marked. I had my hair covering my shoulders and neck for just that reason. Mary stood quietly behind me. Her hands linked demurely before her. A distance away. “Who is she? She doesn’t smell of wolf.” Keen senses. Most males were so lust
The NightHunter Alpha scooped me under my arms and hurled me across the room. I crashed over a chair and hit a wall, rolling to the floor and huffing to catch my breath. Mary’s blue eyes flicked to me. I gave her a hard look. Not yet. The longer I could stall, the further away the aggressive NightHunter guards would be from their base. It was clear he intended to be far more aggressive than I’d planned for. I slid my feet under me and rose. Lifting my head with all the pride of a hundred Gallion descendants behind me. “Oh, a tough one, are you?” He marched across the room. His dirty hands already lifting toward me. “That’s okay. Breaking the proud ones is always the most gratifying.” He was still aimed for me with dark intent. “I suppose I should’ve told you. I save all tenderness for my mate, all you get...Is to bleed.” He reached me and tossed me to the floor. Ripping more of my dress loose with his o
“Mmm.” Rebekah murmured. Liking the sound of that.“Don’t let it go to your head, she-wolf.” He pointed to a hazy shape ahead. “You’ve a task just ahead.”The bleary outline near them moved forward and stepped from the grass. Turning to a bare leg slipping between bits of leather as her foot touched the ground. Drawing the immediate attention of the three wolves surrounding Marta, as they awaited a chance at her.One lunged, growling at the woman, materializing from shadows.Another woman, who’d been entirely invisible moments ago.Startling the animal as she took form.She swung her head toward him so quickly, that her thigh length brown hair swung out around her, mimicking the leather straps forming her skirt. She outstretched her palm and met the snout of the lunging wolf. Sending out a blooming white light. A hot current that touched through the animal.He whimpered and fell. W
They all looked up and met a pair of familiar dark eyes.The Alpha of the Asara pack.“Draven.” Rebekah leapt to her feet. “We had to come.”“I know.” Draven lifted a staying hand. Calming the woman. “I knew where you were going.”Rebekah leaned around him to see Lyra Lani standing just behind him. Casting her a betrayed look.“Don’t be mad at my mate.” Draven said in warning. “She did exactly as she should. She does not keep secrets from me.”He gave Fury a dark look.Fury straightened slowly.“You know well, I go where she goes.” He gestured to Rebekah.“I know you weren’t about to let her be alone out here this time of year.”Fury lowered his head but said nothing.There wasn’t accusation in Draven’s tone.It was flat. But those that knew him, knew he had a great underst
I swallowed nervously.Other wolves began filling in the clearing beyond the door. I looked back and saw they were the villagers we’d brought with us.But there were deeper sounds and I saw the moment that the more aggressive NightHunter guards returned.They too were in wolf form and there was no hesitation in them as they launched at the smaller, untrained males. Ripping at their throats and backs.I watched the decimation in horror. Shaking my head.By now Vanquish was charging the NightHunter Alpha.I suddenly wanted to scream for him to stop and retreat but I knew that Vanquish was too far into his attack.Trying to pull him out now will be impossible.I sent out a cry through the woods, calling to anyone, anything that might be out there for help. A long, broken sound filled with all the desperation that Marta’s had carried earlier.I hoped that under the Mating Moon, the sound of a female in d