Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

T o her surprise, they reached the alpha compound much quicker than expected.

Not enough time for her to work out what the bastard really wanted.

She didn't like that they were blindly going into a meeting with a bunch of alphas.

It felt like a setup.

A trap where she was the sacrifice.

She'd been there once, and she didn't enjoy the experience.

The closer they came to the Assembly, the more wolves she spotted out the window. Even if they decided to turn back, she feared it was much too late.

With each mile, Ryder and Caedmon stiffened, both acting all alpha and possessive. When a few of the more adventurous wolves wandered a bit too close to the vehicle, they both began to growl…though Morgan wasn't sure they were even aware that they were doing it.

Their attention felt invasive, like they'd been waiting for her for a long time and she was finally falling into their grasp.

As much as she hated to admit it—she was a full-fledged fucking assassin, for god's sake—she felt safer with Ryder and Caedmon at her side.

"So many…" She peered out the passenger window, cringing when she saw the sheer number of wolves following. "I guess slipping in and out to see the council without making a splash is out of the question."

Ryder's mouth twitched at her wry tone, a combination of humor and a grimace, like he'd been hoping for the same thing.

Caedmon was in full elf mode, not a hint of emotion escaping his tight control, like nothing ever affected him, but she knew otherwise. Hell…the air didn't even stir around him, and she wondered if he was controlling that as well. It wouldn't surprise her.

Elves were said to each have magic, and she couldn't help being more than a little curious where his talent lay. He was a fabled, ancient warrior, a loup garou , but she suspected that he was holding something back. While she didn't like secrets, she could admit that she would do the same.

After another twenty minutes, the vehicle finally pulled up to a giant, two-story ranch house built along the edge of a cliff that overlooked the ocean. They were parked on a lower level, an actual circle drive with a pack of snarling wolves cast in bronze at the center. Though it was a bit much, she had to admit they were magnificent, captured and forever frozen in time.

A retaining wall surrounded the building, the wide set of steps leading up to the house making a grand entrance.

Once again, another set of wolves were perched at the top, as if surveying their kingdom.

And she had no doubt that was what this was—the kingdom of wolves.

They passed a number of other cabins and houses along the way, but the majestic house made an impression.

Wealth.

Power.

Not to mention a ‘don't fuck with me' vibe that made her crinkle her nose in distaste .

"Not very inviting," she muttered under her breath, but of course, the two heard.

Wolves.

"It's not supposed to be welcoming. It's supposed to show their might and power and drive fear into the souls of their enemies," Ryder said as he turned off the vehicle.

She tipped her head and squinted at the house, then glanced back at him, not sure they saw the same thing.

But she trusted him.

If he said all was not as it seemed, then she would reserve judgment.

Ryder glared up at the house, his hands tightening around the steering wheel. Plastic creaked, the metal bent slightly, and she worried she might have made a huge mistake bringing him along.

Something bad had happened to him here, something traumatic, and she cursed that she was left in the dark. "Ryder?—"

"Not here." The rumbling growl tore from him, his lips barely moving. "Everything we say, everything we do from here on out, even from the privacy of locked doors, will be seen and heard and reported."

When she reached out to touch him, he released his grip on the steering wheel and wrenched open the door, practically throwing himself out of the vehicle to avoid her.

The door closed quietly, a finality to the sound that made her heart clench.

His rejection stung, and she barely stopped herself from recoiling.

And must have failed when Caedmon released a small grunt. He didn't turn around to speak to her, not wanting to draw attention, his warning just a breath of air. "Watch him carefully. If the alphas see any sort of weakness, they will pounce and use it against you."

Before she could probe for more information, he slipped out of the SUV and opened her door, offering her his hand. His brilliant yellow eyes were bright with concern—for her—and her stomach dipped wildly as she placed her hand trustingly into his before stepping out of the vehicle.

She refused to admit that her reaction had anything to do with his nearness.

There was something about him, a calmness that called to her magic. Like she could throw anything at him and it wouldn't faze him.

Even when Loki, Stanley, and Séamus set off a prank war in the house, the elf remained unflappable.

As much as she tried to fight it, she liked him.

Caedmon shut the door, tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, and began walking toward the stairs—stairs that were wide enough for a whole truck to drive up or a pack of wolves to spill down and confront any threat.

Ryder was almost a ghost as he followed behind them, a silent shadow, a snarl curling his lips at anyone who dared try and get too close. There was nothing relaxed about his posture, his wolf riding just under his skin. She wanted to go to him, soothe him, but Caedmon's grip on her arm tightened, and he gave a subtle shake of his head.

It would be seen as a weakness.

Ryder was her mate.

He should be walking at her side, but it was like he was locked in a living hell that she wasn't able to penetrate. She stifled her sigh and continued up the steps, already counting the minutes until they could leave.

There were two levels of stairs, separated by a small platform. It was done on purpose. Wolves were etched into the walls along the steps. Some played, some were caught in a fierce fight, some mating. In the center of the platform, a large metal crest was placed in the ground.

It was opulent and over the top, cast in bronze and dark silver.

It was stunning, but it was also a symbol.

A warning .

That wolves were in charge here—enter at your own risk.

Not ominous at all.

Before they could reach the top, a man walked to the edge of the stairs and gazed down at them. If she'd been anyone else, the power radiating from him would have been enough to steal her breath. Instead of bowing to him like he no doubt expected, she lifted her chin in defiance.

His eyes flashed, something dark moving within the depths, and an almost menacing smile twisted his lips…like he was already imagining how to break her. There was a possessiveness in his gaze when he ran his eyes over her.

She felt stripped.

Like a possession to be acquired.

A toy to be bent and broken at his whim.

Magic tingled along her hands with the need to knock the pompous idiot on his ass.

If this was how they treated their women, she wasn't surprised there were so few of them. They didn't deserve them.

"Welcome to the Alpha Assembly. My name is Alpha Carrington." He gave a small bow of his head, his smile smarmy now that they were up close, and she couldn't help but take note of the way his nostrils flared at her nearness.

Like he was trying to catch her scent and confirm for himself that she was indeed a female wolf.

If the way his eyes gleamed suddenly with avarice was any indication, she must have passed the sniff test.

What pissed her off even more, he refused to back up, leaving her on the step below them so he towered over them in a show of power.

One that she refused to allow him to win.

Pulling Caedmon with her, she side-stepped Carrington and ascended the final few steps until they stood on equal ground, which left her near the large metal wolf.

And she couldn't resist fucking with the bastard.

With a smile, she released some of her hold on her magic and felt it curl around the wolf at her back. The great beast inhaled a deep breath. She could hear metal creaking as he slowly turned his head in her direction. It leapt from the pedestal, the impact sending cracks spidering across the smooth surface of the cement.

Carrington's eyes widened and his mouth parted as the great beast came to heel at her side, standing almost as tall as her shoulders, brushing against her like she was his master. His tail curled around her leg, a silent claim. She ran her hand over the creature, even going so far as to scratch under his chin.

And even she was shocked when the beast gave a metallic groan of pleasure.

The metal felt alive, the bronze eyes swirling like they could actually see.

Gasps and hushed whispers echoed around them as more and more shifters appeared, pouring out of the buildings and woods. Their eyes gleamed when their wolves rose to the surface, the pack careful to keep a respectable distance when they neared.

Some even going so far as to take a knee and bow.

Louis didn't kneel or lower his eyes, but he did tip his head to the side to offer his throat. Awe shimmered in his green eyes, then he flicked them toward the alpha in silent warning.

Oh, yeah, Carrington did not like her display, nor the adoration of the pack one bit.

When the alpha took a step toward them, no doubt wanting to take control of the scene, the metal wolf stiffened and glared at the alpha, a tiny snarl of disgust curling his snout, like he wasn't impressed either, and she nearly laughed when the alpha looked ready to shift at the offense.

Caedmon gave her a warning squeeze, and she knew she couldn't push the alpha further without paying a price for her defiance.

She snapped her fingers, and the beast's massive head lifted to her, adoration in his eyes. He gave her a regal bow, then spun around and leapt back up on his pedestal, his tail flicking, his ears swiveling as he overlooked his kingdom .

The magic left him slowly, and she was suddenly sad when the last bit of life drained out of him.

Sure, she knew he really wasn't alive in any sense, but he'd seemed…so real.

Now that she had everyone's attention, she turned to Carrington and lifted a single eyebrow, not giving a shit that she'd just made an enemy by making a fool out of him in front of his pack. "It seems you already know who I am, since I've been summoned to the Assembly like some stray."

Ryder muttered a curse, crowding close to her back, preparing to yank her away and defend her. She waited for a rebuke from one of her companions, but they remained mute. She'd almost swear that there was a twinkle of amusement in Caedmon's eyes before he could cover it.

Carrington looked ready to come to blows at her not so subtle rebuke, his hands clenched at his sides as if already imagining them wrapped around her throat.

Morgan wasn't intimidated—she was used to it.

She had that effect on a lot of people.

Before he could utter a word, the doors of the ranch house were thrown wide. Power broiled out, sweeping over the patio area, and any who weren't kneeling before dropped to their knees and bared their throat.

"That's enough, Carrington." Two men stepped out of the house—no, not men. Even in their two-legged form, there was nothing human about them. As they swept the area, pure wolf shone out through their eyes. Their attention lingered on the wolf statues for a moment before their gaze locked on her—as if they'd been aware of what was happening the whole time. "Follow us."

They didn't wait for a response, just turned and disappeared back inside the building.

Not that they had to worry about being disobeyed.

Power thrummed in the order, one that would not be denied. It wrapped around something inside her and tugged. She shook her head, able to push off the cords until they slinked away, but apparently, Carrington wasn't so lucky.

He sent them a death glare and stormed after the alphas, steam practically rising out of his ears. The wolves that had gathered ducked their heads and scattered, not wanting to draw attention to themselves.

"Just how old do wolves get?" Morgan murmured to the guys when she turned to follow, because the power the alphas were throwing around felt ancient, shivering against her skin before it slid away.

When the guys didn't answer, she glanced back and saw that they were frozen much like the statues they passed. As she drew closer, the smell of smoke and magic rose from their skin, and her heart sank.

They'd walked into a fucking trap.

A spell had caught hold of them and wouldn't let them go.

They were fighting whatever had ensnared them, their eyes glowing bright, but it did no good. Caedmon gritted his teeth and snarled, "They're trying to separate us, they want you alone and powerless, susceptible to their tender mercies."

Fury burned through her veins, pissed not only that they would use her—she was used to that—but that they'd dared to use her mates to get what they wanted. Her hands shook as she struggled to control her rage. She gazed at her men, determined not to be separated and let the alphas win. "You're bait."

"They're trying to force us to shift." Ryder panted under the strain of holding his form.

Thankfully, the guys were stronger than normal wolves, alphas in their own rights, or she suspected that they would've shifted under the pressure. "But why?"

"It's against the law to shift on their property without their permission. It's seen as an act of aggression. A challenge." Stress made Caedmon's voice rough, and she'd swear she saw fangs when he spoke.

Understanding flittered across her mind with a sickening certainty. "They wanted to force your shift, which would allow them to take you both as prisoners, so I would have no choice but do what they want."

Fucking assholes.

Both men growled in denial.

"Go," Ryder snarled, the amber eyes of his wolf glowing in defiance.

Not fucking happening.

No way in hell would she leave her men behind enemy lines, and she narrowed her eyes, not about to let anyone get their claws or fangs into them.

She touched Ryder's chest, and the spell shattered like cracked glass. He inhaled sharply, picking her up and crushing her against him. His whole body trembled, even his wolf giving a tiny whimper at the thought of her being taken from him. She slid her hand to the back of his neck, her touch seeming to calm him…until she whispered a demand in his ear. "Set me down."

A vicious growl rumbled in his chest, and his hands tightened around her. His claws prickled along her hips, the tips imprinting into her flesh, but they stopped short of drawing actual blood. She kissed him, forcing her tongue into his mouth, and he responded slowly. Once he got a taste of her, he bent her backwards, devouring her.

She reluctantly broke the kiss, pressing her forehead against his shoulder to catch her breath, his fresh green scent tasting of freedom. When she stepped away, she turned toward Caedmon and touched his arm.

If she concentrated enough, she could feel the wolf deep within him snarling at being contained, bright red lines of the spell like chains binding him. Even as she watched, the metal thinned as he fought his way free, a golden light chafing against the links, but it would take him a while.

She grabbed the chain and yanked, and the spell disintegrated at her touch like she'd swiped her hand through smoke.

Much to her surprise, the instant he was free, Caedmon wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close, a tremor running through him that made her stomach tighten in awareness. He ran his hands down her back, subtly checking for injuries. This close to him, he smelled like plums in a way that made her mouth water. Underneath was a second scent that reminded her of a wood burning stove on a cold winter morning that urged her to linger and snuggle close.

Only when he was satisfied that she was unharmed and untouched by the magic did he set her aside and stand to his full height. The calm that was so much a part of him was now gone, torn away as rage darkened his face.

A deadly warrior stood before her, and she'd swear that the lines of his tattoo darkened, the air around him thickening with magic. He gave her a smile that was pure vengeance and held out his hand in silent invitation. "What do you say we make the alphas regret thinking they could play games with us?"

She placed her hand in his, a spark traveling up her arm at his touch, and smiled up at him. "I like how you think."