Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

T his battle is yours to win or lose.

The Volva's final words echo in my thoughts while we exit the cave. I savor the clean air as we re-enter the forest.

"Are we on our own with this now?" Fell asks.

"I don't know." I close my eyes. Temples throbbing, I try to wade through the questions filling my brain. I don't have answers, and we're racing a clock that could chime at any second.

"Hey."

I peer up at him.

"Stop thinking and run with us."

Fell shifts and fixes his mischief-filled eyes on me.

I laugh. I've missed the comradery that comes with running in a pack. Kirk follows Cadoc's lead and brushes up against me.

"Okay. I know when I'm outnumbered." Transforming, I run past them, embracing the joy that swells up inside me as they give chase.

For a moment, I let the troubles drift to the back of my mind. The she-wolf rushes forward, basking in the freedom she'd been denied over the past four years.

I nip at Kirk's flank. The black wolf huffs at me in exasperation. We begin an impromptu game of tag.

Is this what it would've been like to grow up as one of the pack? I'm not treated differently now. I can match their strength with my own, and I don't feel at odds with the wolf inside me.

Sprinting full out, I test my new skills. The land blurs by at a dizzying speed, and my leaps are a thing of legend.

Fell barks his approval. I pause looking over my shoulder at the wolf I once thought was my soulmate.

My wolf whines, longing for closeness, and I yield to her desires, refusing to admit my own need for Fell.

His tail wags. Amused, I cherish the light hearted moments. All the bad blood between us is forgotten. I brush up against him, nipping at him.

He returns the playful bites as we wrestle. Rolling together, I rub against him, drowning myself in his scent.

It takes away some of the pain he's caused, breaking the barrier I've put up between us. A slow crack zig-zags down the stone and I for once, don't bother to repair it.

On all fours, I dare them to chase me as I take off behind Cadoc, marveling at the way I'm able to keep pace. Cadoc skids to a halt. The three others box me in. I tilt my head back and inhale.

The acrid stench of anger and unfamiliar wolves smash into my senses like a battering ram. No one should be this close to our property.

I crane my neck in an attempt to recognize the impending danger. Growls come from all directions. I shift my weight on my paws. Anxiety forms an endless pit in my stomach.

A streak of gray hits Cadoc in the chest. They tumble to the ground, jaws snapping. Wrestling they fight for for dominance.

Blurred fur missiles follow. Powerful jaws nip at my shoulder. I bark in pain.

I kick at the heavier wolf. A moment later, Kirk spears into my attacker knocking him aside. I hit the ground hard.

Whimpering, I regain my balance, facing a yellow-eyed beast. Broad and muscular, the brown wolf reeks of pheromones.

My stomach cramps at the fowl stench of lust. Panting, his tongue hangs out.

He steps forward.

I back up, evading him.

He huffs in a twisted form of laughter and explodes into movement.

I dart to the left. I can't match him in power, so I have to be faster. Heart pounding, I push myself to the limits, leaping over roots, and circling thick trees.

The paws hitting the ground behind me are relentless. He's too close. His hot breath ruffles my fur. I increase speed and search the area for an advantage.

Winded, I ignore my burning lungs and shaking legs. He snaps at my flanks. I yelp. He lunges. This time, I dart to the right.

His heavy body lands on me. I crawl, digging my claws into the earth to pull myself free. Vision blurred by tears; I ignore the rending of my flesh. his claws rake my back.

The coppery scent of blood fills the air and the stalking wolf howls as blood lust hits. Back on my legs, I take off once more.

Knocked flat onto my belly, the breath is knocked from my lungs. His clamps down on my neck. Imbedding his sharp teeth deeper into my flesh, he pins me. His hard length against my belly.

No! No! No! I buck against him, but he holds firm. I throw myself side to side to knock him free.

He issues a mental alpha command that paralyzes me. Something clicks within me. A strength unlike anything I've felt before ramps up.

Rising I throw him off me, tearing his teeth free along with a chunk of my flesh. Scrambling, I turn.

He stands, shaking his head to clear it. Cadoc bounds into the clearing like a warrior. Bigger than the last time I saw him, he leaps onto my attacker, sinking his teeth into his nape and jerks, shaking him like a rag doll until his neck snaps.

Cadoc licks at my wounds and I shiver. I lean into him, accepting comfort.

A lone howl that sends chills pierces the air. It's a call to retreat. Leaning against him heavily I close my eyes and take in his scent to stave off my breakdown.

The others join Cadoc, lapping at my wounds. They lend me strength. Cadoc steps away and Kirk nudges my flank as the exhaustion hits. Tears blurring my vision, I tremble as I think of what almost happened.

Brushing their bodies against mine, they mark me with their scents. The she-wolf latches on to the comfort as I take a backseat.

Together, they herd me back to the house, keeping me in the circle of their strength. I shift back on the porch and enter the home with the code, making a beeline for the spa room.

Stripping down, I crank the heat in the shower up and step under the scalding spray. Flooding a loofah with body wash I scrub at my skin, desperate to rid myself of the stain my attacker left behind.

The tentative hold I have on control breaks and my legs give way. Soul bleeding, I slide to the bottom of the shower. Violated and angry, I'm a mess of emotions. Tears pour down my face. Shoulders shaking, I sob until I choke.

I came so close to being claimed against my will and violated. I never want to feel that helpless again.

"Ylva." I recognize Fell's voice.

I wrap my arms around my legs and rest my head on my knees.

"The water is too hot, Yl."

"No. I have to get it off."

"What off?" Fell steps into my line of vision, turning off the shower.

"His filthy touch."

"He's dead, sweet girl. He'll never touch you again." Fell rests his hands on my knees. "You're not dirty."

I hiccup. "That's how I feel."

"Oh, sweet girl." He sighs. "Can I hold you?"

I peer into the green eyes of the man who'd been my best friend longer than he'd been my enemy and nod. He pulls me onto his lap and I bury my face in his neck. He rocks us back and forth.

"It's going to not be okay." Running his hands down my back, he infuses warmth into my body. I feel cold, despite the blistering heat of the water. Inside the circle of his arms, I break.

Bo's voice comes from nearby. "What did you do to her?"

Sniffling, I lean back. "Nothing."

Bo crouches beside us. "What happened?" His eyes burn with a dark fire.

"I—"

"She had to fight off that massive bastard Cadoc killed."

I cast Fell a grateful look. I'm not ready to discuss this with anyone else yet.

"We should've drawn out his death." Bo growls.

"Let me see your back, sweetheart." Kirk appears, medic kit in tow.

Bo brushes my hair to the side, running his fingers through my damp curls.

"This is going to be cold. I'm just going to disinfect the wound and bandage it."

"Okay." I'm too tired to resist or tend to myself. For once, I want to be taken care of.

Fell is warm and familiar despite my anger and misgivings. Bo's behaving himself for the moment and Kirk with the tender heart he's tried to bury soothes me.

"This will never happen again," Cadoc snarls. "Tomorrow, we start back up with training."

He kneels beside me. "I can't promise we'll always be there, but I can give you every advantage possible to save yourself until we arrive because I promise you this. We will always come for you."

I believe him. I nod.

"I'm sorry this happened, Brat. They're growing bold."

"Who was it?" I croak, sounding like I smoked three packs of cigarettes.

Cadoc runs a hand over his face. "I don't recognize them, but they had to enter our town some way. The warding should've repelled anyone willing to do our people harm. What was the workaround? I'm done ignoring the attack we're under. I'm resigning from my pack positions."

"What?" I turn meeting Cadoc's fiery gaze.

"You're my priority. I'm done playing nice and going through the motions to feign loyalty. There's nothing that happens in this town Alpha doesn't know about." His words have weight.

"You think he set this up?" Bo asks.

"At the very least, he allowed it to happen." Cadoc clenches his jaw. We can't trust anyone outside of our circle."

"Don't forget there's some demented asshole out there sending us shadow creatures."

It clicks. "One of Fenrir's children."

"What?" Bo's gaze fixes on mine.

"The Volva said it was one of the children, someone like me. Maybe they're trying to get rid of the competition."

Fell's eyes spark with understanding. "You?"

I nod.

"That's not going to happen," Bo's gravelly voice slices through the tension in the room.

"How are they tracking you, though?" Kirk places a bandage on my wound.

"I don't know."

"You were fine until you came back here." Cadoc rubs his temples. "The connection is obvious."

I lick my dry lips. "What are we going to do?"

Cadoc walks over to the towel warmer and pulls out a fluffy white towel. Bending down he wraps it around me and scoops me up into his arms. "We're going to get you into bed so you can rest, and we're going to?—."

"No." I wrap my arms around his neck. "I don't want to be alone."

"We'll all join you," Fell promises.

I thank whoever had the forethought to give me the bed that makes a California King look small.

Terror rises inside me. "What if they come after us again?"

Cadoc kisses my forehead. "I called in a few friends to guard the perimeter."

Panic hits. My brain races. "You said we can't trust anyone."

He shushes me. "They're mercenaries. Money is their master and I've compensated them well."

How does he know mercenaries?

"Everyone has secrets, Brat."

He kisses my nose. I bury my face in his neck, allowing the world around me to fade away.

The hushes tones of the others are a comfort as Cadoc climbs the stairs.

"It's going to be okay, Brat. We've all been knocked on our ass before. You're going to come back even stronger. I'll make sure of it."

When he sets me on the bed, I burrow under the blankets, too tired to get dressed. The others make themselves comfortable around the room.

Bo sits on the edge of my bed. "I know someone who might be able to figure out how they're trailing you."

"Let me guess, you know a guy?" I temper my sarcasm with a half-smile.

"A woman actually," amusement laces his words.

"Of course." I snicker weakly. Right now, I can't keep up with our petty games.

"She'll help us for the right price," Bo continues.

"Good thing you're loaded then, huh?" I lift an eyebrow.

Bo's dark eyes smolder. "Yes, but that's not the currency she deals in. She requires an exchange of a different kind."

"What does that mean?" Cadoc inserts himself into the conversation, instantly alert.

"It depends. She's an eccentric sort."

"What the hell are you getting us into, Jensen?" Fell's sounds as drained as I feel.

"It's always good trouble with Calista. I'm going to shower and set up an appointment with her for tomorrow."

"Are you sure she's safe?" Cadoc stares at Bo.

"I'd never put our Princess in danger. If anyone wrings her neck it's going to be me."

There's heat in those words that turn up my internal temperature.

I press my thighs together before the memory of tonight crashes over me. I wrap my arms around myself remembering the unwelcome weight of my attacker.

Kirk rests a hand on my arm. "Hey. Come back to us."

Blinking I turn look toward the sound of his voice.

"You need your clan right now, don't you, sweetness?" Kirk strips off his clothing, and climbs under the covers with me, pulling me to his warm body.

I melt into him, breathing his spicy citrus scent in. His heated flesh relaxes my tense muscles. A moment later, Fell slips in on my right.

Cadoc stands guard, peering out the window.

Skin to skin I can relax. Listening to their heartbeats, our breathing syncs, and my chest loosens.

When Bo returns and sits on the end of the bed, a sense of peace and calm settles over me.

"She'll see us tomorrow at sunset."

I hum sleepily as everything catches up with me. "Oddly specific, isn't it?"

Bo laughs. "She's particular that way. Calista is unlike anyone I've ever met."

There's a fondness in his voice that does wicked things to my heart. He can fawn over whoever he likes, I don't care.

Drifting off surrounded by the only men I trust; I almost believe it.