Chapter 18

Theron

“She’s ready to go,” Korren said, finishing his checkup on Myla. “She’s still exhausted from the strain of the magic and will likely need food, water, and rest, but everything should be back to normal in a day or two.”

Relief flooded my body as he confirmed she was healthy despite the toll the dark magic had taken on her.

“Thank you, Korren,” she said.

“No thanks needed. But if you feel odd, anything at all, you come back to me right away.” He tipped his head, giving her a stern look. “Do you promise me?”

“Promise,” she replied.

“Do you think something will go wrong?” Gentry asked, studying Myla as if he could peer inside her.

“No, but the residual effects of magic aren’t always clear, so I just want to be safe.”

“How could they even cast a spell to control the Omegas like that?” I asked. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“The taken,” Myla whispered, drawing our attention.

“Huh?”

She cleared her throat. “The taken wolves. The ones the unsanctioned packs trade away. The witches use them to experiment and try new spells. This must have been one they were working on.”

Blasphemous. The Council willingly gave witches the upper hand against all shifters for access to magic.

“By the moon,” Korren cursed. “I’ll inform the Alpha when I’m done with Blythe.”

We thanked Korren, and he went to check on Blythe, who had just come to with a massive headache.

“How are you feeling?” I asked Myla, putting aside the information for now.

“Stiff. I’m ready to stretch my legs.”

“Remember what Korren said. You need to rest,” Gentry reminded her as she swung her limbs over the side of the bed and sat on the edge.

“He also said I looked fine. A walk sounds better,” she replied.

Myla slipped on her shoes as Gentry held his hands on either side of her as if she were a toddler about to topple over.

She gave him a sweet and slightly exasperated smile, taking his face in her hands. “I’m fine. If that changes, you’ll be the first to know.”

She powered ahead, waving away our feeble efforts to help her as she exited the medical building. The abduction attempt had shaken us, and while I could sense the remnants of her fear and relief through the bond, they were overshadowed by a skin-tightening need for freedom. Even so, her steps were fatigued.

Carry her. She is tired , my wolf urged.

She also wants to walk by herself, I reminded him.

He huffed like that was inconsequential. What we want and what we need are often two different things.

I weighed his words, hating that I agreed with him.

I guess some parts of me aren’t as evolved as I would like to believe.

We followed her down an incline, and when she stumbled, I snatched her up before she hit the ground.

“I—ahh!” she squealed as I scooped her into my arms, ignoring her protests.

“I can walk,” she complained.

“You can, but you shouldn’t—at least not right now.”

She opened her mouth to protest again, but I cut off whatever she was going to say.

“Can you honestly tell me you’re not tired?” I pinned her with a no-nonsense glare.

She didn’t answer.

“Accept the help,” Gentry said gently. “If not for you, then for us. Have a little pity on our poor wolves.”

That earned him a smile.

As I walked toward our home, Gentry trailed behind, his senses on high alert, ready to spring into action at the first sign of danger.

I exhaled at the sight of our den and placed Myla on the couch once inside.

“You should take a nap,” Gentry said.

Myla anxiously rubbed the back of her neck. “I don’t know if I can. It’s like my body is still buzzing with energy. I know I’m tired, but . . . I can’t feel it.”

“That makes sense. You were under the influence of some pretty nasty compulsion.” I looked at Gentry, and he nodded his head. “How about this? Gentry will lay down with you while I make some food for when you wake up.”

Gentry held out his hand, and she took it. He whispered something in her ear that made her blush.

“Come on, sweet girl. It’s time to lull you to sleep,” he said, leading her up the stairs.

“Go easy on her, Gen,” I called out playfully.

While they napped upstairs, I contacted Bowen for updates on the interrogation.

“How’s Myla?” he asked.

“She’s doing better. Tired, but nothing unexpected. Gen is resting with her.”

“Good,” he said. “The questioning is . . . well, it’s going. Shiloh and Wynn have been down there doing Goddess knows what. We’re all anxious for information.”

I frowned. “You should probably tell Bishop not to wait too long before checking on the Alpha. You know how he gets.”

A memory of the Alpha during the battle with the New Vale pack flashed through my mind. I thought of the vicious, emotionless way he ripped through the hostages’ fur and bone, and the water that ran red during the hours he spent with them in those cells. His wolf went feral that day. The anger from the attack on his pack drove him to a dark, sadistic place, and our enemies felt his wrath. His unit had to convince him to let the rest of the pack live. Luckily for New Vale, we’d never crossed paths again.

I guessed their new Alpha was smarter than the last.

“I know. Bishop is there with him. Isolde and the pup are fine, but it wound him tight.”

“I can imagine. Will you and Silas be home for dinner?” I asked.

“Yeah—”

The creak of hinges interrupted him.

“The Alpha is out,” Bowen murmured. “I’ll call you back.”

He hung up, and the ensuing silence left room for anxiety to creep in. My wolf was agitated. He wanted the threat to his mate eliminated, and the only thing holding him together was knowing she was safe upstairs.

I reminded myself that Myla was fine and opened the fridge.

***

Myla and Gentry came down from their nap two hours later.

I walked over and kissed her. “You look rested.”

“I feel it,” she said with a smile.

The purple shadows beneath her eyes had faded. She wore comfortable-looking shorts and a pale pink T-shirt, and her hair was tied back in a high ponytail.

Gentry grabbed a bottle of water and took a long drink. “The troublemaker is going to try and convince you to take her out for a run.”

I looked at Myla and raised an eyebrow.

Eyes pleading, she said, “I thought it would be nice for all of us to go.”

I swore I felt the force of her request on my skin. As I hesitated to answer, a chill crept across my chest.

Shit. I had no idea what was happening, but the stone wall of my resolve crumbled at the sweet, wanting look on her face.

Common sense told me to say no, but reason didn’t matter when it came to disappointing her.

The restlessness building within her was tangible as her wolf itched to break free. I glanced at Gentry and found the same internal struggle written across his face. We were torn between the desire to keep her safe and the need to give her what she wanted.

Goddess, we were gone for her.

I made an executive decision, muttering, "Fuck it."

Her smile was so bright it nearly drowned out the nagging voice that demanded I stow her away from everyone until she was safe again.

“You’re getting soft,” Gentry teased as we walked out the back door and down the path to the running grounds.

“Like you would have said no.” I bumped him with my shoulder.

“I would have tried.”

“Liar,” I jested.

He laughed.

The early afternoon sun was buttery and mild, and a pleasant breeze tousled our hair. It always amazed me how quickly a place could shift from painful to joyous. Everyone in our pack worked hard to grow and thrive on the scorched earth we had inherited, and fighting for the autonomy of Omegas was an extension of that. But now our home was in the line of fire once more.

Hidden Creek would change again, and perhaps that change would extend to the shifter world. I needed to be ready for that.

We veered off the path, heading for the secluded wilderness where we could let our wolves run wild. With a shared nod, we quickly stripped off our clothes and shifted, our bodies transforming into sleek, powerful wolves as we raced downstream.

The wind whipped through my fur as I ran, and the rhythmic pounding of my paws on the earth soothed my frayed nerves. Beside me, Gentry and Myla ran with grace and fluidity. The tension of the day’s events melted away with each stride, replaced by a sense of lightness and exhilaration. Myla’s laughter rang out like music through the bond as she raced ahead, her golden wolf reveling in the freedom of the open wilderness.

We passed a sparkling spring, and an impulse seized us. Swerving off course, our wolves plunged into the cool, refreshing water. The icy temperature took my breath away, but the sensation was invigorating, washing away the last vestiges of tension and fear.

We splashed and played like carefree pups, the weight of our responsibilities temporarily forgotten. For a fleeting moment, there was only the simple joy of being alive.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the landscape, Myla shifted into her human skin. We followed suit as Myla floated in the water. Her golden hair fanned out around her and glistened in the fading light. Myla’s eyes sparkled with newfound vitality, and her smile was radiant as she turned toward us.

She slowly stood, the water sluicing over her pert breasts and strained nipples. We were drawn to each other like magnets and metal. There was a gentle intimacy in the way our fingers intertwined, a silent promise exchanged with each touch.

Myla moved between us, and Gentry’s hands cupped her from behind, plucking and rolling her nipples. Our breaths mingled before I pressed my lips to hers. Myla skimmed her fingers over my chest, scratching my pecs with her nails. I swallowed her moans as Gentry sucked on her mating marks.

Gentry lifted Myla and clutched the back of her knees, holding them open. My hard length twitched as I lined myself up and sank into her hot, wet sheath.

“Goddess, you feel divine,” I growled, taking her with long, careful strokes.

Myla slipped her hand around Gentry’s neck and nipped at his mouth.

“Give me more, Gen,” she panted.

“How could I say no when you asked so sweetly?” he purred.

Gentry’s cock brushed against mine, and I reached down to guide him into her cunt with me.

“Oh, fuck yes,” she said as he stretched her.

We found our rhythm, succumbing to the frenzy of skin, teeth, and tongues. This wasn’t a simple release of hormones or a moment of burning passion—it was an affirmation of our souls.

Pleasure set my body ablaze. I dipped my head and bit her slender shoulder. Our bond sizzled with unbridled rapture, the sound of her moans dragging me further into the depths of my undoing.

The hair on the back of my neck rose, cutting through the haze of our lovemaking. Instinct forced me to glance at the trees, and a bolt of panic shot through me as my eyes collided with those of an intruding wolf. My protectiveness sliced through my lust like a knife, and I snarled.

The warning snapped Gentry into action, and he whirled around as I grabbed a shocked Myla and held her tight.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, panicked.

Gentry cursed, shifting faster than ever and taking off after the wolf.

“Someone was watching us,” I hissed.

And soon, they would be dead.