An Everlasting Bite (17 page)

By the time their wolves were sated, Rynn was sore, tender, and finally without a single ounce of sensual energy. Only took five—no, six rounds, to get that relief. She lay cuddled into Briggs in a secluded part of a the forest. To her total surprise, the sky began to lighten. Time flies when you’re having a romp of a good time. “Full moons are fun,”

she exhaled.

Briggs chuckled deep and low then kissed the top of her head. “With you—they are.”

Going at it for hours with just little naps in between the heated moments, Rynn expected to feel dead on her feet, but she didn’t. In fact, she felt rejuvenated and full of energy. She glanced up to Briggs who smiled down at her. “Why do I feel so good?”

Briggs arched his brow, gave her a knowing look. “After a night like that, you have to ask that question?”

She laughed softly, snuggled back into him. “No I mean, so exhilarated. We’ve hardly slept and we’ve used up lots of energy. I’d expect to feel more drained.”

“The moon restores us—gives us a little juice,” he replied, resting his cheek against the top of her head.

“Mmmm,” she hummed. “It feels good.”

Briggs wrapped his arms around her tight, trailed his finger along her spine.

“Everything about last night felt good. You were incredible.”

“Not so bad yourself, wolf.”

He chuckled deep. “I was not expecting you to…” he hesitated, then, finally said,

“come out of your shell so fast.”

She glanced up at him and gave him a sexy grin. “What can I say; you bring out the bad wolf in me.” She never knew touch could be so good. He never once made her feel amateurish, just guided her along, orgasm after orgasm, in positions she never knew two bodies were capable of being in.

He kissed her lips softly. His tongue swirled with hers a while, then backed away.

“You’d think after last night, I’d be settled.” He glanced down at his erection. “But the moon seems to have lasting effects on me.”

She rubbed her thighs together and felt the heat right with him. Insane really, but there it was, neither of them could get enough and she was perfectly fine with that—

being lost in Briggs’ body was not a bad place to be.

“Mmmm…I have to agree.”

Suddenly, the wind shifted from west to north sending a gust of breeze across her warm skin earning a little shudder. Briggs held her tighter to secure her warmth. She leaned in to kiss him again and inhaled deeply. Just as her lips connected with his, she shot straight up to sit.

Briggs reacted instantly, got to his knees and took her by the arms. “What is it?”

She inhaled again, wondering if maybe she smelled something that wasn’t there. She was sleep deprived and all. After a few more breaths, her mind couldn’t be swayed for the scent. “Do you smell that?”

His nostrils flared. “Smell what?”

“Kali…” Before she could even finish what she was going to say next, Briggs had shifted, raised his head to the sky, circled around and scent the air.

Within seconds, he shifted back. “I cannot smell her.” He gave her an inquisitive glance. “You are sure that it is her you are scenting?”

She inhaled again. Yes, peaches—young, it couldn’t be mistaken. The scent seemed burned into her memory now. Maybe because she wanted this over with, once and for all.

She wasn’t sure, and didn’t care. This needed to end. “It’s her. I don’t doubt it.”

Briggs reached down, grabbed their clothes, and tossed hers to her. “Dress quickly, we must go.”

That’s just what she did, and within seconds she was dressed. Briggs shifted and she followed right behind him. She might have been pleased with herself since this was the first time her shift came so quickly, if Kali’s scent hadn’t overwhelmed her senses. It rushed against the wind, it came steady through her snout. Now, it was so strong that Rynn could have sworn Kali stood right in front of her. After a moment of searching, she wasn’t there. Briggs gave her a nod, and Rynn took the hint, she punched forward toward the direction of the scent. Briggs of course, took a protective position close to her, but stayed a little behind her. She suspected to allow Kali’s scent to lead the way.

The forest floor swept under her paws, and soon, she hit a protected wetland area in Plymouth that Pops had taken her many times. Being a wilderness buff when his mind was well, he’d loved to show her all the creatures that call a wetland home. She knew this area well.

Kali’s scent came stronger as she pushed through the wet grounds. The Cattails brushed against her side as she continued forward, mud flew around her, her claws dug deep into the ground with each stride.

It was endless display of Plymouth beauty around her. Funny thing, the smells, the familiarity, comforted Rynn in a way. This was her home, and coming through this area set memories to springing about. Happy memories.

The longer they charged along, the stronger the scent became. With each lunge, it engulfed her. Soon, the scent was all around her. Judging how Briggs rushed forward, he had caught the scent too. His body was tight, tension filling him as he bolted toward Kali, while Rynn stayed close to his flank.

Briggs let out a bark, and she glanced back to him. He had stopped. She trotted back over to him. Briggs shifted in a second, then, grasped her hand, and she followed right behind in the shift. Obviously, he drew on their bond magic to force the shift so quickly, she didn’t mind the help, even though she suspected she’d do just fine on her own.

“We need to go take a look,” Briggs said, then, he gave her a curious look. “Are you okay to come with me? This is your choice to come any further, but we have to see what we are up against here.”

“I…” Rynn hesitated. She knew that just past the trees was an opening—she could see it from where she stood. Was Kali and whoever else going to be thrilled with their appearance? Did she want to go? No she did not. They had already proved to be dangerous and she didn’t doubt would kill her in a second. She was no fighter. She felt scared, unprepared and frightened.

Briggs put his hands on her shoulders, turned her to face him and squared her shoulders. “I will not let harm come to you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a spray bottle. “Come here.” He pulled her closer toward him and sprayed her with a horrible scent.

“Yuck,” she gasped, covered her nose and breathed through her mouth. “What is that?”

He spun her around and sprayed the back of her. “This will mask your scent. The wolves will not detect us.” Then, he sprayed himself quickly.

“It smells disgusting,” she ground out, her hand still covered her mouth. “What’s it made of?”

“You do not want to know.” He grimaced. “To them,” he nodded toward the opening in the forest. “We’ll smell like a decaying animal.”

That didn’t help the yuckies. She decided to think no more about it. Her only thought was to get this over with and take a shower. “Why haven’t I heard or seen this before?”

“Because we haven’t needed to use it.” He took her hand from her mouth, held it in his and they started toward the opening of the forest. “You must listen to what I say.” He gave her a stern look. “Understand?”

“Trust me,” she retorted. “I’m not about to play hero.”

“Good.” He started forward, lowering his voice as they began to draw closer to the end of the forest. “Kali could be there with only Colbat, and if that is the case, I can deal with him. If this happens, hide and stay clear. If you can get to Kali then do so.”

Rynn nodded quickly. Nerves raked her. It was one thing to stay in the background while the Alphas go off and kick some butt. Not having the protection of the others around her did not come as a very settling thought. The only thing that reassured her was she that did believe Briggs would take care of her. She was his priority and that is what she trusted in now.

Just before they cleared the trees, Briggs’ hand tightened around hers and the magic rippled through her and caused an instant shift. Rynn was shocked. He’d never done that before. She didn’t really have a full appreciation for just how strong the bond magic was.

She realized this was the first time, that if he chose it, he could have complete control over her. She wasn’t sure she liked that.

The nice part, Briggs never did it. She began to appreciate how many rights he allowed her and that warmed her soul. Besides, the worry around him right now told her that his actions were all about his need to protect her. That’s all this was. She released the lingering effects of annoyance within her.

As they cleared the trees, Rynn froze, stunned by what stood in front of her. This had to be some serious sick joke or she was seeing things. Maybe her sleep deprivation was worse than she thought.

Briggs glanced at her, confusion heavy in his eyes. Without any warning, he touched her snout with his and she heard.
“What is it?”

She jumped back, startled.
“What was that?”

“I was waiting to show you this.”
Briggs answered, nodded her over to a large boulder that rested beside the gravel road.
“I didn’t want to frighten you.”

She joined him as they hid from watchful eyes.
“We can communicate as wolves in
our minds?”

“Aye, we can. It is a gift given to mates. This is urgent. We cannot talk of this now.

What is wrong?”
His wolfish eyes were firm.
“Now love, tell me, what upset you.”

“That,”
she nodded toward the cream stucco siding colonial house,
“is where I grew
up.”

Even in his wolf form, Briggs appeared flabbergasted.
“You lived here?”

Rynn nodded. Out of all the places that Kali would be, she was here at Rynn’s childhood home. Why was she here?

Briggs gave his head a shake.
“Peculiar, which doesn’t surprise me, this whole event
has been strange.”

Wasn’t that the truth. Ignoring, the stab of emotions that came with being back here, she focused on the house. There was no question in her mind that Kali was in there. She could also smell others, more than one, she guessed ten.

“There is no fear here,”
Briggs said, thoughtful.

She snapped her gaze to him.
“And you know that, how?”

“Smell the air, love, it is peaceful”
Briggs lifted his snout to the sky.
“No harm is
going on here. Kali is not afraid.”

If he said so, but this whole scent thing left her befuddled. Sure, she could catch scents, but indentifying them was impossible. The only scent that mattered to her was Kali’s. Before moving on, she had a serious point to make. She nailed Briggs with a hard look.
“By the way, you are going to tell me everything else I don’t know when this is
over.”

He winked, amusement alighting his amber eyes. Rynn sat on her hind legs and watched Briggs. He inhaled deeply. She did the same. Even if she couldn’t smell there was no danger here, she could hear it. The conversation was light, no hint of someone being held against their will. She also heard laughter.

After a short time, Briggs let out a low growl.
“There are too many here. I will not
risk you. Let’s head back into the forest and contact the others."
Briggs nodded back toward the forest.
“Go on, love.”

Rynn didn’t argue. Just because Kali wasn’t being hurt didn’t mean they were going to let her be found easily. They had gone to great measures to make sure she wasn’t, and she really had no interest to come face-to-face with these wolves. With a last look at her childhood home, she turned on her paws and ran back to the forest.

The only thought on her mind was why they’d chosen that house to stay in?

Fifteen minutes later, Valor and the others had followed their scent through the forest and had joined them. Valor stood and gave Rynn a curious look. “You grew up in this home?” Rynn nodded and Valor’s gaze only deepened in curiosity. “That is very strange.”

Hendrix let out a loud snort of annoyance. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is we have found her.” He started toward the tree line.

Valor grabbed his arm to stop him. “Wait. There is something odd here.”

Oh yes, this is a big bucket of strange, Rynn thought. What was going on here? The entire wait for their arrival she just couldn’t wrap her mind around this. Her home had become a rental property. Whoever owned it had bought it for that purpose. That made sense. But of all the places Colbat could rent, he chose this home. The coincidence didn’t sit well with her.

Hendrix snarled back at him, tore his arm from Valor’s grip. “My daughter is in there, we must…”

Valor raised his hand and growled in return which sent Hendrix to take a step back.

“She is alone in that house.”

Rynn glanced through the trees out to the house. Her heart clenched. It looked so much the same. Tulips lined the front garden while Spireas and Weigelas filled the rest, even the paint chipped off the wood trim was still flaked and worn.

Briggs brushed against her arm. When she glanced up to him, her pain was raw and exposed. Nothing in her could hide it. He pulled her toward him, wrapped his arms around her tight and growled, “They will suffer for this.”

Being back here was hard. Rynn had said goodbye to this place years ago. She never wanted to return or the reminder of all that was lost. She gulped and forced the tears to stay away.

“If she is alone what are we waiting for?” Hendrix snapped.

Valor glanced over to the trees and pointed to the west side of the house. “There is a barn just over there, and where the men you’re looking for are.”

Briggs pulled Rynn back a little then kissed her very tenderly. The embrace was kind and sweet and showed nothing of the tension that she could feel within him. He backed away from her, his eyes soft and filled with remorse. “Stay and wait for us here, we will not be long.”

Rynn glanced around. Echo watched her with a pained expression, Danika looked urgent, yet appeared slightly annoyed at Rynn’s display. It was just what we needed to snap out of her funk. She hated pity and didn’t like the fact that this had become about her. She looked back to the house through the trees.

It was just a house—once a beautiful happy house, but now just a house. It wasn’t hers anymore. Her home was with Briggs. She wasn’t the same person who left this house and her life had changed for the better. She cleared her throat a little and pulled herself together.

“No. I’m fine.” Briggs gave her a rebuked look. She dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand. “No, really, I’m fine. We need to go and get her.” Not that she was excited about the idea of helping with this, but she didn’t want to appear weak in front of the Danika or Nera. Besides, Briggs wouldn’t let her get hurt, and she was surrounded by Alphas. She wasn’t concerned—well, not really anyway.

“What do you want to do?” Sayer asked Valor.

Echo interjected. “We ladies will go find Kali in the house. If she’s alone, we’ll be safe enough and can provide protection for her.”

Valor nodded. “I agree.”

“I want to join you,” Nera exclaimed.

Rainer turned on his mate and gave a chastised look. “This is no place for you, woman.”

“The more we have the better,” she retorted. “By my count there are ten in that barn.

Echo, Danika and Rynn will do fine in the house. There’s no reason for me not to join you, I’m a strong fighter.”

Rainer gave her a proud wink, then glanced to Valor, who nodded in return.

Briggs gave Rynn a quick kiss, then, stepped away “You will be safe with Echo and I’ll be along shortly.”

Rynn cupped his cheek and he leaned into it. “Be safe.” It surprised her she wasn’t more concerned for him, but she didn’t doubt his power as a wolf. Maybe it was the fire which burned in his eyes that made them appear more amber than yellow. She didn’t doubt for a moment that they would all be safe here and soon he’d return to her.

He gave his mischievous grin. “Always.”

As if on cue, she was surrounded by a very strong group of Alphas and one very tiny Nera. With a last look back from Briggs, they pounced off, running full speed toward the barn.

Echo grabbed Rynn’s hand and they followed Danika through the forest and rushed toward the house. It sat on a quiet road that held a little over two acres between each house. After a quick look around, not even a car was in sight. Being just after dawn, she wasn’t surprised the streets were quiet.

At the house, she followed Echo up the steps. Danika suddenly stopped dead in her tracks and looked back to them. “I can’t go in there.”

Rynn gave Echo a perplexed look, which she returned. Shouldn’t she be happy to know her daughter was still alive? “You don’t want to go and see your daughter?”

Tears streamed down Danika’s face. “What if she has been harmed? I cannot see that.”

“But if she is well,” Echo said. “She’ll need her mother.”

Danika’s eyes turned pleading. “I can’t. Please don’t make me go in there.”

Echo glanced at Rynn, sighed, then looked back to Danika and placed her hand on her shoulder. “Of course, just wait here and we will see that everything is all right.”

Rynn didn’t understand any of this. She sniffed the air. Not that she knew for sure, but she couldn’t smell anything out of the ordinary—like blood or anything that would show Kali was injured. Instead of voicing it, she just stepped in behind Echo as she opened the door to leave Danika behind.

The moment she entered, a sense of sadness gripped her. It even smelled the same. A little musky with a scent of old things, just the way grandparent’s homes should smell.

Echo took her hand, pulled her forward and guided her into the living room.

Kali was on the couch, lying on her back, legs crossed with her foot dangling as she read her teen magazine. When she caught sight of them, her brows raised. “Echo?”

“Yes, Kali, it’s me.” Echo rushed forward, placed her hands on her shoulders for her to sit up, knelt next to the couch and examined her. “Are you safe?”

Kali giggled, swatted her away with her hands. “Of course I’m safe. I thought I smelt more wolves out there. What are you doing here?”

Echo gave Rynn a bizarre look, which she returned. Nothing made any sense here.

And something felt terribly wrong. If she’d been taken, she’d be terrified right now. If she left willingly, she’d be guilty. None of that lived in her eyes. She looked completely baffled.

“What happened to you?” Echo demanded.

Kali placed the magazine on the couch next to, her puzzlement only deepened across her face. “What do you mean, what happened to me?”

“Were you taken from your home or did you leave on your own accord?” Echo snapped.

“Taken—leave?” Kali’s brows rose almost to her hairline. “Echo, whatcha talkin’

about?”

Echo glanced at Rynn, uncertainty hit every part of her. She stood up and glanced around a few times. “What is going on here?”

Rynn shrugged. “I haven’t a clue.” Her mind raced in an attempt to find reasons for all this, but nothing added up.

Kali squealed, jumped up from the couch, smiled brightly as she approached Rynn.

“You must be Rynn, Briggs’ mate. How’d you do?” She reached her hand out and Rynn shook it. “I’ve heard so much about you, but you don’t look gross or anything.”

“Thank you.” Rynn chortled.

Kali giggled in shame, then headed back to the couch. Once she plopped down, she continued, “I mean, the way they all talk about you, I thought you’d look funny or something.”

Now they were just getting off track. Rynn gave her head a shake to focus her thoughts. There was something she just had to ask, compelled to know the answer. “Why are you staying at this house?”

“Isn’t it so charming?” Kali glanced around, ran her hands along the couch cushion.

Rynn snorted at the comment and nodded. Not at all happy about whatever was going on here was happening in this house, a happy house filled with great memories.

“Mother sent me on a wilderness adventure with Colbat,” Kali continued. “She wanted me to see a bit of the world.”

“Your mother?” Echo gasped.

“Yeah, the first couple days I just got to hang with some new friends I made,” Kali replied. “After that Colbat said we needed to stay here for a few days before we could move on.”

Echo’s brows furrowed, a suspicious look met her face. “Who is this Cobalt?”

“The wilderness guide.” Kali rolled her eyes. “He’s from home. Mom met him through one of the pack meetings and said he gladly agreed to take me.”

Rynn gave her head another shake in hopes to make sense out of this. The answer was right there in front of her, waited for her to grab it, but her mind just couldn’t process what was being said here. “So, Colbat is out in the barn?”

“Yup, he’s back there with some others from our wilderness group. They’re playing around back there in the barn.” She grimaced. “It’s dirty.”

Rynn tried to come up with appropriate questions to find answers for all this, but it confused her to much to come up with anything. Just then, Danika stepped out of the kitchen. Her mother sent her here. What in the heck was going on?

“Mother,” Kali squealed, jumped up from the couch. “I didn’t know you were coming.” She ran forward and leapt into her mother’s arms.

Like a million pieces falling into place, reality hit Rynn right in the face. The truth was so unbelievable, Rynn was sure she had it wrong. Danika couldn’t have been responsible for all this? Could she?

“What is this, Danika?” Echo snarled.

Danika released Kali from her arms, pushed her behind her and glared at Rynn. “You just couldn’t die.”

“What?”
Did she just say…

“Kali was to be mated to Briggs.” Danika spat, hatred oozed from her. She started toward Rynn. “That was their destiny.”

Rynn took a giant step back at the rage coming from her. “She was his mate?” What was going on here?

“We had chosen him for her.” Danika’s voice came out as low growl. “But then, you came along and ruined it all.”

“Mother, what are you doing?” Kali shouted.

Danika didn’t tear her angry gaze from Rynn as she continued forward. “Taking care of your future.”

Rynn continued to back away from her, never had she even thought of this as a possibility. Why would she? There was no hint.

Echo took a protective stance in front of Rynn, shielded her from Danika’s approach.

“This is ridiculous Danika, what are you doing?”

“You have befriended this atrocity,” Danika spat. “You should stand beside me to see the end of her. By doing this I’m saving our pure blood lines.”

“She’s Briggs’ mate,” Echo snarled in return. “He’ll kill you once he discovers you are behind this.”

Danika’s look came sly. “He’ll never know. You think I’ve come this far in my plan to slip up now. A dead wolf lies in the kitchen. When the others come, I’ll tell them it was him who attacked her and Kali destroyed him. Briggs will be grateful to her, and thus, will be the beginning of his adoration for her.”

Rynn couldn’t grasp this at all. Her mind was too horrified by this truth. “You were behind all of this? This was all a plan to kill me?”

Looking back, she could see that the first attack was directed at her with the poison.

Were all the others too? When Mateo was shot, he had stood close to her. Was that bullet actually meant for her? Dante’s car… That didn’t make sense, Briggs would have been in it too. Then, it dawned on Rynn, Danika had called him over. She would’ve gotten into the car without him if Nera hadn’t approached it first. With that, all the pieces fell together—it was her plan all along.

Danika’s expression remained cruel and measured. “If you would have just eaten the poison like I planned at Wolf Creek, many lives could have been spared.”

Questions filled Rynn’s mind as she searched for reason, but only one stood out.

“Why did you send Kali to Plymouth?”

“You have a traumatic history here.” Danika stopped only a few feet away from her and Echo. “I thought the distraction of emotion would cause you to be unaware of attempts around you. With your mind occupied elsewhere, you wouldn’t notice any attacks that came at you. Your wolf instincts would be hindered.”

“That obviously didn’t work out so good for ya,” Rynn snapped, rage began to seep into her pours. Danika was one sick bitch. “And why this house?” The thought that Danika purposely brought Kali here infuriated her. The fact that anyone would use such a special place for cruel intentions, Rynn gulped back fury.

Danika appeared all too proud of herself. “It was the safest place for her, I doubted you’d come back here.” Her expression turned annoyed. “Your scent was one thing I hadn’t counted on. If it’d not been for that, you wouldn’t have thought to come here.”