Emily's Story (4 page)

An hour later, the distance finally separated Brandt’s internal awareness from Cheri and his father. His mind raced. He knew he needed to leave the pack. He had been seconds from killing his father and was having no luck in controlling his inner chaos.

He received news a few weeks before that his friend Ivan had lost his mate Alba. Ivan left his pack to his oldest son and then disappeared. Brandt hoped his friend would seek out a vampire in the next few months. Werewolves were beastkind and their longevity tied to vampires. The strongest vampires controlled the strongest clans. Beastkind lived as long as their vampire clan leader. There was something in the vampire saliva that tied them by blood and gave beastkind lasting life and the ability to mind read within the clan over long distances. The two, beastkind and vampire, had once been enemies but their blood alliances were now hundreds of years old and served both well.

The vehicles sped to their destination. Brandt knew he needed sleep but was unable to get his spinning thoughts calmed. The other men in the vehicle didn’t speak. He realized even in the small confines of the SUV his wolves were giving him space.

When had his control of the pack, become so damaged? He realized Cheri’s words about the mate bond were true but his heart would not stop feeling the connection to her. After killing the feral wolf he needed to step down. He had no son to leave his pack to and didn’t know if his second in command was capable of holding it without courting the constant threat of death from challenges. He was alpha, the leader of his pack and his disinterest in the day-to-day lives of his brothers was now attracting them to death. He had to get control of himself for the sake of his wolves.

Another hour passed before they arrived within fifty miles of their target location. The last of the three vehicles stopped and prepared to hunt. They would cover the surrounding area in case the she-wolf slipped by the other two teams. If they detected the feral scent, they would all converge. A wild werewolf was a killing machine and must die.

Chapter 6

The next two groups separated twenty miles later, with Brandt’s group heading to the house where they knew they could locate the scent. It was risky but they hoped to remain undetected. In their last communication with Charles, he said there was a delay in getting the bloodhounds and the police wouldn’t begin the forest search until later in the morning. It was now three a.m. and the night was dark with only a quarter moon showing. The wolves had perfect night vision so no moon would have been preferable if they were to remain unseen, but you take what you get.

They removed their clothes, folded them, and stowed them neatly inside black duffle bags in the back of the vehicle. If someone found the SUV, they didn’t want anyone thinking they had four naked men running around in the area.

“Move the vehicle into the trees and let’s get this done.” Brandt was wasting no time.

Dense pine trees shadowed the forest floor and the needles crunched beneath their bare feet and then beneath paws.

The scent was easy to locate. There were no other beastkind scents to follow and now Brandt was sure it was Malcolm’s get and not a lone cat. Beastkind cats were the sworn enemies of werewolves. The death he would dish out would have been more satisfying if the killer was a cat, but since it wasn’t, he hoped this would be the last time he had to think of Malcolm and his vicious crimes or deal with their repercussions.

She-wolf scent blazed a path through the trees and powerful werewolf legs followed in quick pursuit.

Brandt notified the other team they were on the trail. Samson, his second in command, and friend, ran beside him. Samson was a dominant but so far, resisted challenging Brandt during his turmoil. He was playing it smart by staying away from his alpha. If Brandt decided to leave, he considered Samson the best choice for pack leader. Samson’s dominant nature
might
be capable of handling challenges until the other wolves accepted his authority. Brandt would give serious consideration on how he could help that along after the hunt.

About a mile from the house, they scented where the she-wolf stopped and discarded her clothing and then changed to wolf. A smell of illness was often associated with a feral but not always and this one did not smell sick. It didn’t matter though because killing humans was unacceptable and her death was inevitable.

Another hour passed. Brandt and his wolves could hear the second team in the distance. His group changed to human. She had not gotten past them so they knew they were closing in. Brandt put his hand up and everyone froze. Up ahead he caught the first sight of his target and astonishingly her fur was pure white. The color was rare and it was a shame she would die. She was looking away from them but suddenly her head turned in their direction and a split second later she took off.

Brandt gave chase, shifting to wolf and giving commands for the others to change and spread out around her.

Her running gait was uncoordinated and awkward. Brandt assumed it was due to her time in a cage. Within sixty seconds, he ate up the distance between them and launched up and forward. The female sensed him somehow and dodged to the left at the last moment. He managed to sink his teeth into the flank and a pain filled howl escaped her throat. Brandt clamped down hard, drawing blood, and tearing into muscle. She was down and he meant to finish it quickly.

Sweet tangy blood rapidly absorbed into the pores of his mouth. His killing drive was slower to catch up and scrambling up her body his deadly jaws found purchase on her throat. At the same instant her taste reached his brain. His jaws stopped their powerful pressure and she stopped struggling.

The two wolf teams closed in and Brandt’s eyes traveled away from his captive. A low growl emitted from his throat and his pack mates backed away, not sure what was happening.

The rich and powerful scent of her blood hit Samson’s nostrils. Never smelling it before from a female he nonetheless knew what it was. The she-wolf was an alpha.

Shaking his head to dispel her odor, Samson spoke telepathically, “Shit Brandt, it doesn’t make a difference. It only means she’s more dangerous than a feral.”

Brandt’s jaws slowly released as energy from her blood pounded through his system fastening to every cell. Unbearable heat built and caused a suffocating effect. Each painful breath caused her alpha power to mesh with his. He fought for control and spread his muscled legs into a fighting stance. Killing Samson and the other wolves surrounding him would be easy. Shaking his head, the buzz coursing along his nerve endings faded enough for him to growl out, “I claim her as mate.”

Silence descended. But then, with a low snarl, Samson found his voice, “Fuck, you can’t be serious. What’s happened? You’re out of your mind. She’ll kill you if given a chance and she poses too much danger to the pack.” Large deadly paws took two steps in Brant’s direction.

“You challenge?” Vehemence filled Brandt’s eyes and he was a split second from killing his friend. His vicious growls became louder. The feel of his mate’s body rolling and trying to escape stopped him. He placed his back paw solidly on the she-wolf’s side hoping her injury kept her down. His lethal eyes promised death if anyone came closer.

Samson lowered his gaze, quieted his voice and fought the need to challenge, “No my friend, I backed you for a long time and have been trying to give you the chance to get your head on straight. I think this makes you appear crazier than ever. I’ll still follow you, but I’ll kill her myself if she harms anyone.”

Brandt’s heart raced. He was prepared to kill every wolf who defied him. After a few deep breaths, controlling his beast became easier and he managed to remove some of the ferocity from his voice, “She is one of ours. I’ve claimed her and I’ll make sure she’s safe to the pack. If anyone goes against me they will die. Samson you have my back.” With a rumbling low growl, Brandt turned to his captive. He sent out the call for Cheri and seconds later she was standing in front of him.

She expected to fight but the sight of Brandt guarding the female wolf gave her pause. Brandt’s large fangs bared in her direction, the fool. Giving her another reason to separate his head from his body only made her smile in anticipation. Killing him would solve her biggest problem but unfortunately, she didn’t think Thomas would forgive her. She stood her ground and waited.

Brandt’s body transformed to human. He took his foot from the female’s side. “I need your help. I mate claimed her but she’s hurt and we must get her to the ranch. I could carry her but I’m afraid I’d be chewed to bits by the time we reached the car.”

Cheri knew she misunderstood his words. “She’s feral. You can’t mate claim her.” Shock was evident in her voice.

“She’s not feral and I don’t have a choice. Her blood is now part of mine.”

This was not the moment to crack a joke but it was next to impossible not to send him flying into the next week with one well-placed fist. His claim for her was over in a heartbeat because he bloodied a strange she-wolf. She glanced into the same eyes which promised death to Thomas only hours before. They were barely sane but gave truth to his words. This female might be the answer to the clan’s problems. Then again she could be the beginning of bigger ones. Cheri straightened from her fighting stance and nodded her head in acquiescence. “Okay, I’ll render her unconscious but you’ll need to move out of my way.

He trusted Cheri implicitly but the compulsion to protect his injured mate was overriding any good sense he had left. A low whine of pain came from the wolf at his feet and he was able to step aside and allow Cheri to work her magic.

The vampire was standing five feet away and then she had the injured wolf in her arms. Glancing up at Brandt, she gentled her voice. “You know I hate fur in my teeth.” Her fangs entered the wolf’s throat. Several minutes later, the body she was holding transformed into a human female. She was beautiful even with matted hair and blood coating her lower extremities. Her leg began healing immediately and no scar would remain after a few days. She would sleep for hours and in the meantime they must decide how to ensure the pack’s safety. Stepping aside without another word, Cheri flashed home to discuss the complications with her own mate.

Pulling her thin nude body into his arms, Brandt carried her for miles through the woods and back to the vehicle. Using a soft blanket from the trunk, he covered her fragile body and pulled her close. He sat in the back of the SUV where her scent continued to combine with his. The mate bond intensified. Samson drove but the other two wolves, with them at the beginning of their quest, squeezed into the accompanying vehicles.

Brandt’s thoughts were chaotic and he agreed with Samson on this one. He was insane and his current situation only proved it. Though amazing and seemingly impossible, this unknown female was part of him. The gut wrenching knowledge was exhilarating and terrifying all at once. There was no comparison between his feelings for Cheri and the woman he now held in his arms. His thoughts drifted to his friend Ivan from the Central Clan. He realized Ivan would die if he hadn’t already. He didn’t think anyone could lose this connection and survive.

He couldn’t help but touch her and his large rough hands gently glided over her unclothed body learning the velvety texture of her skin. Removing his hands and covering her again with the blanket caused his chest to tighten. After an hour, with her body drawn securely to his chest, he managed to relax enough to sleep. The vehicle jerked slightly startling him awake. Looking out the window he could see the familiar landmarks of the clan property. He turned his head and his eyes caught Samson’s in the mirror.

The voice from the driver’s seat was intense, “I stayed away from you so I wouldn’t challenge.”

“I know.”

“What you don’t know is that every fiber of my being feels the compulsion to take your position. I don’t know how much longer I can withstand the desire to kill you. Get your shit together and take back your full alpha status. If not, I’ll leave. I don’t want you to kill me.”

“Do you think I could?”

“Until recently, I never doubted it. It’s what keeps our drive to be leader down. You were always the strongest among us and we need you to take your place again.”

“For the first time in months, I feel at peace with being alpha and I don’t think anyone can take it from me.” Brandt pushed a small bit of his power up from his center and allowed it to leak from his pores so his second would know he was back in control.

Samson felt the cloying weight of alpha wolf and the stiffness in his shoulders eased for the first time in months. With a deriding snort and another glance into the rearview mirror he murmured, “Hell Brandt, she’s going to kill you before anyone else has a chance. She’s an untamed wolf who has never been in a pack. She’s crazy and she killed her own mother. What makes you think if she could do that, she won’t tear your throat out the first chance she gets? Your first mating will be a war. Please give me a docile she-wolf any day.”

Brandt’s eyes held a smile and he felt relief that his friend would not leave or worse die. He glanced to his mate and the smile grew. He was up for any battle she would bring his way.

They pulled up to the house. His father and Cheri came out but didn’t get close. Taking the stairs two at a time, Brandt carried his bundle to his bedroom on the second floor. Kicking the door closed behind him, he laid his burden on the high bed. Blood stained her skin and he could smell its rancid odor. Getting her clean before she woke was the first item on his agenda. He sent a mental message to Dominique telling her what items to bring from the lower floor. Her submissive behavior kept her from entering the room but with a soft knock Dominique let him know the things he needed were outside the room.

Even after a lifetime of being caged, he didn’t think the woman on the bed had a submissive bone in her body.

A firmer knock sounded at the door and Cheri walked in. Drawn to the bed she looked down at the small slip of a woman lying pale and unresponsive. Not sure what Brandt saw in her she tried to keep the feelings of doubt from her tone. “I can help if you need me. My biggest concern is keeping the clan safe from your mate. Right now you feel volatile. Your dad explained this to me. He enlightened me about why he felt the need to challenge you. I still don’t quite understand but I think you have enough dead wolves on your hands and you pose almost the same danger as she does.”