The Mating Rite (Big, Beautiful Werewolf) (Werewolves of Montana) (32 page)

“Maybe you don’t need to know how it works. Some magick, like Lupines learning to shift, comes naturally,” Darius told her.

Sam considered. “All right. Let’s do it. But at your townhouse, Ryder, not here. I need Kara to be in a place where she feels comfortable.”

They walked over to Ryder’s townhouse. Inside, Kara sat by the fireplace, staring into the flames. She looked so wistful, Sam’s heart twisted. She remembered the early days when she’d first left Maxim’s pack and felt like an oddball and an outcast.

Now I have to try, because if I can help her, it will make her hurt less.

Kara looked up, her expression partly fearful, partly
hopeful. “Ryder talked to you. I told him not to.”

The alpha sat beside his mate and took her hand. “You should know by now I have a hearing problem when your welfare is concerned, sweetheart.”

“Where are the children?” Darius asked softly. “It’s best if they’re not here, distracting Sam.”

“They’re over at Marcus’ house for the night. His mate had a sleepover for all the young because we ran tonight.” Kara’s mouth trembled. “Can you really do this for me?”

“I can’t make promises. All I can do is try. I don’t know if I can heal scar tissue. Will you allow me to try?”

Kara nodded.

Looking around the living room, she considered options. The room had a natural, outdoorsy feel to it. But it wasn’t enough. Maybe being close to nature would help.

“Do you have a garden?”

Ryder looked confused. “A small one, but all the flowers are half dead. No one’s been around to water them and it’s been dry.”

“Doesn’t matter. Take me there.”

The garden was adjacent to the porch, overlooking the river. Clumps of mostly dead flowers were clustered together near young trees and bushes. There was a small pond with water spilling over rocks and a bench overlooking the pond. As Ryder and Darius hovered near the pond, Sam sat on the bench. Kara joined her. Moonlight spilled over the Lupine’s face, showing her frank apprehension.

Sam removed her shoes and placed her bare feet on the ground.

“What do you need from me?” Kara asked.

“Maybe if you close your eyes and relax, and think of something you enjoy, it will help.”

She waited until Kara closed her eyes. A soft smile touched her mouth. Sam placed one hand on Kara’s scarred cheek and with her other hand, touched Kara’s hand.

She thought of Kara’s burn mark and how it made her sad, and how the Lupine had helped her. She thought of the pack and their loyalty for Kara and Ryder.

And then she thought of the Fairies with their lovely dance of light and life in the forest. Sam began to sing, pulling deep from inside her, the notes blending and melding together. The music swelled inside her like magick, and she felt an infusion of raw, powerful energy. She felt connected, a tiny part of something greater than herself, like a small, but important thread weaving together a beautiful tapestry.

She sang harder, imagining Kara’s face whole and healed, all her past pain vanished like winter snow beneath the strong spring sunlight. She envisioned Kara in Skin form, walking proudly among others, her head held high.

She sang until the glow inside her faded and died. Exhausted, she shrank against the bench and released Kara.

Darius rushed over. “Sam, you okay?”

“Fine. Just a little tired.”

A little? Exhausted more like it. But it was worth it. She didn’t need to look at Kara. Instinctively, she knew what had happened.

Kara opened her eyes and touched her face. She ran inside to the living room and the gilded mirror hanging on the wall. The rest of them followed.

Smooth skin had replaced the ugly, red burned flesh. Wonder filled the Lupine’s eyes as she turned from the mirror. “Ryder! Look at me! I’m beautiful!”

Sam’s chest tightened as she looked at Ryder. Tears swam in his blue eyes. “You always were to me, sweetheart. Always.”

He went to his mate and kissed her.

Darius squeezed her hand. “You are amazing.”

When Ryder and Kara broke apart, the alpha regarded her with a steady look. “Thank you. There aren’t sufficient words for my gratitude, but whatever you need from me, anything, it is yours. I give you my loyalty, always.”

Darius gave him a critical look. “Anything?”

“I give you my word of honor,” Ryder told him.

“Good. Then call off the dogs in your pack who don’t like Sam because she’s half-Elf. We need everyone unified on protecting her.”

“You’re right. Whoever is after Sam will find out where she’s hiding now.”

“How?” Kara looked worried.

“That music in the forest,” Ryder explained. “Fairies, especially Sprites, communicate through music. It’s like a pipeline and Fairies love to gossip. If they saw you, Sam, chances are the entire northeast coast knows where you are now.”

Her stomach squeezed tight. “I should leave.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Ryder declared. “I’m giving orders for everyone to watch your six.”

“That will help, but how can they watch her all the time? She needs power. Healing me drained her.” Kara looked upset.

“She’s right,” Sam admitted. “I’m exhausted.”

“We can do a power infusion. Ancient ritual, calling for the blood of an alpha to protect a weaker pack member. Two alphas would be better. Your blood and mine.” Ryder exchanged glances with Darius.

“Three is even better.” Darius nodded. “Call Aiden. He’s very powerful. Sam’s going to need all the magick she can muster. Whoever is after her knows exactly how to find her now.”

Chapter 17

The following afternoon, Sam sat on a bench overlooking the soccer field, sipping water and listening to birdsong. A red-headed woodpecker landed on a nearby pine. She gave a languid stretch, wincing at her sore muscles. All that morning, Kara and Ryder and Darius had pushed her hard in wolf form. Still, for all her training, she could not hope to equal them.

Her wolf was much slower, more amicable and smaller. And she only wanted to play, snapping at the dragonflies and chasing the birds.

As if she were still a pup, Ryder pointed out.

Or an Elf, Darius pointed out.

Hearing shouts of welcome, she glanced over her shoulder. Darius rounded the corner, accompanied by a taller male with jet black hair, a strong jaw covered with a dark beard, and dark eyes. He moved with fluid grace but the shape of his mouth and the set of his eyes reminded her of Kara.

Darius clapped the big male on the shoulder. “Sam, this is Aiden. My former alpha, president of the Mitchell Ranch.”

She stuck out a palm, but the big alpha engulfed her in a tight hug. “Sam. At last.”

His niece and nephews rushed forward from playing on the soccer field. “Uncle Daden!” Wendy shouted.

Laughing, the big male swept Wendy into one arm, then hugged his nephews with his other. The boys crowded around him.

“Did you bring us presents?” Jon demanded.

“Jon, that’s not polite.” His older brother Zach scowled. Then he looked beseechingly at Aiden. “Did you?”

“They’re with your parents. Go see.”

As the children scrambled off, Aiden sat on the bench. When Darius finished explaining what had happened with Sam, his expression grew thoughtful.

“You have more experience with Fae than me. Does Sam have powers she can use as a defense? Her Lupine skills aren’t as developed,” Darius told him.

“Perhaps. There are different types of Fae, like Elves and Sprites, just as there are different Shifters, such as Lupines and Panthers. Some Fae are dark and others possess less power, and tend toward the light. Such as Sprites and Fairies. Elves are usually lighter, but they can be dark.” Aiden gave her a penetrating look. “If you’re one of the lighter ones, and I suspect you are because of your singing, there are ways to strengthen your powers through bonding and connecting with those who are stronger.”

His gaze flicked to Darius. “It’s a bit intimidating for a female.”

“Does it include something to do with sex and multiple partners?” she blurted out, her heart racing.

Aiden gave her another thoughtful look. “Why? You interested?”

“Damn it, you do not touch her!” Darius swung at him, but the alpha ducked and laughed. “Gotcha.”

Her mate continued to scowl, but Sam found herself cracking a reluctant smile. She liked this big, tough-looking alpha who had a sense of humor.

Then Aiden sobered. “Ryder asked for my help. I don’t know how, but if you need me, I’m here for you. We’re pack. And you’re my friend. What affects you, affects me, Darius.”

Darius sighed and shook his head. “Aiden…”

“Not taking no for an answer. You’re in trouble, I’m here. Simple as that. And if you need Kyle or Dale or Jackson, or any of the others, say the word.” He glanced at Sam. “Can I borrow him for a few minutes? We need to talk with Ryder. Pack business.”

Aiden and Darius headed into Ryder’s home. She watched the males swagger off, all alpha power and testosterone in one spot. Intimidating.

She studied the sunlight glinting off the river, and the thick forest on the other side. And suddenly, something moved among the trees.

Smoke?

“Fire,” she breathed.

Instinct surged to protect the forest. Unable to ignore it, she ran across the bridge to investigate. Curls of smoke wended lazily upward through the branches, making the leaves wither and die. But she scented nothing, and saw no flames.

And then she heard an eerie, harsh cry, like a banshee on a cold winter night. Dread curled in her stomach. That was no fire.

The smoke drifted out of the forest and licked the rocks on the river bank, blackening them. Then it began following the river, shifting into droplets of mist. A fogbank hovered just above the water.

A swallow, hunting for flies on the river’s surface, dove into the mist and did not emerge.

Moments later, she saw the dead bird floating on the river, following the current. And heard an evil chuckle.

Sam raced to the bridge to escape. A vine snaked out and snagged her ankle. She refused to panic. No, she could free herself.

Another vine whipped out of the ground and wound around her other ankle. Sam gave a mighty yank, but the vine held fast. It began dragging her deeper into the woods.

And then she heard a terrible hissing, slithering sound. She stopped struggling and looked up.

Out of the bushes wriggled dozens of shiny black shapes, hissing and writhing as they slid toward her.

Snakes.

Horror tightened her chest. Sam fought the vines, twisting and turning as the snakes moved toward her. One flicked out a forked tongue and tested the air, mere inches from her trapped ankle.

She tried singing, but the vines held fast.

Snarling, she forced her claws to elongate, calling upon her Lupine powers. Sam slashed at the vines, cutting them.

She was free!

Pushing away from the tree and the squirming snakes, she sprang to her feet and fled. As she was about to set foot on the bridge, a mighty groan sounded and thick tree roots pushed up from the soil, coiling toward her. Panicking, Sam shifted into wolf-skin and released a long, low howl, the pack distress call Kara had taught her.

And then she heard the blessed response of several deep howls, and wolves raced down the path toward the bridge.

The tree roots began pushing her toward the river. Whatever held them in enchantment wanted to drown her. Her paws frantically scrabbling at the earth, she whined and fought. And then she bit her own hind leg, desperate to free herself. Blood flowed down her leg, onto her paw and the tree root.

Suddenly the tree released her. Whining, she splashed into the river, the shock of the icy water forcing her to shift back into Skin.

“Sam!” Darius shouted and suddenly he was there, his strong arms wrapped around her, lifting her from the water, his voice murmuring soothingly in her ear. Shaking violently, she let him hold her, absorbing his warmth and strength.

After a few minutes, she regained her composure. He smoothed the hair back from her face.

Carrying her in his arms, he walked up the riverbank. The others joined him on the shore, now also in Skin. Darius set her down, shrugged out of his shirt and wrapped it around her.

“What happened?”

Sam gulped down a breath. “Whatever Aiden plans, let’s do it. Because I’m running out of time. And the longer I stay here, the more I put the pack in danger.”

At twilight, they gathered in the field; all the members of Ryder’s pack who’d accompanied him to Oregon, along with Aiden, Darius, Sam, Ryder and Kara.

The powerful Mitchell alpha held the same dagger used to cut Darius’ hand for him to swear fidelity to Ryder.

Dressed in a white, flowing ceremonial dress with long bell sleeves, her hair unbound and flowing in the breeze, Sam felt a surge of unreality. She, who had only wanted to live the Skin life, now straddled an OtherWorld between two species.

For too long, she’d never felt at home anywhere, not even in her own skin. She never knew what she was. Now she knew why she’d always felt alone. Healing Kara had given her a sense of purpose and peace Sam had never felt before. But she still wasn’t certain where she fit in.